Side-note: Let's start by ignoring the fact that my last post was in April of this year, and jump into the fact that fall is almost among us! (Let's just say that I only blog if the temperature is tolerable....tolerable enough to sit inside and type).
Anyways, what better way to kick off a new season than with a post about a wedding, the ultimate celebration, starting point, and new beginning. I was fortunate enough to be asked to help Anna Gregory with the flowers for her wedding this past weekend. Now, Anna is unlike any other bride we have ever worked with...as in the coolest, laid back bride (and person) that I know. If I were to have a full time floral design business, I would create an "Easy Bride" discount...Anna would have gotten two of these discounts. This weekend offered a chance to dive into design roots of floral design, a passion that is uncapped only a few times per year, but a true love of mine.
the backdrop to the ceremony
We worked off of about 10 different pictures (not 10 different editions of 10 bridal magazines) to create Anna's story. The setting was the Memphis Metal Museum, a treasure tucked along the banks of the Mississippi River in Memphis. The entire event overlooked the Mississippi River as the sunset in the background. I must give props to those who designed the layout of the museum because it works flawlessly for events.
The story line was based upon Anna and Terrence's love of bikes, a theme that was carried throughout the weekend. We (I use we because my partner in design for the weekend, was my very talented mother, who graciously agreed to help me on this) started with the centerpieces for the table. Consisting of recycled bike parts, three colors of roses, stock, dahlias, thistle, billy balls, pink sedum, hydrangeas and artichokes, the arrangements were set on burlap toppers and surrounded by votives.
entrance arrangement
dessert gazebo arrangement
The bike parts were carried off the tables and into the larger arrangements that accompanied the rest of the setting. I put my own metal sculpture skills to use to create the entrance and gazebo arrangements' base of bike parts. These arrangements also consisted of our three colors of roses, stock, billy balls, thistle, hydrangeas, artichokes, seeded eucalyptus, pink sedum, and an assortment of greenery. Yes, the greenery creating the dropping effect around the base of the entrance arrangements is amaranthus, or pigweed as most farmer's in the Delta refer to it.
The pew markers served dual purpose for the event, as a pew markers and bar toppers. While these didn't have any bike parts, they carried the same combination of flowers throughout the setting.
As a designer, nothing is more exciting than the chance to work with something new and the succulents of the weekend provided a lot of excitement. The one flower, or plant in this case , Anna requested was the succulent. We used them on the bistro tables, tucked away with some sheet moss, in the boutonnieres, and on the cake and dessert table. If you're ever in the market for some, visit : http://thesucculentsource.com/, yet another great vendor, with which I had the pleasure of working.
Maid of Honor Bouquet
Bride's Bouquet
Mother's Bouquet
Entry Table Bouquet
Moss Basket for Flower Girls
The handwork mimic'd the fresh out of a garden look with roses, ranunculus, lisianthus, dusty miller, thistle, pink sedum, and scabiosa pods with stems wrapped in moss and copper wire. The boutonnieres (although I failed to get photos) consisted of thistle, rosemary, seeded eucalyptus and dahlia blossoms. The flower girls wore halo's of rosemary and thistle and carried moss petal baskets down the aisles.
The wonderful part about an outdoor wedding is letting nature serve as the backdrop to create the setting of the event. Saturday, the glorious Mississippi River created the serene setting of the entire evening by offering one of the most majestic views of a river sunset that I've seen all year. Needless to say, the river did the work for me. All we had to do was to simply frame the ceremony, which was done with these arrangements of roses, dahlias, hydrangeas, lisianthus, stock, amaranthus, bear grass, and artichokes. And although, I cannot take credit for the rose colors (as Anna handpicked those), I'm not sure if any other rose would have imitated the colors of the sunset that day as well.
No bride could have asked for a more perfect setting or perfect early fall day for her wedding. It was a true joy working with Anna to make this event come to life with flowers. These photos only hint at the beauty that was present that evening at the metal museum. As it turns out, wedding flowers are truly meant to be viewed in real life, when they offer a sample of all senses to a wedding party and guests....Congratulations Anna & Terrence!
A very special thanks to Mamie Shannon,wedding coordinator extraordinaire of Classic Party Rentals and Ameila Timms, caterer extraordinaire of Graze Food Truck (http://grazefoodtruck.com/), two joyous souls who helped make this day perfect and were a delight to work with.
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