New Look at the Stone Mill

For late November wedding at the Stone Mill with Surroundings Flowers & Events we used long tables for the first time in the space. It was a very elegant look with lots of candlelight, flowers in shades of purple and plum, and pale gray tablecloths.

Details!

Here is a sneak peak at my new book, Beautiful Wedding Flowers, coming January 2011. I'm very excited to have so many of my floral ideas and tips published in a beautiful hardcover edition. The book offers information to help brides at every step, from selecting a florist to working on a color scheme and choosing bouquet flowers. It is also a valuable reference for wedding and event planners.

This table design was inspired by the pink and gold tones in the beautiful cloth from my friends at The Total Table. The pink ranunculus in the centerpiece are so large and perfect, and just the right shade. To further complement the cloth, I gilded fresh ivy (it keeps for a very long time).

Don't forget the napkin flowers - they really add a custom touch to the tabletop.

Keep watching - there will be many more ideas!

Rustic Wedding Details

One of my favorite autumn weddings was for a bride who really did not want to carry flowers! She came to Surroundings Flowers & Events where I, along with her mother, convinced her to reconsider. The result is this very subtle combination of flowers. White cymbidum orchids were the only concession to tradition with burgundy scabious, acid green dendrobium orchids, deep purple lisianthus and veronica completing the color scheme. The bouquet stems were bound with sage green tafetta and the bouquet was wrapped with curly willow. The result was distinctive, beautiful, and perfect for the bride!

The chuppah, constructed in front of the NYBG arbor, was of cream chiffon in classic lines. Large bouquets of bouquets kale, dahlias, orchids, veronica and more curly willow tied the centers of the supports - a rustic floral theme that was carried throughout the wedding flowers.

The small, intimate dining tables were decorated with urns and wreaths of the same flowers. I love the use of green kale and variety of foliage

NYBG Halloween Wedding

The New York Botanical Garden was the setting for a beautiful wedding on Halloween. The "B" monogram, the couple's initial, was featured on the escort table's beautifully carved pumpkin. Tiny glass maple leaf bottles and a generous gathering of autumn flowers and branches completed the welcoming display.

The monogram also made an appearance on the table centerpieces - all designed with a natural, autumn feeling.

Roses, hydrangea, berries, craspedia, safflower, artichokes

and thistle were used for texture and color. A pumpkin colored ribbon, buttoned with the "B" monogram, circled the mossed container.

The Stone Mill - A Night in Africa

One of the most interesting projects I've recently been involved with was this African animal themed part to celebrate a baby boy's baptism.

Every table had a unique environment suited to the animal. With the help of very talented designers Angel and Christian the room sprang to life. Perched on a rock, the lion surveyed his domain and his family. Elephants marched across tables and cheetahs threatened to leap from trees.

The realistic animals were great fun to work with. The drinking giraffe has his own watering hole and another is stretching to eat from the trees.

Bright flowers livened the entrance windowsill and the escort table.

New York Botanical Garden

Pretty chair bouquets combined several types of foliage with light green hydrangea and berries. The curly willow added a rustic touch and the pale pink satin matched the bridal roses.

The colors for this wedding were pale pink and white. The generous addition of a variety of foliage and curly willow detailed the top of the arbor in a loose, natural style.

The chair bouquets and ceremony decor matched the green hydrangea planted along the side of the ceremony area.

Brighter shades of pink were added to make the escort table flowers pop in the elegant interior.

Below is a detail from one of the beautiful table centerpieces. All the flowers and natural materials were chosen to create a lush presentation with interesting textures and pastel colors.

Notice the open roses - my signature - they should be at their peak the day of the wedding!