It’s been a busy March around here with events, trips to NYC and a bridal show in Chicago. Our friends at Martha Stewart Weddings were in town a few weeks ago hosting a bridal show at the Radisson Blu Hotel.  Martha Stewart Weddings created a table with a few of the items shown on their 2013 Winter Issue and they wanted us to create an arrangement inspired by the cover which featured Blake Lively’s bridal bouquet. We deviated a little (because who wants to copy someone else’s design!) but we were very happy what we designed.

Martha Stewarts Weddings Table Arrangement hosted blush peonies, jasmine vine, dusty miller, white sweet peas, pink o’hara roses, white stock in a silver compote

We also created an arrangement for Macy’s Registry Table with lots of garden roses, jasmine vine, pieris japonica and dusty miller

Invitation crafts created by the team at Martha Stewart Weddings

 Wedding cake created by Cake Chicago with a beautiful burlap pattern made out of buttercream.

 Not only we got to mingle with some wonderful couples we also got to reconnect with some of our favorite vendors but also meet some new ones!  Thank you to Anthony and Amy at Martha Stewart Weddings for thinking of us again!

Last week we had the pleasure of working at Room 1520. Until we get pictures from our friend Jeremy Lawson Photography here is a sneak at the escort card table we created. It’s a monochromatic collection of white dinner plate dahlias, white phalenopsis orchids, white hydrangea, white callas, garden roses and white tulips. It was stunning and it certainly set the tone for the evening as the guests arrived.

Just as the song says New York, concrete jungle were dreams are made of….last week for me it was flowers. There is no flower you cannot get here. Camellias, white tweedia (every time I ask for it from my local wholesaler they either laugh hysterically or dismiss me like I have two heads), blush ranunculus, bi color peony tulips, flannel flowers or even micro roses.

Learned a couple of things while I was there. Although the floral market in NYC gets product every day, the biggest shipments arrive on Mondays and Wednesdays. Mondays to fill up retail florists stock and Wednesdays to fill requests from designers.

Here are some of the pretty things I found…

Blush Ranunculus

Peony Tulips

Garden Roses

Gloriosa Lilies

Green Ranunculus

Orange Ranunculus

Purple Roses

Bridal Piano Roses

Tulips in every color

Flannel Flowers

Last but not least I got to put a face with the voice at Harvest Wholesale. I finally got to meet Niv! He actually also makes a mean cup of coffee. The running joke in the group was that I would go to Niv’s for breakfast. Niv, Starbucks needs to call you, their coffee in NYC sucks.

Liz Rusnac from Fleurology and Morgan Walker from Petal and Hedges standing next to a tall stack of cherry blossoms Branches outside Associated Cut Flower.

On the blog tomorrow: Taking floral design classes with the one and only… Ariella Chezar

Bebe and Michael got married last October at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The weather was outstanding….not too cold and not too hot.  They came to us thru Hilary Schwartz from Estera Events. She planned a beautiful wedding for them at Grand Piazza but the number of guests seem to grow and the wedding had to be moved to the Shedd.

The wedding colors were white, chartreuse green and aubergine. Given the numbers of guests Bebe and Michael wanted to reuse as much of the flowers as possible. We came up with the idea of creating oversized bridesmaids bouquets that we could use as centerpieces after the ceremony. We added lots of candles, hydrangeas and with the aubergine tablecloths selected by the couple we were able to create a romantic atmosphere at the Shedd.

Bebe carried a beautiful bouquet of garden roses, white cymbidiums, white callas and spray roses.

The bridesmaids carried a bouquet of green hydrangeas, purple callas and green cymbidiums.

We created three different centerpieces were a mix of candle collections, white hydrangeas and repurposing the bridesmaids bouquets.

Congratulations Bebe & Michael!

Photo Credit: Gerber & Scarpelli Weddings

Also known to me… as the new floral heaven on earth.

We met David Beahm and his lead designer Jeremy (who were the most knowledgeable and nicest men ever! ) at the floral market for a tour of the who’s who of good product at the NYC Floral Market. I’m going to let a lot of the pictures speak for themselves. I’ve never seen such quality of floral product (anemones in the most vibrant colors), different varieties, flowers that I would never be able to get in Chicago because the florist designers here wouldn’t request it for their designs, plus a rose wholesaler who carries the most amazing and beautiful roses from south america. The varieties and colors were absolutely stunning!

I’ve always looked at Martha Stewart Magazines in awe as to were do they get these flowers! After seeing the flowers around me…. I knew were she purchased all of it for those amazing magazine spreads. The good news is that now I got the “scoop” on who to call to get the good stuff.

Pink Anemones

Cabbage Roses

Cherry Blossoms

Inside the flower market

Fringed Tulips

Fritallaria

Hellebores (they had it in deep purple too, too bad I didn’t take a picture of it!)

Greens & Foliage

Peonies, Jasmine Vine and Ranunculus

Paul

Orange Ranunculus (don’t they scream put us in a bridal bouquet?)

Light Pink Center Ranunculus

Plants

Green Centered Ranunculus

Roses at Harvest (they carried the most amazing species from South America)

Scabiosa Pods and Yellow Billy Balls

Succulents

Jeremy, the lead designer at David Beahm Design mentioned that most of the floral product at the NYC floral market travels for a period of 12 hours on average, hence the reason why the product looks so incredibly fresh. After being surrounded by such floral beauty all I needed was my floral knife, a vase and water. I couldn’t wait to start arranging! That is exactly what I did at David Beahm’s office along with sixteen other designers! Tomorrow on the blog (as I continue my little trip down memory lane),  the one and only David Beahm.

These are the wedding trends that I see coming up on 2011.

Food

Charcuterie, Olives and Antipasto Table ~ Forget about that old cheese display. Go for a gourmet and upscale salumi and antipasto table during the Cocktail Hour. If you must have cheese (I love cheese too), incorporate an artisinal cheese course during the seated meal. Ask you caterer to pair the cheese with the wine.

Whoopie Pies ~ What’s old is new, and this one is an old classic. Think red velvet whoopie pies, pumpkin whoopie pies or chocolate whoopie pies. Yum! You can create a dessert station or pass them later on in the evening.

Sweet Table Displays a la Amy Atlas ~ Dont be fooled by many (and there are many out there) who say they “created” these beautiful displays. Amy Atlas is the authority behind beautifully displayed sweet tables. Go to her website for lots of eye candy and inspiration.

Old Style Cocktails ~ I’m actually quite happy about this one.  Appletinis are out! Bring on the Old Fashioned, Tom Collins, Harvey Wallbanger and a Manhattan.

Jewelry

Gemstone Engagement Rings ~ This wil be a big trend this year after Kate Middleton and Prince William Engagement. Although I love a good gemstone, I’m a traditional girl at heart and still think Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, plus they go with everything.

Brooches for the Bridal Bouquet ~ Adorn your bridal bouquet with a beautiful brooch which can become a family heirloom after the wedding, or better yet ask your Mom to lend you one for the occasion.

Vintage Inspired Jewelry ~ Seeing more and more vintage inspired jewelry designs for the bride.

Floral  & Decor

Dahlias, Garden Roses, Anemones, Dusty Miller, Silver Leaf and Brunia ~ Dahlias have been pretty hot for a few years now and will continue to be along with garden roses and anemones. Seeing a lot of accents of dusty miller, silver leaf and even brunia on a lot of bouquets and centerpieces.

Colors Combinations of Aqua &  Red  or   Pewter & Mustard Yellow ~ I know that Pantone said their new color for 2011 is Honeysuckle but I’m not a pepto bismol pink kinda girl. I actually look elsewhere for my color inspiration. For me aqua and red or mustard and yellow will continue to be popular colors this coming year.

Vintage Milk Bowls, Mercury Glass Containers, Votive  Cups & Candle Holders and of course, Colored Glass ~ Enough said!

What 2010 trends are you hoping will vanish forever? For me, it’s those side buns. Leave it for the rehearsal dinner, for your wedding day go with classic and elegant. It never goes out of style.

What hot new wedding trends do you expect to see in 2011?