Meet the Thistle Bee Team | Katherine Fennimore, Owner & Lead Designer

Hey, friends! I’m Katherine, florist, newly married, and mom to a lot of dogs. You might not know that before founding Thistle Bee, I never imagined becoming a florist or owning my own business.

While in college, I interned at one of the best floral design companies in Maryland specializing in wedding and event design. During that time, I unexpectedly fell in love with the floral industry. So much so that I decided to get a degree in business, with a minor in marketing and a certificate in event planning, to pursue my passion and form this company at the age of 19.

Since 2014, Thistle Bee has grown to a team of 6 talented florists designing more than 50 weddings each year. We approach each wedding as an opportunity to listen and guide you through the stress of planning by handling all of the little details, while you enjoy your day.

Let’s get to know each other—here are some of my favorite things!

Favorite Flower

Picking a favorite flower is a lot like asking a parent who their favorite kid is . . . and the answer to that, is it depends on the day (just kidding)! 

I love flowers that are less common, full of texture, and usually in some shade of blue. To name a few of my favorites off the top of my head would include Thistle (of course), Delphinium, Tweedia, Forget-Me-Nots, Nigella, or Hydrangea. 

The best part of my job is getting to work with so many different flowers and I love that each week is so different.

Go-to Vacation Spot

My hubby and I got married two years ago, so we’re still exploring what type of “vacation people” we are. We typically like to go to vacation spots that are surrounded by nature but have an amazing dining experience. Mohonk Mountain House delivered both of those components for us when we took a long weekend getaway there. If you are looking for a local travel experience with delicious food and the beautiful outdoors, check it out! 

Current Netflix Obsession

We have been binge-ing on Outlander! We started re-watching it in preparation for Season 7 and we can’t wait! Other shows we love, and are eagerly awaiting a new season of, would include Yellowstone and Peaky Blinders!

When not working or binging Netflix, I enjoy shooting sporting clays, gardening, and cooking!

My Favorite Part About Working With Weddings

I love, love. So cliche and a bit cheesy, but there’s something so magical about weddings. My favorite part of the day is walking into the bridal suite to be greeted with excitement, anticipation, and relief that the day our couples have worked so hard to plan is finally here. 

Also, I really enjoy the “pressure” that comes with executing an event of a high caliber for our couples. I know the importance that each wedding day and a couple we serve brings, and I take my job of providing a stress-free and seamless experience very seriously.

Advice for Thistle Bee Couples

My advice for couples would be to pick vendors that you trust and feel comfortable communicating with. These two components are key to enjoying your wedding planning experience and actual wedding day. It will allow you to be fully present and leave all the behind-the-scenes action to your team. 

Secondly, I would say to view your wedding day timeline as a commodity – only allow for time and energy to be spent on the things that you and your partner value the most. Trends will come and go, so if something doesn’t align with you or your partner, don’t ever feel pressured to do it! Everyone told me your wedding day will fly by and I almost didn’t believe it when I was a bride, but it’s so true! Time moves at a different speed when it’s your day, so truly, enjoy every second of it.