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
Surviving The Pandemic With Design
During the week of March 9,2020, I was at our state floral convention. Earlier in the week we started to see the country shutting down to help control outbreak. As the weekend progressed, I started getting emails from clients that they were cancelling or postponing their events. This was the tip of the iceberg and it was becoming real fast. As the convention ended and we were on our way home Sunday it was announced that Illinois would go into shutdown to help control the number of positive cases and deaths. My business and future were to be changed forever.
There are moments in your life that will forever change you. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was certainly to be one of those life altering events. Although we thought we knew what was coming none of us had any idea what the reality was to be.
When the world starts to change!
During the week of March 9,2020, I was at our state floral convention. Earlier in the week we started to see the country shutting down to help control outbreak. As the weekend progressed, I started getting emails from clients that they were cancelling or postponing their events. This was the tip of the iceberg and it was becoming real fast. As the convention ended and we were on our way home Sunday it was announced that Illinois would go into shutdown to help control the number of positive cases and deaths. My business and future were to be changed forever.
As the time started to progress, I could see everything I had built being destroyed. 2020 was going to be the best year of my career. No matter what was to happen I would not let go of creativity and my love of the floral industry.
How surviving a pandemic is like the stages of grief and how I combated it with design:
Stage 1: Denial
I would spend time telling myself “this can’t be happening”, “events will begin next month”, “summer events will happen for sure” to name a few. I could not and would not believe that our lives would be forever changed.
I started designing on Facebook live early on. I wanted to show beauty through all the chaos, and it was a great way to see my friends from around the world.
Stage 2: Anger
Now I became angry not only at the virus but also by the lack of help for small businesses. I was angry at the fact that a virus was responsible for the potential loss of not only my business but so many businesses. Business was going to change, and I knew in order to survive we must all change as well.
I worked with Dan from yes.I.said to finalize my website. Time was going to continue, and I wanted to be ready for the future.
Stage 3: Bargaining
How do you bargain with a pandemic? The answer is you can’t! Of course, I had the “what if we had not prebought event hardgoods for the year” and “if only we built our savings stronger to prepare for a pandemic”. Useless way of thinking and so not productive.
As I continued producing Facebook live videos, I continued to find strength in my floral community. The one thing we all had in common was that the pandemic was affecting us all. The beauty of floral design would give the strength to carry on.
Stage 4: Depression
I am thankful for my daughter, husband, and friends during this time. We helped each other navigate through this all the while trying to plan for our futures. There were many days in the beginning and honestly, I still have these days of hopelessness, but we must never give into the despair. The light will shine again.
Fighting against depression is not easy. One thing I know for sure is that we need to stay strong and look for the light. At this point I started working with JFConcepts to develop my YouTube channel. Let the filming begin.
Stage 5: Acceptance
This is a new reality for all of us and now is the time to act. At this point I had the time to focus on what I love and also what I have put off doing. I had revamped my website, started a YouTube channel, provided online classes for designers, finalized projects, did all the things I have been putting off in the design studio, and prepared as best as I could for an uncertain future.
We may not know what the future holds, but one thing I do know is that my love of the floral industry will be a constant part of my life. Designing and sharing my passion with all of you has provided me the strength to sustain my business. I thank all of you for standing strong and supporting each other during this horrific time. We will all bloom again!
Say yes to staying strong and developing a bright future for yourself.