Archive for the ‘Floral’ Category

Calla Lilies

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

As a florist one of my favorite flowers to use is the Calla Lily. When I looked up the meaning of the flower, it simply says “Magnificent beauty”, and  I couldn’t agree more!  I personally love the shape and hardiness of this bloom and often suggest it to brides that want to add dimension to their personal flowers because they come in various different sizes. But a common myth is that it only comes in a few select colors like white, cream, burnt orange, plum, and pink. When in reality your florist can provide this gorgeous flower in so spectacular colors that you should be able to incorporate just the right shade for your wedding. Here are just a few of my favorites!

(All Photos of Calla Lilies courtesy of Potomac Floral)

Perfect Spring Bouquet!

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

As I was walking out to the mailbox today I noticed  some birds playing where my daffodils and tulips bloom in the spring. This made me thinking about Spring of course and also of a May wedding we here at EOE were part of last year. The above bouquet is one of the prettiest bridal bouquets I’ve had the pleasure of designing. My client Holly sent me  pictures of something similar before our first meeting to discuss hiring us for DOC and Floral. As soon as I saw the bouquet I knew we were going to click! It was so fun and creative to use all the spring flowers available!  But what I love most about this bouquet was the amazing scent it had! Now every time I smell hyacinths I think of Holly and Justin wedding day!

Septembers Bride Winter Photo shoot

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

This past November, I had the pleasure of being part of a photo shoot highlighting Septembers Bride in downtown HollandTami, the owner of Septembers Bride, picked out some stunning gowns and accessories for four beautiful models.  With Allison Bower doing the make-up, Elements of Elegance providing the personal flowers, and Amy Boeve behind the camera, it turned into an amazing shoot.  What I loved most about this particular shoot is that our models look like today’s “real” brides.  More stunning shots of this shoot coming soon!!

September Bride 2

september 3

Mr. and Mrs. Travis Gurd!

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Full Event Planning:: Elements of Elegance

Floral:: Elements of Elegance

Photography:: Lizzie’s Photo’s

Stationary and Invites:: Sondra’s Ink

DJ Service:: Thunder Mountain DJ Service

Ceremony and Reception:: Castle Farms

Linens:: Special Occasions

Bridal Gown:: Bridal Lane

Bridesmaids and Bridal Accessories:: September Brides

Make- up Artist:: Rainbow Shades

Hair:: Body Perfection

Lodging:: Grey Gables Bed and Breakfast

The EOE team this year has been very fortunate to have planned three full planning weddings along with our partial planning packages and our DAY OF Services.  But I have to say this particular wedding was a favorite of mine.  Dana and Travis were and still is a very special couple to the EOE team to say the least.  I can still remember Dana’s mom called me the first time to talk about her daughter’s wedding and the excitement in her voice.  The couple was so excited to get married that they decided they didn’t want a long engagement.  So with the help of the EOE team we pulled off a beautiful UP North wedding in a short 12 weeks.  Below are the details of Dana and Travis day…

This wedding was amazing in some many ways.  From the great couple to the touching vows that left everyone in tears.  No detail was forgotten and I loved Dana’s vision of her wedding day.  Deep Chocolate Espresso, Mango Tango, and Ivory were the color scheme.  She really had an eye for details and like me, loves things to flow.  So from her personal flowers, stationary, to the ceremony reception flowers, and linens, everything fit together perfectly!

Planning!

Dana and Travis choose to hire the EOE team under our Full Planning Package. This package was great for the two of them considering they both have demanding careers.  We set up their budget, picked out best vendors; set them up with a great location and all those detail; and even tracked all their RSVP’s and help them do their table assignments.  With us doing all the big things and most of the little things, they were able to sit back and enjoy their engagement.  But we did include them in the fun tasks like making up welcome bags and designing the program.

Where!

Dana and Travis really wanted their wedding to be something special and a place their guest could really enjoy.  After hours of searching for different venues they came up with Castle Farms in Charlevoix Michigan!  What an amazing spot within Michigan.  The town is adorable and Castle Farms is beautiful space that really fit the feel of their wedding.  What is wonderful about this space is that we are able to have both the wedding and the reception within the same location.

All about the paper!

When it comes to invitation and all stationary needs, there is only one place I send my clients, that’s to Sondra of Sondra’s Ink.  She designed the most beautiful invite that I have ever had the pleasure of receiving!  And then she followed up by designing to die for escort cards, menu cards, and table numbers for our couple.  We also utilized her full service program which includes her designing, assembling, and even mailing out the invites.  Dana choose a deep chocolate espresso pocket fold with stunning ivory paper placed on a dark rust backer.  And then topped everything off with a stunning monogram that we carried across into our decor design.

Flowers and Décor::

The Bridal bouquet was so very important to Dana.  She had been envisioning her bridal bouquet since she was just a little girl.  So when that day finally came we presented her with her dream come true bouquet!!  She carried 50 Flame Calla Lilies with a corset tied satin handle with a pearl accent.  It truly reflected her style and feel for the entire wedding.  We designed a beautiful hand tied bouquet of cream calla lilies and hydrangeas for her five bridesmaids to carry alongside her. We forgo the traditional corsages for the mothers of the couple and instead made up dainty nosegays of calla lilies and a rose for each mom to carry.  And the boutonnieres were made up of Fiddle Ferns and berries for a more of a manly look for our gentleman of the party.  They loved them and apparently they’re also tasty!!

For the décor of the ceremony, we choose to go with very simple but elegant designs.  Dana and Travis were married in the beautiful Queen’s Tavern that was beautiful on its own.  We only add some simple flowers for the chairs, two beautiful arrangements, and wreath for the Alter.

For the reception we dressed the tables in the Knights Castle with stunning Chocolate Espresso Pin Tuck linens matched with simple mango tango chair ties and specialty folded napkins that had a single bloom in each center.  The centerpiece designs were just as elegant as the setting itself.  Our first design was a cubed vase with three calla lilies submerged in water for a simple elegant look to the table.  Our second design had wonderful tall candle stick with a monogram candle in the center and three vases of terracotta roses with glass holly/winter berries.  These tables were my favorite of the year!

All those Great VENDORS!

What I loved most about this wedding is being with us some of the best vendors from West Michigan.

Our photographer Lynell was and is AMAZING!!!  She captured such feeling in all her pictures… Plus she made everyone feel so comfortable and made sure everyone was having fun.  Her talent is displayed below!  I can’t wait see the rest of them!

Our Make Up Artist Patti was flawless!  She made each and every person she touched that day feels beautiful and special!

Rachel and Stephanie our hair stylist were FAB!  I was amazed on how the girls’ hair did not move all day and continued to look beautiful despite the rainy weather!

Thunder Mountain DJ service is one of the BEST in West Michigan.  Dave and Deb have worked many weddings with the EOE team and as always their service was top notch!  They had the dance floor packed all night!

All those special touches!!

Dana and Travis really went out of their way to make their guests feel loved.  From the moment they arrived they were greeted with welcome bags filled with Taffy from Taffy Barrel based right there in Charlevoix and all kinds of information about the city and surrounding areas.  But it didn’t stop there.  They wanted to make this a weekend people would never forget.  And I believe they achieved this goal.  From vows written from the heart; a program that showered love to their bridal party; to their Signature drink “Kiss the Bride” martini; to the amazing candy and desert bar for their guest to snack on all night; and  ending with a the most heartfelt toast to their guests that left me in tears.  They truly were an amazing couple that I can call my friends now.  Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Travis Gurd!

Rachel & Andy ~ September 6th

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Floral : Elements of Elegance

Event Planning : ele’3

Photography: Amy Carroll Photography

Linens: Special Occasions

Ceremony : Thorne Apple

Reception : Hilton

What can I say about this couple?  I can honestly say I have never seen a couple that was in love as much as these two are with each other.  TOGETHER they planned the perfect wedding! I loved their eye for every detail.  From the perfect table linens & chargers to the perfect color combination of flowers, these two knew what they wanted.  When I suggested that we hang out in the dahlia fields one Saturday morning to find the perfect flower for them, they jumped right in with both feet!  I will never forget the look on Rachel’s face as we drove in and she saw all the flowers she could pick from. She literally skipped through the fields as Andy and I watched.  That was one of the most memorable moments in my career to see my client so happy! Their wedding was truly amazing and we here at EOE felt very lucky to be part of it.

Rachel and Andy, you guys were great to work with and I would hand paint 300 dahlias for you again in a heartbeat!  Best Wishes!

Jan and Dan’s floral!

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Jan and Dan ~ June 12th

I loved Jan and Dan from the first moment I met them.  They were truly a fun couple that shared a lot of my same ideas.  It was an honor to be part of their wedding and design them some beautiful blooms!  Thanks goes out to Pearls Events for sending them my way!!

Locally grown, Locally supported!

Style

The style of the overall floral arrangements was derived from the couples outdoorsy feel and natural appeal.  Simplicity was key for their vision.  An elaborate bouquet would not have fit the personality of the couple nor their wedding.  Their style proved to be my muse for sophisticated and polished arrangements.

Bouquets

The pale pink peonies added a whimsical and romantic touch to the overall feel.  The bride wanted to play up a blushing flower without it feeling too girly.   The peonies provided an understated elegance that spoke for itself.

Boutonnieres

We thought that a white orchid would be a nice compliment against the pink bouquets, while still maintaining a stylish feel when by itself.  Also, orchids prove to be a durable flower that can last throughout the day.

Local Connections

It was not difficult to source these flowers locally, in fact it ended up being more cost efficient.  Our bride was on a budget, so in the end it was beneficial for both parties.  Also, it is important to both the bride and me that we support our local businesses.  The relationships we built with Ponderosa floral in Hamilton, Michigan proved to be a blessing.  Their loyalty and quality of work was superb.

(Photos courtesy of Amy Carroll Photography)

~Haynes and Phillips Wedding~

Monday, May 11th, 2009

 

On May 2nd I had the great honor of being part of Holly and Justin Phillips wedding. Not only was I able to work with such a great couple but I was able to work with a great group of Vendors:

Wedding Ceremony Venue :: Dewitt Chapel

What a wonderful chapel that has so much natural light within it. Also it has a great courtyard that was wonderful for outdoor pictures!

Reception Venue :: Alumni House

This has to now be my favorite venue for a reception. The room is beautiful and fit into our décor of cottage wedding. But more importantly the staff was amazing!! If there was anything that we needed they found it for us. The staff went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect. Huge KUDOS goes out to Michelle! I have to say I would love for her to become part of our team here at Elements of Elegance!  Please note that to rent the Alumni House you must have a affiliation with the university.
Caterer :: Classic Fares GVSU

Aimee and her staff did a great job! The food was amazing and the service was excellent! Many complimented the couple on the great food!

DJ :: Complete Music

Chris and his assistant from Complete Music had the room rockin! From the moment the couple arrived until the last song, they had the guest involved! No one was bored and all were dancing! That is a true sign of a great DJ!

Videographer :: Complete Music & Video

Again a great team! Complete Music & Video actually upgraded Holly and Justin package! They sent two wonderful gentleman and we are very excited to see the final product!

Photography :: Rivercity Photography

Ginny and her second shooter did a nice job of capturing the moments! We are looking forward to see the proofs in the near future…

Decor and Planning :: Elements of Elegance Event Planning and Floral

We were hired for décor and DOC. We had such a great time picking just the right items for this wonderful couple.

Floral Service :: Elements of Elegance Event Planning and Floral

We were hired for personal flowers and floral arrangements for both the ceremony and reception.

Linen Rentals :: A-1 Rental

As always Sue and Aaron did a great job finding me the perfect color buttercup yellow. They are one of two rental companies that Elements of Elegance will use. Their customer service is wonderful along with their prices!!

Wedding Candelabras ;; Wedding Candelabras and More

At first I was a little taken back that my bride wanted candelabras until I saw them!! Kevin and his team carry a wide variety of items that are unusual and fit today’s brides’ style.

Bartending Service :: Bars by Butch

As always they did a wonderful job! And their bartenders are always so personable and easy going.

Cake :: Suzi’s Cakery

The cake was amazing and tasted wonderful!

Hair and Make-up :: Allure Hair Boutique – Liz Smith

What can I say about Liz??? How about how wonderful she was! Her hair and make up designs were out of this world and I would highly recommend her to anyone of my brides.

Limo :: R. Verhey Limo Service

Right on time and actually found us! R. Verhey sent a wonderful driver and he had as much fun as the bridal party!

What a beautiful wedding! There were so many little touches that truly made this wedding amazing and heartfelt. From the table names of places that had a special meaning to the couple to the handmade card box the bride’s grandmother made.  The bride’s family is from Canada and in Canada it is customary to actually sign the marriage certificate during the ceremony.  It was very touching and something very new for us here at Elements of Elegance.  For the design elements, Holly and Justin had chosen a color scheme of buttercup yellow, bright white, and a sliver of a silver accent. They also wanted a very cottage and spring feel to their wedding. We accomplished this with lots of daffodils and tulips as part of their personal flowers and décor of both the chapel and the reception venue. 

Best wishes Mr. and Mrs. Phillips and I can’t wait to see you when you get back from your honeymoon!

 

 

 

 

Spring Blooms

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Photo courstey of Martha Stewart Weddings
Photo courstey of Martha Stewart Weddings

So today I was at my wholesaler picking out blooms for 6 different bridal bouquets that are needed on Friday for a bridal shoot at September Brides with the wonderful Amy Carroll of Amy Carroll Photography.  I originally planned on just picking out flowers that were more of a muted color but then I got there and started looking at all the wonderful spring flowers! I went from muted to color, color, and more color.   I have to say spring and the flowers that come with it are my favorite of all the seasons we have here in Michigan.  There is nothing better then a handful of daffodils mixed with bright pink tulips to spice up any wedding day.  And the great thing for all those spring brides is that these wonderful blooms are very reasonable and can stretch your floral budget.  So here’s to the spring brides and their wonderful spring flowers.  In the coming days be on the look out for my version of spring bouquets that I will be showcasing for this special bridal shoot. 

Meaning Behind the Blooms…

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Have you ever thought about what the true meaning of the flowers that you were picking out for your wedding?  Well since ancient times flower meanings have played a very important significant part of weddings.   Some flowers are meant for good luck and fortune for the future.   While others were meant to ward off evil spirits that may have entered into the couple’s relationship. And my personal favorite, some flowers were meant for fertility for the couple…  So here is the meaning of some of today’s most popular blooms…

 

Cream Roses ::  Perfection, Richness

Garland of Roses:: Garland of good fortune

Pink Rose ::  Gladness, Grace, Perfect Happiness, Innocent Love, Joy

Rose Single Full Bloom :: I Love You; I Still Love You

Ranunculus :: You Are Rich in Attractions, You Are Radiant With Charm

Mum :: Hope

Myrtle :: Home, Love

Grass :: Submission

Gardenia :: You are lovely, Secret Love

Daffodil :: Desire, Sympathy, Love me, Affection Returned, Respect, Regard, You’re the only one, Unrequited Love

Delphinium :: Well-being, Sweetness

Baby’s Breath :: Pure Heart, Gaiety

Bamboo :: Loyalty, Steadfastness

Bells of Ireland :: Good luck, Whimsy

Carnation :: Joy, Fascination, Love, Bonds of Love, Admiration, Distinction

Chrysanthemum ::  Cheerfulness, You’re a Wonderful Friend, Rest, and Optimism

Forget-Me-Not :: Memories, True Love, Remembrance

Freesia :: Trust, Innocence

Hydrangea :: Thank you for understanding, Boastfulness

If you would like to check out the meaning behind many more flowers a great resource is http://www.todays-weddings.com/planning/flowers/meanings_h.html .  Happy flower picking…

 

Be Different!

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

So the days of traditional flowers are so over. I encourage my bridal couples to make their flowers a reflection of them. Some want simple and elegant with just one type of flower. Others couples want something completely off the wall that don’t even have flowers incorporated into the bouquet. So my advice is be adventurous and have some fun with your designs. Here are some of my favorites that I found on http://www.marthastewartweddings.com

Be Different

6 Photos