{ Dave & Courtney :: The Wedding Day }

Remember the beautiful yellow and grey flowers I arranged for Dave & Courtney's wedding back in May? Well, in case you forgot, their incredible photographer, Kris Sundberg of Burnt Exposure recently posted some pretty amazing pics of their "Big Day" on his blog and I just couldn't help but share a few.

{ Josh & Jade's Wedding :: The Perfect Day }

From day one I knew I was going to LOVE working with this bride. She's beautiful, smart, easy-going, and has a great sense of style! What more could a florist ask for? I truly enjoyed every minute Jade and I spent together designing the flowers for her spectacular wedding! And it sounds like she did too...

"Thank you soooooo much. My wedding was perfect.. It was AMAZING.. BEST PARTY... And NOTHING went wrong... Thanks for making it look SWEEEEEET!" -Jade Tully

{ Photography :: Carolyn Troadec }

{ Dane & Chelsea :: The Reception }

I'm a visual person. No surprise there, right? If I'm going to do something, I have to envision it happening first. This is what happens every time I sit down with a new client and talk flowers. Of course, this wedding for Dane & Chelsea was no different.

I was provided with 13 beautiful white porcelain containers and asked to create a centerpiece that was cheerful and bright, and the rest was up to me! Don't you just love brides like that? So I drew up a few sketches, selected some of my favorite spring blooms, worked a little magic, and voila! My vision was a success.

Be sure to also take a look at the gorgeous garland of lemon leaves she had me create to garnish the wet bar. My talented Mother assisted me in wiring on dozens of fresh lemons, oranges, tangerines, and kumquats. The scent was like a burst of sunshine!

{Photography :: Lori Sheets }

{ Dane & Chelsea :: The Wedding Party }

A lot of times you'll hear people tell you "It's not smart to do business with friends." And in some cases, I can understand why. But I will honestly say, some of the BEST weddings I've done have been for my nearest and dearest friends. Take for example, the Goodsell family. I've known Glen and Amy for years, drove their daughters to early morning seminary, and even babysat their wee ones. So it was truly an honor when they asked me to design the flowers for Dane and Chelsea's special day.

Here are a few images captured by the up-and-coming wedding photographer Lori Sheets after their ceremony in the LDS Newport Beach Temple. Such a beautiful family, beautiful flowers, and beautiful day!

{ Dave & Courtney :: Grey Sunshine Wedding }

Dave and Courtney are in L-O-V-E! And so am I...with their flowers of course! Today the happy couple will be tying the eternal knot in the Newport Beach LDS Temple and later showing off these gorgeous blooms at a backyard reception in their hometown of Mission Viejo, CA.

And here's a sweet little something about the adorable couple: The two have known each other for years; since High School (maybe longer), and had always been "just friends." But when the pair attended BYU-Hawaii this last year, they fell madly in love. Isn't it the best when friends fall in love? I couldn't be happier for this perfect pair!

Congratulations Dave & Courtney. I wish you the perfect wedding day full of fun and sun. May you enjoy your "Happily [For]ever After!"

{ FLOWERS: peonies, cafe au lait dahlias, ranunculus, double dutch tulips, sweet pea, lisianthus, billy button, solid aster, dusty miller, camellia leaves }

{ A Citrus Celebration :: Dane & Chelsea }

You know you're getting old when all the little girls you used to babysit are getting hitched! Seriously, where does the time go? This weekend my dear friend Chelsea tied the eternal knot with her sweetheart Dane in the Newport Beach LDS Temple, and then celebrated their little hearts out at their beautiful backyard reception in Laguna Niguel, CA.

I honestly can't thank her enough for the awesome opportunity I had to design and create her one of a kind bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, and centerpieces. She was an absolute joy throughout the entire planning process and her wedding day was truly spectacular. Happy forever after Dane & Chelsea!

{ FLOWERS: hydrangea, peonies, freesia, sweet pea, ranunculus, tulips, star of bethlehem, snapdragons, china mums, curly willow, kumquats, lemon leaves }

{ Bella Collina Reception :: Josh & Jade }

If you're looking for a gorgeous venue with friendly staff and an awesome event planner, look no further than the Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club in San Clemente, CA. From start to finish, the staff was an absolute pleasure. And incedibly complimentary of my work. Which I always love!

Take a look at the grand entry piece, centerpieces, and a photograph I snuck in of the pomanders lining the aisle of Josh & Jade's wedding ceremony. I can't wait to see more images from their photographer. I'm sure they'll knock some socks off!

{ FLOWERS: carnations, hydrangea, water coast lilies, roses, peonies, tulips, dusty miller, geranium, hanging amaranthus, snapdragon, gladiolas, curly willow, and lemon leaves }

{ A Black & White Affair :: Josh & Jade }

I can't even begin to tell you what a pleasure it was to design the flowers for Josh & Jade's wedding. Back in October of 2009, Jade and I first met and began planning her May date! From the beginning, Jade knew she wanted a classic black and white wedding and I'm so pleased with how well everything turned out. Just look at that bouquet! Almost as beautiful as the bride it belongs to! Congratulations Josh & Jade. I hope your wedding day was everything you hoped it would be and more!

Stay tuned for more pictures from the grand reception at the Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club in San Clemente, CA. Just you wait...

{ FLOWERS: peonies, tulips, sweet pea, roses, ranunculus, anemone, monkey tail, gardenia, carnations, dusty miller, and camellia leaves }

{ Making Something With "The Leftovers" }

Let me tell you a story about a dinner appointment I had on my mission nearly 6 years ago. It was during a time when I was serving in a very rural part of Minnesota (think one farmhouse every 5 miles). In this small town there lived a sweet old lady who invited my companion and I over for "supper." While we sat and talked, she began telling us about the meal she had prepared for us. She told of how she had tons and tons of fruits, veggies, and other leftovers in her fridge, so she decided to make a lasagna with everything (and anything!) she had. Let's just say it was the most interesting thing I've ever tasted. There were mushrooms, celery, peppers, onions, eggs (Yes, eggs!), and several other "leftover" ingredients.

So why am I telling you this strange story about a weird meal I ate on my mission? I'm not quite sure, other than the fact that when I was cleaning up from my double-wedding-weekend, I figured I better do something with all "the leftovers." Kind of like that "special" lasagna I had all those years ago. Awe, the memories!

And stay tuned for wedding pictures galore. It was a busy, busy weekend my friends! Au revoir.

{Flowers: peonies, spray roses, lisianthus, tulips, monkey tail, hanging amaranthus, dusty miller, and geranium. }

{ A May Wedding :: Brendon & Serra }

When it comes to flowers, you don't always need a lot of color to make a bold statement! Take Brendon & Serra's wedding flowers for instance. The simple and elegant palette of white, gold, and a touch of Tiffany box blue are all you need to create a modest and elegant appeal. I think you'll agree when you see these beautiful blooms I designed for their Newport Beach wedding this past weekend. Have a look!

{ FLOWERS: Cala Lilies, Astilbe, Lily of the Valley, Phalaenopsis Orchids, Mini Calas, Dendrobium Orchids, Peonies }

{ Mother's Day Arrangements :: Part II }

Somehow amidst all the madness of a wedding, birthday and Mother's Day, I found time to make these sweet little somethings for the special women in my life. The first arrangement may not look like much, but just go with me on this one. These delicate and highly fragrant bells are known as Lily of the Valley. While normally wildly expensive, I found them on Friday selling at the flower mart for a mere fraction of the cost and just HAD to have some. Don't they look so angelic arranged in this antique blue bottle?

Aside from this flower's beauty and incredible, I mean INCREDIBLE smell, I love the meanings associated with this bloom. According to Christian legend, Lily of the Valley came into being from Eve's tears after she was driven with Adam from the Garden of Eden. It is also considered to be the sign of Christ's second coming and is believed to exude the power of men to envision a better world. How can you not LOVE this flower. Precisely the reason I gifted them to my beautiful Mother!

This second arrangement was designed for my dear Grandma Janice. With a few hydrangea I built up the base and added some sweet-smelling peonies, a couple roses from our garden, and garnished it with a few viburnum and astilbe. A beautiful arrangement that's perfect for a beautiful grandmother!