We’ve been busy getting ready for our summer weddings, and part of that is researching the trends of the wedding industry. Influenced by fashion, home decor, and the state of our economy we noticed a few key things.

Mixing metallics is still key in terms of tabletops, and mercury glass leads the way. Delicate in appearance, and an homage to things past, this is a great choice for adding some depth and interest on the table. Try using a mercury glass vase (there is a pale pink one I am quite fond of) or votive holders.

Black and white – A huge trend over the last two years, and will continue again this year. Just before the Christmas holiday we were asked to design a black and white bouquet & boutonniere for The Knot’s Fall 2009 issue. Sophisticated, yet bold, this color scheme can be worked to look old world or new age. There are some amazing linens out there with bold, graphic patterns that can lend to a unique look at your reception.

Formality (not so much) – in 2008 we did a lot of weddings with a very formal feel to them. Lots of silver accents. This year, people are taking a more casual approach to the tabletop. With the state of the economy, people want their guests (and themselves) to have a sense of comfort. There will still be chargers, unique glassware, etc – and designs will have more soothing color palletes.

Bridesmaid dresses – Turquoise is still on top this year. We have found each client has their own ‘interpretation’ of the color (and so do the dressmakers!). We are suggesting off-whites with blush accents for flowers to compliment the strong color. Shades of green (from a pale seaglass green to mint green, to sage green) – these are soft, soothing colors that lend themselves to that comforting feel. Our brides are pairing those colors with hydrangea blue, shades of white, or peach/pale orange. Great for a summer wedding.

Whatever your tastes may be, we look forward to helping you design the wedding of your dreams!

Calling all brides! If you have not yet picked up the Spring edition of Bride and Bloom, be sure you do. It is filled with beautiful color schemes, and some great ‘real weddings.’ We are lucky enough to have some of our bouquets from recent weddings featured in there as well as some stunning centerpieces we created last May/June.

If you are still on the fence about which direction to go with for your color scheme, flip through these pages. It will help crystalize your thoughts and get you on track.
Enjoy!

We have been busy writing proposals for our spring and summer brides (which helps to think of warmer days when it is so cold out!). Most of our brides have destination weddings, and are not able to just pop in to discuss the big day. To help with that, we’ve been having video conferences with our brides via skype. It has been great! To see our clients ‘in person’, to be able to show photos and see their magazine tear sheets helps in the overall process. And the best part of all this is that the call on skype is FREE!

Get your webcams out – I look forward to ‘seeing’ you during our next brainstorming session!
Cheers,
Dawn

We get to work with a lot of talented and creative photographers over the course of the year. Imagine my delight when Brea McDonald of Brea McDonald Photography told me some of our wedding work is being featured in Seacoast Bride. It is an elegant publication, full of inspiring details. We have a few centerpieces in there (check out the pink design on the right side of the photo above). Thanks Brea for showing off our work!! It’s always a pleasure seeing you on game day.

We all know that at the beginning of the year we always say I’m going to exercise more and eat better. One thing I have found that is easy to stick to is Yoga. I think because it is about more than just about the exercise.

One of our beautiful brides from seasons past (you may have seen her gorgeous face and handsome husband gracing the cover of Cape Cod Bride magazine) has just launched her new business and I could not be more excited to share it with you!

Jen Holland Yoga
Benefit from the profound transformative affects of Yoga. Discover a more peaceful, balanced and empowered lifestyle.

Yoga is the ultimate wedding preparation, helping you to look and feel your best on one of the biggest days of your life. Tone and strengthen your body. Relax and calm your mind. Feel focused, poised and grounded in the moment as you walk down the aisle!

Consider incorporating Yoga into your wedding checklist:

– Private, or semi-private, Yoga sessions enjoyed one-on-one or shared with your fiancé or bridal party to achieve your health goals

– A Yoga-themed bachelorette party, or bridal shower, to gather the wellness “tools” you need to enjoy a healthy, happily-ever-after

– An on-site Yoga class the day of your wedding to share laughter and joy with your bridal party, preparing yourself for the day ahead

Jen Holland is a Register Yoga Teacher with YogaAlliance and is certified in Hatha Yoga by YogaWorks. She is primarily located in New York City and is available for destination weddings. For more information visit www.jenhollandyoga.com.

Last July we were asked to head over to the Liberty Hotel in Boston for a tabletop and bouquet photo shoot with Grace Ormonde Magazine. I love participating in these shoots as it is an opportunity to push the boundaries (particularly with color)and do something a little different. For the tabletop shoot we were asked to interpret a painting of Peonies at The Breakers by Shari White. Here is the photo:

Of course, peonies were the main focus, and I’m a gal who loves all things pink! With that in mind, we came up with the idea to have a birdcage filled with flowers above our table and have it look like they were trying to ‘escape’ (the Liberty Hotel used to be a jail, complete with a hip restaurant called Clink!). As the ideas kept swirling and we were tossing things back and forth, I decided we needed a big peacock to tie in the linen, the birdcage – and it could not have worked out more perfetly when we saw the big tree murals on the walls. It was brilliant!

We also designed several bouquets and boutonnieres. I’m still trying to get the photos from the photographer – we did one that was all naturally black flowers with accents of deep russet and gold. It was stunning – and I hope to share that photo soon. I consider this magazine to be tops in the wedding world. Always full of inspiration and designs that push the boundaries. I’m looking forward to setting aside a few hours to look through all the pages.

By far one of my all time favorite boutonniere’s. The peacock is a fun and unexpected element. Not for the faint of heart or Mr. Shy.

We had the pleasure of working with Audra Bodenstab and Tripp Boyle for their June 2008 Wedding at a private estate in Nantucket. Audra had very classy taste and their wedding day was nothing short of a fairy tale romance. Their wedding is being featured in the Boston Weddings Spring/Summer 2009 magazine out on news stands now. Click on the link to take a sneak peak, and be sure to grab the magazine. There a lot of great ideas in there for our upcoming brides. Enjoy their story, and thank you Audra and Tripp for allowing us to be a part of your special day.
Cheers,
Dawn

I feel like it is Christmas all over again! At the first of the year, all of the new bridal magazines come out full of inspiring photos that help brides as they start to plan the details for their special day. What brides don’t know is what happens in the many months before January 2009 to put that magazine together. We did a photo shoot last July for La Bella Bride magazine with the help of Claudia Kronenberg Photography and Placesetters. It was a very busy time of the season for all of us, and we honestly didn’t know if we could get this done. We were literally racing against the clock. Claudia had family portraits to do, we had wedding work, and the sun was about to set. I think when you see the photos you will agree that it all worked out in the end. 8:30pm is about the time the last photo was taken and it could not have been planned any more perfectly. Enjoy the eye candy!

Two of my favorite magazines for floral ‘eye candy’ in the industry are Grace Ormonde Wedding Style and Bride and Bloom. I was beyond delighted when one of our flower wholesalers called me up to tell me we had 4 (Yes, 4!!!!) of our bouquets featured in their 19pg spread of inspiring bouquets! We have been working for over a year to try and grace the pages of Bride and Bloom(which seems like forever to me….while I have the patience of a saint, I also like/need instant gratification when I know whole heartedly one of our designs deserves a little love in the pages of a wedding mag) , and I can honestly say we are honored to be in there.
Thank you Bride and Bloom!!!
xoxo,
Soiree Floral

Today is a remarkable day. I am not one to mix personal and business (in particular, politics!) But, today we as Americans made history. Regardless of who you voted for, I am proud of everyone for turning out to vote! To those of you who voted for the first time, for those of you who voted for the first time in a long while, and for those of you who vote religiously every time – CONGRATULATIONS America – I am so excited for what lies ahead. Anything is possible!!

This week is PINK WEEK on Style Me Pretty in honor of all those touched by breast cancer. Today’s posts are all about pink flowers and one of our designs is being featured from a fabulous wedding we did back in July.
Think pink!!!

Fall is a great time of year for brides to be married as the colors and flowers in the flower market are so beautiful and saturated. Lots of jewel tones and of course those oh-so-striking oranges/yellows/reds/greens.

We set up a serene ceremony setting at the Hadwen House last Sunday. It was such a perfect day, and apparently quite a few passers by thought so also. When our team went to break down the ceremony they were stopped and asked to wait. Some members of the garden club had seen our work and ran home for their cameras. They thought it was a Gardener’s dream and wished we could have kept it up for them to sit and enjoy. I think that is a pretty lovely compliment to receive.

We used bold, jewel tone colors in the centerpieces at the Whaling Museum. The linens and rentals were provided by Placesetters.

For any couples thinking of getting married there, the exposed brick walls and high ceilings lend themselves to strong color statements and it is the one place on this island that you don’t have to worry if you want some height to your arrangements. No wind to blow them over!!
Thanks Sarina and David for letting us be a part of your special day. It was a pleasure working with you!

Family traditions play a big part of any bride’s special day. That is something we love to try and include as it makes each day unique and special for the couple we are working with.

I received a call two weeks ago from the MOB of our bride Stephanie. Turns out mother and daughter have had a 15yr running joke involving a doily. The mom was the last one to ‘receive’ it so she asked us to work it in to the bride’s bouquet. It would be an understatement to say we had fun with the multiple ways to incorporate this little crocheted item in to what we think is the single most important accessory a bride carries on her big day. We decided to turn it in to a ‘flower’ and wired it in to the bride’s bouquet. When we delivered the bouquets to the bridal suite the bride was none the wiser.

I received a call from the mother-of-the-bride today and she was beaming that she pulled off the family joke on her daughter’s special day. They had the flower girl take the bouquet up to the bride to ask her what kind of flower ‘that’ was……it was the doily of course!

Those are the memories that last our couples a lifetime, and when I get a call telling us thank you for being a part of it….all I can say is THANK YOU for letting us be a part of it.
Cheers Stephanie and Dee.
Dawn

I love it when a plan comes together. We did a tented wedding this past Saturday (once again battling the elements – is it going to rain, is the wind going to die down…) for Colleen & Mike. We’ve been working with them since last December. When we got back to the studio I grabbed their inspiration board and I was thrilled to see how our photos, ideas, details translated over to the big day.

We create inspiration boards after meeting with clients to give us all a sense of where we are heading in developing color scheme, mood, and feeling for the day. Our brides are always excited when they come in and see their ideas/vision translated over to our story boards (and they are always impressed and intrigued by what all our other brides are cooking up). I have posted a few photos and I can’t wait to see the professional shots taken by Brea McDonald from Claudia Kronenberg Photography.

We had a wild weekend with a fabulous couple! Lauren and her fiance were married on Sept 6th on Nantucket at the newly renovated Galley restaurant. The ceremony was to take place out on the beach, and hurricane Hannah was threatening to strike. With grey skies, on and off rain showers, and winds kicking up I have to say I wasn’t sure we’d be having the ceremony outside. But in true style for most of our brides this year the weather cleared up about 45 minutes before the guests arrived. The flurry of activity to get chairs, arches/chuppahs, aisle decor, etc set up on the beach always amazes me. I always worry we will run out of time, and like magic – it all falls in to place.

I have to say this was one of my favorite weddings this season. Lauren’s dress was amazing, and her color scheme refreshing. Her tablescape has to be one of the most fun, unique tables we’ve done in a while – AND it was all picked out in less than 15 minutes during one of our consultations at Placesetters. It just doesn’t get better than that. I can’t wait to see the professional photos – there were orchids and callas everywhere!
Congratulations again Lauren – it was a pleasure working with you.
Check out a few of the photos, including the amazing beaded napkin holders by Kim Seybert.

We have had a FABULOUS weekend working with one of the sweetest, kindest couples! Liz and Ned were married yesterday in Greenwich. Friday’s rehearsal dinner was held at the Tomes Higgins House – aside from a downpour of rain an hour before guest arrival it was a beautiful day.

The ceremony on Saturday was at First Presbyterian Church in Greenwich and a huge wreath greeted guests as they entered the sanctuary. The reception was at Belle Haven Country Club and the day could not have been more perfect. Not a stitch of humidity, and at 80 degrees it made for a comfortable day for everyone. Liz picked out a color palette of sage, blush pink, pink and white. Against the sea wall and ocean surroundings to the club it was the perfect summer day color combination. Custom linens, a black and white checkered dance floor, and hanging lamp shades helped complete the decor. Take a sneak peak of the fabulous flowers. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your special day Liz and Ned – it was a pleasure!!!
Enjoy the honeymoon,
Dawn

We had the pleasure of helping a family surprise their 12 year old girl this past weekend with a fun centerpiece. They bought the birthday girl a golden retriever puppy and it was too small to bring to Nantucket. So we created a golden retriever puppy out of butterscotch poms – complete with a wagging tail and cute little pink tongue. Now if I could only convince my hubby that a little mini pincher is just what I need to keep me company at the studio! Isn’t ‘Butterscotch’ precious??? I didn’t want to give her up!

Soiree Floral featured on Style Me Pretty.

We are pleased as punch to say that one of our fabulous weddings from May with many many little details had one of those details featured today on Style Me Pretty. Our bride Erin had asked us to make a replica of the couples dog out of flowers as a surprise to her groom. Finnegan was born (with a custom designed and made dog collar by us here at Soiree Floral, complete with a little crystal paw print!). Finnegan was a hit with all the guests and the bride and groom contemplated taking him with on the plane flight home.
A big thank you to Claudia Kronenberg Photography for the fabulous photos!!

One of our gorgeous couples from this past June was chosen to grace the cover of N magazine. Details of their nuptials are inside. The brilliant photography was done by Claudia Kronenberg photography. Other vendors included planning by Unique Nantucket, cake by Pam Goddard, tent by Sperry Tents.

Hi everyone,
It has been a whirlwind of a season for us. We kicked off the season in Nantucket with a fabulous wedding at the beginning of May (where or where did May go?) along with a little havoc caused by Mother Nature. We haven’t stopped and we’re excited for the couples we are working with this June.

We are also pleased as punch to announce we are now part of Style Me Pretty and their ‘Little Black Book’ for the Cape and Islands. For all of you brides out there this is a fabulous website with lots of inspiration and ideas as you start to plan for your big day.

Take a look around, and check back to our portfolio pages often as we are starting to add images from our most recent weddings.
Enjoy!
Dawn

We had the pleasure of designing a wedding for a FABULOUS couple last weekend (thank you Elaine & Esson!!). The bride chose a color scheme of burgundy, chocolate, champagne and blush. Orchids were front and center on everything from the fabulous stationary the bride’s graphic artist friend created to the boutonnieres, centerpieces, and even the cake. Tribeca Rooftop is a dramatic venue and the flowing sheer fabrics along with the exposed brick walls were the perfect backdrop for a candlelit evening. We’ve posted a little teaser of their special day. Check back soon to see a portfolio with all the little details of the day.

One of our beautiful September 2007 brides had her wedding featured in the February issue of Quest magazine. Kelley Pillman (who also happens to be the owner of KEP Designs ) was married in Nantucket and had her reception at the Summer House in Sconset. Her color scheme of navy/white/green was fresh and crisp against the ocean backdrop. Congratulations Kelley!

All photos taken by the talented Zofia of Zofia Photography

I am so excited to share our new floral bouquet purses and clutches. We have teamed up with some fabulous artisans to create these fun accessories. They make a fabulous and thoughtful gift for your bridesmaids. Even better, why not treat yourself! Check back often as we will be adding more fabulous designs. Please call us to today to inquire how we can have them customized to your wedding colors and flowers. The sky is the limit! Check out our fun designs in The Boutique.

With St. Patrick’s day almost upon us, I thought I would take a minute to talk about how we at Soiree Floral strive to do our part in ‘being green’. What appeared to start out as a ‘fad’ has quickly become a way of life. Many articles have been written on how couples can have a ‘green wedding’ from the linen selection, to the food choices, favors, and now even flowers. Some of the farms that we work with are going through the necessary steps to be certified green and/or organic growers. Some of our wholesalers have created departments for the sole purpose of representing organic and eco-friendly flowers.

At Soiree Floral, we have also tried to reduce our ‘footprint’ on the world by composting our cuttings, foliages, and other organic materials that are not used in our finished designs. Recycling our cardboard boxes and wood (often times finding a second life for them as well) all add up in our little part of the world. It may not seem like much, but if we all do our part, the world will be a much cleaner place. Take a look at your daily habits and see what you can do to be more eco-friendly.
Cheers,
Dawn

We have been getting numerous emails lately regarding a few photos that have been run in various wedding magazines. Many of our couples come to us asking for that little something extra that says they really thought out every last detail. Our design team has so much fun coming up with those unexpected ideas and a few of them have caught your attention. YES we did do the compasses as place cards for one wedding, and YES we did do the embroidered silk banners. Many of our couples take those banners and turn them in to pillows or put them in their hope chest to bring out on their anniversary. We even had one couple cut up some of the materials and the bride’s grandma made a quilt for them to give their daughter when she gets married! It doesn’t get any better for us than that – we love creating design elements that can be used (or ‘reused’) for the next generation to come.

For those of you who are not in the area – we do ship! We have had the pleasure of designing more compass place cards and banners for weddings taking place down in St. Lucia and out in sunny CA. The only request we have is you send us a picture when all is said and done so we can see all the fabulous details of your special day.
Happy planning!