Of course, you might be thinking great, this has to be an inexpensive look to get, right?  It’s just old things and stuff from your yard.  Wrong, wrong, wrong. This look involves layers of material, natural elements, vintage finds and just when you think  you are done, you add a few more things.  I priced out one take on this amazing look, using various sources for the costs.

Start with a moss mat (around $8) or burlap table runner.  Add a galvanized bucket or watering can (starting at $29) for flowers and branches-cost for these varies depending on your area and season as well as the flowers you choose .  Then add a bird’s nest ($3.50+) with robin’s egg blue eggs ( $7 and up).  Next comes something in aged cement or wood, say a finial ($19-$99) or other architectural elements.  And, last but not least, a white washed lantern (starting at $49).

Starting to see why this is expensive?  Not to mention time consuming to source all of these lovely materials?  At a glance, you are up to about $120 per table, and I didn’t even add in the cost of any flowers or candles.  Of course, I would have to have the lovely moss letters from Pottery Barn for the front doors of the church to complete the look.  These are  $79 per letter.

Let’s be honest here, if you are doing your guest tables with this appealing look, you want to make sure the head table, gift table, etc are done in the same theme, so be sure to add that to your costs.  Wow, it is not cheap to be inspired by the Inspired Garden.  Maybe you should buy that lottery ticket after all!

Luckily, there are talented wedding designers that can help you achieve this look, rent you materials (instead of buying everything) and help you create the wedding of your dreams.  Or should I say your garden dreams?

I put a link to Pottery Barn so you can see why my heart goes pitter patter over their Inspired Garden look.  Be prepared to be inspired, I know I was.

Cathi

A classic red poinsettia, I love the dark leaves and their unique coloring

This poinsettia features blue-red leaves.

As you may know, poinsettias are part of the euphorbia family, a mexican shrub.

What we consider flowers are really leaves or bracts.  The small yellow centers are really the flowers.

You may be tempted to keep your plants and use them next year.  However it is unlikely that they will look as they do now.  Poinsettias are very finicky about their light needs.

In order to rebloom they need to be in the dark for 14 hours a night starting in October.  I put a link to a website that has great directions if you want to try to rebloom your poinsettia.

A lovely peach or pink poinsettia that contrasts nicely with the tree back next to it.

The notched leaves create texture and interest

If you are planning a winter wedding next season and wondering if you can use poinsettias as part of your wedding flowers, the answer is yes!

I would be glad to show you some ideas for using them.  Visit my website to send me a note about scheduling your complimentary consultation.

Happy New Year,

Cathi

A stunning white orchid from Como Conservatory.

To steal a line from the popular christmas song, Baby it’s cold outside! At least here in the twin cities it is.

So we headed to the one place guaranteed to warm you and lift your spirits.  Of course, I am talking about the Como Conservatory or as it is now known, the Marjorie Conservatory.

Chances are that if you live here or have visited the St. Paul, Minneapolis area, you have been to the conservatory.  Located at Como Park, next to the Como Park Zoo, the conservatory, which opened in 1915, has an acre of gardens under glass.  It is free to enter, with a suggested donation of $2/adults, which is such a bargain.

Even though the Como holiday show is on now, with poinsettias filling the sunken garden room, it is the orchids that are the star for me.  There are so many varieties which are rotated and spread through out the various gardens.  Nothing says warm and tropical like an orchid.

A delicate and subtly marked orchid at Como Conservatory

Of course, as a wedding floral designer, orchids are at the top of my most requested list.   While  they can be out of  the budget for  many brides, there are ways to use them that are budget friendly, but still look amazing.  I thought I would share a few of  my favorites from our recent visit.

I love color (always have, always will).  But I am currently enthralled with pale and subtle flowers.

Sometimes we need to slow down and see the beauty in our world that doesn’t smack you in the face, but grows as you spend more time with it.  And these white orchids are just too beautiful to resist.

Another stunning white orchid with purple and yellow accents.

If you are a prospective bride and want to learn more about using orchids in your wedding flowers, be sure to visit my website, Arabella Weddings. Look for the link on the side bar.

Hope you enjoy looking at these 0rchids and have a great new year.

Cathi

fall bouquet

Fall is such a popular time to get married, bypassing June.  And who can blame a bride for wanting a fall wedding?  The colors of autumn are rich, the weather is nice and nature provides a beautiful backdrop for outdoor weddings.

I have had several weddings this fall with the same color scheme, all beautiful and all unique.  I just love how 2 brides can have the same color scheme, but a completely different look for their wedding.  Yesterday I had a gorgeous wedding at the Carlson Towers in Minnetonka.  The weather couldn’t have been better-who thought it would be 80 in October here in Minnesota?  The outdoor wedding was blessed with sunshine and blue skys not to mention lots of love.

It was Cate and Dave’s, who were just the nicest, sweetest couple who love fall and wanted their wedding to reflect that.  The bouquets and bridal party flowers were red and orange roses, dahlias and callas.  On the tables were low arrangements of the same flowers plus others and several different fall branches.  Anchored by a red table square and accented with mini pumpkins placed on fall leaves, the reception tables carried on the fall theme of the wedding.   I especially love how they “numbered” the tables by naming each table with an activity they had done together.  Very sweet and romantic.

The wedding and reception were a picture of understated, simple elegance.  Given the soaring beauty of the Rotunda at the Carlson Towers, the table decor provided the perfect balance.  It would be tempting to go big and tall in the space, but keeping it low and richly hued allowed the space to be fully appreciated.

understated fall table

Later this week I will post an entry about another recent wedding with the same colors, but a different feel.

Cathi

Just like it was in the 1800's the Mill City Museum loading area

It was a hot and steamy day, the kind that you just know is going to be stormy later.  If you are from the midwest you know what I am talking about.  Severe storms, sirens going off-typical summer in Minnesota.  It was also the wedding day of, Susan and her groom, Garrett.  Their reception was held at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis.  The museum is built in the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mills.  When you enter for deliveries, you go over the original railroad tracks and get a sense of what it might have been like in the 1800′s.  In short, it is a very cool space.

And it’s not just the museum that is so cool.  It is the whole neighborhood that adds to the appeal.  Located in a downtown Minneapolis historic riverfront area next to the new Guthrie Theater with a view of the historic Stone Arch Bridge, the museum has been part of the revitalization of the whole  area.  If a hip, urban vibe is what you are looking for, be sure to check it out.

Susan was a super nice bride.   She had an idea of what she wanted but was flexible, which is the ideal combination for me as a designer.  The museum commons, where the dinner was held, is an interesting old/contemporary space.  The tables,  a mix of oval and small square tables added visual interest.

The Mill City Museum Wedding Reception

Susan’s colors were purple, green and brown.  Rich chocolate brown table runners highlighted the oval tables.  We used 3 square vases of varying heights with a twist on the orchid stem in a vase look. I used purple deco wire,  looped and twisted, with a Dendrobium orchid bloom attached to each loop.  The wires/orchids were placed inside the water filled vases.  Unusual and elegant looking!  Sometimes the simplest look is the most stunning.  When you have a venue that is so unique and makes such a strong visual statement it is better to go simple with decor rather than compete with it.

For brides looking for a unique venue, check out the Mill City Museum.  It is such an interesting space that makes for an unforgettable wedding celebration.  If you happen to be in the twin cities sometime, I highly recommend that you take the time to visit the Mill City Museum. It is so interesting and has many hands on exhibits for kids and adults alike to enjoy.

Take care,

Cathi

the perfect summer bouquet, yellow and white roses, dahlias and gerberas

It seems like most of  my weddings this summer have purple as their main color.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I love purple.  It’s a rich color that goes with many others.  But one of my weddings last weekend had a yellow and white color scheme.  I guess I just needed something different and this wedding was it.  If a color can mirror the personality of the couple, this one did.  The bride, Jenny, was the sweetest, sunniest person.  Her groom, Josh was just as nice when we met for the consultation.

Jenny’s  bouquet was a dreamy combination of whites and creams with yellows.  Roses, dahlias, football mums and gerberas made up the luscious bouquet, which was tied together with buttery yellow ribbon.  The groom’s boutonniere was a contemporary, striking gerbera with a dahlia bud and fern.

We often think of bright, strong colors for summer, but soft, creamy colors are just as appropriate for summer and out of the ordinary.

If you are looking a less common color combo for your summer wedding, think yellow.  Pair it with whites and creams or go daring and choose gray.   Not only will you be breaking from the crowd, but you will be on the front of the latest color trend, gray for weddings.

Check my website for more pictures from this wedding.

Take care,

Cathi

1.  Where are you going to get the flowers?  Sure, there are many internet based flower sellers that claim they sell “wholesale” flowers, but the truth is, those aren’t wholesale prices.  Professional wedding florist are not getting their flowers there, which should tell you something.  And that advice about going to the wholesale house in your town and getting flowers there?  Forget it, because no true wholesaler is going to let you do that.

2.  Flowers have to be done at the last minute.  Do you really want to be up until 1 or 2 am the night before your wedding?  Do your family and friends want to be up with you?  I don’t think so.

3.  Food-as in flower food.  Most people don’t realize that flowers need specific foods and other solutions to be at their best.  I have at least 7 different foods and solutions in my studio.  Not only do you not know which ones to use when, you probably can’t even buy them.

4.   If you flowers look bad, wilt or die, no matter the reason, what will you do?  The florist assumes all the risk and will buy more flowers if needed.  More than once, I have been unhappy with the color or quality of a flower and sought out other sources at the last minute.

5.  Your hands.  It may seem trivial, but after I  do a wedding, my hands are full of little cuts and stains.b  And don’t even ask about my nails.  If you want your hands to look nice for those artful hand pictures, don’t do your own wedding flowers.

6. Your florist knows what looks good together, what will stand up to the heat if it’s 90 outside.  While you may think you will save money by DIY, a florist can show you ways to stretch your budget and still get the look  you want.

7.  Just because it looks easy, doesn’t mean it is.  Like everything else, it takes practice to create beautiful bouquets and arrangements.

Just as most of you wouldn’t dream of baking your own wedding cake, your wedding flowers should not be a DIY effort.  Your flowers will be in most of your pictures and you want them to be fantastic as they are preserved forever.

Take care,

Cathi

Turquoise combines the best of blue and green to make a color that has so many positive associations.  It is happy, reminds us of the ocean, summer,  tropical paradises.

Try pairing turquoise with neutrals and browns to liven them up or pinks and reds for a twist on the traditional red and blue combo or use with greens, especially the trendy yellow-greens.

So how can you use turquoise in your wedding?  If you like the boldness of pure turquoise, choose it for your bridesmaids dresses.  Then go with flowers in the coral/orange shades.  Too bright for you?  Then choose black bridesmaids dresses and add accents of turquoise for a kick of color.  Your flowers could be creams with turquoise jewels added to the bouquet or in the ribbon.

While there are no flowers that naturally bloom in turquoise, there are so many beautiful blooms whose color is a perfect companion for turquoise.  Creams and yellows, corals, and pinks and reds all come to mind.

Go ahead and take a chance on turquoise.  Your wedding is a joyous occasion, why not choose a color that is as happy as turquoise is?

Take care,

Cathi

For those of you not familiar with Hudson Wisconsin, it is a lovely, small town just across the St. Croix river from St. Paul, Minnesota.  The downtown is vibrant and full of interesting shops and restaurants.  Unlike the ever popular Minnesota river town of  Stillwater, there are few traffic jams on it’s main street.  For those of you who have never been there, if you find yourselves in the St. Paul area, take and afternoon and pay Hudson a visit.

But what I really want to share is that purple, a 2010 wedding color, was out in full force at several of the homes.  I saw purple paired with metallics like bronze and cooper.  In another room/ home it was paired with green, bright limey green that is.  One home had a table with purple as the dominant color but accented with mango orange.  Yum!  One of the things about purple is that the color is so strong, keeping the overall design simple, not overdone seemed to be the way to use purple to it’s fullest.

Most of the homes that we toured used simple, nature inspired designs then added color to give extra interest and punch.  We noticed that branches and evergreens were very simply adorned, often with just white lights, maybe airy, wired ribbon and fabric to bring in color.  Bowls and other unusual containers were filled with ornaments.  Sometimes natural elements like large pine cones or evergreens were mixed in.  I love the juxtaposition of shiny glass bulbs with the natural look of pine cones.  So simple, so elegant and easy to do.  It just proves that design doesn’t need to be overworked to be appealing.  Another thing I like about this attitude of less is more is that anyone can do it.  Whether it is your wedding, your home or your holiday decorating, everyone can create beauty.

It was such an inspiring day.  I came home hoping I have a chance soon to design a purple wedding.

take care,

Cathi

Kale with purple mums look great in a green vase

One of the wedding color trends for 2010, purple, has long been the color of royalty.  Deep purples have a rich, luxious feeling.  Can a color evoke passion ?   Well, if one can, it is purple.  Look for all variations of purple from deep eggplant to lighter lavender to be popping up all over next year.

So if purple is your color of choice for your upcoming wedding what can you pair it with?  Of course green, the limey ones, look great with purple.  But don’t stop there, try it with copper or bronze for an even richer, sophisticated look.  Balance it with deep gray or creamy ivory.  For a different twist, pair it with orange or paler versions of orange such as coral or apricot.  Fuschia with purple amps up the energy.  And for all the Vikings fans, we know that yellow and purple are the way to go.

Of course, you want to know what flowers to use for your purple wedding.  How about my favorite Moon series carnations?  They come in 4 shades of purple from light to deep, deep, deep purple.  Orchids, lisianthus, iris, hydrangeas and spider mums all come in various shades of purple.  Don’t forget about asters, delphiniums, trachellium, calla lilies and one of my favorite “off beat” flowers- ornamental kale.  It comes in green and purple or white and purple.  Kale is still relatively unusual so if you are looking for an unique addition to your bouquets, kale is it.

Don’t forget to use purple on your tables at your reception.  Try table runners or my way of adding depth and balance to your large reception tables:  the table square.  Simply a 22″x22″  piece of fabric in the middle of your table that anchors your arrangements and votive candles, it gives a much more important look to the table than mirrors ever can.  Check out the fabric stores for decorator fabric in rich, regal purples when looking for ideas for your table.

Check back in a few days for the next 2010 trend color,

Cathi