Sending Smiles ~

I love noticing trends as they come and go and I have to say, peach has been a hot trend this year in event and wedding designs. I've always adored peach but with orange being the hot ticket, it seems like peach was just pushed aside. Well, not any more! Looking over our wedding designs from that last few weeks peach was a color we saw used again and again. It's also that time of year when I start meeting with many new brides for their 2012 weddings, a peach remains a strong color theme. I'll keep you posted as the trend into 2012 start to become more apparent but from my point of view - I'd be on peach being a bigger next year!

I wanted to share with you one of our wedding bouquets from this past weekend. How pretty is this bouquet we created for Christina? Lavender roses, white stephanotis, cream hydrangea, purple stock, deep plum colored Floragene carnations and pink gerber daisies really combined to create something special, don't you think? We really liked the coordinating bouquets we created for the brides maids. Pink gerbers, roses, carnations and peony, accented with purple limonium fillers. So sweet but still very elegant. Pink and purple still remains as a very popular wedding trend and doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Looking at these two bridal bouquets, you can understand why! To see more of our wedding designs, bouquets and even centerpieces - visit our wedding site at www.perfectweddingflowers.com

A meeting today with bride Adele got me to thinking about this blog topic. Working with brides to create floral bouquets that they absolutely love has as much to do with the "texture" the flower combinations create as the "color" theme of the flowers. For example, these bouquets were mostly shades of orange but had these been made using a single flower such as roses or even the dahlias, they certainly would have looked completely different. A bride that likes "texture" will usually love bouquets that have flowers in different shapes and sizes and even though they might be monochromatic, mostly one color like these, the flowers themselves might have slightly different shading with in the same flowers. These bouquets used both roses and tulips that showed mostly as orange but hints and lines of yellow. Take that color away and again, the look would be completely different. Anyone that has ever had a wedding consultation with me knows I generally attack the

I have to say that I'm so happy that bright colors seem to be coming back into fashion. Remember back in the early 90's when we thought nothing of wearing purple blazers or hot pink sweaters? Haven't you missed those bright, feel good colors? I know I have. Last week I had to do some shopping for a family that Kevin and I were sponsoring for Christmas. One of the family members had asked for a pink sweater. Thinking that it might be tough to find a bright and really cool pink sweater, I ventured into the women's department. I was delighted to see many to choose from and so many other pretty tops and sweaters in bright, vibrant shades. I see this trend also in floral design, from wedding to everyday orders. People are in love with color and I could not be happier! Just like this bouquet we created for a photo shoot for the Nassau Inn - http://www.nassauinn.com/ taken by Kyo Morishima Photography - http://www.kymorishima.com/ - most brides are coming in asking for r

This morning I was looking for inspiration for something to post on my Facebook Fan Page and I came across this really cool website. It's called Living Arts Originials and it's all artwork. The part that I found interesting talked about artwork used in hospitals and doctors offices. Read below for some interesting stuff and thanks to Kathleen Karlsen for the inspiration!! Can using flowers in the decor in a room help relieve stress? A 1996 study conducted by Virginia Lohr and others showed that rooms and offices decorated with plants and flowers helped reduce stress as measured by decreased blood pressure and pulse rates. Researchers have further determined that there is a direct link between flowers and life satisfaction. A study done at Rutgers demonstrated that flowers decrease anxiety, depression and agitation. Flowers also lead to a higher sense of enjoyment and increased contact with family and friends. Flowers make a home more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere