Wedding Wednesdays - Libby’s Lemons – Hee Hee… It’s Clean, I promise

Last September, I was privileged to work with one of my most artistic brides yet…
Libby called to set up a consultation, and I have to tell you… she was very clear that she wanted nothing to do with a traditional ho hum wedding.  To be corny, she had me right there… I knew I really wanted to work with her and wanted to see what awesome things we could come up with.

In the end, some of the fun elements Libby incorporated into her wedding included:

Billy Balls, Lemons, artichokes, fresh herbs, and ornamental kale

Lemons played a role throughout, but my favorite was that Libby used them as place cards (did I mention we arranged them on a grass lined place card table embellished with gorgeous Midori Double Faced Satin Ribbon),

The fresh herbs were present in the bridal bouquets, boutonnieres, and table centers

The artichokes graced the table centers as well as serving as an embellishment for Libby’s Wishing trees crafted from locally harvested branches and decorated with hydrangea, lemons, and artichokes

The wedding took place at none other than The Grain Exchange.  The photographer was Kalfa at Frontroom Photography.  The amazing cake was by Cake Lady

Cheers!

Table Center with white hydrangea, daisies, fresh herbs, billy balls (craspedia), kale, lemons, artichokes and lambs ear

Bridal Bouquets with white hydrangea, daisies, fresh herbs, billy balls (craspedia)

Trend Watch - Whimsical, Garden Style

Browsing through catalogs and websites, I can’t help but notice that brides are leaning toward less structured, less rigid designs this season.  We’re seeing brides opt for flowers like garden roses, peonies, hydrangea, lily of the valley… soft, feminine blooms with fragrance.  Color palettes range from muted cream, peach, and apricot tones to more vibrant selections like pinks, yellows and oranges. 

If you are thinking about the whimsical garden style for your event, consider these tips to make your event standout from others

-          Use a non-traditional vessel (mason jars, antique glass bottles, old tin cans, fenton milkglass)

-          Choose blooms that are in season and local – you will end up with the most luscious blooms

-          Greenery and accent flowers are just as important as the focal flowers for this style, don’t hesitate to incorporate flowering vines like clematis, fuzzy foliage like lamb’s ear or dusty miller, you might even consider using berries like vibernum or green raspberries.

Here are a few examples that I really fell in love with.

Little White Book

Ariella Chezar Flowers - Brides.com

Sarah Drake - Breathupon.com

DIY Project - Elegant, But Easy Wedding Table Centers Part 3

To finish off this series, I would like to talk about how you hand tie a table center as well as designing ‘under glass.’

Hand-Tied – as the name suggests, is a bouquet that was crafted in an artists hands and then bound together with tape, wire or ribbon/twine.  This technique is used to make bridal bouquets, but works well for any application in which the flower stems will be a part of the design concept.  For instance, if you opt for a clear glass vessel for your table centers, this is a great way to present the flowers stems in a neat and tidy fashion.

Under Glass – refers to a floral design technique in which the majority of the floral design is crafted below the rim of a glass vessel.  Sometimes these are floating compositions, other times they are crafted to appear more like a mini vignette under glass.

The peony design is a very simple hand-tied table center.  I used a small bubble vase, three peonies, and some ornamental grasses.  To bind the peonies, I simply used a clear rubber band used for securing hair into a ponytail (find these bands at your local retailer in the hair accessory aisle)

The under glass design is also fairly simple.  To create a little more interest, I used a tinted vase.  In the vase I placed a nest of ornamental grass and then accented the grass with a miniature cymbidium orchid.

DIY Project - Elegant, But Easy Wedding Table Centers Part 2

As a follow up to the last DIY Post, I would like to elaborate on how to create each of the DIY Designs listed.

Pavé Rose Design – This is a very simple design to create, yet can add a great deal of pizazz to a table top.

You’ll Need –
Oasis Instant Floral Foam
Glass Cube Vase
Bear Grass or Variegated Lily Grass
Premium Roses
Greenery (I used Italian Ruscus, but you can use any greenery you like)

Getting It Done –
1 – Cut Oasis Floral Foam so that it is slightly smaller than the vessel on all sides (leave enough room to create a nest of bear grass between the foam and the vase.
2 – Soak floral foam in room temperature water
3 – Place foam in vessel and create a nest of ornamental grass to hide the foam.  Then secure the foam with a piece of waterproof floral adhesive tape across the top of the vase.
4 – Cut your roses about a half inch shorter than the height of the vessel.  Insert each rose into the foam.  Plan ahead if you want a symmetrical design, before you insert any roses, use a ballpoint pen to place indentations in the foam that are spaced equally.
5 – Once you have placed your roses, begin filling in the gap between the rose heads and the vase.  Use your choice of greenery to accomplish this.
6 – Give the design a good drink of water, fill it so the waterline is just a ¼” from the top.

You can follow the same process to create a the carnation design.
Simply choose your vessel, cut and soak your foam and insert your carnations.



Tips & Tricks to Make the process a little easier….

1 – Do not force your foam into the water, this will create air pockets inside the foam and prevent flowers from drawing water through their stems.

2 – Try to avoid repositioning stems, this compromises the foam and clogs the stems.



Trend Watch - DIY Flowers

While this isn't a new trend, it seems to be maintaining momentum, which is just fine with me.  I am of a generation that enjoys creative pursuits and the ability to direct the creative process.  I myself have a habit of tackling projects that others would typically hire a professional for.  And when I do hire a professional, God help them, I am the queen of micro-managing.  That being said, there are a number of reasons that make DIY Wedding and Event Flowers a viable options.


Simplistic Design
If your dream flowers are monochromatic and monofleur, these types of design lend themselves well to DIY Projects. 


Budget Concerns
If you are on a tight budget and wish to eliminate the labor costs of a professional, DIY Flowers are a great option.


Adventurous Personality
DIY Flowers are a great option for those adventurous creatures that enjoy learning new things and aren't rattled when the smallest of details gets botched up a bit.  If you are like this, take a DIY Wedding Flower Class with your maids, learn the ins and outs of bouquets, boutonnieres and tablecenters, buy your flowers from a reputable source and dive head first into DIY territory.


In addition to our weekly DIY posts, here are other resources that will facilitate your DIY Flower dreams....

Classes - ask a local florist if they offer Bridal Flower Classes.  At Muscari Design, we offer in-home, hands-on classes for brides and their maids.

Supplies - http://www.wholesaleflowersandsupplies.com or
                http://www.save-on-crafts.com/
Candles - http://www.candles4less.com

Also, stay tuned for our weekly DIY postings, this past week begun a 3 part session on DIY Tablecenters.

DIY Project - Elegant, But Easy Wedding Table Centers

While some brides shiver at the thought of crafting their own wedding flowers, there are others that relish the thought of having that kind of control over their wedding day details.  SO – Today’s DIY post is Part 1 of a 3 Part series dedicated to tablecenter designs and resources that are sure to put you on the path to wedding day bliss.

When tackling DIY flowers, here are a few tips and tricks to ensure your success.

1 – If you are a DIY Virgin, consider ordering your personal flowers (bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages) and ceremony designs from a professional florist.  This will reduce your designing responsibilities and not increase your overall flower budget too much, as tablecenters are usually the most costly item on the floral tab.

2 –Understated and monochromatic designs are typically the easiest to craft.  In addition to choosing a monochromatic color palette, you can further simplify the process by opting for a single type of flower(monofleur).  Some of my favorite flowers to use when crafting monochromatic/monofleur designs include Roses, Carnations, Dahlias, Tulips, and Hydrangea.

3 – Use vases that help, not hinder, the designs process.  For instance, cubes and cylinders are some of the easiest shapes to design in and typically do not require floral foam. 

4 – If you are hoping to have a clustering of vases on your tables, find narrow throated bud vases to cluster and simply put 1-2 stems in each vase.   For this type of design, spindly, airier flowers look most elegant.

Here are a few understated and elegant designs any DIY Bride should be able to pull off with ease.  

Glass Cube Vase with Eufloria Circus Roses, and Greenery Accents

Glass Bubble Vase with Pink Peonies and Grass Accent

Carnation Tablecenter in Aqua Cylinder Vase

Lavender Cube Vase with Green Cymbidium Orchids and Bear Grass

Resources I love –

Vases –
     Wholesale Flowers & Gifts    
     Save on Crafts

Feathers –
     Lamplight Feathers

Crystals/Accent Pieces –
     Shop Wild Things

Trend Watch - White on White

This isn’t so much a trend as it is a classic choice of elegant and timeless brides… However, there is definitely an uptick in the number of brides who are choosing this theme for their wedding details.

I think this is a great way to go if you aren’t loving all of the crazy colors out this season.  While this year’s most fabulous color is honeysuckle pink… I would caution that when used incorrectly or with a heavy hand, you are going to regret those crazy wedding photos two decades from now…

Whereas white …. Ah, it’s understated, elegant, and more importantly – Timeless.

If you are looking for a smidge more pizazz, don't hesitate to pair it with a metallic or solid that parallels white's timeless qualities.  Think Champagne, Black, Navy, Grass Green, Silver, Gold, or Tungsten.

Here are a few examples of white on white botanicals we have had the pleasure of crafting. (First three photos by Manning Photography , Fourth photo by John Koskulitz, Fifth photo by Stepanie McCready)



White Wedding Bouquet with
Garden Roses, Ranunculus, Anemone, and Stock



White Wedding Table Center atop a silver Candelabra
Garden Roses, Hydrangea, Lisianthus, Stock, Ranunculus,



      

Mercury Glass Vessels with White Ranunculus,

Stock, Anemone, Lisianthus, Garden Roses and Amaryllis

White Wedding Table Center in Mercury Glass Compote with
Hydrangea, Stock, Amaryllis, Lisianthus, Ranunculus, Anemone

White Wedding Table Center with White Hydrangea and Avalanche Roses
Designed in a Glass Cube Vase with a Leaf Embellishment

Botanicals - Why do flowers cost so much???

With wedding planning season in full swing, I thought I would use today’s post to address the ins and outs of wedding flowers and what a typical bride should anticipate spending on her wedding flowers.

Timeline – If you are familiar with a particular florist’s work and wish to book them for your event, you should contact them no later than 9 months prior to your event, 12 months if you really want to play it safe. 

Again, if it is important that you retain a particular florist’s services, offer to pay a retainer fee and sign an agreement that guarantees your date.

By 6 months out, you should have a generalized plan that details flower types, design styles, and tentative delivery details.

By 3 months out, you should meet to finalize details, review the design plan and confirm that you still like it and agree with how your florist will execute it.  If you are paying to have samples created, this would be the time to view them.

By 1 month out, you should be paying final monies owed, finalizing table counts, and providing the florist with any special items that you wish to have incorporated in the bouquets.

Pricing – In general, you can expect to allocate between 12 and 15 percent of your overall budget for floral and décor elements.  Factors that affect flower budgets include size of your bridal party, guest list (i.e. total number of tablecenters needed), geographical location (large metropolises are notoriously more expensive than smaller, more rural areas), and types of flowers you wish to use.

Bouquets – bouquets typically run between $95 and $500 depending on size and flowers.  A gerbera daisy bouquet measuring 8” in diameter will likely run $95, whereas a 9.5” in diameter bouquet crafted of calla lilies, orchids, roses, and hydrangea will run somewhere between $250 and $350.  Looking for something really amazing and exotic?  Say, a cascade bouquet constructed entirely of phalaeonopsis orchids, or maybe you love ladyslipper orchids and want those in your bouquet.  Girls, these flowers are delicate, and more difficult to come by.  You can expect to pay somewhere between $250 and $500 for a bouquet like that.

Boutonnieres - One of the least expensive elements, you can expect to pay between $12 and $25 per piece.

Table Centers – Table centers com in so many shapes and sizes, their price points vary widely.  In general, you can expect to pay between $75 for a simple design to upwards of $500 for more elaborate and over-the-top designs.  If you are looking for an under glass design with a floating candle and some flowers, expect to pay somewhere around $25 per vase (for a three vase design, you are looking at around $75 per table).  For a simple julep cup full of roses, you are likely going to pay between $75 and $95 for a typical design.  Wanting a tall flower design on a shapely vase, these designs start at around $195 and go up from there.

Chuppahs, Trellises, and Arbors – Unless you want to buy the structure to put in your yard or pass down to siblings for use, you should anticipate renting a structure and paying to have it delivered to your ceremony site, setup, and disassembled by the company you rent it from.  Depending on the complexity of the design, you can expect to pay between $300 and $1500 to rent this type of structure. 

In addition to renting the structure, don’t forget about renting fabric and paying to have it decorated with floral elements.  When renting fabric, plan on spending $5 per yard of fabric needed (plan on renting 36 yards of decorator width fabric, or $180 worth of fabric, plus $100 in labor to install it). 

Floral elements will run between $300 and $3000, depending on how densely you want the structure to be adorned with florals.  Oftentimes, brides choose a thick/lush base of greenery accented with more minimalistic floral elements, thus costing significantly less than encrusting the structure with roses.

Floral Varietals, and Seasonal Availability – These factors greatly affect pricing.  I have created a flower matrix that addresses availability and retail pricing per stem.  To access the matrix, click here OR Click here for more planning tools

Wedding Wednesday - Wedding Planner and Guide Show 2011

We decided to participate in the wedding planner and guide show (MKE) this year. 


We shared a booth with Jonna Gibbons of J.Invites.  Together, Joanna and I were able to design three invite and botanical pairings that captured upcomming tends in color and texture.

My favorite suite was a modern twist on a vintage color palette.

Turquoise Blue, Tangerine, and White

For the flowers, I chose three vintage hob nail pieces to pair with a smattering of bright orange blooms.
Roses, Ranunculus, and Tulips all accented wtih hints of Bells of Ireland an Acacia Mimosa.


The table linen was a BBJ Linens High Boy Lamour in Tiffany Blue


Here are a few photos of the suite.

Trend Watch - BIRDS ...

Birds ---

Is it me or have we seen this trend for a number of seasons? 
From Modern birds, to Country Birds, Bird silhouettes, and bird appliqués…

The trend seems to reinvent itself and each time it does, I fall more in love with it.

Well, as I am combing through the catalogues and browsing etsy.com and the shops on bigcartel.com, it is very clear to me that this incarnation of the bird trend has gone rustic.  I for one love the simplicity and versatility of a rustic piece.  Rustic pieces, when paired with a refined or overly feminine piece, have a way of creating and artful juxtaposition that often reads eclectic chic.   

I stumbled across two great pieces on etsy.com and of course had to highlight one of our bird themed pieces at our boutique.

]Fine Art Photography

Tracey Capone, of TCaponePhoto.etsy.com captured a beautiful Robin gracefully perched in a rustic autumn setting.  I love the warmth this photo exudes even though it was taken as winter prepared to bare down on all the woodland’s beloved creatures.

Click here to learn more about Tracey’s Work.

Soft Furnishings

The Jolie Marche shop at etsy.com is known for their French Country Décor pieces and I must say, browse their site and you will see the rustic, yet refined, bird theme in all its glory.  It was difficult to pick a piece to highlight, but this “Love Nest French Script Linen Cotton Pillow Slip” stole my heart.  Click here to visit the Jolie Marche shop.

 

Garden Accessories

This imported gem has a putty finish and very rustic lines.  Its petite size makes it a great piece for any size garde. Click here to visit our online boutique.



Harvest Fun

Simply put... Exquisite.

Stephanie and Nick were wed in an outdoor ceremony at Rotary Park. Their reception followed at the Best Western in Brookfield.

I was thrilled with the way the flowers turned out. Then we delivered them, and I was utterly speechless. Stephanie and Nick didn't overlook a single detail. Bails of hay and pumpkins flanked the aisle way, twinkle lights were strewn from the ceiling, the fireplace was embellished with curly willow designs, and Stephanie's dad even brought fall leaves in to grace the pavilion floor.

On a personal note, this was about the 3rd or 4th wedding that Nell and I have had the privilege to work on together. We have hit the ground running as a new floral design force and are quite excited for the new things to come... Stay tuned for some really awesome stuff...

Heidi and Todd... Dreams Really Do Come True

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Heidi, Todd, or Roy (Heidi's Father).

I was excited to see Heidi and Todd Begin their life together, but saddened to see the event come and go, as we no longer would have design elements to bounce chat about or ideas to ponder.

Heidi is indescribable. Intelligent, Witty, a visionary... she fluttered into my shop with Todd and a breath of fresh air followed. She knew exactly what she wanted, yet I could sense trepidation as she explained her vision...

It was only after we established a rapport that I learned other florists weren't understanding her vision... it was too 'out-of-the-box' for them to get their heads around... Instead of finding unique ways to orchestrate it, they were trying to manipulate her ideas into things they were comfortable creating...

I was just blown away, I was starry-eyed at how forward-thinking and stunning the whole concept was. I was immediately captivated by the wonderful juxtapositions Heidi desired.
Luxurious flowers like cymbidiums, lady slipper orchids, and stephanotis, paired with woven bear grass and crinkly bullion wire... ingenious... I was happy to oblige.

Roy accompanied Heidi to our final meeting to view samples. We spent about 3 hours tweaking the details and I couldn't' have had more fun....

I don't claim to be a religious person, but I do jokingly pray to the 'flower gods' when we need a hail mary in the 4th quarter. Heidi really really wanted Lady Slipper orchids in her bouquet... This was tricky b/c we were nearing the end of their prominent season. In the 9th hour, 3 gorgeous Lady Slipper Orchids arrived from a supplier in Chicago... I chalk this success up to good Karma :)

Here is a sampling of pictures (professional ones to follow) as well as the wonderful thank you Heidi sent me...

"We just got home from Milwaukee and are about to veg out on the couch but I just had to write and say thank you so very much!!! I didn't get your email until today so I didn't realize that you weren't coming back and I kept looking for you!!! I was ready to kiss you!!! Everything looked perfect and it was even better than my wildest dreams!!! If you EVER need a reference you send them my way!!! :c) I am waiting to see all of my pictures and if I have some nice ones of the room I'm going to submit them somewhere, as long as that's okay with you. I think that everyone should get to see how wonderful of a job you did. Everything was absolutely perfect!!! So I just wanted to say thank you very much for a job well done and I will send pics when I get them. I'm sure that I will be in touch again and thank you so very much!!!
Love,
Heidi and Todd Schmidt"

Heidi's Bouquet - stephanotis, lady slipper orchids, white mini calla lilies, bear grass, and bullion wire

The Ceremony Design - and archway adorned with ivy, dendrobium orchids, wire, crystal, and fabric The floral designs flanking the archway - crafted from green goddess calla lilies, white dendrobium orchids, and ivy

The place card table, linens by BBJ, graced with three rectangular vases with sculptural black forest calla lilies

1/2 of the table centers were graced by two tall cylinder vases adorned with full stems of cymbidium orchids, bullion wire, LEDs and crystals. The other half had 6 vases of varying height with callas, orchids, and stephanotis blooms.

The head table was embellished with a plethora of vases of varying sizes. Each vase contained 1 of 3 designs, they either had dendrobium orchids floating beneath a candle, flax leaves segmented and embellished with a floating candle, or miniature cymbidium orchids adorned with bullion wire. For heightened drama, we added copious amounts of votive candles... my take on candles... either forgo them, or use enough that it really has an impact. We opted for the latter.

A sampling of one of the designs on the head table

La Piece De Resistance - The Cake Table...

Whoa nelly... I have nothing more to say... I cannot take credit for the concept... just creating the product. Heidi found this in a magazine... 5 vases of varied heights supporting 5 cakes of varied diameter. Each vase housed LEDs, wire, crystals, and orchids, orchids, orchids... YUM!

Hollywood via The Intercontinental

Kari-Lynn and Bill chose to marry their diverse tastes to create one glamorously contemporary affair.

Calling upon Bill's love of Asian color and design and Kari's lust for all things glam, the event was rich with texture and color.

Among the flower selections, Roses, anthurium, and orchids. Embellishments included feathers, and crystals.

The ceremony was held at the art gallery in The Intercontinental, with cocktails to follow in the Zen Den. Finally, the party moved upstairs to Kilawat for many courses of fine dining Kari-Lynn and Bill Style.

Here are some pictures of the event, professional pictures from A and A to follow.

Catherine & Jesse - A Fall Affair

This event definitely places in my top 5 for this year. Catherine and Jesse really wanted to keep the impact of their event to a minimum, yet still create a warm and inviting atmosphere for their guests.

The ceremony was held at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center with a reception to follow at Radisson North Shore.


For their flowers, they selected seasonal varieties including rover mums, sunflowers, mint sprigs, green hydrangea, red and orange roses, gerbera daisies, asiatic lilies (orange, yellow and red), celosia, chocolate cosmos, yellow zinnias, curly willow, button yarrow, and viking pom poms.

To lessen the carbon footprint of the event and support the local economy, Catherine chose items that could be purchased locally or from California that were grown in a responsible and sustainable fashion.  Rented vases further decreased the event's environment impact.  Finally, the most local and sentimental element of the event were the florals harvested directly from Catharine's family farm. Harvested varietals include green hydrangea, lambs ear, and mint.


Here are a few pictures from the wedding... A wonderful bevy of autumnal beauty and texture.
Enjoy...

Creating a Wedding (or event) Budget

The benefits of crafting a detailed budget are innumerable. Your budget will keep you organized and provide clarity when decisions need to be made; it will also assist vendors in crafting the most fiscally effective design plans. 

FIRST: Have a heart to heart with those involved with the planning process/paying for the event (significant other, your parents, your in-laws -to-be); talk specifics. How much money is everyone contributing? What elements are really important to you and your partner? Are there any special elements the parents would like you to consider incorporating?

You should walk away from your meeting with a clear picture of what your overall budget is.  While there are not hard and fast rules, a typical Milwaukee wedding will cost between $25,000 and $75,000.  That being said, don’t assume that is what you need to spend to have a stunning affair.  I strongly urge you to figure out what funds are available and allocate your resources in an appropriate fashion.

NEXT: Re-cap your priorities list… What are your top 3 priorities?  (See Previous Post)

1 –

2 –

3 –

 

NOW: Allocate…

The following list demonstrates how to portion your budget.  Allocate monies first to those elements of your event that matter most.  Utilizing percentage points allows for greater flexibility; if you and your groom are culinary aficionados, you may want to splurge on catering/bakery (30%).  To offset the splurge, you might decide to select more economical bridal attire and printed materials.

Catering/Bakery - 15-30%
Ceremony/Reception Site Fees - 5-15%
Fashion (bride/groom only) - 5-10%
Flowers/Decor – 15-20%
Lighting - 5-10%
Linens - 5% or less
Misc. (gratuities, planners, etc.)- 5% or less
Music - 5-10%
Photography - 5-15%
Printed Material – 5% or less

 

FINALLY: Meet with vendors to acquire written estimates. This is a time to be forthright with vendors; express your wants and desires and share your budgeting requirements. If you are uneasy about providing a concrete number, at least give a range with no more than $1000 between the high and low numbers.  Being open with your vendors helps them advise you on how best to allocate your resources.  Select vendors that fit your budget requirements, but also fit your style and collective personality as a couple.

Remember, crafting a Wedding/Event budget doesn't have to be overwhelming and awkward. Approach the situation logically and be honest with all involved parties (including vendors). There are no hard and fast rules for weddings these days; instead, you should craft an event that truly speaks to your personal style yet fits within your budget.

Cheers!
s.

Priorities for Planning Your Wedding/Event

Priorities

Clearly labeling what elements matter most to you (as a couple) will help determine the allocation of resources.  Print two copies of this list, both you and your groom should fill this out separately (no peeking).  Then compare notes and see what adjustments need to be made.  

Rank in order of importance, 1 being most important, 2 next important, etc…
 

___Bridal Gown & Accessories
___Cake/Desserts/Pastries
___Ceremony Location
___Cuisine
___Flowers/Décor
___Lighting/Candles
___Linens
___Music
___Month/Day
___Number of Guests
___Number of Participants in the Bridal Party
___Photography/Videography
___Quality of Printed Materials
___Reception Location
___Season
___Transportation
 
OTHERS
___ _____________________________________
___ _____________________________________
___ _____________________________________
___ _____________________________________
___ _____________________________________
___ _____________________________________
___ _____________________________________
___ _____________________________________