Event Planning Inspired by Nature

Designed by Dee Floral Company enriches special occasions

By BRENDON VOELKER

Fall turns to winter as the low-growing mountain ash hands one final hint of color across the highest peaks of Pisgah National Forest. The quartz mountaintop of Shining Rock glares against the sun in the distance. Doghobble, rhododendron, and mountain laurel welcome those seeking to forage greenery in their time off. While their blooms have withered long ago, their long-lasting foliage is revered by local florists like Dee Enterkin of Designed by Dee Floral Company. Whether you’re looking to elope, plan a full-service wedding or funeral, or have another special occasion that warrants a florist, she has you covered with her full-service offerings.

Dee, a Brevard native who has long been inspired by our idyllic mountains and forests, recently opened a floral shop in Brevard that specializes in inviting nature to our most significant gatherings. The shop is open to the public, and you can often find her accompanied by both her seven-year-old son and maybe one of her pups. Catch her on her day off and you might even find her and her son relaxing in a local river or stream in Pisgah. When asked about her favorite area to explore, Pink Beds sticks out, but she also prefers some of the lesser-known hikes around the region. She especially enjoys hikes on Daniel Ridge or up near Graveyard Fields during the peak of summer, but you’re most likely to find her at her shop in Brevard, tucked behind the Mountain Plaza.

White O’hara Roses are her favorite flowers to work with when placing orders with local floral distributors, but she knows how to be flexible when necessary. Sometimes you order blue, and instead of the royal blue that’s planned for a Memorial Day arrangement, you get teal blue. Sometimes they’re withering and likely won’t make it through the weekend event you’ve spent months planning for. But Dee knows how to pivot. Many of her arrangements offer both fresh and silk flowers, enhancing bridal bouquet preservation. She has also designed numerous bridal arches that are absolutely breathtaking.

Dee enjoys creating centerpieces and bridal arrangements the most, and she began freelancing during the pandemic. She pours her creative freedom into designs and expresses herself through arrangements. If she had to pick, her favorite native wildflower would be an azalea, with both pinkshell and flame native to our mountains.

In addition to her storefront and events, she is a vendor at the seasonally held White Squirrel Artisans Market in Brevard, where you can find a spectacular assortment of her work available for purchase. Her physical location also showcases art from other local vendors such as wooden tables, handmade jewelry, wire wrapped art, and more. The next market is penciled in for April 6th, 2024, and you can plan to find her at Deerwoode Reserve, just a few minutes from Brevard’s downtown district. Between the breweries, music venues, bike shops, fine dining, and more, it’s an excellent area to plan a day away.

Dee tends to market most along the US-64 corridor between Brevard and Highlands, with Lake Toxaway as one of her more common wedding destinations. One of her favorite events she’s catered was an intimate winter elopement at the Greystone Inn at Lake Toxaway, slightly east of the iconic Panthertown Valley. Whether you’re at the Highlands Country Club, Cullasaja Club, Greystone, or planning an elopement in the wilderness, Dee has an immaculate spread of flowers and props to cater to any special event in the southeast. That said, she can also cater to destination weddings as far away as San Diego, California. One of her events was published in the North Carolina Bridal Magazine, a joint project for the wedding of Blake and Holly Ellege. Many recognize Blake as the Appalachian Santa, as he and his wife dress up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus and make frequent appearances across Western North Carolina each holiday season.
Designed by Dee is a member of Brevard’s Chamber of Commerce, and Dee was welcomed into the Chamber with a ribbon cutting ceremony at her shop on her grand opening in September of 2023. If you’re interested in booking Dee’s floral services for your next event, she prefers a six-month advance for large events so she can continue to cater to shorter-notice events such as elopements. Email tends to be the most effective way to get in touch with her at designedby.denterkin@gmail.com, or you can visit her website at www.designedbydeefloral.com and fill out an inquiry form.  The store is located in Brevard at 218 Rosman Highway, Suite G. If you’re driving US-64 from Asheville towards the plateau, it will be on your right as you make your way out of Brevard. Conversely, it’s about 40 minutes from the crossroads in Cashiers and even closer to Lake Toxaway.