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| Tuesday, November 15, 2011 |
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Don't call it a carnation comeback, but I've had quite a few requests in the last year or so for these "old fashion" flowers.Â
I think the biggest reasons are the wide variety of colors (there are more options then even roses or gerber daisies), the fullness of the petals and they are inexpensive compared to other flowers which makes them super budget friendly.Â
 | | This full arrangement was made with light pink and white carnations with white hydrangea. |
Pari's Bridal Bouquet had green hydrangea, orange dahlias, yellow sweetheart roses, purple phalenopsis, and orchid purple (which is closer in color to fuchsia) mini carnations.
If you are thinking about using carnations go for it! They aren't as "old fashion" as you may have remembered. When you are looking for large, full arrangements on a budget, or with a color flower that is hard to find, think about carnations.
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| Tuesday, November 15, 2011 |
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This smashingly elegant wedding took place at the Museum of
Art in Balboa Park (http://www.sdmart.org/) in October and had all the Old Hollywood beauty and glamour you could ask for! 
The bridal bouquet was a beautiful creations of grey dusty miller, white lisianthus, "Sahara" roses, peach sweetheart roses, ivory roses, and beautiful, sweet-smelling gardenias.
The bridesmaid's bouquets had gray dusty miller, white lisianthus, antique "Sahara" roses, and peach sweetheart roses.
The Chuppah, a traditional Jewish wedding structure, was decorated on all 64 feet with beautiful garlands of seeded eucalyptus, Italian ruscus, white hydrangea, and white roses. Chuppahs are very often used in non-denominational outdoor weddings too!
 When you walk into the inside of the museum there is a large fountain in the rotunda which was surrounded by cocktail tables with candles or small arrangements on each. The large staircase leading to the galleries upstairs was covered in a garland of seeded eucalyptus and lemon leaf with clusters of white wax flowers, white hydrangea, white roses, and peach sweetheart roses.
The bride and groom wanted to have two different centerpiece options for their 20 reception tables. Many couples like to do this. In some cases it can be a great way to save some money, incorporate tall and short
arrangements, or in the case of this couple add more candle light and intrigue
to some of the centerpieces.
These elegant centerpieces had large white dahlias, white hydrangea, white wax flowers, ivory roses, Sahara roses, peach sweetheartroses, and seeded eucalyptus in gold urn shaped containers. The candlearrangements had three candles of various sizes in hurricane vases surroundedby two smaller arrangements. Every table had multiple votive candles as well.
I simply LOVED arranging this wedding and a big thanks to Jenn and Monica at Eventity (http://www.eventityinc.com/) for being such amazing coordinators to work with! |
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| Monday, July 18, 2011 |
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 Turquoise was all the rage a few years ago. Some brides choose to keep it simple and classic with all white flowers and brown accents throughout. Other brides choose bright popping colors of yellow, orange, and mango. Karen choose coral red for her wedding last Thursday at the Coronado Community Center.
In keeping with the SoCal trend of succulents her bridal and bridesmaid's bouquets had beautiful succulents. Karen's bridal bouquet was a beautiful, eclectic combination of all white and green flowers: dahlias, freesia, roses, scabiosa, gerbers, bouvardia, hydrangea, and succulents. The bridesmaid's bouquets had similar flowers, but in red and green. The boutonnieres were also made of succulents and red hypercuim berries with a turquoise ribbon wrap.
The ceremony, held on the lawn in front of the CCC, was set-up with a sofa table purchased by the bride and groom for their wedding and arrangements down the aisle chairs added the splash of turquoise and beautiful flowers to coordinate.  The cocktail hour was set-up just outside the room and the mother of the bride and her sisters covered every table with burlap purchased from a fabric store which accented a simple mason jar or carafe with a few stems of one flower, clusters of multiple bloom  s, or candles. I can't wait to share the centerpieces with everyone. I love this look! |
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| Sunday, June 12, 2011 |
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Congratulations to Matt and Pari on their beautiful wedding yesterday at the Rancho Bernardo Inn! I love this venue and am even more in love with the Aragaon Courtyard and adjacent ballroom. http://www.ranchobernardoinn.com/ I can't wait to see the professional images by True Photography and post them when they become available.
 Among the thousands of flowers used at the wedding, there were 50 sprays of purple phalenopsis orchids (which matched the bridesmaid's dresses perfectly!), 240 stems of green hydrangea, and 280 stems of dahlias to name a few! Here is an image taken right after the flowers were delivered, before sorting and arranging... It was pretty incredible. I loved, loved her colors! Originally, Pari was thinking more of the sunset colors, but then fell in love with the bridesmaid's dresses. She didn't want loads of purple though so we decided to sub the red for an orchid purple (more like a "plumberry" color), and keep the orange, yellow, and green. The look was exciting and fun, but sophisticated. Pari and Matt celebrated with both a Persian Ceremony and an "American" Ceremony. Afsaneh Sargordian and her company http://afsanehsargordian.com/ designed an absolutely beautiful Persian ceremony in which I created two large and one small arrangement for.  It was a striking, yet beautiful contrast to the bright and colorful "American" Ceremony which had balls of brightly colored flowers flush to the lush, grape vine covered arbor sides, Shepard hooks with kissing balls down the aisle, a runner of yellow, orange, and deep pink rose petals, and butterflies and dendrobium strands hanging from the arbor completed this picture perfect ceremony! All in all I loved arranging this wedding, and wish Pari and Matt much happiness! |
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| Monday, June 06, 2011 |
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I just received these pictures of a wedding I did in April. I love them! The bride's flowers were so perfect with green succulents, white hydrangea, white rannuculas, white waxflowers, and white anemones with black centers. 
 The bridesmaid bouquets were similar, but with touches of "raspberry pink."  Sunset Point is one of the many locations in San Diego that are permitted out by Parks and Recreation for those of you looking for a unique, quintessential San Diego location.
I love seeing pictures from my brides and coordinators. Please keep them coming! A special thanks to Meaghan at Weddings Made Splendid for sending these along. I was great working with you! |
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| Thursday, June 02, 2011 |
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I recently did a wedding at Bernardo Winery. I really liked the open grassy area and arbor for the ceremony and reception and the covered "Rosario's Pavilion" for a funky, rustic cocktail hour and bar. It's all very private considering there are shops, restaurant, and tasting room on site as well. http://bernardowinery.com/events/weddings-and-receptions/
 A great Temecula venue that's a favorite is the Temecula Creek Inn. http://www.temeculacreekinn.com/weddings.html. It has this amazing Stone House and outdoor ceremony and reception site that is far removed from the golf course and hotel. It's a super grassy, rustic, and spacious location and I love it! What I love even more is that they golf cart the guests to and from the wedding site and their hotel rooms (which means all eat, drink, and be merrying you can handle). I also love the Faulkner Winery in Temecula. It has a large restaurant with a 180+ degree view of Temecula Valley complete with two outdoor  ceremony sites, an outdoor deck, and it's super private. http://www.falknerwinery.com/weddings/weddings.php Notice a trend... :) I love a more personal, intimate setting. Other wineries to consider are South Coast which is a huge spa, hotel, and winery and a lot of fun! Ponte, which has a great Barrel Room that you can have your reception in (but be sure to bring a sweater or a wrap). And of course Wilson Creek has a great Almond Champagne! They also redid their whole venue to better accommodate larger weddings and events. If you know of other venues I should have mentioned or check out let me know! |
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| Monday, May 23, 2011 |
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This Friday and Saturday I had waterfront weddings at the Hilton Bayfront and the Hotel Del Coronado.
Of course everyone knows the Hotel Del Coronado. They have many beautiful rooms to accommodate any size reception and you can have your ceremony and cocktail hour on the world famous beach in front of the Del. http://www.hoteldel.com/?src=ppc_google_brand1 I used over 70 dozen roses in white "Akito," cream "Vendela," light pink "Sweet Akito," and medium pink "Blush Akito." They were all beautiful and I love roses! |
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| Wednesday, May 18, 2011 |
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I started thinking I would talk about the fuller, delicate petaled blooms for th  is post and then decided I would just spend a bit more time showing off one of my favorite flowers: the lisianthus. They come in many shades of purple, pink, white, and an ivory/buttercup color. The unopened blooms are equally as fun to use in arrangements as a hint of green, or unique accent bloom. Lastly, lisianthus are available year round. I often tell brides who want peonies or rannuculas, two flowers that are not available all year, to consider lisianthus as it has some of the same, lovely qualities. |
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| Monday, May 09, 2011 |
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I spent the weekend in Sonoma and Napa Counties enjoying the beautiful rolling hills, time great family and friends, and of course the wineries! There were some gorgeously manicured gardens at some of the wineries, and I could not believe the beautiful garden, spray, and hybrid tea roses growing everywhere. So this is my inspiration for today's post... ROSES!
I love roses! They come in amazing colors, they come in every size, and for those brides on a budget, they aren't terribly expensive.  |
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| Thursday, April 28, 2011 |
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So today was "installation day" for Art Alive and it's so awesome seeing all the amazing works of floral art created every year! Having done this a couple of years now it is also fun to see how people interpret the pieces of art differently too.
This year I picked Madonna of the Roses and as usual I go a more literal route. It must be the wedding florist in me that I want people to see the painting in the flowers-- or maybe I'm just not as schooled creatively. 
Here are two arrangements that blew me away! They were not only structurally fabulous, but you knew right away what piece of art it belonged too (and trust me, that doesn't always happen).  
If you can make it down this weekend, Art Alive runs Friday, April 29th-Sunday, May 2nd at the San Diego Musuem of Art in Balboa Park! |
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| Sunday, April 24, 2011 |
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So I am visiting my husband, Adam, and his family in St. Louis and am blown away by all the beautiful spring flowers just growing along the beltways, in the parks, the yards, etc... and I understand that I really missed the daffodils and tulips in full-bloom. I love all these beautiful spring blooms! 
Bushes of Honeysuckle and Hydrangea are growing like crazy, especially with all the rain they have been getting.  These Lily of the Valley were blooming along a beltway down the street from my mother-in-laws. I cringe at what I spent back in San Diego last weekend on 10 stems of these little, sweet-smelling, blooms.
I'm not sure I have ever seen a Dogwood tree. The name doesn't do it justice... the whole tree is just one big cluster of flowers! These are peony buds... 100s of them on three bushes! I couldn't believe it! And there are so many beautiful types of hyacinth, including the blue grape hyacinth. I just loved all of these wild, spring flowers, but headed back to my native Southern California tomorrow where we too have some awesome, draught resistant, blooms... |
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| Monday, April 18, 2011 |
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Of course there are a ton of yellow flowers out there and they are sure to brighten up any event especially a wedding!
Here are a few fun flowers to consider when thinking yellow for your wedding day...
Rannuculas! You know I love them. :) 
And Zinnias are a fun summer flower that come in loads of shades, including yellow.
 Freesia smells beautiful and has a great green spray that adds a crisp pop to a bouquet.
And dahlias are a great flower for any arrangement, can also float, and is another personal favorite!  Lastly, the Billy Ball... this is so on trend right now and I can see why. It's fun, fresh, make great boutonnieres, small posy bouquets, or is a fabulous pop to any arrangement.
I lot of brides are gravitating towards this vibrant color paired with grey bridesmaid's dresses. Something to think about... :)
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| Saturday, April 16, 2011 |
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A number of brides love the dark eggplant purple for their wedding. Some brides and grooms are drawn to this color because of their love of wine (and I can't blame them!) and create a wine theme for their wedding day. Here are a few pics from today's wedding that I took and another from a wedding past to give you some inspiration...
This bride provided small glass, champagne grape clusters to wire into her bouquet. The look was discreet and perfect for the theme of the wedding. Added to that were dark purple lilac, white peonies, white French Tulips, white sweetheart roses, and variegated ivy which created a free-form hand tie bouquet that I truly loved!
A casually, elegant aisle arrangement is this bow of raffia with vines of ivy.
I feel like I hit the tulip jackpot when I saw this Black Hero French Tulip at the growers yesterday and bought the two bunches they had before anyone else could steal them away. The color matched the dark purple lilac that I used in the bridal bouquet perfectly and I couldn't have been more excited!
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| Monday, April 11, 2011 |
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Flowers by Erin had an awesome weekend and I wanted to share a few iPhone shoots with hopes that I'll be able to share some professional pictures soon!
 So I love this whole look and vibe! My brother, Ryan, and my sister-in-law, Ali, really embodied the whole "Anthro" look when they were married last August. I had really wanted the opportunity to create a wedding with that aesthetic. Yesterday was that day... Ali, my mom/trusty assistant, and I put together this amazing wedding at the Coronado Community Center. I loved it!
Instead of traditional centerpieces we did tablescapes which simply implies lots of vases, jars, and carafes of flowers and candles. For this bride I also incorporated potted plants in rustic wooden containers and river rocks. We used all garden flowers in bright pink: larkspur, tea roses, garden roses, misty pink, waxflowers, fuchsias, rannaculas, veronica, hydrangea, etc...
 
The bride's bouquet was also free form with shoots of white veronica and wax flower along with hydrangea, garden roses, and lots of her favorite flower (and one of mine too) rannaculas both open and unopened. 
The wedding was coordinated by Lindsy Hines and Weddings by Lindsy and she is amazing! http://www.lindsyhines.com/
And in case you are still looking for a great venue to have your wedding at check out the Coronado Community Center: http://www.coronado.ca.us/department/division.php?fDD=13-158 |
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| Wednesday, April 06, 2011 |
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So I am reminded of this blog posting on a great website, Style Me Pretty, because this weekend I will be doing her sister's wedding here in San Diego as well.
The floral arrangements consisted of white and ivory roses, hydrangea, dendrobium and phalenopsis orchids, and dahlias with soft touches of pale pink "sweet akito" roses. The gold gilded containers accented the hanging crystals perfectly and it all came together beautifully.
Kelly knew exactly what she wanted and it was a pleasure creating her wedding flowers! |
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| Sunday, March 27, 2011 |
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Today I had a wedding at the Presidio in San Diego just above Old Town(http://www.sandiegohistory.org/serra_museum.html).
 It is an awesome, quintessential San Diego venue overlooking Old Town towards Mission Bay, La Jolla, and beyond. I can literally see the Presidio from my home and wonder on days like today why Adam, Avery, and I don't walk over there with a picnic lunch more often to enjoy the beautiful view, park, and sights. Today's bride combined the beautiful venue with gorgeous "sunset colors" and navy blue bridesmaid's dresses (a personal favorite). In her bouquet we used orange, flame colored calla lilies, red and orange variegated "Fiction"  roses, red "Classy" roses, and ivory sweetheart roses with light red hypericum berries. The look was perfect for the setting. If you like these colors and want other flowers to consider try rannuculas, dahlias, or cymbidium orchid blooms which come in the beautiful red, orange, and rust tones that fit a "Mission" style wedding perfectly!  |
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| Saturday, March 26, 2011 |
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For those brides looking to for an attractive centerpiece without breaking the bank, here are some great ideas. Depending on how adventurous you are these can also be DIY options and I'll tell you how!  The cluster of three cylinder vases (11, 9, & 7 inches) can be used for multiple centerpiece ideas. Seen here with submerged red vanda orchids, you can also submerge any color orchid spray or mini calla lily and use any number of rock or marble accents to bring in a color (in this case black) that is not found in flowers. Another option is to float a candle on top of a cluster of floating hydrangea to add extra candle light and color to your reception tables. (Flowers by Erin charges $45 for either options.)  Eiffel Tower vases are tall, thin vases that come in solid black or white, frosted white, or clear. I love adding multiple sprays of dendrobium orchids (which come in green, white, purple, lavender, light pink, or bright pink.)
Alternatively, we can arrange roses or gerber daises with bear grass to create a tall, simple centerpiece that catches the eye of everyone that walks in the room. (Flowers by Erin charges between $35-50 for these centerpiece arrangements.)
 This Bride purchased the hurricane vase and candle and I provided the rose petals to be placed inside the vase. (Flowers by Erin charges $12.50 per box of rose petals.)
Placing succulents or cymbidium orchid blooms on a bed of rocks is another perfect option for a simple arrangement.  Floating dahlias or gerber daises in a five inch square glass vase is a clean, simple centerpiece or cocktail table arrangement. (Flowers by Erin charges between $15-25 for these looks.)
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| Monday, March 21, 2011 |
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 Love Plumerias? Looking for something to do this weekend? The Plumeria society is having their annual cutting sale and one of the featured growers is none other than my mom, Chris Blair!
My mom, and her garden, were featured in the San Diego Home and Garden Magazine last Spring in the article "Passion for Plumeria" 
Meanwhile, feel free to email any questions to me and I'll pass them on. Or stop by and visit us this weekend in Balboa Park! |
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| Monday, March 21, 2011 |
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Inspired by two recent client meetings I wanted to show off some fresh and beautiful green flowers. Yes you can do a wedding with all green flowers, and yes, it will look beautiful!
The green cymbidium orchid bloom is one of the most popular and elegant green flower. They come with both a "clear" yellowish center, and a more commonly seen burgundy or pink center.
Bells of Ireland is not a commonly known green flower and looks great accenting green bouquets and centerpieces and is a "stock-like" cut flower.
Succulent are all the rage right now! Especially in Southern California where they are indigenous to the region and becoming more popular with eco-friendly brides and gardeners. I love them!
Poppy pods are tons of fun and make great funky boutonnieres as well as accents in other arrangements.
Hypericum berries, or coffee bean, come in peach, white, red, and green and are awesome filler flowers and help create tons of texture in your arrangements.
Spider mums are a fun flower on their own, or in bouquets. They also look great placed upon your guest napkin fold or menu card at your reception.
Button mums can also make cute boutonnieres and are popular green flower. They are also cost efficient for the budget conscious bride (and really, who isn't?).
Hydrangea are one of my absolute favorite wedding flowers! They come in some amazingly beautiful colors and can stand alone, or be placed in arrangements "peeking out" between other flower to create texture and fullness.
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| Thursday, March 17, 2011 |
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Beautiful Burgundy Bouquets...
 
I love this color and in fact one of my absolutely favorite flowers is the Burgundy dahlia (I happen to love, love dahlias in general). Here you see an all dahlia bridal bouquet that was simple and elegant. Dahlias are available year round, but July thru October is when you have the most prolific color choices--- and they come in AMAZING colors. But enough about dahlias for now...
Here is the beautiful all Burgundy mini calla lily bouquet modeled by one of my best friend's Nicole. This bouquet is timeless...
This bouquet combines two beautiful, favorite flowers: the Burgundy mini calla lily and t he white cymbidium orchid bloom with a Burgundy center. The bridesmaid's carried all orchid blooms and the look with classically stunning.
Lastly, this bouquet had an amazing monochromatic look that really showcased some other Burgundy flower options: rannaculas, "Black Bacarra" roses, mini gerber daisies, as well as mini calla lilies.
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| Monday, March 14, 2011 |
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This morning Avery and I selected our painting for the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Art Alive at the San Diego Museum of Art.
Art Alive is "A San Diego favorite and longtime tradition" where "floral designers interpret famous paintings, drawings, and sculptures through floral design."
 Madonna of the Roses Pseudo Pier Francesco Fiorentino 15th century Italy Tempera Painting 
Shockingly, once we picked out our artwork Avery had a blast running around the museum and making new friends with everyone there!
Art Alive is April 29th-May 1st. |
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| Friday, March 11, 2011 |
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I'm a pretty lucky florist to have access to some amazingly beautiful flowers locally grown in my Mother's garden. She spends a great deal of time and love making it such a special place and this won't be the last time I share some of her beautiful flowers...
 Other than her amazing plumerias (for which she has been written up in San Diego Home and Garden Magazine), cymbidium orchids are her showcase flower. Here are some amazing colors that she has blooming now... 
For those of you who have tried to grow cymbidiums (like myself) you may find that they don't spike often or prolifically, or that you get snails which eat holes in your blooms.
I sometimes buy the whole plant when arranging a wedding and have long given up on taking care of it after I cut the spikes. Instead I give them to my mom to tend and care for and sometimes I come back to the plant the following year for another springtime wedding!
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| Sunday, March 06, 2011 |
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Here is a favorite for many brides... the Mini Calla Lily Bouquet. They come in some amazing colors and two favorites are the dark, eggplant purple and the "orange" rust or mango (seen here) which can be a lighter yellow orange, or a darker redish orange.
Year round you can always get all white mini calla lilies.
 Mini calla lilies are always going to be expensive. Growers say it's all about supply and demand. Brides love these flowers and growers can't grow enough of them. Other colors they come in are a bright yellow, pinks and peaches, purples and lavendars. A lot of times you may see that they come in red, but be cautious about a red mini calla lily. they are not the "classy" red of a rose, but more of a purple red. One last thing I wanted to point out was the ivy and looped bear grass. Both of these are fun and different ways to add green to your bouquet and give it a little texture with out being overwhelming. this look is great in all rose, gerber daisy, or tulip bouquets as well. |
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| Sunday, February 27, 2011 |
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It's always fun to see your work published and appreciated! Here is a two page spread from Ceremony Magazine (the O.C. edition) of a wedding I arranged the flowers for back in September 2010 at the L'Auberge in Del Mar.
I also love that this article shows off the blue flowers that the bride choose. Blue is a difficult color to match since there are very few blue flowers that work in arrangements. My absolute favorite is hydrangea. It comes in light blue or deep "Dutch" blue, but there is also grape Hyacinth and cornflower (which are both seasonal: March-June-ish), delphinium, and irises.
I'll touch upon more blue flowers and weddings at a later date... |
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| Friday, February 25, 2011 |
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 ... or pomanders or flower balls, but doesn't kissing balls sound so much cuter?!? They can be placed throughout the wedding ceremony or reception, or used as flower girl or bridesmaid's flowers as seen here. You probably notice that most of these kissing balls are made of various sized roses. That is because they create a perfectly rounded look. But you can also incorporate carnations (I know, but they come in so many great colors) or hydrangea. Often you see these flower balls hanging from either a Shepard hook or a aisle chair, but you can also create a topiary with with (as seen here), or place them in manzanita branch arrangements for an enchanted forest feel. 
And of course they photograph so very well!
Up next... It's all about mini calla lilies... |
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