the day's design

Holiday Cheer

0 · Dec 3, 2015 ·

Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography

I usually love Christmas. I’m a bit obsessed. Sparkly trees, twinkling lights, snow, presents, dinner parties… yes to it all!

But the last couple of years I haven’t really “felt” it. I feel like adulthood has officially checked in and the wonder is gone. It’s December 3rd and I still have pumpkins on my porch. Floral designer fail.

I used to get excited in August when Hobby Lobby would start stocking the shelves with Christmas goodies. My tree was always up Thanksgiving weekend. And Christmas shopping usually started back in September (if not sooner).

While I can check Christmas shopping off my to-do list, the rest of it seems tragic. I look at my house in disbelief and have to hold back tears. There’s pumpkin garland in my living room.

I’m trying to channel my holiday cheer. I don’t normally participate in things like Instagram or blogging challenges – I much prefer to march to the beat of my own drums and not follow the rules. But I’m in desperate need of assistance here. So for the month, I will be jumping on board with Bloom the Workshop’s Instagram challenge. If you’ve followed my work for long, you know that I love both Ashley & Michaela and adore being a part of Bloom and adding my flowers to some of their events. I won’t be blogging every item, but perhaps you’ll find a few inspired posts. However, if you do want to see what I’m up to, do make sure to follow along on Instagram or you can take part in the challenge too #bloomigchallenge.

And in the meantime, if you need an instant dose of cheer, head on over to Bungalow & Olives, my friend Katie is the best Christmas elf and her first snow post is sure to put a smile on your face.

A World without Flowers

0 · Nov 18, 2015 ·

Photography: Ashley Slater Photography

Do you ever feel small? There’s this world out there that’s full of hunger, heartache, tragedy, anger and defeat. And then there’s me, siting here warm in the comfort of my own home stressing about minuet details such as flowers and home decor. Hardly a world crisis. It makes me feel little and worthless.

When I began my flower journey I struggled with the concept of fresh flowers because it isn’t something that would last. I felt like maybe I was wasting a plant’s potential by plucking it’s blooms and placing them in a vase where they would only last a few days. And then they would be forever forgotten.

A shift in perspective from an another designer made me realize that by picking that flower and bringing it inside, I can now enjoy it for numerous hours at a time, valuing the beauty it brings to my table for those few precious days. If I had left it in the field, I may have seen it for a couple minutes as I drove by every now and then – but even attached to it’s roots, it will too eventually wither and fade away. We need to appreciate beauty while it lasts.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to add a little beauty to the world around you. I think we all need that moment of peace and refreshment. Can you imagine what the world might be like if artists stopped creating? What if Monet had never picked up a paintbrush because it was frivolous? Or think of all the great architects, what if they’d never hand carved and crafted anything and all the buildings around us were just square boxes? And what if there were no flowers?

What would it be like if we lived in a world without flowers?

Creating a Wedding Mood Board

0 · Nov 10, 2015 ·

Refining your wedding vision is often a struggle. There are so many great ideas out there and so many amazing vendors who can help bring those visions into reality. But one of the biggest challenges I find are really clear cutting that vision and then being able to accurately describe what it is that you want to each and every artist who is playing a role in your celebration.

Descriptive terms are awesome. When a brides starts telling me that she’d like her wedding to be simple, elegant, organic and natural a certain scene begins to unfold. Then color gets added into the conversation, pale blush, ivory, champagne and greenery. The picture is officially painted in my mind at this point.

Then I skip on over to her Pinterest board. All hope begins to fade away. Suddenly I’m seeing vibrant hues of peach and green. I’ve seen swatches of white kissed with blush but I’ve also seen a pink that almost leans towards lavender. I heard the words “elegant and classic” but I’m seeing birch bark and wooden boxes which to me say more rustic and woodsy. And that’s just digging through the first 30 pins because after all, you know every girl’s wedding board is easily filled with 100+.

I’m not here to get on my Pinterest soap box because I really think it’s a great tool and I used it repeatedly. Maybe a bouquet was pinned simply because of the shape or style. Maybe the bride loved everything about a certain centerpiece but not the container. Perhaps she loved the votives on a tabletop but not necessarily everything else about the design. One can never be certain why a particular image was saved. So what I’m suggesting you do instead is hone it down for your vendors and share a simple, one page inspiration or mood board.

What is a mood board?

Just like when you’re on a romantic night out you look for a date night activity with the right atmosphere, so should you set the tone for your wedding. Romance in all in the eye of the beholder – some might enjoy a playful get-together at a carnival while others are thinking of candlelight dinners in a fine dining restaurant. Both locations set a different mood.

The key is to gather elements that evoke a certain feeling rather than focusing the exact elements that you want included in your wedding. Sometimes including non-wedding elements is another great option. Your wedding should be a reflection of you, so that includes components from your personal life too.

Isn’t my Pinterest board enough?

The truth is you probably have 5 different place card options pinned. Odds are there are about 10 cakes that you like. The number of bridal bouquets that you love are endless. But having a very simplified board to guide you and anchor you home when you begin to feel overwhelmed will help so much. Your baker probably isn’t going to scroll through your 100+ pins, but they will look at a one page to gather inspiration.

So here’s an example of one that I might put together for one of my brides based on the above description of her event. And then I share it with all of her vendors, as any good wedding planner should.

Image Credit (top row, left to right): Photography: Jose Villa, Boutonnieres: Mindy Rice Floral Design via Once Wed | Photography: Bradley James Photography, Bouquet: The Day’s Design | Cake via These Peas are Hollow

(middle row, left to right): Image via Stylish Walks | Photography: Rylee Hitcher via Once Wed | Image via Lover.ly

(bottom row, left to right): Rug via Joss & Main | Photography: Rylee Hitcher, Invitation: Meagan Tidwell

Style Me Pretty Bouquet Breakdown

0 · Nov 5, 2015 ·

A couple month’s ago one of the awesome ladies from Style Me Pretty reached out asking if I’d mind breaking down and sharing all the ingredients to Christina’s lovely autumn bouquet (you may remember Tim & Christina’s wedding was featured on their blog here last spring). It was so special being asked, as I feel like Tim and Christina’s wedding was a break out moment for me and I will forever think of their wedding day with the warmest memories. I had done other floral arranging, I done other weddings but I knew in my heart of hearts that theirs was something special. They entrusted an incredible amount of faith in me. Their wedding wasn’t only going to be the start of something incredible and new for them, but it was going to be the start something big for me as well.

I was right.

This was my big break and the largest scale event that I had tackled to date. My love affair with flowers grew. And it continues to grow. I stretched my wings and did something scary and reaped huge rewards. I proved myself worthy – not to the world – but to myself. So when I was asked to describe this bouquet and the flower it… it was hard to know where to even start. Their wedding was a beautiful finale to the end of the 2014 wedding season.

It was my first time using Peterkort Roses. It’s a bit nerve wrecking any time you use a new supplier. Simply put, I had nothing to be nervous about. Their roses do not disappoint. As always, I had set aside my favorite blooms as I was processing and unpacking flowers. Special blooms for a special bride. Her bouquet was one of the last projects I tackled late that Friday night. I think that was my biggest bucket of “favorite blooms” I have ever collected.

It was dark and quiet in my Grandpa’s garage. The rains fell on the red tin roof and the wind was roaring outside on that cold October night. But what I remember are the flowers, the awe, and how I loved each and every stem that I placed.

Friends, here’s the bouquet (captured by the ever amazing Kelly Sweet Photography) and here’s the recipe, you can read more about it all these magical romantic roses over on Style Me Pretty.

7 Stems of Helga Piaget Garden Roses
5 Stems of Romantik Antike Garden Roses
3 Stems of Champagne Roses
2 Stems of Talea Roses
3 Stems of Pink Majolica Spray Roses
2 Stems of Pee Gee Hydrangeas
2 Stems of Peach Stock
Italian Ruscus Foliage
Variegated Pittosporum Foliage

Enjoy!

When it’s More than Just Cold Feet (Part 2)

0 · Oct 29, 2015 ·

Photography: Bradley James Photography

Returning gifts, cancelling plans, pleading with vendors for a refund, thousands of dollars lost, returning your ring – cancelling your wedding is a horrid chapter of life and a very humbling moment in your story. After my last post, someone mentioned how proud I should be that I was able to make the right choice. It was hard to think of it in that light. It was much easier to feel embarrassed that I had made the wrong decision in the first place, it was easier to wonder why I had never seen what a poor match we were before. When outsiders asked how the wedding planning was going, I was ashamed to say that all planning had ceased. “We called it off.” Those words pierced me.

I felt like a lost soul. I had to re-find my single self and remember who I was without him. And that might have been one of the biggest challenges of all.

Skipping forward – how do you know this is the man your supposed to marry? That’s the question I left you with at the conclusion of Tuesday’s post. That was a question that ran through my mind for a long time. I lost a little trust in myself. I felt like my instincts were now off. I could never let something like this happen again.

All I can speak of is my own experience. But for me, there wasn’t even a shadow of a doubt that floated into my mind when the right proposal came along.

In my broken engagement, I prayed for a sign. I prayed for a closed door if this wasn’t the direction my life was supposed to go. Be careful what you pray for. A huge sign came crashing down on me and was so obvious there was not a chance I could ignore it. In my current relationship, of course I prayed for guidance but it wasn’t a scary plea. It wasn’t a prayer born out of fear, it was a prayer of wisdom and care and thankfulness.

So how did I know that I’d met the man I was supposed to marry? Everything was just different. The overall aura of the relationship was unique to any other bond I had experienced. And I might not have recognized that without my past misfortunes. There was a calmness and peace. There was a security and my self-doubt seemed to fade away. I didn’t feel like I had lost myself with him, but rather I was able to be myself. My past heartbreak gave me the confidence to move forward. I now knew what I wanted and who I wanted to be. And most importantly, I knew who I wanted to have standing beside me as I strived to be that person.

There is a happy ending on the road ahead.

“Don’t rush into love, because even in fairytales the happy ending takes place on the last page”. – author unknown

When it’s More than Just Cold Feet

0 · Oct 27, 2015 ·

Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography

This is a subject that’s been pulling on my heartstrings for awhile. However, since wedding blogs are supposed to be this blissful happy place it never seems appropriate to bring up the harsh reality that even when you said yes, you may not fulfill that journey down the aisle.

I had two brides call off their wedding this year. That’s 13% of my weddings. I don’t know if that’s an average percentage throughout the wedding industry but it is an eye opener to the fact that diamonds don’t make everything beautiful.

10 years ago I was engaged to another man. It seems like a lifetime past and I can scarcely imagine what my life would be life now had I gone through with it. Suffice to say, I wouldn’t have two beautiful daughters, I’d most likely be working some “safe” corporate job and dinner would be on the table every night at 5:30pm without a dirty dish left in the kitchen, ever. Period. And my walls would be white, but not in a textured trendy way, in the boring, non-adventurous way. They would be the bland metaphor for my life.

I’m not going to go into all the details as to why things weren’t right in my relationship. But at some point throughout the engagement time period I had this gut wrenching feeling that something was amiss. That’s a really scary feeling. I’m a very firm believer that marriage is forever and the forever in my reality was starting to feel very, very long.

I had already had 2 bridal showers. We had bought a house. Our lives were starting to merge. We were getting gifts for “us”. When you’re planning a wedding everything is go go go. You have time frames and itineraries. There are so many factors that you have to keep on top of, organize and decide that sometimes it’s really easy to lose track of all the pertinent feelings and emotions and sort those out from the tense, bridezilla moments. It’s easy to lose your grip on reality.

For me, I couldn’t pull the trigger on sending out the invitations. I stalled and stalled. There wasn’t a real reason why, I just didn’t put them in the mail. It was less than 6 weeks before my wedding and they still weren’t out. Among the list, that should have been a huge warning sign.

I can’t tell you whether or not you’ve chosen the right man. I often become very close to my brides but I still don’t see all the inner workings of the relationship. And even if you’re happy in the moment, it doesn’t mean you’ll still be happy five years from now. So what do you do? How do you know if this is the man you’re supposed to marry?

PS – This isn’t the end of the story. Sharing more on this subject later this week.

Featured :: Sand & Sea on Magnolia Rouge

0 · Oct 20, 2015 ·

It’s no secret that I love the water. The sound of crashing waves and beautiful beaches are so invigorating. It really is amazing all the beauty that God has put on this earth around us. Beyond the obviously picturesque days, I love those that are a little darker. Moody, overcast skies are so intoxicating. There’s a calmness as the wind rips through your hair, the sound of the sand dancing across the shoreline and then… bam, another giant swell meets it’s ending upon the shore.

This inspiration was born out of those overcast skies. A little bit of mist hung in the air and the sand was chilled with a dampness. It was not a day to fuss with curls in your hair or to bother putting on a tie. It was a wild, carefree and barefoot occasion – come as you are and let love prevail. And today I’m delighted to share it in it’s entirety over on Magnolia Rouge.

Prettier than Planned

0 · Oct 12, 2015 ·

Photography: Katy O’Dell Photography

I’m often asked to detail all the flowers clients will see at their wedding – outline for them each little bloom. I don’t do that. And it’s not because I’m afraid of them stealing my floral recipe or divulging my deep dark secrets, it’s really because I don’t know. It’s that unknown that makes for your unsurpassed wedding floral story.

The floral consult process normally starts months before your actual wedding date. At that time I soak in all of your lovely ideas, start thinking about your color palette and suggest a few key blooms that will most likely be in season. The month before your wedding day I’ll revisit these notes. I’ll focus on what product has been awesome so far this season and then really analyze the color story and the overall feeling of your wedding day. I’ll choose the best varieties from across the country, sourcing from often several wholesalers and reaching out to some of my favorite local spots.

The week before your wedding the blooms begin to arrive. Boxes upon boxes land at my doorstep and I begin to unpack. It’s better than Christmas as I pull each and every bunch from its plastic sleeve and compare how the blossoms will look together, really envisioning your bouquets and centerpieces and how beautiful your wedding will be.

And then I get to that one box. The one that sent me peachy orange instead of coral blooms. Sometimes the pink is more purple and less cherry. And sometimes things just feel off.

This is where I get creative. This is where the unknown inspires me. One of my favorite examples of this is the untold story of Jen’s bouquet. When I unpacked her gorgeous flowers I was in love. She wanted a blush and berry palette that would stand bold against her black and white stripe and glittering gold accents. All was in order except for a few bunches, which were half the size of their usual selves. Half the size means half the product which meant I was surely going to run out. I began working anyway hoping that maybe I could stretch it, maybe I had ordered too many somewhere else and maybe something would all work out in the end. It became clear that it would not.

I wanted to get the key pieces put together. Bouquets are of the utmost importance, especially hers. So I worked tirelessly on them. Then on to her bouquet. I put it together once. I put it together twice. I tweaked and rearranged. It just didn’t feel right. Something was missing and after 2+ hours, I took a break.

Taking a moment to yourself is important. Stepping back can help so much. So I set out to solved my shortage problem and found myself wondering the aisles of a local greenhouse. There sat the most beautiful Wine and Roses Weigela bushes. The deep shades of merlot were so rich and perfect they nearly jumped in my cart and drove themselves home. They were the most impeccable addition a designer could ask for. I happily purchased my plants and made my way back.

With the addition of the berry colored blooms, Jen’s bouquet fell together in 5 minutes flat. The missing ingredient was found and my day was made.

However, it’s not something I could plan for. Often I just stumble across plants that scream “perfection”. Sometimes the search takes a little longer. Being creative and open minded is what is so enticing to me about floral design. No two bouquets will ever be identical, not two flowers are every exactly alike.

Sometimes things just turn out prettier than planned.

The Problem with Percentages

0 · Oct 6, 2015 ·

As I was scribbling down that title I couldn’t help but think anyone who has a distaste for math is surely going to want to read this. And of course they’ll agree, percentages are tricky and problematic. However, this is not a full on math lecture just a little advice when it comes to wedding planning.

I’ve come to the point in my season where weddings are winding down the planning is gearing up for next year. As my first consults begin, we chat about things like overall style, favorite colors and flowers, locations, priorities, fantasies, crazy proposal stories and my least favorite part of the conversation – budgets. It seems there are a couple of very common scenarios that I run into while talking numbers with couples. 1. They have an overall number in mind but have very little clue as to how that money should be allocated and how much things in “wedding land” cost. Or 2. They have pulled a budget worksheet from The Knot or Weddingwire or similar and know exactly what they’re willing to spend in each area based on the website’s recommendations.

There is nothing wrong with either one of these situations. It’s tricky to know what things cost when you’ve never planned a wedding before. I think these sample budget sheets from the various website are really helpful guidelines. But they’re just that – a guide. And they’re usually made up of percentages. The problem is the website doesn’t know your exact needs. They don’t know that you can decrease your rental amount because the venue provides super amazing chairs – chairs that also made the venue itself more expensive. They also don’t typically take into consideration the number of guests. For example – if you’re budget is $50,000, it’s recommended that approximately 30% of that budget be allocated to food and food services. If you’re inviting 300 guests, that works out to $50 per person. This includes appetizers, salads, entrees and service staff fees and gratuities. If you have a smaller wedding of around 75 guests, you’ll be spending $200 per person on their meal. Depending upon your menu selections and formality of the event, that might seem a little excessive. In the case of the smaller guest count I may recommending using some of those monies elsewhere.

The same holds true with flowers and décor. Usually about 8-12% is allotted for this part of the budget. However, fewer guests means few tables. On the flip side, the more guests you have the more centerpieces you’ll need, meaning you might not be able to do some of those extra floral showpieces you were hoping for or you might have to adjust the percentages of your budget.
So what doesn’t change with guest count? There are certain fixed costs within the planning process. Think photography, music, venue rentals and officiant fees – all necessary items that typically don’t fluctuate with the guest count.

And what if you can’t find someone who’s pricing fits within that allotted percentage? Photography can sometimes be the biggest struggle here. It’s pretty rare that I hear a bride mention that she doesn’t care about the photographer. It’s more often the case that they want the best that they can find within their budget. However, with smaller budget weddings you might have to up the percentage of that funds you’re willing to spend in this area. This is an area I truly feel that you get what you pay for and it’s the lasting memories from your day.

Prioritize. That’s my biggest piece of advice. Use these percentages as a guide but if you want the more expensive band verse a DJ, go for it. Just remember to adjust other areas of the budget accordingly, perhaps eliminated the custom invitations for premade or have your place cards and escort cards do double duty. And theirs your accounting lesson for the day. Problem solved.

Photography: Heather Cisler Photography

The Wedding Scene

0 · Sep 23, 2015 ·

I was hanging out at a wedding a couple weeks ago… just kidding, I was working my tail off at a wedding a couple of weeks ago and we had just about finished making everything pretty and I was ready to give myself a huge pat on the back. I love that moment when everything is complete, every petal is in its perfect placed, the linens are unsoiled and perfectly laid, and all the silverware is flawlessly aligned with the edge of the table and the chairs are barely grazing each tablecloth. It kind of makes me think back to Edwardian times when people actually took the time to measure the distance between place settings with a ruler, polished each and every piece of silver and would never think of serving a guest with the wrong hand. I like to think I put that much time and care into each wedding, but not quite.

I love this moment. It’s the time when a tent is gleaming in all its glory, just waiting for the guests to arrive. I stood back in admiration as the photographer next to me began to capture the serenity of the entire scene. And then a guest walked it. While he was a fairly dapper looking gent, he wasn’t exactly complimenting the picture. So I kindly explained to him that we were in the process of taking photographs before guests were seated and asked him to wait just a few minutes before entering the tent. What I didn’t expect was a fuss, “Why would you want a picture without any people in it?! Who’s going to look back and think ‘I’m so glad I have this picture of this fork and spoon.” Clearly irritated, he stomped off and the photographer and I laughed.

This incident has stayed with me. I even started to doubt myself and wonder if maybe he was correct. Do couples really care to have these “empty” and “untouched” photos after their wedding day? From a vendor’s point of view, I love them. You’ll see very few pictures flooded with people in my portfolio. Your dear aunt Sally may have been an absolute hoot and a joy of a wedding guest, but her bold black and white dress clashed terribly with the pale blush and white of your décor. There’s a reason you take control of what your bridal party and immediate family wear, you want everything to blend. So do I. But I didn’t hire the photographer and I’m not paying for his services, so am I just being selfish?

I keep imagining a peaceful mountain scene. It’s serene and still, the mountain standing proudly at attention reaching far into the sky with snow gracing the very tops. At the base is a valley with tall grasses and a river that lays there undisturbed. Maybe a moose comes to drink from it daily or perhaps it’s the favorite fishing spot for a local bear and her cubs. It’s beautiful. Now think about what that same spot would look like if it were a famous tourist attraction. There’d be thousands of people in the base of the image, signs offering rides to different heights and flashy lights trying to sell you fried food. It doesn’t make the mountain itself any less beautiful but there’s a different tone and mood. You and your friends will still take a picture in front of the landscape but that peaceful and calm feeling will be gone.

Both images are from an autumn wedding with Kelly Sweet Photography.

A good photographer will capture every moment of the wedding day. A photographer is an artist. And as an artist they seek to find the beauty in all aspects of the wedding. This time before the guest enter, before your little flower girl spilled soda on her dress and the ring bearer rolled in the mud is important. It adds to the story of your celebration. You spent a painstaking amount of time bringing all the details together, finding those perfect ribbons and table numbers. Make sure every piece of the day receives the credit it is due.

Southern Hospitality Dinner Party

1 · Sep 3, 2015 ·

I love summer. Everything about it just makes me smile. Long days at the beach, toes in the sand, warm breezes, sunshine, melting ice cream cones, bicycles, flowers, family get togethers… and the list really goes one and on. It’s the perfect time of year for entertaining, which is just one more thing I love.

I come from a family who finds any excuse to celebrate. Fussy meals and finding the perfect accessories are in my blood.

It was about this time last year that I was prepping for another party. I had this notion that I wanted to create something special, a fancy late summer meal but I didn’t have a cause for celebration. I was feeling blue and itching to do something. But this feeling crept in long before last summer, it hit me in the dead of winter and I just held on to it. I felt that I needed to do something meaningful, somehow I wanted to make a difference. Can a person make a difference in the world by planning parties? I’ve often struggled with this thought.

It just so happened that my southern doll of a friend, Ashley (of Ashley Slater Photography), proposed that we do a southern inspired inspiration shoot. I love putting together inspiration shoots, but some part of me can’t help but feel that they’re a waste. What’s the point of putting together this gorgeous party and not inviting any guests?

An idea quickly took form. We were going to plan a party. It was going to be chocked full of editorial worthy deals and we were going to invite perfect strangers to just come and celebrate life with us. So that’s exactly what we did.

We found one perfectly lovely soul who was in need of a little extra love. Samantha of Wondrous Whimsy helped us design a beautifully calligraphic invites which were boxed up and sent out in chain letter fashion. Each person who received on would then take the lead in inviting another lovely lady until all the seats at the table were filled.

Since this was not just a styled shoot, we had a full blown menu prepared by an awesome chef (I might be just a little partial since he’s also my husband).

Southern delicacies such as pickled shrimp, pimento cheese and toast points, chilled green tomato soup, roasted redskin potato salad, corn bread and grilled salmon were all served.

Upon arrival, each lovely lady was allowed to choose a party dress – on loan from the night from Kirribilla. Once dressed, in true Southern style the girls were welcomed with sweet tea or pineapple gin punch – both delicious options. And then on to the feast!

And what dinner party would be complete without a little dessert?! These pies from Ed Dunneback and Girl’s Farm were some of the best I’ve ever had (and did you know that they will make an awesome dessert display for your wedding, eek!!)

Such a fun evening! Thanks so all the vendors involved!

How to RSVP for a Wedding

0 · Aug 26, 2015 ·

This might seem like a silly post. Everyone knows how to RSVP for a wedding, right? It seems so obvious. But oddly enough, it’s been one of my biggest battles this year – gathering the guest count!

Photography: Bradley James Photography

So here we go – whether you’re a bride sending out those precious invites or just something planning (or not planning) to attend a summer soirée, here’s what you need to know about that little card inserted within the invitation, commonly known as the RSVP card.

To start, I strongly believe that RSVPs should be done through the mail. You’re not saving yourself any time by accepting them via email, Facebook messages, text, etc. You already receive enough emails regarding your wedding and you’re not always near someplace to track the RVSP if you collect those via phone/text. Purchase the cute little card that matches your invitation. Then make sure that it’s address to where ever you’d like these little RSVPs to arrive – your house, your parent’s home… whoever is going to be responsible and keep them in a safe place. Put a stamp on it. Make it easy and convenient for your guests.

Near the top of an RSVP should be a date. This is the date that it is due to be returned by. Place it in the mail prior to this date. This is so the bride and groom can collect final counts for not only the caterer, but the number of tables and chairs that need to be rented, the number of centerpieces needed, the number of programs, menu cards, favors and desserts. And after that data is all processed, they can then begin the daunting task of table assignments. If you RSVP late, your run the risk of being unfed and shoved at the “reject table”.

Under that date is a line. That line typically starts with an “M”. It looks something like this:

M______________

I cannot count the number of times that I’ve been asked about this “M”. That “M” is just a starting point, it might stand for Mr. or Mrs., Miss or Madame – fill in the rest of the blank however you’d like the be addressed. Some modern invitations eliminate the “M” and just leave a blank line or perhaps they say “Guest Names” which is really specific for you. Whatever it says, make sure that somewhere on that card is your name and the names of those who will be attending with you. If you do not put your name on the card, they cannot track who the RSVP came from and you will be bothered later with a phone call wondering why you have not responded to the wedding invite.

Entrée selection. This might be listed on the RSVP card but it might not. It just depends on what is being served and whether or not the guest has a choice. For the purpose of this article, we’re going to say that the guest is being given a choice of entrée. That means you must choose one – one for each guest RSVPing. So that means if there are 4 names on the card, there should be 4 entrees selected. Bonus points for letting us know who is eating which entrée (initials or something similar is extremely helpful), otherwise you might be playing the switch-a-roo game later.

We changed our minds. It happens. But realize that this is an inconvenience. If you’re no longer attending, the bride and groom may have already paid for your meal, set an extra seat, paid the calligrapher to create you a tag, etc. If you decided to attend afterall – the bride and groom now have to get in touch will all of these various people and make sure that they can squeeze you in at a table somewhere. To be a good guest, make a decision and stick with it.

Everyone must RSVP. That’s right, EVERYONE. If you received an invitation, it included a card with an envelope that already had a stamp on it. Don’t waste that stamp, send it back to the bride and groom. Even if you’re the mother of the bride or best man, don’t assume that they know you’re coming. The bride and groom might not be the ones tallying up the RSVP cards – they may have delegated that to a bridesmaid, sister or wedding planner who will not know to assume that you’ll be there. And they definitely won’t know what you want to eat or how many are in your party.

And finally, only the people who were clearly listed on the addressed envelope should be attending. If the outer envelope is addressed to Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. Then there are 2 people invited, only 2. I don’t care that it’s an out of town wedding and that you have to travel with your 6 kids, those 6 kids were not invited. Don’t hassle the bride and groom, it’s their decision and I’m sure it wasn’t made lightly and there are probably lots of reasons unknown to you as to why your children were not invited. If the children are invited, it will say on the invitation Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Family or it will specifically name the children who are invited. Children who are over 18 or not living in the same household will be sent a separate invitation.

So brides, there’s the detailed info on how to create and send the RSVPs. And guests, make it easy on those brides, they’ve got a lot on their plate – return those cards properly filled out.

Ribbon Selection

0 · Jun 24, 2015 ·

Photo: Ashley Slater Photography

I love ribbon. It’s actually really embarrassing how much ribbon I have stashed away in my basement. I could wrap Christmas presents for years before running out. But as with most things, my styles and preferences change and so I find myself favoring one particular type at a time, leaving the others behind.

Beyond wrapping presents, my obsession is really focused on bouquets and finding the most perfectly delicate spools to flow freely from your handful of gorgeous blooms. The right ribbon will complete everything, blow perfectly in the wind and continue the color story beyond where your eye naturally stops at that bottom petal.

As I’m designing with my clients I find that most either have a very strong preference on the type or color of ribbon used throughout their event or they really don’t care much at all, which leaves that detail up to my choosing (which puts a lot of pressure on me… but I love it!) So here’s a little more on that subject, the most common places that ribbons are used throughout designs and how to make the best selection for each of these areas.

The Bouquets

I’ll start with the most obvious. Regardless of what service my clients hire me for, the subject of ribbons for the bouquets always comes up. And the conversation runs much deeper than just popping into Hobby Lobby to pick up a 50% off spool. There’s so much to consider.

Do you want long, flowy ribbons or do you prefer nice, neatly trimmed and shorter tails? Would you prefer multiple layers? Do you want your bouquets tied with a bow? It is necessary for your ribbons to match your blooms or dresses? What other elements are including ribbon throughout the design?

My preferences lean towards long, flowy trailing ribbons on each and every bouquet with multiple layers. I like big bouquets so I think a large amount of ribbon seems appropriate to balance that. Most weddings I’m a part of have a least a portion of the day outside or plans to have portraits taken al fresco and the sight of ribbons freely blowing in the wind makes me weak in the knees, so I like lightweight options that will make that fantasy a reality.

A fairly common practice is to tie the bride’s bouquet with a big, beautiful bow. While I do occasionally accessorize the bouquet like this, more often, I just loop a couple of ribbons together which I will then pin on the front of the bouquets once on site, as not to get them too wet during transport. It’s a slightly more casual approach, but no less elegant and I don’t agonize over creating the most prefect bow (which I am way too picky about!) Whether I choose loops or a bow, I always tend to place them slightly to the left. I’m asymmetrical in nature, so bridesmaids always get the “how to carry a bouquet” speech from me as I’m handing them out. I don’t want them facing that main ribbon straight forward therefore showing off the side of their bouquets.

Color also needs to be considered. In a perfect world, the ribbons should accent the flowers, stand out from the dresses and still blend with the overall design of the day. Just because your colors are navy and white, does not mean you need to use navy ribbons, especially if your girls are wearing navy dresses – you’ll never even see the streamers hanging down. Select a color that will compliment – perhaps silver or gold or white, or another neutral. Then as the bride, you could choose to use navy ribbons if you want a bold, different look or you could also stick with the more neutral tone of the bridesmaids’ ribbons, just keeping in mind what they’ll look like in front of your white dress.

Stationary Pieces

It really pains me when people put all this thought and care into choosing the ribbons for their personal flowers (or allow me to put all this time and effort into choosing) and then just make a willy nilly selection when it comes to choosing what will be accenting their invitations and/or menu cards. This is the ribbon that people are actually going to touch. One day someone came over and was poking through my goodies and found one of my silk ribbons “It feels like butter!” she exclaimed and she couldn’t stop touching it. What if all of your guests had that reaction? Wouldn’t that make your paper goodies seem that much more luxurious and special?

A couple other thoughts, watch what the ribbons will be placed up against – paper colors, napkins, etc. Then consider the texture of the ribbon and how it might tie. If you’re making bows, does it form one easily or do you really have to fuss with it? Do you want to fuss with 150 bows? Or is it really pretty just casually knotted? How will it look after it’s been crammed in an envelope for 3 days before your guests open it?

Styling Pieces

A great way to style details and add a little extra flair is use the same ribbons throughout. Having extra scraps for the photographer to style the invitations suite with, tie the chair back signs or simply have flowing across the cake table. These small details really do make a huge impact.

Obviously there are a 100 other places you can use ribbons and you have to consider the cost and amount of ribbons you need. Save the most special and luxurious pieces for the places it will be most noticed – highly photographed portions of the day and places where guests will touch it. Most importantly – focus on what details matter most to you.

Real Weddings :: Tim & Christina

0 · Jun 16, 2015 ·

I have something that I like to refer to as my Wedding Bucket List. This basically means that there are certain vendors that I long to work with, venues that I’m dying to design in and floral combinations that make me so weak in the knees that if I were able to actually hold them in my hands and create with them my heart might actually leap out of my chest because it cannot hold the excitement.

Last June I received a phone call from the lovely Christina and she started telling me about her wedding this upcoming fall at The Willowbrook Mill in Northport — had I heard of it? Seriously!!? Not only had I heard of it, it was at the top of my list! For me this venue has so much history and meaning, I remember going there as a little girl back when it was an ice cream parlor and listening the Da Yoopers sing The Second Week of Deer Camp and dancing with my grandma as the song played on a beat up old jukebox. Now years later the building has been recreated and is a beautiful wedding venue and combines everything I love about Northern Michigan. And it meant I got to travel up north, working in pretty much any venue in Leelanau County is a dream come true for me.

As the planning went on, I knew this was a girl after my own heart. It wasn’t just the rustic wood floors, the glamorous sequined linens or their love for the most stunning California grown garden roses that made me fall in love with this couple, but their love for one another, the way they cherish their family and how God was at the very center of their marriage celebration – that is what truly made this one for the books.

From the bottom of my heart I wish Tim and Christina all the happiness in the world. Thank you for allowing me to be such a grand part of your celebration, designing a day of love.

Something Blu Shoes | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Getting Ready Photos | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Northport Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Love Letter | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Groom | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

First Look | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Bride and Groom First Look | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Boutonnieres | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Autumn Wedding Party | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Blush Bridesmaids Bouquet | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Flower Girl | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Letterpress Wedding Invitations | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Immanuel Lutheran Church Leland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Weddings at Immanuel Lutheran Church Leland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Leland Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Grand Exit | Immanuel Lutheran Church Leland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Classic Get Away Car | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Fishtown | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Garden Rose Bouquet | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Fishtown Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Vintage Wedding Car | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Autumn Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Leelanau Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Willowbrook Mill Wedding | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Calligraphy Table Number | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Willowbrook Mill | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Pinecone Place Card Holder | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Head Table | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Wedding at Willowbrook Mill | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Wedding at Willowbrook Mill | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Phtoography

Sequin Cake Table | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Cake Cutting | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Head Table Garland | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

First Dance | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

Vintage Wedding Limo | The Day's Design | Kelly Sweet Photography

This wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty last month, you can see it here.

Footprints in the Sand

0 · Jun 3, 2015 ·

Sunday I awoke to a nip in the morning air. It had the crisp, clean and fragrant smell of summer with the chilling temperatures of fall. It almost felt as though autumn was closing in upon us or perhaps I had traveled north to the place where my dreams often take me. It felt like a Northern Michigan morning.

That same morning, our pastor talked about waiting. I feel like I’m caught waiting a lot. Waiting can be good. Perhaps we shouldn’t but in such a hurry, life doesn’t have to happen instantaneously. It’s interesting to think though what might happen if we never stopped waiting and just sit in our comfort, dragging our feet. And as my mind always tends to wander, I was thinking, if Jesus is always by our side, then he’s waiting right there with to us. Like footprints in the sand next to us, carrying us, guiding us.

While these two occurrences from Sunday aren’t exactly connected, I couldn’t help but think of this image, it just seemed to sum up the day. I was thinking about chilly and cold feet. I was thinking of the misty shores of Lake Michigan and the damp sand. I was thinking of being lonely and yet having love by my side. I was thinking about how many thoughts and words can come to mind with no way to express themselves besides in one visual image. I don’t have the perfect poetic tidings or ideas to sum up this post, but it’s perplexing the emotions, sentiments and a wealth of thoughts that can be conjured up from just one picture.

This beautiful image was part of a seaside inspirations shoot Ashley Slater Photography and I put together last month. So many more moving photos to be shared soon!

Getting Published

0 · May 19, 2015 ·

Last week I had another one of my real weddings published on Style Me Pretty. The wedding itself was a dream and I could look at the pictures (and video!!) over and over again and never tire of them. And having your work featured on such a large platform is forever an honor – even though it may not have been the motivation of working on this particular wedding, it’s always nice when the wedding industry comes along and gives you a pat on the back, recognizing your hard work.

Photo: Kelly Sweet Photography

But let’s turn and look at this from a bride’s point of view. Was your wedding pretty as a picture? Do you dream of millions of people watching you and your man say “I do?” Want to be the envy of the neighborhood (and everyone’s Pinterest board)?

Do you want to see your wedding published? How do we make that happen?

It is okay to say right from the start that it’s your dream have your wedding featured on XYZ blog. You’ve been reading it for years, have 1,000 of pins from them and now that your big day is finally arriving, you want it to be showcased front and center. Sure, your wedding is really about love and commitment, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be pretty. So my first piece of advice is to be up front with your planner, your photographer and your florist. While lots of other vendors are definitely involved, these tend to be the key people in making your vision come to fruition, and getting it featured.

If you have a specific blog or publication that you’re aiming for, share that information. Different blogs feature weddings with different aesthetics. As a bride, you might know that you love everything you see on XYZ blog but not even be aware of why it you like their style so much. Maybe they only feature film photography, rustic weddings or flowers that are very textural and loose. Your planner should definitely be able to help you identify what is so special about that blog.

Then choose vendors that have been published before. They’ve had real weddings published before. Real weddings are much more challenging in that they have to be functional, as well as pretty – things can’t just be morphed for the camera. If they’ve been published on your dream blog/publication then they earn major bonus points since they already know what it takes.

And then you have to trust your vendors. Why are featured weddings so special? The make us covet their prettiness. They make us say “wow, I wish I was there”. Details are unique, the photography is extraordinary and everything flows perfectly together and feels very cohesive.

With all of this being said, it doesn’t mean that you have to have an over the top budget to make it happen. I can’t stress how important it is to have confidence in your vendors and how key it is to hire an amazing photographer. It might seem strange, but splurging on an incredible photographer could actually save you money. They just know how to capture things in a way that takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. $1,000 worth of flowers suddenly looks like $5,000. Sometimes the photographer is truly the only reason (in my opinion anyway) that certain weddings even get published. The event doesn’t necessarily have to be super trendy, just well documented. It’s all in the details.

Make sure you’re timeline allows for extras. You’re going to need pictures of the reception “untouched”. The ceremony site needs to be captured before the guests arrive. There needs to be time to photograph the invitation suite, the bouquet by itself, the cute boutonnières and maybe even a centerpiece or two off of the table. If everything is rushed, it’s far less likely that your stylist and photographer can get creative together a “stage” a couple extra pretty photos (yes your favorite weddings had tacky salt and pepper shakers on their gorgeous reception tables and their boutonnières probably arrived in plastic containers, not on that gorgeous silver tray – it’s all about staging).

Trust your planner/stylist to guide the decision making process. While cheap plastic folding chairs might be fine and serve the purpose, it’s rare that I see them featured on a national publication. Upgrading the chair rentals and going with a more standard linen might be in your best interest to achieve your goal. They know where to best focus your monies to get the most bang for your buck.

Do you want to get your wedding published? Me too! I’d love to work together to make your dream day a reality.

1 Recipe… Endless Possibilities (Part 2)

0 · May 15, 2015 ·

I think today calls for another dose of cheery blooms. So I’m sharing what I learned from Kaci with Damsel Floral Co about creating a more traditional, or formal style bridal bouquet (here’s the post from last week talking about looser, more asymmetrical bouquet styles).

We stayed true to the original nature of this project, further proving that just because we’re using the same flowers, it does not mean we’re going to yield identical results. In fact, far from it. There’s so much to factor into the equation but the major influence is the designer’s eye and personal preference. This is an art form, you wouldn’t expect 2 painters to paint the exact same painting or two sculptors to sculpt the same statue. It’s all in the eye of the beholder. And no two flowers stems are the same.

To create a more traditional bridal bouquet, we’ll start from the inside and work our way out. Pick a cluster of blooms that will be the central focal point. In a circle pattern, startarranging around that focal point, one blossom at a time. Keep the stems in a tight and in a spiral pattern.

As you work, startadding a few textural tidbits and accent flowers into the bouquet. This will soften the overall look and add more visual interest. Once the bouquet is complete and has reached the right size, perfect it by adding a few more greenery touches and even out any gaps making sure the bouquet is aesthetically pleasing and balanced.

An extra tip: Pay attention to the natural curves of each flower’s stem. Blooms with straight stems fit better towards the middle of the bouquets and those with a slight curve or angled flower head make better border flowers.

My final results.

And Kaci’s beautiful bouquet… while I struggled a touch, she whipped this up effortlessly.

I loved seeing all the completed bouquet (minus one we had to disassemble due to running out of flowers!). They were all so different even though we had used the same ingredients.

Photography: Hetler Photography | Floral Design: Damsel Floral Co and The Day’s Design

1 Recipe… Endless Possibilities (Part 1)

0 · May 7, 2015 ·

Yesterday I received the most amazing flower order. I think I literally squealed when I opened the box – they were knock-your-socks-off pretty, oh my! And even though I’m the one that placed the order, it’s still like Christmas when they arrive. I don’t always remember exactly what’s in the box or sometimes I just flat out forget how pretty certain flowers can be.

Pulling out each gorgeous blossom made me think back to this fun project that Kaci of Damsel Floral Co and myself put together. As flower friends, we like to learn from one another, there’s always more to know and I love finding different ways of doing things. We were inspired by bouquet recipes — you see them across major wedding blogs, on Pinterest and always accompanied by a picture of a really gorgeous bouquet. However, I think they’re misleading sometimes. For the DIY bride, she now knows exactly what flowers to use meaning she should be able to duplicate that picture. For the less DIY inclined, they should be able to take this recipe to a florist and have them create an exact replica as well, right?

I’m going to compare it to a food recipe. You can give me a list of ingredients. You can even tell me how much of each ingredient to include in my dish. But if I’m not give any instructions with it, I won’t know when to add what and how long to cook everything. While I might be able to use some common sense and come up with a decent meal, the results could also be disastrous.

Back to flowers, if the person creating the bouquet doesn’t understand the basic style and composition, then the results might not be exactly what you hoped for. You might create 2 bouquets with the exact same ingredients and yet yield completely different results.

This was the point that Kaci and I hoped to demonstrate. She gravitates a bit more to a more classic or formal style bouquet and I tend to like mine looser and more reminiscent of the garden (although I’ve seen her create some amazing “loose” bouquets and I should probably watch out, I might have some competition!). We both use the same flowers and yet we created completely different looks.

We started the day my way, meaning I showed Kaci the basic steps I take for constructing a looser, more relaxed style bouquet. My methods usually involved starting from the outside and working my way in. So I begin with usually 3 pieces to build a frame, either line flowers or greenery, and create a tripod type shape. From there, I start to fill in with secondary blooms keeping in mind what I want my focal point to be, which is usually a giant face flower. That focal flower, which in this case were the lilies, are added towards the end and once they’re in place I will start to adjust and add a few more blooms as needed.

Fun facts: I’m always very scattered while making a bouquet… very thoughtful and purposeful, but scattered. Flowers get flung in every which direction until I find the perfect bloom and it often looks like a tornado tore though a flower shop after I create just one bouquet.

And I always keep a mirror nearby. I have to see what it would look like if I were carrying it down the aisle. I never create something for a bride that I wouldn’t carry myself.

Part 2 of this post will be coming to you next week, we’ll see Kaci demonstrate how she takes a more formal approach to a bridal bouquet using the same flower recipe. And of course more gorgeous photos from Kellie of Hetler Photography.

Photography: Hetler Photography | Floral Design: Damsel Floral Co and The Day’s Design

Feeding Creativity

0 · Apr 21, 2015 ·

Photo: Hetler Photography

I was up at 3:30 this morning feeding Willa June. I don’t usually have many profound thoughts in this half sleeping, middle of the night state of mind. However, last night I began thinking about food. My life has been surrounded by it lately. In the eight hours while my husband escapes to work, I feed Willa June approximately 4 times. On top of that, Gretta gets breakfast, lunch and a snack. Basically this means that I’ve prepared 7 meals before the 5:00 rolls around and I haven’t even eaten yet. But I am surrounded by food.

I was thinking how this relates to my work. Right now I’m in the preparation stages. I have passed along so many floral and design proposals, brainstormed ideas and am so excited for all of this summer’s weddings to take place. I am surrounded by ideas and inspiration. I’m really really busy working with brides who are hungry for ideas. However, all of these ideas are on paper still. They’re just in the prepartion stages and have not been brought to life. I haven’t fed my creative side, I’m just planned a menu.

Without this extra fuel, our minds and imaginations become stagnant. Our creative juices cannot flow and our tank is running on empty. Its something that people outside of this industry just can’t seem to understand – why do you waste your money on workshops or photoshoots? You’ve got a dynamite portfolio and people know what you can do. Your talent speaks for itself. The answer is, sometimes I need to take time out for myself. Sometimes, I need to eat.

Real Weddings :: Heather & Dave

0 · Mar 30, 2015 ·

Often when I big working with couples, I can’t help but relate back to my own wedding and that experience. I channel back to the excitement, the stresses, what we found most important as a couple and the details that I cherished most as a bride. I think about not only what I might have done differently, but also what I did right that just made the day. I remember the emotions and how the day just simply seemed to fly by… especially for a bride who decided to do just about everything herself.

It’s for that reason, that I’m so happy when a couple reaches out in need of a day-of coordinator. I know hiring a full on wedding planner is not for everyone, but your wedding day is a fleeting moment, a flicker in the overall scope of your life but you want the memories to last a lifetime, so let’s make sure they’re good ones.

It was a joy being a part of Heather and Dave’s wedding. Heather told me on one of our very first meetings that one of her biggest concerns is that everyone gets to have a great time. I think an excellent time was had by all. Heather and Dave are that couple who just radiate fun, and it’s contagious. I was able to work at two new venues to me – with the ceremony being held on the Blue Bridge in Downtown Grand Rapids and cocktail hour and the reception followed shortly after at The Downtown Market. This was one of the few events last summer that I didn’t get involved in the overall design, but with Heather’s great taste, I didn’t have to. It was modern, chic and right on trend but the day the still held on to a little romance with bride’s chose of keeping a soft pastel color palette.

Cheers to Heather & Dave, it was a pleasure to be even just a small part of your celebration!

We’re Hiring!!

0 · Mar 20, 2015 ·

Summer 2015 is shaping up to be a really exciting time for The Day’s Design and the busiest season yet. I’m so excited for the warm weather finally arrive and the beginning of wedding season – but before that, there’s some wedding prep that must be done and I’m hoping you can be a part. Come, join my team!

Production & Coordination Assistant

We’re looking for someone passionate about organization, coordination, the small details and all things weddings. The perfect candidate will be assisting with logistics and timelines, on site event management and have excellent communications skills – both written and verbally. The position requires some design knowledge and an appreciation for pretty details.

This is a part-time assistant with a somewhat flexible schedule but availability on event weekends is a must. The production and coordination assistant may be required at client meetings, venue walk throughs and office prep days. You must also be willing to travel to event sites throughout Michigan and meet at least weekly in Grand Rapids throughout the summer months.

Compensation: Based on experience

Design Intern

We’re also seeking an intern with a detail oriented eye and an interest in lush, garden style florals. Intern responsibilities might include assistance in the conception and overall design of the wedding and/or events, assistance with setup and day-of tasks, packing and loading of décor, construction of design pieces and small floral arrangements and cleanup and organization at the end of the event.

Having prior experience in customer service, hospitality or the events industry would be extremely helpful along with a great eye for style and design. You must be willing to travel throughout Michigan to event sites although Grand Rapids will be the base of our services and Friday and weekend availability is necessary.

Compensation: an education in the wedding industry with a focus in event coordination, florals and design. Must be able to receive college credit.

To apply for either position, please send resumes to Shelby at hello@eventsbythedaysdesign.com. I’d love to hear why you’re interested in the wedding industry, why you want to work with The Day’s Design and more about your personal style. If you have a blog or other wedding related interests, feel free to share. Applications will be accepted immediately with interviews scheduled in early April. The positions will begin mid-May.

I can’t wait to meet you!

New Life

0 · Mar 19, 2015 ·

I’m so thankful for the sunshine and milder weather that has finally reached us here in West Michigan. I think Polly (my cocker spaniel) is pretty thankful as well. We’re finally able to step outdoors without having to be completely bundled head to toe, and as we do every spring, we’re on a quest – searching for new life.

I’m sad to say that as of 3:30pm on March 18, I have no notable findings to report. Brown, matted grass covers the vast majority of the landscape with a few lingering snow piles scattered here and there. Puddles still fill the ditches and tree branches remain barren, with the exception of a few shriveled berries left behind by the birds.

I’m not going to hide my jealousy for our neighbors to the south. I’ve seen peeks of forsythias and daffodils beginning to fill my feeds. However, I feel that this just fuels hope. Spring will arrive as it always does, fashionably late. It will be worth the wait, and we will be thankful after a long cold winter.

In the meantime, the only new life to be spotted is here in my home. I can tell by the increase of blog hits that I have a few nosey readers who are all patiently (or not so patiently!) awaiting a glimpse of the newest addition to our family. Right now my life consists of babies, bliss and blooms. I’m happy to introduce little Willa June. She’s one week old today.

Photography: Hetler Photography

Unloved Blooms

1 · Mar 9, 2015 ·

This photograph showed up in my feed a couple different places last week. It’s really really lovely.

Photography: Alexa’s Photography | Floral Design: Sophisticated Florals by Stephanie | Via: Ruffled Blog

The post was featured on Ruffled Blog last week as well as on their Facebook page. This picture had 667 likes, numerous comments about how pretty it is and was shared throughout social media.

If I’m not mistaken, this is a carnation. A carnation!! I personally have no issues with carnations, if fact, I think they’re really pretty if they’ve been placed correctly in an arrangement with care and attention to detail. However, during the process of designing with my floral clients, I always ask if there are any flowers that they really don’t like or do not want to see in their decor. The number one answer I receive is “no carnations.” And sometimes it’s really hard to sway their opinions otherwise, even though these 667 people love it. I know you can’t please everyone.

“There are no bad flowers, only bad flower combinations.” – Kelly Perry, of Philosophy Flowers. That thought is forever ingrained in my mind. So next time you’re passing by “ugly” blooms, I encourage you to stop and study them for a moment and think about what they might look like in a another light.

A Winter Maternity Session

0 · Mar 6, 2015 ·

I didn’t have maternity photos taken when I was pregnant with Gretta, and I’m not sure if I completely regret that but do know that there’s a missing piece of documentation in my life. I will never have that visual memory. I’ve never thought of myself as very photogenic so I just didn’t entertain the thought too much. I applaud those women who carry pregnancy with such beauty and grace, because that’s simply not me. However with this pregnancy, I decided to go for it. So back in January, Ashley Slater and I snuck outside for a little wintery photo session to commemorate this time in my life. I really set forth to see the beauty in this moment and try to find that every season has a reason to celebrate. It’s what I preach, it’s time to act on that.

As a bonus, I surprised my husband with these for a little Valentine’s gift. These were totally worth facing the frigid temperatures and now I have some beautiful new artwork to freshen up the baby’s nursery. And if you know me at all, you know that any photo session wouldn’t be complete without some beautiful blooms and a little styling.