A Tuscaloosa florist has returned home after helping decorate the White House for Christmas.
Tammy West, owner and creative director of Glow Floral Event Design, was selected earlier this year to assist with decorating the White House for the 2025 Christmas season, a rare honor extended to designers from across the country.
West and her assistant, Lacey Labaj, were part of a volunteer decorating team that spent a week in Washington, D.C., preparing the executive residence ahead of the annual White House Christmas celebration.
Glow Floral Event Design, which operates in downtown Tuscaloosa, has become known for its work on weddings, corporate events, university functions, and large-scale seasonal installations throughout Alabama. West launched the business during the COVID-19 pandemic, growing it from a home-based operation into a full-service floral and event design studio serving clients across the state.
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Since returning from Washington, West has shared details of her experience publicly, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into decorating one of the nation’s most historic spaces. In an interview with Yellowhammer News, West said one of the most meaningful moments came during a meeting with the White House’s lead curator.
Standing in rooms lined with portraits of past presidents underscored both the significance of the location and the responsibility decorators carry in preserving tradition while creating memorable holiday spaces, West said.
West and Labaj were primarily assigned to the Grand Foyer, one of the first spaces guests see during a White House Christmas. West said she was thrilled when she learned where they would be working. “The Grand Foyer is one of the most iconic spaces in the White House and knowing we would be part of that was incredibly exciting,” she said, noting that the area contains some of the most prominent trees in the building.
The area featured approximately 29 Christmas trees ranging from four to 12 feet tall. When the team finished their assignment, the trees were adorned with Fraser fir and conifer greenery, deep velvet ribbon, seasonal florals, gold accents, burgundy ornaments, taper candles, and velvet-wrapped gift boxes.
The work required long days and exacting attention to detail, particularly when it came to lighting the large, fresh-cut trees to meet precise design standards.
Despite the intensity of the process, West said one of her proudest moments came when the lead designer singled out her work on a tree in the Grand Foyer to use as an example for how the other trees should be decorated in the area. “That was incredibly humbling and rewarding,” West said.
West said the experience provided creative inspiration she plans to bring back to her work in Alabama, particularly in lighting techniques, custom tree bases, and wrapped design elements. She also described working alongside volunteers from across the country as one of the most rewarding aspects of the week, noting a shared sense of purpose among the team. She added she is still in contact with many of the members she met during the event.
The experience included moments of unexpected connection as well. West said she and her team traded friendly “Roll Tide” greetings with members of the U.S. Secret Service while wearing Alabama gear during Iron Bowl weekend.
The White House assignment drew national media attention as well. According to West, HGTV filmed portions of the White House Christmas decorating process, and her assistant, Lacey Labaj, was interviewed for the television special highlighting the event — exposure that further elevated the significance of the experience for the small Alabama-based business.
Following a busy holiday season and the White House assignment, Glow Floral Event Design will close from December 12 through January 5 to allow the team time to rest and recharge. The business is scheduled to reopen in January and will resume serving clients across Tuscaloosa and the surrounding region, with West bringing the inspiration of a once-in-a-lifetime experience back home to Alabama.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
