Soiree Floral

Floral Design

Tangerine Tango It Is!

I’ve had fun the last couple of weeks meeting with newly engaged clients and enjoying all the holiday decorations in the city. As I wandered in and out of stores I noticed a lot of bright orange and yellow colors. So it’s no surprise that Pantone announced it’s color of the year is Tangerine Tango. It’s a juicy, vibrant orange that gives you a jolt of energy every time you see it! Here are a few of my favorite things that each take a cue from the Pantone colors for Spring 2012.

Let’s start with Tangerine Tango – I saw oodles of slim fitting jeans and jewelry in this vivacious color.

This room looks amazing using Solar Power (Yellow) and Cockatoo (a blue green)

Belleflower is a gorgeous shade of purple that continues to dominate fashion and home decor

Sweet Lilac reminds me of a dreamy English garden – and I love the color in this sweater (complete with a little bling!)

Sodalite Blue is a calming color (and isn’t blue always a reliable standby?)

Cabaret is a sexy, fun color that makes for a great print

Starfish reminds me of warm summer days with my feet in the sand. It’s a great neutral that works well to tone down some of the other more vibrant colors.

It’s going to be one colorful spring!

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things

photo by Clayton Austin

As this year comes to a close, we like to reflect and look back on all the wonderful clients we’ve had the pleasure of dealing with. Two things jumped out at us in the photos – one was that moment between father and daughter before they walk down the aisle together. The other is when the couple exits the ceremony married! So here are a few of our favorite moments this past year (and please note, we haven’t gotten our sticky little fingers on all of the photos from this past year, so we are certainly not excluding anyone. We just don’t have the photos yet!).
Enjoy!

photo by Ron Lynch

photo by Ron Lynch

photo by Cary Hazlegrove

photo by Cary Hazlegrove

photo by Zofia Photography

photo by Claudia Kronenberg

photo by Claudia Kronenberg

photo by Claudia Kronenberg

photo by Brea McDonald

photo by Brea McDonald

photo by Sloan Photography

photo by Brian Ambrose

photo by Isaac Alongi

photo by Isaac Alongi

photo by Isaac Alongi

photo by Jason Groupp

photo by Brea McDonald

photo by Cary Hazlegrove

photo by Claudia Kronenberg

photo by Claudia Kronenberg

photo by Claudia Kronenberg

Style Me Pretty Feature – Tracey and Andrew


Good morning everyone,
Happy Friday! We are smitten with our feature on Style Me Pretty today. Our fun couple Tracey and Andrew really put a lot of thought and attention to detail in their big day. Andrew is from Australia, and Tracey is a designer. At our initial meeting (I like to call that the meet and greet, get to you know so we can down to the nitty gritty) they came prepared with lots of visuals. They both had very different visions on how the day should look initially. As I sat and listened (I couldn’t write fast enough, they came at me with both guns blazing) I pointed out that a lot of what they were drawn to actually worked better for rectangular tables than the standard round tables. That was kind of the jumping off point for which all these fabulous fun details were born.

Tracey put a lot of effort in sewing runners for tables, making her own fascinator (she took a class!), and sewing luggage tags for all the guests. The Amy Butler fabric Tracey used had a modern vibe and was just the right pop of color to pull everything together. For more on their story, and to hear from the bride herself, head on over to Style Me Pretty and see all the details captured by Libby Green for Claudia Kronenberg Photography.


soooooooooooo cute!


don’t you just love the colored sash Tracey added to her dress?



I just LOVE this detail!



We used waratah, a flower native to Australia to pay homage to Andrew’s hometown.


Mr. Peacock carefully watches over the luggage tag escort cards




More of that fabulous Amy Butler fabric


vendors included:
dress – Jcrew (plus details from the bride)
alterations: Esin of Sew Elegant
shoes- J.Crew
bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew
ties: Vineyard vines
venue – White Elephant
Church – St Marys
day of coordination – Unique Nantucket
cake/cupcakes – Natasha Misanko for American Seasons
cake toppers – Etsy vendor The Little Gift Box
photography – Libby Green for Claudia Kronenberg Photography

Wrap It Up Pretty


This time of year has everyone scurrying around buying last minute gifts, baking holiday cookies, and trimming the tree. I personally do not find any fun in having to wrap packages (I have magical elves to help with that). I do, however, LOVE decorating the packages. Getting them all dressed up and under the tree is always a great sense of accomplishment. I love seeing the expressions on family and friend’s faces when they see that pretty little package is for them.


I’m a big believer in reusing things, or giving things a new purpose. Here are a few fun tricks you can use to dress up your packages and gifts. And I’m willing to bet you probably already have a lot of these things in your home. You just have to go open that drawer that becomes the ‘catch all’ for things you don’t know what to do with, or your crafty corner. Be creative!

First up, cheese cloth and felt. Cheesecloth is great because it has amazing texture, and you can layer it as many times as you like. This is a quick, easy way to wrap. Top it off with a felt snowflake and some leftover yarn and you are all set!


Felt is great this time of year because it reminds me of wool sweaters. Here, colored felt makes a great adornment on some snazzy wrapping paper. You can be ‘matchy matchy’, or for that modern minimalist you know, choose a bright color for a modern look.



Brown paper bags – we all have these in our homes (maybe not as much as we used to with the invention of recyclable bags). Cut them up, turn them inside out so you have that nice, brown craft paper look. You can do a million things with this one. Break out the rubber stamps and inkpads, let kids decorate this with markers. I took a fluffy, delicate yarn that has a little silver ‘tinsel’ in it (totally reminded me of soft knitted mittens) and wrapped the package in a haphazard kind of way. The less symetrical you are, the better. Great packaging for a masculine gift. Add paper rosettes with glittery centers and this is easily transformed to something more feminine.



Paper punches are a great way to make use of extra craft or scrap papers hanging around. These are especially great for smaller gifts.


Holiday ornaments – we all have those little stragglers that pop up from time to time. Usually from changing the colors of the decorations on the tree. What better use than to add them to the top of a gift!

Have fun decorating your packages this year!

Winter Wedding Inspirations


The weather is finally starting to feel like December here in CT. The leaves are gone, holiday tree stands are popping up everywhere, and houses are decked out in pine garlands and holiday lights. Since this is the height of engagement season we thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite things for a winter wedding.

First up, stationery – this is the first thing your guests see when you announce the big day. Why not go all out with a beautiful, letter-pressed stationery suite in a heavy white cardstock with silver writing. Snowflakes are timeless, and this look will definitely stand the test of time. This was created by the lovely and oh so talented ladies of East Six.



Clients are always asking me for unique ideas for favors or take-away items for their guests. I have a lot of opinions on this (we’ll save that for another post) – and the one thing I always say is if you are going to do something, make it unique and special. These little sweaters fit the bill perfectly. They make a fabulous display for escort cards (they could be displayed in faux snow or ice for a show stopper) and even better – they double as a holiday ornament your guests can hang on a tree. Every year when they pull this out to put on their tree, they’ll think of all the fun they had sharing in your special day.
These lovelies were created especially for Soiree Floral by Made and Created.


A cake is a great place to continue a wintry look and feel during your reception. Adding a hint of glimmer and a snowflake are the perfect touch to keep things chic and not kitschy. This gorgeous creation was made by Jodi’s Cakes.



Often times, when you think holiday, people automatically think red and green. We say go chic and use metallics. Here, we used a color palette of icy white, silver, metallic grey and navy. It’s classy, and could be used throughout the winter season (it makes a great color scheme for a New Years wedding too!). Here, we tucked holiday ornaments in and around the table. Their matte and shiny surfaces add depth and texture to the table. Rentals by Placesetters.

If you really want to go the extra mile, we say have fun and dress up your chairs! How great are these faux fur chair covers by Wildflower Linens? This can be costly, so one option would be to dress the chairs at the head table.



We’ll be posting more inspirations and ideas in the coming weeks. Be sure to check back!

A Fall Inspired Wedding at The Summer House


Since it is the week of Thanksgiving we thought this wedding was perfect to showcase with all of it’s autumnal colors. Our bride Mary is a planner in Boston so she was armed with images, photos, and great ideas for her big day. She had several friends come with her to our first meeting to talk about linens. Because Mary is a planner and has ‘seen it all’ she really wanted something different. Rather than the regular sit down dinner, she wanted more of a party feel with tables of different sizes and shapes so people could mingle as the night went on. She and I helped convince her friends that three linen selections for the reception along with a completely different color scheme for the cocktail hour would keep things lively and interesting.

The ceremony was on the beach and we wanted to keep it simple with a trellis as the ‘x’ marks the spot and the beautiful ocean backdrop taking center stage.

The cocktail hour took place around pool area and was done using reversible linens in aqua and gold. We used white and blush flowers for cocktail centerpieces. Guests had fun playing cornhole and ping pong as the afternoon gave way to dinner.

The reception was held under a clear top tent so guests could see the stars at night. I have to say, the day started out cloudy and it was HOT inside that tent while we were constructing the overhead flower canopy. I was happy we had tropical flowers in there that could stand the heat. Luckily, the clouds gave way to a gorgeous evening and the stars appeared as if on cue.

We used three complimentary linens on the tables with eclectic tablescapes throughout the tent. The mix of tables helped break up the space and created and intimate feeling. This soiree was full of vibrant colors and textures and the guests danced the night away.

Vendors included:
planners – Corinthian Events
venue – Summer House
tent – Petersons
tent set up – Nantucket Tents
linen rentals – Cloth Connection

Casual Backyard Nantucket Wedding

This past September, Katherine (Kat to us) and Hale were married in the backyard of their family home on Nantucket. These two had very hectic schedules (when I see a bride emailing at midnight, I know she’s busy working girl!). With definite ideas of what she liked and didn’t like we set out to create the perfect combination of elements for their big day. Foodies at heart, they took it upon themselves to create a laid back, casual vibe for the reception.

Kat and I met at the family home to go over everything, and then she sent a boatload of images from the internet to convey what she was drawn to. I feel like I say this all the time, but this bouquet is seriously one of my all time favorites. A perfect balance of texture, color, and unique elements.

A fun display of postcards was placed for guests to write their notes to the happy couple which will be read on their first anniversary


Simple place settings of cloth napkins tied with twine and recyled paper menu’s set the done for a festive evening.

Little paper whale cupcake toppers were the finishing touch to their festivities and Kat and Hale danced the night away. Congrats you two!


You can see more of their nuptials on the blog OnceWed

Other vendors included:
photography: Sloan Photographers
catering: American Seasons
rentals & tent: Nantucket Party Rental

Let’s Talk Turkey

I love Thanksgiving. Cooking all that delicious food, having fun with friends and family (eating pumpkin pie for breakfast…shh!). As I started thinking about how to set our Thanksgiving table this year I realized I had too many ideas. So I turned to the oh-so-fun world of Pinterest (boy do I spend WAY to much time on there) to gather ideas and came up with three different versions to ponder.

First up, The Natural tablescape.





I love the natural, rustic look of these images. Found objects like pinecones, natural gourds and pumpkins, feathers and cornhusks. I’m thinking rustic inspired food as well. Lumpy mashed potatoes with the skins on, homeade pumpkin pie, pecan pie (I’m getting hungry), a simple cranberry sauce – you get the idea. This table isn’t about fuss. You can see the entire board on Pinterest here:

Next up: The Modern Tablescape

This table is all about keeping it clean, modern, and unusual. Interesting flower arrangements, and precisely plated meals. I’m thinking piped garlic mashed potatoes, stuffed turkey breast, green beans with mushrooms, sweet potato souffle. Lots of candles in a clean line down the center of the table. This looks like it may be less work, but since this is all about presentation and using negative space, it can be deceiving.




See our Modern Thankgiving Pinterest board here

Last up, our Traditional table

We all know the classics – a traditional turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, apple pie, green bean casserole. For this table, I thought mixing natural elements along with with a few ‘polished’ pieces made a complete look. Glass vases filled with acorns and chestnuts, glowing candlelight, hand written place cards, flower arrangements in pumpkin vases, and enough whipped cream for everyone to pile it on the pumpkin pie.




See our Traditional Thanksgiving board on Pinterest here

How will you set your table this year?

Random Acts of Kindness


We spend a lot of time getting to know our clients. I always say they become a part of our extended Soiree family. Nothing thrills me more than hearing from a couple after the big day is said and done. The past couple of weeks we have received some amazing notes of thanks, and even heard from one of our couples from seven years ago. Seven years made me stop in my tracks – it seems like yesterday we were planning for all of the details, and to get a note seven years later to thank us for helping making their day special was such a treat. We truly consider it a great honor to be chosen to spend time with a couple on such an important day, not just for them, but for their family as well.

In this day and age of the electronic world, and with all of our busy schedules, it still stops me in my tracks when someone takes the time out of their busy day to send a hand written note. Or a note of any kind for that matter (we love getting emails and Facebook messages too). The art of appreciation never gets old, and in this fast paced world of ours, these notes are not taken lightly. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for acknowledging the hard work my staff puts in to get all the details just right. They work just as hard as I do and take just as much pride as we leave a venue before guests arrive to share in the joy of two individuals starting a new chapter in their lives. THANK YOU for letting us be a part of it!

Real Wedding Featured in Wellwed


The Fall issue of Wellwed is out on news stands now and it is full of inspiration for couples planning their fall nuptials. While it’s hard to think about pumpkins, gourds, bittersweet, fall leaves and cozy sweaters with this amazing weather we’ve been having, this issue will surely get you in the mood for cooler weather.

One of our couples, Melissa and Eric are featured with a fall inspired color palette and oodles of thoughtful details. From the custom linens to the sweet quarter board table names, this wedding will no doubt inspire you. The vibrant bridesmaid’s bouquets were one of our favorite details! This formal affair set against the backdrop of the Wauwinet was a dreamy affair that every guest enjoyed.

For more images and details, be sure to visit our ‘spice’ portfolio



Vendors included:
Venue: The Wauwinet
photographer: Brea McDonald
tent: Nantucket Tents
rentals: Placesetters
planner – Acktivities
cake: Jodi’s Cakes
make-up: RJ Miller
transportation: Cranberry Transportation

Inspiration Shoot – The Grey Lady


We can’t believe it’s almost October. We’ve been busy with amazing couples and clients and all things fun. Today, we wanted to share a project we worked on way back in May (that seems so long ago).

We got together with a talented group of vendors to do an Inspiration Shoot for Wellwed Magazine. As you’ll see in the video, this was a collective effort chock full of the tiniest details. From chargers meant to evoke the grey shingled homes here on Nantucket, to amazing letter press invitations that were over the top, to custom knit mini sweaters, and even ‘snowflakes’ to hang off the tablescape. Add in faux fur chair covers on a wintry-like grey day in May and you have the perfect backdrop to host a formal affair.









A big thank you to Meg Simone Videography for capturing all the details. The only thing we vendors wished is that Meg would have kept filming when the heavens opened up (yup, we had a total downpour as the very last photo of us gathered around the table was taken. Meg, being the team player that she is, put the camera down to help break down the table. Imagine what mayhem and giggles she could have captured. It was all pretty funny, and very soggy).

Location: Great Harbor Yacht Club
Photography: Brea McDonald Photography
Cake: Jodi’s Cakes
Rentals: Placesetters
Rentals: faux fur chair covers – WILDFLOWER LINEN
Hand knit sweaters by Made and Created for Soiree Floral
Floral Design and styling : Soiree Floral
Invitation & Paper suite: East Six (eastsix.com)
Videographer – Meg Simone Videography
Fabric ‘poofs’ – Paper Posy Designs

Sankaty Wedding on Style Me Pretty

Our handsome couple Ardith and Doug were married this past June in Sconset. The day started off in true Grey Lady style here on Nantucket. Just as these two were about to say their I Do’s the sun came out and clear skies prevailed.

Ardith chose hydrangea blue and white for her wedding colors – a true Nantucket color palette. Simple arrangements of hydrangea and roses with three different tablescapes filled Sankaty Golf Club. Our personal favorite happened to be the blue print runners that were criss-crossed on the table.

You can tell from their beaming smiles they had a spectacular day. For more images, be sure to check out Ardith’s story on Style Me Pretty.

Vendors:
ceremony: Sconset Chapel
reception: Sankaty Golf Club
photographer: Cary Hazlegrove
wedding coordinator: Jimmy Jaksic
rentals: Placesetters

Nantucket Wedding on Style Me Pretty



This past June we had the pleasure of working with our lovely bride Allyson to create a garden inspired feel for her big day. It’s easy for us to dream up ideas when clients come armed with images of their favorite things. Like a lot of brides we work with, Allyson loved peonies (if I had a dollar for every time I had to tell a bride they aren’t in season….). We also added lush, fluffy blooms like garden roses, anemones, ranunculas and for a little contrast fruiting vines and herbs.

We kept the color palette a muted shade of vanilla’s, blush and hint of green. Her bridesmaid’s wore Amsale dresses in a color that has been popular with many of our clients this year.

The church setting had an ethereal look to it with the steps out front lined with clouds of white hydrangea. Our bride Allyson even made some cute wands that had bells on the ends for guests to ring as they left the church.



For the escort table – we decided to have a little fun. Amongst all our formal garden party feel, we decided to infuse a little nautical whimsy by choosing a map linen to display the cards on. Allyson’s mom had a whirly gig we set in the center of the table, and my staff took nautical roping and tied sailor’s knots to anchor the cards. It was a great way to pay homage to the couple’s love of sailing.





Once guests arrived at the Nantucket Golf Club they were treated to a spectacular evening of food and fun (the humidity and fog lifted just in time!) . To make the large tent feel a little more intimate and soften it up we hung floral chandeliers mixed with silver lanterns to complete the garden setting feel.









A big thank you to Jason Groupp for capturing some amazing images that day. To see even more, be sure to check out the full gallery on Style Me Pretty!

Vendors included:

rentals: Placesetters

photography – Jason Groupp

cake – Jodi’s Cakes

venue – Nantucket Golf Club

planner – Nantucket Island Events

Invitations – Ceci New York

A Carnival Wedding on Style Me Pretty



Our lovely couple Brandy and Dan were married last July on a hot summer day in Nantucket. The carnival happened to be visiting the island and was just down the road from the private home they rented for their tented reception. They snuck off with a brood of kiddo’s and got some fun shots on the beach and strolled through the carnival to see all the sites. I am totally smitten over the pink carnival sign shot. It’s adorable!

Armed with a color scheme of white, green and pink this wedding was a light, airy affair. Be sure to check out more images over on the local Style Me Pretty MA blog today! Some great inspiration on there!









vendors included:

photography – Brea McDonald

Event Planning – Unique Nantucket

tent/rentals – Nantucket Party Rental

Hair – Darya Salon

Sarajill and Connor Featured on Style Me Pretty


Last October we had the pleasure of closing out our Nantucket season with the lovely Sarajill and Connor. Sarajill’s mom was a tremendous help in pulling all of the details together. From our friends at East Six stationery, to a gorgeous cake by Jodi’s cake, and fabulous fall day (be it a little breezy) on the deck of the White Elephant – this wedding sings in shades of white. This is a great example of less is more – in fact we really only used three types of blooms for most of the centerpieces. Using a tiny delicate flower like baby’s breath (one of the bride’s favorites) en masse makes for a grand statement.

I happened to be on the deck as Connor got his first glimpse of Sarajill in her dress. I think his smile says it all.



For more amazing images by Brea McDonald Photography and to get your inspiration be sure to check out the full gallery on Style Me Pretty

Nantucket Wedding on Style Me Pretty


Hello everyone!
We had a busy July with all of our fabulous couples saying their ‘I Do’s’. Today, one of our previous couple’s nuptials are being featured on the new local blog for Style Me Pretty. This wedding was chock full of gorgeous blooms, some sweet sentimental touches and loads of charm. If you are planning a July or August wedding these images by Zofia photography are sure to get your creative wheels spinning.
Happy Planning!



vendors:
Photographer: Zofia Photography
Cake Designer: Jodi’s Cakes
Venue: White Elephant Hotel
Ceremony location: White Elephant Hotel
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Escort Table/Placecards/Programs: bride and her sister
Hair and Makeup: Darya Salon
Bridal Gown: Jasmine
Bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew

Nantucket Wedding in The Knot Boston

July is here and the phone is starting to ring with inquiries for 2012 weddings. For those of you just beginning the planning process, be sure to pick up the Fall 2011 Issue of The Knot Boston. Our couple Maggie and Jeff are a featured wedding in the magazine and it’s safe to say they had nautical chic in mind when they planned all the details. From a color palette of navy,white, and green to starfish on the ceremony programs. No detail was left to chance. What is even more amazing, is Maggie planned all those details with her bridesmaids (who I would love to hire, they were rockstars at the venue setup), her mom, and her soon-to-be Mother-in-law. They were a great team and it was such a treat to work with them all.

You can see even more from their wedding in our ‘Ocean’ portfolio. Have fun as you gather ideas for your big day.

Vendors:
Venue – Great Harbor Yacht Club
photographer – Claudia Kronenberg Photography
ceremony – First Congregational Church
hair & make-up – RJ Miller Salon
invitations – Marty Kelly Papers
cake – Nantucket Bake Shop

June Wedding Recap – Nantucket


Wow, what a month June was. To say it flew by is an understatement. I’ll be the first to say that we are WAY behind on blogging. Usually, the Monday after a busy weekend we are downloading photos, bugging professional photographers, typing away on the keyboard going on and on about the wonderful couple we worked with. I have no idea where time has gone – but we certainly didn’t have enough of it in June. So here is a recap of the bits and pieces of color and floral combinations, fun ideas, and designs we were happy enough to be a part of here on Nantucket.

We started June with a colorful and vibrant wedding. Turquoise and coral are sure to catch one’s eye. Lots of beautiful peonies at the wedding – all captured by the talented Clayton Austin.
photo by Clayton Austin

photo by Clayton Austin

Jen and Neil were married at The Wauwinet and the weather held out for their outdoor ceremony – lots of callas for this one. A sleek, modern, clean look. No clutter here.

photo by Brea McDonald

Nothing beats an outdoor ceremony at the Galley Beach on a sunny day – don’t you just want to dig your toes in to the sand?

photo by Zofia Photography

Pink peonies and ranunculas – what more needs to be said? LOVE!

photo by Claudia Kronenberg

photo by Claudia Kronenberg

photo by Claudia Kronenberg

There is so much more we want to share with you. From bird’s nests to herb bouquets, to the classic nautical blue, white and green. When we get professional photos we’ll be sure to spill the beans on all the juicy details we got to partake in.

Zofia and Mark Wed on Nantucket


Back in May we had the pleasure of designing a fun wedding with Nantucket Photographer Zofia Crosby. I’ve always admired her style and her love of color. So this was a no brainer when she asked us to do something casual, free-spirited and with lots of color.

Since Zofia is ‘in the business’ she was armed with lots of inspiration boards and photos for us to look at. She spent a lot of time over the winter collecting tea cups, vintage tins and vases, and she had some very cool old school cameras we used to put out on display.

May can still be chilly and grey on Nantucket, but that wasn’t the case on this May day and with all the fun ribbons and twinkle lights around, it was definitely a festive party.

Angelica Glass took all of these amazing images – and I’ve said to Z many times since I first saw her B H L D N wrap – she better keep a close eye on it. There’s a certain floral designer who really REALLY LOVES it!!!!








there were so many more personal details and it was touching to see all their family and friends help pull this all together.
Congrats Zofia and Mark!!

some of the fabulous vendors included:
Wedding Coordination – Unique Nantucket
Photographer – Angelica Glass
Venue – Westmoor Farm
Bridal Hair and Makeup – Darya Salon
Table Rentals – Placesetters
Tent – Nantucket Tents
Nantucket PhotoBooth

Things I Love

I recently celebrated my wedding anniversary and it got me thinking about our honeymoon. Lucky for my wallet, B H L D N did not exist when I was packing away for Tahiti. While I was on their site recently, I was dreaming up all the fun outfits I’d purchase if I were heading down there today. I love these picks:

This seahorse necklace is great – delicate, and could be worn with just about anything

What’s not to love about a fuschia maxi dress

The thing about a stylish hat on vacation is that you don’t have to do your hair

After a lazy day at the beach, this is a great little number to throw on

Ah, a girl can dream!

Spring blooms


Spring is my favorite time of year. All the color, the blooming branches, the smell of lilacs. Peonies blooming. It’s over in the blink of an eye. We pulled a few images together from some of our events where we used these precious gems. Perfect timing for a grey day:

photo by Claudia Kronenberg Photography

photo by Cary Hazlegrove

photo by Lawrence Frank Photography

photo by Cary Hazlegrove

It’s Derby Time

What a week this last week has been. First the Royal Wedding and all of its amazing details. Next up, the Kentucky Derby. Both events steeped in traditions. I have loved looking back at all the fashion (and especially those fascinators! Do you think those will come stateside and pop up at some of our weddings?). The Kentucky Derby is also known for its fun fashion and crazy hats.

The Derby also has quite a history with flowers and the presentation of the garland of roses to the winner. The roses were first established as part of the Derby celebration when they were presented to all the ladies attending a fashionable Louisville Derby party. The roses were such a sensation, that the president of Churchill Downs adopted the rose as the race’s official flower. The rose garland now synonymous with the Kentucky Derby first appeared in the 1896 when the winner, Ben Brush, received a floral arrangement of white and pink roses.
The famous garland of roses is made up of 564 individual roses sewn into a satin blanket. Photo: Churchill Downs

In 1904 the red rose became the official flower of the Kentucky Derby. The tradition was strengthened when, in 1925, New York sports columnist Bill Corum, later the president of Churchill Downs, dubbed the Kentucky Derby the “Run for the Roses.” The garland as it exists today was first introduced in 1932 for the 58th running won by Burgoo King.

Each year, a garland of more than 400 red roses is sewn into a green satin backing with the seal of the Commonwealth on one end and the Twin Spires and number of the race’s current renewal on the other. Each garland is also adorned with a “crown” of roses, green fern and ribbon. The “crown,” a single rose pointing upward in the center of the garland, symbolizes the struggle and heart necessary to reach the Derby Winner’s Circle.
Photo: Churchill Downs

We can’t wait to see who gets presented the garland of roses this year. Good luck!

Katie and Dan Get Married


Navy and white are a classic and popular color combination for a Nantucket wedding. Our couple Katie and Dan decided to add a touch of pink and green to this look for their September Nuptials. They had a perfect day with the girls getting ready at the Lily Pond Estate.

To say they had a large wedding party would be an understatement. With almost 30 attendants in total to wrangle up, photographer Claudia Kronenberg and her assistant Libby worked their magic and gathered everyone at the top of Main St (even shutting it down for a quick spell) to get the perfect shot. That is no small task and the photos are beautiful.

After their ceremony at the Unitarian Church, Dan and Katie drove off in a Land Rover Defender and headed off to their reception at the Galley Beach. With the sun shining and a gorgeous afternoon, guests enjoyed cocktails out on the beach and were treated to a magical tented reception complete with mediterranian style seating (one of my most favorite looks at a Galley Beach reception- it just looks amazing!). Katie wowed their guests with her attire and changed dresses for their sparkler send-off. Read more about their special day in the Spring/Summer issue of Wellwed Magazine, and see more images here.





The team of vendors included:
Planning – Unique Nantucket Events
photographer – Claudia Kronenberg
venue – Galley Beach
ceremony – Unitarian Church
lighting – Capron
tent – Nantucket Tents
cake – Jodi’s Cakes
rentals – Placesetters

The Royal Countdown

Every time I turn on the tv there are more reports on The Royal Wedding which will take place at the end of next week. This wedding will obviously have a big influence on the bridal market and upcoming trends. The other day I received an email that one rental company had just come out with napkin rings that resemble Kate’s ring (a little too kitsch for me…).

I recently saw the timeline for Kate and William’s big day – and I have to say, it appears their day will be run with military precision. I personally can’t wait to see what she wears down the aisle (along with her shoes) and came across these sketches on WWD. I think it will be something more modern and understated with one very long train. What do you think Kate will wear?
Raychel Roy and Reem Acra via WWD.com
Valentino and Vera Wang sketches via WWD.com

Town and Country Weddings

Congratulations to our couple Ashley and Harrison for being featured in Town and Country Weddings. They had an amazing day for their Nantucket nuptials. A sun filled afternoon for their ceremony at First Congregational Church followed by a reception at the Great Harbor Yacht Club.

Check out more details of their big day in our ‘About Us’ Video produced by the incredibly talented Meg Simone Videography.

Once again, we had a great team of vendors to work with:
planner – Unique Nantucket
venue: Great Harbor Yacht Club
photographer: Claudia Kronenberg
cake: Jodi’s Cakes
rentals: Placesetters, Inc
Soiree Video – Meg Simone Videography

Spring Fling


We love that we see forsythia in full bloom, crocus and daffodils popping up out of the ground, tulips and cherry trees getting ready to explode with color. Spring is finally here (even on a rainy day – actually, a pretty rainy week) and we are feeling refreshed and inspired.

We have been smitten with BHLDN since their launch, and we took some time to build a few mood boards with their lovelies. First up – white. We are designing a lot of white weddings this season. A nod to classic elegance, with a twist of course. Lots of textures in lace, pearls, various blooms, and layering make this a romantic choice. Have you ever noticed how many shades of white there are? Seriously, go to a paint store and grab some paint chips. You’ll see just how many ‘whites’ there are to choose from.
mood board/photos courtesy of BHLDN

Daffodil Festival on Nantucket is one of our favorite times of year. It is an explosion of yellow everywhere. Sometimes the weather is great – and sometimes, not so much. Regardless, people are out in full force on the cobblestone streets in all their yellow glory. Yellow is just one of those colors that makes you smile – no matter what the temperature is outside.
mood board/photos courtesy of BHLDN

Then we have purple. This color is a love it or hate it color – and right now, it is the ‘it’ color in fashion. Purple is a sign of royalty, and with the upcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate, it’s sure to stick around. It will be fun to see how that wedding unfolds and what new wedding trends will be inspired by their wedding.
mood board/photos courtesy of BHLDN

Color Combo – Rose and Gray


Some color pairings are classic and never go out of style. I consider Rose and Gray to be one of them. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE pink – any shade (there’s not a bad one in the bunch). I think of Gray as the new black – and I’ve been wearing plenty of it this winter/spring. I think of gray as a neutral. It goes with everything.

We were lucky enough to work with a couple last fall who’s names happened to be Rose and Gray – and yep, they used that as the launching pad for their color scheme and all the details that followed. A lot of thought and effort was put in to their finishing touches from using lace from Rose’s mom’s veil for the ring pillow, to having family recipes made for the cookie bar. I love it when a bride chooses to carry color in her bouquet. Rose carried shades of pink roses, garden roses and peonies and we finished the handle of the bouquet with hand stitched covered satin buttons to mimic the back of her dress. Photographer Abby Ross captured some amazing images from the day. You can read all about the details and how this cute couple met on Martha Stewart Weddings where they are featured.

The happy couple after their ‘I Do’s’

I LOVE this shot!

The tables

As always, we had a great time working with the following vendors:
photographer – Abby Ross
location – Galley Beach
event planner – Michelle Rago
rentals – Placesetters
lighting – Capron
stationery – 80 Press
cake – Jodi’s Cakes

Celebrating With Green

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day we pulled together some of our green images to celebrate the Luck of the Irish.


Brides Magazine Features Our Nantucket Couple


The March issue of Brides Magazine is out on stands now – and our beautiful couple Maggie and Sean are featured in the Real Weddings section. The bride, Maggie, is an interior designer, and she was involved with every last detail of her big day. She created some amazing save-the-dates and wait until you see the paper details on her cake. One of the most unique cake decorations I’ve ever seen. Maggie and her mom also make jewelry, and created personalized charms to be attached to every bridesmaid’s bouquet handle. Talk about a special touch! Maggie found tie-dyed fabric with subtle sequins in the L.A. fabric district that she had made in to the table linens. Striped napkins and runners helped anchor everything with loads of peonies and ‘blooming’ branches. It’s safe to say Maggie left no stone unturned in the details department and the results show in all the beautiful images.






We had a great group of vendors assembled for this wedding:
ceremony: First Congregational
reception: Sankaty Golf Club
photographer: Cary Hazlegrove
cake: Jodi’s cakes
event coordinator: Jimmy Jaksic
cake decor: d.Sharp

We Have A New Look


Creativity is an ongoing process in the world of event design. We’ve been hard at work over the last year and a half looking for just the right designer to help bring all the crazy thoughts and ideas in my head to life on the pages of a website. I am the first to admit that while I love technology and think it makes life much easier – implementing it and learning the in’s and out’s of a new system are never easy. I found a gem of a designer in Isaiah and all I can say is that he is a rockstar. From beginning to end he was thorough, offered his two cents when needed, and put up with my endless edits, redo’s, and at times ‘crazy’ ideas.

Our new website is intended to give a little more insight on the events we design and the people we work with. We will be adding new features as we go along so be sure to check back often. I’m excited about our new look and the direction we are headed. 2011 promises to be a year of growth, change and a lot of amazing new clients and friends along the way.

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Contact Soiree Floral

Office: 28 Centre Street
(by appointment only)
Mail: Post Office Box 3350
Nantucket MA 02584
Phone: 508.228.6684
Email: hello@soireefloral.com