Fall Wedding Previews

August is turning into preview month for my fall brides. We get together over a glass of wine and I share sample bouquets and boutonierres to confirm we are all on the same page. Here are some photos from our recent sampling:

 

Starting to think FALL WEDDINGS!

End of summer lush

 

 

 

 

As the summer draws to a close the rush of Fall weddings is just around the corner. Bride's are setting up their previews, tasting that final menu, eating one more cupcake, and looking at sample bouquets to be sure everything is just as they imagine it, or better!

For me, it's a time to try some new combinations, and I'm especially excited about adding some succulents to the bouquets and arrangements. I never realized how much subtle color variation can be found in these interesting plants.

Best wishes to all the Brides and Grooms!

They were but sweet, but figures of delight, drawn after you, you pattern of all those.

My Gardenia in bloom at last...heavenly scent!

                                            Yet nor the lays of birds nor the sweet smell
                                            Of different flowers in odour and in hue
                                            Could make me any summer's story tell,
                                            Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew;
                                            Nor did I wonder at the lily's white,
                                            Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;
                                            They were but sweet, but figures of delight,
                                            Drawn after you, you pattern of all those.
                                                                        
                                                                      William Shakespeare Sonnet 98

At long last summer arrives, full of glorious flowers and a host of weddings. 

Wondering today about flowers and weddings. Why do they go so well together? They are lovely, and full of personality and that "something special" that takes a day from ordinary to fabulous. But, though flowers grace the wedding day with their beautiful shapes, scents and colors, they cannot compare to the bride and groom in their happiness. 

Ellis and Jenny are Man and Wife! David Strauss Photography

 Loving the boot craze!  David Strauss Photography

Spring says yellow!  David Strauss Photography

Wedding flowers bring a certain personality with them...free form and fun loving, soft and sweet, bold and courageous. Folklore from all over the world gives meaning to flowers and colors that we modern folk have long since left behind. Brides today are free to explore all sorts of options.
 

Melissa and Jason tie the knot!

Be on the look out for what is in season, as well as what appeals to your sense of style. Keeping it fresh and pretty, but reasonably priced can be as easy as looking in your neighbors yard (and asking before you cut, of course!). I like Shakespeare's advice once again:

At Christmas I no more desire a rose

Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled mirth;

But like of each thing that in season grows.

William Shakespeare Love's Labours Lost

 

Wedding days pass by all too quickly for families who have worked so hard to plan and prepare. Their beauty is fleeting. 

The real thing of beauty is that couple themselves, starting off sharing the rest of their lives together. They get to choose, each day in the years ahead, whether their life together will be a thing of beauty or not. 

When they walk along together in their later years, holding hands in quiet contentment for a life well spent together, they will have achieved something the world still finds remarkable, and oh so sweet!
 
The wedding day is only a pattern of beauty, set at the start, drawn after the true loving marriage that lasts a lifetime. Wishing that for all the lovely young couples whose vows I've witnessed this year!

Nature's Guide for Color Choices

Selecting your wedding colors can be as easy as a walk in the park if you are willing to take the time to LOOK at what is happening in nature. What attracts YOUR attention? What do you feel when you see certain colors? By looking at a simple flower, you can find the combinations that work without a lot of effort.

 

Lenten rose

 Shade, tone and a limited palette can give a gentle and elegant presentation.Notice the shades of dark green grey and the fresher greens of the new growth, and how they provide a backdrop for the flowers. Focus in on the pale yellow and greeny yellows in the center of the flower, as well as the many shades of pink and almost purple in the buds.

Most brides choose their bridesmaids' dresses first, and then start thinking about flowers, but taking a hint from nature can help guide you to a combination of colors that can be delightful, capable of creating the mood for the day that you are looking for.

Emily was inspired by this beautiful bush to combine the undertones of pink and orange with a red chiffon overlay in her bridesmaids' dresses. We used this photo when we went fabric shopping to get the correct hue.

 

 Have fun searching for that combination that is YOU!

Passion flowers always inspire!

Flowers; How to Get the Look you Love

Let your personality shine!

Bridesmaids have a slightly toned down version

Helping a Bride select her flowers is one of my favorite parts of wedding planning. I love working with all that variety in greenery and flower types, and there are so many wonderful resources for inspiration, especially Pinterest, that allow brides to hone in on a design that reflects their own personal style.

Keeping things organized makes distribution easy

Though flowers are certainly NOT a requirement (one friend recently walked up the aisle carrying a few favorite books!) they add a gracious softness and a unifying element to the entire event. 

A limited palette is an elegant choice.

During the exploration phase, think about colors you love. As you view the photos, note whether you are drawn to open and loose bouquets, or more symmetrical versions. Do you want a variety of color or a more limited palette? Focus on your bouquet, and all the other arrangements can play off of that.

If you are hiring someone to do this work for you, they should be willing to give you a free consultation, and if they are a sole proprietor, get them to create a sample of their work using flowers that you prefer. Flowers can eat up the budget pretty quickly (figuring $100-$150 for your bouquet if you hire a florist), so determining ways to cut costs is really important if your budget is limited. 

Sample arrangements for the next Bride in our family

We were able to do all the flowers for Em's wedding for about $300. This included flowers from friend's gardens, borrowing some beautiful jars (remember if you ARE doing them yourselves that will be part of your cost). One friend borrowed teapots from friends and used flowers from her family garden. Keep your eyes open for beautiful FREE greens. We had five bouquets, two or three large arrangements, twelve small bottle arrangements, 10 or so quart sized jars, boutonnieres and corsages.....but doing the work ourselves really saved us. Doing the same thing through a typical florist would have cost around $1600.

Arranging Flowers by Martha Stewart is a great resource for creative ideas and floral how to's. You really CAN get a team of folks together to do this. Make it a party! And enjoy the fruits of your creativity!






 

Having a "particular set of skills"

I love Liam Neeson in just about any movie, but this line from the movie Taken is one of my favorites:

"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career"

Emily's bouquet photo by warstoweddings.com

Have you ever thought about the fact that each one of us has a very particular set of skills; skills aquired perhaps over a long "career" of observation, trial and error, and experimentation? When these God given inclinations are nurtured and given the soil of encouragement, they flourish and grow and become our own "particular" way of loving and serving others. 

Lenten roses from the Richmond garden

I've always enjoyed flowers. My grandfather loved to grow tea roses, and my dad kept up the practice. There seemed to be fresh flowers on our table all summer long, and drinking in that heady scent was one of my childhood pleasures. My own gardens have helped to fill my home with little nosegays and bouquets that remind me of the beauty God creates.

When asked to create flowers for my daughter's friend's wedding, (lots of lavender roses I recall!) I jumped at the chance. My first foray into wedding flowers proved I had a LOT to learn. Who knew that the bride usually does not throw her own bouquet? I watched in horror as flowers went sailing out of my lovely arrangement, as single girls clamoured to catch what was left of the poor pathetic thing! This friend and her husband got a good laugh from it, as did I!, and they now run a thriving wedding photography firm,  elisabphotography.com

one of the arrangements I enjoyed making at TFC

Large arrangements became a fascination when a dear friend got me to join the flower guild. This wonderful mentor taught me the little details of  creating a large arrangement, and coached me along until she thought I was ready to go solo. I must say I got so much pleasure out of those quiet mornings in the musty old historic church, polishing the silver, and laying out the flowers, often with the organist rehearsing. For several years I served in this way, and learned so much, developing my very own "particular set of skills".

One of many table arrangements for E&E photo by elisab

When it came time to create flower arrangements for Emily's wedding, I was ready and happy to dive in. And I had wonderful friends and family who helped, as well. How fun to find out that those unique skills and interests I had  been developing over time would allow me to bless the people I love so much!  Here's hoping you are using your particular skills to do the same thing, whatever those skills may be. 

Flowers express so much personality!

Later this week I will post how we made the decisions and organized the work of crafting so many luscious displays of the work of our Master Gardener.

Saying YES to YOUR dress!

So you have the date, the venue, the guest list, and that wonderful groom. But choosing the dress you will wear is a process fraught with angst and anxiety for many a bride.

Some brides have an innate sense of what they want, and what flatters them, and the budget to get it. But on a day when looking and feeling your best is paramount, it can be overwhelming to look through the racks of bridal gowns and wonder what is YOUR style, and will you be able to find something in your price range that you LOVE? Meanwhile, some of those shop owners are less than understanding!

In my first debute as mother of the bride, I found this part to be surprisingly challenging. Unlike the tv shows where mom or bridesmaid derails the process, it was the bride who was self critical and frustrated.All her attendants just kept oohing, "You look gorgeous!" yet she was NOT convinced. How to find just the right thing became our mission for the next six months.

too poofy

a contender we found at a consignment shop

Nice details

the bride says, "boring!"

Looking good but not THE one yet.

Take your time, don't book too many appointments in one day, have a glass of wine! Don't give up, you CAN have a dress you will feel great wearing, and at a price you can afford. Don't settle!

glam bow and lace

Memories of Swan Lake!

Pinterest and magazines can serve as a guide, but they may not help, as your local shop may not carry anything like what you are seeing. Try on a variety of styles to see what actually does fit, or flatter your figure. Think about the type of fabric, as well as the amount of embellishment you want.

Those dressmaker tools

Our homemade head piece

There truly are many stunning gowns out there, but if you are looking for something simple and straight forward without a lot of bling, be ready to try creative alternatives. After visiting TEN shops (from David's Bridal, to many small shops, consignment and even JCrew), we decided to take the plunge and have mama make the dress. Having sewn for years and taken a pattern drafting class, I thought, this IS do-able, and it was!

We made a mock up, to see if the style was flattering, and right away I got a big smile from the bride to be. So off we went down that road, which is a whole "nuther" story! But as you can see, the bride was gorgeous on her special day!

Dupion silk gown for $140 and a dapper gentleman friend of the bride.