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!)

Black leather and pink garden roses. Could there be a cuter/sexier combination?

(Just as lovely without the jacket.)

Blue belles!

Rob is ready!

And a flowergirl makes three!

Candles started out at the church, and were transferred to the edge of the Edgewater dance floor.

Now DANCE!

Tall birch arrangements flanking the sweetheart table started out at the church.

Twinkling birch branches

Congratulations, Mollie and Rob!

Wall + Flowers at OSP

The other day I discovered that the beautiful blue wall of waves in the Olympic Sculpture Park’s Paccar Pavilion is no longer! (I know, where have I been?) Made me realize just how attached I’d gotten to that gorgeous backdrop by Sandra Cinto, for celebrations of all kinds. Of course, the geometric, richly hued piece that took its place is also very cool — but I thought I’d share this wedding from the wave days in honor of their passing.

Plus, the photos that Barbie Hull took from this wedding are AWESOME!!! Wow, did she ever capture all the vibrancy of summer — and all the textures that I so love to play with. Garden roses unfurling next to scritchy scabiosa pods. Maidenhair fern trailing gracefully from playful groupings of ball dahlias and zinnias. The coral, orange, soft yellow, white, and green color scheme that the bride and groom requested was the perfect counterpoint to the blue and grey tones of the venue. It’s a florist’s dream when colors come together like this.  Added bonus:  Holly-Kate and Company on hand to make sure everything went flawlessly.

(And if you missed the blue waves, you can at least see a fascinating video showing its installation here.)

Ivory spray roses and dahlias, green zinnias, and maidenhair fern for the bride.

A little waterfront canoodling

How cute are the bride and groom with their pre-wedding beers?

Scabiosa pod and hypericum berries for the groom

Pops of color for the bridesmaids

Here comes the bride…

Centerpieces do double-duty on the aisle

An escort card table arrangement

Centerpiece detail

Maidenhair!

“Sublime” Romance at the Olympic Sculpture Park

When it comes to flowers, is there really such a thing as too romantic? Methinks no way. It is  no secret that my taste for floral design runs towards the gardeny, the spilling, the lovely. Any color palette will do — it’s that romantic feeling and lushness that speaks to me. Local wedding and event designer Shannon Lassen of Sublime had me pegged — and to my great delight and honor, asked me to design such arrangements for her wedding reception at the Olympic Sculpture Park last September.

Shannon was a master at creating layer upon layer of texture at her reception. Three different styles of table linens brought an elegant eclecticism to the clean, cool modernism of the Paccar Pavilion. To go along with that, I used three different styles of vases: vintage ivory ceramic, classic silver, and understated glass. Although each centerpiece was a little different from the next, the overall palette was a unified blend of ivory, peach, pink, coral, green, and silver. Cafe au Lait dahlias made their show-stopping appearance, as did garden roses, ranunculus, fully blown spray roses, and other seasonal treats.

The intimate ceremony at Parsons Gardens got special treatment with an ombré aisle design, and a couple of sweet little arrangements hanging from shepherds hooks at the start of the aisle. My friend and colleague Jean Louise of Juniper Flowers designed all the personal flowers, and you can bet they were stunning. But all this would just be talk without the amazing photographic record by Eliza Truitt Photography.

Happy Anniversary, Shannon and Tom! And thank you so much for inviting Floressence to be part of your day!

An ombré aisle

Sweet little somethings for the start of the aisle

To answer the question, “What happens to all those petals after the bride walks down the aisle?”

Airborne ombré

The Paccar Pavilion at OSP

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.

The bridal bouquet looked downright aquatic!

Note the color coordination of the lily pads

One style of centerpiece…

….and another

White rose petals for the aisle

Iron trees festooned with pomanders and hanging orchids at the altar

Blue and green everywhere!

Delphinium and hydrangea pomander

White carnation pomander

Spring Beauty at 415 Westlake

Florists are kind of like parents. We hate to choose favorites, but Ky and Tina’s wedding reception this past May at 415 Westlake just might be my favorite. At least from 2013. Well, at least from May of 2013.

First off, it was the color palette:  coral, peach, melon, ivory, white, green. And it just so happened to be the season for some of my favorite flowers:  peonies, ranunculus, viburnum, anemones. (I use the word “favorite” in this context with full abandon.)  Second, it was the vision:  lots of texture, lots of variety, lots of beauty to fill up the big square tables in that gorgeous blank-slate urban space. Aleah and Nick of Valley & Co. did an amazing job of helping to corral all the possibilities and turn them into something real and realizable.

We alternated big, juicy florals in footed silver bowls with soft clouds of baby’s breath – also in silver bowls – as the central centerpieces. Around those went little arrangements in assorted julep cup and vintage glassware. And around that went loose blossoms scattered on the table. And amongst that went mercury glass votives. And around those went some very happy guests. 

It’s hard to let your favorites leave the studio, to go off in the world, never to be seen again. You wish them well, and hope they find love and appreciation. And on top of all that, you’re very grateful to the uber-talented photographers who record them with such care — many thank yous to you, Chantal Andrea!

The elusive and stunning black-eyed anemone, for Tina.

There must be a direct relationship between socks and fun

The bride and her maids

Love the aerial shot!

Square tables are a unique and dramatic approach

So darn cute!

A Salish Lodge Fairy Tale

Admittedly, the notion of a “fairy tale wedding” is a cliché. But at a recent Salish Lodge ceremony and reception, those were the only words going through my head.

Ryan and Lele were romantics through and through. The ceremony took place on a small lawn overlooking the waterfall, like one of those fabled hidden clearings. We draped the altar arch in white silk, then garlands of pink and white roses, lilies, and hydrangea. We lined the aisle with petals, and hung posies from the ends of the three sweet rows. All the while — I kid you not — birds chirped, occasional mist found our faces, and the harpist and fiddlers went about their tunings and strummings. Fairy tale!! I really felt like I’d see Snow White caper through the drapery every time I turned around.

For the reception, Lele requested cascading phalaenopsis orchids from tall centerpieces. The room was intimate, gorgeous, and a perfect continuation of the romantic vibe on the lawn. Small weddings are so lovely. And why not go all out when you’re honoring your nearest and dearest?

Once upon a time…

A walk to the altar

Lele’s bouquet of all ivory calla lilies

Vintage buttons adorn the stem wrap

Happily ever after!

A sweet halo of flowers for the flowergirl

Calla lily with hypericum and galax for the groom

Hydrangea posies for the aisle do double-duty as accent pieces on the reception tables

Tall centerpieces with cascading phalaenopsis orchids

Azzura Photography worked their magic in capturing these scenes. Rev. Mary Calhoun lent her sweet charm to the officiation. Choice Linens provided the beautiful linens and chair covers.

A Nordstrom Breakfast Club

When I was in 6th grade, my friend Nancy had a Breakfast Club themed birthday party. I was assigned the Basketcase character. Superscore. Filled my hair with hairspray so that I could shake the flakes out over my meal. Scowled through the party. It was pretty much totally unlike me — and It was the best!

Last week I had a similar superscore, when my friend Kate Rielly asked me to help her create six bridal bouquets for a Nordstrom web video.  The purpose of the video:  to show the role of accessories in transforming a bridal look. One bride, one dress, six looks. As Art Director at World Famous, Kate’s job was to help imagine who these six characters might be — and then to populate the shoot with all the right stuff. Flowers included, of course!

In the partial words of Anthony Michael Hall:

You see us as you want to see us… In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a trustafarian boho bride…and a type-A professional  …and a Southern belle…a swingin’ 60s Twiggy… a Hollywood starlet…and an ethereal Aquarian.

Who do you want to be today — and what will your flowers say about you?

A demure peek-a-boo from the Southern Belle

The Southern Belle prefers a more decorous version of “gardeny”

Red “Piano” garden roses for the Hollywood Starlet

Red roses stand out, even in the backdrop

Sea-inspired textures for the Ethereal Bride (and yes, mixing elements is totally okay!)

She will drift to the altar

Craspedia and football mums convey 1960s bold, bright design

That’s me on the lower left

Our trustafarian boho bride (check the video for a shot of the bouquet!)

Sleek calla lilies for this hard-working and elegant career woman

Kate took these photos on set; we can’t wait to see the video!

Update, 6/25/13:  The video is up and available for viewing here!

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!

Brides & Brides & Grooms & Grooms

Driving around this morning, I was listening to radio coverage of the Supreme Court’s upcoming deliberations on the Defense of Marriage Act. It got me thinking again about all the energy and enthusiasm and love that sparkled around our city when Washington passed Referendum 74 this past fall.

On December 9, 2012, eight same-sex couples were legally wed at the Lake Union Cafe in a group ceremony – one of many around our city that day. I was truly honored to create these couples’ bouquets and boutonnieres as a complimentary service. The flowers were simple:  white hydrangea, roses, freesia, and feathery cushion mums, with folded aspidistra leaves. The concept was simple:  people in love, getting married.  The happiness and the sense of history was monumental.

Jenny GG must have had to do some serious scrambling to photograph eight separate couples, but there is nothing but ease and grace in her images. Reverend Bill Wood was the octo-man of the hour.  As the florist, it makes me proud to see those bouquets held close in solemnity and raised high in celebration. Flowers do matter!

As the judges hear the case before them, I keep my fingers crossed for justice.

Legally wed!

Washington pride!

You may kiss the brides!

They do

Matching pocket squares for the bride and flowergirl. Insanely cute!

A roomful of happily married couples