SAYING GOODBYE IS THE HARDEST PART

From the bottom of my heart, I always thank my clients for allowing us to participate in what will be one of the most memorable and cherished days of their lives. Sometimes those days becomes weeks and months and you begin to build a relationship. Coordinators can tell you this first hand since they share so many intimate details with the bride, groom and families. From the moment that Tracy Marini with Eventfully Yours introduced me to the Robucks, I knew I wanted to work with them to create their dream wedding. Charlotte (the bride) and Iris (the mom) where just so darn sweet. I cherished the thought of driving down memory lane as I visited the "barn" for the first time on Silver Lake in Leesburg. I spent some time growing up in Leesburg and worked at Silver Lake Country Club. In fact I helped open the facility way back in the late 80's. Much to my surprise it was torn down and the lot sits empty. Charlotte loved orchids and cerise and chartreuse colors. Her bouquet included Garnet Glow mini calla lilies and hand wired mini cymbidium orchid blossoms.

The girls carried a bouquet of Weber Parrot Tulips (an awesome variety with lots of textures, take a look at this link for tulips) and white mini calla lilies.

Always going above the call of duty to assist where and when I can.

Mr. & Mrs. Robuck are just a delightful couple. I enjoyed exchanging flower stories with Iris. Mr. Robuck was so accomodating even going so far as painting the silver installation that was painfully obvious after we installed the pipe and drape around the perimeter of the barn.

I just love this picture that Troy Battle captured of the flower girl. He is an amazing photographer and I can not thank him enough for being so great to work with and providing these wonderful images for your enjoyment. Be sure and clik the link to see more images of this wedding and others.

Mr. Robuck built this arbor which faced Silver Lake as the couple exchanged vows. Varying varieties of orchid sprays, ivy, variegated greenery and curly willow decorated the arbor.

An explosion of Calypso Mokara Orchids arranged in a variegated ginger leaf lined accented with curly willow brightened the table covered in a Apple Green Bengaline

Other tables included a soft and romantic pink cymbidium orchid spray tucked into a tall round vase. Pink parchment paper covered the flickering votive holders.

The cake carried the pink and green theme with a border of mini green cymbidiums and Garnet Glow mini calla lilies.

The beautiful coupled admiring their dream wedding and all the guest enjoying themselves.

I am often asked about elements that help drive the theme while remaining tasteful. I've seen these paper lanterns used and have used them myself in the past. But I always say use them in masses to provide an abundance of color and ambient lighting. So I couldn't help myself by hanging absolutely ever last lantern the client purchased. It brought the tent alive with color.

I just love this picture from across the pond (of which I wanted to build a bridge across). You can actually see all the pink in the picture it is amazing.

Rounding out some of Tracy's favorite vendors present for this special occassion where Steve Weinstein of Power Entertainment DJ Service & Rainer with Simply Cinematic

FALLING IN LOVE IS SO COLORFUL

Planning a wedding can be a daunting task even for a seasoned professional. That is why I am a big advocate in hiring a coordinator, a really good coordinator that stands the test of time. Especially when the planning for floral and decor starts a year out. Tracy Marini of Eventfully Yours introduced me to Ivette and her mom about a year before her November 2009 wedding at Lake Mary Event Center. I feel blessed that Tracy introduced me to this dynamic duo because once again they really let me help them plan the right floral and decor for this fall wedding. Below are some of the images that Cory Callahan Photography captured. I will be sure an post more as they become available so you can appreciate all the details of her wedding.

Ivette carried a bouquet with mango calla lilies. Mango calla lilies offer a wide range of color hues that best capture a crisp fall day.

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church is such a beautiful setting. The two large altar arrangements would later double as stage decoration for the cake.

Each tree was a lush arrangement of roses, orchids, safari sunset, bells of irleand, alstroemeria, fresh fall foliage and curly willow branches.

A mixture of tall and short arrangements are really a smaller version of the altar arrangements. Amber colored hanging glass votives hung from the thick dragonwood branches with more amber votives at the base to bring a warm fall glow to the tables. Each place setting included a beautifully inscribed menu with brown satin ribbon and a fresh orchid blossom. Gold chiavari chairs, gold chargers and copper pintuck linens completed this elegant setting.

I am anxiously awaiting the night time image that this picture certainly doesn't capture. The cake table and ceremony pieces were aglow from the gold glass mosaic votives elevating the cake. The candle light from the ceremony trees coupled with the amber uplights created the perfect feeling of a sunset on a crisp fall night.

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.

MAY 16, 2009......A WEDDING TALE ABOUT PAIRS PART 1

Now that May has blessed us, I can get back to some blogging. As I sit here and think about the two weddings on May 16, 2009 I realize how everything was in pairs. Two great brides, two great mothers, two of my favorite venues, wedding coordinators, hotel catering directors and in the end two absolutely FABULOUS WEDDINGS. First let me say Greenery Productions can produce and manage many events on the same day and leading up to the actual event date. Our one day record for weddings in excess of $5,000 each is SEVEN. We pride ourselves on making sure every detail is as promised no matter how small the detail or how large the event. On this day though, we could only manage two weddings because of the size and scope of detail of each wedding. The first was the Yacomeni wedding. I met Helen almost TWO years prior to her daughter Lindsey's wedding. I usually find it in the client's best interest to meet no earlier than 8 months out, a year if the venue and color scheme have been established. Well Helen insisted and the end result turned into a wonderful relationship plus a beautiful wedding for Lindsey and Scott. But let me say almost everything changed from the beginning so all you brides out there, don't worry if you don't start planning floral and decor earlier than a year out. The mother of the bride Helen was so much fun to work with. She would check my facebook page and blog every Sunday to see what was posted. She was one of my biggest fans for the last six months and I hope she continues to follow me. All Helen wanted was to give her daughter a dream wedding.

Bling was in order for Lindsay. With the jewels, probably the most expensive bouquet I have made to date. Hand wired japhet and cymbidium orchid blossoms with Swarovski jewels throughout.

Working with Jennifer Smith of the Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate is always a dream. And of course non other than Tracy Marini of Eventfully Yours could make any wedding more complete no matter the size or detail . Thank you both ladies, I know I asked a lot from each of you and as always you amazed me. The chuppah would later be taken apart and moved upstairs to flank the entrance and cake table. Votives from hanging glass crystals would transform each post.

Another pair here......They both loved the glass covered place card table. Crushed glass ice covers the table with an arrangement of curly willow branches, hydrangea,hand wired cymbidium orchid blossoms and dripping glass crystals.

The room absolutely was the evenings attraction. These are my images so when I get the professional ones, I am confident every detail will be evident. In the meantime, you can double click any image on my blog for a closer perspective. The tables where dressed with a flocked fortuny from Over The Top, black napkins placed atop our silver beaded belmont charges. The centerpiece standing almost FIVE feet tall was created with chunky curly willow branches, hand wired cymbidium orchid blossoms and votives hung from glass crystals. Surrounding the base was varying size cube vases filled with black gems, water and square floating candles. Thanks to the Omni team, the black chiavari chairs were moved from the downstairs ceremony site upstairs to the reception. No easy task. Then the team from BBJ Linen weaved the black lamour sashes in and out the slates tying them in loose knots in record time.

The bling was carried through to the cake from Party Flavors. A black ribbon band with a crystal broach was placed on each layer. Individual crystals were placed just so to create a sparkle that almost required sun glasses.

PINK & ORANGE GERBERA DAISIES

A spot of color, no way, were talking bright pink and orange all the way baby. Tracy Frost had one request, GERBERA DAISIES. No fancy designs, just gerbera daisies. And we did just that. I love color so I love it when we don't hold back. The ceremony & reception was held at Timacuan Country Club with the one and only Tracy Marini of Eventfully Yours. In fact I was blessed that Tracy introduced me to two clients, the second on May 2 was at the Orlando Museum of Art.

We are getting a lot of miles out of our 7 - 8' dragonwood structures. They are so beautiful, have lots of character and fit well in multiple settings. I don't think they have been used twice the same way. After the ceremony we move them into the reception to flank the sweetheart table and add hanging votives, a real crowd-pleaser.

The chairs were provided by Darrin with DJ Fun Factory. The chocolate poly classic linens & chair covers with apple bengaline sash were provided by Mike Cruz with BBJ Linens. The sweetheart & cake table are dressed with an apple bengaline underlay and a fern shimmer sheer overlay.

Some guest tables were dressed with a tall centerpiece while others had a collection of vases.

And the beautiful Ashley Simonds with the bride.