Perfectly Pink, Peach and Pastel: A Charming Romantic Centerpiece

"WELCOME," says this perfect array of pastels presented in the form of a breathtaking guest sign-in table piece.  Appropriately set in a beautiful residence on top of the Santa Monica mountains, the soft pink, peach, ivory and green blooms whisper sentiments of romance and purity through a stunning marriage of roses, tulips, hydrangeas and peonies, balanced by cascades of sweet peas and pierres japonica.  At any angle, this centerpiece drew the guests in and gave them a glimpse of the pastel charm the rest of the wedding had in store for them...and the rest is history.

Floral Design: An Art Technique

There are moments in my life when I look back and I have to chuckle softly to myself.  Well, I had one of those moments a few weeks ago.

The Scene:  Bookstore
My Mission:  Finding an inspirational floral design book 
The Problem:  Didn't know what section to look in

I scan the walls for the department heading not once, but TWICE.  I walked over to the section that I thought best described what I do as a floral designer--Art/Design Techniques!  I looked through all the books in this section not once, but TWICE.  I guess, only graphic design is considered an "Art Technique."  I felt lost.  Where could the books for my craft be?  I ask for help.  There they were, in very limited quantities under "Hobbies!"...very subjective, in my opinion =)

I had to laugh at the assumption I made and I secretly still think I'm right...**chuckle**.  So, if any of you work for B&N and are in charge of categorizing books, here is a bouquet for you to consider.  This is a quick photo I took before an event.  I'm still waiting for the professional images, but I thought it was a good representation of art in floral design.  

 

The placement of the yellow mini calla lilies had to be carefully designed.  Coral peonies gave an unexpected pop of color.  Craspedia was used to offset the fluffy texture of the white hydrangea and lisianthus and for its inherent whimsical quality. 

New Mission:  Getting floral design re-categorized at the bookstore

I tell this story only in good fun.  It was sad to hear when I talked to a sales rep at the bookstore that they took out the floral design section for lack of books in that category.  I hope you guys enjoyed my story...and my art.

Peacock Feather Wedding Done Simple

Peacock feathers display an undeniable mix of color that has so much depth even the best box of Crayolas would be envious.  They make a statement with very little effort.  It is no wonder why they swept the wedding scene in 2010.

Usually, peacock feathers are added to arrangements that are already over-the-top and there's no arguing the beauty of this ornate style of design.  However, I wanted to mimic the simplicity and elegance of the feathers in Orchid and Tony's wedding.  As a couple, their interaction was so natural and effortless and their floral choices reflected this.

In the bridal bouquet, green cymbidiums played the starring role with hydrangea, narcissus, and an unexpected spiral eucalyptus as the secondary players.  Hints of peacock feathers are seen throughout the bouquet without overpowering the flowers.

 

Their reception centerpieces have been one of my favorites.  In person, they were grand (spanning at least 4 to 5 feet at the widest and tallest points) yet still natural and minimalistic...a feat I'm proud to have accomplished! Thanks to Eric J Photography from Jim Kennedy Photographers, the beauty of the flowers and the evening was captured.

Sneak Preview: 1940's Themed Wedding

Here's another wedding that I wanted to give you a sneak peak at while I'm waiting for the photos from the photographer. I knew the bride (and her, oh so reliable, Maid of Honor) would be great to work with, when our actual meeting took 15 minutes a week prior to her wedding date! My creativity tends to flourish armed with such trust. Since it was a 40's theme, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to create the feather fan bouquet that I've always wanted to design. The bride was immediately on board and the rest is history.

Summer Peach

Living in LA has really spoiled me...at least in terms of weather. Today was our first "hot" day of summer at a whopping 88 degrees! I am going to celebrate our introduction to heat and the fact that my kids' swim lessons will finally not be overcast and chilly in JU-LY, by posting one of the popular color combos of the season. If I had a penny for every time I have been asked in the last couple months about a variation of this color combo, I would be rich...well, like $1 richer =)


I am in love with the roses in this bouquet. This may sound odd, but their color reminds me of a vintage baby drawing. Go on, go ahead and Google Image "vintage baby drawing" and you will see the coloration I am speaking of...SEE! It emits such a pure feel, where the blush center meets the flesh tone, all enveloped by "new growth" green. The rosy cheek color of the hypericum berries and the fresh green of the mini hydrangeas lend beautifully to this rather neutral palette. One would think that yellow tulips with red stripes would overpower the subtlety of the bouquet. I think it is pretty surprising that it not only blends quite nicely, but it adds texture more than it adds color...take a moment to think about that last line.


For the centerpieces, I added a little burnt orange to make it stand out on the table and above it's natural-colored wooden container.


This is me getting carried away with the camera and admiring it from all angles!


Ahhh...welcome summer and all of the the coral, peach colors that it may bring.

Spring Garden Bliss

I have been sick since Tuesday...actually, I think I've been sick since last Saturday, but my body and mind wouldn't accept it knowing I had a Monday wedding to prepare for. It's funny how the mind works! In order to lift my spirits as I get over the lingering cough, I decided to post a cheerful spring garden bouquet and its matching centerpiece that I had in my portfolio. I find this color combination rather soothing (and a great seg way into the topic of color selection!).

Most brides focus on one or two main colors and repeat them throughout their entire wedding, which is fine. However, many times a color scheme can be enhanced by adding one accent or "bridging" color, as I like to call it.

Let's first explore cases when you probably shouldn't add in another color:

1. You are going after a monochromatic color scheme.
2. Your color palette already has 3 or more colors.
3. You already love your colors the way they are!

So, in what cases do I think another color might be a good idea?

1. You feel like the two colors you have are bland and just blend together. For example, the light pink and lavender in the bouquet above may feel too similar in coloration. By adding the green, the pink and the lavender now have a contrasting color to stand out against.
2. Your current color palette has extreme contrast and you don't like that. For many people, red and white work as a great pair. If you don't personally like this type of contrast, try adding in pink as a "bridging" color. This allows you to visually move up the spectrum from light to medium to dark.
3. You want your color scheme to have more depth. If your wedding color is medium pink, try adding flowers one shade lighter and one shade darker to the bouquet to make it more dynamic.
4. The colors you chose don't exist in flowers. I have seen this alot in a blue color scheme. Very few flowers naturally occur in blue, so what do some florists suggest to their clients? They suggest spray painting them blue! (I might address spray painting flowers on another blog entry, but for now let's leave it at, run the other way if you hear this as the first option!). Greens, purples and whites are excellent options as accent colors for blue.

I was an Art Director of fashion and trends and one of my duties was color prediction. Even with my experience, if one of my brides asks me for my opinion, I still end the conversation with, "Ultimately it's up to you." I can give you options for days, but you have to love it for "your day." The most recent success story I have in terms of color pairing was the Monday wedding I just did (right before I got sick). Geline and Jod were probably the most open-minded couple I've had in terms of color selection. They really wanted magenta and purple to be in their color scheme, but they wanted the flowers to pop against the purple bridesmaids' dresses. So, what did I suggest? Add red. You will see how successful this marriage of colors was (if I can get some photos from their photographer...keep your fingers crossed). Let's just say, it already lifts my spirits reminiscing about it!

A Sneak Preview of This Week's Wedding

Here is a sneak preview of the flowers for a wedding I'm doing this Monday...yes, it's a Monday wedding with 25 guests! They are a smart couple! A small, but eventful wedding with a select group of family and friends is definitely the way to go. I have to say, I've been really lucky with the clients that I am getting. So far, every couple has been wonderful to me and more importantly, wonderful to each other. This couple, in particular, gave me alot of artistic leeway, which challenges and excites me as a designer. We are doing manzanita branch ceremony pieces and a ghostwood sweetheart table piece (photos will be posted next week!). I couldn't resist giving everyone a sneak preview of these gorgeous blooms of mokara orchids, phalaenopsis orchids, dahlias, dendrobium orchids, and hydrangea.
The wedding will be on a boat, so the vibrant jewel tone colors will definitely pop against the blue of the ocean and the dark woods of the boat.