Amazed by the creativity.

Sometimes when I am just surfing the net, I am literally taken aback by some of the creativity I see. This cake, for instance, is absolutely stunning. The detail work on the floral petals are amazing. Especially given the fact that they are all hand made and created by fondant. I'm not quite sure how edible it is, but it's is very visually appealing! Some people truly have a gift, and this cake is a sure example of it.

Source: vintagerosegarden.tumblr.com via Hanna on Pinterest

Here is another example of the many, many that I've seen. Just look at the floral design on this autumn cake. So creative, and very pretty, and extremely detailed! It truly amazing me with how far we have come with design. It makes me think back to when I first got married and remembering during that time, there was nothing remotely close to the things I see now. Makes you wonder if brides know just how far we've come? So the question comes to mind; If you had a chance to plan your wedding all over again, what would you do differently?

Source: projectwedding.com via Karen on Pinterest

Burlap Love

I'm in a little bit of burlap love right now. The fabric is so neat and versatile that it can really be used just about everywhere.

I really like the idea of growing a few herbs in little pots for the kitchen, and think that the burlap bag can really add some texture to your living space. Something about them just looks homey, but yet has that rustic look.

They can easily be used to cover up an ordinary pot and can also be reused many times over. They are fairly inexpensive and they hold shape well. Adding pretty ribbon to tie them, is a great way to dress them up a little more.

Well Hello Pintrest!

I don't know where you've been all my life, but I'm in love. Have you heard of Pintrest yet?? Its a place where...

"you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests."

I could spend hours just looking at all the neat ideas, and find lots of inspiration from many of the pinboards. Everyone shares things that they have found and it's all in one place! 

Take this picture for example. Someone found this beautiful wedding scheme on the web and "pinned" it to their board and added other pictures to help them create a dream wedding.

Source: 100layercake.com via Heather on Pinterest

I absolutely love the idea and plan on visiting more often to find some great ideas, and beautiful inspirations!

Victoria & Neal

This was a private ceremony for just the bride and groom. All that was necessary was a bouquet and boutonniere but I've got to say that this was one of my FAVORITE bouquets EVER. I love everything about it. Luckily, the bride did too!
All photos are by Mahmood Fazal.

Debbie and Tek

Debbie and Tec were a destination couple who chose the Historic Rice Mill Building for their wedding ceremony and reception. They got more than they bargained for when a strong wind storm moved in and threatened to force their ceremony inside. We quickly changed plans to accomodate; rearranging the floral decorations and moving the speakers and other equipment to lower levels to avoid toppling. With veil blowing in the wind Debbie exchanged vows with Tek and became his wife! Now they have a great story about their wild Charleston wedding!

Once inside, the party continued with fantastic food and drink provided by Good Food Catering. Delicious cake and pies by Lauren from Wildflour Pastry. Other Brother DJ Service kept the music going and the guests on the dance floor! The evenings events were captured in photographic memories for the couple to share for many years to come by Stephen Blackmon Photography.

FANTASTIC PHOTOS BY STEPHEN BLACKMON PHOTOGRAPHY! CK HIM OUT!!!


http://www.stephenblackmon.com/

Rice or Roses?

Some wedding venues frown upon throwing (usually customary) rice at the newly weds, as they walk down the aisle for the first time as man and wife. So, why not replace the rice with rose petals? Just as the guests walk to the procession area, have someone hand out flower baskets. What a wonderful way to start out as newlyweds ...by people throwing aromatic rose petals at you!

You can do this on a small budget as well. Instead of buying expensive baskets for all the guests, you can make them out of paper, glue and ribbon. As I was searching for instructions on how to create a paper basket, I came across this one from Martha Stewart Weddings:

A pouch folded from colorful paper is a pretty alternative to a traditional basket; add a ribbon handle and bow, and it's ready for the flower girl's important role. We used vellum, so any moisture on flower petals won't damage the basket. It's so easy, your young attendant might like to help you make it.

Basket How-To:You will need a 12-inch-square sheet of colored vellum, a hole punch, 1/2-inch-wide ribbon, and a hot-glue gun.

1. Fold paper in half diagonally to form a triangle. Place so that the triangle's longest side is at the bottom.
2. Fold right corner over as shown, creating a flap (the flap's top edge should be parallel to bottom of triangle).
3. Fold left corner over to form another flap, aligning its top edge with the top of the right flap.
4. Fold one layer of top section down. Secure with double-sided tape.
5. Turn basket over (this will be the basket's front). Fold other layer down. Tape.
6. Punch a small hole near the basket's top through all layers. Thread ribbon end through front hole, and knot inside; thread the other end through back hole, and knot.
7. Hot-glue a ribbon bow just below handle at front.

That Martha Stewart always has some very creative ideas!

Wish Upon a Wedding

Have you heard about this wonderful organization that helps people with terminal illnesses make their dream wedding, a reality?

"Wish Upon a Wedding is a nonprofit  organization that provides weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness and serious life altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation.

Our organization was created to celebrate the courage, determination and spirit of these couples by granting their dream wedding Wishes. Our hope is that chosen recipients can inspire other couples facing similar situations to find hope and strength."

I think it's a wonderful and selfless idea. They also provide many ways to help! You can provide donations, have a fund raiser, become a wish granter, etc..  It's really up to you on what you can or are able to do, in order to help them make the wishes come true.

Check out their website here http://wishuponawedding.org/ for more information.

These flowers are for you..oh, and it's a stick up!

Instead of robbing your local bank with a gun, next time, try flowers! OK, obviously I'm just joking but that is exactly what Edward Pemberton, of New York did. He robbed banks using flowers and potted plants as a distraction to the dubious deed he was about to commit. Edward, the "bouquet bandit", showed his love of flowers, by giving the bouquets to the tellers as a "thank you" for giving him something that didn't belong to him and he believed it also showed that he was polite.

Can you imagine? Typically, when people see flowers they are excited and happy because they are almost always a very welcomed gift! This man did not brandish a gun, but used these beautiful creations as his weapon of choice. I wonder if those unlucky tellers will ever appreciate receiving flowers again, or if they are traumatized for life?

On a final note, the Bouquet Bandit was caught, and plead guilty of his numerous robberies. His sentencing will be on September 14th.

To be Overcome by the Fragrance of Flowers is a Delectable Form of Defeat.

As I'm building my bouquets, or centerpieces, I am astounded by the fact that I can still fully appreciate the fragrance from each and every flower. Some more pleasurable than others, of course, but truly, flowers are amazing. Visually stunning and beautifully fragrant, I am lucky to have them to be a part of my daily life!

Did you know that flowers carry a fragrance to attract insects to help pollinate other flowers? So when you spray that pretty floral perfume, and get chased around by hungry bees, you'll know why. Is it the same concept for us humans too? Is that why we spray rosey perfume to attract a mate?  All I know is, sometimes I wish that some would try to be less attractive.

One more fun fact of the day. Flowers are more fragrant when the air is humid. Their scent travels farther and more easily detectable. Luckily for us in the Low Country...we have plenty of humid days to enjoy the fragrance.  Maybe that will help us forget how hot we actually are!

Flowers can be gifts that keep giving!

Image Source

To me, nothing says "I'm thinking of you" more than flowers. But what makes flower giving even more special, is when the gift can keep giving!

Collect seeds from flowers growing right out of your garden, and place them in a personalized, handmade packet. You can put the seeds on one side, and a note on the other with instructions. That way, every time the flowers bloom, they will think of you.

This can be great budget-friendly wedding favors, or placed inside greeting cards for the special people in your life. 

*Instructions on how to make the origami seed packets can be found HERE

Connecting with the Bride

Being a bride to be can be stressful. Whether you have a year to plan or only a few weeks, the stress can get to the best of us. So knowing this, when I meet with my brides, I try to make the meeting as relaxed as possible while listening to them explain their dream wedding.

I enjoy what I do and like to think that I am good at it. I've always been a very creative person and express myself through my work, always concentrating on the details that make things special. It's this attention to detail that helps make a bride's wedding all that they hoped for.  I want them to always be comfortable knowing that I will make their wedding flowers something that they will remember, and be happy about. Even after the flowers are long gone, the memories of them will still be there.

As I continue to grow in my business, I know it will always be a learning experience. I always say "I play with flowers for a living". That's the fun part and makes it sound easy but actually there is a lot more to it than that. Like every business there is a lot of work involved in the process and it can be very time consuming keeping up with everything. I think the most important thing I would want my brides to know is that I like what I do and it shows in my work. It will show in the flowers I do for her. I always take a personal interest in each bride and her 'vision' for her wedding day. It's my job to understand what she wants and then make that vision a reality. It's my pleasure to add the extra details to my flowers that puts a smile on her face when she sees them.

Aaahhhh....Prom Night!!!!

Do you remember yours?!?!  The dress...your date...your friends...

...............and all the rest..............

Definitely a night to remember!

Spring is in the air and with it comes Prom season.
Everywhere, corsages and boutonnieres need to be made!
My favorite, so far this year, has been for our very own Jacki,
attending her prom with her boyfriend, Michael.

Jacki is our newest staff member at First Bloom of Charleston.
We are excited to have her helping us this summer
before she heads off to college at Winthrop University.
Congratulations Jacki! You look fantastic...you too Michael!

 Alot more thought and effort than you might think

goes into making the 'perfect corsage'

to compliment the 'perfect dress'

In this case, one white Orchid, a trio of blue Delphinium blossoms,

a little purple Agapanthus, some green Hypericum Berries
and a few Dusty Miller leaves;

all tied together with a sheer ribbon of white w/silver accents

used to compliment the silver and crystal on Jacki's dress and jewelry.

The final touch; some navy blue wire embellishments

to add a little fun and personality.

And you thought it was just a wrist corsage...

A Woman and Her Shoes!!!

We all know how much we women love our shoes! Can't get enough of them!!!  Gotta have something for every occasion, right?!?! So, just what is the perfect shoe to wear for your wedding day? If a picture tells the story, then this one has a different ending for everyone...samples from a few of my brides

Is a Sexy little sandle the one for you?

Or are you the Classic peep-toe pump type?

Maybe Comfort is  your primary concern?

How about this Sparkly flip-flop for your beach wedding

or a Satin slipper to relax your toes in?

 

Are you a Bold personality that loves to add a little color to your white wedding ensemble?

 

Or the fun-loving and care-free type that thinks wedding kicks should be none other than Cowboy boots!!!! : ) 

Special thanks to all my brides who's wedding shoes (and in some cases their feet & legs) appear here!

I enjoyed all of you so much!!!

Also a BIG thanks to the fantastic photographers that captured these images:

Chris & Cami Photography

Lowcountry Focus Photography

Richard Ellis Photography

A Collier Design Photography

Sea Star Arts-Fine Art Photography

Slayton Photography - S Squared Photo