Whimsy Floral & Design

Candice at Millcreek

2011-11-22T12:02:00.001-08:00

Whoa. Has it really been a year since my last post?

My bad. ;)

Its been a busy year on every level. Something had to give, and the blog was the most expendable component. At the urging of many people, I'm going to pop back in from time to time and show some of the weddings we've been working on.

So without further ado...

Candice was married at Millcreek Inn. She had a small ceremony and dinner for a very few select guests. Following the dinner, the vineyard seating was removed to accommodate a larger reception that lasted well into the night. Wedding coordination by LMG events.

I heart purple!

2010-11-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned lately that purple is my favorite color?

...Ashley's lovely bridal sitting bouquet...

Cassie @ Heritage Gardens

2010-10-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

Reds, oranges, yellows...Such a nice combination for a fall wedding! Cassie's bouquet consisted of tea and spray roses, gerberas, ranunculus, mini callas, and hypericum berries. And how cute are those flower girl halos? Every time I make those, I wish I had a daughter -- Even though both my boys enjoy trying them on, I don't make it a point to outfit them with floral halos on a regular basis! I know...they'll thank me for that someday. :)

Deer Valley Darling

2010-10-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

With the season finally winding down, I suppose I should start posting photos again!

Callie was married on a gorgeous, breezy September day at the Deer Valley Empire Canyon Lodge. Enjoy!

Sundance Sweet

2010-08-31T19:06:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day at Sundance when Brittany got married.
Lots of cream and blush pinks...roses, freesia, dendrobium orchids...our manzanita trees wrapped in custom-made chocolate brown taffeta bags... I look forward to seeing Brody Dezember's photos of the event -- Brittany is a stunner!

Thanks for the photos Michelle!

Sydney @ Highland Gardens

2010-08-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

Sydney's reception was held at Highland Gardens. What a gorgeous little space!

Blue is often a tricky color to work with, especially when its meant to create such a prominent contrast in the decor. It think we played this one well, however. We kept things simple and it turned out lovely!

Thanks Sydney -- it was a pleasure!

Kimberly's Color

2010-08-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

Kimberly wanted color...do you think we delivered?

Big thanks to Opie for the photos. (except for the last three...but I didn't have to point that out, did I?)

Black and White

2010-08-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

Mallory was a pure delight to work with! Her June wedding fell on the last day of school (I have so many weddings to catch up on!) and a few days before we moved. As a result, taking photos of her arrangements were pretty far down on my priority list, but I did manage to get a couple. Her bridal bouquet featured garden roses, Vendela roses, mini calla lilies, spider mums, and fern curls. She had two centerpiece designs -- White carnation pomanders sitting atop black wood candlesticks (not pictured), and small, ribbon-wrapped cylinders featuring tight masses of white spider mums. Too cute!!!

Mother's Day, Birthday Surprise!

2010-07-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day weekend is always inevitably our busiest weekend of the year. I generally don't sleep for 48 (sometimes 72!) hours straight while we're prepping and designing for our clients that weekend, and then after all our deliveries are out and we've cleaned up our workspace, I usually spend the remainder of the holiday in a comatose state. This year was no exception. However, in addition to our weddings and Mother's Day special orders, we also had the opportunity to fulfill a unique request.

I was contacted by someone local looking for flowers for his wife's 40th birthday (which happened to fall on Mother's Day this year). Apparently she had said that while she didn't want him to get her any gifts, she did want her husband to bring her flowers (and was expecting a $15.00 grower's bunch from Costco). Luckily, he had other ideas.

I met Christian and his children on the sly and had a chance to tour their beautiful Holladay home. After being shown all of his wife's most-frequently used spaces of the home, I came up with a design for each space and arranged to deliver and install the florals while they were out of town celebrating her birthday. Saturday evening came and Jessica and I made their home our last stop of the day. We had arrangements for most areas of the home: The kitchen, dining room, office, bedroom, laundry room, living room, family room, bath, even the outdoor patio tables. It was pretty fantastic! (Although Jessica spent the entire time waiting to hear the sound of sirens in the distance...even though I'm fairly certain the neighbors had been told of our impending arrival) On Sunday, the birthday-girl arrived home from her restful weekend to be greeted by her clean, decorated home. I did get a follow-up from Christian on Monday who said her reaction was awesome and that it was exactly what he had had in mind. I'm so glad it all turned out! I took these photos in their backyard (while I would have loved to have shown you how great it all looked in their home, I'd never take photos of someone's personal space!) and of course ran out of memory card space half way through. So here's what I've got. Use your imagination. :)

Can you imagine a sweeter gift???

Traditional beauty.

2010-07-07T19:51:00.000-07:00

Carolyn's intimate wedding was held in her backyard; an amazingly charming home on an amazingly charming street here in Salt Lake City. While I neglected to get a shot of her bouquet, you can take my word for it -- the whole event was lovely! Thanks Carolyn!

We're Baaack!

2010-06-29T14:58:00.001-07:00

The move was successful, and while we're still swamped with boxes, things are starting to get back to normal...ish. I've got a few weeks left of my move-related sabbatical before our wedding season resumes with a vengeance. I've enjoyed being able to focus on what's going on around here, but I'm looking forward to getting back to work at the same time.

SO -- to kick off my return, I'm posting images of a bouquet I did for a photo shoot captured by one of my favorites...OpieFoto. She's so lovely. As is her photography. It was bright yet soft, clean yet vintage.

***Scheduling Alert***

I had a last minute cancellation for the weekend of July 30. (Last minute, you say? Its still June! Well, a cancellation a month before the wedding is most definitely last minute in this business!) Since I've already got the staff hours scheduled, I'd love to be able to fill that opening. As a result, the person who books that slot will receive a discount of 20% off their subtotal.
I don't do discounts. Or Sales. So 20% off is a rocking awesome deal. That's generally a busy wedding weekend, so if you know of someone out there who is in need of event flowers (wedding or not), kindly pass the info along.

Its good to be back! :)

Out of the Office

2010-06-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

Its moving day!

Our office will be closed from June 11-June 19. Email will be back up starting Tuesday, but the Whimsy phone number won't be transferred over until the end of next week. I'll be checking my messages periodically and will get back to you as I can.

Have a great week!

The purge continues: Literature

2010-06-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...I've been MIA.
Its crazy, really. I only took two weeks off to have a BABY, and yet getting our massive renovation finished (and the family and business moved) has required all my spare time for months now. I've got so much to show you, and so much to post, but it will have to continue to wait for a couple more weeks while we get moved, then unpacked, then finally settled. Our spring weddings have been fabulous, our summer and fall calendar is almost booked, and our consultation schedule is booking out two weeks now. So yes, we're still around and still working! (Would you believe I've actually gotten emails asking if I've retired???) Hang in there with me, folks. There is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel here, and I'm definitely looking forward to resuming some semblance of normalcy.

But until then...I pack and pack some more. And as I pack, I find more items I want to say goodbye to. The inventory sale I had last month was a huge success, so I'm going to post a few more things in the event there is an interested bride/budding designer/hobbyist out there who might benefit from what we no longer need or use.

Today, its all about literature.

Years ago, I used to collect books and magazines on floral design. Not necessarily tutorial books, but books that had pretty photos of flowers. (Because who can really get enough of looking at beautiful designs?) I can't bear to let most of them go yet, but there are a small handful I haven't cracked open in ages. These are now up for sale to anyone who is interested. They're available for immediate pick-up in Holladay, or I'm happy to ship them to you if you reside out-of-state as well. So without further adieu:

The Best of Martha Stewart Weddings, list price $50.00. In gently used condition. Sale price, $10.00

A Bouquet of Roses: Glorious Arrangements for all Occasions, by Christina Wressell. List price, $19.95. In excellent, like new condition. Sale price, $5.00.

Bouquets: A Year of Flowers & Settings for the Table, by Marsha Heckman. List price, $22.50. In excellent, like new condition. Sale price, $5.00.

Bouquets: A Year of Flowers for the Bride, by Marsha Heckman. List price, $19.95. In gently used condition. Sale price, $4.00.

Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection issues.
Simply Creative Wedding Flowers, list price $9.95 (paperback...but stiffer and glossier than a magazine), and Simply Creative Weddings, list price $5.99. Both in excellent condition. Sale price, $2.00 for both.

Brides Magazine, April, May, & June 2010 issues. Newsstand price, $5.99 each. All in like new condition. Sale price, $2.00 for all three.

Misc floral and bridal magazines: Flora, Colorado Bride, and two past issues of Utah Bride and Groom. List price, $1.50 for the set.

42 back-issues of Florists' Review Magazine. (That's right -- 42 issues) This is a trade-only magazine, so you won't find it on newsstands. Its a publication I subscribed to for years (and have already passed along half the issues I previously owned). It contains industry news, trends, tutorials, tons of photos from tons of American designers, business tips, supply resources, etc. The subscription price is $42 per year (a total value of $73.50). They're all in great condition. Sale price, $15 for the lot.

Moving Sale - May 15!

2010-05-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

You’ve heard me talk about the massive renovation we’ve undergone on the property we purchased in Sugarhouse. Its finally nearing completion (!!!) and we’re getting ready to move! I can’t wait to welcome all my clients to our beautiful new space!

In preparation for the upcoming move, we’re having a yard/moving sale this Saturday, May 15th.

Aside from the household goods we’ll be selling, I’ve gone through and thinned our Whimsy inventory. Whimsy items we’ll be liquidating include wedding books, bridal magazines, floral trade magazines, vases, candles, ribbon, wire & tools, shepherds hooks, standing wrought iron candlesticks, etc. Since I don’t plan on moving coolers full of flowers, we’ve got a bunch of floral arrangements up for grabs at crazy-insane-below-cost prices. I’ll have some loose bunches of flowers and greenery for sale, also at below-wholesale cost. And finally, we’ll be selling four of our Manzanita tree forms. These trees are dramatic and a favorite of our clients. Some exceed 50”! The Manzanita branches used in the forms are significantly larger than the branches you would normally find in a craft store or online. They are cemented in concrete, ready for your vessel and decoration. The cost of the tree forms are $50.00 each — It cost quite a bit more to build them. Get them for your wedding, or for your home. High style, low cost!

Come poke around and see if you can find something to help with your wedding planning, or just come grab some flowers to brighten your weekend!

The moving sale will run from 8:00 AM-1:00 PM. 2832 East 4430 South (4500 S) in Holladay. No early birds, please. Any questions, give us a call tomorrow at 801-272-0315.

***UPDATE: The Manzanita tree forms have SOLD.***

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

Just a note regarding Mother's Day:

All Mother's Day orders must be placed no later than 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 6th. As in years past, Mother's Day arrangements will be delivered on Saturday, May 8th.

Our "designer's choice" preset prices for 2010 are $40, $65, $90, $115, $160, and $200 (includes vase and sales tax). Salt Lake City delivery is an additional $10. Custom orders/requests will be priced accordingly.

Orders may be placed via email or phone, and credit card payment is available through PayPal. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Happy Mother's Day!

Jenni @ Red Pine Lodge

2010-03-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

It was a cold, cold day up in Park City for Jenni's wedding at The Canyon's Red Pine Lodge.

The bride was stunning (actually the whole bridal party was -- movie star-gorgeous!) and everyone seemed so happy. I love weddings where there's nothing but joy to go around.

Her colors were navy, hot pink, silver, and winter white. In the photos you'll see how things looked when we left them at 5:00 PM. After the sun went down, though, it went from bright and cheery to nightclub-chic! Each vase and vessel contained submersible lights so that once it got dark, the arrangements glowed from within. It took relatively simple arrangements to a completely different level. I'm so looking forward to seeing the nighttime transformation captured by the couple's amazing photographers from Sweet Memory Garden. I'll be sure to post them when I get them!

Another thanks to Michelle for bringing along her camera during this setup!

UBB Floral Tip Friday

2010-03-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

Head on over to Utah Bride Blog where today's post was contributed by yours truly. Its titled, "Decoding Floral Speak: A Glossary of Terms."

Maybe you'll learn something?

Happy Friday!

Snowballs in February

2010-03-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

Since we've haven't seen too many snowballs this winter in Utah...

Lynlee's reception was held in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building's Empire Room. It doesn't matter how many times I've designed for this room -- its so insanely elegant, I just can't get enough of it. Granted, that ornate look isn't for everyone, but its one that's surely never going out of style...

This event's floral designs couldn't have been more simple, but when you piece together all the elements that went into this decor, its stunning.

The centerpieces were pomanders made out of white carnations, placed atop assorted silver glass candlesticks. (Don't they look like snowballs?) The bridal bouquet featured Akito and Polar Star tea roses, white garden roses, and white spray roses. No greenery. None. Nada. The accent color was obviously gray in this wedding. White and gray...thinking this is my new favorite combo for sure.

Thanks to Michelle for bringing along her camera on this setup so I actually have something to post for once!

Purple Sympathy

2010-03-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

This sympathy special order was gorgeous. The client was very specific -- she did not want it to look like a traditional sympathy arrangement. No problem! I don't like that stuff either!

With a purple and white color scheme, we used hydrangea, roses, mini calla lilies, tulips, berzellia, variegated pitt and lily grass, and seeded eucalyptus. The galvanized tin vessel really made the whole thing glow.

I could have seriously kept this one...lovely!

Pink Sympathy

2010-03-03T11:52:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share some photos from a sympathy order we did a few months ago. The color scheme was pale pink and pale yellow. The main floral request was for the arrangements to incorporate pink roses. We provided a casket spray, a tribute spray from the grown children, and a small mixed vase arrangement to be placed on either side of the pulpit during the service. For the tribute spray, there were four main floral varieties used -- one for each grown child. I thought the entire package turned out very nice...very feminine...

Annie

2010-02-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

White, green, and black. Still one of my favorite color combinations. There's just something so fresh and clean about this whole look -- While it gets a lot of texture through the use of different varieties, the monobotanical nature of the centerpieces really kept the decor classically streamlined. Loved it!

...a.k.a. "Black" mini callas...

2010-02-03T12:08:00.000-08:00

"Schwarzwalder" mini callas...how I love thee...

Did you know -- Schwarzwalder is also another name for Germany's "Black Forest Cake?" (Schwarzwalder Torte) Personally, I struggle so see the connection other than the fact that they both look positively yummy in their respective spheres!

Published -- UB&G Magazine 2010

2010-01-28T13:54:00.000-08:00

If you live in Utah, this is old news. Fun news, nonetheless.

Our work was published in a number of spots in this year's issue of Utah Bride and Groom Magazine. In addition to some decor and personal flower images (can you pick out the designs that belong to us?) Josh and Jen's Canyons wedding (shot by Opiefoto) garnered a feature article. If you haven't picked it up already, go grab a copy. No one does it quite like Utah Bride and Groom Magazine!

Big thanks to UBG editor Tessa Woolf for including us!

(I stole the scans of Jen and Josh's article from Opie's blog. Don't tell!)

Utah Bride Blog Whimsy feature

2010-01-22T14:50:00.000-08:00

Check out today's "Floral Friday" post at Utah Bride Blog where we were given a little feature. Thanks Audrey and Megan!

"Dear John" movie passes for Whimsy fans

2010-01-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

Hello readers!

I received a fabulous FedEx envelope this afternoon containing free advance-screening passes to yet another movie. Once again, I'd like to share the fun with you!

The movie is Sony Picture's "Dear John" starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, directed by Academy Award nominee Lasse Hallstrom. The screening is at Jordan Commons in Sandy on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 7:00 PM. I didn't get nearly as many passes this go around, so if you would like a 2-person ticket, you'll want to email me soon. (We ended up running out of "Leap Year" passes and we were gifted twice as many passes with that movie!)

For more information on the movie and to check out the trailer, visit the official site here.

Its a New Year!

2010-01-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

Its 2010!

I'm not really sure where the last decade went. It seems like just yesterday we were furiously backing up our files in case there was some truth to the Y2K mumbo-jumbo. But here we are -- a new day, a new year, and a new decade. The floral industry grew by leaps and bounds in artistry and accessibility over the past ten years. It will be interesting to see where this decade takes us and what new styles we will embrace as the wedding seasons march on through this economy.

We're gearing up for the upcoming season. The website should be refreshed and ready for new viewing (crossing my fingers!) by the end of the week. Its been two years since anyone has laid a finger on our website. How embarrassing...but at least it speaks to how busy we have been.

Our new marketing material is getting ready to go to publishing as well. If you are a vendor or venue and would like our material to provide to your clients, contact me and I'll make sure you get put on the list this year.

For brides, mothers-of-brides, or friends-of-brides who have volunteered to do the all-important vendor search, we also have a new sample portfolio for 2010 that we are happy to email by request. Anyone who has had the task of pulling together potential vendors in a given category knows how hard it is to get mom/bride/groom/MIL/etc to take the time to surf through five websites in order to make an informed opinion. Our sample portfolio comes in pdf form and allows decision-makers to get a general feel for our style and capabilities without spending an hour on our website and blog. A quick email requesting the portfolio is all it takes -- no other information about your event is necessary.

Here's to a fantastic year -- we hope you'll be sharing it with us!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T18:29:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday...!

Sympathy Flowers

2009-12-18T14:19:00.000-08:00

We've been doing quite a bit of sympathy flowers as of late. There's something very touching about having the opportunity to design for people who are being honored and those that are grieving their passing. I realize the majority of our readers are brides, but for those that may be anticipating the need for sympathy flowers in the near future, may I suggest seeking out a florist who is willing to go the extra mile and incorporate meaning and/or symbolism into these special arrangements. For those that may be in the position to make requests based on the deceased individual's life or family circumstances, don't be afraid to do so. I've found that a sympathy arrangement means so much more and is infinitely more appreciated when designed to pay specific tribute to the deceased.

A few examples:

This tribute wreath was ordered by a group of grandchildren for their late grandmother. The floral medallion contained nine yellow roses to signify the nine grandsons, eight pink sweetheart roses to signify eight granddaughters, and fifteen white spray roses to signify fifteen great-grandchildren. As you can imagine, their grandfather was very touched.

This grand arrangement was an interesting one because it was sent to the funeral services being held for a local florist. In this kind of instance, a traditional piece simply will not do! She was a regal, stately woman who also had quite the colorful streak. I think she would have enjoyed this piece immensely.

The vessel for this tribute arrangement was provided by the daughter-in-law of the woman being honored. Apparently it was used (and saved) at the mother-of-the-deceased's funeral many, many years prior. I decided not to touch-up the vessel at all, but rather to leave it in its original condition so that it could be recognized by the woman's siblings during her service. Because she enjoyed gardening, I designed this piece to look like a lush flower bed.

It's very hard to get a good shot of a casket spray, but this particular spray was designed for a baby girl. Her mother wanted something very pink with touches of green to signify her birth month. She also did not want something excessively juvenile (infant caskets often are covered in white daisies, etc.), but rather elegant, much like the flowers she would have had at her daughter's wedding. In fact, the pink roses found in the spray were the same variety found in the mother's bridal bouquet years before.

I'll be posting sympathy work from time to time on the blog simply because I'm learning to find a lot of beauty in these pieces. They don't carry the same bravado as event work, but I feel they shine all the same.

Utah Bride Blog Post

2009-12-18T14:11:00.000-08:00

Head on over to Utah Bride Blog to read my post titled "Anatomy of a {petite} Floral Budget." In today's "Flower Tip Friday" I provide a breakdown of the adjustments we were able to make to conform to one client's petite budget while still maintaining the quantities and quality she desired. Happy Reading!

"Leap Year" advance screening passes

2009-12-02T18:08:00.000-08:00

Hello readers!

A Fedex envelope showed up on my doorstep this afternoon containing a stack of passes for a special advance screening of Universal Pictures' new film "Leap Year," starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. The screening will be held Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 PM at Jordan Commons in Sandy. I looked up the trailer -- it looks darling! If you're interested in attending this screening for FREE (and a month before the film even opens!), send me an email ASAP with your name, mailing address, and the number passes you'd like, and I'll send them off to you.

Write up of the film:
"When their four-year anniversary passes without a marriage proposal, Anna (Amy Adams) decides to take matters into her own hands. Investing in an Irish tradition that allows women to propose to men on February 29th, Anna decides to follow her boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott) to Dublin and get down on one knee herself. But airplanes, weather and fate leave Anna stranded on the other side of Ireland, and she must enlist the help of handsome and surly Declan (Matthew Goode) to get her across the country. As Anna and Declan bicker across the Emerald Isle, they discover that the road to love can take you to very unexpected places."

For more film info, visit the official website.

Maybe I'll see you there?

A time of thanks!

2009-11-27T19:57:00.000-08:00

Happy day-after Thanksgiving! I know I've said it before, but I'm going to say it again -- I am so grateful for both my clients and the vendors we work with regularly. You make us great by challenging our creativity and allowing us to challenge yours. Thank you for making us a part of your lives and your events!

Little Lovelies...

2009-11-13T14:19:00.001-08:00

I received the most wonderful package in the mail a week or so back! These little lovelies were sent over by one of my favorite photographers -- OpieFoto. (Thank you!!!) They were individual mini albums of two weddings we collaborated on this past summer. What a treat!

I've always thought of Opie as being the album queen. She's on top of every stylish option out there. Nothing like this was available back when I got married, but what a value-add! I married before the dawn of digital photography, so all my wedding photos ended up in a shoebox. These days, I wonder how many wedding photos even make it off the disc you purchase from your photographer? I say, don't let those photos go to waste! What better way to display your most memorable day than in a professionally designed and printed album? These mini albums in particular would make fantastic gifts too (for your mother-in-law, perhaps?) and are of incredible quality. Interested? Give Opie a call.

2009-10-31T12:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!!!

For those of you that missed this yesterday's fall floral post on Utah Bride Blog, read it here. Serious autumn-inspired eye-candy!

Miscellaneousness!

2009-10-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

Whimsy update? Well, we're making a final push to complete our renovation and be moved by the end of the year. I'll be relieved when Tyler and I can stop playing the part of General Contractor and can resume the role of Florist full-time again! Goodbye Holladay, hello Sugarhouse! We've been booking weddings for 2010 spring and summer dates, all the while finishing out our 2009 seasons and gearing up for holiday orders. Since time continues to be short, my posts will have to be as well. Here's a few miscellaneous pics of some of our more recent events. Have a great night!

Dhari's delicious bouquet

2009-09-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

The blog is still the last to get my attention these days. I'm going to give it an "oh well" and leave it at that.
I did want to post these photos of Dhari's bridal bouquet. I fell so deeply in love with this bouquet, it was hard to hand over! Cream and flame mini callas, green cymbidium orchids, lily grass, variegated aspidistra leaves, and the slightest little peekaboo of black feathers...simple, yet textured. If I never get around to posting the rest of her flowers, so be it. This bouquet is gorgeous enough on its own! What a perfect end-of-summer/glimmer of fall color combo and design!

photos by Michelle.

Britteny at Log Haven

2009-09-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before that blue weddings are a tricky thing. I find quite often that people who choose blue as one of their wedding colors almost always want blue flowers. Honestly, there aren't many good options out there for a bride that wants blue flowers. Your most common true-blue choices are going to be delphinium, hydrangea, thistle, tweedia, and cornflower. Other varieties like blue lace, agapanthus, hyacinth and irises may be called blue, but trust me, those suckers are purple! The fact that there are so many different shades of blue doesn't help the situation, but it does open the door for possibilities. While I'm absolutely dead-set against stem-dying flowers (not my style), airbrushing is okay when done appropriately and with a variety that takes paint well, as in the case of the hydrangea we used for this wedding. Still, because I'm somewhat of a purist, that's the extent of any color alterations we did for this wedding, and I opted to focus most of our blue on the delphinium instead.

Britteny wisely chose to keep the bulk of her flowers cream, with accents of blue and green to pull from the peacock feathers she used throughout. The eating tables contained a variety of cubes featuring either mixed arrangements or wheat grass, and following the ceremony the lanterns were removed from the shepherds hooks and placed on the tables inside used for overflow seating. Thanks to OpieFoto for the images! To see more of this wedding, visit Opie's blogpost here.

Site and email down

2009-09-13T11:45:00.001-07:00

FYI, our site and email have been down all day. Our hosting company is switching servers so it will likely continue to be down for the remainder of the day. If you've sent(send) an email anytime between Saturday morning and Monday morning, please be patient as we wait to be able to access our account, and if you don't receive a reply by Monday afternoon, go ahead and resend it for good measure. Thanks!

Color!

2009-09-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

Do under $30 centerpieces exist? You bet they do!

I've never been a huge fan of the floating gerbera daisy -- sure, its as inexpensive as they come and there are definitely situations where price has to take precedence over design, so I suppose my beef with them is simply that they often look insignificant on a table. Not enough color, not enough mass to keep things looking proportionate...At least that's how I felt before we came up with this centerpiece for Vicki. Let's call it "the floating gerbera on steroids"! We took a cylinder 8" tall, 12" in diameter, filled the bottom with river rock, and then floated an assortment of sizes, colors, and blooms. The result was a fun explosion of color on each table. The very, very wide cylinder was a perfect fit for a standard 60" round table used in conjunction with an Open House style event (meaning there were no place settings, breadbaskets, salt and pepper shakers, etc. to compete with for space), and best of all, that design was under $30 each! Its mixed-arrangement counterpart was under $50.00, and the buffet piece under $175. Inexpensive, spunky, and perfect for a late summer wedding!

So fun...

2009-09-08T17:52:00.000-07:00

I first saw this on Anna's personal blog and had to post it here.

What's the most original/fun/memorable thing you've seen at a wedding?

--If you're this cool, I want to work with you!!! Email me, we'll talk, and if I love your ideas, I'll comp your buffet table arrangement!

Erika at The Point

2009-09-04T17:19:00.000-07:00

I adore green weddings! (I'm talking color, here -- not eco-trend) When I think of green weddings, I think clean, streamlined, and oftentimes contemporary or organic. You rarely see green as the focal color in froofy, ornate events, and I'm not a froofy gal, so it makes sense that I love the crisp, cool feeling that the color green imparts. This simplistic wedding did not disappoint! The color combo of green, white and black is most definitely my current favorite. The bridal bouquet was made up of vendela roses, spray roses, mini callas, hypericum berries, freesia, and black-eye star-of-Bethlehem. The centerpieces were masses of green gladiolus and white oriental lilies with floating glad blooms at the base. The bridesmaids carried tiny clutches of roses, and...well, you can see the rest. Another big thanks to Michelle for her impeccable eye and beautiful photography.

Erika was a lovely bride. Simply lovely! So glad we were able to be a part of her day!

Another Utah Bride Blog feature

2009-09-04T17:16:00.001-07:00

Utah Bride Blog, you are marvelous!

Stephanie's florals were featured today. You can see it here.

Jenn & Josh on Utah Bride Blog

2009-09-02T18:10:00.001-07:00

Featured wedding on Utah Bride Blog today...Jenn & Josh. See it here.

Whimsy on Utah Bride and Groom

2009-09-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

Head on over to Utah Bride and Groom Magazine's "Bridal Buzz" blog where today's post features some fabulous Whimsy bouquets! And while you're there, take some time to look around -- you'll find some great planning info. It's worth your time!

You can check out the post here.

Mari @ the Museum

2009-08-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hello!!!

Getting back to real life now. I'm so far behind on my posts, I don't know if I'll ever catch up! Let's get started:

Mari and her sweetheart were married at the Springville Museum of Art. Her bridal bouquet was a traditional white bouquet of roses, lisianthus, freesia, and spray roses. All the other pieces were very feminine in pink and white and also included gerbs, hydrangea, and berries. Mari and her mother were an absolute dream to work with -- Thanks for letting us be a part of your day!

I'm outta here!

2009-08-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder (because I've been ignoring the ringing phone all morning as we're getting ready to jump in the car and skip town) ---

I'm out of the office and unreachable until August 18th. All phone calls and emails will be returned at that time.

Have a fabulous week!!!

Jennifer at The Canyons

2009-08-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

Photos by OpieFoto, of course! To see more of this wedding, click here.

Out of the office & other schedule stuff...

2009-07-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

Its been a hectic summer.

In addition to our normal event schedule and life in general, we've been spending every spare moment remodeling the Sugarhouse property we'll be moving to later this year (goodbye Holladay!). More than ever, I'm grateful its August which is when we typically start running off for quick mini-vacations at every turn to say we actually did something other than work from the months of May to September!

I'll be out of the office and unreachable today until Monday, August 1st. I'll also be out and unreachable from August 12-18. I've got very limited consultation openings up until the 10th, and from the 24th-31st. In anticipation of our impending move, I'll likely only be accepting a few more weddings for the 2009 year, but will continue booking for spring and summer of 2010.

There's so much to post, but as you may have noticed, I just haven't had much time to keep up with the blog this summer. Perhaps when things slow down a bit? We'll see, I suppose...

Britteny's Bridals

2009-07-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Britteny's bridals captured by OpieFoto. (Love her!)
Vendela roses, blue delphinium, cream spray roses, bear grass, and peacock feathers.
Britteny and Jeremy were married last night at Log Haven -- stay tuned for those photos!

Jennifer's wedding @ Southern Weddings

2009-07-16T18:52:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning to a lovely surprise -- a little note from one of our readers letting me know Jennifer and Eric's Sundance wedding was featured on Southern Weddings today! View the entire post and its amazing photos here.

My favorite part? And I quote: "...the floral arrangements were done by Whimsy Floral & Design. The centerpieces are my favorite detail of this wedding!" Sweet! I'll take that kind of nod any day!

If you want to see more truly fabulous photos of Jennifer's wedding, head over to Jonathan Canlas' blog to see his post on this event.

All photos by Jonathan Canlas...
he. is. awesome.

Amber in Perry

2009-07-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

We had a mighty busy weekend. This past Saturday, Amber was married in Perry, UT (seriously gorgeous country), and Jennifer was married at The Canyons Resort in Park City. That amounted to a lot of driving (over 200 miles), but all in all it was a great day!

I posted Amber's bridal sitting bouquet a few weeks back (think feathers!). Her wedding day flowers turned out equally as gorgeous. We used Vendela, Geraldine, and Sweet Akito roses, green and pink cymbidium orchids, green hypericum, poppy pods, pink bouvardia, Star-of-Bethlehem, Pink Mink proteas, lily grass, waxflower, mini callas, freesia, and lush greens. I really liked the variety in her centerpieces: we used mixed arrangements in silver juleps, and floral rings at the base of simple black candelabras. It definitely kept things interesting which is fabulous when considering the overall design of an event.

I really enjoyed working with Amber and can't wait to see photos of how it all came together at the end of the day!

Big thanks to Michelle for coming to my rescue again by taking these photos...love that girl!

Sally at Wadley Farms...sorta.

2009-07-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

2009 is the year of pathetic-photography-syndrome for me. I mean, really -- I've never claimed to know anything about photography. I don't even know how to shoot outside of auto settings, but even with my lame preparation to take photos, up until now they haven't been THAT bad, right?
Well, ever since my Canon stopped focusing (about 6 months outside the warranty), we've been trying to decide what to do as a replacement or fix, and in the meantime have been borrowing an older model (which I've previously mentioned). And let me tell you, it is not working for me. I don't know why -- its hardly any different than my model, but I'm constantly plagued with memory problems (see Theresa at Noah's), and this time, a dead battery. Dead. I swear I never saw a battery icon blinking at me, but when we got to Wadley Farms and setup Sally's ceremony and reception, I got one fuzzy picture and then the camera gave up the ghost. So what I have to show you is a single bridesmaid bouquet I shot as we were loading the car, and a drunken, blurred buffet piece taken as I was gauging the indoor lighting situation -- and that's just so you can have a laugh at my expense and then feel sorry for me. When I get real photos from Swensen Photography I'll post them, but in the meantime, be grateful you haven't hired me to photograph your wedding! :D

With support and sympathy...

2009-06-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Clark and Tiffany Swensen of Swensen Photography whose home fell victim to a devastating fire last night. The Swensens have had a remarkable impact on the local wedding industry as a whole, and I, for one, am delighted each time I see my work photographed by their incredibly talented team. We wish them the very best during this difficult time!

Amber's bridals

2009-06-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

Amber's bridal sitting bouquet. Seriously looking forward to her wedding in two weeks! Such a chill bride...the very best kind!

Beautifully bubble-gum!

2009-06-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

If you love pink, I've got a wedding for you!
Kyra's wedding was perfectly pink -- Delicate, romantic, feminine, lush...and so, so elegant! (am I missing any adjectives here?)
Flowers: Oriental, Asiatic, and calla lilies, roses, cymbidium orchids, freesia, peonies, bouvardia, hypericum, ranunculus, star-of-Bethlehem, amaranthus, stock, waxflower, lisianthus, etc. Venue: The Memorial House.
Heartfelt thanks to Michelle for the gorgeous photos!

Theresa at Noah's SJ

2009-06-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

Theresa's wedding and reception was held at Noah's in South Jordan. Michelle stopped by before we left for the delivery to take a few shots of the bouquets and walking flowers, and I took a loaned camera along to the venue to take shots of the cake and centerpieces which were assembled on-site (our Canon broke a few weddings ago and I haven't yet sent it in for repairs). Silly me didn't check to see if there was a memory card in the camera (and I'm used to a model that doesn't work if there is no CF card -- this older model was much different), so I shot the entire space without getting an actual photo for my troubles. Man! Just my luck... The flower girl's halo was SO cute, too! Just another reason why I'm a florist and not a photographer.

Hopefully you'll get the gist from Michelle's shots. The colors were fuchsia, tangerine and apple green and the varieties used were roses, gerberas, cymbidiums, kermits, callas, and bear grass. Bright, fun, and so very appropriate for an end-of-May wedding!

Jennifer at Sundance Preview

2009-05-17T20:54:00.000-07:00

Jennifer was a destination bride from the East coast who had an amazing vision for her wedding. Because the majority of their guests were coming from out of town, the bride and groom really went the extra mile to make this a memorable experience for those in attendance. The festivities took place at the Sundance Resort. The wedding day itself was separated into three distinct locations: the ceremony, cocktail hour, and a plated dinner reception.

The early-evening ceremony was held outdoors in front of the pond. For this we provided kermit pomanders and moss balls hung from shepherds hooks, and a canopy covered in cherry blossom branches (I don't have an initial photo of the canopy because I myself haven't seen it yet! There was a predetermined scheduling conflict with the rental company who was providing the frame for the canopy, so my dear friend Audrey from Studio Stems -- who happens to live down the street from Sundance -- graciously took the time out of her day to run over and construct the canopy so we could complete a second delivery in Salt Lake) Following the ceremony, the guests were ushered to the Screening Room building for a swanky cocktail hour. This room had a distinct Asian-inspired theme, complete with hanging paper cranes, paper lanterns, and a sushi bar. The flowers here were kept simple and minimalist in shades of green and white. At the close of the cocktail hour, guests adjourned to the Rehearsal Hall for dinner and dancing. The Rehearsal Hall had a very elegant, organic-meets-rustic feel. Lanterns and pomanders were hung from the rafters, the guests were greeted by moss wreaths, and everything was coordinated in shades of pink, green, and brown. For the centerpieces we constructed trees out of Manzanita branches. Flowers were arranged at the base of the branches, votives were hung from the branches themselves, and the base of each tree was wrapped in a ribbon cork veneer. The cork was echoed in the napkin rings, as well as the lovely escort-card trays which directed guests to their table. It was a dramatic sight -- even before it was flooded with people and candlelight!

The bouquets were charmingly simple: the bride carried a bouquet of various peonies, white ranunculus, and lily-of-the-valley. The attendants carried clutches of pink ranunculus, pink bouvardia, pink spray roses, green hypericum berries, and peony buds. The rest of the wedding party were outfitted primarily in orchids, berries, fern curl, and other coordinating accents.

I attribute much of the success of the night to Jennifer's wedding coordinator, Liz Anderson (weddedblizs@gmail.com). Look for more events by Liz in the future!

These photos were once again taken by our very own Michelle. The bride and groom's photographer was the ever-talented Jonathan Canlas. I can't wait to see how he captured the festivities in full-motion -- there's nothing quite like seeing it all come together at the end of the day. I'll be sure to post those images when I receive them.

A big thanks to everyone who was a part of this event! It was fabulous!

Amy at Millcreek Preview

2009-05-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

Amy's owl-themed reception was held at Millcreek this weekend. It was designed and coordinated by Heather Balliet of Amorology Weddings in San Diego, CA. The colors were oranges, yellows, and teal. I adored her bouquet -- so bright and happy -- and her centerpieces were fun. My favorite part? The maple wood veneer we wrapped around the cylinder vases. The teal linens make them hard to see in the photos, but they added a chic little touch.

Photos by Michelle!

The Green Bride Guide

2009-05-07T06:37:00.000-07:00

Meagan and Ben's Sundance wedding has been featured on The Green Bride Guide. Go check it out!Photo by Jonathan Canlas

Jenny at The Woods on Ninth

2009-05-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

The irony -- Jenny's first scheduled bridal session was rained out, and her wedding day was just as rainy! I thought it was breathtaking, though...so sweetly spring.

Her colors were pink and chocolate (with some champagne and ivory in there as well). We used Titanic, Geraldine, and Vendela roses, bouvardia, tulips, stock, freesia, fern curl, lisianthus, spray roses, mini callas, dried lotus pods, and waxflower. Beautiful!

Photos by the lovely Michelle.

Utah Bride Blog

2009-05-01T18:18:00.001-07:00

I'm so embarrassed! I can't believe its been so long since my last post -- I promise, I'll do much, much better this month!

I provided today's "Floral Tip Friday" over at Utah Bride Blog. Its a retake on a post I made months ago regarding budgets. Head on over for a refresher!

For those that haven't taken the time to visit it, Utah Bride Blog is a delightful new addition to our local industry. Gorgeous graphics and photos make it a must-stop for anyone interested in weddings. I dare you to check it out!

The Knot featured wedding

2009-04-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

Check out Meagan and Ben's feature on The Knot. I sure loved this wedding -- a stunning bride with impeccable taste!

It's a snowy day for bridals...

2009-04-04T14:46:00.001-07:00

Jenny is one of our May brides and was supposed to have her bridals today. When she picked up her bouquet this afternoon, she told me she had pushed the sitting back to tomorrow -- hopefully she'll escape this dreary weather that way! April is such an unpredictable month in Utah...

Her simple bridal sitting bouquet consists of Geraldine roses, cream freesia, and seeded eucalyptus, with a chocolate brown satin wrap. Very classic. We'll see more of Jenny's flowers in about a month!

Nina at Market Street

2009-03-15T19:27:00.000-07:00

Nina had her reception at Market Street Cottonwood. She was beyond stunning in her Maggie Sottero gown (whom Nina models for...uh-huh -- she's that gorgeous!). I'll definitely be angling for a photo of the bride with her bouquet. No doubt about that!

These beautiful detail shots were taken by our very own Michelle who has recently launched her own photography business. I'm thrilled that she took the time out of her day to follow us around with her camera. If you're in need of an affordable local photographer, be sure to check out her site for more information. Look for more floral shots done by Michelle all summer long!

Katy in California revisted

2009-02-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

Back in October we flew out to Fremont, CA for Katy and Nolan's wedding. I posted the photos we took of the centerpieces after we returned, but hadn't had time to get shots of any of the walking flowers before they were passed out. Alfred Salom Photography (who shot the wedding) was kind enough to provide us with those missing images. Thanks -- they're beautiful!

I know I'm going to get a flood of emails asking what I put in the bride's bouquet, so here you go: black magic, circus, leonadis, and freedom roses, red spray roses, two varieties of mini callas, safari sunset, orange freesia, blue thistle, belladonna delphinium, fern curl, chocolate cosmos, wine colored dahlias, brown hypericum berries, and seeded eucalyptus. It was seriously lush. Loved. It.
The attendants carried deconstructed bouquets of either freesia, callas, roses, or dahlias (each with hypericum berries and seeded eucalyptus), and the groomsmen had coordinating boutonnieres. I still smile when I think about that wedding. It was so lovely...so happy...lots of tears...We were honored to be a part of it!

Its about the details...

2009-02-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day -- for real this time!

These photos are of flowers Kate put together for her brother-in-law's wedding back in the fall. How cute is that bride?! I love the wax monogram Kate designed and used on the bouquet wrap. Its always so fun to implement truly personalized details that are used throughout the event. Great job Kate!

Happy Valentine's Day (a few days early...)

2009-02-11T18:34:00.001-08:00

It is at the edge of a petal that love waits.
- William Carlos Williams

Today's special order from Clayton to Kylie on their 3rd anniversary. Its hard to believe its been three years since we did their wedding...!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Meghan at Thanksgiving Point

2009-02-02T09:41:00.001-08:00

Meghan's reception at Thanksgiving Point (Rose Room). The lighting was ter-ri-ble. (Horrible for taking pictures, perfect for ambiance) Hopefully you get the gist.

She chose a cascade style bouquet which you don't see too often these days (at least in Salt Lake...). It consisted of two varieties of Phalaenopsis orchids, cymbidium orchids, dendrobium orchids, and white mini calla lilies. The centerpieces were curly willow and dendrobium orchids.

And that's that.

Steph + Ben on SW

2009-01-20T13:10:00.000-08:00

Thanks, Adizat, for letting me know the post was up at Southern Weddings!

You can check it out here.

Drumroll please...?

2009-01-20T13:08:00.000-08:00

It's time to announce my favorite wedding of 2008!

{Stephanie at Snowbasin}

And for this highly coveted honor (right!), Stephanie wins...well...nothing. But I'm going to inundate you with photos as I relive what a fun event this was!

What made her wedding so great, you ask? The clients. I spent a lot of time working with her mom (awesome) and her sister (wicked awesome), and both the bride and groom were laid-back and genuinely kind. But in addition to the clients, I also loved the designs, the colors, and working with their other vendors.

I'm posting photos taken by the lovely Rebekah Westover. She informed me that this wedding will be featured on the Southern Weddings blog, so keep your eye out for that.

Now -- sit back, relax, and enjoy the show...

All images by Rebekah Westover

Special day, special order

2009-01-15T17:52:00.000-08:00

An anniversary special order. I love it when clients come back after the wedding, and I love the stories behind the flowers!

Roses, iris, hypericum berries, and solidago.

Allegra's California bouquet

2009-01-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

Reality is cruel.

Yesterday I left 60 degrees and sunny in California only to be welcomed-home by a Utah snow storm. Go figure!

Allegra and Anthony were married in Vacaville, CA. I couldn't bear the thought of bringing my huge SLR on the plane so I only took along my ancient point-and-shoot which resulted in a few measly photos of Allegra's bouquet. Vendela roses, spray roses, bouvardia, fressia, bella donna delphinium, and tulips. The night was beautiful -- so glad I was able to participate!

Now back to my very chilly Utah existence...!

Heading back to California...

2008-12-31T20:15:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year (and belated Merry Christmas)!

I'm going to board a plane for California in the morning. I'll be doing a wedding at the Vacaville Opera House in Vacaville, CA this weekend and then will take a few much needed personal days at Capitola Beach (sure to be a chilly beach, but at least there's no snow to think about!). I'll be back on January 7th and will be resuming my consultation schedule on January 10th.

I'll leave you to welcome the New Year with a few shots of gorgeous seasonal arrangements done by none other than our very own Kathy. Aside from her obvious knack for creative florals, she's also a rockin' crafter. If you have any interest in paper crafts, visit her blog to see some amazing work and fabulous tutorials. A-MA-zing!

Have a great week!

Becca...BRRRR!

2008-12-28T19:53:00.000-08:00

I thought about Becca all day as we prepped for her evening reception: We've had such a biting, bone-chilling cold lately and I couldn't imagine standing outside smiling for photos in that kind of weather. One of the first things we asked about when we arrived at the reception venue was how the morning at the temple went and if everyone survived the chill. I was glad to hear the cloud cover broke, the sun was shining, the snow was white (no dirty snow!), and despite the obvious cold, spirits were high and the atmosphere was joyous. Can't wait to see pictures...I'm sure her bright bouquet had amazing contrast against the fresh snow.
The reception was held at the Springville Museum of Art. Lots of happy yellow with splashes of bright red. Not your typical Christmas wedding! The flowers we used: mini calla lilies, roses, oncidium orchids, tulips, freesia, asiatic lilies, hypericum berries, waxflower, and assorted greenery.
Congrats Becca and Mitchell!

Allyse at Hidden Valley

2008-12-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

Allyse had her reception at the Hidden Valley Country Club in Sandy. There's something about aspidistra leaves wrapped inside a vase that takes an arrangement to the next level. SO pretty...Especially for end-of-fall...

Funny thing about this wedding? A few days before the event I accidently sliced my wrist/forearm, requiring a good handful of stitches. You should have heard me laugh when the doctor told me not to get my wound wet for 10 days! (Floristry is a very messy, very wet job!) In addition to diligently wrapping my arm with cling wrap and tape day after day, Jessica totally came to the rescue by assuming responsibility for the soggiest aspects of this event. She's the best!

Don't you love how these arrangements turned out? Not bad for one-handed floral design... Well, technically it was nine-handed floral design, but who's counting? :)

Maren...finally!

2008-12-04T15:26:00.000-08:00

Its been such a busy year that we haven't updated our website since 2007! Yeah. Imagine the work I have ahead of me. In an effort to begin the process, I've been going through all the photos since last September and realized I never posted photos from Maren's wedding in July! Duh! Photography by Anna Page, custom linens by Dwell Designs. So fresh and crisp...I miss the summer already!

Orange must be the new black...

2008-12-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

Laura's shower centerpieces. Orange has been the most requested color from our clients in 2008. Interesting. Has the color pink finally been dethroned???

Seasonal fare...

2008-12-01T20:18:00.000-08:00

UPS finally showed up with my new card reader today. Phew!

Although I'm sure everyone has already moved on to focusing on Christmas, I wanted to quickly post a few shots of some of the arrangements we did for Thanksgiving.

Because the question has already been asked -- yes, we will be accepting special orders during the holiday season, but on a very limited basis. Orders must be placed one week before delivery/pick up. On the menu this year? Centerpieces, pomanders, wreaths, and focal pieces. Architectural requests will also be considered.

Since I didn't get to say it on Thanksgiving, I'd just like to mention how grateful I am for my amazing team and our awesome clients. Thank you for making this such a great year for Whimsy!

Becca's bridals and December scheduling

2008-11-21T15:15:00.000-08:00

My card reader died unexpectedly so I have an SD card full of photos to share. I finally used the painfully slow reader on my printer to at least pull off this bouquet and make a post...

Becca's bridal sitting bouquet was a mass of yellow and red callas. Striking? Yes. Very bold color choice. I like a girl who's got guts. This is the same design she'll be carrying on her wedding day in December.

Speaking of December -- just a quick note about scheduling. I'm taking the majority of the month off for the holidays and will only be scheduling consultations for THREE DAYS out of the entire month. Three days. Got it? We'll be holding consultations on Saturday December 6th, Thursday December 18th, and Monday December 29th. Times are limited so plan ahead if you're hoping to get in during winter break.

I'll post photos of Allyse's Hidden Valley Country Club wedding soon...provided Tyler buys me a new card reader!

Happy Friday!

CF Foundation "Taste of Salt Lake" fundraiser

2008-11-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

The Grand America hosted the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's "Taste of Salt Lake" fundraiser event on Saturday. This is the 4th year we've donated centerpieces to this event and feel its an important organization to support. My sister Rachel passed away at the age of 12 after battling CF her entire life. That was 15 years ago, and while CF research has made leaps and bounds since then, ongoing support and funding is needed as they continue their quest for a cure.
This year's theme was "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow." The event's colors were red, black, and silver. Since roses are the flower used to represent CF (kids who have a hard time saying "Cystic Fibrosis" refer to it as "65 roses), we used red hybrid tea and spray roses with accents of berries and silver wire in various gauges to compliment the arrangements. This kind of work is always fun because we can pretty much do whatever floats our fancy -- and since these centerpieces are auctioned off at the end of the night, we try to make them different than what would normally be seen at these kinds of functions. I'm glad we were able to participate in this event and hope the fundraising portion of the night was a huge success!

(pardon the obvious indoor-photography!)

Stephanie at Ft. Douglas

2008-11-05T12:03:00.000-08:00

Stephanie was married at the Fort Douglas Chapel followed by a reception at the Commander's House. You already know what I'm going to say -- LOVE that bouquet. Because I do.

Photography by the lovely OpieFoto.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

Last year...

This year...

What a difference 365 days makes!

Happy, happy Halloween!

"Delicious Autumn!"

2008-10-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." -- Albert Camus

For me, this quote rings true each year. My heart is embedded in the fall season. I don't know when my love affair with September-November began. While I was raised in CA, I spent a pivotal five years in New England where I learned to drink up the changing colors and embrace the earth's passage into winter. Since then, I can't get enough of this time of year. I purposefully planned two October babies, adding to the sense of celebration in our home. I love autumn and everything it entails.

I'm not a huge home decorator -- think of it as an occupational hazard. (At the end of the day, does a surgeon want to go home and remove a stray appendix?) So when I do acknowledge a holiday or seasonal change, its done simply, quickly, and with little fanfare. This is what my fireplace mantle looks like right now. I probably wouldn't have done even this much had my 5-year old not requested I "make the house beautiful" for his large family birthday party (I know...he's a creative little soul). To do so, we pulled some silver julep cups and mercury glass pillar holders out of inventory. The candlesticks were adorned with fresh orange mum pomanders, and the julep cups were given a quick mass of fresh rose hips. Throw on a few squash and pears, a handful of votives with twine and voila -- all done.

Following those photos are photos of the arrangement I put together for Kathy's birthday. I don't give a whole lot of flowers as gifts (going back to the occupational hazard), but Kathy is one of my favorite people to arrange for. She's got so much style and appreciates the unordinary -- and I know just what she likes! Her rustic-yet-streamlined flowers consisted of two varieties of roses, rose hips, and green and brown hypericum berries in an unstained wood box with just a little bit of moss to finish it off. The colors reminded me of early fall -- right about the time the leaves have started to change and the old and new colors bleed into each other. Fitting, since both our birthdays are at the end of September which is right about the time that is happening in the canyons.

I love autumn, am sad to see it go each year, and always look forward to its return. And this year is no different.

Happy Autumn!

Stacy Revisited

2008-10-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Anna Page sent over a disk full of goodies a few weeks back. Man I love her work!

These are shots from Stacy and Nate's wedding back in May. If you follow our blog, you'll recall this one had us outside in a torrential downpour for much longer than was humanly comfortable!

Stacy and Nate had their reception in her folk's backyard the day before the wedding. A luncheon was held at Market Street the following day after their temple ceremony. As you can see, yes, the flowers do look just as good a day later!

Thanks Anna!

Katy in California preview

2008-10-22T13:44:00.000-07:00

We had a great time in California working on Katy's wedding. She and Nolan were married outdoors at Palmdale Estates in Fremont, CA -- colors were fall tones with blue accents, with unruly, textured mixed arrangements on some tables and entwined callas in tall cylinders on the others. The bouquets (for which we are sorely at a loss of when it comes to photos) were beautiful -- a lush mixture of roses, dahlias, berries, chocolate cosmos, safari sunset, fiddleheads, freesia, thistle, bella donna delphinium, and callas for the bridal bouquet, and deconstructed attendant bouquets of freesia, dahlia, roses, and flame callas, all with berries and seeded eucalyptus. No shots of the cake, head table, guestbook table, and other decor pieces...simply not enough time! Plus, the lighting was horrible for amateur photo taking -- much too bright, then much too dark -- so I'll be knocking on the door of her photographer to see what I can get from them and will post those later. A HUGE thanks to the fabulous Alison from Mountain View who assisted Tyler and I with this event. Another big thanks to East Bay Flower Market and Fremont Flowers who supplied our product, provided our work and cooler space, and helped us with delivery accommodations. What a team!!!

Off to California...

2008-10-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

Tyler and I are in the midst of packing up our tools in preparation for our flight to California tomorrow. We'll be doing a wedding on Saturday at Palmdale Estates in Fremont. (but don't fret -- we'll find a way to squeeze in a little R&R!) That being the case, I'll be out of the office until Monday, October 20th. I'm having a hard time deciding which clothes to bring -- I'm already used to the crisp fall air and can't wrap my head around the fact that I'll be in 80 degree weather again in 24 hours... Since we'll be busy working, I'll have limited email access but can be reach via cell phone if the matter is urgent.

Have a great weekend!

Dessert buffet? Yes, please!

2008-10-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

What are we up to? I promise to pull my act together and start posting photos of stuff we've done lately -- soon. With two little boy birthdays to celebrate and preparations for an out-of-state wedding I'm doing next week in California, I haven't had much time to think about posting -- Still don't, actually, which is why I'm going to forgo Whimsy business for the most adorably delicious dessert table designer I've seen in a long time. (Note: Audrey -- I immediately thought about you when I saw this!)

When I got married a billion years ago (okay, eight!) we were at the height of the "cake buffet" trend. We still see them now and again, but when I did it (yes, I'm admitting it!), EVERYONE was doing it. Perhaps its because it was so much easier for the reception centers to handle logistically which resulted in heavy sales pitches and lower prices? Regardless, it was overdone and usually a big yawner -- a bunch of cakes all in a row with little else to nibble on or even look at. What if you weren't a cake eater? I tried to address that problem by offering fruit and crudites, some shrimp cocktail, a cheese plate, and chocolate covered strawberries. Even so, it was a feeble attempt and one that I try not to think about for fear of lingering embarrassment. These days, brides are getting smarter by providing a larger assortment of sweet and savory items on on their buffet table. When it comes to the sweet, Amy Atlas Events does dessert tables right. If you're in need of a little inspiration, I highly encourage you to visit her site. Not only do her goodies look delicious, but its artfully presented which in my book is even more important sometimes (we eat with our eyes, too, people!).
I'm in love. How about you?

image courtesy Amy Atlas Events

The Knot magazine? Sweet!

2008-09-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

Got some cool news from Michelle a couple weeks ago (and just remembered now!). She read on Jonathan Canlas' blog that a wedding we did together earlier this year (Meagan's destination wedding at Sundance) was going to be featured by The Knot -- not just on their website, but in PRINT as well! See his posting here.
Woot woot!

He is so talented...such breathtaking work. Wish I had some of his shots to show you right now. {sigh...}

It's not easy being Green...Or is it?

2008-09-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

I grew up in California – the East Bay to be exact – where even 25 years ago, we were talking about the need to have a positive effect on our environment. Recycling was a big deal, and we often made the trek to the local recycling center to drop off glass and newspapers. I was somewhat of a maverick as a child, and not only formed both “Save the Rainforest” and “Save the Whales” clubs at my school, but I also refused to eat at Burger King because their cattle purportedly was a major cause of deforestation, and MacDonalds because they used Styrofoam clamshell containers for their Big Macs (even back in the 80’s I was freaking out about the ozone). I’ve chilled out big-time since then. Maybe a little too much, even. But I still think about the impact I have on the world around me and have done what little things I can to ensure our company makes some effort to reduce our carbon footprint and such. So what can YOU do?

Green weddings are catching on. Some of the most gorgeous and innovative weddings I've seen have belonged to brides trying to be earth-friendly. A few go a little far, but if that’s in line with your values, why not? There are a number of small things you can do amidst your wedding planning in order to greenify your event if desired. Let’s highlight a few of those here:

1. Invitations: One of my girlfriends was married in Vermont this past weekend (gorgeous!) and in an effort to reduce the amount of paper they consumed, they used technology to get the word out. Rather than mailing out "Save The Dates," they emailed them. This not only cut down on the amount of paper consumed, but it also eliminated the emissions that otherwise would have been required to deliver said pieces of mail. They also created a nice website that had all the necessary event and lodging information for their guests, again cutting down on the paper that was used. When they did send out formal invites, they were small, simple, and printed on recycled paper. Did you know it’s also possible to have invites printed on tree-free paper?

2. Food: It’s not difficult to find a caterer willing to cook with organic products. Even better, support local farmers by requesting locally grown foods.

3. Attire: If the thought isn’t appalling, consider purchasing your gowns used, or use vintage fabric for your custom dress. I’m all for renting tuxes, too. Its essentially recycled clothing.

4. Favors: I know – that little trio of truffles is always such a yummy treat to walk away with, but have you considered maybe taking the money you would otherwise spend on favors and making a thoughtful donation to a charity instead? Have a nice little placard printed up and placed next to your guestbook explaining what you have done on your guests’ behalf. You’ll be cutting down on emissions, waste, and giving all your loved ones a nice, big warm fuzzy!

5. Flowers: Yes, we are able to procure organic, pesticide free flowers. They are called “green” flowers. Unfortunately we’re not able to get all varieties that way – yet. Roses are the most common green flower I see these days. They typically cost about 20-30% more than your regularly grown varieties, but to someone who cares a great deal, the cost is worth it. Don’t forget to request green varieties upfront. You can also use recycled containers or biodegradable containers for your centerpieces. Using leftover dress material or grandma’s handkerchief as your bouquet wrap also cuts down on waste.

Here at Whimsy, we take a few extra measures to minimize the impact our product is having on the environment. While they are traditional, we do not deliver your corsages and boutonnieres in clear clamshell containers. The corsage is removed and almost always, the box and its leftover contents are thrown away. This seems like pretty unnecessary waste to us. Temple boutonnieres are delivered in cardboard boxes that can be easily recycled, and walking flowers delivered to an event are transported in plastic Tupperware-like boxes and then unpacked and displayed on-site. Likewise, all your centerpieces are transported in the same type of reusable plastic box and are packed with recycled newspaper. Is this the prettiest way to bring stuff in? Probably not. But its definitely the most environmentally conscious. We reuse our boxes until they crack, and then we recycle them. We also recycle all broken glass. We even try to mulch the organic material leftover from each event – material that would otherwise be thrown in the trash.

I promise, we’re not crazy – we’re just trying to do our part. It makes me feel better about the product I provide my brides. I’m always looking for additional suggestions, too. It’s the little things that count, right?

Photos from top to bottom: Kathy used wood she had collected to serve as the structure for her centerpieces. She kept the wood following her wedding to use in her everyday decor! “Green” roses were used to make Jordan's bouquet in July.

2008-09-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

New phone. Already hooked up. Crisis averted. :)
THANK YOU Craigslist!

Mobile catastrophe

2008-09-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

I know -- the word "catastrophe" is a little dramatic. But then again, so am I. :)

Its been quite a day, technically speaking. I woke up to find my website and email down (REALLY not a good thing), and in the middle of dealing with that, my cell phone shorted out and died mid-phone call. The good news is that email is working and the server issues got worked out, but the cell phone has yet to be revived. Tyler is working on it tonight, but chances are it'll have to be replaced. That being said, I will likely be unreachable by cell for a while...at least as long as it takes to buy and ship a phone off ebay. How in the world am I going to survive without a cell phone for a week?! Its funny how dependant we become on phones and the like. If you need me, either leave an email or call the office and I'll get back to you asap.

I guess I'm going to have a bone to pick with Samsung. Or Sprint. Or both. Three months out of warranty and it goes kaput with no warning!
Grrr...

Dear Kathy,

2008-09-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

Today is your birthday.

I had planned a few ways to celebrate both our special days, but life interceded and you're too many miles away for the time being. So while I won't go on and on (because really, do our readers want to hear it?) I will tell you that if you were here, I would bring you flowers. Not these (though I did put them together today while I thought about you), but something orange...and probably pokey. And I would tell you (as I dropped off the flowers and whisked you away for a sugar-free lunch) that I appreciate having you in my life. You help maintain my sanity. You make this job fun when its not. You give me things to think about on a deeper level. You are generous with my children. And most of all, you are a wonderful friend.

I am lucky to know you.

So despite everything that is going on where you are (and in your heart), I hope you're able to take a moment to enjoy your birthday.

Can't wait for you to come home.

Much love,
Liz

Diverting traffic: Visit Rebekah's blog!

2008-09-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

The devastatingly beautiful Rebekah Westover (seriously -- have you seen her???) posted some amazing shots of Stephanie's wedding on her blog. Head over here to check them out.

Heather at Red Butte

2008-09-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

We were back at Red Butte Garden this weekend, this time for Heather's calla lily inspired wedding. The designs were simple and sophisticated in every way. Greens, browns, and white made up her primary color palate, and her centerpieces and bouquets were monobotanical -- long stem calla lilies in both green and white. Her accent arrangements were more lush and textured, bringing in splashes of brown and orange in lotus pods, curly willow, and flame calla lilies among other varieties.

As Kate and I were leaving the event site, I thought to myself, "What a lovely day for a wedding!" Indeed it was -- perfect weather, perfect atmosphere...what more could a bride ask for? Here's hoping the evening was perfect as well!

Respecting the Big, Bad Budget!

2008-09-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

In looking back at my posts over the past season, I realize I've said little more than a brief synopsis of each wedding (if that!). Its been a busy summer and one that has not allowed for much time to chat. I'm going to try to change that, starting with today. If you have any questions or ideas that you want me to address in this forum, by all means feel free to send me an email at mail@whimsyfloral.com. Believe me, I'm never short on opinions!

Okay, so let's talk about budget.

It would be silly to think the downturn of the economy hasn't hit the wedding industry, because it has. A lot of brides are being asked to make tough decisions when it comes to planning their wedding and appropriately allocating their budget. While they seem like the easiest thing to either DIY or nix completely, don't underestimate the importance of your wedding flowers. You may think "Oh, I'm renting an attractive venue or my wedding is outdoors so it doesn't really need flowers," but in all reality, it is your flowers that pull together the ambiance of your event and complete your decor, and a wedding lacking flowers tends to look...well, lacking. That being said, I would never advocate overextending one's budget, though I would encourage brides to stop and consider their options when it comes to providing those finishing touches.

Most of the reputable local designers maintain a minimum order of $650-850. That may seem like a lot of money to someone who is just beginning their planning, but really, its just a drop in the bucket. When you add up bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, centerpieces, buffet pieces, the cake, etc., you can see how quickly things can get out of hand. That's why we always encourage brides on a budget to prioritize. If the bouquets are the most important item in your book, allocate more money in that direction and less toward your centerpieces. Do you really need the buffet piece or can you ask your caterer to dress the table without it? Is it worth the $60 to provide your flower girl with a halo or is she just going to rip it off her head within the first five minutes? Can you do without an arrangement for the ladies' room -- yes! Don't be fooled by inexperienced florists that say they can give you everything you want on a limited budget. Flowers are expensive, and in this industry you get what you pay for. If you have three vendors giving you one price and one vendor coming in drastically below the average, beware. There is a reason for the discrepancy. Does that mean floating daisies and carnations have to make up your designs? Of course not!

Case in point: The above photos are from Sadie's wedding in August. Sadie was stretching just to meet our minimum at the time (usually a budget for a small wedding party only with no decor pieces). While we don't do a lot of weddings in that situation, she and her fiance were such a pleasure to meet with and they were so open minded when it came to their designs that I was happy to take the leap and work with them. She cut out the wedding party flowers that were not absolutely necessary (meaning no corsages for Aunt Jane or Cousin Sally, etc.) and set her sights on very simple centerpieces. For the 10 tables, we used two designs: 1. 6" cylinders with river rock, cream football mums, curly willow, and accents of pink bouvardia and green kermits; 2. Trumpet vases containing river rock, curly willow, and two white agapanthus stems. Both very inexpensive arrangements, but they offered a lot more pizazz than a bud vase, floating daisy, or a handful of votive candles. Now it would be easy to say, "Well, that looks so easy, I could just have my sisters put them together the day before the wedding!" You probably could, but consider the cost of purchasing the vases and river rock -- not cheap at all. Once that cost is incurred, you'll quickly realize you could have ordered a much nicer and larger arrangement from a florist for less than the price of the vases. (And I won't even get into the time, construction, storage, and transport issues that follow DIY projects...that's a different post altogether!) Sadie rented her glassware for almost nothing and since she returned them in pristine condition, she got 100% of her deposit refund back.

A good florist is going to help you see what you can do on your budget. That's why its important to both provide your budget upfront and be willing to listen to what they have to say. And if it comes down to deciding you really do want more than you can afford, be willing to reevaluate the rest of your wedding budget to determine what you can cut in order to allocate more money to your flowers. Its also a good idea to see if your florist provides any other rentals or decor items that may be more cost effective than purchasing you own items (yes, even from Ikea!).

Bottom line: just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't have a stunning wedding. Being realistic about what you can afford and hiring a good designer are key. Have fun with it, allow for a little imagination, and most of all, Happy Designing!

No one is here...

2008-09-03T22:14:00.000-07:00

I'm taking off to enjoy one last summer weekend with my family (okay...I know its technically autumn now, but...you know what I mean). I'll be out of the office until Monday, September 8. I won't have email access but will be reachable via cell phone if absolutely necessary.
Have a fabulous weekend!

Head over to Anna's blog...

2008-08-23T07:36:00.001-07:00

Anna Page posted shots of Kiska's Log Haven wedding...Check them out here!

Can I just say how much I love Anna's photography???