‭ Where did you grow up? How long have you lived in the area? Tell us about your family.‬

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-I was raised in Raleigh, NC. I came down to attend the College of Charleston in 1988, met and married Matt, and‬

‭ have been here ever since. We have always lived in Mt Pleasant, first in the Old Village then relocated to Wakendaw‬ Lakes. Matt is a software engineer and we have 3 amazing children. Allie is a nurse who lives with her husband in‬ Hanahan. Ansley is finishing up her Physical Therapy degree at MUSC, presently in Colorado for clinicals and Jack is‬ a North Charleston firefighter.‬

‭ Tell us about the events that led up to where you are now.

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After graduating from the College of Charleston, I attended MUSC for a degree in Radiation Therapy. I started working‬ at Roper St Francis in 1995.‬

‭ What is your business and how/why did you start your business?‬

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-My grandmother owned a florist when I was growing up and I would sometimes play around with the flower‬ “seconds”. Along the way, I did a few weddings for friends 15+ years ago but then started easing back into a few‬ weddings and events once my children were grown. In 2022, I connected with Debbie, the previous owner, who was‬ retiring. I took over the business intending to do it part-time. But that is just not possible here in Charleston!‬ So, I still fill in occasionally at RSFH but have been loving my new floral career full-time and couldn’t be happier!‬

‭ What is unique about your business (what sets you apart from the rest)?‬

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-We are not a typical florist because we do not have a brick-and-mortar storefront. The studio is behind our house and‬ we just doubled the size and added a fantastic new walk-in cooler. I think the element that sets Country and Lace‬ apart is attention to the individuality of each client. Whether it’s a wedding, rehearsal dinner, corporate event, or ‬ everyday arrangement for a loved one, we don’t have a template that fits everyone. So, our designs are across the‬

‭board-contemporary, traditional, classic, coastal, elegant, fun, whimsical-whatever fits the vision. Quality and Attention‬ are first and foremost.‬

‭ Given your business expertise and the nature of what you do, what advice (whether general or specific) can‬ you offer to the residents?‬

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-Don’t be afraid to step outside of your box and talk through an idea or vision you might be contemplating.‬ Collaboration and extraordinary design are how grand events come to be.‬

‭ What else should we know about you, your family, or your business?‬

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-Other than attention to detail and customized client attention, we surround ourselves with people who have the same‬ passion for the work that we do! I have a fantastic team of assistants who love wedding and event florals as much as I‬ do and our large-scale events wouldn’t be possible without them. And boy, do we have a fabulous time doing it!‬

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‭ Country and Lace Florist‬