Category Archives: Blues and Greens

On the Edge of the Water

One of my favorite things about this job is other people’s imaginations. To hear about what a client has dreamed up, and then to bring that vision to life, is a never-ending challenge. And I mean that in a good way. Mollie threw me two delightful challenges with her February wedding to Rob:  First, she wanted a big, juicy, asymmetrical, gorgeous floral hair crown. Second, she wanted a presentation bouquet. You know, the kind you carry in the crook of your arm, like a dancer — which Mollie is.

The floral hair crown was not entirely daunting, as I’d been recently tasked with creating a couple of them for styled shoots (see blog post). But still. This was a real wedding! For Mollie’s, we went for full romance — big blush garden roses and delicate white ranunculus, intermixed with smidges of reindeer moss and other textural delights. The presentation bouquet was a little more challenging, as it became more unwieldy to hold as I continued to add flowers to it. Every now and then I’d stop to rest it in the crook of my own arm and look in my studio mirror. Did I look like a dancer? A bride? Not exactly, but I knew Mollie would.

I loved the muted, sea-inspired color palette that Mollie and Rob chose — perfect for the Edgewater Hotel on what turned out to be a very rainy day. But with all that candlelight and love in the room, it couldn’t have been warmer or cozier. (And the gorgeous photos by Maurice Photo are here to prove it!)

Hollywood in Seattle, from Houston with Love

In the spirit of the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebrations, this post looks back at one of 2013’s sparkliest, NW-blingiest weddings. What is “NW-bling” you might ask? Well, seeing as I just came up with the term, it’s a concept in flux — but you can safely assume that NW-bling includes beaded lamps AND ornamental fungus. Shimmery vases AND understated blue hydrangea. And in this case, the whole scheme was inspired by a super fun bride from Texas.

The Hollywood inspiration tablescape -- we can do better than this!

The Hollywood inspiration tablescape — we can do better than this!

Planning a long-distance wedding requires a lot of trust on the part of the client. Candace and I began the process of fleshing out ideas for her wedding at Urban Light Studios over the phone; she and her fiancé had been to Seattle but both lived in Houston. Her decor vision was inspired by the 83rd annual Academy Awards Governor’s Ball. It was a to-the-hilt look, and one I don’t see a lot of in Seattle. Frankly, I thought we could do better! 

Candace rounded up all of her vendors for a site visit a couple of months before her wedding. The ever-insightful and awesome Kirstie Warren of Simply Wed was on the team at that point. Seeing the linens plus table lamps plus florals plus chargers plus flatware plus Chiavari chairs…. (whew!)… helped us edit the look. The room was going to be PACKED with elbow-to-elbow guests. We nixed the blue glass goblets and the sequined linens, and came up with a gorgeous, Houston-meets-Hollywood-meets-Seattle decor scheme that turned out to be one of my favorite weddings of 2013!

What do you think?

VENDORS:

PHOTOGRAPHY:  Julie Harmsen Photography

VENUE: Urban Light Studios

DESIGN/COORDINATION: Simply Wed

DRAPING: Rented Elegance

CATERING: City Catering 

DJ: Bamboo Beats

At the Woodmark Hotel: Lakeside Splendor

I’ll never forget the 4th of July bride I had several years ago, who wanted her flowers in shades of red, white, and blue — and asked that they not appear patriotic. Jerusha and Dave didn’t get married on the 4th of July this year, but on the 5th — and they didn’t ask me to pull out the red, white, and blue flowers, either. This wedding at the always lovely Woodmark Hotel was a crisp splash of blue and green and a little white. Perfect for a lakeside celebration on a hot summer day.

Jerusha’s bouquet was especially fun for me to design. I don’t often get to go all out with a cascade bouquet, and especially not one made mostly of green flowers. Foxtail ferns gave texture and body to the cascade, while lily grass wisped downwards like sea grass in reverse. I’m so grateful for the amazing talents of Affinity Photography, who captured that bouquet (and everything else) so perfectly. I might not get my hands on another bouquet like that one anytime soon!

Two varieties of centerpieces reflected the waterside setting, all in — you guessed it — blue, green, and white. At the altar, we hung floral pomanders from iron “trees,” and strung them with green cymbidium orchid blossoms for good measure. There was a soft breeze coming off the lake, just enough to send the orchids a-fluttering. Just like bride’s and groom’s hearts, I’m sure.

It was a treat to work with Taylor’d Events on this wedding, and I’m sure that DJ Leslie of Seattle Parties kept the party going like fireworks into the night.