Pretty in Peony at Rancho Valencia Resort

Kelsey and Faryar were married in a beautiful ceremony at Rancho Valencia, coordinated by Suzanne Duffy of Crown Weddings, with an elegant classical style perfect for the venue. Kelsey is a woman of refined tastes, who knew going in just what she wanted. The most important aspect of the wedding to Kelsey was flowers, and her favorite, the one she most wanted to have, was the coral peony seen throughout the classical arrangements reminiscent of Victorian era floral design.

Kelsey wanted a dreamy, blissful feel for her wedding. Suzanne helped her with every aspect of her vision, perfectly integrating it with the landscape and architecture of the resort, which lent just the right touch of natural elegance and old world charm to frame the event.

The ceremony featured beautiful arrangements in Victorian plaster urns on pedestals to adorn the aisle entrance. The trellis was laden with peonies, garden roses, and dahlias, interspersed with tendrils of jasmine vine and whimsical butterfly bush blooms to lend a natural garden feel. The bouquets were of luxurious ruffled peonies and Juliette garden roses collared in soft dusty miller all wrapped in fine silk ribbons.

Suzanne chose lovely linens from La Tavola Linens, as a pallet for arrangements of garden roses touched with ranunculus for luxurious compositions striking just the right balance between structured and loose design set amidst glowing candle light in filigreed hurricane lanterns. The reception was covered by wisps of streaming tent swags to give an airy feel to the celebration.

We strove ardently to get these beautiful photos from Marissa Holms Photography, because they so vividly capture the superb look and feel of this lovely affair which everyone worked so hard to accomplish. We truly consider it a stunning success, which we are proud to say became part of a four page spread of our work in the 2016 issue of Ceremony Magazine.

Want more Pretty in Peony?

Wedding Coorinator: Crown Weddings. Photography: Marissa Holmes. Venue: Rancho Valencia.  Linens: La Tavola Linens. Tent: Classic Party Rentals. Cake: Hey There Cupcake.  Officiant: Scott Milnes. Hair: and Makeup: A New Twist. Dj: Dashing Events. Guitarist: Kurt Hunter.Video: XOXO Video. Stationary: Brightly Designed.

COASTAL OMBRE as seen in Ceremony Magazine

HELLO SPRING BLOOMS! The season of color is here and we could not be more exhilarated than to celebrate this reawakening with one of our favorite styled shoots that graced the pages of Ceremony Magazine. 

Shot at the stunning L’auberge Del Mar by Pam Scott Photography, this collaborative design was with my good friend and wedding coordinator Regina Young of Meant2Be Events, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

As she describes: "Taking inspiration from the vibrant energy of the coastal background, this crisp modern design was intended to be bold, harmonious and sophisticated while keeping the canvas clean. From the contemporary lounge furniture, to the playful overhead floral display, down to the details of the striking stationery, each element was carefully curated to create a chic stylish celebration. Martini, anyone?”

It’s evident our background at the stunning L’auberge Del Mar set our scene with the ocean in the distance and a combination of ombre flowers to die for! This arrangement was one of my favorites to create, starting with our vibrant purple phalaenopsis orchids to anemones drifting into pops of pink with frilly tulips, ranunculus into everyone’s favorite peony, then drifting towards the paler shades of roses, hyacinth, sweet peas and finally, the white orchids -- with such a lush profile of fleurs, this cascading centerpiece truly takes my breath away! 

To frame our tabletop design, we created a backdrop full of whimsy to highlight and complement the overall styling, comprised of oceanic teal chiffon draped asymmetrically with an artful installation of belles of Ireland, driftwood with falling orchids and yellow craspedia aka billy balls. A bar top added fun mini cakes, candles and vases with a touch of greenery to complete our setting.

Taking this inspiration into fashion, our model, Kimberly Daniels, posed in a gown from the White Flower Bridal Boutique and held a bountiful bouquet comprised of our incredible floral palette. 

This contemporary coastal ombre shoot fulfilled our aesthetic game plan and truly moved us to create a colorful spring masterpiece… one that we hope inspires you! 

Want more COASTAL OMBRE?

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Pam Scott Photography. Location: L’Auberge Del Mar. Coordination: Meant2Be Events. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Rentals: Classic Party Rentals. Stationery: Be in Love Designs. Cake: Piece of Cake. Model: Kimberly Daniels. Gowns: White Flower Bridal Boutique. Hair & Makeup: Jennifer Bueno.

HAPPY FRIENDSGIVING: The Wedding of Kelly & Joe

Today we give thanks for many things - families, health, careers, and of course, our friends. It meant so much to me this year to share in the wedding celebration of my dear friend and colleague Kelly Aull of Mint Weddings.

Being in this business, you could say that the two of us came up the ranks of the wedding industry together—her as a coordinator and I as a floral designer. We collaborated our talents countless times and even shared our very first office and meeting space. Our relationship certainly blossomed over the years and I have always held her in the most special place in my heart.

It is so fitting that on this Friendsgiving, I honor Kelly and her incredibly beautiful wedding to Joe.

There were many turkey days and holidays that Kelly and I spent together with her wonderful family. This year, my family is celebrating our Thanksgiving at the very location Kelly said her “I Dos” – San Diego’s premier bayfront dining destination, the floating event center, Coasterra.

Her day was magical – exactly what this effervescent gal deserved. We always joked that if she married again, I would design her wedding flowers. It was such a dream come true for me to make this happen. Kelly’s elegant style sought a palette of white florals with hints of natural greenery for a very modern sophistication. We set grapewood along both sides of the aisle with aesthetic ghost chairs and low to high gloss vases in unique shapes, which became defining aisle pieces. We wanted a contrast in movement and embedded grapewood in the arrangements to carry through the organic design.

I am so blessed to have Kelly in my life and greatly appreciate the loyalty and love that Joe has given her. She has always deserved the world and I have been so grateful for her friendship. She means more to me that I can even express and with that said, I wish her the very best in her marriage, today, always and forever!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to All! 

VENDOR LOVE
Wedding Coorinator: Mint Weddings. Florals and Design: Adorations Botanical Artisty. Photography: LunaPhoto. Venue: Coasterra. Cake: Michelle Coulon. Dj: Mike Hogan. Video: Foghorn Collective. Photo Booth: Sand Diego Photo Booth.

WEDDING CRASHERS: Stephanie & Brian’s Political Party

Your wedding is a day you’ll never forget! Imagine having the ultimate wedding crasher show up unannounced… for Stephanie and Brian, that guest was President Obama. 

Since POTUS was in San Diego on probably his last trip as commander-in-chief, he took in a round of golf on the gorgeous greens at The Lodge at Torrey Pines. It was just a coincidence that this was the site for our couple’s celebration. The President was staying in Rancho Santa Fe, at Rancho Valencia to be exact, another one of our favorite venues. Word is from our weddings photographers, Jeff and Erin of The Youngren’s that they joked en route to The Lodge that it was too bad this big day wasn’t at RV since they could have caught a glimpse of POTUS.

What a surprise to pull into The Lodge with secret service and extra security making sure President Obama could enjoy a leisurely day golfing. It was even more of a surprise when coordinator Kelly Aull of Mint Weddings found out from the team at The Lodge that POTUS would be rolling through the 18th hole approximately the same time as the ceremony. Our couple decided it would be best to delay the ceremony for a bit to let the President finish… but when he decided to greet the guests, Stephanie and Brian practically ran down the aisle to meet their famous wedding crasher! Pictures were taken, hands were shaken, and hearts were racing as Stephanie and Brian’s special day was made even more special!!

Thanks President Obama for being the best Wedding Crasher of all-time!

Read more about President Obama crashing Stephanie & Brian’s wedding on The Youngren’s Blog.

 Video courtesy of SJ Videography

Wedding Photography: The Youngrens. Ceremony Location: The Lodge at Torrey Pines. Reception Location: The Lodge at Torrey Pines. Event Coordinator: Mint Weddings. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Cake : Michele Coulon Dessertier. Make-Up: JH Artistry. DJ: Vario Productions. Wedding Videography: SJ Videography.

Adoring Astrid & Peter’s Feature in THE KNOT

We rang in the New Year showcasing Astrid and Peter’s glamorously modern rooftop wedding at the Andaz, as it was one of our very favorites! We couldn’t be happier than the bride on her big day to see this stunning affair featured in The Knot’s Fall and Winter Edition – ON NEWSSTANDS NOW!! 

f course we love seeing our couples-in-bloom IN PRINT and having worked with The Knot in the past as a previous designer for one of their inaugural San Diego events, this press is extra special to us! As you may recall on our blog post, Astrid and Peter’s wedding was envisioned by the great Thomas Bui, who sought to transform the venue from ceremony to celebration with a chic king-sized tabletop installation as part of their pure white color scheme. Elevated in suspension, the crystal clear Lucite embellishments allowed guests to see-through the grand centerpiece, drawing focus to the natural botanicals overhead. Their mono-floral groupings of calla lilies, hydrangea, roses and phalaenopsis orchids set the stage for sophistication– making this high-rise celebration one that is now IN THE BOOKS! 

Congrats to my fellow vendors for a fabulous feature!

Photography: LunaPhoto. Consultant: Thomas Bui Lifestyles. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Stationery: Wendy Ware Designer. Venue & Catering: Andaz San Diego.

COVER GIRLS Adorations Botanical Artistry & White Lace Events

Featured on Ceremony Magazine’s April Cover

I knew deep down at our photo shoot that THIS would be a cover.

We were cutting it close to deadlines for Ceremony Magazine’s 2015 print edition when I was asked to partner with Elizabeth & Krissie of White Lace Events & Design.

This was to be their first styled photo shoot with Ceremony, as they were in the midst of launching their very own wedding coordination and design company. Since I knew these vibrant girls well, as they were certainly no strangers to the wedding industry, coming direct from one of my favorite properties, L’Auberge Del Mar, I was thrilled for the collaboration!

Right away, E & K (as the White Lace girls are known) knew they wanted to incorporate a SWING, and I was all for it! This is the kind of work I feel eternally grateful to get to design. The shoot was a representation of that “loose, handpicked from the garden” vibe that doesn’t always get expressed within magazine editorials. Mixing unique elements like berries and pomegranates (which were in peak season) added another level of depth and texture to the styling, which is very much in line with our personal design philosophy at Adorations.

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe was the perfect location for this shoot as the natural romantic landscape lent so well to our entire design scheme. As E & K selected the farm table, chairs and tabletop accessories, including that signature “White Lace” runner, we built the swing to act as the “sweetheart seat” at the table for the bride and groom. We created the swing in bay laurel, seeded eucalyptus and Italian pittosporum leaves with a found vintage plank of wood.  The bountiful centerpieces and bouquet were crafted with lush peonies, dahlias, ripe red roses, garden roses, and ranunculus, all in various shades of burgundy, pink, and white with touches of pale gold for an unexpected lean in color.

I remember thinking when the talented Pam Scott took the shots of the bouquet on the swing, that Ceremony would love it! This really was a “fruits of love” moment for all of us and such an amazing debut of two very creative ladies.  I look forward to many more COVER-worthy designs with Elizabeth and Krissie as I know they’ll find much success with their business, White Lace Events & Design!

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Pam Scott Photography. Coordination & Styling: White Lace Events & Design. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Stationery: Posh Paperie. Escort Cards: RLH Creations. Rentals: Classic Party Rentals. Location: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.

US GRANT LUXURY WEDDING SHOW & LUNCHEON

Photography by Garrett Richardson Photography

A few Sundays ago, the US GRANT Hotel showcased their annual Luxury Wedding Show and Luncheon for brides-to-be to experience four ballrooms brimming with styled vignettes from Southern California’s elite wedding specialists.

Adorations was so honored to create SEVEN of these amazing décor setups. And yes, you did hear right. SEVEN. We think that’s a lucky number.

It all began when Thomas Bui Lifestyles and Wynn Austin Events asked me to work with them on tabletop designs for the Grand Ballroom, which would be where the Luncheon and M Bride Couture Fashion Show would be held. I so adore working with both Thomas and Wynn that I said YES. When the US Grant also asked us to style Palm Court as well – you can guess it – I said YES as well.

While that may sound like three vignettes, both Thomas and Wynn were responsible for three tables EACH! Upon meeting with both of them to discuss the designs, Thomas decided to go for three completely unique tabletops while Wynn wanted to connect hers quite literally with a gorgeous ribbon of translucent gold magnolia leaves draped from each high centerpiece. Her lovely color palette of blush, cream and gold, which remains to be many bride-to-be’s favorite, was luxury at its finest with garden White O’ Hara roses, palest blush Quicksand roses, with pieres japonica and trailing jasmine vine woven throughout.

Thomas was thankfully placed right beside Wynn, front and center of the stage, with his three tables. My team joked a bit that the space in-between the two rows of tabletops was the “Adoration’s Alley” since we all had worked so hard to make these grand floral pieces for such a luxury show.

Thomas’s first tabletop design was “The Blossoming Tree,” fairytale in style, with floral groupings seeming to grow organically out of the base of a true birch trunk. The tree was blossoming with purple lilac, lavender sweet pea and purple clematis with rising white and lavender hydrangea, camellia leaves, sweet peas and roses in various stages of bloom. White and lavender clematis weaved ethereally throughout while the crown of the tree trunk featured branches of white cherry blossoms and blooming magnolia.

 The “Marsala Masculinity” was Thomas’s 2nd tabletop that we took a modern yet whimsical approach to highlight the Pantone color of the year with several shades of sultry red, bronzed copper and pops of peach. The crescent-shaped centerpiece cascaded with French tulips tight clusters of Tess and Piano garden roses, deep red amaryllis, coffee break roses in a copper hue, red and peach ranunculus, Juliet roses, and dark spray roses were infused with anemones, poppies and dahlias. The design was made complete with mercury votives in a distinctive regal pattern, gold chalices, golden charger plates, rich linens and floating candles for a debonair styling. 

“The Golden Halo” was the third in our series with Thomas, rising 4 ft above the tabletop with a golden halo ring atop a vessel of vibrant blooms. As one looked up, they saw the flowers reflecting through glass globes in this artfully designed installation. The dramatic yet romantic ring grew in size from 36 to 48 inches in diameter with the lush display of fleurs, featuring the famous David Austen roses, Juliet garden roses, Phoebe roses, clematis, hellebore with antique green hydrangea suspended with pepper berries and dripping with jasmine vine and purple clematis creating a visually stunning art piece. 

Our final installation was in the Palm Court, right off the lobby at the US Grant that boasts a grand piano in the very center of the room. We wanted to highlight not only the stunning musical instrument, but also the musician himself. As one entered the room the piano was set in a floral frame with bunches of mono-floral bouquets angled with movement to direct the eye towards the piano. We set a vibrant centerpiece on the piano tall with blooming magnolia blossom branches, antique hydrangea, purple lilac and cascading purple phalaenopsis orchids, reminiscent of the floral groupings from our poised bouquets. It was such a stunning visual impact as quests entered into this beautiful space at the US Grant Hotel.

I’d love to give such a special thanks to my entire TEAM at Adorations Botanical Artistry. We not only had an actual wedding that weekend but worked around the clock to make these show installations so over-the-top! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!

And of course to the US Grant, Thomas Bui and Wynn Austin – we are truly blessed to not only work with the very best wedding professionals, but also consider you friends! Thank you for all that you do for Adorations Botanical Artistry! We look forward to many more grand events!

Adriana & Chris: Two become One

It’s what we live for in this industry – when two hearts genuinely become one.

My first encounter with Adriana & Chris was endearing. My good friend and colleague, Thomas Bui Lifestyle invited me to send his couple an Adorations Botanical Artistry signature arrangement in shades of the soon-to-be-bride’s favorite color: purple. This was our first introduction (and impression) as we sent her a lovely centerpiece crafted in purple kale, succulents, garden roses and those enchanting botanical elements that we’ve become known for.

Later I had the pleasure of meeting this elegant couple, who were to celebrate their second marriage at the magnificent Rancho Valencia Resort. Chris was the most dotting and sincere fiancé, who was so lovingly protective of this woman that he wanted to indulge her with her heart’s desire. It was like a storybook romance we dream about as he treated her the way a gentleman should – like his queen.

While they were in the midst of renovating their home, Adriana and Chris wanted that same custom approach to their wedding day celebration. Choosing a palette of deep plums and ivories, their outdoor ceremony was rich in vibrant shades of lavender as the lightest chiffon fabric draped their canopy in a symmetrical fashion. The arbor and ceremonial bureau were created with the bride’s favorite Picasso calla lilies, Carmel Antik roses, lavender and white hydrangea, dahlias, clematis, succulents, tulips and varieties of roses allowing for movement and a gorgeous styling. The added allium gave that special touch of whimsy to the flowers making it one stunning ceremony site.

We created a walkway of candlelight leading the guests from the ceremony to the reception. And as many know Thomas Bui’s style of grandeur, the reception tent was a high impact open-air celebration draped with chandeliers to perfection. This romantic environment was enhanced with golden table accents sourced by TBL and lush floral centerpieces in the same varietal scheme of bold lavenders and crèmes, all set around a dance floor designed with a heart becoming one.

While the theme lent itself so joyfully to Adriana and Chris’s wedding celebration, this loving couple, donated all of their flowers to Heliotrope for Hospice, which is an organization that repurposes flowers from special events or stores and delivers the little beauties to patients throughout San Diego in hospice care.

It was such an honor to work with Adriana and Chris on their special day and we wish them ALL KINDS OF GOODNESS in their life together!!

VENDOR LOVE
Photography | Victor Sizemore Photographer. Venue & Catering | Rancho Valencia. Coordination & Design | Thomas Bui Lifestyle. Floral Design | Adorations Botanical Artistry. Dance Floor & Rentals | Concepts Event Design. Rentals | Abbey’s Party Rentals. Draping | Pacific Event Productions. Lighting | Amber Event Production.  Linens | La Tavola Linen. Makeup  | James Overstreet. Hair | Salon De Marcus. Videography | Taylor Films. Officiant | Robert Stevens.  DJ | Mike Hogan. Music | Michael Gonzales. Cake & Desserts | Sweet Lydia.  

Brian Malarkey’s GREEN ACRE Restaurant Featured with ADORATIONS BOTANICAL ARTISTY in Ceremony Magazine San Diego 2015

Top Chef extraordinaire Brian Malarkey is clearly a household name. Especially in San Diego, our palettes have had the pleasure of experiencing Malarkey’s “Fabric of Social Dining” in his award-winning haute spot restaurants, Searsucker and Herringbone, while foodie fans across the country have fallen in love with Bravo’s happy-go-lucky reality star. Malarkey seems to be finding more and more success in his restaurant brands, which have expanded into Austin, Texas; West Hollywood, and soon-to-be in Las Vegas; but his most recent SD venue and restaurant Green Acre is adored by us, here at Adorations.

Obviously, in case you haven’t seen the latest 2015 edition of Ceremony Magazine, Adorations is thrilled to see our incredible king-sized “Garden to Table” photoshoot featured in a 4-page editorial spread!

Last year, we were blessed to work with the wonderful Tim Altbaum Productions (now Vario Productions) for his annual industry event, hosted at Green Acre and found such inspiration in the “campus-life” that this organic eatery boasts. Unlike any restaurant dining experience we’ve ever seen, Green Acre is the epitome of farm-to-table dining, as each of the two life science campus locations has its own sustainable garden where much of their produce is harvested. Offering breakfast and lunch “brain food” for neighboring colleagues and researchers, the Campus Pointe location can also double as a venue space for special events. Since we were already twirling flowers for Tim’s elaborate celebration, we decided to repurpose our florals into a Ceremony Magazine photoshoot the very next day.  It only seemed fitting, keeping with the green, sustainable lifestyle assumed by Green Acre, that reusing our gorgeous flowers was a must! For more TAP party pictures.

Our shoot was a play on the “farm-to-table” restaurant concept as translated to the “Garden-to-Table” styling (and name). Since Green Acre boasts a private dining space with a grand 20-person tabletop made of reclaimed wood, accompanied by leather chairs and bookshelves adorned to the walls, we thought this was the perfect location to set our tablescape.  The flower palette comprised of Juliette and Campanella garden roses, pincushion protea, anemones, sweet peas, and ranunculus in sorbet inspired shades of pinks and oranges elevated with greens, which livened up the masculine den-like space.

Because this was such an important shoot for Adorations, we were fortunate to work with two amazing photographers to capture the essence of our “Garden to Table” editorial. As featured in the Ceremony Magazine spread, Alex Hurtado Photography shot the table and details, as did our friend Garrett Richardson for Clove & Kin Photography, who was featured in Ceremony for the cabbage patch bouquet. Our incredible team of vendors also included coordination by Jessica Gillon of Events by Design, Hostess Haven for rentals; linens by Concepts Event Design and stationery pieces by Love Paper Paint.

Thank you to our talented vendors and Ceremony Magazine for this wonderful published feature and of course, to the inspiring Brian Malarkey who just keeps growing his delicious brand of goodness! Want to see more Garden-to-Table.

Editorial Shoot Credits
Photography: Alex Hurtado Photography. Photography: Clove & Kin Photography. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Coordination: Events by Design. Rentals: Hostess Haven. Linens: Concepts Event Design. Stationery: Love Paper Paint. Food & Venue: Green Acre.

HOTEL DEL WEDDING: UNDER THE NIGHT SKY

There is that moment of twilight after the sun has long set and the night sky turns to dusk. This is when Christina and Sean said, “I do.”

Set beachfront outside of the legendary Hotel Del Coronado, with the glowing iconic turrets as part of their scene, Christina and Sean had the romantic setting that Christina had always dreamed of. 

When I had first met with the beautiful bride-to-be to talk about her wedding décor, she had brought with her an inspiration board from a summer wedding she wanted to recreate with large dinner plate dahlias as the basis of the floral palette. Being that her wedding was a pre-winter affair in November, we had to tailor the plan to include seasonal flowers that could give the same grandiose effect and opted for large china mums to take the place perfectly.  David Austin garden roses dominated the design with natural foliage that lent a handpicked styling, with subtle hints of metallic gold. Queen Anne’s lace, maidenhair fern, and white veronica imbued movement, peaking amongst the garden roses. We were able to weave in smaller varieties of dahlias to keep the bride’s original vision at play, but let the china mums do their job to emphasize the scale.

Our favorite design element in Christina and Sean’s wedding was the crochet chuppah that added such unexpected personality to the décor. With nightfall, the chuppah illuminated in ambient lighting that complemented The Del’s iconic radiance making this one unique and gorgeous celebration. 

VENDOR: Photography: Pam Scott Photography. Location: Hotel Del Coronado. Coordination & Styling: Monarch Weddings. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Rentals: Concepts Event Design. Linens: La Tavola. Lighting: San Diego Events Lighting. Menus: Whimsique Invitations & Stationery.

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A ROOFTOP WEDDING

As we ring in the New Year, Adorations Botanical Artistry would love to thank every one of our amazing vendor collaborators and couples for making 2014 such a successful and inspiring year of innovative design. I am truly humbled to look back on our incredible event décor and am so grateful to continue to share the collective work of many talented artists and professionals in our industry.

This rooftop wedding celebration is no exception. In fact, it is one of my favorite events from this year, being with one of my extremely creative and stylish friends, Thomas Bui.

Our modern couple chose one of San Diego’s most notable downtown haute spot’s for their ceremony and reception celebration, the Andaz Hotel. Keeping with the ultimate city-vibe, Thomas came to me with a vision to create elevated arrangements with suspended elements. While our couple was invested in their rooftop affair, Astrid, our bride, was transferred to Africa for a job and her husband-to-be Peter took over the final planning details. We all wanted her to be wowed with the final result… and that she was.

The overall color palette was pure white boasting a dramatic grouping of florals, very Jeff-Leatham style with verdant greens brought into the reception décor. The bride carried a chic asymmetrical bouquet mixed with peonies, garden roses, and string of pearl succulent strands, lady slipper orchids, and ranunculus and cymbidium orchids. 

Since the Andaz is set in sections, as it doubles as a high-end nightlife venue as well, we had just one hour to turnover the orchid-infused ceremony site into a 65ft king table with the elevated tabletop installation during cocktail hour, transforming the space into an enchanting floral paradise. The tabletop of contemporary Lucite was the dwelling of sandblasted grapevine that rambled organically above guests’ heads with lush with foliage and hanging glass globes. Garden roses, scabiosa pods, brunia, hanging strings of pearls, succulents, fresh Spanish moss, and lotus pods comprised the table botanicals making this one OVER-THE-TOP table setting of 2014. 

VENDORS: Photography: Luna Photo. Location: Andaz, San Diego. Coordination & Styling: Thomas Bui Lifestyle. Rentals: Chiavari Chair Rentals. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Invitations and Stationery: Wendy Ware. Hair: Audra Rene. Makeup: Ann DeNicolo.

Ode to Peonies

Oh sweet peony, how we love you so! We truly despise having to see you go…

It is that season! The most sought after flower has been in bloom since about mid-May and carries through till the end of June. While we floral designers are known to pull a few tricks out of our sleeve, the precious peony is only available for just a few more weeks, and then we must bid farewell to the most popular seasonal wedding fleur of all time!

Last weekend, I purchased peonies from a grower in Oregon and they were the last of his crop. The shipment arrived on Tuesday morning and the flowers looked more like marshmallows tightly bound up in shape. As the week progressed I watched, as the blooms started to magically unfold exploding into their femininity like that of a woman. By Saturday they had opened up into their magnificence and were such a sight to be seen! As if I didn’t know before, I completely understand why us ladies adore this very, VERY, special flower.

We were in Vegas for a wedding and as you know, there is a lot of heat in Sin City. The temperature had its effect on the flower and I mean that in a positive way. The heat caused the phenomenal bloom, allowing the luscious petals to exude its full beauty. These peonies were so spectacularly gorgeous that I just had to pull a few out of the arrangements (after the wedding, of course) and left them in my hotel room overnight, hoping the maids took them home to enjoy!

There are so many varieties of peonies, some single, double or multi-layered, like the Sarah Bernhardt, which is the classic, double-bloomed, frilly pink peony that resembles that of an old-fashioned rose. Coral Charm Peonies are also quite popular, as they open into a bowl-shaped bloom revealing a glowing mass of stamens in a deep coral-peach shade. The Cerise Peony is more fuchsia in color and has an outer guard petal that protects the fluffy petaloids insides. Yellow tree peonies are one of my favorite kinds and actually grow trees as opposed to bushes so they aren’t quite as dense. It amazes me the number of peony varietals there are—over 3,000 cultivated types are known throughout the world!!

So enjoy these seasonal beauties while they last… I know Trader Joe’s has been quite a haute spot to pick up a bouquet of stems for your home at an amazing price!!! And while we can’t get peonies all year, we do see some varieties return in the winter months, like the Coral Charm in October, white in November and the deep burgundy blooms in December, right in time for the holidays. However, these lovely pink petals are on their way out, which does make me wonder if that’s why June has become known for weddings…it MUST be because of the picture-perfect PEONY season!

Photography by Gene Higa, Rodrigo Mendez, Samuel Lippke, Schnack Studios & Victor Sizemore

Maharani Weddings FEATURES Adoration’s FLOWER CROWNS

Shot by Braja Mandala Wedding Photography 

There is something magical about placing a flower crown a top a lady’s head. It’s the moment when she transforms into her very own inner princess…

Adoration’s was inspired to create three very special floral crowns for a shoot with the incredibly talented photographer, Braja Mandala. Braja sent me the image of three Radhiki Gopi Skirts in different styles and asked that I create the finishing or rather crowning look with a floral headpiece.

I am often asked to create these fresh floral head wreaths for all ages, mostly darling young flower girls or for the bridal parties at rustic outdoor weddings, but these skirts were extravagant in their ethnic detailing, which inspired me to make dramatic accessories to complement.

The first crown was a luscious compilation of roses and dahlias in an ivory and green color palette while the second crown was a bountiful mix of colorful florals to offset the gorgeous patterned blue skirt design.  The third crown was very simple --- a strand of white hyacinth blossoms that were delicately sewn together with petite beads to add a touch of fresh flora to an ethnic head wrap.

This stunning fashion editorial shoot is featured TODAY on MaharaniWeddings.com. We are thrilled to have contributed to this incredible feature with Braja Mandala Wedding Photography and Gopi Skirts. Thank you so much for including Adorations and our floral crowns… again, perfect for any princess, at any age! 

BRIDAL BOUQUET RECIPE

Are these fleurs on fire burning to be in your bouquet? 

A bride’s bouquet is extremely personal. This is the one traditional accessory that every girl dreams about. Often times, these flowers make up a majority of the entire floral design scheme, so choosing the ones that you are passionate about is best. Plus you’ll forever be cherishing those photographs with you holding this botanical masterpiece. 

BLOOMING INGREDIENTS NEEDED: Orange Parrot Tulips, Flame Calla Lilies, Vivid Mambo Sweetheart Roses, Golden Roses, Mokara Orchids, Gloriosa Lilies 

Some like it HAUTE… like this hearts aflame bouquet in sun-kissed hues. Varieties of flowers make up this European hand-tied bouquet with tulips, calla lilies, roses and gloriosa lilies as the focal flowers. These are not just any ordinary flowers but specifically chosen breeds to suit this bride’s bright and vivacious style. Orange gold-tipped parrot tulips mixed with vivid mambo sweetheart rosebuds in varying stages of bloom comprise the majority of the bouquet with scampering red gloriosa and scattered flame calla lilies bursting in contrast. A bouquet in this orange-red color combination can be hard to achieve, but I am just in love with the freshness of this style that focuses on shape and textural elements.

COLIN COWIE FEATURES RULA & STEVEN’S LODGE AT TORREY PINES WEDDING

It’s always an honor to be amongst the industry’s most notable stars. Colin Cowie, a world-renowned celebrity event designer, featured Rula and Steven’s stunning Lodge at Torrey Pines affair on their famed site – ColinCowieWeddings.com. While I love being recognized by the extraordinarily talented Cowie, it is the company I kept on this wedding who are the real shining stars. Working alongside the creative and stylish Susanne Duffy is always a pleasure. So much so that I’ve come to expect the glamour and luxury that is synonymous with her business, Crown Weddings.

And this wedding was by no means an exception.

The bride is a surgeon from New York City, so her mother did most of the planning for this destination celebration. Susanne conveyed their overall vision for the design and color scheme consisting of aubergine, lavender and ivory, with touches of gold. Working with a coordinator like Susanne is a blessing. While the design is an ongoing collaboration between creative vendors, it’s so important to have a strong coordinator to direct the production. Susanne Duffy does so flawlessly and our final creation was simply divine.

Guests were greeted with six lush arrangements framing the aisle entrance full of roses in various stages of bloom, hydrangea, dahlias, and tulips with diminutive touches of botanical foliage, like dusty miller for movement and variation in texture. A pathway of white rose petals aligned the chairs leading up to the grand wooden arbor elaborated decorated in a lavish display of the floral palette, making a breathtaking backdrop for this lovely couple’s ceremony.

The bride’s bouquet (featured last week in our first of many ongoing Bouquet Recipe posts) comprised of Carmel Antik and Patience garden roses, Amnesia roses, ranunculus, gardenias, tulips, lisianthus, jasmine vine and dusty miller. Smaller bouquets were created for the bridesmaids and accessorized their deep plum gowns beautifully. 

Candlelight amongst the dark farm tables created an ambient glow to the Lodge for the reception décor, which showcased various table arrangements and centerpieces complementing the royal purple color palette.

It’s no wonder that Colin Cowie chose this elaborate California Lodge wedding to feature on his site. The event was a vibrant and dramatic display of true elegance, and a dream come true for this east coast couple. 

Vendors

Photographed by Braja Mandala. Venue: The Lodge at Torrey Pines. Wedding Planner: Crown Weddings. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Linens: La Tavola.

BRIDAL BOUQUET RECIPE

What lovely fleurs do you want in your bridal bouquet?

Adorations Botanical Artistry is so excited to share with you our new ongoing blog series highlighting some of our FAVORITE bouquet designs created for real brides. Our first bouquet is a real treat and a sneak peak into a stunning feature published on Colin Cowie Weddings, stay tuned… 

BLOOMING INGREDIENTS NEEDED:  Carmel Antik Garden Roses, Amnesia Roses, Patience Garden Roses, Ranunculus, Gardenias, Tulips, Lisianthus, Jasmine Vine & Dusty Miller

This dreamy bouquet is comprised of softly ruffled Carmel Antik garden roses in butter cream, coupled with the perfect proportion of white Patience garden roses and Amnesia roses, lending a vintage lavender hue. A variety of ranunculus and delicate handpicked gardenias add texture amongst the focal flowers, while subtle hints of tulips, lisianthus, and dusty miller complete the arrangement. This hand-tied bouquet has stems partially exposed for a natural presentation, keeping the romance alive yet not detracting from the real focus – the beautiful bride.

ALL KINDS OF GOODNESS with Creative Expert LaVonne Crawford of Adorations Botanical Artistry

There is an importance of sacred ritual and ceremony.  As a floral and event designer for weddings and special events, I am seeing a reoccurring trend in the exclusion of ceremony décor from the overall floral budget. Over time, couples seem to continue reducing their investment both personally and financially into the actual ceremony. Now I can understand from a bride’s perspective how this can make sense. Your wedding ceremony is usually only 20-30 minutes long, while the majority of the time is spent at the dinner and reception. However, as couples stand before their ministers, officiants, family, and friends, (and let’s not forget God) declaring their lifelong devotion to one another, could it be that we are missing the point and not focusing our attention to these ceremonial details?

There is a significance to the ritual, hence why it is called the ceremony, and it is human nature to mark special events. This is an opportunity for inclusion, acknowledgement, and creation, not only reflecting the dedication you are making to your partner but the merging of two families becoming one. It’s time we give proper attention and commitment back to what I believe is THE most important part of the wedding day. 

The “I Dos”

Ask yourself these questions to see how much of yourself
you are willing to give to your ceremony.

1. Determine the depth and scope of the ceremony.  How do you plan to reveal yourselves to each other? 

 2. What is your comfort level in expressing and committing yourself in front of your family and friends? 

3. Are you including any significant family members in the ritual of uniting two families as one? 

Making a lifelong commitment in front of others is so much more than just a celebration. It’s what marriage and partnership are all about. While some couples find it hard to expose themselves and their affections in front of others, I urge you to reconsider and suggest that you stretch yourself, perhaps further than you ever have before. This is the beginning of your vow to one another and going the distance reveals the importance and power of your love. 

In our INTIMATE SPRING WEDDING the focus of decoration was in the ceremony aisle and site location. When I say intimate, this beautiful celebration was just the immediate family of four, but the attention to detail proved just how special this union and ceremony meant to them. From lining the aisle with thousands of white rose petals and creating a streaming cascade of hanging orchids, this couple not only chose an elaborate private set-up but decided to recreate their ceremony décor the next week for their reception guests. What I love about this story is that it was most important for these two to be surrounded by purity and loveliness during the moments that mattered most to them. 

We’ve worked with brides and grooms who have personalized their ceremony to fit their beliefs with religious rituals that unite them in their own spiritual style. Many Southern Californian beach weddings incorporate a hand-washing ceremony which represents complete forgiveness in recognition of everything an individual experiences up to the moment they stand before one another and commit their lives to love.  The hand-tying (or handfasting) ceremony, which was part of the SACRED ELEMENTS WEDDING, paid homage to the bride’s Celtic heritage by binding the hands of the couple with ribbon to symbolize “tying the knot.” This, along with the groom’s Native American Indian roots, acknowledged the sacred rituals special to them as a couple so they could honor the four directional compass points.  Their ceremony site was enclosed within a five point floral canopy, which represented the five elements of earth, air, fire, water and spirit. While the hand-tying ceremony commenced, the couple recited their vows and prayers in the sacred space we created for them. 

What you can do is communicate with your wedding planner about creating your ceremony design as a starting point and incorporate any sacred rituals that are special to you. Engage your florist into designing with the intention of relocating their décor into your reception space if needed. Budget parameters can be seemingly stretched when a designer knows from the onset that the florals will be repurposed from the ceremony to the reception. Do proceed with caution in the summer months when determining your flower selection for outdoor ceremonies to be certain that the presentation and choice of flowers will translate well in hot weather. At Adorations, we are full service, providing a full day set up and delivery, from the first pinning of the boutonnieres to the very last candle lit.

Your wedding is a joyous day – that moment when you are joined in marriage and commit to a partnership for life. Do not take the ritual of the ceremony lightly and consider that these vows will forever be remembered long after the champagne toasts at your reception.

REAL WEDDING: VALENTINE’S DAY EDITION

Cupid and His Angel: Vincent & Angeliquea

He’s a nightclub manager. She’s a cocktail server. What they say is true. You ABSOLUTELY can meet the love of your life at a bar. 

In celebration of Valentine’s Day – Cupid’s holiday – it seemed fitting to feature one of the most stylish and passionate weddings I’ve had the pleasure to design.

Vincent and Angeliquea are an incredibly gorgeous couple, full of personality and sensual energy. You can just tell that these two are extremely hot for one another. Take a look at their engagement photos. These images by Luna Photo took my breath away that I was certain this wedding would be one steamy night.

When my groom-to-be told me that he works for the corporation that owns Fluxx Nightclub in downtown, San Diego, I knew I was in for a real treat. Being the very location Vincent first eyed his lady love, it made sense they would say their “I Dos” right there, in one of the city’s most notable nighttime hotspots. And like any great man, he wanted to give her exactly what she wanted – the wedding of her dreams.

Working with Kelly Aull of Mint Weddings, we chose to spotlight this glamorous couple in their naturally sexy setting, with an equally sensual surrounding, lush with red roses and massive amounts of petals lining the aisle. The ceremony site, the club itself, is already so captivating that we kept the altar décor very chic and simple with Manzanita trees framing the stage, dripping in moss and hanging candlelight. With a provocative color palette that completely complemented Fluxx, the couple chose black and red with hints of lavender and green for their floral décor. The bride’s bouquet was perfectly plump with red heart’s roses, while her maids, dressed in Betsey Johnson little black dresses, had black calla lilies and lavender roses mixed in for a dramatic affect. The dinner reception was held at the University Club and outfitted to resemble that of a nightclub vibe. The tables were lined with more luscious red roses and petals with candelabras that illuminated the space and highlighted all the juicy red details. 

Happy Valentine’s Day LOVERS!!!

Photography: Luna Photo. Wedding Coordinator: Mint Weddings. Ceremony Venue: Fluxx Nightclub. Reception Venue: University Club.

Ceremony Magazine

Ceremony Magazine is now hot off the press with their brand new 2014 edition. We were thrilled to see Alexandra and Dave in our SOPHISTICATED GARDEN WEDDING featured on a four–page spread with Samuel Lippke Studios and Thomas Bui Lifestyle.

I am also honored that my article, The Color of Expression, showcasing the VIVID COASTAL WEDDNG décor is gracing the floral design section of the magazine, captured by The Youngrens with Crown Weddings. You can view the magazine in its entirely at CeremonyBlog.com/digital-magazines and see many more photos from these events right here on my site.

These gorgeous new press features with Ceremony Magazine are so exciting, as they are practically in-sync with the launch of Adorations.com. Ceremony Magazine is THE luxury wedding publication in Southern California showcasing over 300 pages of pure wedding ingenuity. I have had the pleasure of working one-on-one with the editors at Ceremony and I know that they pour their heart into the publication and it truly shows. I must admit, I am already planning a shoot for the upcoming issue (which you may get a sneak peak here) as I look forward to contributing more to the magazine and continuing our ongoing relationship. Thank you so much Ceremony for the beautiful features this year!