Behind the Bouquet: The Creative Mind of Vanessa Diaz

Sometimes, a collaboration comes along that feels oh so serendipitous—and this was one of them. A few years ago, our marketing director said I do in San Francisco under a bevy of funky fall florals by Vanessa Diaz, the visionary behind SF’s Unwritten Florals. In a beautiful turn of events, we had the absolute honor of designing an engagement ring for Vanessa, who ties the knot with her fiancé Jeff in summer 2024. <3

We spent a cozy fall day with Vanessa where we unveiled her custom Nova (in a room full of orchids, no less!) and got to experience her creative process—from flower selection to final arrangements—all inspired by her ring. If you’ve ever wondered about the captivating alchemy that transforms simple stems into stunning bouquets, read on.

As the sun was rising, Vanessa led us into the bustling San Francisco Flower Market, a treasure trove of botanical wonders. Settling on a palette of deep blues, warm bronze, and dark amber, she embarked on crafting Nova’s bold floral narrative.

With delicate dark purplish-blue anemones, golden ranunculus, and contrasting lavender sweet peas in hand, Vanessa walked us through her decision-making process. Some stems were too bright, some stems too simple, but of course, some were just perfect. Our journey continued to an orchid oasis, where we finally got to show her the ring!

Adding Cymbidium and Oncidium Orchids to infuse more warmth and amber tones, we called it a wrap and made our way to Unwritten Florals’ studio in SF’s vibrant Sunset district.

Curious about her approach, we asked Vanessa how an arrangement takes shape in her mind. “I try to find the lines,” she said, “but I think my process is pretty fluid.” Watching her craft a base of greenery and layering in her florals, nothing was more clear to us: Vanessa is wildly talented. From start to finish, we were absolutely enthralled.

To craft the perfect bridal bouquet, Vanessa sculpted from her waist up. She worked facing a mirror, constantly checking angles that might be caught by a photographer’s lens.

Vanessa’s journey to Unwritten Florals stemmed from a shift in life trajectory. A Zoology graduate turned florist, she discovered her passion unexpectedly while designing arrangements for Marlowe. This led to the birth of Unwritten Florals, a fusion of her scientific background and her reverence for the floral world.

Earlier this year, Vanessa and her partner Jeff realized a dream: opening their first combined barbershop (JR Studios) and floral studio (Unwritten Florals) in Outer Sunset. This space not only showcases her creations but also offers haircuts from Wednesday to Sunday, embracing the community they’ve cherished for over seven years.

“The act of arranging flowers is an ancient practice,” says Vanessa, “and it’s no surprise how emotive and captivating they can be. I’m here to be the translator, the connector of your story, my story, and Mother Nature’s.” Clearly, she is doing just that.

At the end of this long, colorful day, we just felt lucky to be there, and blessed to be behind the ring on her finger.