Chef-turned-floral designer Amanda Rodgers is the creative founder and force behind Bouquet Atlanta. With a lifelong love of flowers, Amanda left the kitchen behind to pursue floristry, following a path that led her into flower farming and, ultimately, a career rooted in floral artistry.

Her journey hasn’t been linear. It’s been shaped by pauses, reinvention, and creative risk. Today, Bouquet Atlanta spans luxury weddings, brand activations, and editorial work, all anchored in a signature style that feels both organic and artful.

We caught up with Amanda to talk about the turning points that shaped her career, building a business from instinct, and what it really takes to translate beauty from real life to the lens.

What is the origin story behind Bouquet Atlanta?
I was a chef for most of my career, but I always had a deep love for flowers and gardening. In 2019, I started leaning into that curiosity by buying floral books, watching tutorials, and studying designers on Instagram.

Shortly after the pandemic start in 2020, I approached it with much more intention. I was designing constantly, really focused on building my skills, and sharing everything on Instagram as I went. Putting my early work out there ended up being a huge turning point. A photographer discovered me on Instagram, which led to my first editorial feature which ended up on the cover of Style Me Pretty. That was a major moment for me.

With that boost of confidence, I entered Florists’ Review’s Best of Blooms competition and ended up winning. Between the editorial and the competition, it really made me think, “Okay, maybe I can actually build something here!”

When I first started Bouquet Atlanta, the plan was to create arrangements for delivery, but I didn’t really know what I was doing yet. I just kept designing and creating content, and that momentum started to build. It led not only to that first feature, but also to exciting opportunities like creating floral arrangements and installations for a new a luxury footwear boutique, along with weddings and corporate activations. From there, it all happened quickly – I was off and running!

How would you describe your aesthetic? Has it evolved over time?
I’ve always been drawn to romantic, garden-style florals with a Dutch Masters vibe. I love color, so leaning into those elements has always felt very true to me.

In the beginning, I was constantly striving to achieve that look – but it takes time. Beyond just learning design, I also had to learn flower varieties and their seasonality, which is such a huge part of this work and something people don’t talk about enough. That knowledge alone takes years to build.

Over time, I’ve really refined my aesthetic and feel much more confident in my style. And honestly, it all comes down to practice. I always say: practice, practice, practice.

What are your main sources of inspiration?
Honestly, the flowers, and understanding the flowers, is my main inspiration source. In 2020, I bought a 19th-century farmhouse in Hiram, Georgia, and started a small flower farm. That changed everything for me. Growing flowers is completely different than sourcing wholesale as everything is more organic and expressive.

I also draw a lot of inspiration from Dutch Masters paintings. The depth, the texture, the mood serves as reference points for me and my work.

How did you first connect with Accent Decor?
I started as a small customer; they had no idea who I was. I remember visiting their Atlanta showroom early on and thinking, “Who is doing these flowers?” I loved what they were creating. Over time, through industry connections, like my floral friend Paulina Nieliwocki of Blue Jasmine Floral, I became more familiar with the team.

Eventually, someone from Accent Decor reached out, and the relationship evolved naturally from there. I’ve really love being part of what they’re building as it feels fresh, creative, and collaborative. And getting an exclusive peek at new products, plus a behind-the-scenes look at how everything comes together, has been such a fun part of the experience.

You were selected to design florals for the Spring/Summer 2026 collection. What was your initial reaction & what was the photoshoot experience like?
I was so excited -it felt like such an honor! The process is very collaborative. Before the shoot, I received an inspiration document with the vessels, along with photo and floral direction. But once you’re on set, it becomes a lot of real-time adjusting.

The biggest mindset shift is remembering that the goal is to sell the containers, not the flowers. Of course, the flowers are still incredibly important, so you’re constantly balancing both. Sometimes you’ll create something that looks beautiful in person, but through the lens it just doesn’t translate. Maybe it casts a shadow, or it covers too much of the vase so you must pivot without getting too attached to the original arrangement. It really becomes a full team effort, with a lot of trust and communication throughout the process.

What advice would you give florists looking to expand into brand collaborations?
Post consistently – really consistently! Putting myself out there on social media, even when it felt intimidating at first, is what truly helped propel and accelerate my business. Any time you have flowers or leftover product, create content. But focus on making what you want to make, not what you think people want to see. Also, be intentional about how you present your work. Think of your social media as a living portfolio. Create things like a dedicated “corporate” highlight on Instagram to make your brand work easy to find. Showcase those projects clearly on your website, too, so it’s obvious that this is a space you’re actively working in. Ultimately, you want to make it as easy as possible for brands to understand what you’ve done and what you can do.

What’s next for Bouquet Atlanta?
Right now, I’m really focused on luxury weddings and continuing to grow in that space. I also have a big shoot coming up at the Swan House, an iconic Buckhead mansion and historic house located on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center, which I’m very excited about.

Stay up-to-date with Amanda Rodgers of Bouquet Atlanta on her website and Instagram. To shop Accent Decor’s wholesale decor and wholesale decorative vases along with new flower, plant and home products, visit accentdecor.com.

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