Today we’d like to introduce you to Tessa Manton.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I was born and raised in the mountains of Colorado. I grew up submerged in the beauty of harsh winters for 9 months a year for 22 years of my life! When it came time to apply to colleges, I wanted the beach, ocean, and warmth, which led me to Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL. I studied business, PR, and marketing during my first-semester senior year studying abroad in Florence, Italy. While abroad, I landed a job after graduating, working for a company taking American study-abroad students on weekend adventures all over Europe. These two European experiences gave me a love and passion for experiencing new cultures and adventures that have never left me. I eventually returned to St. Augustine, hoping to find stability and a career. Growing up in Colorado, I worked in the event/wedding industry, but I found my passion working in the event industry in my mid-20s. These jobs and experiences made me feel the need and notice a gap in the market for a boutique wedding design company in North Florida. Tula Rose Floral & Event Design was born in 2015 and took off. I feel lucky and humbled each day to love my work and my team and provide beautiful designs for all our couples.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth roads are not worth traveling! Starting a business is risky, scary, demanding, challenging, and the most rewarding adventure of my life. I have struggled with all the common small business challenges, but I have yet to find the ability to face and conquer them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your business.
We are a full-service wedding and event design business. We specialize in floral design, creating unique designs for any vision or occasion. My team and I are a young group of designers with a fresh and trendy take on the wedding and event industry. We love to be challenged to create one-of-a-kind installations and unique arrangements. We are not a retail design company, so we do not offer single arrangements for pick-up or delivery. Based on the wedding date and venue location, Tula Rose Events has a starting minimum spending requirement of $3,500 for all-inclusive custom designs. Should someone be interested in spending less, I created The Branch By Tula Rose. The Branch is an al a carte wedding design option where our couples can choose their color palette and order the items needed for their wedding day! I am most proud of the consistent growth of the company, the continued commitment and hard work of my team, and our overall contribution to the evolving wedding industry in North Florida and beyond.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Covid-19 was one of the best things that have ever happened to me professionally. As scary as it was to see our industry come to a complete halt, it forced me to slow down and reevaluate the company and my life. I had never stopped grinding and pouring all my energy and time into the business. It was the first time I could catch up, get a head and make progress with the business and my personal life. I found a balance I still carry with me today and will never again let go of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tularoseevents.com/home
- Instagram: @tularosefloralevents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tularoseevents/
