A Tribute to My Friend, Bill Enright

By Michele Hodges

On January 3, 2023 William Charles Enright, “Bill” to many of us in the Washington, DC events industry and “Billy”, to his mom, sisters, extended family and childhood friends, passed away at Georgetown Medstar Hospital.  For the past two and half decades, Bill helped create some of the most stunning special events in the DC Metropolitan area in countless ballrooms, tents, museums and private residences.  He started his career in the DC area at Amaryllis Floral and Event Design in 1999, where he worked for ten years, before joining forces with Edge Floral Event Designers in early 2009.  He worked at Edge, as their lead designer, from 2009-2019 before starting his own company, William Thomas Floral in the spring of 2019.  His breathtaking centerpiece designs, ceiling installations, custom bars, furniture and dance floors consistently showed off his flair for drama and beauty.  His immense creativity, dedication to his clients’ successful celebrations and ability to make the most difficult customer envision their event in excitement has created a massive void for many of us that were fortunate enough to work with him.  

I first met Bill when he started working at Edge Floral Event Designers, a month after he began his stellar career there in March of 2009.  He was painfully shy and was patiently waiting for a client’s ceremony to end, sitting behind a wall of drape that separated the wedding ceremony and dinner tables, staging, a dance floor and bars that were ready to be moved into place when the service concluded.  Little did I know that fist conversation would evolve into an amazing friendship and business relationship that spanned fourteen years and over 100 events together.

Bill was always eager to make those of us around him successful.  With the enormous number of details that go into planning a client’s event, mistakes are often made.  Bill was unique among his competitors when things went wrong.  He would do anything to ensure an event was successful, regardless of what his contract of services for a given event specified.  I will eternally be grateful for the many “favors” he extended to my staff and I when things went awry.  He had an amazing work ethic and would stay on site until every detail was impeccable.  He was also fiercely loyal to people he cared about and had the best sense of humor.  

In addition to being there when things were going well, a true friend is there for you when things are at their worst.  Bill undoubtedly defined a true friend.  He never hesitated to take a call at odd hours or offer advice when it was most needed.  I’ll never forget the one and only time a father of a bride made me cry.  It occurred just before his daughter was about to process down the aisle.  Fortunately for me, Bill was the décor designer that day and swooped in when he saw my tears.  He whisked me out of site, fixed my makeup, gave me a pep talk and had me lining up a bridal party within a few minutes of my meltdown.

I will miss my sweet, kind, generous, sensitive, funny friend.  Thank you, Bill Enright, for the countless times you made me look like a rock star at clients’ celebrations, all the laughs, delicious recipes, late night phone calls, beauty tips, and Tik Toks.  May you rest in the peace you so richly deserve.