“Love in Full Color”
Behind the Scenes of Our Decatur Pride Design
There’s something magical about seeing a vision come to life—especially when that vision is bursting with color, love, and community. When we were asked to help design a photo backdrop for the very first Decatur Pride celebration, we knew we wanted to go big. Not just in size, but in heart. We wanted every person walking by—whether they were part of the LGBTQ+ community, an ally, or just a curious passerby—to feel included, seen, and celebrated.
From the very beginning, inclusivity was at the core of this design. We didn’t just want a rainbow—we wanted life in that rainbow. So we combined two of our favorite things: balloons and blooms. Think of it like building a layered cake—each detail carefully chosen to create a delicious, joyful whole. We used eight full packs of balloons, blowing them up in every shade of the rainbow (plus a few extras for contrast and softness). Sizes were varied on purpose—because not all beauty is uniform, and not all stories are the same.
But the real heart of the display? The florals.
Over 100 individual stems went into that cascading rainbow of flowers. From deep red roses to buttery sunflowers, velvety purples, and wild sprigs of greenery, we wanted to represent the diversity of love and identity with texture, color, and movement. The arrangement flows down like a celebration in full bloom—a visual “you’re welcome here” that we hope people felt as they walked past or stopped to pose.
Helping bring this moment to life felt like history in the making. Decatur’s first ever Pride event had an incredible turnout. People showed up with love in their hearts, glitter on their cheeks, and so many happy tears. We saw families, teens, elders, chosen families, and new friends. It was an honor just to stand among them—let alone contribute something visual to their joy.
More than anything, this installation was about joy made tangible. It wasn’t just a backdrop for photos—it was a backdrop for belonging.
If this was just the first year, we can’t wait to see how Decatur Pride grows from here. And we’ll be right there, with more flowers, more balloons, and a whole lot more love.
Until next time,
Sara @ Fleur De Lease