The Blossom Workshop

Last month I was able to participate in my first photoshoot.  I provided the floral designs for a photography workshop called The Blossom Workshop which was hosted by Kirsten Smith, of Kirsten Smith Photography.  In addition to providing invaluable information to the participants, Kirsten also wanted to create a photoshoot opportunity so that the participants could practice taking photos of the details that often come with a wedding.  Kirsten asked myself and Marcie Lenick of Celebrating Love by Marcie to create a bohemian style design that included a cake table, a sweetheart table, multiple bouquets, multiple boutonnieres and a floral head wreath!  There was still snow on the ground (even in March), but we made the best of it and were able to create something that I am so proud to be able to share with you!

The gorgeous little cake was made by Julia at Snickerdoodles Bakery.  I decorated it with succulents, craspedia, and seeded eucalyptus.  To add a rustic backdrop, Marcie and I added hanging bottles filled with yellow snapdragons, yellow and white Japanese ranunculus, yellow solidago, German chamomile, green spider mums, two kinds of yellow garden roses, and white rice flower.

 

   

Marcie used coordinating fabric for a table runner, placemats, napkins, and chair decorations.  She also provided the coordinating place settings, candlesticks and bottles that I would fill with flowers to match the cake table.  We also added a garland of seeded eucalyptus and maidenhair fern to complete the look.  I just love how Marcie was able to pick up the colors of the flower arrangements and accent them with the choice of fabric!

 

 

 

To add to the pretty, we hung a chandelier from the trees.  Doesn’t it look like it’s suspended right from the vines?

Kirsten and I wanted to provide as many opportunities for the photographers to snap pictures, so we decided to create three different styles of bouquets, all of which would coordinate with the colors of the day.  The first bouquet was a very textured, romantic, garden bouquet of green spider mums, yellow garden roses, yellow snapdragons, yellow solidago, silver brunia berries, and grey roses.  Yup, I said grey roses!  These are a new favorite of mine called Early Grey.  They open very big and are a beautiful grey color with a little hint of purple right in the middle.

Amanda Summers Photography

 

The second bouquet was a more modern bouquet of Early Grey roses, silver brunia berries, succulents, yellow cymbidium orchids, craspedia, and jackpot thistles.  If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I am very big on texture, no matter what style of bouquet you have.  I just loved the softness of the roses combined with the round craspedia and brunia berries.  The thistles (another favorite of mine) and the succulents added the perfect bit of “spiky-ness”-I may have just made up a word there!  I know you know what I mean!

Amanda Summers Photography

Amanda Summers Photography

 

The last bouquet, I think, ended up stealing the show with its bohemian vibe.  It also happened to be paired with a showstopping floral head wreath……that I may or may not have decided to wear all day (when the model wasn’t wearing it, that is).  This lush bouquet was made of green hydrangea, two kinds of yellow garden roses, yellow and white Japanese ranunculus, yellow solidago, German Chamomile, maidenhair fern, and seeded eucalyptus.  I just….I can’t even….!  This bouquet was just magnificent!  Who wouldn’t want to carry this!  It ended up as a gift to Kirsten for all her hard work!

 

 

This flower wreath…SO fun!  It was designed to match the boho bouquet and it has yellow Japanese ranunculus, green spider mums, jackpot thistles, yellow solidago, craspedia, and seeded eucalyptus.

 

We didn’t end up with models for these, but I made three little boutonnieres to match the bouquets.  I love creating a little something unique for the men!  They should have something pretty and colorful too, don’t you think?

I loved getting to see all these talented photographers taking pictures of all our hard work.  Here they are (and me with my flower wreath!)

Frozen in Time Photography

As you can see there was snow on the ground, but you may not be able to tell that this was the first 60-degree weather day we had!  If you can believe it, we were not the only ones enjoying the warm weather!  We were also joined by some very lazy and slow-moving honey bees!

Blair Roberts

…more pretty….

 

 

 

  

 

Whenever I have some really amazing product, I love getting individual pictures of the blooms.  The ranunculus for this shoot came from Japan, and not only were they simply flawless, they were HUGE!!  For some perspective, the openings for almost all the bottles was about the size of the top of a beer bottle.  Look how big those white blooms are in comparison!!  I’m so lucky that my job allows me to create such beautiful art for my clients!

 

All photography by Kirsten Smith Photography, unless otherwise indicated

Jesse's Wedding at the Maryland Agricultural Farm

I've been dying to share these photos with you!  In May, I was lucky enough to design a outdoor barn wedding that took place at the Maryland Agricultural Farm, a working farm complete with farm animals and rolling hills in Derwood, MD.  Jesse and Adam wanted a rustic wedding that incorporated their own values, homemade and one-of-a-kind vendors, animals and music.  The result was a gorgeous peach and pink, vegan wedding filled with family and homespun love.

 

The bridal party got ready in a gorgeous old farm house.  The animals were under the barn!

 

The backdrop to the ceremony was a large tree.  We hung mason jars full of white hydrangea from the branches and lined the aisle with small mason jar arrangements filled with white and blush peonies, peach garden roses, white ranunculus, white scabiosas, Queen Anne's Lace, and peach french tulips.  Several old wine barrels were used at the altar and at the beginning of the aisle, decorated with the same flowers.

 

 

Two adorable little flower girls and one very precious (and a little shy) ringbearer helped get Jesse down the aisle.  The girls wore flower wreaths made of eucalyptus leaves, white scabiosa, pink astilbe, and a peach garden rose.  The ringbearer carried a small pillow made of white button mums.

 

The bridesmaids carried a hand-tied bouquet of blush and white peonies, peach garden roses, white scabiosa, pink astilbe, Queen Anne's Lace, and seeded eucalyptus.

 

Jesse's bouquet was made of white peonies with a seeded eucalyptus collar.  Look at that happy smile!  It was so obvious that although so much attention had been paid to the wedding details, the most important thing was the joining of these two as a couple.

 

 

After the ceremony, while the bridal party took pictures, outdoor games were available and a super talented band played as guests enjoyed a cocktail hour.

 

The bride and groom took a minute to visit with the goats after their ceremony!

 

 

The ceremony was set up in the barn, above the animals.  The walls were covered in photos of the couple and their families.  Centerpieces were created by filling hand-stained crates with assorted bottles and jars filled with the days flowers.  Take a look at the bride and groom's glasses!  Her married name is Jesse James!

 

 

The night was filled with music, dancing and a bubble send-off!

Before I leave you to your wedding daydreaming and plotting, I'd like to thank Elliott O'Donovan at Elliott O'Donovan Photography for the BEAUTIFUL images.  I just cannot say enough wonderful things about his work and his work ethic!

Well, okay.... a few more pictures won't hurt!

Enjoy the pretty!  It doesn't get any better than seeing a beautiful new family getting created.  I am so lucky to have been a part of this beautiful couple's day.  The love, community, and support that I felt from the couple and their guests was truly spectacular!