Sending Smiles ~

Well, it finally felt like fall around here this past weekend, starting with Wei Jen's bridal bouquet of mango mini callas, rust football mums, solidago, seeded eucalyptus, red carnations, hypericum berries and spray roses. The mums really help with the texture and keep the cost down while the mango mini callas and roses make for a more upscale vibe.  I especially loved the bouquets we made for Colleen's brides maids ~a simple hand tie of 3 medium sized sunflowers. Affordable and super cute! A great bouquet option if you have less than $25 to spend on each attendant.  Here's another affordable brides maids bouquet idea ~ 3 anthurium tied with grasses. Small but with a tropical, funky feel, these ran under $40 per maid.  Looking for something unusual? These bouquets of all pincushion protea really give variety and depth of color all in one very neat flower. Although not as low cost as those above, these bouquets are sure to stand out and get noticed in pictures.

Last weekends wedding for Lorrie had us using lots of fresh, natural flowers such as astilbe, fever fews and tons and tons of baby's breath. One of the flowers used in the table centerpieces and Lorrie's pretty bouquet was Queen Anne's lace grown in California. Ever wonder where those beautiful flowers we use in our everyday and wedding designs come from? For us, we love buying from Cali because of the quality, selection and the fact that they are USA Grown. Not many flowers are with most cut flowers sold in the USA coming from outside our country. Any opportunity I get to "Buy Local" US flowers, I jump at the chance. As you can see from the photo to the left, Lorries' flowers came out amazing and it's even more gratifying for me to have seen some of the amazing farm land that grow these amazing varieties. We may be located in New Jersey but we get in the most amazing flowers from all over the world and this picture proves it!   To see this and mor

Peonies  and Garden Roses     By Nicole Foy Peonies are one of the most requested flowers for bridal bouquets but few people realize just how limited of a time frame they are available.  If you live in the Northeast, you have already seen them come and go in a matter of a week or two.  In terms of wholesale availability, they are available from about mid May to mid June.  They have been known to be available year round but the prices tend to differ dramatically from Spring to the other three seasons a year.  And with Peonies already being an expensive flower even when the are in season, many have asked if an appropriate visual, as well as more economic, substitution is available...   I have always suggested the garden rose, which differs from a traditional rose.  Garden roses are much more delicate and have fluffier petals much like the look of the peony.  They are also equally as fragrant which is one of the many appeals of both the peony and the garden rose.  Many love th

Don't you just love Hydrangeas? I know I do. As soon as I meet with a bride and she mentions blues or purples, these gorgeous flowers pop right to mind. Full and lush, they make gorgeous bouquets, centerpieces and look lovely tied to the end of a pew with a simple fabric ribbon. This photo taken at Longwood Gardens just this past week (by yours truly, of course) really shows not only the depth of color but also the variety of color from bloom to bloom. As shown here, these are all mostly on the same plant of the same variety. If you are looking for a perfect match and to have the blossoms all the exact same shade, hydrangeas might not be for you. I personally think that the randomness of the color is exactly what makes these flowers so gorgeous. Haven't considered hydrangea for your wedding? Perhaps I have changed your mind? :o)