Wedding Vendor Spotlight: Do Right Flower Farm, Santa Cruz

When you step onto Do Right Flower Farm, you’re not just walking into rows of vibrant blooms—you’re stepping into a story of grit, creativity, and vision. I recently sat down with Kelly Brown, the founder and florist behind this Bay Area-based flower farm, to talk about how they accidentally became a farmer, why they chose flowers over produce, and what it really means to grow a value-led business from the ground up. To say I was inspired by our conversation together is an understatement, and I can’t wait for you to get to know the farm and the hearts behind it.

If you’re knee-deep in wedding planning and looking for a local grower and inspired arrangements, Do Right Flower Farm, a Bay Area wedding florist, checks all the boxes. You can trust them to catch your vision and create organic, whimsical floral art that resonates with your style.

But first, a little serendipitous origin story for you…

From Bike Messenger to Flower Farmer

Kelly’s journey into floral farming started unexpectedly. While working as a bike messenger after college, Kelly often picked up produce from local farms for deliveries. A connection with Blue Heron Farm turned into a weekend market gig, and eventually a deeper dive into farm work. It wasn’t long before Kelly fell in love with the flowers and creative arrangements and began managing the floral side of the operation.

Kelly’s upbringing—rooted in gardens, pruning roses, and identifying plant varieties with their mom—primed them to appreciate the beauty and magic of flowers in a way that grocery store blooms just couldn’t match.

The Birth of Do Right Flower Farm

While Kelly initially envisioned a future with Blue Heron, differing visions and a desire for autonomy led them to branch off and start their own farm. With support from Blue Heron and permission to foster the florist relationships they’d cultivated with them, Do Right Flower Farm was born. It’s now grown into a thriving, diverse flower farm with a focus on sustainability, community, and integrity.

Do Right isn’t just a name or a local flower shop—it’s a mission.

“Besides a deep love for flowers, Do Right was born with a desire to create a farm haven for other queer, trans and femme farmers to work hard outdoors without navigating the usual challenges of those workplace cultures. We want to shift the bottom line from increasing profit at all costs to creating work that is socially and financially supportive.” -Kelly

Farming with Purpose

Kelly is deeply hands-on in the farm’s operations, not because they have to be, but because they want to be. Kelly loves the physicality of farm life and values having a personal connection to the land. That connection with Mother Nature inspires their arrangements. You really can’t beat the satisfaction of getting your hands dirty and watching something beautiful spring up. Kelly’s farm is larger than most who also design arrangements, which gives Kelly the unique ability to create floral designs almost exclusively from flowers grown on-site.

You can learn more about the land Do Right Flower Farm thoughtfully stewards and their conservation efforts HERE.

Lessons from Business

Kelly learned a lot about running a business in the first few years after launching. Being out on the farm also meant setting boundaries—like communicating strictly through business channels rather than personal texts, and using tools like Gather Flora and running the Santa Cruz Flower Hub on Rooted Farmers to streamline ordering and protect their time and energy. (We could all probably take note in that department.)

Floral Trends, Aesthetic Vision, & Organic Blooms

As both a grower and designer, Kelly keeps a finger on the pulse of floral trends by using Instagram not for marketing, but for inspiration and observation. They’re intentional about choosing varieties that work well in their microclimate and are in demand with florists, while avoiding trendy imports that don’t align with Kelly’s ethics or environment.

Do Right Flower Farm is also committed to organic practices (and then some), avoiding even allowable organic pesticides that could harm pollinators. Kelly’s commitment to sustainability shines through every decision they make.

Community, Mentorship & Better Business Practices

A truly inspiring aspect of Kelly’s journey is the commitment to establishing a business that reflects their values. They intentionally create a supportive, queer-friendly, collaborative environment and experiment with non-hierarchical structures in the workplace. As a business owner, they’re proud to pay employees more than typical farm wages, and they value long-term working relationships.

Balance is Key—Even When You’re Doing What You Love

Kelly speaks openly about the challenge of work-life balance, burnout, and building a sustainable life, not just a sustainable business. From installing off-grid solar systems to setting realistic work expectations, they’re finding a rhythm one season at a time.

“Farming will always be your full lifestyle. It’s not something you can just clock in and clock out of… But I want a life where I can still go backpacking in the summer.” -Kelly

Why We Love Do Right Flower Farm—And Its Talented Founder

Kelly is more than a florist—they’re a force of nature. Kelly’s story is a testament to creativity, resilience, and staying rooted in your ethics while cultivating something beautiful, even if it means going against the current. Do Right Flower Farm is not just growing flowers—it’s growing a better way of working and living, and we can all find a few lessons and insights from their journey.

Planning Your Wedding?

If you’re dreaming of florals that are seasonal, stunning, and sourced with care, Do Right Flower Farm is an incredible local option. Working with Kelly means your blooms will be thoughtfully grown, artfully arranged, and deeply connected to the land. And those efforts seem to make the blooms even bigger and brighter. All living things–people and plants alike–thrive with authentic care.

“Our flowers are a match made in heaven for couples who resonate with our garden-driven style and are comfortable with the flexibility and trust that nature requires.” -Kelly

You can view their à la carte and full-service wedding options HERE.

👉 Follow @DoRightFlowerFarm on Instagram
📍 Serving the Bay Area from field and farm to bouquets and flower crowns.

And if you’re looking for photography that captures the heart behind the details, let’s chat about how we can tell your full wedding story—flowers and all. ✨

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