Carnations and community
Jodi Wischmeyer, co-owner and florist at 3 Wishes Floral and Design Studio, de-thorns a bunch of red roses in her shop on Mission Street in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2026. Wischmeyer sources her flowers from growers all over the world. (CM-Life | Cristin Coppess)
When you walk into 3 Wishes Floral and Design Studio, you’re first greeted by the subtly sweet scent of fresh flowers. About a second later, you’re greeted by Stanley, the store’s in-house dog and beloved community staple.
But unfortunately for Stanley, he doesn’t own 3 Wishes or work as its florist. That mantle falls to his owner, Jodi Wischmeyer.
She’s one of the three “wishes” who have owned and operated the shop since 2013. She’s the face you see in the studio, and her voice is what you hear when you phone in an order.
The remaining “wishes” are her sisters, Mindy and Sheri, who handle the marketing and business end of things. All three graduated from Central Michigan University.
Wischmeyer said running a floral studio is their way of giving back to the community that gave them so much, especially when it comes to CMU. They regularly donate to university functions and often partner with its event planning department to take on students.
“I like to hire college kids because I've been there,” Wischmeyer said. “They can come in and work two hours, then do class, then come back. It helps them not have to have a nighttime job, and they can still make some extra money on the side.”
Stanley the dog watches over his owner, Jodi Wischmeyer, co-owner and florist at 3 Wishes Floral and Design Studio, in her shop on Mission Street in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2026. Stanley is a beloved part of the family-owned business, and customers often drop by the studio to visit him. (CM-Life | Cristin Coppess)
The hands that tie the bow
Wischmeyer’s floral career started off as a side gig she got at the age of 15. After 33 years of arranging and designing, she can knock out an arrangement in less than five minutes, without breaking a sweat.
She starts her days bright and early, typically getting in around 7 a.m. From there, her time is spent checking customer orders, managing deliveries and prepping to make the day’s arrangements.
And she’s not your typical florist. Ironically, she even claims not to like flowers (however, she is partial to zinnias and natural green roses). She even loves the things most florists say they despise.
“I love corsages,” Wischmeyer said. “Almost every florist I know hates corsages. They're tedious, they're time-consuming. I love doing those, and I love doing weddings.”
Jodi Wischmeyer, co-owner and florist at 3 Wishes Floral and Design Studio, adds stems to a bouquet in her shop on Mission Street in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2026. Wischmeyer's favorite thing to arrange is corsages, which she said most florists she knows despise. (CM-Life | Cristin Coppess)
For her, it’s more than the flowers
Wischmeyer said that people often misunderstand her role as a florist, and that there’s more to what she does than meets the eye.
“Everybody always thinks this business is, oh, when I retire, I'm going to do what you do because it'd be great looking at flowers all day,” she explained. “Well, half of my job is dealing with ... people who have lost a loved one. You just never know what the day is going to bring.”
Although flowers are often seen as such a small part of a bigger happening, Wischmeyer prides herself on the quality and longevity of her arrangements. She strives to keep up with trends and offer unique arrangements that keep people buying her products rather than days-old flowers from supermarkets.
“My flower suppliers play a huge part in that, carrying the good, fun, different things so that people don't go to Meijer, they go to 3 Wishes,” she said. “You've got to set yourself apart. So how do you do that? With the creativity of it and the quality of your flowers.”
Wischmeyer’s passion lies in the creative aspect of arranging and the connections she is able to forge with members of her community.
“My customers are what keep me going,” she said. “I love my customers. I know my customers. A lot of my weddings are people that are from here. A lot of them are people (who) aren't from here, but they went to school here. This is a special place for them. It's really kind of fun. That's why I do what I do.”
