THE FACE BEHIND THE BLOOMS

Meet Leslie Fuentes:
Proud Latina, first generation, owner/lead floral designer.

I've always had a deep love for flowers, even before I realized that my hobby of designing would turn into a passion business. As a curious kid, I used to help my father in our backyard garden, planting tulip and gladiolus bulbs in November for the spring ahead and taking care of our rose bushes. Flowers have captivated me since a young age, and in high school, I joined Skyline High School's floral design magnet program, which better-prepared students for various careers.

By the age of fifteen, I had developed my unique style in floral design, earned TSFA Certifications, and started my business from my parents' dining room while attending community college pursuing a career in Dental Hygiene and working a full-time job at UT Southwestern Medical Center. With the support of my close circle, I transformed a space in my backyard into a home-based floral studio, allowing me to pursue my passion while completing my college education.

Thanks to my passion and dedication, I have gained couples’ trust throughout Texas and the Pacific Northwest, providing flowers for their special occasions. Having worked with flowers for most of my life, I am well acquainted with the intricate processes of the flower industry, from their humble beginnings as seeds to becoming beautiful blooms that I use for my clients' weddings.

One of the most rewarding experiences is sitting down with my clients over coffee and creating vision boards to bring their wildest floral dreams to life. I take joy in selecting unique flower combinations that perfectly match their aesthetic. Flowers truly bring me happiness in every aspect of their presence.

My Favorite Things:

01. PASTIME:

I find myself to be an extremely active person. I enjoy hikes, random strolls around the lake or working out at my local gym. My absolute favorite being gardening, of course. Nothing beats a good day under the sun planting seeds that will soon be used in a wedding or two.

02. GUILTY PLEASURES:

Local coffee shops. Indie concerts. Taylor Swift. Target runs. Unnecessary trips to flower markets and nurseries. Puzzles and crosswords. In no particular order…

03. CON FAMILIA Y AMOR:

As busy as one can be, especially as a business owner in the wedding & event industry, I absolutely love making time + memories with loved ones.

Fun fact: Anthony & I (sort of) met a local coffee shop in Downtown Dallas, and he just so happened to be a wedding photographer. Who would've thought, right?!

P.S: You might see him with me during our set-ups.

04. PART OF MY JOB:

Nothing beats the grand reveal! Seeing our couple’s reaction to their dream wedding be brought to life is top tier. We want them to have a stress-free day and see all of their favorite details in harmony, there’s nothing more satisfying than that. We do this for you!

More fun facts about me!

  • I founded Monarch & Marigold Studio back in 2019 as a 19-year-old. This was a way for me to source extra income to get back into college to follow my dental hygiene career!

  • Prior to Monarch & Marigold Studio, we used to be La Fuente de Flores. Believe it or not, we rebranded in Aug 2022. So, if you don’t know us as M&M Studio, you might’ve known us as LFDF.

  • My favorite top 3 signature flowers are: the sweet pea, garden rose & lisianthus!

  • As much as I love the beach, open water is the one thing that truly terrifies me. Yes, I don’t know how to properly swim…

  • My aesthetic may be soft, sophisticated & whimsical, but my personality is chaotic, adventurous & oftentimes awkward.

  • And as of December 2023, I have officially quit my full-time job to dedicate more time to those who trust us and adore our work!

As seen on: Voyage Dallas, Shoutout DFW, Go Solo & Zola.

Are you up for an adventure together?

LET’S FORGE SOMETHING MAGICAL, SHALL WE?