Real Wedding: Swan-E-Set 09/05/09

Floral Centerpieces of white hydrangeas and pink orchids designed by Blooming Buds.

Above photos: Hello Bella

Above photos: Source- Swan-E-Set

Labour day long weekend was a busy one! With two weddings and a rainy forecast, I certainly was concerned with what the days would bring. Friday lucked out with some gorgeous blue skies and the perfect amount of sunshine (that wedding recap still to come), while Saturday didn't fair as well but still held off long enough to get some great shots in for the wedding party photos.

I wish I had more pictures of Saturday's wedding, because it really was beautiful. I was honestly so busy and running around all day to make sure this 240 guest wedding went smoothly that snapping the four photos I did take was almost enough to throw me off schedule. The wedding was held at the always spectacular Swan-E-Set, and I say if you haven't been it's definitely worth the drive. You're greeted with some spectacular gates and a fabulously surreal tree-lined road that may as well be out of a film. After a windy drive, you pull up to the grandest of golf club houses you will find in the lower mainland, and the inside is even more impressive than it's castle-like exterior. The 3rd floor ballroom showcases stunning recessed ceilings, elegant chandeliers and impressively tall windows. The team there is spectacular to deal with, namely the on-site co-ordinator Tegan.

The wedding was a beautiful and elegant display of my favourite colour pairing (pink and grey/silver!) and the bride and groom and wedding party were gorgeous enough to have walked out of a magazine. It was so much fun to do, and I can't say how much I love getting to know all my clients. Congrats Brook and Melissa and I wish you a long and happy life together!

Beautiful Blooms

Gorgeous bouquet of roses, anemones, tulips, dusty miller and craspedia (aka billy balls). Anemones in season Jan- May and Aug-Dec. Tulips in season Dec-April.

Source: above and below-Lotus Haus and Love and Splendor

Dahlias are absolutely stunning and come in so many colours! Probably one of my all time favourite flowers. In season: summer.

Source: Martha Stewart

Ranunculas are another one of my faves, and are a great alternative to peonies during the off season. In season Feb-May.

Source: Mocha Rose

Source: The Knot

And really, what can top peonies for wedding flowers? They are just SPECTACULAR! So incredibly romantic. In season: Spring (May/June)

Source: The Knot

And I had to post this bouquet because it reminds me so much of my own. The colours and textures are very similar, although I had dahlias and not peonies since I was married in August!

Source: Wedding Flowers

I can't really imagine a wedding without flowers. Of course, it's been done before, and it's been done fairly effectively (using feathers or branches or another alternative). But really, flowers breathe life into a wedding. That same feeling you have when you put fresh flowers in your home is exactly the same effect that flowers have on your wedding, except times a million. In addition to the gorgeous blooms above, I also love orchids of any kind and calla lillies. Flowers definitely should reflect your personal style and overall wedding theme, so make sure to choose flowers that suit you and compliment your wedding vision, not just flowers that everyone else would choose. Be original, mix and match, and make sure to layer textures and colours for the most impact!

Introducing the new Mr. & Mrs.....Pink and Blue!

A "Tiffany" blue wedding theme is a classic, and pink, in all it's glorious shades, is perhaps the most popular wedding colour scheme of them all. What you won't see too often, however, is the two of them combined, which is why I am dedicating this post to the marriage of Pink & Blue. It's quite fitting for a wedding indeed because of the symbolic nature of the two colors (well, at least for weddings of the heterosexual kind!). But despite any symbolism here, the colour combo is just plain pretty! I definitely predict that you'll be seeing plenty more from this new "couple" in many weddings to come.

Photo sources: Top: www.theknot.com, www.wishspecialevents.com, www.weddingwire.com, Bottom: http://www.bridalbuds.com/2009/05/inspiration-board-pastel-blue-and-pink/

Carnation Nation: Flowers for the Recessionista

The national flower of Spain is a hardy, inexpensive bloom, and is available in almost every corner shop or grocery store. Despite it’s availability and affordability, I have never been a big fan of carnations. My first encounter with the flower was in Gr. 4 on Valentine’s day. A boy with a childhood crush decided to propose to me in front of the class and gave me a bouquet of carnations (no doubt intended for the teacher). Completely mortified, I stuffed the carnations in my backpack upside down, and threw them in the garbage as soon as I got home.

I haven’t really paid much attention to the flower since that day, but I’ve never been drawn to them in any way when browsing for flowers. As a good friend with a family business in memorials once said, carnations are the flower of funerals, and who really wants flowers that remind us of death? My negative feelings toward the carnation proved to me to be a challenge. With the current economic climate, why not try and use this affordable and versatile flower in new ways?

One thing to focus on when working with carnations, or any flowers for that matter, is to minimize flaws and maximize assets. Since the abundance of stem and greenery takes away from what carnations have to offer, get rid of the stem! What do carnations have to offer? Well, they come in a variety of vibrant and complimentary colours, and they bunch together quite nicely. The two centerpieces I designed that are featured on this post show two very different sides of the carnation: girly glam and understated modern. Carnations also make great pomanders that can be used for pew decor, and a google image search of carnation centerpieces is sure to provide you with loads of ideas.

Carnations may never win my heart over like peonies or orchids, but I have definitely gained a newfound respect for them. The next time I’m picking up a few groceries for dinner, I might not walk past the carnations with the same indifference as I did before. In fact, I might even head straight for them.