A Special Day Designs DIY Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers

Woodland Wedding At Nestldown Los Gatos / Placerville Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2011-10-19T20:17:00.000-07:00


Woodland bouquet details - cymbidium orchid, raspberries, dahlia, spray roses, hypericum berry, and maidenhair fern

We are well into autumn now, and my season has wrapped up, which means I now have time to post lovely weddings on the blog. Ashley and Brandon were married in September, and she definitely had a woodland / bird style going on. What I loved about their wedding style was the great details, yet things were understated, elegant, and very authentic.


Blue thistle, dahlias, spray roses, raspberries, and callas were details in her woodland wedding bouquet for her ceremony at Nestldown in Los Gatos

I worked with Ashley for a year on her bouquet....it started out as peach roses and safari sunset with hypericum berries, to emerge into a wonderful woodland bouquet. Ashley gave me the freedom to create something beautiful....sometimes I can't be sure of what is at market, and I don't know until I actually order and then pick up the flowers. She even decided to have me add some peach tulle, which you can see under the dahlia above, as a nod to her many years of ballet lessons.


Woodland wedding bouquet for Nestldown ceremony.

My bouquets are very authentic....I do not try to create a perfect roundy-moundy Martha-style bouquet that has been quite in fashion for the past decade. My bouquets are like the topography of the foothills I live in....there is always something interesting around every corner. Here is Ashley's bouquet.


Woodland bridesmaid bouquet with pompon mums, naked petals, safari sunset, hypericum berries, and peach spray roses

Ashley had a small intimate wedding. She and Brandon both had just one attendant, who wore clothing of their choice to match the blue and green color theme. Above is the Best Lady's bouquet - I just love that Ashley chose to call her a more modern name....

Brandon had a cymbidium orchid and blue thistle bout.

I caught up with Ashley and Brandon at the top of the gravel road before they made their entrance. Both look quite serious in these photos...they are listening to directions from someone...they're about to get married! Brandon looks quite handsome, and the orchid perfectly matched his handsome blue shirt and patterned tie.

Ashley rocking her vintage woodland look! Quite a gorgeous bride!

As a florist, I don't always get the best photos of my wedding couples....Ashley was just so gorgeous, this photo doesn't do her justice! So we continued down the path to set up the ceremony decor, which were two of Ashley's metal candleholders of two different heights. I loved that they weren't matchy-matchy. She had me set them up at the back of the aisle. Here's a tip...if you don't need ceremony markers (I call them markers, because really, there's no "altar") at the front - and she didn't because the arbor is so fantastic - consider putting flowers behind the last row of chairs, at the aisle. All your guests will see them when they come in...


Woodland ceremony marker flowers

I love this sweet photo of Ashley's dad helping put her train out...and I don't understand how Ashley walked down those many, steep stairs in heels!

Lovely bride at lovely Nestldown!

Here's the lovely arbor and our lovely wedding couple...there's a pond with a fountain behind them, in full sunlight. Guests sat in a lovely shaded woodland clearing.


Exchanging vows at Nestldown.

On to the reception! Ashley developed her ideas for the reception with me over the year....she pretty much knew what she wanted, and I made suggestions on flowers and based on her thoughts and inspiration photos, I was able to recommend and carry out what she wanted for her tables and cake pedestal.


Rosemary and menu in napkin at each place.


Submerged wedding centerpieces of blue delphinium with floating candle; callas, and a ball candle with table number, all on a stained stump. Not only were rose petals strewn about, but also hypericum berries, to add to the woodland feel.


I just love this ball candle in a short cylinder, with a wood table number...perfect!


There were lovely vegetarian appetizers at each table, for after the cocktail hour.


Wedding cake on unique cake pedestal of glass square vases with rose petals

The wedding reception was held at the lovely Hotel Los Gatos. The hotel service and food was superb; my only complaint was that they booked the room right before her wedding, a couple of weeks before her wedding. It was quite a challenge to set everything up. When you book your wedding reception, make sure there is enough time for your florist, dj, and baker to set up (you really don't want your venue staff moving your cake...trust me!). One hour is usually NOT enough time between events. Don't forget that the venue has to clear the last event, set up for yours, and put fresh linens on before your florist and baker can set up.


I love to tuck flower heads in wherever I can!


The ceremony bouquet repurposed at the wedding reception buffet.


Details from the buffet table....


I love flower heads in votives or small containers.

A sweet bird-themed remembrance for guests to take home.

Thank you Ashley & Brandon for letting me share your special day! Best wishes on your journey through life together!

Metals Still Trending in Wedding Design / Alternative Wedding

2011-10-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

This copper bracelet works well as a wrist corsage - the gift that keeps on giving! I cut and patinaed the base; hand forged the wrist band; and added lots of luscious fire-polished crystals in what I call "Lake Tahoe blues" - that is, several shades of blue, green, yellow, and clear, as well as copper-colored crystals.

Metals have been trending in wedding design, and they are still holding strong. Especially important this season are the metals which have taken the place of out-of-price-range gold: brass, copper, steel, nobium, and silver and German silver (both fine metals). They might be finished by a bright polish to show their natural beauty, or may have a natural or other patina added; they might be painted, inked, or etched, to match your wedding colors.

Here are some copper lovelies that I have metalsmithed - I have cut from copper sheet, sanded, hammered, torched, soldered, and smithed especially for weddings. I'm also showing some examples from other artists of what you might use in your wedding.


This copper and crystal beauty is for the offbeat, individual, and alternative wedding. It can be used as a copper boutonniere or a copper corsage. This one has fire polished crystals to match the natural patina on my hammered copper, but you can choose any color crystal you would like. It has a pin back for easy wearing.


I hand cut the metal for this copper boutonniere, then took careful time to shape it into this slender bloom holder, soldered it and applied a natural patina, and added a pin back. The silver solder does show, but that just adds to its authenticness and naturalness.

Etching is another great technique that metalsmiths use to bring out your theme or personality. The following two photos are by different artists, but both beautifully show the etching technique. I can etch whatever you might like.

Beautiful etching, which could be the basis for a bout or corsage, via Rebecca Ward

Your initial or monogram can be etched as shown, for a bouquet charm. Or, imagine your initials or monogram on a square or rectangular piece of metal as a bout or corsage base. Via Intheloftdesigns on etsy.

Sola Wood Flower Wedding Bouquets

2011-10-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

Sola wood flowers, which are sometimes called balsa wood flowers or tapioca wood flowers, have been very popular for wedding bouquets for my clients. The sola wood flowers work well in rustic, vintage, romantic and alternative bouquets. Enjoy my sola wood bouquets as well as sola wood corsages and boutonnieres. Want one? I'll custom make yours, just email me! This posting is for Elizabeth, who loves sola wood flower bouquets and wants to see some different ways sola flowers can be used. It really depends on my customer...as you can see below, some look vintage, some look rustic, and some look like wildflowers. Maybe you'd like yours to look icy and cold for your winter Truckee wedding?


This was the sola wood bouquet that started it all. Danielle was very vintage glam; forest/beach meets elegant glamour. This sola wood bouquet features lambs ears, skeleton leaves, lavender, a burlap handle, and a black french wire bow.


Another view of Danielle's sola wood bouquet - a better view of the skeleton leaves and glass pearl accents.


Another hybrid sola wood and fresh flower bouquet. This wedding felt like rustic glamour. Sola wood flowers with dendrobium orchids, carnations, pompon mums, and rustic berries with some crystal and moss accents.

Sola wood rustic groom's bout. Simply charming.

This bout is NOT sola wood, but you can see how well it compliments the rustic wedding above.


Also not sola wood, but wouldn't this collage corsage look terrific with a sola wood flower instead of the pompon mum?

A wildflower sola wood bouquet. This bouquet is a hybrid, combining sola wood flowers (yes! in your colors!) with cool water lavender roses, lisianthus, verbena, agapanthus, dahlia, and lavender mini carns, with a bright green doily handle.


Here is the matching groom bout. Purple sola wood flower with a rhinestone accent, berries, and lavender mini carns. Just perfect for a Rome Valley Vineyard wedding!


Vintage look sola wood flower bouquet. This is the one I displayed at Celebrate Coloma Weddings! This bouquet is completely non-fresh and alternative. Sola wood flowers combine with dried rosebuds, natural shells, crystal bling, and a real copper flower with faux pearl center. Movement is added by a truly vintage tulle collar that I've vintaged up.


A closer view of the vintage look sola wood flower bouquet. Did I mention that the brass and faux pearl flower are vintage?


Even the underside of the bouquet is beautiful with meticulously hand-applied millinery leaves, and the handle is wrapped in an upcycled silk sari material and trim! Gorgeous!

A corsage to match the vintage look sola wood flower bouquet - a sola wood collage corsage! What is a collage corsage? That's what I've named my special corsages that I treat like an art canvas. This one has old-fashioned script on the background, and features millinery leaves, faux crystal accents, and dried rosebuds. There is a pin attached to the back for easy pinning.

Inspiration for Kali: Green + Cream + Pewter with a pop of color / Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2011-07-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

Kali's main flowers are in green and cream, a luscious color combination, and very fitting for her Lake Tahoe wedding. Bridesmaids are in pewter, and Kali is looking for a pop of color...perhaps eggplant and cranberry, as a nod to autumn, without being harvesty? Or lake blue, as a nod to waning summer? Here are some flower photos for inspiration.

Dark purple/burgundy mini callas, via Project Wedding

Picasso mini callas are pretty amazing. Via Celebrations Design Group

Or a dahlia in cranberry? Via FloraFresh

Hypericum berries in burgundy. Via ubloom

Or in green? Via FloraFresh

A pretty ruffly gerbera in white with a green eye? Via Everbloom


Queen Anne's Lace via FloraFresh


Snow on the Mountain via FloraFresh

Jade Rose via FloraFresh

Eryngium via FloraFresh


Delphinium via FloraFresh


Viburnum berry via ubloom

Dusty Miller via FloraFresh

Fausel Ranch Rustic Elegance Sola Wood Flowers Wedding / Placerville Lake Tahoe Sacramento flowers for wedding

2011-06-22T20:21:00.000-07:00

Shannon + Tommy are married! I so much enjoyed working with both Shannon and Tommy on their wedding flowers for their Fausel Ranch, Placerville, California wedding. It was decidedly a vintage elegant rustic decor feel. Shannon shared to me when I brought her her bouquet...that she wasn't really a big flower person. She was delighted with her non-fussy, non-frou-frou bouquet. She had definitely wanted a natural, branchy look to her arch, and gave me an inspiration photo to work from...wow! How could I get that several thousand dollar feeling with a smaller budget??? I'll post that soon and let you decide if it worked or not...keep in mind, that all of these flowers were simple, streamlined, and not fussy, and therefore, not overly expensive. The headtable centerpieces were petite...and shh...can you believe it? Mums and carnations, but with a mono-color, they look incredibly modern. Shannon and Tommy trusted in my design skills and allowed me to design...and we came up within budget. What a wonderful couple to work with - thank you and congratulations Shannon + Tommy!

Without further ado, enjoy the flowers, and enjoy the beauty of Fausel Ranch. Owner Deanna was very hospitable and fun to work with - I hope to be there again soon! Visit my website at: A Special Day Designs for wedding flowers for Placerville, Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, and surrounding areas.

The Venue - Fausel Ranch Fausel Ranch, Placerville, California.

Fausel Ranch - wedding parking signs


Fausel Ranch is a working ranch - cherries and peaches for sale!


Iris in bloom in May at Fausel Ranch


Use the gazebo as a dance floor...love the paper lanterns friends are hanging, and the white lights over the reception area!


The babbling brook right behind the ceremony arch!

The Fausel Ranch Supervisor - it was a hard day :)

The Ceremony Site


The wedding arch of black wrought iron - I decorated with curly willow, fern, and white dendrobium orchids


Instead of rose petals...Shannon wanted mum flower heads! I added the rustic rope at the last moment at her request - glad I had it with me!

Reception


I love how Shannon + Tommy's friends helped set up the reception area


Love the rustic bar - it must've looked fab in the dark with those lights!


Great vintage door holds place cards / escort cards


Great table setting of a nude underlay, black lace overlay, with a breakaway centerpiece of a submerged white dendrobium orchid, plant-based candles (no smoky petroleum-based candle wax) and a vintage bud vase


Shannon allowed me freedom with details...I thought this little vintage liqueur glass was a great match to her vintage rustic elegance decor...much better than a modern bud vase would have been


I love details! Shannon and Tommy's friends set out mason jars, flagged personalized retro stripe straws, and iron-handle flatware wrapped in black napkins


I created petite, modern headtable arrangements for each of the three headtables. I love the texture, and by using the same color, the texture of the carnations and the mum, with the grey/taupe moss, in the black container, creates modern elegance


Scattering plant-based votives, skeleton leaves, and mum flower heads filled out the headtable decor


Headtable white mum and skeleton leaves detail


I not only love the look of these plant-based votives, they do not smoke like regular petroleum-based wax candles, and are kinder to the environment, and your guests' lungs!

Personal Flowers


Sola wood flower bouquets are different and not mainstream. Here, they're teamed with white dendrobium orchids, and carnations and mums! Keeping it streamlined keeps it all modern

The bridesmaids carried simple but fragrant bouquets of white stock, tied with an elegant rustic rope


Flower girl basket with elegant rustic twine, ivory butterfly, and grey/taupe moss

Groom's bout of sola wood flower moss, and some funky upcycled perforated paper


Groomsmen and father bouts with twigs, berries, moss, and twine

A pretty, simple, modern collage corsage of of white mum, twine, berries, and velvet leaf

Keywords: sola wood flowers, bouquet, corsage, bout, wedding, Placerville, A Special Day Designs, Fausel Ranch, outdoor, rustic, vintage, country, eco, natural, ivory, white, orchids, mums, carnations

Vegetable and Fruit Bouquets / Placerville Wedding Flowers Florist

2011-03-18T00:43:00.000-07:00

Some fun ideas for Cristy - vegetable and fruit and succulent wedding bouquets and centerpieces:

via Elizabeth Anne Designs

via The Wedding Shoebox

via Oncewed

via A Special Day Designs

via Oncewed


via Flower Shop Network

via Lovely Little Details

via A Special Day Designs

via The Natural Wedding Company

via Divine Dinner Party

via Brenda's Wedding Blog

via Eco Beautiful Weddings

via Fiore

via San Diego Wedding Insider

via Pretty Chicky

via I do x2

via Project Wedding

via A Special Day Designs


via A Special Day Designs

Wedding Bouquet Sizes / Lake Tahoe Sacramento Placerville wedding flowers florist

2011-03-01T21:04:00.000-08:00

White sweet pea and lavender petite vintage rustic bouquet via A Special Day Designs

Rather than calling bouquets by whom I think will be holding them, I much prefer to name them by their size. After all, would a client choose something named after an attendant? In the interest of keeping things simple, my hand-tied bouquets (with the stems showing) are based on the approximate number of stems in the bouquet. Never an exact number, though, because as anyone who designs knows, sometimes you need to add that extra rose or take out a stem to make the design balanced.

And please note this: size is relative to the type of flower that you are using. As you will see, 10 very small lavender stems makes a very very petite bouquet, compared to 10 stems of spider mums.

The sweet white sweet pea and lavender bouquet above is an example of a petite bouquet. My petite bouquets have 10 to 12 stems. Designer's Choice bouquets are your choice of colors, my choice of seasonal flowers and does not include premium flowers such as (but not limited to) peony, mini posy calla, garden roses, or orchids or other pricey flowers. This example is tied with sparkling wire, and is embellished with a vintage piece of jewelry (not included in price). The photo below, of simple lavender, and the is also a petite bouquet.

Lavender petite vintage rustic herbal bouquet via A Special Day Designs

The Mono-Floral (one flower type) bouquets in Petite size is 10 stems as well (excepting, when available, football mums, arctic white callas, green goddess callas, and dahlias which are 5 stems). An example is shown in green spider mums, and arctic white callas, below.

Green Spider Mum petite bouquet via A Special Day Designs

White arctic calla petite bouquet via A Special Day Designs

Designer's Choice medium size bouquets have 14 to 16 stems. The bouquet below, of pink peonies and dahlias, surprised a lucky bride! By allowing me freedom to buy the nicest flowers...sometimes you might be very surprised and get premium flowers if they happen to be on special at the time of your wedding! See the difference in size compared to the "medium size" white sweet pea and lavender bouquet. Because the sweet peas and lavender are smaller stems and smaller heads, the bouquet tends to look smaller.

Pink peony and dahlia and gerbera medium size bouquet via A Special Day Designs

Vintage glam white sweet pea and lavender medium size bouquet via A Special Day Designs

Purple kale and pink tulip eco medium size bouquet via A Special Day Designs

Mono-Floral medium size bouquets are ~15 stems.

Designer's Choice full size bouquets have 22 to 24 stems. The example below is of white scabiosa, white tulips, white spray roses, and white sweet peas.

White tulip and white scabiosa full-size bouquet via A Special Day Designs

Mono-Floral full size bouquets are ~20 stems.

Please visit my website at http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com for wedding flowers for Lake Tahoe, Placerville, Shingle Springs, Folsom, Sacramento, and other nearby areas in the Sierra foothills and greater Sacramento area.

eco natural, glam, Lake Tahoe wedding flowers, Placerville florist, rustic, sacramento wedding flowers, sacramento florist, Seasonal Flowers, Shingle Springs wedding flowers, wedding bouquet, wedding flower prices, white calla, cheap wedding flowers, vintage, rustic, simple

White calla / purple dendrobium / reed / gyp / baby's breath Lake Tahoe wedding

2010-12-31T18:02:00.000-08:00

Here's a inspiration design post for Erica, who is getting married next summer at South Lake Tahoe. She is out of state and planning a Lake Tahoe destination wedding, so we are doing a wedding flower consultation by email. She loves a clean and sophisticated look, but needs to consider her budget. She also likes the simple look of my Just Gyp bouquets. Her colors are royal purple and sage green, a great color combination!

via flickr, Nicole Radtke ("*nike*" photostream)

This horsetail reed has a similar look to bamboo....I love how it is kind of rough looking next to the delicate gyp (baby's breath) - rather ying and yang, masculine and feminine, edgy and ethereal.

via A Special Day Designs by Monique Wilber, Shingle Springs, CA -- Lake Tahoe Wedding flowers

The bouquet above has a modern look as it doesn't have a lot of different flowers in it. The gardenias are not in the budget, but other white flowers could substitute. I love the green sisal sphere and the explosion grass!

via A Special Day Designs by Monique Wilber, Shingle Springs, CA -- Lake Tahoe Wedding flowers

Here are some callas, not many, but stylized and chic (above). The budget won't allow gardenias, and Erica is not a fan of roses, so we can substitute there. I love the green sisal wrap (also comes in purple!).

via Floral Design by Jacqueline Ahne blog

The photo above is my inspiration for the reed and dendrobium orchid dangles...love love love Jacqueline Ahne's design work!

Now, imagine the dangling dendrobium orchids in purple (they won't be this pink-ish):

via 123RF

via A Special Day Designs by Monique Wilber, Shingle Springs, CA -- Lake Tahoe Wedding flowers

A Just Gyp bouquet for the bridesmaids, imagine with reed dangles and a wrap in your colors, as above.

via Wedding Flowers and Reception Ideas

A reed and gyp bout for the guys, above...

via The Knot

Not quite what I had in mind, but what a calla and gyp could look like together...or, another option:

via The English Garden

Okay, use your imagination: make that white tulip a white calla, and think of the green dendrobium orchids as purple!

via My Bouquet blog

For the ceremony marker arrangements, I was thinking curly willow as above, or straight sticks with horsetail reed (the reed is the first photo in the post), in a solid green or brown eco mache container, with dangling blooms.

These are the eco mache containers....they can be colored to match your wedding colors, or used as-is.

Another option is the photo below, which has the curly willow (or straight sticks and reed) in a clear glass cylinder:

via My Bouquet blog

With "sticks", the design will be straighter, not so twisty, like this (but with reeds, not the tall grass) but with dangles:

via A Special Day Designs by Monique Wilber, Shingle Springs, CA -- Lake Tahoe Wedding flowers

With my big tall glass rental cylinders, it will look like this:

via A Special Day Designs by Monique Wilber, Shingle Springs, CA -- Lake Tahoe Wedding flowers

Nestldown Eco Inspiration Board for Ashley in Peach and Rust / Sacramento Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-12-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

Here's a special inspiration board for Ashley. She and Brandon are getting married at Nestldown, in the Santa Cruz area. The venue has a very eco, natural, and forest feel to it...which is why she contacted me! So Ashley, here's to you:

Nestldown, via Rebecca Stark Photography

The ceremony location does not need much enhancement. Hanging flower globes, like these:

Hanging Glass Flower spheres, via A Special Day Designs, Shingle Springs, California

Two curly willow tall cylinders for the BACK of the aisle, behind the last row of chairs, like these:

via A Special Day Designs, Shingle Springs, California

For the bouquets and personal flowers, Ashley is thinking of peach roses, rusty and /or burgundy mums, and leucadendron, like these:

via A Special Day Designs, Shingle Springs, California

Leucadendron is usually seen as in the top of this photo; but look at how pretty they look with their petals reflexed!

via Wedding Bee

A wood slice for the ringbearer? Or a moss pillow?

via Scott Andrew Studio blog

via Simply Natural blog

For the reception, three sizes of cylinders on a wood slice. Imagine, instead of the wood flower, a bird's nest to go with your theme. The tallest with submerged delphinium and a floating candle; the medium with either swirled peach tulips or twigs (not submerged); and the short cylinder with a short pillar candle. The delphinium can have several stems in the cylinder, if you'd like it "thicker" than below, for example:

via Floral Festivities blog

via An Octopus' Garden

European Style Cascade Bouquet with White Gardenias, callas, and roses / Placerville Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-10-31T23:05:00.000-07:00

European style cascade wedding bouquet by A Special Day Designs, serving Lake Tahoe, Placerville, El Dorado County, and Sacramento

My passion in floral design is a modern and streamlined look. I spend many hours poring over the internet, seeing what's new and exciting in floral design. When great designers come to town, I take classes to continue my education, and go to design seminars.

I was fortunate this month to attend the California State Floral Association yearly convention, and when I saw that they were offering a class with Tony Alvarez AIFD, CCF, and Reina E. Sumabat AIFD, I signed up. What a great class! Tony and Reina taught us some great techniques and gave me some great ideas, and I learned a lot of construction techniques.

Yes - flowers from an educated floral designer will cost you more than DIY flowers, or flowers you buy over the internet that are shipped on a hot or freezing brown truck. But you WON'T be seeing the streamlined, modern cascade like the image above arriving from them, either. It's your one special day - there are no do-overs. You can't drop-ship the artist.

Keywords: Shingle Springs wedding flowers, squaw valley, Placerville wedding flowers, Placerville florist, Lake Tahoe wedding flowers, El Dorado Hills wedding, alternative wedding, eco-chic, nature wedding, white roses, Sacramento, florist, Folsom, Cameron Park, gardenia, stephanotis, Coloma, eco, modern, streamline, European

To DIY Wedding Flowers, Or Not? / Placerville Sacramento Lake Tahoe wedding flowers florist

2010-10-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

via Green Bride Guide

Okay, so I love this photo from Green Bride Guide. Now, this looks like a backyard or park wedding, and someone's mom is DIYing the wedding flowers. You know that I'm all for that, in fact, I sell bulk DIY wedding flowers to Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, and Placerville area wedding couples. Take a look at that look of frustration, or "what am I supposed to do next?" or "how the heck am I going to attach the flowers to the arch???" or "the wedding starts in 15 minutes and I'm not dressed and I'm very much perspiring and I'm not anywhere near done!"

Here's the difference between DIY wedding flowers and paying a floral professional: lean in closer: psssstttt: they are professionals, trained, with schooling, they do this all the time and so are experienced, and you are paying the floral designer more for their skilled LABOR. When you DIY, you are cutting 1/3 to 1/2 the cost because you are providing labor.

As long as you don't expect perfection, then DIY may be for you. As long as you can roll with the flow, and not get bent out of shape on your wedding day, then DIY may be for you. DON'T, and I have to say it again, DON'T DIY if you only get your venue a 1/2 hour or hour before the ceremony or reception. You can't do it. It's very difficult even for pros when the venue is cranking out the weddings and only give you a 1/2 hour to get in. There's one place in Sacramento that I am thinking of, and we had to wait in our cars on a hot day with the air conditioning running for over a half hour while the venue shooed out the guests from the wedding before, we had to rush setting up the ceremony site, started decorating the bar area as guests for our wedding were arriving, then madly dashing about the reception area, rushing the venue to change out the linens so we could get big, abundant centerpieces up (I was helping another designer). We barely made it. If I ever have to work that venue again, I will be adding the cost of at least 3 assistants to get it done on time.

Seriously, if you are going to DIY, it's great if you can get a venue that gives you a half day, full day, or overnight to prep it. THAT's the way to go to DIY wedding flowers. KISS - Keep It Simple, Silly! Don't let changes in plans keep you from having great memories. Really, it's all about celebrating a new stage in your life with the people you love, right?

If you need bulk DIY wedding flowers in the Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, or Placerville area, or surrounding counties, please contact me by email: monique@aspecialdaydesigns.com . You can get the same flowers that I get, and I will quality control them for you. I'm better than the box stores and it's safer ordering from me than some unknown website. I'll condition your flowers properly so that they are fresh for you.

Of course, if after reading this post and looking at that picture, you don't want to DIY wedding flowers after all, LOL, contact me! I do custom floral design too! Go to my website at: http://aspecialdaydesigns.com .

Eco Tuscan Winery Inspiration for Cristy / Rustic Chic / Placerville Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-10-07T19:03:00.000-07:00


via Para ti Novia

Love what Para Ti Novia said about the above photo: "Instead of using all traditional flowers, the bride used large vases of plants as well as potted herb plants and cookie jars filled with river rocks and herbs to complete this rustic chic look. The look is very evocative of French and Italian provincial weddings in which evenly smelling herbs and plants like lavender are used instead of traditional flowers."

via Schubert Nursery

via Wedding Ideas

via Weddings Idea

via wipneus.com

via Favor Ideas

via Gulf Coast Travel World

via My Jean M

via Perfect Outdoor Weddings

via Web Answers

Via Parenthetical Bride blog

via Elizabeth Anne Designs

Love the "upcycle" aspect of the photo above!

via Oncewed

This one is upcycle, too!

via Create My Event

Modern!

via Southern Living

Cheese -cake!

via Perfect Day Planner

via Elizabeth Anne Designs

via Toast and Tables

I have a lot of these types of silver goblets for the right wedding!

via Wedding Bee

Classic urn, classic roses, and some moss.

via Inspired Bride

Hanging Glass with Flowers and Votives Inspiration

2010-10-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

Photo by Monique Wilber, A Special Day Designs, taken at Bouquet to Art San Francisco 2008

via Accent Decor Blog

via Jonas Peterson

via Beautiful Things Diary blog

via Brilliant Event Planning

via I Do Weddings by Eternal

via Kristina Cipolla Photography blog

via Elizabeth Anne Designs

via My Pretty Touch

via Pait Currier Wedding blog

Photo by Monique Wilber, A Special Day Designs, taken at Bouquet to Art San Francisco 2008

via Accent Decor blog

Aimee & Mark's Wedding / Sunflowers! / Pro Photos by Grandeur Photography

2010-10-04T19:00:00.000-07:00


Aimee & Mark, American River Resort, Coloma, California. Great photo, great day. Sunflower wedding bouquet.

Respect for the men. Mark and groomsmen. Viking pom bout.

And respect for the ladies! Sunflower wedding bouquets.

Personality!!! Love it!

Mr. & Mrs.!

More fun! Give that man some champagne! Quickly!

Marshall Gold Discovery State Park has the best backdrops...

A Sweet Moment overlooking the South Fork American River.

Blog love and a shout-out for this awesome photography to Renae at Grandeur Photography!
Visit the Grandeur Photography website.
Visit Renae Lamb at the Grandeur Photography facebook page.

Sunflower Wedding with a Metal Twist! / Coloma Sacramento Placerville Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-10-03T20:57:00.000-07:00


Sunflower and burgundy slight cascade with metal elements, angel hair vine, eucalyptus pods, pepperberry, and hypericum sheltered in lily grass

Aimee & Mark are married! On Friday evening, as I was sitting under my oak trees designing Aimee & Mark's wedding, I was enjoying the rainbow and the virga - rain falling but not touching the ground - and the pink clouds and thought how lovely for Mark & Aimee, who had rented cottages at the American River Resort in Coloma, California. This is a resort I know well, as my whitewater "family" works out of there. The wedding day was quite warm, but cooler than the 104 degree temps of only a few days prior (only 88 degrees!!). I delivered the bride's bouquet to Aimee in her cottage -- oh, what a beautiful bride!!! Her hair and make up were done, she was dressed, and just about ready to go to Marshall State Historic Park for photos (where gold was discovered that started the California gold rush - lots of great rustic photo ops!). I went down to the resort's reception room, and met Kristen there....my bride from September! She and Aimee met on a wedding forum, and helped each other with day-of duties. It was great to see Kristen again! Kristen had a list from Aimee of which tables she wanted her "tall" and "short" centerpieces on, so I followed that, and everything was lovely....sunflowers, with a touch of burgundy (bridesmaids were in burgundy) and damask!

Aimee just posted on my facebook:

Thank you so much! Our flowers were gorgeous!!!! We received such personalized service, it was like working with friends. :) everything was gorgeous! Mark and I both loved the metal elements. Thank you!!

Thanks Aimee! I very much enjoyed working with you and designing your wedding!

It rained today in Coloma; and yesterday there were reports of thunderstorms at Lake Tahoe. Remember, El Dorado County and Lake Tahoe destination brides - we are on the slopes and in the summit basin of the mighty Sierra Nevada range, and weather can be unsettled. Have a rain plan! Aimee & Mark married in the historic Emmanual Church in the State Park; so they were covered.

Enjoy the photos!

Groom's bout of a "Viking" pom pon, hypericum, solidago, and pepperberries with damask ribbon and metal twists

Bridesmaids' bouquets of sunflowers, hypericum, safari sunset, solidago, and naked seeded eucalyptus


Bouts and corsages of "Viking" pom pons

Detail of Mother's wrist corsage of "Viking" yellow pom pon, pepperberry, hypericum, and naked seed eucalyptus on a handcrafted wire bracelet


Short square vase of black rocks, yellow sunflower, in water. Zen!

Tall centerpiece of yellow sunflowers, white monte casino, naked seeded eucalyptus, eucalyptus pods, and safari sunset in Aimee's vases with her favorite, white ting ting, added!

Dessert for last! A lovely black and white cake accented with a yellow sunflower. Love the damask "I DO", kissing couple, and pretty cake set Aimee set out!

Congratulations you two! Looking forward to seeing your pro pics! Next real wedding blog....Kristen's wedding flowers and the magnificent Sacramento Library Galleria!

How to Take Great Floral Photos / Placerville Lake Tahoe Sacramento Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-09-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

White tulip centerpiece (floral design and photography by Monique Wilber, A Special Day Designs, Shingle Springs, California)

Twice in a month I've been blogged! I answered the challenge for the My Photo Video "Photo and Video Challenge." Click here to go to Storymix Media's blog and learn how to take great floral photography!

Thanks for the blog love Ariane at Storymix Media, and I'm sending some blog love back! Here's what Storymix Media can do for you:

Storymix Media turns your photos and videos into treasured keepsake movies of your big day. We offer products ranging from fun slideshows of your early years to Hollywood quality movies with all the bells and whistles from your personal video footage. Share the memories with everyone easily by ordering extra DVDs, posting your project video to Facebook, or adding an online gallery to enjoy everything in HD quality.

Our products allow the budget conscious couple to enjoy the memories of their big day by creating products quickly and easily from all of their media at prices that won't break the bank. Don't regret missing out on seeing moments from a day that will go by in a whirl.

For those brides looking to capture the entire wedding experience we can combine printed photos, digital video, digital photos, and standard tape footage from the beginning of your journey together through the honeymoon. Our editors will expertly combine all of your media in an enjoyable movie that isn't too long or boring to enjoy every anniversary.

visit Storymix Media

A Mother of the Bride's Real Warning about Flowers Ordered over the Internet Arriving in Brown Boxes!

2010-09-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

via Florist Detective ...This is what arrived in the box!

I know you've seen the ads: 200 roses for $89! All your wedding flowers for just $150! I just warned you in a prior post what can happen - flowers coming to you delivered over a day or two in hot or freezing weather can end up dead or severely wilted....then what will you do, because the company that shipped them is in South America or someplace else in the U.S.? Or what if they don't send you the right flowers? It's not a local person who can fix it for you!

Here's a snippet from a real Mother of the Bride talking about her daughter's experience ordering from a South American grower. She is writing from the point of view that "silk" flowers (actually polyester) are the way to go. However, my take on that is...no matter how beautiful, those faux silk flowers are mass produced in China. I do, however, love the handmade artisan blooms that you see on places like Etsy or Artfire or 1000markets. To each their own! Real, fresh flowers, however, are fleeting and precious and invoke a great memory...not only do I have great memories of my wedding day flowers, for the first five years of anniversaries, my dear hubby would give me a dozen roses per year - so on the fifth anniversary, I got 60 roses!

I digress! Here's the true story:

"Beware of “growers’ co-ops” on the internet who operate out of South America, who offer a jaw-dropping quantity of roses for a few hundred dollars–and they offer an amazing assortment, as well. We used ‘BigRose.com’ for my daughter’s wedding. We ordered and paid for the roses 4 months in advance. They called us a few days before the wedding to tell us “sorry, but we will not have the exact shade of red” we had paid for months in advance, so were sending a mix of similar shades. They stopped speaking English when we protested. We quickly realized that, so close to the wedding, there was no chance we could get this quantity from anywhere else at the last minute (and certainly not for the money), so we decided that mixing dark reds would have to do. Imagine our shock when they sent not only mixed reds, but hot pink and peach–for an all-red wedding! We had relatives combing every Costco and grocery store in town–and because of this unplanned-for scurrying, we DID make up most of the difference in quantity–but additionally, the South American roses, which were supposed to be thornless, arrived with as many thorns as petals–HUGE, rainforest-caliber thorns!–and thus took a far, far longer time–requiring each stem and thorn to be shaved down before they could be made into bouquets–than the time we had allowed–and we had tried to overestimate. It all turned out beautiful, but the florist among us had punctured, bloody, inflamed hands. Back to that reliable old expression, “If it seems too good to be true–it probably is.” (You’d think we might have recourse, but my bank refused to pursue the matter because the seller did have a Fed-Ex receipt showing that goods were delivered–even it wasn’t the goods we ordered.) "

via Hemmroidz blog

Wedding Flowers Budget Planning Guide / Lake Tahoe Sacramento Placerville Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-09-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

Sphere Cylinder Topper Centerpiece, $59

We floral designers talk about it all the time - and talk about it with the other wedding pros. I see the wedding couples talking about it on the wedding forums too. It's the elephant in the room and no one wants to talk about it....it's the ....BUDGET!!! It seems that wedding couples have a fear of putting a number out there because they think that as soon as they do, the wedding vendors will price their services UP to meet that budget. Wedding vendors, on the other hand, get frustrated when they consult with a couple, and the couple doesn't want to talk about budget. Here's the problem: most wedding vendors want to provide you the best service at the best price that they can for you. Most aren't out to rip you off; but they aren't Aunt Suzie and Uncle Charlie and willing to do it for their wholesale cost plus free labor. They have bills to pay, a living to earn, they are passionate about weddings, but they need to charge a fair amount as they are in, you know, business!

Here's the issue. If you don't tell me your budget, but tell me that you want premium flowers like hydrangea, callas, peonies, garden roses, etc., I'm going to give you an estimate that reflects the costs of those costly blooms. I get charged more by my vendor, and so in turn, charge you more when you choose those premium flowers. So you get my estimate, and are about to pass out, because you actually only budgeted, let's say, $1000 for your wedding flowers. So you just go away, and don't give me another chance to adjust the estimate...you move on to another florist, or maybe an inexperienced person from craigslist. In the meantime, I've just invested probably 6-8 hours writing your estimate - figuring out which flowers are in season, calling my vendors to estimate the cost, making some drawings, writing a floral recipe, and typing it all up for you. But I never hear back from you. You leave me hanging there without so much as a "no thank you" (it is proper manners to at least let the vendor know that you are moving on) and you feel that I'm way overpriced.

Do you see the disconnect?

If you tell your floral designer (or other wedding pro) upfront what your budget is, we can work with it! I might include less other premium flowers because you have to have hydrangea - so I use more filler flowers and foliage, we highlight the hydrangea, or I do some high-style modern design that uses fewer blooms. But unless you TELL me, how will I know?

Why do some floral designers charge less or more? Price is a factor of supply and demand. Popular, well-known designers tend to charge more. Designers that spend more on advertising charge more to pay for that advertising. Look at the differences in design. An abundant look is gorgeous, but you are paying for each bloom and the training and expertise to put it in the best spot and then to keep it all alive and deliver it and set it up! Simple costs less. Don't confuse simple with inexperience or a lack of training, however. An untrained floral designer can cost a lot...in grief. If you choose someone lacking experience or training, be prepared to live with your photos for the rest of your life!

I decided to put together a photo essay and some average prices...these are MY average prices for my design style and the types of flowers and containers that I like to work with. Other designers may charge more, or less. You can ALWAYS see my prices posted on my website. My style is what it is, and the prices are what they are. I welcome custom work and will give custom quotes within my design style.


Art Nouveau Bouquet, Medium Size, $115

I don't call my bouquets "Bride's" or "Bridesmaid's" because I want to give you options. If the full size of this bouquet is too much for your budget, there is also a petite size available for $99. My bouquets range in price from $27 to $350.

Chic Bout, $15

My bouts reflect the flowers in the bouquets and range from $10 to $22.

Collage Corsage Brooch, $25

My corsages range from $18 to $35.

Pretty Aisle Vases, $30/each; Arch Spray, $135

Aisle decor ranges from $18 to $280. Light coverage aisle petals, $75. Ceremony marker arrangements $65 to $75.

Breakaway Centerpiece of Beachy Dried Grasses; Moss Candle Mason Jar, Succulent $67 (other items by bride)

Centerpieces start at $15 and go up to $67.

Please visit my website to see all of my prices: A Special Day Designs

Some communities I serve include Placerville, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Georgetown, Forest Hill, Coloma, Jackson, Ione, Sutter Creek, Auburn, Roseville, Lincoln, Folsom, Lodi, Davis, South Lake Tahoe, Squaw Valley, and Incline Village.

DIY Bulk Wedding Flowers for Sacramento, Placerville, and Lake Tahoe Weddings

2010-09-11T19:10:00.000-07:00


White Mini Callas

Purple Callas

When I order bulk wedding flowers for you, you are saving 30 - 50% over having a skilled, educated professional design your wedding flowers. When you order custom flowers, you are paying to have someone else with design skills create floral works of art - and for their labor, their experience and education, and the costs of running a business. They also take the worry about how your florals will turn out for you. Some couples choose to DIY their own wedding flowers for different reasons - they have a lower budget, or they are creative and want to express their creativity.

When I order DIY bulk flowers for your Sacramento or Lake Tahoe wedding, you have the same choice of flowers as I do. I order from my regular vendors, who order from their regular growers, and the flowers are shipped "cold chain" - that is, kept refrigerated all the way. When my vendors get the flowers, they make sure to rehydrate them with special floral food and bacterial-reducing dip, to make sure your flowers last longer. When I pick up your flowers for you, if I will be holding them for you, I also rehydrate them once again and give them a bacterial-reducing dip. This all means that your flowers will last longer.

When you order DIY bulk flowers from those anonymous online places, what are you going to do if the flowers show up wilted? There won't be time to replace them. And even if they are shipping overnight, the flowers might be left at a hot airport or be sitting on a hot truck - or in the winter, freezing. Ordering DIY flowers from me, a local floral designer, you have peace of mind. I check your flowers when I pick them up from my vendors, and if they are not up to standard, I will find another source for you.

I just quoted bulk DIY callas / wedding flowers for Tamika's 10/10/10 wedding. After I sent her estimate to her, I checked online for the leading calla company. Guess what? My prices were lower!!! So don't think that your local bulk DIY wedding flower vendor can't beat the big corporation's prices. And I guarantee you -- I care a LOT more about your wedding than they do!

I've Been Blogged - Wood Flowers Wedding Bouquet / Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-09-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo montage from the lovely Sienna Wedding Blog, featuring my floral designs for Danielle & Kris' Lake Tahoe wedding, and Scott Andrew's EPIC photography!

Photos: Scott Andrew, via Sienna Wedding Blog
Flowers: A Special Day Designs, Shingle Springs, California

May Flowers for Rebecca in Orange, Pink and Green / Sacramento and Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-08-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

Rebecca was asking me what seasonal flowers might be available for her wedding in May 2011. While I can't guarantee what I'll find when you choose "Designer's Choice", I can give you an idea of what might be available during your wedding month. This past June, I snatched up a bargain, and one of my lucky brides happened to get peonies as a seasonal, Designer's Choice flower!!! What is Designer's Choice? You tell me what colors you want in your flowers; what flowers you particularly like, or dislike, too. I then choose the freshest, nicest flowers to give you the most flower-buying power for your dollars. Many times, my vendors have flower specials every week...but if you've put restraints on me by telling me exactly what you want, I can't get the best deal for you, and so I have to estimate based on a higher price. For instance, if you say you must have peonies for a certain month, then I have to quote you based on what they were last year and what they might be next year. Flowers are a perishable crop, exposed to nature, transportation, and economical issues (like farms going out of business) and prices are market prices...just like gold and silver, and fish, the price changes daily. By allowing me to get you the best bargain, I can also reject flowers that aren't looking so good without stressing that you just had to have that garden rose in a certain shade of pink.

Now, you can request a premium flower WITH your Designer's Choice, as Rebecca has with green cymbidiums. I price those out based on what they were last year and what they might be next year, and add that to the Designer's Choice price.

Back to Rebecca. Rebecca, here are the flowers that the California Cut Flower Commission tell me are available in May, in your colors. I did not include premium flowers that could be available in your colors (such as callas, peonies, orchids, etc.) although if they are on special that week....well, you never know :).

May flowers
Orange:
Alstro
Calendula
Carnation
Celosia
Dahlia
Gerbera
Gladiolus
Lily
Marigold
Nerine Lily
Ranunculus
Rose
Snapdragon
Stock
Tulip
Waxflower

Pink:
Anemone
Aster, Masumoto
Bouvardia
Carnation
Celosia
Cosmos
Coxcomb
Dahlia
Gerbera
Gladioulus
Godetia
Hydrangea
Larkspur
Lily
Pepperberry
Ranunculus
Snapdragon
Stock
Sweet Pea
Sweet William
Rose
Waxflower

Green:
Amaranthus, hanging
Bells of Ireland
Carnation
Dianthus, green trick
Gladiolus
Hydrangea
Hypericum
Pom pons, Kermit
Rose
Trachelium, jade

All photos from Flora Fresh Inc.

Meet me at a Wedding Open House Sunday June 13, 2010

2010-06-04T20:10:00.000-07:00

Join me at a wedding open house on Sunday, June 13, 2010, at:

7625 Sunrise Blvd, Suite 211

Citrus Heights, CA 95610

(916) 996-4020

Not only will you get to visit with Creme de la Creme Paperie for fantabulous invitations and paper goods, come meet me and see what the difference is between a hand-tied bouquet and a bouquet arranged in a holder! There will be a swag bag of goodies for one lucky attendee, and I will have Color Style Sheets for every wedding couple that visits me, Monique Wilber of A Special Day Designs (floral designer), serving the greater Sacramento area, Placerville, and Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley.

My designs are modern and fresh, streamlined, alternative, and eco-chic.

Come meet select boutique vendors from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. I look forward to seeing you there!

Visit Creme de la Creme's website.

Mossy Votive Jar

2010-05-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a lovely idea if you are doing an eco-chic or organic wedding. Think simple, clean, streamlined, with classical earth elements: moss, water, glass, fire. Contact me if you'd like a price on these for your tables. These are great as part of a breakaway centerpiece. I have moss branches and bark available, as well. Low cost but what an impact...

Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers

2010-05-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

Here's another sneak pic of Danielle's wedding from photographer Scott Andrew.

Lake Tahoe Wedding! A Little More...

2010-05-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note before I go get some sleep....I caught a 2-hour catnap last night after putting together Danielle & Kris' wedding flowers for today's Lake Tahoe ceremony. Danielle was gorgeous, looking very vintage-glam in her ivory dress and birdcage veil. Her bridesmaids were all in black dresses and shoes of their choice. Kris and his guys were so dapper, all in black, with felt fedoras and black/gray Vans deck shoes. They got married on a pier on Lake Tahoe, and the weather was wonderful up there today, which was fortunate considering there was a snow storm last week (Tahoe couples - be prepared for any kind of weather, even in the summer - there are often thunderstorms!).

For the ceremony, she had friends hang up pinecones on the aisle chairs, the pinecones of which she had gathered during snowboarding trips to Big Bear in Southern California, which she tied together with a silver ribbon.

For her reception, she had a beach-meets-the-forest eco kind of decor, which I loved. Her centerpieces were break-away centerpieces, made of several elements. Tall dried grasses and straight willow in heavy and thick glass cylinders, with polished pebbles, made me feel like I was at the beach, surrounded by Mason jars with moss and a candle inside (forest), and a succulent on the table (like iceplant at the beach!). When I got to the reception, her friends had put interesting wood doo-dads on the tables...you'll see photos soon (yes, I'm old school and have a 35mm film camera! The pics above are shots with my lil do-nothing digi).

Danielle's bouquet was so unique! I was thrilled to have a chance to design something so fashion-forward, yet vintage and glam, too. I love love love the wood flowers and skeleton leaves in her bouquet. The stachys (lamb's ear) gives a softness to it, the pearl-like baubles give some vintage bling, and the dried lavender looks like preserved flowers from a romantic, remembered occasion.

The bridesmaids' bouquets were designer's choice. That means that Danielle gave me her vision, I made some suggestions as to what might be in it, but ultimately I had to go with the flowers that were available. Stellata pods were not available; nor were the great black and green kangaroo paws from a couple of weeks ago. My wholesale flower rep subbed some "weedy brambly things" (lol Laura, is that an official latin species name??) for the pods that worked out great in these eco-chic bouquets. Seriously, I can't tell you what they are....her buyer bought them from a non-English speaking farmer at a farmer's market! But they were a great base for the bridesmaids' bouquets, acting just like a hydrangea base, giving me a base to place the other interesting flowers and foliage into. I love the dog-eyed euphorbia! It looks similar to the edible plant we have in the Sierra foothills commonly called Miner's Lettuce. And the brake fern gives it that Art Nouveau feel that I love.

Both bouquets had handles wrapped in burlap, fastened with clear diamonte pins, and luxe satin ribbon bows (love that yin/yang feel - burlap, and satin).

The moral of the story, my dear wedding couples, is not to put such a stranglehold on your florist that you want to know that there will be exactly 24 Cherry Brandy roses in your bouquet, for example. Sometimes because of weather (or volcanoes! The recent eruption disrupted floral shipping around the world!) we can't get exactly what you want. But we, and our vendors, will do our best to get something very similar that will give the same look and feel. Give your floral designer your vision, tell him/her your colors, and let them choose seasonal flowers. Sometimes my vendors find great things, or might have a special that week on some premium flowers. Let us and our vendors use our design talents and instincts to make you something that will wow you!

I'm looking forward to seeing the pro photos by Scott Andrew from the wedding. I just looked at the photographer's blog and he just tweeted,

Twitter Update... This photo may cause envy. Today's wedding is straight up amazingtron! http://twitpic.com/1khkeg

Click on the twitpic link to see the pier that Danielle & Kris got married on! This photographer does amazing work...and Danielle has such style....I can't wait to see the photos!

Sneak Peak...Tomorrow's Lake Tahoe Wedding!

2010-05-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, I covered the vase because my binding mechanics were showing! It's not done, but a first sneak peak at Danielle's incredible beach-meets-the-forest wedding. I'll be up late, late, late tonight finishing up! This is the bridesmaids' bouquet....

Lilacs Are IN!!

2010-04-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

Nothing says springtime better than fresh, intoxicating lilacs! I am one of those people whose memories include scent, and I love the scent of lilacs! My wholesaler has just let me know that lilacs are in. If you are wanting them for DIY bulk purchase, they are $39 for 10 stems. Don't delay, they are usually available until the end of May (price is a market price and variable according to availability and crop conditions; price subject to changes).

No 'Zillas Need Apply! Or Being Reasonable with Your Floral Designer for Changes Beyond Their Control

2010-04-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

I recently commiserated with a very talented floral artist. It seems that she had designed a wedding bouquet for a bride, and the bride wanted her money back a few weeks later, saying that the tulips in the bouquet were not "purple enough!" She attached a picture showing, um-mm, purple tulips, not the pink she claimed they were. My friend , who is a very ethical and dedicated professional, was of course unhappy that the bride was unhappy. She had even upgraded the field tulips, which hadn't arrived at the wholesaler, with much more costly parrot tulips, at the designer's expense, not at the bride's expense. Can you say, 'Zilla???

Contrast that with my lovely bride Becki, who didn't even know that there was a burgundy asiatic lily drama going on in the background when I picked up her flowers from the wholesaler; they were a terra cotta color! I subbed deep burgundy oriental lilies at double the price, didn't charge her any additional money, and she had no idea that I upgraded her or that there was any problems. Thank you Becki; I loved designing your wedding and working with you. I give YOU five stars for being a GREAT bride!

Please understand that your floral designer cannot control nature, variations of colors in nature, and transportation issues from the farm to the wholesaler; sometimes the flowers come in and when we go to pick them up they are of poor quality and we cannot in good faith accept them and provide you with wilted or decayed flowers,so we reject them and have to substitute. Sometimes, the flowers did not make their flight! Sometimes, the colors are not EXACTLY what you imagined; for instance, I told my wholesaler bright pink garden roses, and they came in as dark hot pink garden roses; the bride downgraded a website rating on me because of it. I was sorry, of course - I want my wedding couples to be happy. But - depending on weather, nutrients in the soil, etc., flower crops can vary in color. We do the best we can to get you exactly what you want, but sometimes things just happen. Your floral designer wants to make you happy and to decorate your wedding the way you've envisioned; but sometimes things are beyond our control. If I have to substitute, I will substitute with flowers of a similar quality in price and aesthetic; I won't substitute carnations for orchids, for example. And I will keep the overall look within the color range you specified.

I do have my couples initial their contract regarding the above, because I need my couples to understand that I am NOT Mother Nature, nor do I want a 'Zilla confrontation. Frankly, I won't work with 'Zillas - 'Zillas being unreasonable people. 'Zillas need not contact me for an estimate!!!

I must say, my favorite weddings are when the wedding couple tells me their colors and style, and allow me to design with seasonal flowers, designers choice, although I do have them tell me what they love and what they dislike. It is less expensive for them, and gives me more options in choosing the best quality and freshest blooms at the market that week - and interesting blooms. Check out those very cool green and black kangaroo paws above. The wholesaler does not always carry them...sometimes, they are just there! If I were designing a wedding that was eco, organic, edgy, black.....wouldn't you WANT me to have the choice of picking those up for your wedding, rather than you trying to control every single flower in every bouquet?

Why would YOU ruin your wedding day because the flowers (the food, the venue, the dj, etc.) had some small variations that you weren't expecting? I'm not talking about major variations - someone didn't show up, or poor quality service, etc. - I'm talking about small details. I would say 98% of your PROFESSIONAL wedding vendors have their act together and provide excellent service, and do their best to provide you with exactly what you contracted for. But sometimes, things happen outside of their control. Uncle Ted didn't get into the wedding photos? It happens. DJ forgot to bring only one song? Why get bent out of shape? Enjoy your day, appreciate being surrounded by your loved ones. And know that your wedding vendors have your back....because you are NOT a 'Zilla!

Flowers Availability for Week of April 12

2010-04-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my fresh flower vendors let me know what flowers are winding down, or are just ramping up, for availability. I thought I would pass this on, so that brides and other vendors know what's going out for the season, or coming in...this post can also help in following years. Here we go:

~Dahlias are still limited in quanitites for many of the bright seasonal colors; however, burgundy tones are most readily available and looking great!

~The season for ranunculas are winding down...

~Local anemones are just about finished for the season...

~We are at the tip of the peony iceberg for gorgeous local peonies. Production should be picking up and quanitities more plentiful as the weeks progress.

In addition, I see that the following are available:

- cherry branches
- field tulips
- green and black kangaroo paw (way, way cool!!!)
- sweet peas
- field daffodils
- lilac
- almond branches
- dogwood branches
- pussy willow, 10 - 14' tall
- lily of the valley (but very, very costly)

Wood Flowers and Succulent Bridal Bouquet / Lake Tahoe Placerville Wedding Flowers

2010-04-04T16:07:00.000-07:00

Danielle - here is an inspiration board for you for your bouquet. Mostly wood flowers, with a featured succulent, lambs ears or dusty miller foliage, amethyst skeleton leaves, twigs, black leaf collar, wide black bow, and an organic-look wrapped handle. Love your style!

Succulent Bridesmaids Bouquet Inspiration Board / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers

2010-04-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

For Danielle - here is an inspiration board for your bridesmaids bouquets! Succulents, lavender, organic elements such as stellata pods, with an organic-feel wrap, such as burlap. I am so looking forward to designing your wedding!

Vote for A Special Day Designs!

2010-04-01T09:36:00.001-07:00

Great WOOD flowers! / Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-03-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

YES! I've got them and they are sizzling HOT! Wood flowers for your wedding bouquet...something to save. Use them en masse for a great creamy white effect, or put them in your fresh flower bouquet.

Green and Pink and White Glass Centerpieces for Carla / Sacramento Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-03-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Carla, here is an inspiration board for you with pink gerberas (they will be in an 8" vase), white spray roses (in a 4.5" vase), and green spider mums (in a 3.25" vase). I love the clean glass and "hydroponic" organic feel to this.

Photos from the Knot and Posh Petals

Spring weddings deeply discounted! from Focus 28 Photography at Sacramento, CA 95831

2010-03-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

Spring weddings deeply discounted! from Focus 28 Photography at Sacramento, CA 95831

Promotion Expires Apr 30, 2010
Focus 28 Photography has a few openings available for February, March and April weddings! If you are getting married in those months and still need a photographer we are offering a 50% discount on all wedding packages!!! Those savings add up quickly and could help you bump your package up to the next level. Please contact us right away because at these discounts the days will be gone fast!

Purple and Black Wedding / Placerville and Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-03-16T23:35:00.000-07:00

Danielle, here are some choices for your as reflected on your estimate. In the bridal bouquet collage, you can choose from wood flowers with a succulent accent, with a black leaf collar, twigs, and purple skeleton leaves bling; or; choose from garden roses or pompon mums instead of the wood flowers. Whichever you prefer. In the bridesmaid bouquet collage, sub out the orange/pinkish dahlias of your inspiration bouquet for some purple anemones (or lisianthus, or other purple seasonal flower, depending on what is available). If you don't like the succulent, a textural option instead is scabiosa pods.

White garden rose bouquet photo by Sasi Wedding, UK.

Optional Centerpiece Ideas for Carla

2010-03-06T22:57:00.000-08:00

Carla, here are some options for your centerpieces, all in the under $40 range. Picture fuschia roses instead of the main flowers in the photos, such as the white callas...for the candle centerpiece, that could be a glass cylinder with a floating candle on top instead...

Flowers with an edge

2010-03-06T20:56:00.000-08:00

Danielle, here is an inspiration board of the images you sent me and a couple more I am proposing. If you like fragrant roses, the cream Vitality Rose is great for your bridal bouquet! Instead of the white coral in the white bridal bouquet inspiration for you, I'd like to suggest the red cockscomb, with the cream Vitality roses, skinny branches such as on the cake photo, and an edge of black skeleton leaves as shown in the corner. For the bridesmaids, a round bouquet of black bacarra and black magic roses and burgundy pom mums in a dark red (darker than shown) nest for a collar with just a touch of foliage and black skeleton leaves. Aisle decor of hanging pinecones with black ribbon. Dark red rose petals dropped just beneath the pine cones. Centerpieces as you suggested.

Submerged Orchids Breakaway Centerpiece Inspiration Photo

2010-03-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

Carla, here is an inspiration photo with green cymbidium orchids, lavender/pink dendrobiums, and pink tulips. These are similar colors as what you are looking for.

Photo by: unknown (my bad; I don't know the source - if anyone recognizes this photo please contact me so I can give proper credit! THANKS!)

Antique Hydrangea and Amnesia Rose Inspiration Board for j.crew violet stone dress

2010-03-05T23:00:00.000-08:00

Kristen has chosen the gorgeous j.crew bridesmaid dress, above. The color inspired me to think of antique hydrangea and amnesia roses. While looking for some photos for the inspiration board, I came across the lovely bouquet on the left using both of those flowers. The colors and the fern give it an art noveau look.

Photos by:

Flower Design Beautiful Bridesmaid's Bouquets

The Treasured Petal

j.crew

Sun Valley Floral Farms Showroom

Sunflower Centerpiece / Coloma and Placerville Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-02-13T17:37:00.001-08:00

Here's a great option for a low centerpiece: a beautiful single bloom on zen rocks (or could be on flirty transparent glass gems). This is a great value and can be used with any large blooms - think gerber daisies, fuji mums, football mums, garden roses, etc. Cut your reception costs by alternating high and low wedding centerpieces - and it gives the eye visual relief and provides interest. See my website for this affordable centerpiece!

Sunflower Bouquet in Foam Holder vs. Hand Tied / Placerville and Coloma Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-02-13T17:25:00.000-08:00

This is for Aimee, but really, it's for all brides trying to decide between a bridal bouquet in a foam holder vs. a hand-tied bouquet. The pro photo on the left shows the control a wedding floral designer has in the placement of the blooms in a foam holder; it allows for a more rounded, full bouquet. The handle of the foam holder is disguised in ribbon, or with cut stems to mimic a hand tied, or there are new holders that are transparent and very pretty, or gold or silver toned. The bouquet on the right is hand tied. It is very pretty, but it is a different effect than the foam holder bouquet. The foam holder also has the advantage of keeping the flowers constantly drinking...even during a marathon photo session, which can leave hand tied bouquets wilting if not kept in water frequently. Just remember, FOAM is not a four-letter word :)! Aimee, the bouquet on the left is what your quote is based on; let me know if you'd prefer the hand tied mono floral sunflower bouquet on the right.

Simple Sunflower Bouquets / Placerville and Coloma Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-02-13T16:58:00.001-08:00

Aimee, here are simple sunflower hand tied bouquets that you might like to put together for DIY wedding flowers, or something that I can do for you at an affordable price. When you DIY wedding flowers, it is always best to do something simple. This is lovely and in season for October. Bridal bouquet on left; bridesmaid bouquet on right.

Autumn Wedding Sunflower Centerpiece / Coloma and Placerville Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-02-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

Hi Aimee! Here's an approximation of your "tall" autumn sunflower centerpiece for your October wedding. It consists of sunflowers, safari sunset ( a dark red foliage), hypericum, seeded eucalyptus, and the monte casino you asked for. I think it will look great on your tables alternating with the low square black rock-filled glass vases with a single sunflower on the other tables. Obviously, I'm a graphics newbie, so the real thing WILL look more graceful :)

Wedding Flower Design Tool for Brides and Floral Designers / Sacramento and Lake Tahoe and Placerville Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-02-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

Featured: We've been featured on the Designed by the Bride Blog! A cool little online virtual tool for brides and and wedding flower designers. I worked backwards - using bride Melissa's cake, to see how the program would work. At their blog, you'll also see Keri's modern cymbidium bouquet (my signature look)with a European design flair! Of course, if you are planning your wedding, you choose the vase you want, then put in the stems, then the flowers, virtually. You can make your own cake online, as I'm showing you, but also centerpieces and bouquets. Check us out (February 10, 2010 entry) at: www.designedbythebride.blogspot.com

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Valentine's Day Not Budget for Brides / Sacramento and Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-02-08T20:44:00.001-08:00

See these lovely Renoir callas? I was just at my flower vendors on Friday, to see what was new and fresh for February (more on that in a minute!). As you know, prices on anything goes up when there is a high demand for them. That includes perishable flowers around any holiday, but especially Valentine's Day (you may not think about it...but don't get married around Mother's Day if you don't want to pay high prices, either!). Prices are up, up, up for this major floral holiday. Farms charge more to the wholesalers, the wholesale vendors charge more to the florists, and the florists must mark up their product as well. It's not that the florists are out to make a bigger buck on you...their costs skyrocket and that gets passed to you.

Where was I? Oh yes, the lovely callas. I saw a similar color at my vendor's on Friday...and keep in mind, that these are small posey callas...they come in a bunch of ten stems, which isn't barely a handful...and these callas, for TEN of them, would retail at...gasp...$78 right now! So when you are choosing the date, keep in mind that the two weeks prior to a major flower holiday, the prices are rising. After the holiday, quality would be a concern to me. If you can avoid those times, so much better for your budget!

Oh! But there are some lovely options this time of year. At the end of January, the flowering branches started coming in. Forsythia, at 5 to 6 feet tall; flowering plum; flowering quince with coral blooms.

2010-02-02T11:35:00.000-08:00

I LOVE cathyswraps pretty vases! They come in different colors and prints, and they're very reasonably priced. Best of all, a bride can re-use her aisle decor by taking the pretty vases into the reception - great on cocktail tables, the cake table, the buffet table, the sign in table, or as thank yous to helpers. I'm a wedding florist and I use these as they are affordable but look like they cost a lot more! They use a lot fewer flowers than flower spheres or orbs but have a great look. Very hip and modern. This photo taken by me at the Plump Jack Inn in Squaw Valley (Lake Tahoe) California.

WOW! Bargain Wedding Dress for the Fabulous Frugal Bride / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-01-15T19:18:00.000-08:00

I was doing some research for a new concept I have, and came across a blog that has great, informal wedding dress for....LESS THAN $100!!!! They are known designers, for the most part, in a variety of sizes including plus size wedding dresses, and when you visit the ebay link that the photos take you to, it looks like they are bridal shop samples.

Still, look at the dress above. A Maggie Sottero wedding dress, and I love the wrap that goes around to the back. It is lovely, and not one of your guests will guess it only cost you....$51!!!! WOW!!!

For the frugal and fabulous budget brides out there, here is another way to save some hard-earned cash on your wedding.

Click on the title which is linked to >http://www.idotaketwo.com/shopping/wedding-dresses.php

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Purple and Green Wedding Flowers are 2010 Trend! / Sacramento Wedding Flowers Florist

2010-01-05T19:45:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I met a cousin-to-be (shout out to Stacy!). She's getting married in Massachusetts at an historic inn. The inn offers use of their lanterns for centerpieces, but she wasn't sure whether she should go with those or not...I say, go for it girl! It fits in with the decor of the room (a really great room - I happened to see it decorated up for a banquet when I went to visit the place on vacation). I suggest modernizing it with some callas or tulips or lilacs in water tubes draped over it, maybe with some coordinating design wire. And you could have your florist do 3 or 5 votive holders or small glass cubes on the tables with some coordinating flowers. You've picked a popular combo of purple and green. There are lots of flowers available in April in those colors, as you can see above, and that's not all of them (think iris, stock,vanda orchids, gladiolas, hyacinth, larkspur, lavendar, lisianthus, muscari, and ranunculus - check them all out on ubloom.com). As you can see you can go expensive (orchids and lilacs, luscious lilacs, and those gorgeous bicolor antique hydrangea!) or trendy and less expensive (green spider mums or button mums, green carns, purple carns). I really love the lilacs, and anemones the most.

Most photos from ubloom.com; also bladenewyork.blogspot.com; also florigene.com.

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Wedding Flowers Average Cost for Placerville Area / Sacramento and Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-10-08T17:17:00.001-07:00

Here's a neat little tool that calculates the average cost brides spend on wedding flowers in the Placerville area. Wow! Compare that with what I charge - remember, my prices are listed on my website - and I'm a bargain!!

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Spring 2010 Color Forecast / Sacramento Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-10-08T15:16:00.001-07:00

I love to find out what the upcoming colors will be. Pantone is of course a leader in color forecasting. So, what do you think about these colors? What is your favorite? I really love them all, but the Tomato Puree (really, you gotta see it!), the Turquoise, and the Aurora (uhhh..not necessarily together,hmmm. maybe?) really call to me as colors. But I love the others as well! Mmm..the Eucalyptus!!! Check it out! And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Backyard Wedding / Sacramento Wedding Flowers & El Dorado Hills Wedding Flowers

2009-10-08T13:44:00.001-07:00

I was so happy to help Mom Kristen with her gift of wedding flowers to Melissa and Chris. She had a definite budget in mind, and I was able to help her afford this wedding arch spray by increasing the foliage (don't you love the lacy plumosa fern, with the organic-looking lemon leaf?) and tucking in some matching sheer ribbon.

Melissa and Chris had a lovely backyard wedding at grandmother's house in El Dorado Hills. The arch was already set up and the moms had decorated it with white tulle. There were about 5 round banquet tables, probably to seat up to 40 people, and Kristen had decorated them with pillar candles, glass hurricanes, and rose petals. The cake was set up indoors, and I decorated it with red roses, stephanotis, and white spray roses. Melissa's bouquet was a classic red rose and stephanotis hand tied. The guys' bouts had an industrial/zen look with fern wrapped in wire. The grandmothers were hip with my new flower brooches instead of corsages - they have an easy to pin brooch back.

My dear readers, weddings don't have to be $20k to be lovely and meaningful. You can have a small wedding with close friends and family and it can be wonderful. Before I left, Texas Back Forty delivered the food...folks, they make seriously delicious food, and I'm sure those guests were happy! If you are on even a smaller budget, do a potluck, or finger foods that are not temperature sensitive, and have friends serve, or hire a couple of servers...

This is a reason to be honest and upfront with your vendors regarding your budget. Kristen told me how much she had to spend and I came up with ideas to fit her budget. When you go to a florist and play games about the budget, nobody wins....the vendor doesn't know what the target is, and may quote a lavish wedding, and you have a $500 budget. By telling your vendor upfront what the budget is, they can get their creative thinking caps on and come up with something lovely for you. Otherwise, you and they have just wasted a lot of time and energy on something that wasn't realistic in the first place. You don't have to worry about that with my new website, however! Get a sneak peak now for Sacramento & El Dorado Hills & Lake Tahoe wedding flowers. It's not completely done, but it IS open for business!

Kristen, thanks for giving me the opportunity to create flowers for Melissa and Chris, and to be your El Dorado Hills Wedding Florist! And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Do you have a rain plan??? / Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers

2009-08-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Victoria's wedding day! She chose a gorgeous venue, the PlumpJack Inn at Squaw Valley, Olympic Village, California (north Lake Tahoe region). I was anxious all week, watching the weather reports....thunderstorm activity all week! In fact, the Lake Tahoe region has been heavy on regular thunderstorms since May...pretty unusual since I've been in this area, almost a decade now. Victoria's ceremony and DJ area was set up on the patio outside, with the reception seating, bar, and slide show indoors. Apparently, it thunderstormed prior to our delivery arrival...and was just lovely at ceremony time, with a soft breeze, and low 70s weather. After the ceremony, as we were headed out, there was a rumble of thunder and it was getting overcast. Do you have a rain plan?

More photos will be coming...but here is a teaser...pretty little pots all in a row. Look at how they pop! I chose to put different pink flowers and foliage in each pot. They really made a difference for this aisle. You can see your color choices in an earlier post. Spray on the arch in the background. And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Rose Petal Power! / Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-07-02T16:03:00.000-07:00

Victoria is deciding whether to choose hot pink rose petals for the base of her venue-provided candelabras, or to go with mixed color rose petals. I charge much less for the mixed color rose petals as my vendor charges me much less. For a specific color, I have to actually buy roses in the color that you want. The bag of mixed rose petals that I buy from my vendor is equal to approximately 75 roses, or three bunches. So Victoria, here is a collage for you. On the top row, first and second on the left, are mixed rose petals on the sand table and on the sweetheart table that I decorated for Beckie's wedding two weeks ago. The other photos are ones I found on the internet with hot pink rose petals.

Collage by Monique Wilber, A Special Day Designs
Mixed flowers petals photos by Monique Wilber, A Special Day Designs

Other photos from:
Vineyard Event Garden
Rhonda Patton Weddings
The Knot
And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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An Inspiration Board for Cassie in Coral / Sacramento Amador County Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-05-10T22:30:00.001-07:00

Cassie is getting married in September in a lovely outdoor Amador County location. She is looking for simple and classic flowers with clean lines in coral and salmon tones. I think that her rose bouquet will be lovely and colorful, and she's chosen chic white carn tight streamlined maids' bouquets (minus the black wrapping in Martha's photo). Mono-color mounded centerpieces of seasonal flowers will be in brown metal rental urns. Prices are based on the Seasonal Flowers Collections. Cassie, this inspiration board is for you!

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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How about a pretty little vase? / Sacramento Wedding Flowers Florist DIY Bulk Wedding Flowers

2009-04-20T00:28:00.000-07:00

Victoria, for your green and pink wedding flowers, here's another idea: the pretty little vase from cathywraps! The paper covering the little pot is recycled, so it's eco-friendly. And, I like to use these as chair decor or pew decor, so you can get double the use from them, by bringing them into the reception. I just love these! They are very reasonably priced, and don't take a lot of flowers to fill them. Cute for flower girls, too. Let me know if you are interested in them, and I can get them for you (brides not in Sacramento area, I do ship!). They come in different colors, and have different coordinating prints on each side!

Photos by Cathy Skraba, cathyswraps

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Short Centerpiece Ideas for Victoria / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-04-20T00:21:00.001-07:00

Victoria, more centerpiece ideas for you...

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Tall & Breakaway Centerpiece Ideas for Victoria / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-04-20T00:18:00.000-07:00

Victoria, use your imagination here - we can change colors, flowers, etc. Look at shape, texture, flowers, colors, and let me know what makes you feel good...

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Streamlined Bouquet Ideas for Victoria / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-04-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

Victoria, these are not all in green and pink. I'd like you to use your imagination, and see if there is a type of flower you like, the shape/structure of the bouquet you like, etc. We can change the color of the flowers. I really love the carnation bouquets. Who would have thought that carnations could looks so chic?

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Hot Pink August Wedding Flowers / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-04-20T00:13:00.001-07:00

For Victoria, here are some wedding flowers in hot pink available in August.

Photos from ubloom.

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Green Wedding Flowers in August / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-04-20T00:10:00.000-07:00

For Victoria, these are some of the wedding flowers available in August that are green.

Photos from ubloom.

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Follow Me on facebook! Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-04-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Are you on facebook? I just discovered it a couple of weeks ago and I'm so excited! What a great way to connect with friends, family, other professionals, and my brides and prospective brides. Have a question? Feel free to post to my wall, and I usually check it out every evening, and I'll answer your question (chances are, someone else will have the same question!). I'll also be posting photos there, too! And quick snippets of information for my DIY and budget brides (ideas, links to websites, etc.).

What are you waiting for? Follow me on facebook and become a fan :)

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Streamlined Pink & Green / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-04-16T20:32:00.000-07:00

I loved the look of these images that Victoria forwarded to me before we met for our consultation that I had to put them together into an Inspiration Board. I love the mono-floral and duo-floral, streamlined, organic look of them - the grass, the twigs, the rocks, the glass, the moss, the terra cotta, everything. I just wanted to share this great Pink & Green look with you - and this is a great example of how to show your florist the look that you are after. I see the colors, I see the style, and I can offer other suggestions too. This look will definitely fall into the Seasonal Flowers Collection...love your style, Victoria!

Update after the wedding: Victoria DID use those cute little escort carts on the lower left....they were cool!

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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A Real DIY Wedding - Stacey & Eric are Married! / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-04-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful indie bride Stacey was! It didn’t snow on her day, it did rain, but she told me that the rain let up enough for her and Eric to get some outdoors photos. She chose lovely green roses, orange spray roses, safflower, marigolds, sunflowers, barn red poms, and brought a vine and eucalyptus from home. To tie the bouquets together, she chose twine for a textural feeling. Even her dad pitched in to help make bouquets, and everything turned out lovely. She added dried lotus pods - which I provided to her - to her centerpieces for an autumn feel. Do you love her arbor? She said that each guest placed a flower on her arbor to show their support of her union with Eric.

Stacey was a great DIY bride. She had a good idea of what flowers she wanted, and asked for seasonal suggestions in her color palette. She didn’t get upset when the green sunflowers she really wanted for her wedding were not available at that time, nor were the brown eyed susans (just a little too late in the season, and not enough advance notice). She rolled with it when it rained on her day and she didn’t let the weather stop her from having a wonderful day. Cheers, Stacey & Eric, best wishes for a lifetime of happiness!

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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What's in Bloom in March / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers DIY bulk Wedding Flowers

2009-03-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Here's what's blooming and available in March:

Blooming Branches! They are gorgeous! I saw some forsythia at my vendors that was 6 or 7 feet tall - imagine that in some lovely tall glass cylinders for your ceremony. And quince branches, in their unique salmon color, as centerpieces on your tables. Looking for cream, consider some of the other flowering branches available, including dogwood. More branches available now and DIY prices effective March 2009 only:

Almond Branches, $24/bunch
Apricot Branches, $20.50/bunch
Cherry Branches, Long or Medium, $24 or $20/bunch
Dogwood Branches, Tall or Short, $24 or $14/bunch
Forsythia Branches, Long or Short, $30 or $14/bunch
Peach Branches, $16/bunch
Plum Branches, $16/bunch
Pussy Willow, Short, $14/bunch
Pussy Willow, Tall (10-14 ft), $23/bunch
Quince, Long or Medium, $33 or $26/bunch

If you're DIYing branches, I highly recommend that you check out Gay Smith's article on Blooming Branches over at ubloom. She tells you how to care for flowering branches and how to make them open. You can purchase the supplies she recommends through me.

Also unique and available is Columbine, $14.50/bunch, Campanula $18/bunch, Daffodils $6.50/bunch, ranunculus $12/bunch.

Special through April 15, 2008: Cymbidium sprays for only $39 each! Each spray contains 8 to 10 blooms. This is a great price, I got a special deal and I'm passing those savings on to you. The regular price is usually $60 each.

Forsythia Branches photo by Steve Sisney at http://gallery.pictopia.com/oklahoman/photo/934966/ .

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Green as a Theme! Inspiration Board / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-03-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

Here's some eye candy....with green as a theme, and some of my favorite earth elements...glass, metal, water, stones,vegetation; just add some votives for fire and I'm in love! I like to think of these classical elements as Zen design. It's not frou-frou; it's textural and architectural. I took these photos at the 2008 California State Floral Convention - I like to go every year to see what's trendy and up and coming, as well as see fabulous rock star designers, and take classes. You can create your own inspiration boards, too, with Google's free Picasa software...it does all of the hard work of designing.

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

Sacramento wedding florist, Lake Tahoe Wedding Florist, Placerville wedding florist, Sacramento DIY wedding flowers, Shingle Springs Wedding Flowers, El Dorado County Wedding flowers, Cameron Park wedding flowers, Folsom Wedding flowers, spring wedding colors, A Special Day Designs, Amador County wedding flowers, Jackson wedding flowers, Camino wedding flowers, Apple Hill wedding flowers, Amador wedding flowers florist, Plum Jack wedding, Plumpjack wedding, squaw valley wedding, Sacramento Lake Tahoe DIY wedding flowers

Sacramento Bulk DIY Wedding Flowers / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-03-20T20:32:00.001-07:00

I have added a new service! The purpose of this new service is to reach brides who don’t want custom designed flowers - either they are brides on a budget, they don’t want to get into all of the details of custom-designed wedding flowers, or they might be destination brides. For any budget bride, or frugal bride, I offer DIY Wedding Flowers.

DIY Wedding Flowers - there’s loads of tutorials out there on the internet for DIY wedding flowers. There are even some books available for purchase, but I see lots of how-tos on ubloom, Flower School, and You Tube out there for free. Who should DIY wedding flowers? Budget Brides. Creative Brides. Calm Brides. Brides with family/friends to help. Brides who want a simple, elegant look. Who shouldn’t DIY wedding flowers? Frantic Brides. Impatient Brides. Perfectionist Brides. Brides who want big, huge, over the top designs that will take a lot of time and skill to make and install. Just remember, you’ll need to make the flowers the night before or a few nights before (for a simple wedding, figure about 9 people hours, minimum), have a way to keep them cool and hydrated, and have a way to get them set up while you are trying to get dressed and become the bride that you are!!

I offer a way for you to buy DIY wedding flowers just like the florists do - in bulk bunches. That means that you can order your bulk flowers from me, I’ll go pick them up for you, make sure that they are in good condition, and then you can pick them up from me, or I’ll deliver them to you. The benefit of buying from me instead of online flower wholesalers? My flowers are kept hydrated (in water), and I quality-control check them when I pick them up from my vendor for you. Personally, I would be a very stressed, upset bride if my flowers were to arrive in a box looking dead, with no one local to fix it, right before my wedding. The benefit of buying from me instead of the local big box store? I’ve looked into their floral departments, and it is very limited as to what you can order in advance. You get what you get….whereas, with my service, you order exactly what you want, and I make sure that they are in good condition - remember, it’s only a couple of days before your wedding. There are no do-overs!

I can also purchase your supplies…craft stores don’t carry all of the items that florists use, so I can get those for you too.

Take a crash course in wedding floral design! I’ll be blogging soon about upcoming classes.

What caused me to create this new service? I see a need to offer alternatives to brides. I lost one bride, that I hadn’t even met yet, to the big box store.com because of her perception that they had cheaper wedding flowers. At the same time, a friend told me about her friend who couldn’t find a florist that would do a daisy wedding - she liked daisies, but some florists look down on daisies as being “cheap” - which they’re not, they’re a beautiful flower and what the bride wanted - and the bride ended up DIY wedding flowers. The big box stores don’t offer all the different varieties of flowers and foliages that florists can access.

My prices are on the website, there for you to see.

So please visit the DIY Bulk Flowers page, if you are looking for DIY bulk wedding flowers at A Special Day Designs for Sacramento and Lake Tahoe wedding flowers packages (or even if you’re curious!) and let me know what you think!

And visit MY website at : http://www.aspecialdaydesigns.com/

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Welcome to A Special Day Designs / Sacramento Lake Tahoe Wedding Flowers Florist

2009-03-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

Thanks for visiting my blog! I've been collecting a lot of great photos to inspire you, glassware for you to rent, and design and wedding tips galore. I have many years of floral design classes, and previously owned a wedding design business in Southern California. I was a budget bride myself, and I'm looking forward to helping more brides figure out their wedding flowers and be able to afford a beautiful wedding in these tough economic times. I offer DIY brides the following services:

Bulk wedding flowers - and that means any flowers that are available, not just certain flowers from a big box store;
Glassware rentals for your ceremony and reception, at great prices, to make your wedding even more affordable, in hip, trendy styles;
Design recipe service - I will make a recipe for you to follow in making your DIY wedding flowers;
Florist supplies - everything that you can imagine, and some cool hip trendy new stuff;
Wedding Flower Design classes - everything you need to know to DIY wedding flowers;
An easy to use, know-your-price-upfront Wedding Flower Calculator for semi-custom flowers;
A semi-custom budget Value Collection based on roses and seasonal flowers that offers beautiful wedding flowers at an affordable price, like the Black Bacarra roses and seasonal flowers pictured in the monochrome bouquet in this post;
A la carte services - you make some flowers, I make some flowers, it's your choice. Want to DIY wedding flowers, but don't want Aunt Susie to miss your wedding because she's setting up the reception? Hire me to set up your decor!; and
Full service wedding flowers if you decide you want a full consultation and custom flowers from a professional.

A Special Day Designs provides wedding flowers for El Dorado County and Amador County wine country, Lake Tahoe, Placer County, Sacramento County, Yolo County, and Lodi wine country. Wedding flowers for Placerville, South Lake Tahoe, Pollock Pines, Camino, Apple Hill, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Coloma, Lotus, Georgetown, Cool, Grizzly Flats, Somerset, Ione, Rescue, El Dorado Hills, Latrobe, Jackson, Folsom, Granite Bay, Roseville, Lincoln, Auburn, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, City of Sacramento, West Sacramento, Natomas, Elk Grove, Galt, Lodi, Davis, and more.