wedding flowers

Blush & Blue Winter Tabletop

0 · Jan 27, 2020 ·

January seems like a rather serene month. There’s lots of white out the window and the colors of Christmas have faded away. Sometimes I imagine what it would be like to get married right now, or even plan a fabulous dinner party. Lots of candlelight and coziness seems appropriate yet, but I’m over the glam of the holidays and seek a little more simplicity.

Earlier this month, I shared a few great January flower options. But I wanted to extend that further, digging into exactly how to use those flowers not only to make a stunning centerpiece or arranmgent, but also a tabletop to go along with it.

I did add a few other flowers, beyond the 5 previously mentioned (in the post here) – white allium, dried bougainvilla, hellebores, kochia and quicksand roses. I think dried bits and textural pieces are great in any season, but especially right now. I have a hard time creating a nautral arrangment that doesn’t a least somewhat mimic what’s happening outside. And outside is very much lacking greenery.

I wanted to pair this combination with blue. Pink and blue have been a common pairing for awhile now, we saw Panatone choose the two together a couple years back and now blue has once again surfaced as the color of the year – although it’s a much brigher hue this time around. Perhaps it was the cold weather that has me thinking blue, or just the fact that I love these simple and sleek dinner plates and was determined to find a way to use them. Either way, I really liked how the white and subtle blushy pink tones of the centerpiece, the deeper blue plates and then adding in some soft blue candles really pulled these entire tabletop together. The clear glassware and candle holders made me think of ice, another nod the to weather. To top it off, I added in some gold flatware, just dress it up a bit and contrast against the more rustic, whitewash of the wood table.

A couple more thoughts to consider if you’re thinking of recreating this look-

These photos were taken in my studio, which is surrounded by lots of white and natural light. This could definetely come across a little more moody and beautiful in a darker setting – but I could recommend adding a few more candles.

Navy can photograph lighter – depening upon your photography style. These plate aren’t a true, deep dark navy blue, but in person read a little more navy than these pictures would have you believe. The light of the studio reflected off of them for photos and the flowers seem very true to color but not the plates. I’ve used navy ribbon for bouquets in the past and gotten photos back that looked as though bridesmaids were carrying posies wrapped in royal blue. Just a little note to consider as you’re designing, choosing photographers and pairing colors and settings all together.

Real Weddings :: Sarah & Matt

0 · Feb 27, 2019 ·

Prior to this day, I had never been to Grosse Pointe. I had never met Sarah in person, despite our many phone calls and email exchanges. I was traveling alone and it was a long drive. None the less, I knew this was going to be a good day.

I drove through neighborhoods of impressive houses and perfectly groomed lawns. The gates and roadways were so well manicured and my rusty Tahoe (rest in peace old girl) stuck out like a handful of sore thumbs against the luxury sedans around me. I was like a fish out of water, a little country girl from the middle of nowhere Michigan, trying to fit into this gorgeous yacht club scene. But I reminded myself, it was going to be a good day.

Trusty Rusty may have turned some heads and raised a couple of eyebrows, but as soon as people see the beautiful blooms in your hands, any questioning looks immediately disappear. My doubts fade when I have flowers in my hands. There’s a confidence in my ability, regardless of where I’ve traveled. Flowers make people happy. And this was a happy day.

Sarah and I met for the first time that day. It was a meeting I won’t soon forget with an embrace as though we were long lost friends. The energy in the room as the girls were getting ready was contagious.

I met my team on site and we got to work, fluffing centerpieces and placing candles. Perfecting each arrangement and making sure each bloom was perfectly placed. The process included hauling marble tables up multiple flights of stairs, carrying 20 some centerpieces into an impeccably designed nautical room and building a table scape on site to be stretched down the head table. We wrap our ribbons around the bouquets right before they were to be photographed, pinned each of the buttonholes onto the guys lapels and dedicated our day to making sure set up as perfect as humanly possible. By the time I left the venue, the bride and groom had exchanged first looks, wedding portraits were well underway and the guests were due to begin arriving at any time.

It’s not a process to be hurried. So much time and care was spent in designing the flowers. Sarah and I spend hours communicating about her favorite blooms, imagining how they would pair with her napkins and what vessels should be used. We searched and search for the perfect shade of taper candle (which oddly enough, we swapped out on the day of, once seeing it in the room – terra cotta was exchanged for butter yellow). I stayed and styled the stationary with Samantha James Photography and moved the table numbers that the venue coordinator placed right in front of the bride’s favorite centerpiece flowers. Are these tasks that all florist do? Maybe some, but others just drop the arrangement and run. But something would be missing if that were the way I operated. The bride would feel it and so would I.

At 11:00pm that night I came back alone. I made sure all the candles were burned out and picked up any remaining flowers. I was tired. It was a long day. I had travel ahead of me still. But the smiles that remained on the bride and grooms’ faces at the end of the night instantly rejuvenated me. Because this day wasn’t about me. I knew an exhaustion I felt was all worth it. I had gotten to be a part of another once in a lifetime celebration. And it was a good day.

Photography: Samantha James Photography | Floral Design: The Day’s Design | Wedding Design: Megan Styled | Venue: Grosse Pointe Yacht Club | Stationary: Shasta Bell Calligraphy

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

Comparing Florists :: The Experience

0 · Apr 2, 2015 ·

The last part of this series (even though this is hardly the end all, be all of floral design) is experience. And experience can be approached in two different ways. There’s the client experience and then there’s the experience level of your wedding professional.

First off, let’s talk client experience. I have found that florist approach the initial client consult in several different ways. If they have a storefront, then a meeting at the shop might be in order. But as it’s becoming increasingly common for boutique designers and independent florist to set up home studios, sometimes it’s a cup of coffee with your local barista that fits the bill or perhaps even a phone consult to make that initial connection. Others may even keep communications strictly through email and other virtual means. There’s not a right or wrong answer to this, it’s really what’s best for you, as the client. Which way to do you like to communicate? Would you rather just email a link to your Pinterest board and then have a florist provide a quote? Do you want to see, feel and touch objects in the flower shop? Or does a lengthy chat over a cuppa joe sound more like your cup of tea (hehe, pun intended!)

Personally, I like to meet all of my clients in person, whenever possible. This goes for both planning and floral design clients because I want to feel your passion. I want to know what the next few months working alongside you are going to be like. I want to see which flowers make your eyes light up and see the glow that spreads across your face as you giddily chat about your fiancé. I want to get a feel for your likes and dislikes and sometimes there are nonverbal communications and clues that I can’t perceive via virtual communications.

Beyond that, I work closely with my clients. I want to know as much as possible about the events surrounding your day and what your wedding hopes and dreams are. Some floral designers (myself included) offer additional services such as delivery, set up, full event design, event management (or day-of coordination) or even full wedding planning services. Other’s stick strictly to the floral basics. So consider your floral needs and whether it would better suit you to have one person providing all these services for you. Or perhaps that’s all a bit too fancy and all you need is a quick quote, some blooms in a vase and you’ll return the rentals and tear down yourself. That’s perfect too, if that’s the experience that you choose.

Then there’s the floral designer’s experience. Some basic questions to ask – how long have they been in the wedding or floral industry? Where else have they worked? What trends have they seen and are they up to date on the types of flowers and style you’re seeking? Who have they studied under or did they go to “flower school”?

When it comes to flowers, for the most part I’m self-taught. That might have scared me when I was a bride talking to a floral designer. But I’ve been in hospitality for over 12 years now with the past 7 being focused specifically on weddings. That means I bring a fair amount of wedding knowledge to the table. I’ve been in business since 2011 and have watched it flourish and grow while definitely making a few mistakes along the way. I soak up knowledge from whatever sources I can and have committed to attending at least one workshop or class-type experience a year because I refuse to give up on education. I’m a lifetime learner, for sure and have been enchanted by beautiful blooms ever since I was a little girl. With each flower order I receive, I make sure there’s at least one new flower variety for me to play with and learn from. For me, learning in this non-traditional way works and I hardly feel inexperienced.

Other designers have a wealth of floral knowledge, but they might not know as much about planning or customer service. Perhaps they have a specialty – be it large scale arrangements, foraged and textural design or the most beautiful bridal bouquets you’ve ever seen. Is their work well rounded? Where are your priorities with their experience? The fact that they can make the most fabulous arbors isn’t going to benefit you if you’re not having one at your ceremony site. Have they been published on every major wedding blog and magazine and hopefully your wedding will be too?

This can also circle back around to pricing. Expect to pay a bit more for someone with oodles of formal training at 20+ years in the floral industry. I’ll call them floral powerhouses or brand name florists. You might save a couple dollars by hiring a newbie or someone lesser known. You may or may not be making a sacrifice, just depending upon who you hire. Sometimes designers are lesser known simply because they do a smaller volume of weddings each year, they choose to keep their businesses small and are very selective about the clients they take on. This may actually improve your client experience, even if it means they don’t have as much floral experience. But on the other side of that coin, a florist who does lot in volume a year might not give you the same amount of personal attention, but they make up for it in pricing. From a business standpoint, they don’t need to charge as much because they take on 5 weddings a weekend whereas someone such as myself will only do one. But that’s why I am able to provide a more personalized experience.

Have you figured out what’s important to you about your floral designer? I really think it all comes down to a gut feeling and finding someone who you feel comfortable and can connect with. Do you have other questions about what to consider? I’d love to hear them and can absolutely expand upon this.

And in case you missed Part 1 (Pricing) & Part 2 (Passion) you can read those here and here.

Farewell 2014

0 · Dec 31, 2014 ·

I was not going to do a year end post, I mean, do people even read these? I don’t think it’s an original idea and I’m not sure that there’s a single person out there that truly cares what my year looked like. But earlier this week I was going through some goals, figuring out how to get where I want to be in 2015 and it really did inspire me to think about where I started in January of 2014 and how my business has evolved over the course of a very short year.

Even though 2014 was The Day’s Design’s second official full wedding season, I was still a little unsure of myself and did not have high expectations. But the thing about having low expectations is, it’s not hard to exceed them — which I did, 10x over. I gave myself a boost of confidence this past year and know that I am worthy of an amazing 2015, which is looking really busy and cannot wait to celebrate with the sweet couples I have booked this year and the ones I am yet to meet.

I hope my journey inspires someone out there to keep moving forward and following their dreams, it’s not easy but if you’re passionate about doing what you love, then it’s so worth it. Without further ado, I’ll take you on a walk through my year.

January

I got the brilliant idea to put together a Valentine’s bouquet and model it myself… in the middle of a blizzard. Thanks Heather for freezing along with me!

February

Rachel, with Sincerely Ginger Weddings, and I collaborated on a gorgeous winter inspiration shoot in my favorite place ever – Leland, Mi! It was so sweet and full of wintery romance and rumor has it, Style Me Pretty will be featuring the shoot in it entirety next month! Photography: Eliza Jean Photography.

Later that month my Valentine’s bouquet was featured on on Burnett’s Boards. You can see the feature here.

March

Cabin fever officially set in and I found myself getting antsy and itching to use a little creative energy. In remedy, Ashley Slater Photography and I teamed up to put together a little tutorial on how you can make your very own gilded floral crown.

April

This month was special for two reasons. First off, Heather Cisler and I teamed up once again to put together a fabulous fairytale inspired photo shoot.

And secondly I made a HUGE business changing decision and took a leap into adding floral services alongside planning and coordination. All I can say is, what took me so long!? This passion was hidden deep within me and a creative freedom has been unleashed and I will never look back. Bring on the blooms!

May

I stepped away from weddings and floral work for a moment to be a part of something a little different, but equally amazing. Kellie Hetler has a heart for service and put together the More Than a Face campaign, which is designed to help high schools girls to find their inner worth and realize what a difference they can make. Each one of these women was so beautiful and unique – I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a part and bring a little extra style to this shoot.

Shortly thereafter I packed my bags and headed for the mountains of North Carolina. I wasn’t prepared for how this experience would change my life. I realized how to create, how to better see things and found a deep appreciation for my surroundings and finding beauty in the everyday. I climbed mountains both literally and figuratively and walked away with friendships I will cherish forever. Kelly Perry of Philosophy Flowers is an absolute delight and the true definition of a floral artist. The rest of the Team Flower ladies are an equal treasure. If only we could travel back in time, I would relive those moments of and over again, sure to find something fresh and new every time. Photography: Heather Payne Photography.

I rushed home from my workshop to share my experience with those I cherish most, my family. I picked a few foraged blooms and we ventured out to the apple orchard to have our family photos taken with Kellie Hetler. I love these sweet moments.

June

June started out on a rather cold note. I was part of Bloom the Workshop, hosted by Ashley Slater Photography and Michaela Noelle Designs. While I remember how great is was providing beautiful blooms to such an inspiring group of women, I also remember how cold it was that day.

And then came the first wedding of the 2014 season… an intimate ceremony in the woods with an ode to Alice in Wonderland. This was a fabulous way to kick off the wedding season and was featured on Style Me Pretty last month. Photography: Kelly Sweet Photography.

July

July was a month of rest. I had a busy August ahead and took the first part of the month for a little relaxation and the second half and full on wedding prep — but there’s never any pretty pictures to share from that!

August

This was my busy month, but it’s definitely worth my couple moments of being frazzled to see the smiling faces at the end of a wedding nice – so happy, so in love.

First up, a day-of coordination with the ceremony at the blue bridge in downtown Grand Rapids and a beautiful blush and grey reception to follow at the Downtown Market. I haven’t tracked down any pictures yet but think modern, airy space, soft grey silky linens and soft blush blooms.

Next came floral design for a couple who said “I do” at the Bissell Tree House. And in case you’re wondering, Thursday weddings are totally fun! Photography: Joe Matthews.

And then it was off to Northern Michigan for a festive and fun celebration at a llama farm… because who wouldn’t want to get married at a llama farm?! Again, I don’t have pictures to share yet but if you’re looking for a fun celebration – why not get married on a hilltop overlooking Lake Michigan with llamas in the background. Think local wildflowers, a live jazz band and fun dinosaur escort cards.

Then we celebrated one more set of nuptials this month. I feel honored to be a part of any wedding day – it’s a big deal, and these memories are extremely important, but when the bride and groom happen to be a couple of your closest friends, that just adds a whole new level of special to the day. I was lucky enough to provide floral services, and then helped the couple celebrate into the night. Dahlias, dahlias and more dahlias surrounded this love filled day. Photography: Chelsea Seekell Photography.

September

The months of August and September seem to be increasingly popular times to get married. I did a little freelance floral work for not one, but 2 weddings in Northern Michigan with Sincerely, Ginger Weddings. It’s always super fun to collaborate with like-minded, creative individuals.

And let’s not forget Amy & Emyr’s picture perfect day at the Gull Lake Country Club.

Bloom 2.0 brought us back to the Hydrangea Blu Barn for another round of education and fun with Micheala Noelle and Ashley Slater. I love creating flowers and helping with their workshops. Photography: Jenn Anibal.

September also hosted one of my favorite styled shoots ever. I actually hesitate to call it a styled shoot because in reality we invited guests, guests who needed a little extra love and a night to remember just how special they really all. This was the dinner parties of all dinner parties and I’m so thankful for all the vendors who volunteered to be a part. Photography: Ashley Slater Photography.

October

This past summer I received a phone call from the sweetest bride you have ever met telling me how she didn’t have a florist yet for her October wedding. After hearing all the details she had in place for her Northport wedding, I knew I had to be a part. The Willowbrook Mill has been so high on my list “must work” wedding locations that I just about fell out of my chair when she said that was her venue. It was a match made in heaven as I created florals, helped design and coordinated all the details of Christina and Tim’s day.

November

In the name of furthering education, Kaci Muller (of Just Delightful Events) and I got together for a morning of flower talk and coffee and compared notes on how we typically create our beautiful wedding bouquets and Kellie Hetler joined in the fun so we’d have a few pictures to share with you.

I thought my wedding season would officially end with the conclusion of October’s love filled celebration, but surprise… my younger sister decided to push up her wedding date by 6 months and she tied the knot after only a month’s worth of planning. Photography: Katie Grace Photography & Videography.

December

And then to cap off the year, Katie Grace Photography and I just had to go play with a few of my leftover blooms. I’m going to start making bouquet and floral recipes a more common feature on my blog, I can’t wait!

It really has been a fantastic year! I can’t believe we’re bidding it farewell in just a few short hours. Let’s see what 2015 has in store – I”m ready, bring it on!

Accent Flowers

0 · Nov 11, 2014 ·

It’s no secret that I love the art of floral arranging. I can’t seem to get enough of designing with pretty blooms and I sincerely hope that this always holds true and never becomes a burden or a chore because it is my “job”.

While making big, lush arrangements is one of my favorite things ever I think they’ve become somewhat expected when you come to an event. People expect to see the massive urns overflowing with lush greenery and delicate roses at the front of the ceremony. They look for the floral centerpieces and ooh and ahh over the bride’s romantic bouquet. In today’s world, these are “standard” pieces of wedding décor.

Sometimes it’s the simple anybody-can-do-it details that capture me the most. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or over the top but rather tastefully done and even a little unexpected can have a huge impact. Adding a couple leftover sprigs of green to the cake table, having a small simple bud vase with a single colored bloom by the guests book or having a couple of extra flowers on standby to photograph with your accessories or wedding invites. Often these details that we find ourselves swooning over really aren’t so glamourous, they were just staged well and someone knew how to accessorize.

The picture above (so beautifully captured by Heather Cisler Photography) showcases the most gorgeous white ranunculus, which just adds a whole new level of pretty to the sparkly bar set up. The sweet little ranunculus is the most perfect accent flower. At times details like this are thought out and other times, I will completely admit, they were just a spur of the moment inspiration, which again is why you hire artists and vendors who you trust to make your special day even more than you ever imagined. It’s also a great way to add a little extra romance or natural feeling to a party that might not necessarily call for floral centerpieces or showpieces.

My philosophy is simple – every flower should be showcased and loved, leave no flowers behind.

Flowers are Coming to The Day’s Design!!

0 · Apr 30, 2014 ·

I am so grateful and beyond excited for the opportunity to follow my PASSION for flowers and offer romantic, garden style blooms to my design services. This May, my travels will take me to North Carolina to attend Philosophy Flowers’s workshop where I hope to hone some of my floral skills. Flowers make me feel alive and I want to be surrounded by them as often as possible.

Flowers and design go hand in hand, so this seems like a natural step for me to take. It’s becoming a rather requested service of me. And you’ve no doubt seen my floral work throughout my website, in inspirations shoots and even at my own wedding. In fact, you may have thought this was a service I already offered, which it is, but on a very small scale. Putting together a few blooms for a birthday party, brunch or simply brighten someone’s day is a little different than creating a design with hundreds of flowers, moving pieces, aisle décor and centerpieces for a wedding.

So when it comes down to it, fear has held me back and I’ve been scared to book a whole wedding’s worth of floral. There are so many more details to consider than just hand-tying a few blooms together. And what if I fail? This is someone’s dream day that I would be crushing!

In light of this, right now my basement is being reworked, plans are being plotted and floral recipes are being created. If all goes well, full on large scale floral services will be officially be added to The Day’s Designs offerings soon… like really soon, I’m talking to brides about blooms this summer and fall! Eeekk… I’m so excited to actually be typing those words!

What does it mean for you, my current and future bridal clients? It means that you will have yet another resource for beautiful blooms. It means that the person designing and coordinating logistics with also be hands-on with florals and ideas can easily come from one person and one place, without having to communicate your vision over and over again to countless vendors. It also means one less vendor to worry about on your wedding day. However, you by no means HAVE to use my floral services. I know there are so many amazing florists out there, and if one of them strikes your fancy, I highly encourage you to work with them. No hard feelings, I want your day to represent you and make your vision come to life. I will also be taking on a limited number of floral only clients, so bring on the flower love!

I can’t wait to share more about my adventures of adding blooms!