What began as a way to stay home with young children has blossomed into Our Greenhouse Florals, a Fort Walton Beach-based wedding and event florist serving couples across the Emerald Coast.
- Brittany Wortman started the business in 2011 from her home when her two sons were toddlers.
“When the boys were one and two, I didn’t want to put them in daycare. I wanted to do something from home and decided it would be a great idea to start making flowers for weddings,” Brittany said. “I started with one or two a month and just kept growing from there.”
A Fort Walton Beach High School graduate, Brittany developed her passion for florals while working at Friendly Florist during high school. After moving to New York City and meeting her husband Howard in Philadelphia, where he worked at a landscape nursery and garden center, the couple relocated to Florida to be near family.
Today, Brittany and Howard run Our Greenhouse Florals together, with their two high school-aged sons helping in the business while they homeschool their 6-year-old daughter, Brownie.
- “It gives us the ability to coach baseball and homeschool Brownie and do all the things that are important to us,” Howard said.
The business experienced significant growth during and after COVID-19, when the Wortmans increased their focus on their website and social media presence. They now work with venues and planners across the Panhandle, from Pensacola to Panama City.
“I would think 90% of our work is weddings. Any size weddings, as we don’t have a minimum,” Howard said. “We’re working all across the Panhandle.”
That no-minimum policy sets Our Greenhouse Florals apart in the wedding industry, allowing them to serve couples planning intimate elopements as well as large 250-person celebrations.
- “Every event is a luxury event to us, whether it’s a couple eloping who needs a single bouquet or a 250-person celebration,” Howard said. “And we try to treat every wedding exactly the same.”
Beyond weddings, the business handles rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, baby showers, corporate events and daily deliveries through their online store. They also provide holiday arrangements for occasions like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.
- The Wortmans have built strong relationships with local venues and planners, with many brides now calling them directly.
“I love to be that first phone call where I can ask, ‘What venue do you like?‘ and talk about the places we work at that we really love,” Howard said.
Our Greenhouse Florals maintains active community involvement throughout the area. The business regularly donates arrangements for local school sports teams and events.
On Feb. 7, they provided all the florals for a Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed fundraiser benefiting ASHA School, which serves autistic and learning disabled children. The fundraiser aims to build a specialized playground for the students.
The couple has also supported the annual Children’s Advocacy dinner in Sandestin and participated in the recent Ties and Tiaras event in Fort Walton Beach.
- Recent additions to their offerings include wreath-making classes and parties, which Brittany hosts at their workspace. A group of teachers from Destin Elementary School recently attended one of these creative workshops.
When it comes to her craft, Brittany has clear favorites.
“My favorite flowers are orchids, but I don’t like cutting them to put them in arrangements. My favorite ones to work with are polo block roses, which are the big white ones,” Brittany said. “I pretty much always have those, and my new favorite is freesia.”
The business’s first wedding took place at the Bay House in 2011, featuring purple and green arrangements with succulents.
Looking ahead, the Wortmans plan to maintain their hands-on approach while potentially expanding to include a retail space for walk-in customers and more creative workshops.
For more information about Our Greenhouse Florals or to view their portfolio, visit here or follow the business on Instagram @ourgreenhouseflorals.
One Response
A beautiful “life story” of a beautiful family working together. The lives you touch, as well as your own, light up our world .
Thank you for the smiles you brought to me, reading your unfolding story.
Sincerely, M. Clark