We had the good fortune of connecting with Payton Newton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Payton, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My business, like most businesses, started because I saw a problem. I was working as a wedding coordinator at the time. As beautiful as all the florals were, there was an issue that happened at about midnight after every single wedding. It was when I approached the bride after every guest left and asked her, “what would you like me to do with your bouquets?”

Out of the 50-ish brides I had worked with, almost every single one looked at me and hesitantly said “I guess you can throw them away” and almost every single bride then said they regretted spending thousands of dollars on their flowers just for them to be tossed in the dumpster to rot with all the leftover food.

I researched about a dozen silk floral companies. Some cost 10x more than fresh florals, and some looked too tacky to recommend to my brides. I thought “what if brides could rent those premium silk bouquets?” and googled floral rental companies. There were a few out there, but the problem was that they weren’t customizable. No bride wants to walk down the aisle carrying the same flowers as their neighbor’s daughter or their cousin’s best friend. Every bride wants to feel special, like the most beautiful girl in the world.

That day, I created an instagram account for Borrowed & Bloomed – the first custom silk floral company of its kind.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of my confidence in my work. When I started in 2019, I had no idea what I was doing. I watched a few YouTube tutorials and bought some silk flowers from a local craft store. I only booked one wedding my first year, but I put my heart and soul into that wedding. A few weeks later, I had another booking. And another. And another. I have 89 weddings on the books for 2022, and I did that completely on my own. No business loans, no employees, just me.

Of course, it’s been terrifying. I quit two jobs to run my business full time without knowing if it would even work. I’ve suffered from imposter syndrome and convinced myself I’m not smart enough to run a business or talented enough to get good reviews. Through it all, my clients have been absolutely amazing and reminded me that I AM talented and I AM smart. I truly am blessed with the most amazing and supportive brides and grooms in my corner. If you’re thinking of starting your own business, make sure you start with the question “why?” because that “why” is what will keep you going when things inevitably get tough. My “why” is because every bride deserves a beautiful wedding without going into debt to have one.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, I’d take them to Grapevine to walk around Main Street, drink some Texas wine, and dine at Hotel Vin. The next day, we’d head to Bishop Arts District for brunch at Paradiso. We’d shop around for a few hours since there’s so much to see, then get a late lunch at Manpuku in Lower Greenville. Maybe head to Arlington for a Rangers game or just to hang out at Texas Live, then get all dressed up for dinner and drinks at Monarch or Restoration Hardware.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be working with florals or running my own business without Sarah Pigg. Sarah is the owner of The Sycamore Winery in Terre Haute, Indiana. She hired me as a wedding coordinator when I was a college senior with no real experience. She taught me everything I know about how the wedding industry works, how to make beautiful silk floral arrangements, how to push myself way beyond my comfort zone, how to handle bridezillas, and most importantly, how to be a badass business owner but still prioritize your family.

Website: borrowedandbloomed.com

Instagram: @borrowedbloomed

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borrowedbloomed/

Image Credits
Newt Photography The Lang Co. Cara Boyer Photography Jiana Taylor Photography Copperhead Photography A Smith Studio

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