Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue
Think about what you have on a shelf that needs some attention and be the creative floral artist you have always been. Imagine what an item can become and make it happen. Yes, you should always think out of the box when designing, creating and living.
Create something beautiful…
Think about what you have on a shelf that needs some attention and be the creative floral artist you have always been. Imagine what an item can become and make it happen. Yes, you should always think out of the box when designing, creating and living.
Something borrowed…
Utilizing your rental pieces in a unique way to create a beautiful display is a key to success. Reinventing these amazing cake stands into a design will enhance any dessert table.
Something old….
The structure was constructed using a plastic 6” flowerpot separating the two tiers of the cake stands. I then wrapped poultry wire around the pot and a cluster of it on the top tier. Make sure to fold in your end pieces so it does not damage the mirror. The wire is used to hold the floral in place for the design.
Something new….
Such a beautiful assortment of garden blooms:
Green Trick
Hydrangea
Stock
Wax Flower
Monte Casino
Astrantia
Something blue….
The design started with blue hydrangea and green trick as the base floral. These blooms would cover the gap between the levels and poultry wire. Water tubes were utilized to keep the hydrangea fresh.
Placing the blooms….
I placed the remaining blooms into the design. The poultry wire, hydrangea and green trick held the stems in place. Utilize water tubes on your more delicate blooms.
Finish the look….
To finish the display, place the wedding cake upon an additional cake stand. The design will be complete by adding coordinating blooms for the cake décor. A perfect display any couple would love to have on their wedding day.
Old, New, Borrowed & Blue
Such a beautiful way to celebrate love while utilizing what you have in stock!
Pretty In Pink Winter Design
After creating the pink inspired bouquet, I thought why not design something inspired by the bouquet for the holidays! I was inspired by the color pink and winter ice for this holiday design.
Pink + Winter + Holidays = Fabulosity
After creating the pink inspired bouquet, I thought why not design something inspired by the bouquet for the holidays! I was inspired by the color pink and winter ice for this holiday design.
The cast for this show…
Some of the stars for this design are:
white painted branches
pink feather boa
bleached peacock feathers
ornaments
ruscus & silver dollar eucalyptus
Color me pretty….
I created a gypsophila garland and color enhanced it with Design Master Perfect Pink. So delicate yet so impactful.
Let the assembly begin….
First, I added chicken wire to the vessel to hold stems in place. I created a duo cascade down the side of the vessel by layering the pink feather boa on top of the gypsophila garland. Next, I inserted the peacock feathers off to the side for drama and white branches in the center of the design for height.
Color and movement….
I choose seeded eucalyptus and frosted ruscus because it had the perfect color and movement. The eucalyptus flowed beautifully over the vessel. The combination of the two foliages worked perfectly with our pink winter theme.
Flower power….
I utilized pink lisianthus, ivory roses, pink astrantia, pink scabiosa and white statice for this design. The shades of pink and white completely worked with the theme. Soft and delicate yet extremely impactful. Inserting the pink lisianthus down through the gypsophila garland increased the visual movement of the design.
Accented with frost….
I brought the holidays feel into this design by adding iridescent and crystalized ornaments to the design. The textures and colors are perfect for our theme. The perfect finishing touches!
Pretty in pink….
The perfect Pretty in Pink design for the holidays. This would be a favorite of anyone who loves a unique and nontraditional winter holiday arrangement. The feeling of the season is unique for everyone!
Happy Holidays and warm wishes for the New Year!
Understanding The Client’s Vision
Listening and understanding is key to your client’s happiness. When I meet with a couple, I ask them about their event vision, floral and design likes/dislikes, and their love story to create a one-of-a-kind wedding look specific for them. I believe in inspiration however as a floral artist it is up to us to create a custom design for our clients utilizing their dreams.
Listening and understanding is key to your client’s happiness. When I meet with a couple, I ask them about their event vision, floral and design likes/dislikes, and their love story to create a one-of-a-kind wedding look specific for them. I believe in inspiration however as a floral artist it is up to us to create a custom design for our clients utilizing their dreams.
Give them what they want….
This specific client requests were white floral, candlelight, multiple vessels, gold, glass and romance. Of course, my answer is YES, I would be happy to incorporate their vision into the final designs.
This is going to be a stunning wedding!
Picking the blooms….
For this tablescape I selected Playa Blanca roses, white peonies, white spray roses, silver dollar eucalyptus, and ruscus. The shades of white and guaranteed to add to the romance of the day.
I choose all round shaped blooms as I wanted a round compact floral arrangement for this centerpiece.
Playa Blanca are my go-to roses for wedding design. They open beautifully and are a strong rose choice.
Element by element the design comes to life….
Accent Décor Athena Candle Holders provide the visual weight for this tablescape. They are visual luxurious and the perfect shade of gold.
When selecting elements for the centerpiece I always take into account the room they will be going in. This specific room is luxurious with gold accents.
Glow….
I incorporated candlelight by adding pillar candles enclosed in cylinder vases to two of the candlesticks (tall and short). A beautiful floral display will be placed on the third candlestick.
You need to be educated on venues regulations when designing within their spaces. Example: many venues require all candles to be enclosed in glass.
Keep adding elements….
As the tablescape continued to come to life I will added 3 various height cylinders with pillar candles around the design. The success of this tablescape is the various levels being created by the vessels.
Bringing it down to the table….
The final hardgoods added to this tablescape was 8 votive candles. 4 will be mercury gold and 4 will be clear glass. I have grouped the candles (1 gold, 1 clear) around the display.
When the guests walk into the room they will be greeted by various heights of candlelight and floral. A perfect visual welcome!
Bringing in the green….
I prepared the floral elements by greening two arrangements with ruscus and eucalyptus. I utilized a 4” and 6” liner to hold the designs. For event work I prefer to utilize Oasis Midnight Floral Foam. I highly recommend this foam as it is easily covered and takes less product to create the final look.
Pretty petals….
Next, I added the floral elements. The Playa Blanca roses, white peonies, white spray roses were designed in a round and compact style. I wanted to ensure I did not block the candlelight with the floral. It ia all about enhancing each element to complete the final cohesive look.
When designing for a wedding I prefer to have the floral elements hydrating for 4 days prior to designing. This will ensure the blooms open and are healthy for the final designs.
It all comes together….
I loved utilizing all the couple’s requests for this design. By listening and understanding you will be sure to create the dream day the couple envisioned.
LOVE….
This is a picture of the sample floral. I can not wait for the wedding day to fill the room with floral!
Reimagine, Reuse, Repurpose
How often do you reimagine your rental items? Have you thought about a different design you could create to increase rental? Take time to create a new design for your existing rental items. By renting items you will increase your bottom line and be more successful.
How often do you reimagine your rental items? Have you thought about a different design you could create to increase rental? Take time to create a new design for your existing rental items. By renting existing items you will increase your bottom line and be more successful.
Client comes first….
A client reached out to me for their annual holiday event. They were in need of a floral display for an estate table. Their requests were candlelight and a spin on traditional holiday decor. Of course, the answer is always “yes, I would love to design for your event”.
Understanding client needs/vision and incorporating them into the design has always been a top priority for me. Without our clients we can not do what we love to do!
Inspired by your surroundings….
As I looked around the design studio, I was inspired by a structure I had designed previously. I had created this base for a YouTube video we created earlier this year. I knew it would be perfect for the event.
I started by weaving chicken wire through the pipes at the base. This would ensure the arrangement would be secure.
Enhance your elements….
The next step was to enhance my foliage. I utilized Design Master Copper to color enhance the ruscus and eucalyptus. I sprayed a light mist of copper onto the foliage allowing some of the natural color to shine through. I chose copper as it would coordinate with the metallic color already on the structure and be enhanced by the candlelight.
Adding the star elements….
I then inserted the foliage, roses, astrantia and Knud Nielsen pinecones to the structure. I utilized small water tubes for the roses. The chicken wire held everything in place perfectly.
Soften the design….
As I looked at the design, I felt a softer texture needed to be added. I found the perfect solution… Oasis Wired Wool! I cut 10” strands of the wool and inserted it into the design with a bit of Oasis Floral Adhesive. By cutting the wool I had more control over the desired placements.
Time to celebrate….
Once completed it was the perfect showstopper to the event. My client loved it as much as I did. I had created an unique design utilizing a custom base that the guests admired throughout their event.
Designing Original Floral Art For Your Clients
Creating an inspired statement bouquet is key to your client’s happiness on their perfect day. The completed design should be inspired by your client and designed as a one-of-a-kind piece of floral art that they are happy to carry down the aisle.
Creating an inspired statement bridal bouquet is key to your client’s happiness on their perfect day. The completed design should be inspired by your client and designed as a one-of-a-kind piece of floral art that they are happy to carry down the aisle.
Pretty in Pink…
When a bride asks for a “Pretty in Pink” feminine bouquet the answer is always yes. Yes, I will design the most beautiful bouquet that represents your style and vision for your wedding day.
Picking fabulous blooms….
First step is picking the perfect blooms for the bouquet. I chose to utilize roses, veronica, lisianthus, scabiosa and gypsophila. Utilizing shades of white and pink were key to bringing this bouquet to life.
Enhancing the natural beauty….
I started by color enhancing the gypsophila with Design Master colortool spray. The color chosen was Perfect Pink for this bouquet. When painting the floral, I focused on highlighting the floral without saturating the entire stem. I wanted some of the white to remain to highlight the pink.
Movement and structure….
Utilizing a pink feather boa was key to adding femininity and movement to the bouquet. As the bride walks down the aisle the feathers will dance in the breeze. Using a mechanic such as the Syndicate Sales Pillow will provide structure for the bouquet.
Power of the collar….
I started by gathering the gypsophila around the pillow to create a collar. The pillow will keep the gypsophila in place around the focal floral while providing a space to insert the floral product.
Placing the blooms….
Floral placement is key to completing the perfect bouquet. The roses and lisianthus were designed tight within the bouquet to create the base. I then placed the scabiosa a bit higher and finished with the veronica coming out of the floral to add depth to the finished bouquet.
Time to walk down the aisle….
I finished this bouquet by adding the pink boa around the back of the gypsophlia collar. The perfect “Pretty in Pink” bouquet.
Does It Have To Be Traditional?
Does it have to be traditional is a question many of us deal with. I tend to believe that you can pay homage to tradition yet modernize the design. When a fabulous client asked me to create autumnal design in a modern way I said of course YES.
Does it have to be traditional is a question many of us deal with. I tend to believe that you can pay homage to tradition yet modernize the design. When a fabulous client asked me to create autumnal design in a modern way I said YES.
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What to start with….
The design was to be a floral runner for a 8’ rectangle table consisting of foliage and white accents with lots of candlelight and metallic elements. I knew right away I wanted to start with white pumpkins. They are the perfect focal to this tablescape.
Enhance your elements….
Because I wanted to add a moment of shimmer to the pumpkins, I decided to gold leaf sections of the pumpkins. The gold leaf added a metallic element to the design and the candlelight looked fabulous reflecting off of the gold.
Glow….
By mixing metallics you provide a visual interest to your design. The mercury gold and copper candles greatly enhanced the final design. You will notice in the final images I utilized some of the copper candle holders as pedestals for pumpkins.
Texture….
Because I was not planning on using much color I counted on textures to play a huge role in the final design. This gorgeous Reindeer Moss from Syndicate Sales in white was perfect for the design!
Unique Elements….
I wanted to use oak leaves in the design as it is a traditional autumnal element however I did not want the traditional colors. These fabulous Transparent White Oak Leaves from Knud Nielsen were the perfect answer!
Moments of green….
Every time I bring green dianthus into designs people love it. The question I often hear is “are they real….what are they?”.
By utilizing unique elements in your design it will ensure people stop and admire your work for longer periods of time. It is all about appreciating the art of floral!
All about the layers….
The tablescape came to life by layering:
podocarpus
gunni eucalyptus
green dianthus
white oak leaves
reindeer moss
candles
pumpkins
It was a perfect setting!
Remember to think outside of the box. As a floral artist it is up to us to create unique designs to be admired by our clients. Pay homage to the past by utilizing elements to create a bright future!
Designing For Your Clients
When design for the wedding of Nicole and Jack the thought was be unique. They asked me to come up with a design plan that would be trendy and unique for their wedding day. Their original venue had cancelled due to the pandemic, so plan B was the family home. It was going to be a fabulous wedding filled with love and floral/foliage décor.
When creating the design plan for the wedding of Nicole and Jack the thought was to create a design plan that reflects their story. They are a fun loving couple who strives to live life to the fullest. They asked me to come up with a design plan that would be trendy and unique for their wedding day. Their original venue had cancelled due to the pandemic, so plan B was the family home. It was going to be a fabulous wedding filled with love and floral/foliage décor.
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It’s all about the elements!
The staircase was to be a major design moment for their big day. I wanted to design something a bit different than the usual draped garland for the couple so I designed hand-tied bouquets of monstera, palms and eucalyptus to be zip tied to the banisters.
Making a statement with tropical foliage!
The stairway was a perfect entrance for the guests and the ultimate photo opportunity. It is all about creating those special moments that inspire awe. We must remember that after the day has come to an end the one thing left of the wedding day is the images captured by a lens and in their hearts.
Carry the decor theme throughout the event!
The ceremony was going to be taking place in their backyard. We utilized a copper stand to create the altar for the “I Dos”. The larger spray was designed in an Oasis Jumbo Cage consisting of monstera, palm, and ferns. The smaller spray was designed in an Oasis Corso Holder consisting of monstera, palm, and ferns.
(No the display did not stay in front of the garage….it was moved to the backyard closer to the ceremony time.)
The Bouquet!
The bridal was to carry a bouquet consisting of tropical foliage, green mini hydrangea, white peonies and white anemones designed within a Syndicate Sales Pillow. The pillow holds the stems perfectly in place.
Decor maintains unity at an event!
Floral/foliage décor was placed throughout the home. This helped transition the family home to wedding venue. It was the perfect place to start a marriage.
Happily Ever After!
Every love story deserves its special day told in the way that best reflects the couple. It is our job as floral artists to create the magic for them.
Microwedding…..Is All About Love!
The definition of microwedding is any ceremony and/or reception with less than 50 total guests. Does the word micro have impact on the importance of the day? It has the same essential components. Most importantly there is LOVE. These components have all come together to celebrate a wedding, so I say we call it by the independent and strong name…. WEDDING. There is nothing “micro” about LOVE.
The definition of microwedding is any ceremony and/or reception with less than 50 total guests. Does the word micro have impact on the importance of the day? Why not just call it a wedding? Why do we have to label it micro? A wedding of 10 vs 400 people has the same essential components. First there is a couple who wants to spend their lives together. Then the celebration of their union begins which includes family/friends who want to wish the very best to the start of a new beginning. Often there is plenty food/beverage, music, photos and beautiful floral (of course). Most importantly there is LOVE. These components have all come together to celebrate a wedding, so I say we call it by the independent and strong name…. WEDDING. There is nothing “micro” about LOVE.
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Design the perfect setting to say “I DO”!
I have had the honor of designing some amazing weddings during this time of uncertainty. When asked by our couples to help design their wedding day the answer is always YES because love is always is something to be celebrated.
Danielle and Jeff decided the perfect location for their venue change was the family home. It was a beautiful sun filled day to set up the ceremony outside. Safely of course!
Make a statement for the couple!
We designed a beautiful moongate consisting of lilies, alstroemeria, roses, garden roses, snapdragons, and monte in shades of white and peach. The springri and plumosa created the movement within the design. When designing outside it is important to understand how the air movement will affect your floral display. Use nature to create magic.
Simplicity creates drama!
The Bride’s mother purchased the candle holders to be placed down the aisle. We added #9 and #3 double satin ribbon streamers on each candle stake. A symphony of movement happened when the breeze made an entrance. The simple touches often add the most impact.
Time to Dine!
The table décor was a series of candles and cylinder vases of peonies, roses, hypericum, viburnum, and green trick. There were candles galore placed in between the series of floral. A tablescape can have major impact by utilizing a series of floral and candles.
Photo credit: Chi-Town Weddings
Floral To Carry and Wear!
I designed a beautiful round garden bouquet consisting of peonies, roses, spray roses, garden roses, dahlias, viburnum, and eucalyptus for the bride to carry towards her forever love. I specifically chose all round shaped items for her bouquet to create the shape. I paid special attention to the colors as I wanted a gradual increase of color from ivory to apricot. There was no sudden pop of color…. it was a beautifully romantic transition of colors for this bride.
The groom’s boutonniere was designed with hypericum stem wrapped in satin ribbon with an accent of bullion wire. The color looked great against his navy-blue suit.
Photo credit: Chi-Town Weddings
Happily Ever After!
Every couple deserves your full attention to detail and design abilities. After all it is their dream day….no matter how many people are able to attend. Make it a day they will remember forever!
Wishing Danielle and Jeff the happiest of marriages filled with love, laughter and floral!
Photo credit: Chi-Town Weddings