Soiree Floral

Floral Design

All About Calligraphy

above photo by Zofia Photography

I admit it – I am a paper junky at heart. There is nothing like feeling a thick, heavy card stock with a beautiful letter-pressed image. Even better is seeing the thought and time of a calligrapher’s work on a stationery suite. When we work with clients and they tell me they have a calligrapher to do the escort cards or the table numbers I am over the moon. The attention to detail and level of workmanship is reminiscent of a time when the pace of life was a little slower, and things were more appreciated and enjoyed. We took a look back at some of our events and pulled out images from clients who used calligraphy as part of the details of their special day. Doesn’t it add a touch of overall elegance? It’s like staring at a little piece of art. Swoon!


above two photos by Cary Hazlegrove

isn’t this interesting with the gold flecks in the black ink – so stunning!


above three photos by Brea McDonald


above photo by Zofia Photography

Love is in The Air


Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. I hope your week is off to a great start. As so many of us say in this industry – I love LOVE. To that end, I thought it would be fun to compile a list of the things I love and what makes me smile:

I love my cup of hazlenut coffee every morning (can’t function without it, and Stew Leonard’s has the best!)

I love breakfast (my absolute favorite meal of the day)

I love all things pink, in every shade (how appropriate for today!)

I love sequins, sparkles, and chandeliers – anything with a little shimmer is sure to catch my eye

I love being surrounded by creative people – it always pushes me to be better

I love shoes and clothes – I’m a girly girl, what can I say

I love puppy kisses – something new for me in the last 10 days. Not sure how I lived without them.

I love watching my niece and nephews grow – they change every day

I love the cheese plate at Otto – the condiments are out of this world!

I love to cook, actually I really love to bake!

I LOVE when I get my hands on a new disk of images from an event we designed

I love truffle fries – and no one does them better than LOLA 41

I love seeing our couples have their 15min of fame in print

I love the MAKE-A-WISH foundation – their employees and volunteers are amazing people

I absolutely love being by the ocean. It calms my mind when too many ideas are swirling around.

I love my family and friends. They make every day a joy.

What do you love?

Amanda and Vincent Featured in Grace Ormonde


Last summer we had a beautiful couple from France get married stateside. Our bride Amanda and her family have always summered on Nantucket and they chose the Sconset Chapel for their nuptials. The island was most definitely the Grey Lady that day and it couldn’t have worked out better to capture the essence of the island through their photos. I had a great time working with Amanda and her mom on all the details. I love a client who loves color – and we definitely infused it in the french inspired florals. Be sure to check out all the details and Amanda’s recount of their proposal in the latest issue Grace Ormonde Wedding Style New England. The beauty of this couple will take your breath away (and trust me, it’s going to make you want to book a trip to visit this quintessential island 30 miles out to sea).

Here are a few of my favorite images from their day:


Be sure to check out the amazing video captured by Meg Simone Videography here. The bride’s sister surprised her by singing one of her favorite songs in french! The guests went wild!

We had an amazing team for this event and enjoyed working with:
venue: Great Harbor Yacht Club
planner: Acktivities
photographer: Brea McDonald
videography: Meg Simone
rentals: Placesetters
makeup: Beauty by the Sea

Thanks Grace for featuring our lovely couple!

A Great Way to Preserve Your Bouquet

This past holiday season (I can’t believe it’s over already!) I was delighted to get a card in the mail with a little surprise of sorts. We did a wedding this past summer for the lovely Brandy Jones and she loved her bouquet so much she wanted to preserve it. All Seasons Floral Preservation is a company that does an amazing job of preserving the blooms in your bouquet. They took elements from Brandy’s wedding day – a sketch of her dress, fabric swatches of the bridesmaid’s gowns, the invitation – and then pressed the flowers from her bouquet to go around them. I even see some of the shells and ribbon we incorporated in to her bouquet in there. What a beautiful way to remember all the details of your special day. A big thank you to Mary Beth for sharing this with me.

You can reach All Seasons Floral Preservation by calling 703.283.9447 or visiting them online at www.allseasonspressed.com.

Calling all NY/Nantucket Brides


If you are planning a Nantucket wedding, and happen to be in the New York area this weekend, be sure to stop by the Palace Hotel. The ladies at The Wedding Library have assembled the best of the best and our friends from Nantucket Island Resorts will be there. Stop by their by their booth (and see some of our designs) to talk about upcoming wedding plans, venues, and Nantucket for your honeymoon destination. Hear from Martha Stewart’s very own Darcy Miller as she talks fashion on the runway and see the latest fashions up close.

Click here for registration information.

Finger Lakes Wedding Affair

If you are a bride in the New York area you don’t want to miss this! Our favorite ladies (and gents) at Wellwed have been working hard to bring you the 2nd annual Finger Lakes Wedding Affair. Read on for all the fun details and seminars they have lined up. Sign up today!

This Winter, thousands of brides across America will flock to traditional bridal expos, shuffling through mazes of vendor booths hoping to gain resources to make their wedding planning easier while collecting business cards and the like. Couples attending the Finger Lakes Wedding Affair, however, are treated to an entirely different experience. The Wedding Affair is a luxury bridal event like no other, and the couples lucky enough to attend are immersed in a delightful world of visually breathtaking inspiration, pampering, and elegance.

On January 22, 2011, hundreds of brides and grooms-to-be, their wedding parties, family and friends, and wedding professionals from across the region will pour into the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, NY for this must-attend event. The Finger Lakes Wedding Affair, produced by nationally-renowned WellWed magazines, promises to “unveil the Finger Lakes’ finest,” in a vintage carnival-themed setting and will feature the Finger Lakes’ top wedding talent, workshops, seminars, complimentary spa services, a couture fashion show, and much more.

Krista Washburn, Editor-In-Chief of WellWed – New York and its three sister publications, is elated about the upcoming event. “This year’s event signifies the 2nd Finger Lakes Wedding Affair, and though the 2010 show was a resounding success, we have been planning and preparing for months to outdo ourselves once again. We can’t wait to breathe life into all of the visually inspiring ideas and trends we are currently in love with, and combined with the vintage carnival theme this year, the event is truly going to be enchanting.”

Upon arriving at the Memorial Art Gallery, brides will receive complimentary copies of WellWed – New York magazine and Martha Stewart Weddings magazine, as well as a luxury gift box filled with over $100 worth of goodies. Guests will also be pampered in a signature spa area, and view the latest couture gowns during a brilliant runway fashion show.

A Silent Auction with up to $12,000 worth of luxury items will be live throughout the event, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In addition, one lucky bride will be presented with a gift certificate bouquet with up to $6,000 worth of services to help make her dream wedding become a reality.

“The Finger Lakes Wedding Affair provides a positively exhilarating experience for attendees, while still serving as a planning and educational resource,” Washburn continues. “In addition to being introduced to some of the state’s finest wedding professionals, guests will have the opportunity to attend informative seminars that will streamline their planning process.”
The Finger Lakes region is one of the top locations for destination weddings in New York and the wedding industry is an increasingly vital part of the area’s economy. Never before has there been a bridal event or a wedding magazine that offers a national platform for the region’s most celebrated wedding professionals. The latest trends in reception décor, floral design, cakes, culinary confections and more will be on display at the 2nd Annual Finger Lakes Wedding Affair, along with the latest glamorous vintage trends.

For a full itinerary, list of participating wedding professionals, and to purchase tickets, visit aweddingaffair.com or call 866.595.9221. Tickets are limited to this exclusive event and may be purchased online. Tickets will not be available at the door.

These are A Few of My Favorite Things – Parties & Receptions II


above photo by Zofia Photography

This is our final installment of recapping all the fun we had this 2010. A big thanks to all of our clients for making this such an amazing year. We can’t wait to see what 2011 has in store.
Happy New Year!


above photo by Brea McDonald


above photo by Brea McDonald


above photo by Brea McDonald


above photo by Brea McDonald


above photo by Brea McDonald


above photo by Claudia Kronenberg


above photo by Sarah Kristiansen

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things – Parties & Receptions


We hope you all had a fantastic holiday! I love looking back at all the fun things we did during 2010. We had an eclectic group of clients who had tastes from very traditional to modern, to just plain out over-the-top. Here are a few of my favorites:


above photo by Claudia Kronenberg


above photo by Cary Hazlegrove


above photo by Zofia Photography








above photo by Brea McDonald

We have so much more to share – be sure to check back tomorrow as we wrap our series on our Favorite Things of 2010!
Cheers,
Dawn

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things – Ceremonies

We are back with more of our favorite things. I say this often, and I know I sound like a broken record, but one of the things I am most thankful for is our amazing couples. Once again we had the pleasure this year of working with and getting to know some amazing people. These photos capture just a few snippets of fun and joy as they say their ‘I Do’s’ among family and friends.

This groom takes the cake for excitement – photo by Zofia Photography

A petal toss celebration – photo by Zofia Photography

A giggling bride – photo by Claudia Kronenberg

A happy moment with the bride’s parents before walking down the aisle – photo by Claudia Kronenberg

Oh Happy Day! – photo by Claudia Kronenberg

A mother-of-the-bride as her daughter sees the groom for the first time – photo by Brea McDonald

A quiet moment with the bride and groom – photo by Brea McDonald

I DO! – photo by Brea McDonald

We did it! – photo by Cary Hazlegrove

This beautiful bride is just beaming! – photo by Zofia Photography

Sealed with a kiss – photo by Brea McDonald

…and another kiss! – photo by Zofia Photography

Let’s party! – photo by Sarah Kristiansen

The first look – photo by Zofia Photography

Lucky in love – photo by Claudia Kronenberg

I love you! – photo by Zofia Photography

Enjoy!

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things


As the year comes to a close, I always love looking back through images of our couples and all the hard work that went in to making their dream day so special. As we wrap up 2010, I thought we’d take a look back on some special details from a fantastic year. I always say the bouquet is the finishing touch to any bride walking down the aisle, so we’ll start with that. These are a few of my favorites from this year:

above photo by Zofia Photography

above photo by Zofia Photography

above photo by Zofia Photography

above photo by Sarah Kristiansen

above photo by Claudia Kronenberg Photography

above photo by Cary Hazlegrove

photo by Zofia Photography

above photo by Zofia Photography

We Create

I am so excited to share this post with everyone today! A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being surrounded by 42 incredibly talented filmmakers. Creativity is something that is often spontaneous, and this amazing film is a result of that. Read on to get a little back story on this piece before you watch it.

We Create

“Because of their age long training in human relations—for that is what feminine intuition really is—women have a special contribution to make to any group enterprise.” – Margaret Mead

42 dedicated women filmmakers and photographers.
Five sparkling days in the Bahamas.
One powerful message: We Create.

Professional event filmmakers and photographers from across the globe gathered recently on a cruise to the Bahamas for POSH 2010, an educational workshop and retreat for women. Inspired by their shared experiences, the group spontaneously decided to use their creative gifts to craft a short film illustrating the positive power and passion of women in the film industry.

Shot on location at POSH 2010, “We Create” was directed by Maura Coleman-Murray and Kara Jensen, filmed by Maribeth Ratajczyk and Luiza Perkowska, and edited by Meg Simone. All 42 POSH 2010 attendees collaborated on the piece.

We Create from POSH on Vimeo.

Real Wedding Featured in Boston Weddings


Kerry and Paul were married this past August on Cape Cod with a tented reception at the bride’s home. We had such a fun time working with this couple. When I first saw their save the date I knew they had a sense of humor and we were going to have a good time working on all the details.

Kerry chose an a-typical bridesmaid dress from J.Crew (it had a pattern) and that was the launching point for everything that followed. They also have a huge love for their adorable dog and really wanted to be sure to include that on the big day. We met up at a rental company to start looking at ideas for the tabletops. When all was said and done we went with a classic navy linen, white runner and green & white flowers.

Because the yard at the reception site was so big, we really had space to play with. The escort cards were hung from trees around the pool area, cocktail hour revolved around some fun rental furniture, and a great big lawn was the perfect spot to pitch a Sperry tent.

We had a great time collaborating with the following vendors:
planning – Unique Events – Nantucket, Cape Cod, FL
catering – The Casual Gourmet
tent – Sperry Tents
music – Sultans of Swing
photography – Brea McDonald

Setting Your Thanksgiving Table

I love this time of year. The food, the shopping, the colors in the flower market. Thanksgiving is the kick-off for the holiday season. How will you set your holiday table?

Maybe something a little more traditional and rustic with twigs, feathers and mismatched containers:

Maybe a table that is more formal and sophisticated with vegetables and premium blooms:

Or how about something modern, sleek and minimal with lots of texture?

I haven’t quite decided how I’m going to set the table – too many fun choices and ideas. It’s decision time! Send us a photo of how you set your table. We’d love to see!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
Dawn

A Fall Wedding at The Wauwinet

Melissa and Eric were married this past September on Nantucket. This was a fun wedding for us to do because Melissa had outstanding taste when it came to color combinations. They kicked off the festivities with a Caribbean inspired dinner complete with steel drums. The fog was thick that night and rolled in just as guests were arriving. Melissa actually loved it and said it was true to Nantucket weather.

Melissa chose a dramatic black dress for her bridesmaids to wear. She loved the color of deep burgundy roses and callas, so to add a little pop of color and not have that blend in with the dresses we added some green. The girls really worked those bouquets. So refreshing to see something different! Melissa’s bouquet had touches of green to her all white blooms. She looked stunning with her long veil.

Melissa wanted to play off the surroundings at the Wauwinet. The ceremony was held out on the lawn (it was a little breezy that day so we had to make a few adjustments to the ceremony set up). We kept things natural in shape and continued her color scheme. This was one of my favorite outdoor ceremonies of the season.

Melissa and her mom found an amazing calligrapher, and as you can see by the photo, they did an AMAZING job with the escort cards. We couldn’t get over how detailed they were! As an added touch, they had a map of Madison (where the bride grew up) created with the names of all their tables on it. Fun stories for all the guests to hear.

I always love the photo of the couple after their ‘I Do’s’ – Melissa and Eric look so happy! They also had some fun with the cakes. Melissa surprised Eric with a fun groom’s cake (sorry, I don’t have that photo). Jodi of Jodi’s Cakes did another amazing job creating this elegant cake for the couple.

One of the best things about having your ceremony and reception at the Wauwinet is that you have access to the beach for portraits. I love the light in this photo – and the entire bridal party looks happy to have their feet in the sand.

One of the best things about getting to work with Melissa and her mom was that they are quite the party planners. We had an amazing time picking out the material for the custom linens made up by Placesetters, along with the chargers, napkin rings, and glassware. When I walked in to the tent during set up, and saw just the linens on the tables against the honey-colored floors, I was one happy gal. I couldn’t wait to get it all together for Melissa to see.

Another beautiful view as the sun was setting of the sailcloth tent by Nantucket Tents.

As always we had a fantastic time working with these amazing vendors:
photography – Brea McDonald
event planner – Acktivities
cake- Jodi’s cakes
rentals – Placesetters
tent – Nantucket Tents
venue – The Wauwinet

A Nautical Affair at Great Harbor Yacht Club

Maggie and Jeff were married this past August on an amazingly beautiful day (we had quite a few storms leading up to their Saturday event, and you would have never known the way the sun was shining). I met Maggie, Jeff and Janice on a chilly day in Boston. We had a great brain storming session of everyone’s wish list and do’s and don’ts. Taking on the planning yourselves can be a tricky thing and this couple was in great hands with Toni (MOG) and Janice (MOB) leading the way.

They treated their guests to a rehearsal dinner at the White Elephant with a fun take on ice cream. Turns out the groom once worked at the Juice Bar and that was evident throughout the event.

The wedding was a more formal affair, dressed in navy and white with green accents. Their ceremony was at First Congregational church and when I first saw the photos, I have to say this one took my breathe away. How stunning do these two look!

Maggie and Jeff had a large bridal party (we had a lot of that this year) and I wanted to hire all of Maggie’s bridesmaids. They came to the club to help out and make sure everything was perfect for the bride – they were amazing!

We had blooms and candles covering every available surface in the club. Hydrangea, callas, orchids and lisianthus to name a few. Libby from Claudia Kronenberg Photography captured a lot of eye candy for us at this one! The colors are so crisp – this color combo was a big hit with couples this year.

Congratulations Jeff and Maggie – thanks for including us in your special day.
Cheers,
Dawn

A Modern Soiree in Nantucket

It’s not often that we get to design a sleek, modern affair on Nantucket. That changed with our clients Melissa and Jen. Quite the savvy couple, they had a clear vision of what they wanted. I had a lot of fun working on the design with these two. From our initial meeting with A Taste of Nantucket, to choosing linens and furniture at Rentals Unlimited in Stoughton, MA (I wish I had a photo of me holding up an eggplant colored linen for the lampshade above the tables. I looked like a one man circus with stuff everywhere!).

To go with the modern vibe, we decided callas, burgundy dahlias and orchids would be our flower choices. Both sleek and showy, they had the clean lines we needed to carry out our minimalist, chic look.

One of my favorite dress shots of the season was captured by Sarah Kristiansen of Sweet Jane Photography. There are always ‘behind the scenes’ happenings with any wedding, and Sarah really stepped up and did an amazing job. These photos speak for themeselves.

These bouquets were so fun to design. Melissa and Jen were amazing clients because they really trusted me when I said ‘just let us play with the bouquets’. So, we ended up with a black satin covered handle covered with fringe and crystals. When we went to set up and I saw their dresses, I was so happy we blinged out the bouquets. The feathers matched Melissa’s wrap perfectly!

A guest of the couple worked for Swarovski so we got to play with crystals they use in NYC for the holiday displays. We used the crystals at the escort table to create a fun focal point as guests walked in to the tent.

A lounge area was set up inside the tent just off the dance floor to give people a break when they needed it without missing any of the action.

As always, it was a pleasure working with Aisling from ACKtivities event planning, Nantucket Tents, Placesetters, A Taste of Nantucket, and our new friend Sarah Kristiansen.

All About Design – Day 5


So, we are a little late in posting this – had to focus on our fabulous couple this past weekend and all the details that went in to their big day.

Getting back to our dishing about design – for the last party of this wedding weekend extravaganza, a formal wine dinner in Toppers at The Wauwinet was the finale. To create yet another look different from the rest of the festivities, the china, linens and furniture inside the restaurant were used. Beautiful pale buttery yellows, blues and ivories were the color palette. We chose to use Mother Nature’s best blooms and designed each table a little differently in silver mercury vases. Groupings of lily-of-the-valley, garden roses, gardenias, fiddleheads, freesia, callas and snowberries created a formal look as guests dine on carefully paired food and wine courses.

We can’t wait to see what images Claudia Kronenberg Photography captured over the course of the weekend and will be sure to post them as soon as we get our hands on them!

All About Design – Day 4

We are back today with more fun from a recent wedding couple. Yesterday we talked about their surprise wedding – well, not only were their guests stunned by that, but they were also stunned when they were bussed off to the Sconset Casino. On board we had feather boa’s and fedora’s to peek their interest. Upon arrival, they were greeted to ‘Paulie’s’ – a 1920’s speakeasy. I have to be honest, when the truck pulled up full of furniture that morning, and all I saw were two very BIG couches that seemed to take up the whole truck, I thought where is the rest of it?? Turns out it was all packed in the couches – they were really that big!

We had so much fun transforming the space, and the couple really wanted to treat their guests to an unforgettable evening! With big leather couches, mirrored bars and tables, black chandeliers suspended from the ceiling by Capron- and an amazing band brought in by Nantucket Island Events, along with catering by Toppers at The Wauwinet – it was a night to remember! Even the band hugged us for creating such a fun space to perform in. Now that’s a compliment! I can’t wait to see what images Claudia Kronenberg Photography captured at this party. SO – MUCH – FUN!


these amazing linens were provided by Placesetters.

Tomorrow – a formal dinner inside Toppers.

All About Design – Day 3

Today, we’re back with a post about the Tuscan Dinner/Surprise wedding we were so privileged to be a part of. The idea was to have guests think that they were attending a Tuscan style family dinner. Lots of rich, fall colors both in the flowers and the linens. This is where we pinned the linens for a layered look on the tables. A chocolate brown silk underneath a very cool orange linen with a purple thread in it. I love this linen and it changes colors depending on how the light hits it. It also has a ribbon flower motif sewn directly on to the fabric so there is a lot of texture to play with. To tie that in, we used amethyst mercury votives and amber votives to warm up the tabletop with glowing candlelight.

Bright fall colors were used in all the flowers. We had fun incorporating vegetables, pods, herbs, and looping the long calla lily stems throughout the centerpieces. Tall candelabras were covered in twigs with calla lilies looped throughout for a modern take on a rustic look. Hanging grapes played to the feel of the party.

I didn’t get to snap a photo of the bouquet we had waiting for the bride. One of my favorite’s of the season by far. We had fun designing with ivory, blush and pale green blooms to create a bouquet with texture and looped with ivy. I can’t wait to see the images that Claudia Kronenberg Photography captured (especially of how the guests reacted!).

Tomorrow – turning the Sconset Casino in to a 1920’s speakeasy.

All About Design – Day 2

We are back today with day two of ‘a day in the life’ – with the first event our client’s held to welcome their guests. From the beginning, our bride really emphasized that this weekend was to be all about family. Bringing everyone together and celebrating each other and their love. With that in mind, we ran across these cute little gingham bags that had family, welcome, and love on them. They could not have been more perfect to bring home the ‘family’ aspect of this weekend. Taking our cue from the gingham, and the fact this was going to be a pig roast – we thought a hoe down was in order. Not something you see often for wedding work – and all the more reason to do it. This was a casual atmosphere and as such, we kept the tables all about textures and layers and really didn’t use flowers at all.

Placesetters provided these amazing linens with jute rope woven in to the fabric. Along with twig candleholders, lanterns and woven chargers the laid back vibe was perfect. Ornamental gourds, crab apples and fall leaves added just a touch of color. We had to move this event from a tent due to weather so our cornstalks that were going to cover the tent poles came up on deck and surrounded the perimeter of the awning. Our ‘welcome’ bags were displayed on hay bales and finished off the look on the deck.


Tomorrow – the Tuscan Dinner/surprise wedding!

A Week in the Life…….

…of event design. We have been so fortunate this year to get to work for some amazing clients. From brides, to corporate accounts, to families who bring our creations in to their homes. This week, we had the wonderful opportunity to create four very different looks for one couple who happened to surprise their guests with a wedding! Yep, they pulled off a surprise wedding with a slew of activities and fun plans over the course of a three day weekend. We’ll be blogging all week about the behind-the-scenes of each party. To say we are tired is an understatement. Having the staff at the venues get excited as we set up a different look each day, having the band who travelled for hours and hours hug us to say thanks for creating an amazing space to perform in, for having the catering staff pitch in and not mess up the decor and look of the place – well, that is priceless. To have everyone buy in to the work and space we created makes the sleepless nights and juggling of logistics (too many to tell, and thank goodness clients don’t know what goes on behind the scenes to pull things off) all worth it.

So, here’s to a fun week of revealing our behind-the-scenes. First up, the photos that our client was inspired by:

Our bride loved the texture of this bouquet – which played an integral part in design over the course of the four events we created for her.

next up – linens. Our bride swooned over the Style Me Pretty Shoot we did up in Maine with Brea McDonald Photography, Meg Simone Video, Griffin-vites and Maine Seasons Event Planning. The linens on the cake table became the inspiration for our Tuscan Style dinner/surprise wedding!

Tomorrow – the hoe down.

Escort Tables

We’ve had a great time this season coming up with fun displays for escort tables. This is the one place I always tell a client to have fun, let loose, show a little of your personality, and engage your guests. We’ve tried to snap a few images every week (while we patiently wait for our professional photos from some fabulous photogs) of some of our creations.

First up – a non floral escort table. This one was simple and sweet. A rusty anchor with lots of character and a buoy painted in the couple’s color scheme. Using a coffee table book for guests to sign adds to the minimal elements on the table.

Next up – antiqued mirrors. We created these antiqued mirrors and set up a fun display with tons of candlelight, succulents and potted herbs. This bride wanted that ‘Anthropologie’ feel to everything. Her textured linens really helped to play it up. I love the vintage feel to this.

This one is for the glamour couple. Here we created a manzanita tree where we were lucky enough to play with Swarovski crystals they use in NYC for the holiday displays. I personally love anything that sparkles so this was fun to do.

For another couple, they decided to have a family member create miniature quarter boards for their table signs. We took our cue from that and created large quarter boards to hang their calligraphed place cards from. An interactive display that will surely get guests talking.

I hope this inspires you to get creative as you plan for your big day.
Cheers!
Dawn

Behind the Scenes – Photo Shoot


photo by Zofia Photography

One of my most favorite things to do in our ‘world of flowers’ is getting to work with magazines and other wedding professionals during photo shoots. This is when we, the professionals get to be creative, push the boundaries a little bit, try something a client might not ask for. I am a firm believer that if you can get a photo in front of a client, if they can just ‘see’ what you are talking about, they might be convinced to do something they might not have considered previously.

Back at the beginning of May we did a shoot for Wellwed’s Fall/Winter 2010 issue. Normally, an early May day would feel like fall – but not this day. It was actually pretty mild and we were enjoying every minute of it. With a color palette selected by the editor, Krista Washburn – Placesetters, Jodi’s Cakes, Marty Kelly Papers, Zofia Photography and myself gathered to have a little fun. I’ve said this before – not all ideas turn out so well in photos. We made these amazing silk frames with hand stitched rosettes and while they didn’t make the cut for the magazine, I still LOVE them. They are beautiful and different and fun, and I will find a way to use them at some point. For now, they are gracing the walls of our studio and ‘beautifying’ things up a bit. Here are some behind the scenes photos and a collage of what we created.


Marty Kelly (in stripes) and myself tweaking the tablescape to show off her stationary

I snapped a photo on my phone of Zofia working her way around the table


all photos by Zofia Photography

Walk for a Cure

Today is a day I wish with all my heart I could be in two places at once. We are gearing up for a great wedding this Sunday on Nantucket with a sweetheart of a couple. Tomorrow, in Colorado, my family is walking to raise money for Curesearch, an organization that helps raise money for childhood cancers and has developed a trial study for children with Neuroblastoma. They helped tremendously in the treatment for my now 10yr old nephew Shea. Without their help, he would not be the amazing young gentleman he is today. September 11th has more meaning than I could possibly begin to explain. All I can say is that for everyone who is in Colorado and who is walking to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer – you are my hero’s. For those of you who walk for a child who is dealing with cancer or for a child who has become an angel you are in our thoughts this weekend. Have an amazing time, celebrate each other – and go TEAM RMPHO CANCER CRUSHERS!!! We love you Prince.
Auntie Dawn

Sheabo, Auntie Dawn, Chasers, and Double J

Sabrina and Aaron – Sconset Casino

We have had some great clients to work with this season. One of my favorite designs of the season was this past weekend with Sabrina and Aaron. Everything was supposed to be in a tent, and yes, we did have to make some adjustments. In the end, it turned to be dreamy and romantic with lots of candlelight in the Sconset Casino.

Sabrina came to us with one word in mind – Anthropologie. That was all I needed to hear as we started working on design ideas for her. One of my favorite elements from her wedding was the escort table. We antiqued mirrors and used them to tell the guests where to sit. When I went back to the Casino for breakdown that night, the table was glowing. It was perfect given we had to rearrange things. I actually think it worked out better! Of course, professional lighting by Capron always takes things up a notch.

See images here courtesy of Zofia Photography’s blog. She captured some amazing photos of the couple and their guests having a good time.

A Real Wedding, Sankaty

Christine and Mark were married last fall and had their ceremony and reception at Sankaty Golf Club. I love the change of seasons, and when we designed this wedding, it was a breath of fresh air! So many details, textures, and unique florals and pods went in to this one. I couldn’t even begin to pick a favorite shot. Wellwed magazine fell in love with this one too – so much that they are featuring Christine and Mark’s big day in their Fall/Winter 2010 issue out on stands now. Enjoy the eye candy!
Dawn

Nantucket Vendors included:
ceremony and reception: Sankaty Golf Club
planner: Unique Nantucket Events
linens and placesettings: Placesetters
Photography: Zofia Photography

A Wedding at The Galley Beach, Nantucket

We have had an amazing summer so far with incredible clients. Lauren and Chris were married on the beach at the Galley with a tented reception that followed. This wedding was as classic as Nantucket gets. Blue and white hydrangea, a gorgeous ocean backdrop, and a sailcloth tent with plenty of room for dancing. I happened to be having dinner on the beach that night (Lola Burger’s Tuna burger and truffle fries of course!) and could hear the band just over the dunes. They were seriously rockin’ out big time – trumpet section and all! Congratulations Lauren and Chris – thanks for letting us be a part of your special day.



Vendors included:
ceremony & reception: Galley Beach
planner: Unique Nantucket Events
stationary: Marty Kelly Papers
all photos courtesy of Claudia Kronenberg Photography
tent: Nantucket Tents
linens and rentals: Placesetters

Real Nantucket Wedding – Annie & Luke

The Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Wellwed is out on stands and we were thrilled to hear that Annie and Luke’s wedding was chosen as a real wedding. Annie, an artist, was very involved in the details of her big day. From designing her save-the-dates to her table cards (authors of some of her favorite books and poems) she left no detail to chance. With an amazing color palette to work with, and her love of all things vintage chic, we had a great time putting this one together.





Bouquet Handles


Brides are getting creative when it comes to the details of their big day. We have had a lot of fun this summer incorporating special touches on the handle of the bouquets. We’ve done lace or a piece of a veil from the Mother-of-the-Bride, used vintage earrings from a grandmother, and found objects that a bride just adores and wants with her as she walks down the aisle.

One bride this past June asked us to attach charms to ea of the bouquet handles for her bridesmaids. A little something that she remembered each of them for. For the bride’s bouquet – we used a starfish and a motorcycle (can anyone guess what one of their favorite pass-times is)? Paired with hand-dyed silk ribbons looped with streamers down the handle of the bouquet, it made for a sweet touch that she will remember for years to come.

Think about what you can do to incorporate that something special to your bouquet as you walk down the aisle. It makes for great detail photos!

A Sconset Wedding

We had a great time with our July clients. They all happened to like things a bit asymetrical, colorful, and with an infusion of their personal style. One of my favorites was Elizabeth and David. They had their ceremony at the Sconset Chapel with a reception at The Chanticleer. Elizabeth was a girl who knew what she wanted. She loved color, she definitely did NOT want to carry an all white bouquet (you go girl!) and she loved texture, texture, and more texture.

I fell in love with her summer berry and kiwi combination. With a mix of chartreuse, kiwi, melon and spearmint for the green colors paired with strawberry red and poppy – you get a refreshing look that holds up to the heat. I am a huge fan of adding herbs (like the mint and rosemary added here) and unusual elements like pods and berries to bouquets. Elizabeth found the perfect patterned ribbon to finish off her bouquet handle. These colors look great when paired with classic white, a true navy, or even a deep pink. We used mercury glass mixed with more modern shaped glass vases down the center of the tables. Elizabeth collects stamps and incorporated that in to her cake design (by Jodi’s Cakes).

As a special thank you to their guests, Elizabeth and David handed out books of Love Poems at the end of the evening. A very fitting way to remember a special time here on the island. I can’t wait to get my hands on the photos taken by Zofia Photography. For more images, click here.

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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