spring wedding

If a Florist Wed

0 · May 16, 2018 ·

Last spring I had an idea. I was thinking about my own wedding day, how frazzled and jumbled it all I was. I was thinking about where I placed my focus and how it really could have been improved. I reflect back on tweaks and improvements for every wedding day, but my own has stuck with me a little longer.

My number one regret is trying to take on too much myself. I enlisted the help of my family and friends but never really sat back to soak in the day. I felt guilty for my family working so hard and worried that something would go wrong.

This has always been at the forefront of my mind and is one of the huge reasons that I started my business. But last spring I took this idea a step further. I began to contemplate what it’s like in general for someone in the wedding industry to wed. There’s an extra level of stress and pressure and this idea that everything must be perfect because not only is this finally their turn, but it also reflects back as an extension of their portfolio – whether they want it to or not – and perhaps I only imagine this, but somehow I think there’s an extra level of judgement or maybe critique from the guests’ eyes.

I designed this shoot to embrace what it would be like for me or any florist/planner to wed now. Knowing what I know and seeing what I’ve seen. I created this character that knew just exactly what to focus on, how to treat her guests and how to not get lost in the busyness of it all.

I titled this piece, “If a Florist Wed” with the following thoughts in mind…

Imagine a quiet morning, the dew is still on the grass and the birds have just started to sing. There’s an anticipation in the air as guests will mingle and celebrate in the countryside, as one woman and one man will pledge their love eternally to one another.

But before the celebration comes the preparation. So in the dawn of the day, final arrangements are being made. She’s a florist, who’s been a part of hundreds of weddings days. She’s seen too many stressed brides and is committed to focusing only on the things that really matter.

An arbor of foraged greens is constructed in the woods as the backdrop for their vows. Local lilacs are inserted into her bridal bouquet. And a wide brimmed hat is worn to keep the sun off her face as she gathers her last minute blooms.

Potted plants lined the long table at which her closest friends and family will gather. Simple placecards and candles add to the no-fuss vibe. But she’s forever tempted to play the hostess, serving wine and cake to her guests and making the day just as unforgettable to them as it will be to her and her groom.

This is the serentity I wish I might have found on my wedding day. A peaceful morning. The setting of the story is in our very own back yard, it just seemed liked the perfeect venue with it’s natural and overgrown appeal. The perfect place for a bride to go foraging (as I so often do!)

This project was also featured on Trendy Bride Magazine. You can see it here.

I’m not planning another wedding for myself personally, but I would love to plan more outdoor dinner parties here soon. Very very soon!

Real Weddings :: Ryan & Jen

0 · Nov 20, 2015 ·

Peonies, black and white stripes, gold accents… and that’s just the start of Ryan and Jen’s stunning day. Jen is so stylish, chic and GORGEOUS, making her day beautiful was a piece of cake. And I love how even though their celebration took place in a classic club location, the way it was photographed almost makes it seem like they eloped into the woods – with 22 of their closest friends (the largest bridal party I’ve seen to date), but when you’re as sweet as these two, it’s easy to see why they’re so popular, they just radiate love.

Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Reidsma!!

Photography: Katy O’Dell Photography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Ceremony & Reception Venue: Thousand Oaks Golf Club | Bride’s Dress: Bianka Bridal

Real Weddings :: Tina & Chris

0 · Nov 4, 2015 ·

It’s now the time of year when I’m wrapping up wedding season, summer days have gone by and I’ve started to embrace that cozy late autumn (and even Christmas!!) mindset. My flipflops have been traded for tall boots and my t-shirts have all been tucked away. At the same time, I’m chatting with brides who are gleefully planning next years weddings and I have to revert back to that springtime frame of mind. I’m starting to look for inspiration but my world – craft and decor stores, wedding blogs, Pinterest – is filled with autumn foliage and donuts (not that I mind a good donut!)

So I’m going to pretend that I’m posting this pretty spring day in hopes of inspiring one of next May’s lucky brides. If nothing else, I’m always happy to reminisce about foxglove and peonies.

Tina and Chris were married at Witt’s Inn in Lowell. It was my first time visiting this charming little barn and beautiful gardens. It’s rustic and what one might picture when they think of a barn wedding, until you look up. Chandeliers. Beautiful rows of chandeliers. That sparkle goes straight to a girl’s heart.

Speaking of a girl after my own heart, Tina hired me to take charge of her floral decor and dropped off 65 mismatched gold, brass and copper vessels for me to fill with blooms of my choice – just somewhere in the blush, pink or coral color story. It was so much fun sorting through each vessel, finding the perfect table mates and making each arrangement completely unique.

So I filled my floral buckets with tulips, roses, ranunculus, lilies, foxglove, peonies, clematis and wild honeysuckle. I foraged a few greens and added some delicate silk ribbons. The way they paired with the soft blush underlay of Tina’s dress was perfection. And everywhere you looked, there was a different bloom, a different arrangement and the prettiest all greenery bridesmaids bouquets.

Dear Tina and Chris, I hope you two have loved your first season together and have many more full of happiness to come.

A Modern Fairytale

0 · Dec 8, 2014 ·

It seems that every winter seems to get a little longer than the last and last year’s never wanted to end. So it came as so surprise that by the time March rolled around I was itching to get outside and do something creative. I wanted to celebrate new life, spring and tradition.

In the early morning dew, our story begins. It’s a love story, a sweet tale revolving around fantasy and the belief that we are in control of our own fairytales. As a modern twist, our bride left a simple note for her groom to meet her at dawn by the river where they will pledge their forevers to one another. So there she waits by candlelight for him to arrive. In the spring of the year, the dawn of the day, they make a new start together.

Mister charming himself arrives with an armful of wildflowers he stopped to pick along the way. A simple breakfast is eaten of fruit and a simple elegant, glittering cake. All details were to remain timeless and classic including a beautiful ballgown and other details in ivory, satin and lace – touches that never seem to go out of style and would be perfect for any magical setting, be it a grand ballroom, an enchanted forest or a storybook castle.