Classy and Romantic, Danielle and Jake, The Lord Nelson.
Danielle and Jake. My couples that originally planned a 2020 wedding, and finally had their day in 2021 had a little special space in my heart. And I was just a little bit more excited when their big day finally rolled around. A killer vendor team, an absolutely drop dead gorgeous bride, a venue like The Lord Nelson, and the DEFINITION of classy romantic florals. End result? Perfection.
Photos: www.terri-lynnwarrenphotography.com
Planner: www.grayweddings.ca
Make Up: www.selenamarchand.com
Hair: Up Dos by Jacquelyn Taylor
Venue: www.lordnelsonhotel.ca
Flowers: www.crocusdesignsbylaura.com
What an Elopement Can Look Like- Oceanstone- Samantha and Grant
Like so many couples planning a wedding in 2020 and 2021, Samantha and Grant’s wedding had to make some changes. It went from a small wedding in August, to an elopement in April, changing venues, and almost all of their plans.
While it sucks that their friends and family (many in Australia!) couldn’t come, it meant that we could create this absolutely gorgeous elopement ceremony for Samantha, Grant, Samantha’s parents, and many other family members watching on Zoom.
Being April, we knew the chances of using the beautiful outdoor ceremony location at Oceanstone was not very likely. And goodness, the backup weather plan we came up with was just beautiful, and has ended up being one of my favorite ceremony set ups to date.
I’m so thankful for the wonderful vendors that came together to create this beautiful day, and the lessons that this wedding taught us. No, it may not be what you originally planned, but with a supportive family, an open mind to work around the obstacles, and, most importantly, knowing that the goal of marrying your best friend can happen anywhere, true magic was created.
Thank you so much Samantha and Grant, for allowing me to be a part of this special day.
Photography: Sinead Dubeau Photography
Hair: Ashley Cornelius Hair
Make Up: Allison Kirby
Dress: Chester and Felicity
Florals: Crocus Designs by Laura
Venue: Oceanstone Seaside Resort
Hannah and Jamie, Rustic Elegance, Nine Mile River.
I’ve got a treat for you couples planning your weddings, I’ve reached out to a few of my 2021 couples, and they’ve answered a few questions, to hopefully help you newly engaged couples.
First Up, Hannah and Jamie.
The first of my postponed couples to get married in 2021, Hannah and Jamie’s wedding was one I was looking forward to! They planned the most gorgeous backyard wedding at their beautiful new home. I was a little worried, as it was quite rainy the days before their big day, but thankfully the weather held off, and everything turned out just perfectly.
What most surprised you about planning your wedding?
“How much work goes into planning one day! From guest lists, to vendors, to planning the day-of timeline! ”
What was your most exciting floral moment of the day?
“Seeing everything come together the morning of. I really just used Pinterest as my vision board, and Laura was able to accomplish it beautifully.”
Photos: KandR Photography
Dress: Chester and Felicity
Rentals: The Wedding Vogue
Make Up: Danielle Grasley Make Up
What was your most important floral priorities?
“Definitely my bouquet ;) and of course the arch piece and the dinner tables. I think floral is such an important investment in weddings it just goes with LOVE, you can never have enough. Our wedding was in our backyard with lots of trees, and I really wanted the colors from the florals to make a statement and it did. My wedding day was beautiful!”
What do you wish you knew about planning a wedding, now that you’ve done it?
“Don't plan it alone! I had myself and my two best friends all planning our wedding in the same year. We were able to do all the planning together, ask for advice and go off each others ideas and tips. If I didn't have them I would have thought of getting a wedding planner because it can be a very stressful time.”
What advice would you give to other brides starting to plan their wedding florals?
“Don’t cheap out on the florals! It’s as simple as that. Have a vision board to make it easier when planning, so when you go to your floral vendor you both have an idea of what you like. (I knew nothing about types of flowers, cost and what's in season)”
Thinking Outside the Arch, Ceremony Ideas.
I’ll always love a good ceremony arch, it frames a couple so well, and I love making them.
But…
if your looking for something a little different, this blog post is for you!
I’ve compiled a list of my favorite non arch wedding ceremonies, and hopefully these will help you figure out which direction you want to go.
1- Ground Circle.
I don’t know what this is actually called, I’ve heard this type of arrangement called different things. Basically, tall arrangements on the ground placed in a circle, or line, that you get married in front of. It’s like a giant florally hug for the two of you during your ceremony. Trust me, the photos will be spectacular, and your guests will talk about it for months to come.
Photos by Rebecca Newcombe Photography
2- Hoops.
A greenery hoop, or three, hung as a backdrop, can be a perfect small, simple moment to draw attention, and define your ceremony space, without being too distracting.
Photo 1- Chelle Wootten Photography
Photo 2- Evan McMaster Photography
3- Hanging Backdrop.
Oooo, I loved this one. When Kelsey showed me inspo photos of this one, I was hooked! We did it in a very natural gardeny way, but it could be done in so many different styles and vibes, colors, types of greenery.
Photos by Kelly MacDonald Photography
4- Archless Arch and Ground Arrangements
Samantha and Grant initially planned for an outdoor ceremony at Oceanstone, but we knew in April, the chance of it being bad weather was quite high. So, we came up with a pretty great rain plan, and when it was what we had to go through with, it was not that sad. Oceanstone is a gorgeous venue, outside and in, so this ceremony turned out absolutely perfect. We created a really cool arrangement around the window, and two large arrangements on the ground to get married between, and it was the perfect amount for a great little elopement.
Photos by Sinead Dubeau Photography
5- Isle Florals.
Sometimes, depending on the type of venue, or how ornate the front is, you might choose to not have anything at the front at all. So, if you still want florals in your ceremony, lets think about the isles. So, for Emily and Sean’s wedding ceremony, we created some gorgeous bouquets to tie onto the edge of the pews. The venue was quite dark tones, so brighter flowers in their wedding colors and favorite flowers was just the perfect amount.
Photos by Sambino’s Photography
What Affects My Wedding Quote?
If you look at a photographer’s website, or venue, often you’ll see a total price to hire their services. It’s different for florists. If you email me looking for pricing, or packages, what you’ll hear back from me is that I don’t offer any packages, each wedding is priced individually. It takes more than just knowing your date, and how many bridesmaids. I think it’s hard for people that have never planned a wedding before to understand this, as well as vendors that have not worked specifically in flowers. So, for today, here’s a few things that impact your flower budget, and why I usually need a few more details from you.
1- Flower Type. The difference between a carnation and an orchid is big, especially when multiplied over the cost of a whole wedding.
2- Time of Year. Getting married around Mothers Day? Prices will go up. Looking for a rose heavy wedding around Valentine’s Day? As with all other holidays, and off vs busy season? Prices are affected.
3- Seasonal Flowers. Seasonal means available, not cheap. Seasonal flowers at the beginning or end of their season are significantly different than in the middle, when they are readily available.
4- Wedding Location. Do I need to travel? Multiple drop offs? What exactly are you looking for, and how long will it take me to set up? Is it something that requires me to bring someone with me to help?
5- Numbers. 1 bridesmaid vs 6… no boutonnieres vs groom, groomsmen, dads, grandpas, brothers etc can drastically change the numbers.
6- Popularity. Quicksand roses and eucalyptus in your wedding the last few years? Beautiful yes, and very popular. Supply and demand impact prices, even within flower types.
7- Needs. We can chat about things that you may not have thought about. Do you need a toss bouquet? Hair flowers? Vase rentals? Cake flowers? Gift/guest book table? Can we re purpose ceremony pieces? Oftentimes I hear… "oh, I didn’t think about that!"
8- How Complicated? The bigger/complicated your wedding, the more changes you make, means more time in front of my computer sourcing supplies, coordinating with other vendors, ordering flowers etc.
The Perfect Summer Day at The Prince George Hotel.
Deanna and Ben. These two! From day one were so great to deal with. Loveliest wedding plans, but also willing to trust me to do my thing. Their wedding was a dream... filled with fluffy garden roses, tonnes of regular roses, ranunculus, stock, wax flower, and all sorts of amazing goodness. We kept the flowers neutral, which set off the gorgeous burgundy bridesmaid dresses and navy suits so perfectly. The Prince George Hotel has a beautiful outdoor ceremony location, and it all led to a beautiful July day!
Photos: https://www.maddenvallis.com
Venue: https://www.princegeorgehotel.com
Romantic Wedding at The Westin, Halifax NS
Andrea and Joe, had a such a great day at The Westin, right on the waterfront. It was March, but it was warm enough to get photos on the waterfront, and the photos by Evan McMaster were so good!
Andrea and Joe’s day was the perfect definition of three things… 1- have your wedding your way, don’t worry about what is “usually” done, 2- how to reuse your florals in the correct way, 3- a flower filled ceremony does not have to mean a traditional arbor with florals.
Andrea had all their guests at the ceremony, then a cocktail hour after, where they could visit with all their guests, and saved the dinner for their closest friends and family. The dinner was held with the guests all around one long table, what a perfect intimate way to finish off your day!
Several pieces from Andrea’s ceremony, including the two large arrangements that were on pedestals were moved to be viewed again at the dinner, and all the centerpieces from the cocktail tables were moved to the long table, along with a lush greenery garland. The end result was a table absolutely filled with flowers.
Andrea and Joe’s ceremony was on a slightly raised stage, with a white drapery backdrop. We added a large greenery hoop to get married in front of, two large arrangements on pedestals at the end of the isle, and soft purple rose petals all the way down the isle, and, to top it all off, some gold lanterns in amongst the rose petals.
Venue: The Westin
Photography: Evan McMaster Photography
What We Wish You Knew About Your Flowers. part 2.
For part 2, I’m super excited to introduce two guest writers!
Hannah, from Graceful Weddings and Events, a Halifax based boutique event planning company specializing in celebrations all over the Maritimes filled with laughter, style & grace. Terri Lynn, from Terri Lynn Warren Photography, a lighthearted photographer, a hopeless romantic, a big dreamer, and a story teller. All about natural light, genuine emotions, dreamy pastels, delicate details and precious memories.
What Your Planner Wished You Knew.
When thinking about your florals for your wedding there are so many things to consider, your color palette, venue, wedding dress, what colors your girls will be wearing, are you having round tables or banquets tables. Each of these items will determine what colors, kind or how much florals you need! Having a consultation with your planner and your Florist is so important (and SUPER FUN) to determine these items.
Some very common topics I often find talking about with my brides are greenery vs. Floral buds. There is often a misconception that adding a large greenery garland to your family style tables are going to keep the costs down. This is not entirely true, These pieces can be quite product heavy with all the greens and floral buds, where they are stunning. Sometimes a beautiful floral arrangement that goes hand and hand with your bouquet is the way to go!
When discussing all your florals needs for your wedding, the most important things you should consider are your budget, Season, color palette & the how you would like florals to play in your overall decor of your weddings. These are all things your wedding planner and Florist can help you with to make sure its perfect!
-Hannah , Graceful Weddings
www.gracefulweddingsandevents.ca
What Your Photographer Wished You Knew.
Plan to have your flowers dropped off to the getting ready location at the same time or before your photographer arrives so that they can include them in those beautiful detail photos
Ask your florist to include a few flowers and greenery as an option for your photographer to use while capturing the details (wedding invitation, shoes, rings, etc.)
Ask to include a quick and simple “how to” for the groomsmen in regards to pinning boutonnieres
Request two pins for boutonnieres instead of one so that they are secure
Ask your florist which flowers and greenery they recommend for boutonnieres. Pick something sturdy that does well out of water. This will give you the best chance at lasting bouts that survive from morning to night and all of the photos in between
When you take your bouquet out of the container of water it comes in, before holding it against you for photos take a cloth and dab the stems to avoid a wet spot on your dress
Hold bouquets down low while walking down the aisle, while standing during the ceremony, and during portraits so that it looks natural and doesn’t crowd your face in photos
Tilt your bouquet slightly forward during portraits to show off the flowers instead of the stems
Avoid lengthy stems in your bouquet as this makes it awkward to hold and difficult to showcase the flowers
The bridal bouquet is in many photos so splurging on this piece is worth it
-Terri Lynn, Terri Lynn Warren Photography
www.terri-lynnwarrenphotography.com
What We Wish You Knew About Your Flowers. part 1.
What Your Florist Wished You Knew.
1- Just because things are “in season” does not mean they are the cheapest option, it means they are available. Seasonal flowers, think peonies in June, and dahlias in September, are usually highly sought after, and for good reason! We wait all year for that amazing smell of peonies, and so many people want them. If it’s beginning or end of the flower season, quality is iffy, and I often need to order extra, and if it’s middle of the season, demand is really high!
Peonies in the Spring? Yes Please! Photo by Dustin Hall Photo
2- Repurposing flowers is awesome IF it’s done correctly. I’m such a huge advocate of reusing your flowers. Your ceremony is the most important part of your day, but also the shortest usually. Reusing the florals is a way to enjoy them longer, and it can save you some on your budget. But, picture it this way. Your arrangements that are hung on an arbor, your looking essentially at the top, head on, but when it’s on your head table, you’ll be looking at it from one side, and your guests will be looking at it from another. Keep in mind, we’d also need to think about how tall it is, so it’s not blocking your view when your sitting behind it. If it’s outside in the sunshine, we also need to consider blooms that will last through to the end of your reception. These things are all things I need to think about when building your arrangements, and you should remember if your thinking about reusing your florals.
Jessica and Matt- The glorious long garland was over the arbor, and then was placed down the head table for the reception. Photos by Rachwell Photography.
Sarah and Andreas- Three beautiful arrangements from the arbor at White Point Resort were removed after the ceremony and placed on the head table, along with some greenery down the length. Photos by Nicole Lapierre Photography.
3- Your bridal bouquet will be the most photographed floral item, and it’s what you’ll spend the most amount of time looking at. This means if your budget or availability is an issue, let’s focus on your bouquet! Let’s put those gorgeous garden roses in your bouquet, and put regular roses in your centerpieces, trust me, your guests will not notice.
4- Most of the photos your looking at on Instagram or Pinterest have been edited, and some are very heavily filtered, and sometimes the colors in your inspo photos are very unlike the colors in real life. When doing a consult, something I often need to sort out is if the bride is thinking she wants the actual color of the flower she’s showing me, or the tone of the one in the photo. Here is a few comparison photos, neither of these are my designs, but will help you see the real colors vs the edited images.
5- Take everything you read on Pinterest with a grain of salt. I have a huge love/hate relationship with Pinterest. When your first engaged, its fabulous for gathering initial inspiration. But, on the other side, some of what is on there is complete nonsense. Alot of photos are from insane styled shoots where budget is no issue, and takes place all over the world, with product we can’t necessarily access here. So, my advice… spend a bit of time dreaming on Pinterest, then log off, and trust your vendors!
6- Greenery is not cheap. You’ve probably heard me talk before about this topic, unfortunately some couples have the idea that doing lots of greenery in place of flowers is amore cost effective option. Sad, but it’s not. Greenery is often grown all over the world, planted, cared for, harvested, processed, and flown here, just the same as flowers. What greenery is though, is durable. It’s tougher, handles heat and lack of water source better, lasts weeks longer than flowers, and is very sturdy (aka.. won’t bruise if it’s dropped on the floor). From the grey greens and delightful smells of eucalyptus to the smaller leaves of Italian ruscus and wide leaves of aspidistra, there is a type of greenery that works with every wedding style and look.
Bugsy and Amanda chose mainly greenery focused bouquets, with several types, from dusty miller to several eucalyptus varieties and salal. Photos by Ruthless Images.
Stay tuned for Part 2, “What Your Wedding Planner and Photographer Wished you Knew About Wedding Flowers”!
The Same, But Different. Why You Should Consider Mixing Your Bridesmaid Dresses.
I’m a huge fan of bridesmaid dresses that are not matched, it' can be done in a more subtle way, or a little more noticeable, or, go wild and tell your bridesmaids to pick whatever they want.
Here are a few options for you.
1- Same Color, Different Dress. If you don’t want to go too wild, but would like a little more variety than matchy matchy, this is a great option for you. This way your bridesmaids can choose something flattering for their own body types, but will still be very consistent.
My favorite example of this is from Sarah and Andreas’s wedding at White Point Beach Resort. Sarah chose long, flowy dresses in the same color, but the different tops just added a little something extra. Even Sarah’s flower girl got in on the action with a similar, flowy soft blue dress. Choosing this level of “differentness” is great, if you have a large wedding party so it’s not so overwhelming, or, if your flowers are quite busy for the same reason.
Photos by Nicole Lapierre Photography.
2- Different Dresses, Same Color Family. If your wedding flowers color is white, or at least all the same tones of a color, this might be a great option for you! It helps your look all be cohesive, while being different enough to add visual interest.
Mandy and Stephen are the PERFECT example of this, her flowers were very simple, it was only hydrangea! Hydrangea and lots of eucalyptus, in all different varieties. It lead to a fluffy delight of summer goodness. Mandy’s bridesmaids were all in neutral tones, but different dresses, and the end look was fantastic.
Photos: Sinead Dubeau Photography Venue: Best Western, Chocolate Lake Hotel
It’s too hard to pick one, I’ve had so many fantastic versions of this similar but different dresses and tones look, I had to share another. This is from Teya and Joel’s day, at Oceanstone Resort. All on the silvery blue line, but still quite unique, and they were a perfect backdrop to the burgundy/white/navy florals.
Photo by Jessie Wells Photography
3- Different Dresses, Different Styles, All in Your Color Palate. The most wild version of this is to go all different. Let your bridesmaids pick their own dresses, in whatever style they like, and whatever color is flattering, from within your color palate. It’s so much more interesting to look at, and, you can always add matching accessories, along with their flowers to tie it all together.
Matt and Leanne’s color palate had some strong colors (yay for color!), and her bridesmaids had the whole palate, from deep burgundy, neutrals, mauve, and golds. So beautiful! The flowers were a perfect match, and ties it all together, so not a single dress looks out of place.
Photos by Aimee De LeLande Photography
If you have not considered having un matched bridesmaid dresses, I hope I’ve made you consider the possibility of switching it up!
Cory and Jennings- Hatfield Farm Fun Filled Day
Cory and Jennings were married June 28, a perfectly pleasant day, not too cold, not too warm, just right for an outdoor wedding. Hatfield Farms is the ideal place for a wedding if you are looking for that Cinderella stepping out of a horse drawn carriage moment, beautiful backdrop, while also getting the laid back country party reception.
This wedding also had so many awe worthy moments, starting with the puppy and his flower collar, and finishing with the tiny flower girl, and her tiny bouquet.
Jennings chose blush and white, with soft grey/green eucalyptus as her color palate. Her flowers included the ever popular quicksand roses, peonies, spray roses, lisanthus, astilbe, and succulents. It’s important to remember there are many different shades of blush, and I often get everything from an off white to peachy tones to soft pink, so I always ask for a dress swatch, or photos, that type of thing. Jennings came prepared, and I love how perfectly the blush in the flowers matched the bridesmaid dresses.
The other aspect this wedding showed off perfectly was how to reuse flowers. The centerpiece vases filled with mix flowers were first used down the isle, and then transported to the tables, and with the added bud vases created a lovely full harvest table.
Photography: Tanya Canam Photography
Venue: Hatfield Farms
Hair: Fletcher Bridal Hair
Make Up: Selena Marchand
And a few behind the scenes photos from my phone!
Personalizing Your Wedding Flowers
I love personalized weddings. I love stories of how different treasures belonged to loved ones, special things in memory of someone, items that tie people to their past, where they came from, or people they care about. It’s your wedding, and it’s so wonderful if we can bring pieces of your life that led you to that moment into your big day.
At some point during your wedding planning time, I’ll almost certainly ask you to think about it, if you’d like to add anything special to your wedding flowers.
Here are a few ideas
1- lace/fabric from mom/grandmas wedding dress
2- tartan/fabric from travels/home
3- cuff links/broach/pin/handkerchief from people who have passed, or can't be there
4- rosary/religious items
5- specific florals that your grandmother always had when you visited, or from your mom's bouquet, the native flower of your family's homeland, all pending availability
6- toys/lego how special does it make your nervous ring boy/ flower girl feel when their boutonniere/flower crown/bouquet has a special treat just for them?
But really, the sky is the limit! If you have something important to you, bring it along, and if I can find a way to incorporate it, you bet I will. Trust me, it will be something that you will fondly remember every time you look at your photos, and just might make a few people teary eyed on your big day.
Heidi Included cuff links in memory of her grandfather. They were wired, and placed into her bouquet.
The lace around Ashley’s bouquet was cut off the bottom of her mom’s wedding dress.
Joel’s mom passed away not long before their wedding, so in memory of her, one perfect pink ranunculus was added into Teya’s bouquet.
Jennings and Cory had recently got a puppy, and he had a starring role in the wedding, walking down the isle. So guess who got an amazing dog collar?
Allison's new hubby is from Gambia, so this traditional Gambian fabric was made into his vest, as well as wrapped the bouquet. The cutest flower girls also had dresses make from the same fabric.
Christine and Jason's son was the ring boy, and was a little nervous of his big job, so, how sweet is this Lego version of him tucked into his boutonniere?
Marla included lace from her mom's wedding dress, as well as a locket with a photo of her dad.
Tiffany brought a rosary to tie around her bouquet.
Kristin had a heart locket with her sister's name inscribed.
Francois is an avionics mechanic for an airline, and he found this amazing tiny version of the airplane he works on. He also found two similar ones, personalized to his groomsmen’s interests.
This is mine.. from August of 2012. The talented Heather Page did most of my flowers, (I thought I'd be stressed and over think them, and she is best!) and we used my grandmother's broach, some beautiful lace, and burlap to make this beauty.