About Napping Cat
Hi, I’m Emma!
owner, head designer, and creative mind behind Napping Cat Floral Studio.
When I’m not surrounded by flowers, you’ll usually find me shooting film photography, spending time outside, going for a run or bike ride, or hanging out with my cat, Tuck.
I strongly believe relationships are built through vulnerability, so I thought I’d share a little of my story—and how a childhood surrounded by flowers eventually led to Napping Cat Floral Studio.
Flowers Grown
Close to Home.
I’ve been around flowers for as long as I can remember. Seriously. I think the majority of photographs I look back then have either flowers or cats in them…Or both.
My grandma on my mom’s side grew prizewinning roses in her garden. My grandmother on my dad’s side kept a full flower garden and worked in a greenhouse while my grandaddy tended a vegetable garden in the backyard. And both sets of grandparents had a cat.
My mom’s flower journey began when I was in middle school. We sold $3 arrangements called “sweetie cans” in recycled soup containers. Outside of my backyard, this was my first experience arranging flowers. Eventually, we graduated to selling at the downtown Knoxville Farmers Market each summer.
Throughout middle and high school, my weekends were dedicated to crafting market bouquets. Friday nights arranging, Saturday mornings selling.
At that point, everyone knew my family did flowers.
WITHOUT REALIZING IT AT THE TIME, THOSE GARDENS WERE PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME NAPPING CAT FLORAL STUDIO.
Then Came Weddings…
Weddings have fascinated me for as long as I can remember.
I took my role as flower girl very seriously and always made sure to keep some sort of flower souvenir from the event. A single rose from a dear friend’s wedding sat on my childhood desk for a week after the celebration.
When my mom began offering wedding flowers for local brides, I tagged along whenever I could. If there were leftover flowers, I wanted to get my hands on them.
Eventually I found videos teaching bouquet techniques and started practicing myself. There were lots of hand cramps, tangled floral tape, and starting over, but my determination was stronger!
With enough stubbornness and practice, I learned.
What Guides My Work
The flowers may change with the season, but these are the values that guide every design, every relationship, and every wedding I take on.
A Different Way of Doing Flowers
I’ve chosen to use 100% locally grown flowers in my floral design.
If y’all don’t know, my parents own and grow stunning flowers on the property where I grew up. Because of that, I’ve had a front-row seat to the beauty of locally grown blooms and the people who dedicate their lives to growing them. Later, I earned a degree in Sustainability from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, which only strengthened my commitment to supporting local agriculture and environmentally conscious floral design.
While many florists rely primarily on imported flowers, I’ve chosen a different path. I source from my family’s farm and other local growers whenever possible, creating designs that are deeply connected to the season and the place they’re grown.
Even though depending on local flowers comes with its challenges, I feel strongly about my calling: to show the world that beautiful wedding florals don’t have to be imported.
my unique process
Florals that are shaped by the season, making your wedding flowers truly one of a kind.
Unexpected combinations and color palettes that wouldn’t exist without seasonal growing.
Flowers sourced from local farms and growers who care deeply about their craft.
Designs that feel connected to the time and place you’re celebrating.
What To Expect
Working exclusively with local flowers means I can’t promise specific blooms months in advance and some flowers may only be available during certain seasons.
Instead of recreating a Pinterest photo stem-for-stem, I design around what’s thriving at the time of your wedding. That flexibility creates space for creativity—and often results in something even more beautiful than what was originally imagined.
A living record of where
roots become blooms
Okay, Enough About Me…
If you’re looking for locally grown, seasonal flowers and a florist who cares just as much about the experience as the final product, I’d love to hear what you’re planning.
