Beyond the Bio: Tricia Won AIFD, CFD, EMC, IMF, TMF

What experiences led to your interest in the floral Industry?

In 2011, my husband was laid off, which was not an abnormal occurrence, since he is an engineer in the technology industry. Our children were both in homeschool and I wanted to return to some type of professional work. My sister was a florist in the Washington, D.C., area in a studio focused on weddings. She encouraged me to do the same. I wanted to own a business and have work–life balance, so I opened Romantic Florals in 2021 which is still in operation today.

What contributed most to your design education?

Professional development includes a basic class and advanced classes at the Benz School at Texas A&M University, an advanced course at Floral Design Institute and the Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE) Prep and Competition class at Floriology Institute. I completed the EMC program in September 2021 and the International Master Florist (IMF) with Gregor Lersch at Boerma Institute in 2022-2023.

Your career has taken you on quite the journey. Was there one or more moments that changed your path to lead you to where you are today?

In 2023 and 2024, I gave four professional workshops for florists based on European design. I was asked to be a demonstrator at the Singapore Garden Festival in August 2024. In June 2025, I designed a large-scale street installation for Leverano in Fiore in Leverano, Italy. I also designed two large-scale street installations in September 2025 at the festival Hoogstraten in Vegetables and Flowers in Hoogstraten, Belgium. I have had several of my designs published in Florist Review Magazine. I won Florist Review’s contest, Best in Bloom, in November 2024. Also in 2024, I had the joy of designing a very special bridal bouquet for another florist to carry in her July wedding.

Your global experiences contribute to all that you do. How do you feel those experiences have prepared you for the opportunity to share with others?

I am a servant. I work to ensure that members have opportunities for education, inspiration and community.

What led you to the idea of the presentation that will be shared during the Texas Floral Expo?

I love the outdoors and am an avid hiker. Living in Central Texas, I have so many places to enjoy nature. I am also a natural designer who loves incorporating botanicals in structures. We have so many different types of plants, trees and flowers to work into floral designs. I want to bring the beauty that I see outdoors on stage and inspire others with what can be created from simple items.

What do you predict to be the greatest constant and the greatest change in floral design as our industry moves forward?

Greatest constant — Floral artists will continue to push their creativity and artistry to inspire others. We need the professionals to step out and showcase their artistry, education and talent.

Greatest change — It will become harder for entrepreneurs to own a retail shop. Prices of product and the costs associated with owning a business continue to increase. Many consumers are hesitant to invest their money on luxury items in this economy. Many think they can be a floral designer because they watched a video on YouTube or Tiktok. This kind of thinking undermines the professional florists and our industry.

What role do you see yourself playing in the future of floral design education?

The list of possibilities are endless! I would love to continue doing floral demonstrations and design large-scale installations all around the world. To satisfy my competitive spirit, I would like to place in or win a competition and share the experience to inspire others. From a business perspective, I would love to design a couture line of bridal bouquets and floral jewelry for American clients. Finally, I would love to put on a floral festival here in America, where artists can design large-scale artistic installations.