Sending Smiles ~

Looking for a different rose gift for Valentine's Day? How about this stunning design created by our designer Holly. Cymbidium orchids and roses in red, hot pink and pale pink arraned in a metallic vase accented with floating hearts. Who says sending a dozen roses for Valentine's Day has to be boring!! To see this and more of holiday designs check out our website at www.sendingsmiles.com

Check out our newest video showing scenes from both of our shops. What fun it is to work in a flower shop - Enjoy!! http://animoto.com/s/kQOb3f4gbj4EhM0dTergQQ

Well, this bouquet is not exactly the shade that was chosen by Pantone Color Institutes color of the year for 2011 - Honeysuckle but it's pretty darn close. With all the brides that I've met with over the last 2 months, I have to say that a bright reddish pink seems to be showing up high on brides wedding color wish list. We saw many brides returning to various shades of pink last year, just as we did for our bride Lauren this past fall. This hand tied bouquet was made using roses in different shades and sizes, hydrangeas, lisianthus, ranuculus and was accented with chocolate cosmos, pink astilbe and very cool scabiosa pods. Imagine this vibrant and cheery bouquet against chocolate brown brides maids dresses. An unexpected and feminine color theme for just about any time of year and apparently the inspiration for this years color of the year - Honeysuckle! To see more of our wedding designs visit our wedding site at http://www.perfectweddingflowers.com/ or our everyday flow

What fun it was for me to write a guest blog on the Nassau Inn's wedding site. I'm happy with the results and thought I'd share the link on my own blog. The topic is "How to Choose a Wedding Florist" and I give my recommendations in 5 simple steps. If you are interested in this blog visit the Nassau Inn's wedding blog at the http://blog.nassauinn.com/2011/01/how-to-choose-a-wedding-florist/ I'd love to hear what you think and let me know if you found it helpful!

It may be winter to you but our summer and fall brides are working away, looking for inspirations for their weddings and so I thought I'd add this into the mix for consideration. Can't decide what to have your flower girl carry? How about one of these adorable "kissing" ball pomanders? Tossing petals is still the number 1 choice but sometimes it's not allowed. Why not choose one of these whimsical arrangements for her to carry? Imagine creating one with white button mums accented with tiny black pearl pins and a black satin ribbon. So elegant for a black and white themed wedding. Going for a natural look? What about green moss accented with loops of grasses or even curly willow dangling on natural raffia? Looking for a soft, romantic look? How about soft and ruffled pink carnations accented with tiny sweetheart roses? Unexpected and fun, who could ask for anything better!

Choosing flowers for your bridal bouquet can be daunting - to say the least. With so many options, how do you know you'll choose the flowers, style and colors you really love? When I meet with brides I remind them to remember that the flowers they carry will not only be viewed up close but also from a distance. Brides that are fearful of color should take note that soft shading differences, like the ones in this bouquet, make for interesting close ups and add a soft amount of color against their white or ivory gowns. If you are thinking that creams and whites are just too blah for you, why not add a touch of pastel? To see more examples of our wedding designs visit our wedding website at http://www.perfectweddingflowers.com/

 Are you planning an event that requires floral centerpieces? Are you overwhelmed with all the flower, color and container options? If so, this blog should help you at least understand how the container being used to "house" the flowers can help or hurt you with regards to size and budget. Read on to learn how important choosing the right container can be! Let's talk about the flowers pictured below. These floral centerpieces were created in elegant wooden pedestal bowls. There are a few reasons that I personally like this way of designing. First off, the container, although adding to the cost of the over all table display, also creates a wonderful starting point for the flowers. The container is interesting in and by itself and the flowers only add to the elegance. The pluses to use a container like this one is that the flowers are slightly elevated off the table making the arrangement look more substantial. The fact that the container is decorative means you need less