Tropical Heat

The inspiration for this party was Jamaica - a favorite place of the guest of honor, the birthday girl. The host wanted bright, bright, bright colors with a hint of the exotic and I selected flowers primarily in the pinks and oranges family with pops of other complementary colors for interest - yellows, purples, greens. I also focused on texture - fuzzy, fluffy, spiky - to create additional visual variety.

The result was a riot of color and the arrangements worked wonderfully against the bright orange cloths.

Continuing along this line of bright exotics, I've included a few shots of a set of bouquets I did around the same time - chartreuse green cymbidium orchids with hot pink roses.

Using brights may seem daunting, but I encourage you to explore the outer edges of the usual pinks, oranges, and greens and try a few neons, electrics, and acids. These super bright colors are all the rage now in fashion and design, and it's fun to experiment a bit with flowers.

Materials pictured include: pink hydrangea, trick dianthus, hot lady roses, mombo spray roses, donna roses, seedum, billy ball, bullit purple allium, thistle, hypericum, concador lilies, aspidestra leaves, eremurus cleopatra orange, cymbidum orchids, and sweet unique roses.

Blushing

What most don't realize is that pink is one of the most universally pleasing colors - one can always find a shade to wear, it goes with most anything, and there's a reason why lighting designers use pink gels to shade tents and event spaces: it creates warmth and makes people look good.  Pink is so versatile and when it comes to flowers, the shades range from the palest of pink ivories to the most vibrant of cerises.

A spring bride of mine wanted a soft, romantic look of pinks and whites and late spring is one of the better times for peonies and ranunculus. The design was simple but full, and the antique crystal containers and mercury glass vases worked well with the bride's family vases, photographs, and silver.  

One last note - the ranunculus of the bridesmaids' bouquets and the bridal bouquet was pretty spectacular - it was wonderful to work with such plump and richly colored stems.

Materials pictured include: white hydrangea, pink ranunculus, white peonies, Sarah Bernhardt peonies, majolique spray roses, vendela roses, tibet roses, eskimo roses, ranunculus, and mixed greens.

Photo of Bride in Grandmother's dress and photo of Grandmother in dress; family veil

Tables, awaiting silver chivari chairs

Sweetheart table

Cocktail table pieces, ready to be placed

Vintage family brooches and handkerchief

Welcome, Baby

Here is a look at a Christening party I did in the spring for a baby boy. I so love this because not only is it unexpected (as in, it's not blue), but it is a fresh twist on the newly popular combination of yellow and silver/grey - the pop of turquoise-y green milk glass is cheerful and different.

The vintage glass of my client played well with the burlap-and-log look we designed for the cake and cookie table. Vintage can look rather stayed and, at times, dusty and tattered. This was the exact opposite - it was fresh, clean, and fun and the perfect way to celebrate a new son's christening.

Materials pictured include: white hydrangea, yellow ranunculus, dusty miller, branches, and lemons.