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.