A WEDDING FAIRYTALE

It is not often that I have trouble writing something about a great experience. Probably my procrastination about a post for this fairytale wedding is that I was determined to write the best story, post the best pictures and give the biggest shout outs possible. I think the latter two are no problem. But of course it is not every day that the owner's son gets married. It is and has been my pleasure and at Linda's request that I have had the fortune over the last four years to participate in many wonderful weddings in Orlando and Central Florida. I have designed many wonderful and spectacular events always trying to outdo myself and challenge our design team for something more fabulous than the last. Our company has grown to having little wedding experience to providing floral and decor in 2009 to an estimated 200 wedding clients, some small, many over the top but all with 100% positive feedback. Knowing what I know (or at least I thought) about Matt and Brittany's causal demeanor, I was confident this wedding would be a slam dunk. Well much to my surprise and frankly enjoyment, Matt took interest in every little detail when it came to decor. But he quickly became a "groomzilla" and the first ever for me. I'm not complaining, I thought it was kinda cute. Thankful for me, they both absolutely put their trust in me, our design team and the team of vendors that made me look like a super star. From the onset, Matt and Brittany just wanted a simple black and white wedding with silver accents. As you might imagine as an industry professional, it was important to me no matter what we did or who we called on that every detail was flawless. The end result with lots of planning and support from our extended family is short of breathtaking. So without further hesitation, I am proud and honored to present to you, the wonderful wedding of Mr. & Mrs. David Matthew Grier. Please hold your applause till the end.

The escort card center was a glass table top elevated by battery operated votives surrounded by hot pink rose petals. The escort cards were placed just so by the Eventfully Yours team. Fresh cute white phalenopsis orchids filled each vase.

Black muslin allowed for the white rose petal (over 500 roses) initial and scroll work to be illuminated by over 100 silver candle sticks framing the aisle.

The acrylic structure was designed and built by the team at Occasions by Shangri la which was unveiled at Matt and Brittany's wedding. Each white orchid arrangements atop was designed with over 150 white dendrobium orchid sprays. Orchid drops, black and clear crystals where illuminated by hanging votives as if everything was floating.

The table Matt and Brittany greeted their guest from included over 1,000 stems including mini calla lilies, roses, hydrangea, dendrobium and cymbidium orchid sprays.

The tallest of the centerpieces is our signature 42" silver and crystal candelabra. A design atop and garland included white roses, lilies, stock, and hydrangea.

Short centerpieces include five vases filled with dahlias, astilbe, roses, freesia and hydrangea, each adorned with rhinestone buckles in different shapes.

Simple and elegant, a spray of 100 white dendrobium orchid sprays atop our signature 42" palace vase with hanging crystals all illuminated with hollow votive candle holders.

The white and black flocked linens captured the light to provide each centerpiece a stunning look from every area of the room. The escort card table arrangements doubled as a back drop for the loungers surrounding the dance floor. While the table itself doubled for the cake placement.

The vision for Matt and Brittany wasn't to create the most expensive wedding possible, rather create an environment that represented each of their personalities for their family and friends to enjoy an evening of celebration. By being part of their special day, I find myself just a little bit closer to each of them. However I was only one part of making this fairytale wedding come true. It gives me great pleasure to thank the following individuals and companies for helping me make everything a reality:

The ENTIRE Greenery Productions Family, Linda Grier, Dave Grier, Betsy Shaw, Jennifer Smith of Omni Championsgate and her wonderful and dedicated banquet staff, Tracy Marini and the entire Eventfully Yours team, Over the Top Inc for providing linens, Michael Cruz from BBJ Linens, Paul from PKS for providing the chiavari chairs, Lindsey Cosimi from Room Service Rentals, Bryan Taylor with Tagas, Remmal & Smita with Occasions by Shangri La for providing the ceremony structure and fabric panels, Party Flavors for the picture perfect wedding cake, the following floral wholesalers and brokers, Carlstedts, Blue Ribbon Blossoms, Pennock, Valuflor; Kevin Keelan for the wonderful images you see and his assistant for the day Julie Brewer.

ROSEN PLAZA

Over the last 3 to 6 months I have been working with the Rosen Plaza to enhance their wedding packages and create a fresh image for weddings at the Rosen Plaza. It is a wonderful hotel and the staff including those I work with in particular Robin and Juan are very dedicated to each client's needs and desires. The hotel has received Best of The Knot (as we have) year after year. Juan had approached me for assistance in creating centerpieces for the hotels wedding package. Not only are we now the exclusive wedding floral provider, but a friendship has ensued. Ironically through conversations, Juan and I have unknowingly crossed paths nearly 2o years ago. Below are some images of a recent wedding and several luncheons hosted by the Rosen Plaza

Kerline of Joie de Vie Weddings asked to help create a vision for Showers of Happiness for an ABC Luncheon. I worked with the in house rigging to hang parasols and to encase the guest in a cloud of fabric. The uplighting and cloud gobos brought the space alive. I also worked with Rashida of BBJ Linens to find just the right linen for the tables. We used a reversible cloth called Spring Kyoto which can be seen by clicking the link. Under the umbrellas placed atop the table was wheat grass waiting for just a hint of rain to keep it fresh and green. Thanks to Ed Medici for providing these wonderful images.

The best part about our industry is that we get to enjoy the fruits of our labor with others we work with daily. From right to left is Juan and Robbin, both of the Rosen Plaza, Jen from Rosen Shingle Creek, Tamuel from Remembering When, myself, Donna from the Wyndham I-Drive, Rev Glynn Ferguson of Sensational Ceremonies and the in house rigger.

The above images provided by Brewer Photography & Videography are what you can expect from the Rosen Plaza. A selection of fabric sytles, linens, centerpieces and uplighting. To further enhance your wedding vision let the team at Greenery Productions help inspire you.

Industry professionals (too many to name) were given a VIP luncheon to launch the new Rosen Plaza packages.

There are so many wonderful industry professionals like those shown above that I have the honor of working with for corporate and social events. Amongst those are Tracy Marini with Eventfully Yours and Brandee Gaar with Blush by Brandee Gaar.

And the dynamic team that makes it happen for the Rosen Plaza from left to right is Michael Cruz from BBJ Linen, Robin and Juan from the Rosen Plaza, Julie Brewer from Brewer Photography & Videography and myself.

An October 2008 wedding at the Rosen Plaza. Discarding the ever present notion that a bride should carry an all white bouquet, this bride carried my favorite flower, the Schwarzwalder Mini Calla Lily while the girls carried a white mini calla lily bouquet. I like mono bouquets verses an overly mixed bouquet.

The fabric upgrade & chuppah is an option provided by the Rosen Plaza . The upgrades as shown are the stage covering, white stairs, floral swags, aisle markers and aisle runner.

The ceiling treatment is also an option provided by the Rosen Plaza

This bride chose a combination of short and tall centerpieces. The short being hydrangea, roses and open cut mini calla lilies. The tall centerpieces standing over 3 feet included open cut calla lilies, curly willow branches, white dendrobium orchid sprays and natural greenery.

The cake was enhanced with a fresh floral topper of white mini calla lilies and white hydrangea. Thanks to Tracy Marini of Eventfully Yours for letting me help make this brides day extra special with floral and decor. And to Rootography for the awesome images reflected above.

RED, WHITE AND FUN

I had the distinct pleasure of working with a wonderful couple that are also industry professionals. Chris & Terri Le Esposito were married on Sunday May 03, 2009 at The Marriott World Center with the reception following at the UCF Arena concourse. Now one might think (if you know the UCF Arena) that having a reception in this space might be a little odd. I have to admit, I certainly did. But let me tell you that this wasn't one couple that was going to let a blank hard space get in the way of creating a spectacular and FUN environment for all their guest. Being there most of the day I was able to watch the space transform into a white and red ZEN inspired reception like none I have ever seen. From early in the morning to late into the evening, J. Michael Hicks of A Spectacular Event oversaw and managed every detail. Thanks to Anna Cakes for sharing the images of the room set up in its entirety. She also created a cake that was spot on to the image the client requested. There were so many other vendors that helped to create this FUN wedding, but I don't want to misquote any (perhaps Chris and Terri Le can let me know so I can recognize them). In the meantime, please be inspired by the images posted below. For images from other angles and close up pictures, please contact me at tmurphy@greeneryproductions.com

Terri Le's bouquet was created with hand wired white cymbidium orchid blossoms and brick red mokara orchids.

Three different centerpiece made up the table decor. Although the elements were the same, each design was unique. Every table was enhanced with a collection of varying size square glass vase filled with river stones and water added candlelight to all the guest tables. This centerpiece consisted of black river stones filling one half of a tall thick cut square glass vase while Equisetum (also none as rush or horsetail) filled the other half. A clutch of white dendrobium orchid sprays arched over one side of the vase.

The same large glass vase filled with river stones was filled with 5' chunky curly willow branches with a cascading white phalaenopsis orchid sprays attached.

Black slate vases where placed at each guest setting with a single white fuji mum floating atop.

And the cake that looked spot on like the image provided by the client. A collection of large and dramatic Areca Palms, Ficus Ali & Adonida Palm Trees some as tall as 12 feet dotted the entrance and perimeter of the room. This is just a small collection from our greenhouses to serve our client's daily requirements for foliage.

SUNSET CANDLELIGHT

Intimate outdoor weddings can come alive with the just the right amount of decor and candlelight. Susan Southerland of Just Marry! introduced me to MaryKate's mother to help plan her daughter's destination wedding in May at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin. The ceremony was held overlooking the Dolphin while the cocktail and dinner reception where held at the Swan Courtyard Terraces. Greenery Productions designed and provided all the decor with the exception of the market umbrellas. The lanterns hung from the ligustrum trees blanketed with twinkle lights made for a romantic evening for the bridal party and guest alike. The tables were dressed with Ivory Deauville from BBJ Linens. The lush pink, white and green centerpieces included hydrangea, roses and cymbidium orchids. Thanks to Ginger Midgett Photography for providing these wonderful images.

MAY 16, 2009......A WEDDING TALE ABOUT PAIRS PART 2

The wedding tale continues. The second wedding for May 16th, 2009 was for the Gissy family. In May 2008 Linda Grier the owner of Greenery Productions introduced me to the Gissy family at the annual Give Kids The World Gala at the beautiful Peabody Orlando. We have supported this gala for the last three years by providing 140 centerpieces and foliage decor at no cost to GKTW. I am also proud to inform you we are the exclusive in house floral and foliage provider for corporate and social events plus we maintain the interior scape and are responsible for all the Christmas decor at The Peabody Orlando. I introduced Lisa Konecny of E Events to the family as I knew she would be perfect for them and me in creating a stunning wedding. I think the images below captured by Damon Tucci tell the story of a dream wedding for Kate and Jared. Many of the planning session included Brenda Gissy which I enjoyed getting to know through the planning process of her daughter's wedding.

Working with Bonnie Garfield at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and her support over the last four years have been a blessing. She has helped me become a better advisor and consultant to many of our mutual brides and has watched me grow into one of Orlando's premier wedding floral and decor providers.

The female attendants carried a bouquet of varying shades of pink peonies and ivory and pale green Weber/Parrot Tulips which are amongst my favorite novelty tulips. The bride carried an all peony bouquet in varying pink shades. The groom wore a pink ranunculus boutonniere while the male attendants sported a white ranunculus boutonniere.

The flower girls were so cute and I could not help myself capturing an image. They carried a much smaller version of the female attendants bouquet.

Our signature canopy of white chiffon placed over the Villa Piazza is always a bride favorite. The columns and black bars where covered with grape vine and floral clusters of antique green hydrangea, yellow, pink and ivory roses and tulips, white dendrobium orchid sprays and hanging green amaranthus (Kates favorite). The columns were topped with arrangements of the same floral. Framing the aisle where fresh cut flower hedges with hydrangea, roses, tulips, snap dragons and white dendrobium orchid sprays. These would later be moved to line the front of the stage.

The 500 or so roses that were to be used as petals to create a design down the aisle was not to be because of the windy conditions. Instead, I delighted in covering the area where Kate and Jared exchanged vows.

The ten foot wide by five foot deep head table overlooked the custom vinyl covered dance floor that further overlooked the band. The custom logo and uplighting illuminated the already beautiful Venetian Ballroom. The head table was dressed with a 42" tall tapered vase topped with an arrangement of antique green hydrangea, yellow and pink roses and dutch tulips. Hanging green amaranthus was a favorite detail that Kate desired. One thing I pride myself on is utilizing ceremony decor to help compliment the WOW factor. All the low floral dressing the head table is from the ceremony gazebo. The linens for the head table were a kiwi lamour underlay with a Green Stratford overlay that was a great compliment to the girls dresses.

The guest tables were dressed with a lime purple Fortuny from Over The Top. The centerpieces where the same as the head table just a collection of both 28" tall and 42" tall tapered vases filled with water. Short white washed vases topped with a cluster of roses, floating hollow t-light holders, mahogany chiavari chairs, gold chargers and kiwi colored satin napkins completed each guest table setting. Many thanks and sincere gratitude to the entire Greenery Productions floral team for flawlessly executing TWO stunning weddings for TWO wonderful families.