The Artist Behind Hola Lola Floral Co.

Mila doesn't think of herself as just a florist.

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"I think builder is the best title for myself," she told me. "Flowers are one of the mediums I use to create art."

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That one sentence explains so much about Hola Lola Floral Co.

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"Flowers have always been personal to me," she said. "They've always been a way to connect with people."

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Flowers have been part of Mila's life for as long as she can remember.

Her mother, Lola, introduced her to gardening at a young age, and weekends spent in greenhouses and nurseries eventually grew into a lifelong love of florals.

Her South American heritage also plays a big role in the way she sees flowers, celebrating color, beauty, and bringing people together. It's something that continues to influence her work today.

The name Hola Lola is both a tribute and a greeting to her Mother, Lola, honoring the woman who first inspired her love of flowers.

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Even though she studied finance in college, flowers kept finding their way back into her life. While working at a greenhouse, people assumed she could arrange flowers, so she gave it a try. She started with weddings for friends and family, and little by little, the work grew.

Years later, while looking through old journals, she found something she'd written in high school about one day owning a flower shop. Without realizing it, she'd built the life she'd imagined years before.

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When I asked how she starts designing for a couple, she didn't mention flowers, color palettes, or Pinterest boards. Instead, she asks one question: How do you want people to feel? Everything else comes after that.

Art, architecture, galleries, nature, and even the mechanics of how something is built all influence her work, but every design starts with the people it's being created for. She credits much of her creative freedom to couples who trust her process, allowing their vision and her artistic voice to come together naturally.

Even after years of weddings, she says the excitement hasn't worn off. Every wedding still feels new, and she approaches each one with the same excitement she had when she designed her very first.

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She's also less interested in following trends than helping couples create something that feels like them. In her words, "The real trend is choosing what makes you happy, regardless of whether it's "trending" or not." She hopes people continue choosing what they genuinely love instead of worrying whether it'll still feel relevant fifteen years from now.

One of my favorite moments from our conversation came when we started talking about Charleston. Having worked in several cities, she described Charleston as "almost like a flower itself." The city's architecture, gardens, history, and charm become part of the celebration before any flowers are even brought in. It's a perspective I hadn't heard before, but one that so truly describes how Charleston feels.

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Today, Hola Lola primarily serves clients throughout Charleston, Columbia, and Chicago. As the business continues to grow, Mila is preparing to open her first retail flower shop in Columbia. She's looking forward to continuing to learn, growing alongside her team, and finding new ways to connect with her community through flowers.

When I asked how she hopes people describe Hola Lola years from now, she didn't mention awards, publications, or a signature style. She simply said, she hopes people remember working with someone who felt like a best friend.

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After spending time talking with her, I have a feeling that's exactly how most people would describe her.

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Instagram - @holalolafloralco

Website - https://holalolafloralco.com/