The Wedding I Lost, The Life I Found

By Sam Friedrich When my 2020 wedding was canceled during Covid, I did not realize that the box of sola wood flowers I had already purchased would end up redirecting the course of my life. At the time, I was simply trying to create something meaningful from a moment that felt completely upended. I started painting the flowers, partly to distract myself and partly to salvage a small part of what I had imagined my wedding day would look like. What I did not expect was how much joy I would find in the process. The quiet focus of painting each petal and the satisfaction of shaping a bouquet became a source of calm I had not known I needed.

I began making bouquets for friends and family, then small pieces for their homes. Each gift felt like a way to share something hopeful during a difficult year. People soon began asking if they could commission their own pieces. It was never meant to be the beginning of a business. It was simply something I loved doing and something that made other people feel seen and celebrated.

At the time, I was working in a corporate program management role. On nights and weekends, I was building a small creative practice without consciously planning it. I took custom orders when I could and slowly developed a style that felt like mine. The work grounded me in a way my corporate life never had. Even on stressful days, sitting down to paint flowers created a sense of steadiness I could not find anywhere else.

In October of this year, I was laid off from my corporate job. For a moment, it felt like another major disruption, much like the canceled wedding. But this time I recognized something familiar in the uncertainty. Life had gone off script before, and something unexpectedly good had come from it. I had already spent years building this craft in the margins of my day. Choosing to step into it full time did not feel reckless. It felt earned.

Today, my designs live at SolaFlowerSam.com, where I create wedding florals, custom gifts, and home decor for clients across the country. The irony is not lost on me. Losing my own wedding plans is what led me to play a small part in bringing someone else’s wedding dreams to life. Every time I pack a bridal bouquet, I think about the moment someone will unbox it. I think about how it might feel to hold something made entirely by hand, knowing it will be carried down an aisle. It is a privilege I never expected to have.

One of the biggest myths about having it all is the belief that life will stay on track if you plan carefully enough. My experience has been very different. The moments that interrupt your rhythm are often the ones that reveal what you are meant to build. The canceled wedding showed me the joy of working with my hands. The layoff showed me that the foundation I had been building quietly for years was strong enough to stand on.

When challenges appear again, I return to the process that started everything. Painting and shaping each flower gives me momentum I trust. It reminds me that growth often comes from small, steady decisions rather than dramatic breakthroughs. I also keep notes on the turning points I have already faced. Seeing those moments written down reminds me that resilience is not something that arrives all at once. It is something you practice.

What began as a disrupted wedding became a business I love. What looked like an ending in my corporate life became an opening. Every bouquet, every centerpiece, and every hand painted flower is connected to that first unexpected twist. Because of that, I have learned to trust that even the most uncertain moments can lead to something beautiful. Connect With Sam www.solaflowersam.com