Conversations with Abby Jane Bruner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Jane Bruner.

Hi Abby Jane, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I consider myself a Floral Designer and Musician. Going to tell you a little about how I got started. I’ve been involved in music since I was young. I pursued it in school and it was definitely my first love. I started out performing with my best friend at local restaurants in high school and started a band in college. We recorded and released our own songs and played many local shows. Songwriting has always been a huge part of my life and something I am drawn to when expressing my emotions. It wasn’t until I moved to Nashville and created my floral business that I was able to create more space for music. I recently started my own artist project, Abby Jane. I released an EP last fall called, “I Don’t Want to Pretend” and am working on an album I hope to start rolling out towards the end of the year.

Alongside my music, I run a floral business called Abbj Design. My journey with floral design began later in my life. In my early twenties, I worked at a local shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I started out as a store assistant, helping with cleanup, processing and smaller sized styling. On the weekends, I began experimenting with my own floral creations at home, designing tablescapes for friends and family. I hosted dinners, collaborated with friends on special events and intimate gatherings, and gradually developed a real love for it.

When I moved to Nashville in 2021, I was looking for work and decided to take things further and officially start my own floral business. At first, it was a low-key operation — I took on small gigs here and there whenever I could fit them in around other jobs I was working. Since then, my business has steadily grown into something more sustainable. Now I am specializing in branding events, pop-ups, dinner events, weddings and intimate gatherings. Excited for some larger scaled events this year and am learning so much about the industry as I go. Grateful for my peers and creative heroes who have inspired me along the way. I’m excited to keep creating in a multi-faceted way!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Some of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced have been learning the ins and outs of owning a business. I consider myself a businesswoman, but I naturally prefer the creative side — dreaming, designing, and executing — over the day-to-day operations. I’ve had to push myself to build confidence in my ability to make decisions that support both my business and my creativity. I often find big decisions easier than the small ones. But I’ve learned that paying attention to the small decisions is crucial because a lot of little choices, all at once, can have a big impact down the line.

One area that’s been particularly challenging for me is locking in my pricing and sticking to it. Over time, I’ve grown a lot in that area, and I’m proud of the boundaries I’ve set for myself and my business. It has been a game changer!

Another ongoing challenge is juggling the busy nature of my work with my creative pursuits. I’m a highly organized person, so I can keep things in order, but I sometimes find myself overwhelmed by the question of where to focus my creativity each day. I’ve worked hard to develop a weekly flow that helps me balance everything, and I make a conscious effort to divide my time thoughtfully between all the parts of what I do. I never want my business or work to take over my desire to push myself in my dreams as a musician.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I consider myself a multi-faceted creative, something I haven’t always fully embraced. For a while, I thought I needed to focus on just one thing to be taken seriously. But over time, I’ve found real joy and fulfillment in pursuing all the things I love, in a way that feels true to who I am.

When people ask what I do, I usually don’t sum it up with one title. I describe it based on what my days actually look like. My week is a mix of running my floral design business and working part-time as an assistant at a publishing company. In my floral work, I specialize in branding events, weddings, and intimate gatherings. My style leans whimsical and overgrown, but sometimes with a modern and polished edge.

Most of my work is in the freelance and creative space, so I build my own schedule. Because of that gift, I make sure to carve out time for songwriting and studio sessions a few times a week. Sometimes that means shifting sessions to evenings or weekends, but I do whatever it takes to give that part of myself the time and energy it deserves. So I consider myself a songwriter and an artist.

On the side, I also love sharing my interests in fashion, home decor, and event design on social media. Collaborating with brands and sharing the things that inspire me is such a fun way to stay connected and give people a fuller picture of who I am. I love blending my personal style into everything, from floral and event design to music visuals and promo.

Social media definitely has its tricky sides for me, but I also see it as a space to express myself, share my creativity, and connect with others in an authentic way.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Nashville. Okay I know it sounds a little cheesy, but it’s truly inspired me to follow my dreams in a way that feels authentic to who I am. Living here has shown me that it’s possible to build a creative life, to actually do the things you want, and to push yourself to turn them into reality. There’s something so raw and genuine about how people go after things here.

I’ve learned so much from the friends and artists around me in this city. It really feels like we’re all in it together, and that’s one of the things I love most about Nashville. I’m especially drawn to the people here who are balancing their personal lives and families in a healthy, intentional way, without sacrificing their passions and goals. That’s so inspiring to me. It reminds me that as I keep growing, I can keep pushing myself creatively while still making time and space for the people and community I care most about.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abbjdesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyjanebruner/
• Other: https://push.fm/fl/idontwanttopretend