About the Owners

About the Owners

Aspiring florists Vonna Earixson and Tami Johnson met in 2002 while studying floral design.  They both fell in love with designing flowers and started their own independent wedding and event floral businesses after working for well-known local businesses, Stems & Vines and Dundee Floral, respectively.  They collaborated on events and ideas and formed a solid friendship.

Early on in their businesses, to get their name out there and meet bridal couples, they both participated in a number of wedding fairs.  They both loved the energy and the creativity that the wedding fairs sparked in them and the wedding industry.  Wedding fairs are expensive to participate in and a lot of work for just one day.  They discussed opening a retail store to have a bigger presence in the market, but they both had worked in retail shops and they really loved being part of the excitement of big events best.  Referrals from previous weddings and other wedding professionals still made up a significant portion of their business.  There had to be a better way to get their names out there and have a place where couples could find and meet with them.

While driving along Grand Avenue en route to a floral design event, Vonna told Tami about her idea to create a place - a wedding marketplace - that would offer the same energy of a wedding fair, but with year round availability and a boutique shop feel. This would allow them the opportunity to work with select vendors who, like them, were exceptional small business owners simply needing a showcase and meeting space for their unique talents.  Eureka!

As long time peers and collaborators, Vonna and Tami knew that they had a winning idea.  After years of research and feedback from couples and wedding professionals, they set off to make Vonna’s dream a reality.  Their mission was to find the right space and the right select vendors to compliment each other to make a fun, fabulous and unique one-stop shop for customers planning events.

Vonna and Tami present Make It Grand! Your Wedding and Event Marketplace!

Together, with the talents of hand-selected event vendors that make customer service their priority, Make It Grand! will cater to discerning couples and hostesses across the Twin Cities Metro.