Grandeur at Chihuly Garden and Glass

(Or, The Wisdom of Wallflowers)

Flowers want so much to be the stars of the show. They’re divas, a little bit, and mostly deservedly so. But flowers, face it — sometimes your best and most nuanced role is a supporting one.

This could not possibly be more true than at Chihuly Garden and Glass. I mean, WOW. Have you been there? The artwork is super-bright, super-large, super-jawdropping. It’s an amazing setting for a wedding – as Blake and Stephanie experienced this past February in one of the first weddings to be had at the venue. We were so excited to be chosen as their florist!

From the get-go, Blake and Stephanie had a vision for all-white floral arrangements, with minimal flower variety:  hydrangea, spider and football mums, and orchids. Some calla lilies and roses in the bouquets, with added stephanotis for Stephanie. This couple knew that every eye would be on the artwork — when it wasn’t on the couple! — and together we created a floral scheme to support that reality.

In the end? The overall effect was stunning:  a balance of energy and rest, swagger and grace. And — of course — happily ever after!

Centerpieces doing double-duty along the aisle

A mix of low and tall centerpieces for the tables

Dendrobium orchids add interest to the body of tall vases

The all-star crew of this wedding included Sheena Kalso and her team at The Invisible Hostess; Pedersens Rentals; and the photography genius of Azzura Photography.

Inspiration at the Great Hall at Greenlake

Sometimes one word is all it takes. When Margi came to me to talk about flowers for her wedding reception at The Great Hall at Greenlake, she described the feeling of airiness, light, and life that she wanted the room to have. Like being in an atrium, she said.

Atrium! I think of the floral abundancy at the Conservatory at Volunteer Park. I think of cellists doing their thing by a spiral staircase. I get a kind of floaty feeling.  A small bird is perched high up beneath the glass. Someone might be wearing a bow tie, and someone is definitely wearing a gardenia. Atrium!

That one word sparked the vision for Margi’s flowers:  tall centerpieces on classic silver candlesticks, with maidenhair fern fluttering around the edges. Fresh whites and greens, studded with aromatic rosemary, mint, and sage. Low counterparts in silver bowls. The vision carried over to Margi’s ceremony decor: pomanders to line the aisle and mark the altar at a waterfront park on Lake Union.  Let me tell you, that was one of the best smelling weddings EVER.

Dare I say that the entire wedding was atriyummy?

The Great Hall at Greenlake

Margi’s bouquet

Happy maids in fawn and grey

A mix of high and low centerpieces

Classic and fresh

This little guy was hanging out on the floor before his elevated destiny

A Great Hall deserves a grand bannister

Earlier that day…

Detail of the aisle pomanders

Many thanks to Alyssa Rose Photography for sharing these images. GuGuLy Event Planning pulled together a zillion details for the happy couple, and made our day a lot easier, too!