{"id":888194,"date":"2025-12-07T22:23:58","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T03:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/?p=888194"},"modified":"2025-12-07T22:24:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T03:24:15","slug":"florist-spotlight-ashkhen-minasyan-ay-flowers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/florist-spotlight-ashkhen-minasyan-ay-flowers\/","title":{"rendered":"Florist Spotlight: Ashkhen Minasyan, AY Flowers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Beth Blaney\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Ashkhen Minasyan<\/strong>, what she fancied as a passion transformed into a profession when she founded AY Flowers<\/em>. That was seven years ago. Now she\u2019s an acclaimed floral artist known for exquisite designs that elevate any occasion. AY Flowers specializes in event and wedding flowers as well as custom arrangements. While Minasyan\u2019s Southern California-based business is thriving, she has remained committed to keeping it small enough to continue working directly with every client. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m endlessly grateful to the people who believe in my work and allow me to express emotion through flowers,\u201d she says. \u201cEvery day I\u2019m reminded how lucky I am to do what I love.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, the proud winner of the recent Florists\u2019 Review<\/em> \u201cBest in Blooms\u201d 2025 Design Contest shares her story, including her inspirations and aspirations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tell us about your journey into the world of floral design. What inspired you to become a designer?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My story with flowers started very naturally. I\u2019ve always loved art, colors and creating things with my hands. When I was younger, I never imagined it could become a career\u2014it was simply something that made me feel calm and inspired. Later, when I worked for one of the top flower studios in Yerevan, [Armenia], I realized how powerful flowers can be. They can change a mood, tell a story, even heal emotions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I moved to California, I wanted to bring that same feeling here. What began as a small personal dream slowly grew into AY Flowers. I didn\u2019t plan for it to become a business\u2014it happened because people started asking me to design for them. Every arrangement still feels personal to me; it\u2019s my favorite way to express emotion and beauty without words. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What type of flower business is AY Flowers?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AY Flowers is a full-service studio based in Glendale, Calif. We specialize in event florals, weddings and custom arrangements for special occasions, but we also love creating everyday designs for people who simply want something beautiful in their home. I try to keep the business small enough to stay personal. Every client still works directly with me. What makes AY Flowers different is that every piece is made with emotion. I don\u2019t just arrange flowers; I design with feeling and story. Some days it\u2019s romantic, some days modern or playful, but it always has a soul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From where do you draw inspiration when creating your arrangements?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I find inspiration everywhere: in colors, emotions and even small everyday moments. Sometimes it\u2019s the light coming through a window, sometimes a memory, a place I\u2019ve been or a song I love. Nature always guides me too. I pay attention to how things grow, the way branches move or how petals open. But more than anything, my inspiration comes from people. Every client, every story gives me a feeling, and I translate that feeling into flowers. I think that\u2019s why every arrangement turns out a little different\u2014it carries the emotion of that moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you stay updated on the latest trends and techniques in floral design?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning never really stops in this field. I follow international floral designers and studios whose styles inspire me, and I love seeing how design evolves in different parts of the world. I also pay attention to what my clients are drawn to; sometimes their ideas naturally reflect new trends before they even become popular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I often experiment on my own too. When I have a free moment, I\u2019ll create something just for myself\u2014no rules, no pressure\u2014and that\u2019s when I usually discover new shapes, textures or techniques that later become part of my work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What current trends or styles are you most excited about?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love that floral design is becoming more natural and expressive again. People want arrangements that feel alive\u2014not too perfect, not too controlled. There\u2019s a beauty in movement, in a little wildness. I think that\u2019s where real emotion lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, when I watch the sun set, I\u2019m amazed by the way colors blend in the sky\u2014shades you could never describe, softly melting into one another. Those moments always inspire me. Nature already creates the most incredible color palettes, and I try to bring that same harmony and softness into my work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m also inspired by the shift toward sustainability and intention: using seasonal flowers, repurposing materials, and designing in a way that feels both beautiful and mindful. It\u2019s a reminder that true style never needs to shout; it just needs to feel honest and alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you find most rewarding about being a floral designer?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most rewarding part for me is seeing how flowers can touch people. It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s a big event or a small bouquet\u2014when I see someone\u2019s eyes light up, or when they just stop for a second to take it in, that moment means everything to me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also love the quiet side of it. Being alone with the flowers early in the morning, creating something from nothing. It\u2019s peaceful. Sometimes it feels like the flowers themselves tell me what they want to become. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And maybe the most special part is knowing that my designs become part of people\u2019s memories\u2014birthdays, weddings, celebrations even goodbyes. That connection stays in their hearts, and in mine too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How do you balance artistic expression with meeting your clients\u2019 preferences and needs?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always try to listen first. Every client has their own story and emotion they want to express through flowers. I take that as my starting point and then build the design around it. I don\u2019t try to change their vision. I just try to make it more beautiful, more alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe that trust is everything. When clients feel that I understand them, they give me the freedom to add my own touch\u2014that\u2019s where the magic happens. I bring my style, they bring their emotion, and together it becomes something unique. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Share with our readers a memorable project or experience that you worked on.<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most memorable projects for me was creating my Celebration of Life<\/em> design for the \u201cBest in Blooms\u201d contest. It was a very emotional and personal piece because I made it in memory of my father. The heart shape, the soft pastel tones and the flowing movement all carried a message of peace and love. It wasn\u2019t just a floral design; it was a way to express feelings that are hard to put into words. When I saw how people reacted\u2014quietly, with emotion\u2014I realized again that flowers truly have the power to speak to the heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you wish you would\u2019ve known when starting out in this field?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wish I had known how emotional this work can be\u2014not just creatively, but personally too. When I first started, I thought it was all about technique and design. Later, I understood that flowers carry energy, and as a florist, you give a piece of yourself every time you create. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also wish I\u2019d known that it\u2019s OK to grow slowly. You don\u2019t need to rush to be like anyone else. Every mistake teaches you something and every season changes you a little. That\u2019s what makes this career so special\u2014it grows with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you hope to do in the future?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My dream for the future is to keep growing AY Flowers while staying close to my values, such as emotion, honesty and beauty in simplicity. I\u2019d love to open a small creative studio where people can come, feel inspired and see the flowers arrangements being designed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also want to share what I\u2019ve learned\u2014to teach young florists, especially those who have the passion but not the confidence yet. My goal is simple: to keep creating with heart; to make people feel something real; and to bring more beauty into this world, one bouquet at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more at ayflowers.com<\/a>\u00a0and on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Beth Blaney\u00a0 For Ashkhen Minasyan, what she fancied as a passion transformed into a profession when she founded AY Flowers. That was seven years ago. Now she\u2019s an acclaimed floral artist known for exquisite designs that elevate any occasion. AY Flowers specializes in event and wedding flowers as well as custom arrangements. While Minasyan\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":888210,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[11644,7426,11643,10307],"class_list":["post-888194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-florist-spotlight","tag-ay-flowers","tag-floral-design","tag-florist-feature","tag-florist-spotlight","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/floristsreview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_457994-scaled.jpeg?fit=2560%2C1920&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/160"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=888194"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":888215,"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888194\/revisions\/888215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/888210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=888194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=888194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=888194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}