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Ricardo Luna spends his time dressing up events through his flower art, all the while becoming the most prominent artist in his field.

In past times, Luna’s work has led him to Africa and Europe, but now he’s landing at the mansions and halls of Hollywood.

Originally from Mexico, Luna has become a prime example of what hard work and sacrifice can accomplish. He found his calling with flowers, through which he is able to share his talents with the world.

Luna owns Luna Gardens Events.

Living in the city for over 30 years, Los Angeles saw him give birth to and nurtured his profession.

In an exclusive interview with Living Out Loud, Luna discusses how he found his passion, his success, the empire he has created, as well as his hardships and obstacles he’s had to overcome.

“My taste comes from the love an passion I have for flowers. I began by working at a flower shop sweeping and cleaning,” says Luna. “I started from the bottom but that’s how I was introduced to this world. That’s how I developed my passion for floral design and producing events.”

Luna is usually the designer of floral shows, as well as his show’s producer. He coordinates everything from the design of his events, to the food, sets, and lighting. He develops the entire concept, dynamic and logistics of the shows he participates in, from beginning to end.

He is involved in everything from private family events to multinational corporate events.

“We cover a wide range of shows. We do spectacular weddings, the Grammys, gatherings of 1,000 to 3,000 people, and so on,” he says. “We’ve worked with Google, Apple, and other major corporations and we are engaged in every aspect.”

Through defining his own style, the designed has managed to transcend boundaries and to expand his work worldwide.

“I’ve had to produce events all over the world, including Africa, Italy, Mexico, France, and Ireland. We work hard and do things right,” shares Luna. “Our work has to be on point because it is viewed by millions of people, and with social media these days, word spreads fast.”

Luna also tells us how his 12 years at the Beverly Hotel in L.A. gave him the ideal platform to have his art seen, and everything else just fell into place.

He recently coordinated the homage to Mexican icon Flor Silvestre at the Los Angeles Theatre, and he elaborates on his relationship with the venue.

“The L.A. Theatre has been a client of mine, and that connected me to Latin Celebrities here in the city. I worked with Juan Gabriel at his Malibu, West Hollywood and Pacific Palisades homes,” he says. “I also work with Pepe Aguilar and do his birthday parties, album release parties, and personal parties. I’ve also worked with Penelope Cruz, Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria, and Elizabeth Taylor’s last wedding.”

Even though he has considerable input to the client, he admits that as a designer, he has to adapt to each type of event, as well as the vision and taste of his clients.

Luna explains this is one of the reasons he has come to be so successful.

“These days, whether I’m working a wedding, birthday party, anniversary or even a baptism, the clients already know about 80% of what they want, to the most specific detail,” he admits. “As a good designer, you must not only listen to and understand what your client wants, but also validate those ideas. You have to make sure they really are part of the process, because that makes them more dedicated. The key to any business, really, is to listen to what your client wants.”

It’s this embrace of his clients, and his humble nature, that has made him one of the top designers in L.A. Despite this, he understands that his work needs to expand, and that one of the beset ways for this to happen is to mentor and nurture up-and-coming talents who are starting from the bottom, like he did.

“When people come to me with the will and disposition to learn, I have always been very open to sharing what I know, and giving people opportunities,” says Luna. “People who have worked for me in the past now have their own businesses. There’s a piece for everyone, and when the will and hard work are there, they deserve those opportunities.”

Luna Gardens Events caters everything from floral arrangements, dance floors, table dressings, lighting, and more.

“I’m actually relatively affordable in this town. I’m not the most expensive option, but I’m also not the cheapest,” he says. “It really depends on what the client’s needs are, but I am in charge of producing everything. I work with everyone, on their budget.”

Luna is truly an inspirational story to follow, especially as an immigrant who came to the U.S. and actually made his dreams come true, purely out of hard work and sacrifice.

“I feel proud as a Hispanic man in the U.S. who has been able to put his mark, and I want everyone to know that the opportunities are out there for those who are really willing to work for them,” he says.

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