A Reception to Remember

So, you have been dreaming of and planning your wedding ceremony since you were five years old. But, let's talk about the other part of your day: your reception. Your guests are looking forward to your reception -- why not make it something they will never forget?

Themes might be the easiest way to get creative when planning entertainment, decor', and atmosphere. But it can be easy to take something the wrong direction. For the sake of making my point, say your dream reception has a circus theme. You could have your caterer sculpt a clown car out of cheese and crackers. Or perhaps a more elegant and appropriate way to set the tone would be to string white lights to fashion a sort of "Big Top" tent.

Here are a few reception elements that you may want to consider no matter what your theme:


Photobooths: Ever so popular, the photo booths allow guests to cut loose and show their true colors--on film! Provide props likes masks, sports equipment, costumes, or a white board for writing messages to add to the fun. You can make one yourself by setting up a little vignette and ask a trusted friend with a decent digital camera to man the photo station. Though your friends won't get pictures on the spot they'll still be excited to get their face in the frame, and you can post pictures on your online photo album later.

Magician:  Consider hiring an entertainer who can walk around and do slight of hand for each table. Your guests will love the mystifying close up card and coin tricks, the personal entertainment, and opportunity for strangers to have a shared experience to break the ice. My husband has had the opportunity to work this sort of crowd on numerous occasions and found it enjoyable and a welcome diversion for guests.

Dancing: Dancing at receptions can be a huge success or a huge flop. Make sure you choose a DJ who is receptive to your song choices. A good trick with dancing at the reception is to give it a little twist. One idea is to play music from consecutive eras. You'll be sure to draw some of your older guests to the dance floor earlier on and then the more current songs will pump up your younger guests. Going with a vintage theme? Hire a dance instructor to offer mini dance lessons in the waltz, fox trot, swing, and maybe rumba to spice things up. Whether you change this wedding reception staple or not, be sure to participate. Nothing kills a dance party like a timid bride and groom, so whoop it up I say!

Slide show: Many couples choose to include a photo slide show during the reception. Often set to music, baby pictures all the way through engagement pictures are displayed in an emotional recap of their lives apart and then together. While you could have this playing in the background so guests can watch at their leisure, why not make this a feature presentation? There are tons of songs, including A Page is Turned, that can help to tell your story in a cohesive and inspiring way.


If cocktails, dancing, magicians, and slideshows aren't enough...there's always food! Find a caterer with a chocolate fountain and you'll never hear a bad thing about your reception. For a Christmas wedding, provide plain sugar cookies and decorating supplies and let guests assemble their own favors. For a summer wedding set up an ice cream sundae bar and watch their cares melt away!

So there you have it, a few things to think about as you plan your sure-to-be stellar reception. Even though your guests are happy to simply be there to celebrate with you, providing creative reception elements can be one way to express your appreciation for their love and support. It doesn't have to break the bank, but putting some thought into your reception can make it go from "was I there?" to "remember when!"

Efficient Flowers!


It's been a while but I've got some pretty flowers to show for it! This is the time of year where life gets crazy, and if you are planning a wedding at this time, I imagine you are really feeling the stress. I just finished flowers for a bride, Michelle, who after recently adopting a baby girl, got engaged and bought a house all within a few months of each other. So, as you can imagine, she hasn't had the time or energy to focus on many of the details of wedding planning.

Her wedding coordinator and friend, Ruth, contacted me about flowers and I have since been working through her to get Michelle's flowers just right. Michelle's colors and purple and white but she wanted to bring in hints of red. She chose a cascade style bouquet and a simple boutonniere for her fiance'.

She was pretty open to ideas so I made some suggestions and got to work. The cascade is such a classic style but always looks elegant. Spreading out the roses and framing with ivy gave it a very sophisticated look. And we brought that touch of red into the bouquet with some small accent flowers in a red that was closer on the color wheel to purple. That helped us avoid such stark contrasts between the red and purple. For the bout', a single white rose with leaves and some sheer purple ribbon completed this custom set of flowers for Michelle.

From the time I got the original call from Ruth to dropping it off at the post office, this order took just a few e-mails and a few weeks time. Michelle loves her flowers and loves that she has them a month early. When you have as much on your plate as she does, every little bit helps. I'm happy to be a part of this exciting and celebratory time in their lives. Thanks Michelle and Ruth!

Must-have Musicians for Denver Area Brides

I have a special treat today for all you Denver area brides--the

Denver String Quartet

! If you are looking for traditional music or a twist on contemporary, this is the group for you! I was lucky enough to have one of the members,

Andrew Ackerman

, play at my own wedding. His musicianship, professionalism, and pure talent added so much to our ceremony.

His quartet that has been playing together since 1997 is just as amazing. If you check out their

facebook

page, you can listen to a sampling of their more traditional tunes as well as some sweet new covers including Coldplay, U2, The Beatles, Enya, and Snow Patrol. Curious about some of the music options available for your wedding? Check out their

booking page

for more details and instructions on how to get a free demo cd and brochure about the group.

Music is often a big part of your wedding day. If you are looking for a group to play live, be sure to find experienced musicians with professional training who can give you the style of music you want. With the Denver String Quartet, you are guaranteed to get all that, plus a unique experience for you and your guests.

Real Wedding Silk Cake Flowers: Jessica & Matt- Part 4

To top off our Real Wedding series for today, the cake! The scrollwork is beautiful and this cake certainly could have stood on its own. But our subtle additions gave a little pop of color and added even more interest to the layers.

This shot is so dramatic! Love it!

I love how the layers aren't just stacked square, the change in shape puts a nice 'twist' (haha) on a classic style.

Beautiful!

This wraps up a fun day full of beautiful images. Thanks so much Meg for sharing with us! If you are in the Indianapolis area and looking for a talented and fun photographer, be sure to look her up.

Thanks to Jessica and Matt for letting me contribute to the beauty of your wedding day! You were a peach to work with and I enjoyed designing all your flowers!

Real Wedding: Jessica & Matt- Part 3

The adorable toss bouquet. The style she chose was different from all the other bouquets but still fell within her theme. We tied in the yellow/orange hydrangea in by incorporating it into the ceremony flowers as well.

These mint julep cups are the way to go! Available in gold or silver, you would never even know they were made of plastic. Not only are they lightweight for shipping but they are 1/3 the price of metal ones and look just as elegant as their tarnishing counterparts.

A look at their altar where the above arrangements made their appearance. We added in some decorative twigs and light foliage to give the arrangements some elevation. These two beauties were versatile enough to move to tables in the reception afterwards.

Real Wedding: Jessica & Matt- Part 2

Jessica and I worked closely to come up with her perfect bouquet. We talked a lot over e-mail being that she was in Texas, I am in Minnesota and the wedding was in Indiana. She liked the rich colors of a fall color palette and decided on gold callas and orange tiger lilies. The tiger lilies actually held a special place in her heart as they were in her garden growing up. Her loosely gathered bouquet was meant to reflect those memories and also her unique style. With all that said...ta-da!


I love the shimmery sage dresses paired with the orange. Very chic!

A closer look at the girls' bouquets.

This presentation/clutch bouquet is so popular right now, and so easy to tweak and make it your own!

Real Wedding: Jessica & Matt- Part 1

I had the honor of creating custom designs for Jessica and Matt for their October wedding. Their very talented photographer Megan King of Megelaine Images sent me some beautiful shots to share with you.

What a striking couple! They look so happy to be married. *Sigh*

A sweet moment:

Our beautiful bride Jessica:

The dashing groom, Matt:

Keep watching for the next three parts featuring more of the flowers, the cake, and ceremony flowers.

And the Winner is....

Happy Halloween everyone, and congratulations to our winner Laura who said:

"I'm doing my own calligraphy on all the envelopes and place cards - which is totally me b/c everyone knows I'm obsessed with handwriting.

I'm also knitting all the groomsman socks - with my fiance picking out each guy's color."

Laura--shoot me an e-mail at erin@loveisblooming.com so we can get you on your way to making your own custom fragrance!

Thanks so much to all of you who commented and shared ways you are making your wedding your own. Infusing your personality, your story, and your love into your wedding is what makes it less about the details and more about the marriage. But let's be honest, we do love our details;)

Keep checking back for more giveaways, wedding photos, design ideas, and vendor resources!

Last Call for Custom Fragrance Giveaway!

Here's your all Hallow's Eve-eve reminder that the giveaway for the custom fragrance ends tomorrow! So you have until midnight of tomorrow to enter. If you didn't catch it before, all you have to do is leave a comment (on the previous post) about at least one aspect of your wedding you are DIY-ing. It could be as simple as "Helping design my flowers with Love Is Blooming" hint hint;)

I am absolutely loving all the creativity flowing through this blog right now! I certainly have some very ingenious newcomers. It's refreshing to hear about how you brides are co-mingling fun with meaning. It doesn't seem to be so much about just trying to do things differently than our mothers, but really making it about you and your fiance and the loved ones around you. So bravo for rising to the occasion to make your special occasion a truly unique and memorable one.

Check back Friday for the winner!

Custom Fragrance--FREE GIVEAWAY for the unique Bride!

Customizing the details of your big day to your tastes is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. You might be hand-making invitations, buying tea lights and accessories en masse for table decor, or canning delicious jams and jellies for favors, but what about designing your own wedding day fragrance? Design your fragrance from the comfort of your own home and have something truly personalized for your wedding. My friend Denise, of Urban Botanic, is providing this awesomely luxurious giveaway of 8 oz unscented lotion with 3 essential oils for mixing up your own special concoction. Because let's be serious, you don't want people smelling your hard working deodorant as you reach for those hugs. They would rather smell your sweetness and wonder what smells so delicious.

You can visit Denise's site and take a quick personality test to learn what your customized fragrance might include. I just discovered that my fragrance personality is "Fruity!" My custom fragrance would have hints of pomegranate, violet, sandalwood, green apple, and honeysuckle.To get this great prize it's simple! Leave a comment telling me about an aspect of your wedding that you are doing yourself to make your big day unique and truly yours. You have until October 30th to enter and the winner will be announced on Halloween. It's like trick-or-treating without going anywhere. Good luck and get writing!

Wedding Giveaways from Stella Event Design

We all know there is plenty to do before the wedding, including selecting your flowers *wink wink.* But there are also some details that will need to be taken care of after you've returned home from the honeymoon. A good friend of mine who is an up and coming event planner is offering some great giveaways to help you with some of those post-wedding duties.

Check out Stella Event Design's Blog to find out about these fun and helpful prizes. All you need to do is leave a comment on her blog before the specified time to enter. And if you're thinking about planning a wedding or other event in Southwest Michigan, Jessica of Stella is the one to talk to!Thanks Jessica for these great offers!

The Design Process: Changing Minds, Changing Styles

Designing bouquets and wedding flowers isn't a cut-and-dry procedure. As ideas evolve from a mass of flowers with no direction to carefully crafted bouquets and arrangements, so can your opinions and style begin to change. Here is an example of what typically happens as a bride and I work through her original design ideas and end up with the finished product. Enjoy!

The bride chose burgundy and ivory roses, and orange, gold, and burgundy callas for her fall wedding.

The bridesmaid posies incorporated mini ivory callas and larger burgundy callas.

She felt as if something was missing so we tried adding a larger ivory calla in the middle.

It wasn't quite doing it for her, so we added a gold calla, and bingo! Just adding a little pop of color made it feel complete for her.

Some ivory ribbon gave it that final touch for an elegant and unique bouquet.

Here's the changes her bridal bouquet went through:

Her bridal bouquet incorporated all her chosen flowers and colors and when she saw the original shape, she felt there was a little too much going on. So we began to play around with it.

Our first step was to take out the ivory, which decreased the size of the bouquet and left some holes. So she suggested we dye the ivory roses burgundy and re-insert them into her bouquet. The verdict? Too much burgundy.

Her final look was achieved by removing only some of the dyed roses, using those for corsages, and instead adding them to the bottom of the bouquet for a rounder look. Of course the ever-so-classy satin ribbon gave it a touch of elegance and made for a happy customer.

While this may seem like a lot to go through, don't be scared of speaking up! Your florist should be open to your suggestions and feedback. Voicing your opinion is the only way to get what you want. Of course, going with silk flowers is a great way to know ahead of time exactly what you'll be getting, and it will already have your stamp of approval.

In Memoriam...Honoring and Remembering Loved Ones at Your Wedding

Weddings are a time of gathering friends and family and celebrating a huge day in your life. Unfortunately, there are often important people to you who are unable to come or who have passed away. It can be an emotional time for couples to reflect on lost loved ones, wishing they could be there at the ceremony. But there are some really sweet gestures that can add meaning and a sense of remembrance to your wedding.

Many times brides and grooms choose an arrangement of flowers to honor grandparents and other special loved ones. How might that be different than an altar arrangement? The meaning comes in the flowers. Maybe the favorite flowers of the one being honored are used, or the number of flowers included represents something of significance about the absent loved ones. Traditionally the officiant or the program calls attention to the arrangement during the ceremony to recognize who it's for.

If you are looking for something non-traditional but still meaningful, here are some ideas:
  • Carrying a handkerchief or other small keepsake from a grandparent, mother, etc.
  • Wearing a special piece of jewelry that belonged to a special loved one
  • Framing photographs and placing them with a small flower arrangement at your ceremony or reception site
  • If you are doing a slideshow, including pictures of them with a special note in the presentation
  • Walking down the aisle or doing the unity candle portion to your loved one's favorite song
  • Asking the officiant to include a special story as related to marriage in the ceremony message
  • Using a favorite song for your first dance as husband and wife
  • At your reception site, leaving place settings empty with their pictures and a note about how each person is special to you
  • Add a candle garden at your ceremony or reception site; mix in flowers or pictures or coordinate the number of candles with the loved ones being honored

So today, on a day we remember the victims of September 11, think about those loved ones who deserve a special moment of recognition because of their impact and influence in your lives. Choose fitting ways to honor their lives as you start yours together.

A big decision -- how to choose flowers perfect for YOU

Sometimes nailing down a certain design idea for your wedding is a no-brainer, "pink linens and candlelight of course!" And other times there are big, looming details that can intimidate and threaten your planning pace. I often meet with brides who come to me, pictures in hand, with a very specific plan for their arrangements. And about just as often I have conversations with brides who have no idea where to start in designing their bouquets.

Alana, one such bride and self-proclaimed "Southern hippy chick" knew what colors and what style but had no clue as to what flowers. To make matters more dramatic, she had numerous people telling her that what she wanted wouldn't work, which only made her want it more!

The big breakthrough in choosing flowers came when I simply asked her what she didn't like. It was as simple as that! We narrowed down the field of contenders and landed on some of her favorite flowers that would work perfectly with her theme. She now has a gorgeous cream/pink/pale green bouquet of peonies, gardenia, orchids, ranunculus and hydrangea that have become her dream bouquet. Her vibrant bridesmaid bouquets hit the mark with purple hydrangea and ranunculus, orange ranunculus, and green orchids. From the customized flower selection down to the hand-picked champagne ribbon, these bouquets were designed with her in mind and she couldn't be happier!

Your story may not fall into place as easily as hers, but there's no reason you still can't have the perfect bouquet, even if you don't know what it looks like. Take time to search online for images of flowers or bouquets that coordinate with colors or styles that you are drawn to. And if you still come up empty-handed, one phone call or e-mail may be all it takes to find exactly what you've been looking for.

Pomanders - A KISSing Ball You Won't Soon Forget

Pomanders, or Kissing Balls, are one type of arrangement that really stands out from traditional flower styles. Their unique shape and design draw attention whether they are carried down the aisle or hang throughout the reception hall.

A Pomander "is a round ball completely covered by flower blooms."

Here's an example of an elegant and simple use of pomanders.

While the main flowers of this wedding were white roses and blue hydrangea, though the bride chose to incorporate a different flower into the pomanders -- carnations. Carnations work great because of their full-petaled bloom and their larger size; it takes less flowers per pomander to get that full and luxurious look. The royal blue ribbon incorporated her wedding colors and added a little shine to the arrangements.

Mixing multiple flower types is another option, and it creates an entirely different feel. The hydrangea, snowball bush and daisies bring different textures to the arrangement while still keeping a polished look. A delicate strand of pearls is double looped through the center of the arrangement for a dainty and classy accent.

Pomanders are often a great choice for flower girls or junior bridesmaids. When looking for alternatives to mini bouquets or baskets and petals, brides look to the pomander to make their younger participants feel special but still included in the wedding party. Either looped over the wrist or carried in front, pomanders are romantic, stylish and a great visual accent to your big day. So consider a kiss of sweetness with kissing balls as part of your ceremony experience.

Flower Girls never looked so cute! Cherry Blossoms Designs

The little cherubs go bouncing down the aisle, eliciting the warm-up "oohs" and "aahs" before the bride's big entrance. While the traditions have dictated frilly white dresses and white wicker baskets, one up-and-comer is adding a little bit of new style into the mix.

Kiley, owner and designer for Cherry Blossoms Designs was kind enough to fill us in on her business, her inspiration, and her life.

I established Cherry Blossoms in 2006 when my baby girl was born. I sought high quality unique hair accessories that were both beautiful, functional, and affordable, with no success.

I began fabricating my own designs with distribution amongst friends and family. Compliments and inquiries from others soon followed, as well as numerous requests for customized work. I decided it was time to make the big jump and began selling my creations.

Where her inspiration comes from:

My inspiration would definitely have to be my daughter, Ella. She is just this amazing little person. If an item doesn't feel comfortable on her or look good on her I will not sell it. She is my little muse I guess you could say.

How this could relate to the wedding world:

I have done many custom orders for Flower girls and Bridesmaids...my hair accessories are all handmade and all unique.

On the benefits of using silk flowers:

I love using silk flowers on my designs because unlike real flowers they won't wilt, fall off, or turn brown!I only use the best quality of silk flowers available...they look and feel real to the touch!

Fun facts about Kylie:

I am married to the love of my life, I am a stay at home mom, an actress, and I also do graphic design on the side....I don't know how I do it some days...but it keeps my days busy and full of creativity and fun! I love what I do and I am so lucky to work with such amazing customers!

Check out Kiley's blog to see some of her products, leave feedback and enter a great give-a-way. Thanks so much Kiley for joining us and for sharing some new ideas.

Make Your Colors Fit Your Style: Citrus With a Twist

Today's post is all about getting the most out of your colors. I've chosen three vibrant colors to show how easy it can be to adapt flowers in your favorite colors to fit the season or location.


I started with tangerine, lemon, and lime as my colors and chose flowers that were both classic and contemporary: Lemon roses, lime-green Button Mums, and tangerine Vanda Orchids. With such different textures and shapes, this bouquet is inherently engaging. However, I wanted to take it a step further.



Let's start with seasons. This bouquet looks bright and summery, but what if you want to add the delicate feel of spring? Doing something as simple as adding in cream Rock Cress brings in another size of flower, giving it that "picked from the meadow" feel.

Having a fall wedding but don't want to go the expected route? Try adding foliage and berries in toned down versions of your main colors. These Hypericum berries and olive-colored Astilbe leaves add interest to the bouquet while keeping it festive.

Many of my brides have chosen silk for it's portability! My flowers have seen the beaches of Mexico more times than I have. While the colors and the orchids have a tropical quality, we can enhance that by framing the bouquet in Monsteria leaves. It adds a nice backing and makes the bouquet fit right in with its exotic surroundings.

So before you overlook a bouquet because it doesn't quite "fit," think about how to get the most out of the colors, style, and flowers.

Jumped the Gun!

As a few kind souls pointed out, I jumped the gun a little on announcing my inclusion on the Elizabeth Anne Designs Wedding Library. I'm happy to say that my name is now officially up there, as of tonight!. Thanks to Ami and Rebekah (again) for including me in this great resource! Feel free to stop in and write a review of your experience working with me and give other brides an insight into the world of designer silk wedding flowers.

8-8-08 Wedding! One month to beautiful custom bouquets.




Congratulations to Love Is Blooming bride Valerie who got married Friday on lucky date 8-8-08! Valerie's theme was all about purple and classic roses. She wanted to set apart her bouquet so she chose all purple roses for herself and a matching clutch bouquet for her daughter to carry. The bridesmaids had creamy open roses in the posy style.

Valerie was really a fan of the ballerina wrap on the stems but didn't want too much purple. I used sheer ivory ribbon as the base for the two purple bouquets and laced them up with a shimmery sheer purple ribbon. The bridesmaids had the opposite ribbon configuration as a way to bring a little more purple to their bouquets.

Valerie also ordered two special corsages for the mothers. I made them with a matching open cream rose and a bud, accented with purple rock cress, purple ribbon, and the ever popular *bling* rhinestone picks.

Valerie was on a short time-table and ordered her flowers within a month of the wedding. No sweat though! We had plenty of time to work on the design, gather all the flowers and construct each arrangement.

One of the most important aspects of this whole process was Valerie's input. After I created the base design for each of the three bouquet styles and the corsages, I e-mailed pictures and talked with Valerie about the size, shape, color, and construction of everything. For her peace of mind, there were no surprises in the finished product. She was extremely happy with the results and glad to have another item checked off her to-do list.

Congratulations again Valerie, I hope your wedding was special and memorable! Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day!

What Wedding flowers do you need?