Wedded in Bloom!

We're on Wedding Chicks!

2011-04-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

So excited that some of my hand-crafted fabric flowers from my Etsy shop are being featured on the Wedding Chicks blog today! These images are from a recent photo shoot with the amazing photographer, Silvana di Franco -- yay! Click here to view and leave a comment, if you wish. Enjoy your day!

New Etsy Item: Peony Hair Fascinator

2011-03-02T07:41:00.000-08:00

Be gorgeous on your wedding day with this amazing and oversized Peony in your hair... Soft, romantic, and oh-so-lightweight, this beauty is entirely hand-crafted, petal by petal, in fluttery sheer voile fabric. Available in tea-stained cream (as pictured), white, or custom-colored to your wedding palette. Stunning accessory for your bridesmaids, and a lovely keepsake gift; can also be done as a sash or an eye-catching brooch/corsage... http://www.etsy.com/listing/69181598/ivory-cream-tea-stained-ruffled-peony

Preston Bailey's Color Picker...

2011-02-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, I admit it: I have a super-huge-floral-designer-major-mad-crush on the incredible Preston Bailey, floral and event designer extraordinaire! For those of you who aren't familiar with his work, he's the designer of choice for all of Miss Oprah's lavish events, as well as countless others -- both star-related as well as the more common folk like myself (ahem, well-budgeted common folk, that is!). I've been a full-on fan of his ever since I bought one of his first gorgeous books at Harrod's in London and lugged it all the way home to California (and yes, I did indeed hand-carry it on the plane so it wouldn't be lost along with my luggage!).

His website has this really cool color picker that I wanted to pass along to everyone, but I must issue the following warning: It's extremely addictive, so approach with caution! It's an amazing way to play with potential color combos and "looks" for your wedding -- hence the addiction part... Super-easy to use; Preston recommends that you start by selecting your favorite color, after which you make some selections about your event's details, and voila! -- your design dilemmas just melt away... (Well, okay, maybe not on the average budget of most weddings, but it's a great jumping-off point -- and did I mention that it's oh-so-fun?!)

Enjoy!!! Click here: Preston Bailey's Color Picker

Pink Peony Madness -- An Etsy Treasury...

2011-02-21T08:09:00.000-08:00

The exquisite Peony... So many brides want them for their wedding, but with such a short season, few can have them. So this is dedicated to all of the May/June brides -- enjoy! (And then be sure to visit our Etsy store, featuring handmade flower items for your wedding -- click the link in right-hand corner of blog page!)

2011 Bride's Choice Award!

2011-02-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

So happy to have been awarded the 2011 Bride's Choice Award from Wedding Wire, for the third year in a row! As this award is based solely on the reviews of our work written by our past clients, I'm sending every single one of you a sweet and flowery little "thank you" from the bottom of my most grateful heart... You all are the best! xoxo

Day Two of the flu...

2011-02-14T08:11:00.000-08:00

...and still in bed with a brain that continues to be foggy, the only thing to do? Create another lovely Etsy Treasury, of course...

Oh, yes, and I heart all of you on this day of valentines...

Dreaming in vintaged blush...

2011-02-13T20:32:00.000-08:00

Ill in bed on a lazy Sunday, my creative brain continues to churn with ideas. To channel my restlessness, I amuse myself by making a lovely Treasury of items on Esty: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d587afc12e88eefba92cb59/my-dreams-in-vintaged-blush-while-ill-in

Enjoy!

Love & Lavender Feature -- Barbara & Brandon's Wedding

2011-02-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Barbara and Brandon's August 14th wedding was recently featured on the wedding blog, Love & Lavender -- check it out! http://www.loveandlavender.com/2011/01/barbara-and-brandons-wedding/

More to come soon on this gorgeous and very special wedding... (Photographed by the amazing and uber-talented Silvana di Franco! (www.silvanadifranco.com)

We're on Etsy!!

2011-01-09T23:43:00.000-08:00

So excited to announce that The Blue Orchid is now on Etsy!! Thanks to some allergy-suffering clients in the 2010 season, I began creating personal flowers for them using fabrics, ribbons, needle felting techniques, and such. One thing led to another, and then an Etsy shop was born; on Esty, we're known as "Blue Orchid Floral" (vendor name "blueorchidfloral"). Currently offering sashes, corsages, boutonnieres, hair flowers and brooches, as well as bouquets, I will be soon expanding into pomanders, flower girl baskets, head wreaths, ring pillows, and decor items, so please check back often. (It takes a bit to get exposure on Etsy, so please share this link with your friends -- most appreciated!) http://www.etsy.com/shop/blueorchidfloral

My Etsy items are as carefully crafted as my fresh floral designs, with the added bonus of being a lovely keepsake after your wedding. In addition, color matching with your wedding palette is much more precise than with fresh flowers. And as with my fresh flower designs, custom orders and special requests are always welcome. Thanks for stopping by!

The Contrast of Things...

2010-01-29T11:04:00.000-08:00

I'm often fielding questions from my brides about the necessity of contrast and how their flowers will fit into the overall look of their wedding. This is a topic I do feel rather passionate about, especially in terms of how their flowers and arrangements will look in their wedding photographs. This is not self-serving on my part (well, okay, maybe just a little bit; great pictures in my portfolios definitely help me to remain employed!). Rather, the last thing I would want for a client is to have her love everything on Wedding Day, but be disappointed in the resulting photography -- ack!

Obviously, hiring the right photographer helps immensely in this regard. But just as important is to make sure you're thinking in terms of not just on the big day, but also as to how everything will look in your pictures afterwards. This is one of my most oft-uttered lines to clients: "Think about how this will look in pictures..." I'm sure they get sick of me saying it sometimes, but it is so important, and really helps to ensure that the look that you want captured for all time actually has a chance of being so. A fantastic photographer can do so much with looks that inspire, and indeed, many can do wonders with looks that are... less than inspirational, shall we say? But here's the harsh reality: If you put a solid white bouquet against a solid white dress, don't be surprised if you can't tell what the bouquet actually looked like in your pictures...as they will have most likely faded into a blob of white marshmellowy nothingness. Not a good thing!

I had two weddings last season where my brides carried all-white bouquets, but did not want incorporate any greens or another color to help with the contrast issue. They selected bouquets composed with beautiful, high-end flowers, and as such, paid a pretty penny for them. In both cases, I personally loved what we did -- and they did too! However, when their photographs came in, both girls said the same thing to me: In hindsight, we should have listened to your mantra. Nothing upsets me more than the thought of one of my brides being disappointed (about anything!) after the fact -- that would give this old girl a full-on floral heart attack -- literally... (Out of respect for my two brides, I am not posting the pictures here.)

With one of the photographers, they didn't even take a single detail or close-up shot of the bridal bouquet, so that certainly didn't help. That particular bride ended up with not even one clear image of her bouquet! Happily, this is one aspect that is usually a priority for any of the great photographers I've worked with. Further, if you look at any Real Wedding featured in a magazine or website, a direct shot of the bridal bouquet is always a part of the collected images. So I do think there's an unspoken expectation regarding this type of shot. With both weddings, I probably won't be able to use their shots much in portfolios (except just as my own personal memento of a beloved client), and certainly not in any marketing ventures. And sadly, I don't think either wedding would ever be considered for a Real Wedding feature by a bridal magazine. After all of the hard work, money, and countless hours both girls put into their weddings, this realization was an added disappointment for both of them. Both weddings were definitely feature-worthy.

So how to avoid this? A little food for thought, my gentle reader:

1. Hire the best photographer you can afford -- or perhaps, even can't afford! (I can't tell you how many beautiful weddings have been ruined due to bad photography shot by a "family-friend-who-is-good-with-a-camera".) If they're not a professional photographer, they're just not. There are no do-overs with your wedding photos -- do you really want to take this chance?

2. If you're carrying a white bouquet, seriously consider incorporating some sort of contrasting element -- preferably, concentrated around the outside perimeter of the bouquet. Even just a little helps (image left). Beyond the obvious use of greenery, this can also be accomplished by way of a colored flower or a texture -- for example, Hypericum Berry, pods, or even delicate woody branches. A chic cuff can be created using looped ribbons or fabric, or feathers even, in a contrasting shade. Likewise, incorporating colored crystals or jewelry/brooches wired amongst the flowers themselves can also help. Regardless of the way you choose to do it, think very carefully before putting an all-white bouquet against a white dress. (And no, it's probably not safe to assume that your off-white or ivory dress will be enough of a contrast in the photographs -- sorry!)

3. Same thing with your bridesmaid dresses: If you have them carry burgundy flowers against a burgundy dress, consider it a lost cause! And do think beyond the colors: The texture of the flowers themselves can also greatly impact the resulting contrast in photographs. For instance, a flurry of delicate Sweet Peas will probably not have the same impact as larger, more graphic flowers that demand more attention visually. In the image at right, although we used red blooms against a similarly-colored dress, we achieved strong contrast through the use of the Popcorn Dahlias as a high-impact flower, and then further with the greenery collar. A bouquet of a mass of tiny flowers just wouldn't achieve the same impression in print.

4. Not everyone loves greenery, of course; we designer-types would all prefer to do solid floral pieces, generally speaking. However, sometimes budget determines what will be suitable in terms of contrast. And if you prefer a softer or less-stark contrast than usually achieved in a collar-type contrast, then perhaps a subtle accent in a brighter or bolder shade of your primary color might be better suited for your personal style. In the image, left, we gently popped up a little contrast by infusing soft, feminine bouquets with the fuchsia Sweet Pea accents (as well as some light touches of green off of the other flowers).

5. White tones and dark tones can be equally challenging for even the best of photographers -- for opposite reasons. Whites reflect lots of light, and can be visually "blown out" as a result. On the other end of the spectrum, super dark tones can suck up all the light in an image. And when you mix them up -- like we did in this bouquet (right) -- it's going to take some seriously mad photography skills to properly balance the two. During this particular shoot, this bouquet probably took my dear friend and photographer extraordinaire, Janine Mapurunga, longer to capture perfectly than most of the other bouquets put together! The dark purple Calla Lilies -- though gorgeous! -- absorbed every bit of light we could find, and to make it even more challenging, I put them right next to the pure white of the center Callas. Could I have made it any harder??! Of course, talent that she is, Janine was able to pull it off beautifully, but not without a supreme effort on her part. (www.mapurunga.com)

The final word here? Hire a good photographer, and hire a good florist -- and then talk to them both about any concerns you may have in this regard -- and then listen to their advice. Being prepared going into the big day will help ensure that you end up with wedding pictures that you'll actually want to look at for many years to come!

The Details:

White and Red Bouquet images by Kuperberg Photography (www.kuperberg.com)
Pink Bouquets image by Diana Miller (www.dianamiller.com)
Purple Calla Bouquet image by Janine Mapurunga (www.mapurunga.com)

Bride's Choice Award!

2010-01-25T17:26:00.001-08:00

For the second year in a row, The Blue Orchid is the recipient of a Bride's Choice Award from WeddingWire (http://www.weddingwire.com/)! For those of you who have yet to discover this great site, WeddingWire is a resource website devoted to the needs of girls just like you: The Bliss-Seeking Bride! Find great vendors, read reviews posted by past clients, and access their extensive photo library -- just a few of the many things you will find on this site. (WeddingWire is also partnered with Martha Stewart Weddings (http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/), giving you access to all of Old Martha's wisdom and "Good Things".)

According to WeddingWire: "The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the Bride's Choice Awards are determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds. This year's winners represent the top five percent of WeddingWire's vendor community, which consists of over 100,000 local wedding professionals nationwide."

From the bottom of my flower-filled heart, thank you to all of my wonderful clients who took the time to review our work on WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Yelp, Wedding Mapper... Well, it's a big list! We couldn't have won this lovely honor without you! Kisses!

Center Stage: At the Flower Market...

2010-01-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Although we human types may still be in the throes of Winter, with sub-zero "I'm-so-cold-my-words-are-frozen-before-they-even-leave-my-mouth" temperatures across the country -- not to mention a series of wild and wonderful thunder and lighting storms pummeling the West Coast -- the San Francisco Flower Mart has apparently decided to jump right into Spring with its typical gusto! A recent visit revealed an abundance of flowers and branches -- perfect for quick and easy DIY arrangements...

Tulips were everywhere in a variety of colors, along with some gorgeous lavender/purple-and-green Flowering Kale (also sometimes called "Cabbage Rosettes") (left). In typical Tulip fashion, they continue to grow after being cut -- just to let you know who is truly in control; bossy yet beautiful, like all Spring girls!

Plenty of feminine Ranunculus (right) -- mostly in pretty pinks and whites -- in excellent quality and outstanding pricing at $3 to $4 wholesale for a ten-stem bunch. When buying these for yourself, select bunches still in bud form, not fully opened. Although they don't look like much in the beginning, they will unfurl over days into hundreds of tissue-thin petals with chic little black centers.

One big surprise find? Tons of soft green Hydrangea, with huge fluffy heads, for about $9 to $12 wholesale for a five-stem bunch -- this is the exact color so many brides are looking for throughout the year. We start seeing green Hydrangea locally in late Spring/early Summer, but the crops usually start off in much darker greens, with immature, smallish heads. How I wish we could have the type pictured at left all year long! Crisp white Freesia (yummy fragrance!) and Lysmachia -- also used in this arrangement -- have been readily available in recent weeks.

Of course, nothing heralds the upcoming Spring like flowering branches -- and they are everywhere right now! Quince, Cherry, Apricot, in shades of pinks, whites, and peaches, and for a bright display of color, choose Forsythia, covered in little yellow blooms. Pussy Willow branches, with their fuzzy little buds, are also readily available right now, and will continue to be for the next few months. Pricing ranges from $6 to $8 wholesale for a generous bunch; an armful looks dramatic all on its own in a heavy glass cylinder or tall chunky square vase.

Flowering branches are a smart buy in terms of a long vase life. Giving the stems a fresh cut every few days and changing the water at the same time will help in this regard. I have often enjoyed a bundle of branches for up to a month, just by freshening them up periodically. (Remember that clean vases are a must for flower longevity, so if possible, wash the vase when changing the water and recutting the stems. Flower food or a drop of bleach in the water keeps the stinkies away and the water sparkling.) You can even force the baby buds on the tiny little side branches -- just cut them and place into little bud vases for a sweet mini display of Spring.

And who can ignore the allure of lush, fat, ruffled Peonies?? (Absolutely buy these in bud form or just cracked, never opened.) One of the most-requested flowers for weddings, but with a very short season, we see local Peonies in May through June. The Peonies available at market currently are imported -- these were from Peru, of all places -- and are breathtakingly expensive right now at $5 per stem -- wholesale -- ouch! But as any true Fashionista knows, style trumps cost every time -- and these beauties were no exception!

For a luxe accent, I added some chocolately-pink Cymbidium Orchid blooms. Available year-round in a multitude of colors and patterns, Cymbidium Orchids are more of a cold weather Orchid, unlike most other tropically-inclined Orchids. Therefore, the crop is particularly strong during the Winter and Spring months. At $22.50 per stem wholesale, they are certainly costly, but well worth it: I used only one stem, snipping the blooms off and tucking them into the Peonies.

(When necessary, Cymbidium Orchids can go for days without water, so you can simply cut and tuck, or alternatively, give them new stems with wire and tape for use in an arrangement or bouquet.)

Looking for a bolder shade to brighten up the winter blahs? This Delphinium was in the most gorgeous shade of blue, with lots available at market for about $6 to $7 wholesale per bunch. With its tall stems and eye-catching color, pop the vibrancy of blue Delphinium against fluffy green Hydrangea, and finish with some dramatic Monstera leaves at the base of the flowers.

For those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, if you haven't visited the SF Flower Mart, you've been missing out on one of the greatest experiences ever! While primarily a wholesale market for floral designers and shops, some of the vendors sell to the public as well. One of only a handful of grower-owned markets in the U.S., ours is the best -- okay, so what if I'm a bit biased! Plan a trip and judge for yourself. (For more information about the SF Flower Mart, including Public Mart Hours, visit their website: http://www.sfflowermart.com/) Happy hunting!

I wed thee, with whimsy...

2010-01-02T13:00:00.001-08:00

Another standout wedding from the 2009 season was Erika and Jeff's celebration at Grace Ranch, located in the outerskirts of Sebastopol. I absolutely loved, loved, loved the charm and slight quirkiness of this wedding! From requesting a petite yet sweet bridal bouquet -- no big bouquets here, thank you! -- to their "gaggle" of Flower Girls (five!!) -- to the floral collar for their beloved doggy, Charlie -- this wedding perfectly reflected Jeff and Erika's personalities and aesthetic.

With a color palette of warm orange, soft sage green with touches of brown and turquoise here and there, this wedding brought a whimsical feel to this renovated farm venue, which features a gorgeously-updated house (think Sunset magazine meets old barns, orchards and knee-high fields of grass and wildflowers).

Erika carried a little bouquet of her favorite flower, Tulips, accented with sassy Fiddlehead Fern curls ("Monkey Tails!") and fresh sprigs of Mint. Boutonnieres featured "Mambo" Spray Roses and brown curls, and a large wreath of green Hydrangea and Spray Roses hung on an old barn wall to serve as the ceremony marker.

Their five Flower Girls led the procession wearing simple headwreaths of "Mambo" Spray Roses and fluttering sage ribbons (matching Charlie's collar), and each carried a single over-sized and beribboned Gerbera Daisy (which were then gathered into a vase at the ceremony spot).

Coordinated by the talented Rebecca Johnson of Kristi Amoroso Special Events, the day also incorporated personal touches by friends and family, such as the fun and colorful DIY centerpieces, and was deliciously catered by The Girl and The Fig from Sonoma. Every smile, emotion, and detail was sweetly chronicled by the couple's friend, photographer Rohanna Mertens, from New York (nice friend!). (See below, "The Details," for contact info.)

Many blessings of much love and happiness to Erika and Jeff!

The Details:

Floral Design: The Blue Orchid (http://www.blueorchidfloral.com/)

Coordination: Rebecca Johnson of Kristi Amoroso Special Events (http://www.kristiamoroso.com/)

Venue: Grace Ranch, Sebastopol (contact through Kristi Amoroso Special Events, above)

Caterer: The Girl and The Fig (http://www.thegirlandthefig.com/)

Photography: Rohanna Mertens Photography (http://www.rohannamertens.com/)

"Cabernet, Pumpkin and Wasabi..."

2009-12-30T18:09:00.000-08:00

"Think cabernet, pumpkin and wasabi!" Hmmm...Thanksgiving sushi dinner in Wine Country, perhaps?? Hardly! Rather, this was the theme given to me by bride Sara Huschke to describe the color palette for her October 2009 wedding to Ric Emery -- in other words, rich reds, warm oranges, and sage greens.

Hailing from Phoenix, AZ, Ric and Sara chose Buena Vista Carneros Winery in Sonoma, CA as the perfect location for their Fall wedding. Founded in 1857, Buena Vista is California's oldest premium winery, and as such, offered a unique experience for Sara and Ric's family and guests. Tucked away at the end of Old Winery Road, just minutes from the charming Sonoma Square, this California Historical Landmark property features magnificent old stone buildings (with updated amenities), and is nestled into a beautiful park-like setting of tree groves.

Rustic yet elegant at the same time, Sara and Ric were married in an intimate ceremony held in the lovely courtyard, in front of the winery's Press House (built in 1862), and featuring the spectacular fountain adorned with flowers and candles. Given the cool evening temperatures, the reception was wisely held in the Tasting Room, with guest seating upstairs and dancing in the main room. With candles inside and out, and twinkling lights throughout the property's trees, it was a most romantic event!

And the flowers...oh, the flowers! Orange-and-red-striped Cymbidium Orchids, "Black Magic" Ecuadorian Roses, Rose Hips, and locally-grown warm orange Popcorn Dahlias featured predominantly throughout, with the men wearing Mango Calla Lily boutonnieres, and the women carrying bouquets of Roses, Tulips, and Rose Hips. Lush urn arrangements for the ceremony were repurposed to the Tasting Room bar for the reception (budget-smart girls always double-duty their flowers!). Dahlias floated in the ceremony fountain, accented with chic little vases of Dahlias and Rose Hips and beribboned votive candles on the fountain edges, and vibrant Rose petals strewn along the ceremony path.

Warm, lush, and vibrant... Or more appropriately: Cabernet, pumpkin and wasabi! Much love and tons of wishes of great joy and happiness, Ric and Sara!

The Details:

Photography: Stephanie Smith Photography (http://www.stephaniesmithphotography.com/)
Venue: Buena Vista Carneros Winery (http://www.buenavistacarneros.com/)
Floral Design: The Blue Orchid (http://www.blueorchidfloral.com/)
Cake: Fleur de Lisa Cakes (http://www.fleurdelisacakes.com/)

And Baby Makes Three...

2009-12-26T17:23:00.000-08:00

Now that the wedding season has concluded, I am finally able to address that ongoing list we all have (and usually ignore!), entitled "Need-to-do-but-not-today" or something similar. Number 1 on my list? Get back to blogging and spotlight all of the fabulous weddings we did this year, of course! So many to choose from...

I've decided to start off with Patricia and William, who were married this year at Jeriko Estate & Winery in Hopland, CA. After an incredible wedding, and the excitement of their wedding being featured in the Fall issue of Brides Northern California magazine, I didn't think it could get any better...until I learned that Patricia and William are now expecting their first child, a baby boy! How adorable is this girl, I ask you?!

And talk about a gorgeous bride...

William and Patricia left no stone unturned in terms of the details of their wedding. Their palette of chocolate brown, green, white, and sky blue provided a fresh and organic spin on this Wine Country wedding. Patricia, a graphic designer by profession and a true DIYer at heart, brought all of her talents to this event -- Save-the-Dates, invitations, pinwheels and ribbon wands, Wish Tree decor, signage, an endless list of beautiful touches -- and the results were simply spectacular!

For a truly unique experience for their family and guests, Patricia and William chose the private owner's home at Jeriko Estate & Winery as the location for their special day. With family traveling to Northern California from Indonesia, this was a perfect choice, as they were able to rent the house and property for the week of the wedding -- a nine-bedroom mansion, surrounded by vineyards and mountain views.

Fabulous food and treats, gorgeous location, great music, lush flowers, spectacular weather, lots of family and friends, dancing, laughter -- and all lovingly documented by a fantastic photographer -- the perfect wedding! Congratulations, Patricia and William!

The Details:

Photography: Ingrid Nelson of Myrtle & Marjoram (http://www.myrtleandmarjoram.com/)

Venue: Jeriko Estate & Winery (http://www.beautiful-places.com/)

Flowers & Day-Of Coordination: The Blue Orchid (http://www.blueorchidfloral.com/)

Catering: Joshua Charles (http://www.joshuacharles.net/)

Cake: Satura Cakes (http://www.saturacakes.com/)

Hair & Makeup: Caelie Steele (http://www.belleoftheball.us/)

Getting What You Want: Tips for Fabulous Wedding Flowers

2009-01-12T21:35:00.000-08:00

Bring photos to your initial consultation as examples of what you do and don’t like -- both are equally important!

Look beyond wedding magazines for inspiration – interior design and fashion publications and websites are terrific style resources.

Your wedding colors often define what flowers will be available to you, so definitely provide examples.

Masses of an inexpensive flower “feel” more appealing and luxurious to the eye than a busy mixture of flowers. (The same rule applies to color, too.)

Rent instead of buying – florists often rent items beyond vases, such as crystals, paper lanterns, fabric, etc.

Carry exactly what you want in your bridal bouquet – the ultimate fashion accessory! A good designer will help you crunch the numbers on other items to compensate.

Being upfront about your floral budget from the start will ensure that your designer’s proposal will reflect what you can afford. Almost everyone is on a budget, so speak up.

While price and style are important factors when choosing a florist, trust your instincts and book the designer you’re most comfortable with – a great connection is invaluable in terms of getting what you want!

(Reprint of my article from a recent Bridal Guide.)

Real Wedding: Laura & Price

2008-12-20T20:44:00.000-08:00

Recently, we were blessed with the opportunity to do the flowers for a lovely little wedding in Sausalito. Laura and Price were married on December 4th at Christ Episcopal Church, a tiny yet charmingly historical church (http://www.christchurchsausalito.org/). Laura and Price traveled from their home in Texas for a very intimate wedding -- along with their 11 guests! Since everyone hailed from out of state, with the flowers, we wanted to share some of the local bounty we are so fortunate to enjoy here in Northern California. Further, almost all of the flowers were either grown organically or under certified sustainable conditions for an extra eco-friendly touch.

A celebration of textures and colors, Laura's bouquet including Dahlias, Ranunculus, Lysmachia, berries, Monkey Tail swirls, Hanging Amaranthus tassels, and featured some of the most gorgeous pink and white Peonies we've ever seen!

The ceremony arrangements consisted of branches of Wild Pear, Flowering Kale, Pepperberry, Hypericum Berry, and heavily-fruited Kumquat branches to complement the warm interior of the church.

Wanting her guests to feel special, Laura gave them all flowers: Boutonnieres for the men, and petite nosegay bouquets for the women. Price wore a boutonniere of orange Ranuculus buds accented with cheeky little Monkey Tail swirls, and the other men sported boutonnieres of red "Tomango" Spray Roses, Hypercium Berry, and Sea Holly.

After the ceremony, Laura and Price made the short trip to their reception in style in a 1959 Silver Cloud Rolls. They enjoyed cocktails and dinner with their family and guests at Ondine's, one of Sausalito's top restaurants (http://www.ondinesausalito.com/). Sitting at water's edge, Ondine's has a glorious and expansive view of the San Francisco Bay area, including the City, Angel Island, lots of sailboats, and our famous bridges.

With everyone seated at one table, we did a single low, lush centerpiece almost five feet long and accented with clusters of tea lights. Featuring purple Flowering Kale and luscious pink Peonies, the centerpiece also incorporated Dahlia blooms and buds, butter yellow Freesia, and white Lysmachia. A truly abundant piece, with elements and textures spilling onto the table: Tassels of green Hanging Amaranthus, California Bay Leaf, and Bush Ivy berries.

Laura and Price's special day was beautifully photographed by Andrew Weeks of Weeks Photography (http://www.weeksphotography.com/), and every detail perfectly planned and executed by one 0f our favorite event planners, Alice Grisez of Grisez Event Design (http://www.grisezandco.com/).

Congratulations, Laura and Price -- we wish you a lifetime of happiness and love!

Flower Pricing: The Dirty Little Secrets

2008-12-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

Staying within your budget is a huge concern for most brides, and can be one of the greatest stressors during the wedding planning process. However, understanding what you're paying for and how it is priced can be invaluable in terms of properly managing your budget. The expenses associated with your flowers can be particularly confusing -- especially when you see a lot of budget-priced flowers at your local grocery or warehouse store!

Much more work goes into the production of wedding flowers than simply picking some stems out at a grocery store. A good floral designer is picky about the types and quality of flowers they will use for your wedding. The selection of the right materials starts at their local wholesaler -- and usually in the middle of the night while you are safely tucked in your warm little beds... Here in the Bay Area, designers trek in from all over Northern California to converge on the San Francisco Flower Market, which opens at 2:00 am! With our bleary eyes, sleep-deprived bodies, and desperately clutching our precious gallon-sized coffees, we search the offerings of over 100 vendors for the perfect blooms, the right colors, a specific texture -- that special little treasure...

Once back in the shop or studio, hours are spent cleaning and processing our purchases in meticulously cleaned buckets and vases. Proper processing is a time-consuming but necessary element to ensure that your flowers look beautiful and fresh on wedding day. Factor in the countless hours already spent doing consultations, phone meetings, scads of emails, searching for that perfect ribbon, wiring crystals, and so on during the planning process, and you can see how much time is invested by your designer -- all this before a single arrangement is even made!

And remember that someone actually grew your flowers -- they don't magically appear on their own. Growers work year-round planting, fertilizing, watering, weeding, harvesting, packing, and transporting their flowers to the wholesaler -- all of which costs money -- lots and lots of money...

During my consultations with prospective brides, I usually share with them how we go about pricing the various floral items. This gives my brides a better understanding of where their money is going, which helps them to make informed decisions and comprehend the associated costs. Most designers follow some version of the formula I've outlined below.

First, flowers are marked up from the wholesale price to achieve a retail price per stem -- this is done by multiplying the wholesale stem cost by a pre-set amount. The multiplier rate is determined by the individual designer, and generally can range from 2x to 5x the wholesale cost. (Keep in mind that fresh product is perishable, which means that your designer will usually buy more than they anticipate needing, to allow for the failure of some flowers. Depending on the type of flower, the perish rate can often be as high as 30%! Further, not every stem in a grower's bunch is "wedding worthy" due to damage, bruising or defects on the face and petals of the bloom, so this factors in to the perish rate as well. Surprisingly, there's not much demand for bruised or moldy flowers in bridal bouquets...)

Next, the cost of hard goods used is marked up from wholesale to retail, and is then added to the retail value of the flowers. Hard goods are non-perishable items, such as ribbons, crystals, floral foam, and containers, and in general, the retail markup is 2x the wholesale cost.

Lastly, a labor charge is added to the total combined retail value of the flowers and hard goods. The labor charge is usually a percentage of the total combined retail value, and depending on the level of difficulty and work involved, this percentage ranges from 25% to 45%. This is an important number to keep in mind: The less labor involved in creating a particular piece, the lower the labor charge. Where a simple bouquet may have a labor charge of 25%, a lush and flower-laden arch treatment can definitely push up into the 35%-45% range.

The generic formula looks like this:

$____ (wholesale cost/flowers) x _____ (markup multiplier) = $________
plus
$____ (wholesale cost/hard goods) x 2 (markup multiplier) = $_______
equals
$______ (total retail value)
multiplied by
____% (labor charge percentage)
equals
$________ (labor charge)
plus
$________ (total retail value)
equals
$__________ (total price of bouquet)

For example, based on a hand-tied bouquet, and using a wholesale to retail markup of 2.5x for the flowers, 2x markup for hard goods, and 25% labor charge:

$40.00 (wholesale flowers) x 2.5 = $100.00
plus
$10.00 (wholesale hard goods) x 2 = $20.00
equals
$120.00 (total retail value of materials ($100.00 + $20.00))
multiplied by
.25 (25% labor charge)
equals
$30.00 (labor charge)
plus
$120.00 (total retail value of materials)
equals
$150.00 (total price of bouquet)

(Although this is the type of formula used by most designers, some omit the labor charge and simply use a higher multiplier rate from wholesale to retail instead.) Now that you know the deep, dark secrets of flower pricing, here are some other suggestions to help keep your floral costs in check:

Select floral items that are less labor-intensive.
Carry exactly what you want in your bridal bouquet, and ask your designer to help you identify other pieces that can be reduced to compensate (i.e., the bridesmaid bouquets).
Choose flowers that are in season -- avoid expensive, out-of-season flowers, which are often imported.
Use locally-grown flowers whenever possible to help reduce transport costs and guarantee fresher blooms.
A single type of an inexpensive flower used en masse can be lush and gorgeous on its own. Likewise, a single stem of a dramatic flower can be stunning as well -- for instance, lining the center of a long table with a row of single flowers in pretty vases lets each flower speak for itself!
Remember that size matters when considering what flowers to use -- for instance, although a stem of Oriental Lilies may cost two or three times as much as a single Rose, each Lily stem offers multiple blooms. In addition, each open Lily bloom can cover the same space as three or four Roses in an arrangement, which can help with cost management as well. Sometimes the more expensive flower is actually the most cost-effective choice.
Ask your designer to use rental containers instead of paying for purchased items. If you want your guests to take the flowers home at the end of the reception, ask your designer to to provide some pretty tissue or ribbons for packaging the loose flowers. If I'm returning at the end of an event to pick up rental items, I will usually time it so I can be there to pull the flowers and wrap them into little bouquets for the guests.
Some designers will give you better pricing when you authorize a "market buy" instead of specifying every flower to be used. A market buy allows the designer to buy the best of the best flowers at market the week of your wedding within your budget and within your color palette. And market buys often result in the most creative floral designs, as your designer is permitted to be truly inspired and unrestricted!

Trends, Trends, Trends...

2008-12-11T19:20:00.000-08:00

When meeting with prospective brides, I'm often asked about what trends are current in terms of wedding flowers, and whether the trends must be followed. My answer? It's your wedding -- whatever you want is the "trend" that we'll follow!

Like fashion trends, I think that trends in flowers should be viewed only as guidelines as opposed to absolute mandates. And as with fashion trends, sometimes it's hard to keep up with what's "current" -- everything changes so quickly! There are a good number of wedding magazines on the market, and almost all of them have recently posted their version of the 2009 trends for wedding flowers. Unfortunately, none of them seem to be on the same page (pun intended!), so it's hard to tell exactly what is "in" and what is "out". Just this week, I read that: Black is the new black; brown is out; yellow is the new hot color; bright colors are in at weddings (so many of my clients were trendsetters before their time!); Mokara Orchids are the hot flower for 2009 (I've been using them for years -- who knew I was a trendsetter too?); pink is the new white; gray is the new black -- wait, wait, wait: Is gray the new black, or is black the new black? It's enough to send the bravest bride into a full-scale color coma...

All trends start somewhere, and in case you haven't figured it out, in the beginning, a trend is simply one person's opinion! It's no different than a film critic's take on a new movie. A trend can be thought-provoking, it can be idea inspiring -- or it can simply be something you just ignore.

My advice to trend-confused brides is this: Do what you want to do. It's your day, for Pete's sake, and frankly, you should be able to have whatever color palette (or flower) makes your little heart happy! If you love pink, you shall have it -- and if you want to beautifully pair it with that dastardly and recently "outed" brown, by all means do it. It will be YOUR day, it will reflect who YOU are and what YOU love -- and in the end, isn't that really the only trend that matters??

Shall We Meet?

2008-08-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

Continuing along the lines of my previous post (and still firmly clutching my pink-and-purple floatation device for support), let's move into the initial consultation itself, with hopes of finding the perfect floral designer for you. You've done your homework in terms of pictures of what you like (and perhaps don't), you've picked the brain of everyone you know for referrals to their favorite wedding florists, and you have hopefully perused the websites of the designers you want to meet with.

Control Yourself! Meet with no more than three prospective floral designers -- that's my strongest recommendation on this point. Any more, and it all begins to become a blur, and quite frankly, you're wasting your time -- and theirs. Further, if you already know who you want to work with -- perhaps your current florist, or someone who did your best pal's wedding -- then by all means, just move forward with them and forget the shopping around part. Believe me: By the time you are married, you will have forever stricken the word, "consultation," from your vocabulary...
Do Your Yoga. In other words, show some flexibility. Keep in mind that most good event florists are working on the weekends during the wedding season. So if you're demanding a Saturday appointment for a consultation, you may be disappointed. And think of it this way: Do you really want to meet with someone for the first time who is completely exhausted from working one or more weddings? Be considerate of their schedule -- especially in the beginning -- and you'll probably find they'll do the same for you. I never schedule a consultation on the day I am doing a wedding -- period. And I do this as a courtesy to my bride who's getting married that day -- they are my sole priority. Trust me, you'll appreciate this on your own big day!
Check Your Watch. Please, please, please be on time for your scheduled consultations. Your wedding vendors all want to make you feel as if you're the only one getting married in the world, but the truth is: You're not. (I know, I know, that hurts, and please know I'm sorry...) We have to accommodate everyone, and if you're late for your appointment, you throw everyone's schedule off. And if you got delayed trying on dresses and find yourself running late, please call right away, and further, be flexible enough to understand that your consultation may need to be rescheduled. Keep in mind that although you are interviewing prospective vendors, they are also doing the same of you. After all, it's their business, their livelihood -- and none of us can afford to have that jeopardized by a client who is always blowing up our schedules.
It's Not a Party. Ideally, limit the number of people you bring with you to one or two, if possible. I always love it when the groom joins us, and often one or both mothers want to be there as well. But once you get past that, it becomes too distracting. Your friend who is the total expert in flowers? I say this respectfully: Unless she's actually working in the business, then she's not an "expert" -- and if she is such an expert, then why isn't she doing your flowers? (No intent to be mean here, but...) If you're worried that you don't know enough about flowers, just stop right there: A good designer will help educate and guide you throughout the process. There is no need for you to be a horticulturalist -- or to bring one! And one last point here: Please leave your children at home. PLEASE...

I once met with a very lovely bride who brought her groom, her mother, his mother, her step-mother, two aunts, her friend who knew "everything about flowers," and everyone's kids (five total). The children were bored within 30 seconds and ran around the shop screaming, punching each other, and pulling flowers out of vases. The groom's mother got into a heated argument with one of her sisters, which culminated in the sister stomping out and sitting in the car for the rest of the meeting. (But on the plus side, one less person...) The tension between the bride's mother and the bride's step-mother -- well, let's just say if looks could indeed kill, I would have been talking to two dried-out, decaying corpses. And the groom? That poor soul fell asleep and started snoring -- loudly -- only to be abruptly brought back to life by a resounding slap on the head from his mother -- at which point he, unfortunately, accidentally farted -- again, loudly. And fragrantly, I might add. Not surprisingly, this consultation lasted almost four hours.

Amazingly, I did book this bride's event, mostly because I really, really liked her, perhaps mixed in with a little pity, and the couple ended up having a wonderful (and flatulence-free) wedding...
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. This is just about common sense. First of all, remember that this is an initial consultation, and it's complimentary -- meaning your vendor is doing this for free right now. The whole point of the consultation is to meet each other to see if there's a fit, and to give the designer some ideas and direction about what you're looking for. For me, a great consultation is fun and collaborative and inspiring. So this is where that "be prepared" part comes in handy -- the stuff I talked about in the last post.

Stay on point in your discussions and thoughts to help stay within the time frame allotted. I find it helpful to start a consultation with a brief explanation of how and what we're going to cover in the meeting. In essence, I "interview" a prospective client with a list of questions and points to cover. In spite of what my boyfriend might tell you, I'm not a control freak. Truly, my goal is to make sure I get everything I need from you to prepare a proper and thorough proposal. Before we even start talking about flowers, we build a master list together of who you'll need flowers for, location information, dates, times, and so on. Only once that's done do we then start in on the flowers, and then again, there's logic to it. I start with the bridal bouquet, because it's usually the most important piece and often sets the "tone" for the wedding, and then work through the same list.

Listen to the questions, and be concise yet thorough in your responses. Use your pictures and swatches, and be sure to communicate any theme or style you want to reflect in your wedding. Be mindful of the time, and please be courteous and open to input and suggestions. Your vendors play a a critical part of your day, and I think a connection between you and a vendor is very, very important. You're in this together for the long haul, so being friendly, positive, and responsive can really make all the difference!
As With Your Dress, Fit Is EVERYTHING. I cannot stress this enough. Your final choice will ideally be based on a combination of things: Price, style, and availability are all very important factors. But in the end, trust your instincts and book the person you feel most comfortable with.

As a floral designer, this is how I make my living. The work I do is important to me creatively, of course, but if I do my best, it's also how I can generate new business -- again, referrals are everything to us. So the relationship I have with my client is a definite key to everyone's satisfaction. Most important to me is that you love what I do for you -- there are no "do overs" when it comes to your wedding, so I have to hit my mark and meet your expectations -- and hopefully exceed them. In the most simplistic of terms, I want you to be very, very happy! This is why I personally feel that a good connection between us is so necessary.

The absolute worst consultation I ever experienced was (surprisingly!) not the one I mentioned above. A few years ago, I met with a bride who was having a large wedding for 450 guests -- in three weeks!! She was very nice, but seeming rather disorganized and with a variety of excuses, had blown off three previous consultations she had scheduled with me in the previous months. Her mother, who arrived 30 minutes late for our meeting, proceeded to harangue and verbally abuse her daughter throughout the consultation. Further, and in great detail, she expressed her intense dislike for her ex-husband and the parents of her daughter's groom. And while thumbing through my various portfolios, she emphasized each flip of a page with a very clipped, very intentional phrase: "I see nothing. I see nothing. I see nothing." As if I wasn't even in the room, it was rude and very uncomfortable. The bride cried throughout the meeting, clearly embarrassed, and I could not end the consultation fast enough. The bride did call me later that evening with a request to book me, but I politely declined. Although I genuinely felt sorry for her, nothing good could come from something that started like that.

Fortunately, this was an extreme exception. I have been blessed with many, many wonderful clients over the years. Fantastic, intelligent, charming women -- many of whom have continued to remain in contact with me post-wedding over the years. Sometimes I even get pictures when their babies are born! What more could you ask for from your job?? And once in a while, one of them will end up working for me, just because they loved the process so much. Of course, it isn't necessary to go to this extreme when looking for the right floral designer for you, BUT... As with everything else in life, definitely having a great connection will make the process much more beautiful -- for everyone! Cheers!

In the Beginning...

2008-08-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

So you're getting married (congrats!) and you're about to embark on a rather intense -- and expensive -- journey into that mysterious place known affectionately as Wedding Vendor Land. One of the most expensive one-time purchases you will ever make, often requiring planning for a year or more, and subjecting yourself to intense scrutiny, often unbelievable stress, and massive debt... What's not to enjoy??

All kidding aside, a wedding is a wonderful, life-altering celebration honoring the uniting of your two lovely little hearts, but getting there with your sanity intact is often the tricky part! While I can't help you with the sanity itself (Zanax anyone?), hopefully this little space might help you in navigating the sometimes treacherous waters of planning your wedding flowers. Taking a deep breath and bravely clutching my pink-and-purple floatation device, I wade in...

Pre-Consultation Preparation: We'll start with some tips for preparing for your initial consultations with potential floral designers...

Surf's Up. Running an Internet search for "wedding flowers" or "wedding florists" in your ceremony locale should give you a good list of floral design websites to start with. Most good wedding florists have a website up these days which includes a portfolio or sampling of their work. This can be very helpful in determining whether you even want to meet with a particular designer in terms of getting an initial read on their style, aesthetic, and abilities. There's no point in wasting both parties' time if the designer doesn't do the type of work you're looking for. For instance, although I secretly covet the fresh scent of armfuls of baby-pink Carnations, I do not do old-school Carnations-and-Baby's Breath work. If a prospective bride asks for that type of work, I will refer her to someone else -- it just isn't the style of work I am inspired by on a creative level.
Gossip, Gossip, Gossip. Talk to your friends, family members, co-workers, and anyone else who looks like they have a modicum of style to see if they know of any floral designers they like. Admire a floral display at a hotel or in a high-end store? Ask who provided it. Ditto for bridal gown shops, photographers, bakeries, and just about any vendor you are meeting with. Vendors can be a great resource for you in terms of referrals, and generally will only refer you to those who have proven to be reliable at their past events. In this business, nobody wants a bad referral to come back on them! And of course, if you are wild about the flowers you saw at a wedding, definitely get the designer's name from the bride -- imitation is the highest form of flattery, right?
Be Picture Perfect. While you're perusing the vast array of wedding magazines on the market, be sure to flag or tear out pictures of florals that you like. And here again, the Web is a great resource for this purpose, even if it isn't the work of the particular designer you're considering meeting with. Don't hesitate on this point: We all look at each other's work and learn from it; are inspired by it and seek to improve upon it.
Know What Turns You On. "Florally" speaking, that is. Jot down what appeals to you when looking at pictures, in the garden, or at your local market. Is it the color, the shape? The texture, the density? Do you favor deep, rich tones, or are you more of a bold and beautiful girl? Do you dream of trailing vines and candy-coated confections with a sparkling touch of crystal bling here and there? Often we are attracted to similar shapes, textures, and hues, and this kind of information can help a designer narrow their focus and develop a look that reflects you best.
Likewise, Your Turn-Offs. Sounds strange perhaps, but sometimes what you don't like is more revealing than what you do. Again, notes and pictures can be enormously helpful to your floral designer. When meeting with a prospective client during the initial consultation, I always build a list of their dislikes and keep it in their file for future reference.
Color Your World. If you have decided on a color theme for your big day, examples of same will be most helpful during your initial consultations with florists. Pictures, ribbons, fabric or paint swatches are all helpful in this regard. Colors often influence what types of flowers may be in season and available at market at the time of your wedding, so be sure to include this information. Of course, sometimes the determination of color is a work in progress and may not be precisely defined until later in the planning process -- that's okay, too. In this instance, just knowing what colors you do and don't like can be enough to start with.
Count Your Pennies. In most instances, a bride has no way of knowing how much the different flower types, bouquets, and arrangements cost on the general market. These numbers will be more precisely developed for you in the proposals you receive from any designers you meet with, and will be dependent on a number of factors impacting cost (more on this subject in a future posting!). Further, not everyone knows exactly how much they want to spend on their flowers, and that's just fine. However, if you do have an absolute "cap" number for your flowers in your budget, you should provide this number during your initial consultation whenever possible. It's so helpful to know what a prospective client is working with in terms of available funds -- especially true if you have "champagne" wishes on a "beer" budget! A designer who is fully informed upfront will be able to find ways to creatively give you the look you want, in most instances.

Next time: Consultations and selecting the right florist for you... Ciao!