TROPIC OF FLOWERS is a Los Angeles based Immersive Experiential Event Design studio serving SoCal & beyond. We have worked all over the world including Latin America, the Bahamas & Europe. We have been featured in Brides, Green Wedding Shoes, Equally Wed, Junebug Weddings, Wedding Chicks, A Practical Wedding, The New York Times Style Section & more. We have been named “industry-leading changemakers” by The Knot.
For nearly a decade, we have been realizing our clients’ visions through the careful curation of their most significant events. Taking stylistic inspiration from their favorite books, films, fashion, interiors, and more — we aim to create designs as unique as our clients.
At TROPIC OF FLOWERS, we understand the magical power of immersive event design to transform an environment or create an experience. We collaborate with our clients on a seamless look for their event. We create an aesthetic through line with color palette, stationery, video and the perfect decor and flora.
TROPIC OF FLOWERS is a proudly Latinx & Queer Woman-owned and operated business that specializes in serving non-traditional, LGBTQIA+, and multicultural couples and brands.
Words by Marty Windahl |Photo by Kate Rautenberg
About Tropic of Flowers
Meet the founder
Photo by Kate Rautenberg
I’m MARISA SUÁREZ-OROZCO (but you can call me Mari!) —
Founder & Creative Director of TROPIC OF FLOWERS. For the past decade, I have helped people manifest their wildest event dreams into reality. We were honored to be named “industry-leading changemaker” by The Knot for specializing in working with LGBTQ+ couples. As a queer, Latinx woman-owned business and child of immigrants, our passion is working with diverse couples/clients and representing the under-represented.
My other loves include karaoke, DJing & my wife Jan (a carpenter who is so handy that you may see her onsite helping with installations or helping us build custom arches/decor), and our two dogs, Busy and Bambi. Together, we live in Los Angeles and travel all over to bring flower and design dreams to life! You can check out our very own wedding here.
Mari, Jan, Bambi & Busy - Photo by Emily Wren
Mari is a magical human being to who I will be eternally grateful for making our wedding so so so beautiful. She did all of the design — save the dates, invitations, signage, table settings, and of course FLORALS. She is a floral wizard.
—Lilly S.
Training
I majored in visual arts at Hampshire College and then went on to study Graphic Design at the School of Visual Arts MFA program in NYC. I have a background in graphic design and branding, styling, event planning, film and fine art. I’m told I’m warm, patient, sensitive, and creative which gives me the gift to intuit the desires of my clients to create something completely customized and fully reflective of themselves.
“Mari is gifted with creativity, vision, and execution. What I valued most was that she really listened to what was important to us and was able to translate that into real life. ”
— SARAH B.