Friday, June 29, 2012 at 3:30PM When my husband holds meetings, I love to do flowers for him. I think flowers can elevate any meeting, party, or get-together to another level. I recently did a very simple, quick, and inexpensive centerpiece using green dendrobium orchids and fun, contemporary vases from Ikea. I was also able to do these ahead of time, which is sometimes a huge perk. Orchids last forever.
Monday, June 18, 2012 at 5:20PM Well, I had the most fun creating the flowers for the bridal party and the reception for this weekend's wedding. The flowers were beautiful - roses, peonies, hydrangeas, jasmine vine - the branches were big and tall, and the family was as lovely as the flowers. One of the most special touches, was the peonies that were cut from the bride's dad's garden and saved for weeks in the refigerator. They were divine, and I was touched to get to work with them.
It was a grand weekend. The weather could not have been more gorgeous. Not only for my wedding, but also for my youngest son's dear friend who got married on a farm in Middleburg, and my oldest son's fraternity brother who got married at the inner harbor in Baltimore in an outdoor ceremony. But back to my wedding.
I was so excited about this wedding from the initial meeting through Saturday. I love the organic look, which is so "current" right now! It utilizes branches, vines, and an "unruly" look - a look that mimics how flowers grow in the garden. I call it a little "messy", but strategically "messy." It's young, it's fun, it's organic, it's different, it's stylish and it's gorgeous! Oh, and did I say it's big, it's tall, and it requires a ladder. Ha!!! Where am I going with this? My bride and her mom wanted this look. Yea!!!!
A few pictures follow, but let me say again what an absolute joy it was to work with this lovely family. I hated to see the work end!
Big and gardenesque!!!
This was one of 5 mantles where I used tall branches with gardenesque flowers!
25 cocktail/bistro tables had alternating julep cups and small frosted cubes! I wanted it to look like these flowers were gathered from the garden and arranged in a European hand tied manner!
This main mantle with this lush garland was the backdrop for pictures! I cannot wait to see the professional shots.
One of my absolute favorite bride's bouquet!!!!
Isn't this cake and this very classic topper just gorgeous!!!!! Peonies, roses, jasmine, ivy, gardenia leaves........ oooh, I just love it.
Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 7:27AM I have been having so much fun with my recent weddings because they have been full of fun nuances and the "themes" have been so special to each bride!!!!! I'll show you some pictures of 3 recent weddings.
The first interesting wedding was held at St. Patrick's church, the beautiful redheaded bride was from Irish descent, and the wedding was held on, yes, St. Patrick's day. They wanted something "different" so the pew ends were mini-gardens featuring Bells of Ireland, ferns, and moss. Take a look.
The bouquets for the bridesmaids were all green, of course, with scented geranium leaves for fragrance, and they looked fabulous with the black eyelet bridesmaids' dresses.
I snapped these with my iPhone, and the bride was busy getting dressed when I delivered the flowers, so I don't have a picture of her. I am waiting on photos from the photographer, and then I'll share. Are you feeling like having a Guiness right now?
After this St. Patrick's Day wedding, I did a wedding for an elegant, beautiful lady who is originally from Kentucky. Her wedding was one week before the Kentucky Derby, and when I mentioned my "faux" silver mint julep cups, she told me she had sterling mint julep cups that were her mother's. They were so gorgeous!!!! Also, she wanted a soft palate, mostly whites, in the bouquets and arrangements for the tables at the Fredericksburg Country Club! I sent a picture of the bride's bouquet to my wholesaler, and he featured it on their web site. Oh, I included my Kentucky Colonel mint in the mint julep cup arrangements! Fun, fun, detail!!!! See below:
And, finally, my "vegetable" wedding...... Now, I must say I was, I'll say, "curious" when my art teacher bride met with me, and proceded to tell me she wanted artichokes in her bouquet, and asparagus spears for the grooms bouquet. When I asked her to share her vision of the wedding, she kept saying "fun" for all attending. Let me say, as I told her mom, this floral designer had so much fun with this bouquet and boutonniere. I also filled the bouquets and centerpieces with mint and scented geraniums. You would not believe the fragrances in my shop. Again, these are iPhone pics. However, I've seen some preliminary photos from Melissa Arlena Photography, my office neighbor as well, and they are divine. She is a fabulous photographer, and I cannot wait to get these photos on my web site, but in the meantime here is a peek into this "veggie" wedding.
The teal and yellow color scheme made the venue, an old silk mill, absolute come to life. Fun, fun, wedding!!!!
Friday, May 18, 2012 at 6:56AM A few weeks ago, I attended a fabulous class in New York taught by Nicolette Owen, owner of Nicolette Camille Floral Designs. If you read flower magazines or keep up with the "flower world", then you know that Nicolette is a highly respected, published
and admired floral designer. The workshop was titled "Bringing Nature Home", which is the title of a new book by Ngoc Minh Ngo, a well-known photograper. Nicolette designed all of the arrangements, and they are just out of this world! She is so talented, and so gracious! I have taken lots and lots of classes from many different floral designers in New York, and I have to say that they are the most kind, generous, and gracious people I have ever met. I guess anyone with a true love of flowers has to have a generous spirit. How could one not????
The flowers we were able to choose from were divine!!!! Again, New York, New York!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, those are carnations - a new creamy neutral. Everyone adored them. Yes, carnations have reclaimed their original place in history as a beloved flower!!! Just keep the baby's breath and baker fern out of them!
Pictures of my design are below! It was such a fun way to spend Sunday afternoon, especially after a walk through Central Park that morning with my husband and Yorkie, Chloe! A weekend to remember!
Loved our clippers!
Monday, March 12, 2012 at 11:17AM From a mom: "Thank you for setting the tone. The flowers were incredible! You do an amazing job!"
This is why!