Love, Love Me Do!

I just wanted to wish everyone a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
They say that Valentine's Day was made by candy companies to drive up sales and make single women depressed. I can understand this philosophy, but it's not mine. Any day given completely over to celebrating LOVE in all it's forms has got my vote. It's not about the chocolate or the roses. It's about LOVE! So celebrate!... ( p.s. flowers and chocolates are nice too ; )

"All You Need is Love"

Well, it's Monday and my day started with a flooded basement. Sigh. I was supposed to be a mentor to someone today. I was looking forward to it. I was rocking the Einstein hair and feeling very wise.Then voila, the plans changed. This happens sometimes. There is nothing I can do about it, but rock the mop in gumboots; call the plumber, and pray he wears pants that cover his whole bottom.
Sometimes these unforseen events happen in weddings too. No use fretting or getting angry; sometimes bad things happen to good people. What is important and always will be is that LOVE is present. That LOVE is being celebrated. That LOVE rocks your world. Your groomsman breaking a vase....not so important. My plumbing problem will be fixed eventually.
The Beatles really do say it the best, "All you need is love."
Now, I must get back to rocking it out with my broom and feeling the LOVE ;)

Happy New Year! Wedding Inspiration

Memorial Weekend Wedding Floral Details: Sneak Peek

I had the honor of creating the floral designs for Susan and Lauren's wedding this weekend. A nicer couple I have not met. It was an intimate affair; which are always the loveliest of weddings.The couple came all the way from Alaska to have their wedding here in our fair city and I must say the weather did not disappoint!
The bride, I would say is a true classic, romantic and requested flowers with a romantic,garden style theme. She also requested no daisies or carnations and said in her initial email to me and I quote, "I am a complete flower freak and there must not be any daisies or carnations in this wedding!" It was a pretty easy request to comply with! She also requested some heather and thistle as Lauren was wearing a kilt. Susan also loves sweet peas which were tricky to get as it is still a bit early in the season for them....but we managed to snag some at the auction...yeah!
Here is her bouquet...so utterly feminine and romantic.
What do you give a woman wearing a kilt probably more comfortable in jeans and t-shirt? Who does not want a bouquet? Not a corsage, not a boutonniere but a borsage....my new name for a floral piece that has a little bit of both elements ! Floral designers are allowed to make up words...it's true!
The corsages.
The boutonnieres .
The wristlet.
The altar pieces.
The flowers waiting patiently for the bridal party to arrive at the church.
The fabulous stained glass window at the church. The First Unitarian Church has the most beautiful vibe of any church I have ever been in. Such a lovely venue.
The centerpieces in the studio.
Centerpieces in the venue.
A tented affair. Setting up.
A close up of the head table piece.

The head table piece.
Susan phoned me tonight, the day after her wedding just to tell me how much they loved the flowers and how the floral pieces totally exceeded their expectations.This was so nice of her and completely unexpected as she really should be honeymooning . This just made my evening! I love flower freaks! Any more of you out there?
We wait with bated breath to see the professional photos once they are finished being processed.
All the best to Susan and Lauren for a life rich with love and happiness!

Spring Weddings 2009

Here are a few floral details I did for a recent wedding in March. I love the fresh, romantic colours of chartreuse and pink.This wedding was all about orchids! I can't wait to see the real photos when the couple gets back from their honeymoon. Enjoy!
I have a feeling this bouquet is going to be one of my favourites this season. It is so romantic and feminine.
The Bride's Maids carried these bouquets in cream and chartreuse.
The Fathers and Grandfathers wore these simple and elegant boutonnieres . The Groom lost his Grandfather the day before the wedding. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family.
The Flower Girls were very young so I suggested they carry their special teddies down the aisle.Not before we dressed them up!

I just fell in love with the creamy texture and pink throat of these orchids. My studio was full of the heavenly scent of orchids.What florist could ask for anything more ! Stay tuned for our Mother's Day Giveaway Contest posted this week. See older posts.

Floral Fashionista Fridays

So, I have decided to designate my Fridays to all that is beautiful and artful within the fashion world. I am a firm believer in supporting the world's artists. What is the world without art!
That said, this week I am featuring the beautiful work of Red Ruby Rose
Based out of Bristol, U.K. Rowena creates beautiful clutches lined with dupioni silk. Designed with different colours and fabrics. I am particularly in love with the floral motif clutches.....must have!
These would make lovely bridal accessories or bride's maids gifts. So reasonably priced even with shipping from the U.K. Hope you love them too! Check out the post before to see more of her clutches and make sure to check out her shop! Also, stay tuned for a Mother's Day Give Away Contest that we will be featuring in our blog this week.You could win the peony clutch featured above for your mom or yourself! Oh yeah!

The Art of Choosing Your Wedding Florist

Every now and then I receive an email or telephone call where a bride asks, "How much do you charge for one dozen red roses?"
I suppose this is one way for the bride to determine how expensive, or not a certain florist may be but it in no way takes into consideration the "art"of creating floral designs for a wedding.Usually, the bride does not only want a dozen red roses. She wants a dozen red roses with red berries,white feathers and crystal picks with folded leaves and a white satin wrap with a crystal buckle! Do you understand what I am getting at? Simply pricing one dozen red roses does not give an accurate representation of the cost.
Planning the flowers for a wedding involves: a complimentary consultation with the bride in person or through a series of emails,follow up consultations, many emails and phone calls, creating the floral designs, keeping track of all the bride's changes and requests, pricing the designs, preliminary quotes,secondary quotes and sometimes more, creating a contract, liaison with other wedding vendors working on the special day so that everything flows smoothly, compiling the types of flowers used and how many, ordering the flowers, conditioning the flowers, creating many individual works of art, delivering these works of art to a beautiful bridal party and wedding venues in a timely fashion! Please imagine the hours and hours of time involved in this creative process.So, simply pricing a dozen red roses does not "embrace the art."

These in my opinion are the best ways to choose your wedding florist:

• TRUST: Do you trust that the florist understands your vision? Do you trust that the florist can create and implement your vision? Does your florist listen to you? Give you ideas to work with and off? Do you like the florist? Can you see yourself able to work and communicate with the florist easily? Is the florist organized? Does the florist's reputation speak for itself?

• ART: Is the florist creative? Can the florist design in many different styles? Have you viewed the florist's actual portfolio? Do you like the florist's work? Do you feel confident that the florist can design in your style? Does the florist's art speak for itself?

• Budget: Last but not least budget. Be honest about your budget with your florist. Have a floral budget set before seeing your florist and a bottom line. For example: "I do not want to spend more than $2000.00 including taxes and deliveries."This gives the florist an accurate budget to work with and advise you on. Be realistic. If your budget is $500.00 and you have ten people in your bridal party, desire 20 centerpieces and your favourite flowers are orchids you may have to adjust your vision to accommodate your budget.Be flexible with your floral choices and open to suggestions.A good florist can work to any budget within perimeters. That being said, some good florists have budget minimums because they only accept one wedding on any given date . Read Testimonials ....Happy Brides speak for themselves!

So, as you can see choosing a good florist takes some consideration. I encourage all brides to "embrace the art" of their special day!