Laura Mewbourn

OWNER OF FEAST & FLORA

Favorite way to wind down: TikTok

How would you describe yourself? Creative, passionate, neurospicy overthinker.

Fave Charleston hangout spot: Anywhere with east coast raw oysters and good beer

Hi there! I'm Laura Mewbourn, the owner and founder of Feast & Flora. I grew up surrounded by the beautiful southern gardens of my father and grandparents, but in 2015, I was working a pretty typical office job. On a whim, I applied to a sustainable agriculture program—and as you might imagine, it changed my life! After an apprenticeship with a local grower, I knew farming was all I wanted to do. Until I started floral design coursework in 2016... It was then I discovered a hidden talent and passion for cut flowers, so I made the transition to commercial cut flower production and floristry.

I'm on a mission to educate people about farming, sustainability, and how we can reconnect with the earth that gives us so much. I'm particularly passionate about supporting cut flower growers in the American south where the climate is such a huge blessing and challenge. My floral designs have a wild, freshly gathered aesthetic, and while it looks like I just strolled through the field and casually plopped some flowers into a vase while simultaneously achieving a jaw-dropping design, there is a bit more to it than that.

When I'm not farming or creating floral masterpieces, you can find me hanging out with friends in Charleston or zoning out to music. I share my home with my amazing son Charlie, our farm dog extraordinaire Ollie, two adorable cats, and a hamster. Life is never dull, and I love it!

Heather Duby-Tharpe

FLORAL MANAGER

Growing up in the heart of very rural California, the central coast in all its agricultural and wine country glory was my playground. I spent my days in a very tiny 2 room school house that taught grades K-8 and afternoons and evenings caring for livestock, gardening or learning the many lessons taught in 4-H. It was one particular project of ornamental horticulture in 4-H that brought to life my love for flowers. I decided at the age of 14 I wanted to learn everything I could about the floral world and took a holiday job with a little flower shop in Cambria, California on Valentines Day. My first day ever seriously working with flowers, arguably the busiest day in the floral world, challenges included, was by far one of the most pivotal moments in my career. Over 25 years later and I am still in this crazy floral world and would not change a minute of it.

After career highlights such as working on flowers for events like the Emmy Awards, weddings for high profile athletes, plus designing arrangements for stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, and Betty White just to name a few, life had new things in store. My Charleston native husband brought up the idea to come back home. So we made our way back to Charleston nearly 10 years ago and have settled back into the small town, city life we love in the Lowcountry.

When I'm not working with flowers, you can find me at my jewelry bench engrossed in what I like to call my therapy, playing with my torch and banging on metal.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We welcome everyone

We are excited to work with a diverse array of clients and customers.

Whether this is your first marriage or fourth, whether you are from Charleston or abroad, whether you're LGB, straight, or trans, regardless of race, religion, gender, or any identity, you deserve beautiful flowers that will represent you and your special event. This may sound like an unusual statement coming from a farm and floral design studio, but it is important to know how much we value you for YOU--not for the money we may earn but for the beauty your differences add to this earth. Obviously, there are plenty of farmers and florists who feel the same way, but we felt so strongly about this point that we felt the need to be clear and upfront on the matter. You are safe and welcomed here at Feast & Flora. We look forward to the day when we can take for granted that all people feel the same.

Feast & Flora strongly opposes racism in all its many forms. We are committed to educating ourselves and our community about these concepts within the broader world, particularly our home community of Charleston.

We are committed to providing a safe space for us and our clients, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability, and we reserve the right to suspend a relationship if these values are not in alignment with another vendor, client, or other entity.