Wedding Bouquets

First things first, when getting inspired to do flowers you must be well-caffeinated...Starbucks run!

Now that we had our priorities in order it was time to start in on the bouquets! 

Craspedia also called Billy Balls were a tad too yellow for my color palate, so I just hit them with a few light mists of design master orange spray paint.  That got them to the shade I wanted! 

Tina had all the flowers read to go in buckets grouped by flower.  She had stripped all the leaves and re cut the stems so they were fresh and ready to go.  It's so much easier to have things grouped so you can just grab what you need.  Bouquets go quickly when you're in progress and with a handful of flowers there is little time to stop and re-group.

Here is Wendy's bouquet, we added Purple Anemone to hers along with those COOL ferns, they were artificial but no one knew!  To the right of the fern is the orange protea and below that is purple lisianthus.  Above the anemone is freesia, the green hydrangea and then the billy ball to the left.  Another purple lisianthus and then an orange rose finish off this side. 

I am a detail oriented person and wanted a way to distinguish the bridesmaids from the maid and matron of honor, so I found this amazing silk ribbon in orange, one of Wendy's colors and Tina found pins to offset the wrap. 

And here is the green velvet ribbon with orange pins for the maid and matron of honor.  After the wedding the matron of honor came up to me and told me she was so nervous she was rubbing the velvet to help calm her nerves.  That is EXACTLY why I chose that ribbon, I'm so glad she used it the way I intended!

And here is the bride's wrap, yes, it's a little busy, but she LOVES funky!  I used an eggplant velvet, which was the same color as the girls dresses.  Green is her favorite color, so I incorporated those for the pins, and the copper cord was too cool to pass up!  I also tied her father's wedding ring into the bouquet, he lost a long battle with cancer 10 years ago this summer. Both Wen and her mom knew they couldn't get through all the emotions of the day and bring his name up, so they had beautiful subtle ways for him to be with them throughout the night.  She also told me she was rubbing the ring as she walked down the aisle. 

Here are Tina and I, I can't remember if that was pre or post caffeine...Hmmm... 

And here were all the bouquets loaded up and ready to go!

Hope you enjoyed seeing the process, I sure enjoyed doing them!  Working with Tina is a blast, she has taught me a TON.

*Amy

Under the Weather

So I woke up with a scratchy throat and stuffy ears for the second day in a row, boo for fall colds.  Of course this is the week I have crews running two jobs each day-yikes!  I'm sorry I haven't posted the promised photos from the wedding, but I will do it tomorrow, it'll be a Friday treat.

For now I'm off to lay out plants in Alexandria and then off to meet some prospective customers, hope I don't sneeze on them.

*Amy

Image from here

In Vino Veritas

In Wine (there is) Truth, a great saying, also appropriate for this post, as Veritas in Afton, VA was the vineyard Wendy and Jason were married at on Saturday.  And the truth is the wedding was AMAZING!

Groom & Bride!!

It was a GORGEOUS day, sunny and warm, and thankfully still great fall color!  A cool sculpture at the entrance to the vineyard with some of their vines in the background.

Greg & I loaded up the Suburban (work car) and drove from Fairfax down to Wintergreen to do all the setup.  I will show you all the progress photos throughout the week, but I thought EVERYONE wants to see the final product first!  Right?

The wedding was held outside on the deck of the vineyard at 6 p.m.  There were beautiful bistro lights strung over our seats and there was a great fire roaring in the stone fireplace.

It was a beautiful setting, intimate, romantic and perfect for Wendy & Jason.  The ceremony was very personal, lighthearted and fun.  It was so nice to see the vows they said be so specific to their relationship.

The cocktail hour was held in the tasting room.  The gnarled wood tables made a perfect backdrop for the modern floral arrangements, purple dendrobium orchids, mango & picasso calla lilies and a little ruscus for some greenery.

Here is one of my moss W's for their new last name on the corner of the bar.

On the gift table I brought along this cool birdcage, tied some purple-black feathers into the orange bow and lined the bottom of the cage with moss.  Behind the birdcage I set a tall glass vase with purple and clear underwater lights and purple and clear glass marbles.  They are showing off the submerged Cymbidium orchid.  I also made these birch tea light holders, another DIY for later this week.

The escort card table.  I brought along some birch logs to separate every few rows of cards.  I think a whole table of cards is a little boring, plus, the texture of the bark is awesome!  Wendy & Jason had family photos on the table of their parents' weddings and loved ones who had passed away.  Such a thoughtful detail that everyone loved seeing.

Two of Wendy's gorgeous bridesmaids holding their bouquets!  I was so thrilled everyone loved the flowers, and man did those dresses make those flowers POP!

 

The reception!!  Man oh man was I happy to see it all finished!  Greg blew up the balloons while I did all the other setup.  Of course when we were working it was daylight, so we didn't get the full effect until we walked in with all the other guests.  But the reactions were amazing!  I found these 3' balloons in NYC and they were a big hit.  Not only did they created awesome shadows on the walls, but they brought a sense of fun and whimsy to the party, exactly what Wendy & Jason wanted.

These were the tall arrangements, we alternated tables of high and low to get a big effect and still allow people to talk over and through the arrangements.  These were the copper branches (a post earlier this fall).  I tucked dendrobium orchids into some of the branch crotches for some pops of purple.  The amber glass votives were from NYC as well, and really added another layer of glowing light to the room.

And here were the low table arrangements.  Again, I'll post the progress photos this week.  Wendy named all the tables after their favorite ski slopes on Wintergreen mountain.  Each escort card had a note explaining that on the back.  Amazing attention to detail, but that's what makes an event so special and personal.

Wedding cake!!  I loved the rough textured ridges on the layers and I LOVED the rosettes along the front.  Watching her assemble the cake was very cool, and I was glad she used the extra flowers I brought along.  Also loved the log as the cake stand, so glad she carried through the natural elements! 

Groom's cake, Jason LOVES Captain America, so Wendy surprised him with a custom cake.  He was thrilled! 

 

To wrap up the night Wendy & Jason did a sparkler sendoff.  A fun, festive way to close out a great evening and one HECK of a party!!

Congratulations to you both, we wish you many years of happiness, health, laughs and love!

Thanks for letting us be a part of your big day!

XO

*Amy

Sky Scapes

Lately I have been obsessed with the sky. 

Not sure why, but I often find myself staring at the clouds, watching them shift. 

Noticing all the colors of the sunsets and how quickly they fade into the horizon.

 

 

How about you?  Do you ever have your head in the clouds?

What little things do you take the time to appreciate?

*Amy

DIY - Moss Letter

One of my good girlfriends from High School is getting married on Saturday!!  FOUR days to go!!  Woot woot!

The bride, Wendy, is a talented and wildly creative graphic designer, so when we began brainstorming for wedding flowers and decor I was thrilled to "think outside the box."  In my 9 month break from my Landscape Design and Garden Center career I worked as Event Planner, we did large scale corporate and congressional events.  Highly chaotic but I learned a lot!  I have always had a passion for flowers, parties, etc.  So when I get a chance to "run with it" I really RUNNNNN!

Wendy has designed all of her invitations, escort cards, table cards, the program, etc....I will post photos after the wedding.  She wanted something unique, natural and keeping with her color scheme of green, purple and orange.  I wanted to do something to surprise her.  So Wen, if you're reading...STOP here!

I thought an over scaled letter covered in moss would be awesome.  So here's my DIY...

I chose a large piece of Styrofoam and got my sharpie out to trace my "W" for their last name.

I actually made two letters, one with this preserved sheet moss (in chunks) and one that was on a mesh backing.

Hot glue pot, I went through a LOT of glue, and a lot of "Oww, dang, that's hot" (And not in a Paris Hilton sorta way) in a burned again, really? sort of way.

I traced my letter with the sharpie, yes, I did measure it so it was wide enough at the base to stand (although I think I've found a cool way to mount it instead, I'll show you after the wedding.)

Once I got the first one cut I just traced it and cut the second one.  I used a knife with a serrated blade so I got a nice clean edge.

I laid all the moss out on the table and did a dry fit first to make sure I had enough to cover the front, top and sides.  The back will not be seen, so I didn't do it.  Then I methodically glued each chunk onto my form.

Here is the end result!

I will show you where I put it at the wedding and how it was displayed, so come back Monday the 15th!

What you do think?

*Amy

Giveaway @ The Zhush

A blog I have admired for awhile is hosting a GREAT giveaway.  The very talented and super sweet Sue from the blog The Zhush has just opened an online store, go check it out.

Now I really do hope I win because I love the prize!  The print is great, I love the contrasting trim and the size is perfect for keys, business cards, change, or any array of items in a house, office or perhaps your vanity??

This cute glass tray dimensions are: 1 1/2" x 6 3/4" x 7 1/2":

BUT, since she is so sweet and has been very encouraging to me I thought I'd do the right thing and pass her blog along to my readers!

If you don't win, they will be available on her site soon, so you could still add one to your holiday wish list.

So please go over and check her out, say hi and feel free to enter to win!

*Amy

Five Years

Wow!  Five years ago today my husband and I tied the knot!  Time really does fly when you're having fun.



Probably cliche, but it really was an amazing day.  We liked the date 11-5-05, easy to remember, and for you history nuts, it's Guy Fawkes Day check out the Wikipedia info, in a nutshell he tried to blow up Parliament.

Back of my wedding day hair, it took 52 bobby pins to hold this up (but man it looked good!!)  Greg was a trooper for undoing them after the reception, yet another reason I love him!

My parents did such an amazing job letting me plan my dream wedding, however, they managed to surprise us with a BENTLEY to take us from the church to the reception, a huge surprise and wow oh wow.

Our delicious cake with our monogram on it, our beautiful venue some tables had flowers cascading out of tall silver candelabras and other tables the flowers were tumbling out of low footed silver compotes.  It was everything I had imagined and then some.

Not only did I get to marry my best friend, but we were surrounded by all the people who have loved and supported us throughout our lives.

Our sisters, hah, can you tell they can't stand each other (lol) more like two peas in a pod! 

The family air fiddlin to Dixieland Delight!!

Our last dance of the night.

Thank you Greg for making the past 5 years better than I could have imagined.

Cheers to celebrating many more wonderful years with you.

With Love,

Amy

(All photos were taken by the amazingly talented and super charming Bryan Blanken at Freed Photography)