Celebrate your child's birthday with floral walls handcrafted by designer Nicol. Discover how Nicol balances artistry and motherhood.
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “BELLA,” Photography by RACHEL McGINN
A Mother’s Creative Power
“Parents don’t always have control over [the outcome of] their child’s dreams,” says Nicol W. Segel of Nicol Floral Design, “but there are [a handful of precious] moments in life where we get the opportunity to turn our child’s wildest fairytale into their reality.”
Nicol Floral Design founder NICOL W. SEGEL in front of flower wall “CHLOE,” Photography by MADDIE KULIG
Nicol reminisces about the November birthday parties that her own mother would host each year at their home in Cataluña, Spain. Nicol vividly remembers the birthday cakes that her mother baked for her and the inventive games they played among friends.
“We would mold flour into the shape of a cake and place a candy on top,” Nicol fondly recollects one game. “Each child would cut a slice of the [pretend] cake, and if the candy fell, the person responsible had to [fish the sweet] out using only their nose and mouth.”
Nicol also recalls the disco-themed birthday parties she had as a teenager, how she and her friends danced in the banquet room of the beachside hotels where her mother worked as a manager. The designer’s childhood birthdays, no matter how simple, are joyous memories that she has held onto for decades, and will continue to retain for decades to come. It was Nicol’s wish to someday mesh fun games and delicious food with her own original ideas to celebrate her children’s birthdays. Indeed, as the years passed, she achieved that to perfection.
Founder & Lead Designer NICOL W. SEGEL, Photography by RACHEL McGINN
Nicol Floral Design’s prolific founder has loved entertaining for as long as she can remember, and at a time when her three children were her full-time job, their awe-inspiring birthday parties were how she first explored her craft. From pulling an all-nighter inflating one hundred ride-on sharks for a pirate-themed pool party, to clipping the hydrangeas in her own garden for fresh, personalized floral arrangements, when it comes to her children, there is no bridge Nicol will not cross to see them smile. Evidently, the parties that the resourceful designer once hosted were functions that both her guests and her children would not soon forget.
Founder & Lead Designer NICOL W. SEGEL, Photography by RACHEL McGINN
A Fun & Flowery Approach to Birthdays
Flowers are most commonly used as representations of love, friendship, and joy, so what better element to include as a backdrop for your child’s special day?
Nicol specializes in dressing up events for all ages, from newborn photoshoots to sweet sixteens, her couture silk flower walls can fit in flawlessly at any gathering. Lively children’s parties, however, are her absolute favorite because they remind her of when her own kids were young.
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “CAROLINA,” Photography by YVONNE LIN CHANG
“If only flower walls had been an option back when I [was hosting] my children’s parties,” Nicol says, “I certainly would have included them.”
The aspiring designer was always hunting for creative ways to utilize florals at her parties, so much so that she became inspired to create floral structures of her own. It is Nicol’s belief that florals enhance a child’s birthday experience by “transforming and filling a space with color and life.” Her silk flower walls are meant to “transport the children to an impossible location.”
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “BELLA,” Photography by ANGELINA M. PHOTOGRAPHY
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “CHEYENNE,” Photography by RACHEL McGINN
When a venue is indoors, these ethereal florals bring nature to you, with the added advantage of not having to deal with unpredictable weather conditions. “Flower walls control and contain an environment,” Nicol explains, “which is important when you’ve got a lot of little ones running around.”
Nicol Floral Design was proudly at the forefront of the birthday flower wall trend, which rose to popularity around seven years ago in the Philadelphia and Delaware County areas. The founder’s originality has since paved the way for countless other designers and event planners who followed suit and are now incorporating flower walls at children’s parties throughout the region.
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “NATALIE,” Photography by RACHEL McGINN
The Parents’ Guide to a Memorable Party
“I want guests to have the time of their lives,” says Nicol. “That’s why I got into the event business—because I love creating [a memorable experience].”
Photography by RACHEL McGINN
Photography by MADDIE KULIG
Bounce houses, ball pits, ice cream trucks, pony rides, face painting, pools, and slippery slides… at children’s parties, the sky’s the limit. A child’s birthday party is a bittersweet occasion for mothers and fathers, because though every parent wants to celebrate their child on their birthday, no parent wants their child to grow up. While a parent may not be capable of halting time, surely, they can create a memory that will last in their loved ones’ minds and hearts forever.
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “BELLA,” Photography by RACHEL McGINN
“Birthday parties, especially children's parties, are very personal,” the designer explains. For instance, one of her kids went through a Lion King phase, which became the theme of their upcoming party. “Their interests change over time,” says Nicol. “And as parents, we have to keep up [with those changes].”
Some little ones enjoy tea parties, some love pirates, or horses, or dinosaurs, and so forth. “They love playing a part in the world that you create for them,” Nicol says, comparing the festive occasion to Halloween. “It’s a theatrical moment for the kids.”
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “AMANDA,” Photography by KSENIYA BERSON
Nicol thinks back to her most favorite birthday celebration that she hosted as a new mom. “It was a colorful, Teletubbies-themed party for my oldest daughter’s second birthday,” she recalls. “There were pony rides, a kids’ DJ, and performers dressed as the Teletubbies.”
When asked what she found made her guests the happiest at the parties she threw, Nicol says that while the bounce house was always a major hit, it was the ice cream truck that “people went [the most] wild for—both the kids and adults loved it.” In the summertime, Nicol typically had a barbecue and a large buffet with a salad bar. “Guests loved the display,” she remarks, “and they were grateful for the wide range of options.”
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “AMANDA,” Balloons by PEONIES EVENTS, Photography by KSENIYA BERSON
For parents seeking recommendations, Nicol suggests hiring an event planner for your child’s birthday party. “Event planners bring all the best vendors together and make the process as stress-free as possible,” she explains. For hosts on a budget, Nicol knows of plenty of affordable event planners.
When it comes to choosing a memorable theme, some classics that will never go out of style are the Disney princesses, Toy Story, Moana, Frozen, and—a more recent trend—Encanto. Nicol Floral Designs’s striking, red flower wall, “Amanda,” was recently the centerpiece of a carnival-themed birthday bash that Nicol described as “original and well executed.”
One of Nicol’s favorite venues for a kids’ birthday party is the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, as the location is literally built for children. Above all, the seasoned designer recommends hosting children’s parties at private homes because this is usually the least overwhelming option for parents needing to keep eyes on so many young party-goers.
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “AMANDA,” Photography by KSENIYA BERSON
Choosing the Best Flower Wall for Your Child
For every idyllic venue, magical theme, and special child, there’s an enchanting flower wall. At children’s parties, Nicol Floral Design’s expertly-crafted silk walls are typically used as backdrops for the photo booth, the birthday cake display, and the gift table.
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “NAOMI,” Photography by FRANCESCA MICHETTI
The flower walls currently trending at children’s parties are “Bella,”, “Naomi,” “Amanda,” “Carolina,” and “Kaia.” Nicol explains that “Bella,” a blissful-pink flower wall, is her most popular rental for the occasion, and often the choice for young girls’ parties. An exciting trend that Nicol has seen a lot of lately is tropical and safari-themed parties that gravitate towards her lush, green flower wall, “Kaia.” For Frozen parties, Nicol recommends “Carolina,” a vibrant, blue flower wall.
Nicol suggests decorating the area around the flower wall with color-coordinated balloons and other props. Some creative additions that the floral designer has seen at birthday celebrations recently are large dinosaur statues, stuffed-animal party favors, Disney character cutouts, and even live animals at a safari-themed party.
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “KAIA,” Photography by KSENIYA BERSON
Balloons by PEONIES EVENTS, Photography by KSENIYA BERSON
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “KAIA,” Photography by KSENIYA BERSON
The creative team at Nicol Floral Design understands that throwing parties can be stressful, especially for parents who are already juggling so much.
“Nicol Floral Design takes care of the entire [flower wall] installation,” the lead designer guarantees. “We drop [the wall] off, carefully set it up, and easily remove it after [the festivities have concluded].” On average, it takes thirty to forty-five minutes to set up a standard, eight-foot flower wall. Deconstructing the wall afterwards and removing it from the venue takes approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. Upon request, Nicol is available to recommend and coordinate with other vendors in order to achieve the perfect look for your child’s celebration.
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “AMANDA,” Balloons by PEONIES EVENTS, Photography by KSENIYA BERSON
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “BELLA,” Photography by RACHEL McGINN
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “NATALIE,” Photography by RACHEL McGINN
Gratitude for Nicol Floral Design’s Founder
Mother, first. Artist, second. Nicol, harnessing decades of knowledge and experience, has mastered a lifestyle of coupling the two demanding occupations.
Founder & Lead Designer NICOL W. SEGEL, Photography by MADDIE KULIG
“She’s a brilliant event planner,” says Skyla, age 24, of her mother. “Everyone can always count on her to have a plan.” Skyla remembers the colorful “polka-dot cake and the one hundred inflatable balls in the pool” at her tropical island-themed birthday party. “[Nicol] executed everything to perfection every single time without fail.”
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “BELLA,” Photography by MADDIE KULIG
“She was resolutely committed to our happiness,” says Xavi, age 23, as he recalls a birthday party of his own. “It was wonderful,” Nicol’s youngest child remarks. “There was a lot of structure to the planning process. There was never anything to prove or to be gained; it was simply about the kids having a truly special experience that we would remember for the rest of our lives.”
Just as her mother before her, Nicol set an example—one that, no doubt, her three children will someday reinvent as their own.
Nicol Floral Design flower wall “CHEYENNE,” Photography by MADDIE KULIG
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