Debi and Dave's Wedding

I've been remiss in updating this blog. Life happens and blogs don't it seems. Easter has come and gone and I forgot to take a picture of my church arrangements. I've made a few arrangements for friends and housewarmings, but alas I forgot to take pictures of those as well. Thankfully, I remembered last week. My friend and colleague Debi married her longtime sweetheart Dave in a beautiful backyard ceremony on July 4th which is their favorite holiday. Dave proposed July 4th 2013 and if I remember correctly their first date was on July 4th. I may have made that up, but it sounds good. It was a simple ceremony with family and close friends.

They have a beautiful backyard. Hurricane Arthur came through the night before and thankfully gave us rain and no wind, so everything looked fresh and green. The weather was perfect! The patio below was a perfect spot for the ceremony. Debi wanted me to use tissue poms on shepherd hooks to bring a festive and fun element. She invited guests to come in flip flops and shorts and sundresses or whatever they wanted to feel comfortable.

Debi asked for a breakaway bouquet. It seemed as though she was holding one bouquet, but as she came down the aisle she gave a rose to her aunt who is like a mother to her, she gave another rose to her new mother-in-law, and a third rose to a niece who holds a special place in her heart. She wanted a red rose, a white rose, and a pink rose. The picture makes the pink and red rose look similar but there was a slight difference.

As guests arrived they were invited to complete cards with "well wishes" for the couple and to pick up a bottle of bubbles. The bouquet mimicked the pink, red, and white rose theme. For this beautiful yard I decided to go with a simple loose arrangement that looked as if it had just been picked from the garden.

The beautiful bride with her bouquet. The necklace was given to her by her husband and was his great-grandmother's.

The happy couple with Debi's niece and Dave's mother as witnesses. You can see each one holding the rose that Debi presented them with. Dave's shirt was a light aegean blue though my phone camera makes it appear white. The ribbons on the pom poms and flowers matched his shirt. Congratulations Debi and Dave!!

Brittany and Jody

Had a wedding at the King's Daughter's Inn in Durham this weekend. The inn is a beautiful bed and breakfast that was built in 1925 as a home for ladies. A few years ago it was renovated into a gorgeous bed and breakfast. The bride wanted flowers in varying shades of dark purple. The bride's bouquet was made of white roses, purple caspia, purple stock, matsumoto asters, thistle, and trachelium.

She wanted to acknowledge fall but didn't want a wedding screaming halloween so I used branches, thistle, asters, and white pumpkins. Below is a picture of one of the white pumpkin aisle markers. It is resting on a bed of moss.

There were two large arrangements on the back tables. They were placed in lavender ewers that the bride owned. The flowers were fuji mums, purple liatris, roses, caspia, thistle, white statice, and trachelium. 

Each table also had a small bouquet of rose, ruscus, thistle, caspia, lisanthus, and matsumoto asters. 

The front of the ceremony was marked by two tables with a candlescape. I used different sizes of glass cylinders holding candles, candles with pecans, and water dyed purple. I also had a central large cylinder with dyed water and curly willow branches. Hopefully, I will have some pictures from evening ceremony soon.

UPDATE: I was able to get some photos from the photographer Adam Wamsley. He did a much better job than I did of capturing the beautiful colors.

So happy for them! So happy everything turned out so well. Still loving the purple water!

Bethany and George: The Reception

The reception was in the church fellowship hall. It was an afternoon tea reception. The pictures really don't do justice to the festive summer atmosphere that was there. They are such a sweet and happy couple.

The tables each had vases of asiatic lilies, button mums and baker fern.
They also had golden swirl sticks and silver monograms of the couples
new last initial. Underneath each vase was either a merlot or orange swath of silk.

The head table was draped in orange and merlot tulle bunting with
rosettes. White pom poms were hung by orange ribbon from the ceiling.
 Lighted ficus trees were placed through the room.

I used asiatic lilies and greenery to decorate the cake. The small tossing
bouquet also adorned the table. I used more pieces of orange and
merlot silk to bring color to the cake table.

Lilies and greenery dotted the buffet tables.

The bouquets on the head table.

Button mums and a large orange and ivory ribbon decorate the favor table.

Bethany and George: The Ceremony

I was honored to be the floral designer for Bethany and George's wedding this past June. The colors were orange and purple. The bride wanted the orange asiatic lilly to be the main flower. It was a vibrant summer wedding!

The bride's bouquet with asiatic lilies, hypericum berries,
white and pink roses, ruscus and merlot button mums.
The bridesmaids' dresses were the same deep purple.

The happy groom with his calla lily and ruscus boutonniere. 

The color of the calla echoed the purple and orange tones 

of the bridal party.

I created two large arrangements in urns for 

the church. They featured asiatic lillies, baker 

fern, white roses, deep purple and white 

hydrangea.

I love using ferns in summer weddings. It makes everything
so lush and alive.

Another shot of one of the urns.