Ideas I Love

I want to introduce everyone to Victoria, who is Kelly's wedding gift card holder. I added her head and of course, every Victorian lady needs a proper hat and boa! What fun!

Kalpana and Chiyong - Fantastic Fun!

Anna and Chi wanted to have a happy, fun wedding at Aldie Mansion with their family and friends. The couple chose a color palette of white, yellow, and blue which lent so much to the cheerful ambience. We used elements including bubbles, polka dots, and gerber daisies which added to the whimsical atmosphere.

Anna carried a full bouquet of white and yellow roses. I added pips of light blue agapanthus in between the roses. Bridesmaids' bouquets consisted of standard white roses mixed with yellow sweetheart roses.  I wish I had a photo of the gorgeous colorful saris that the attendants - and Anna - wore for her first ceremony.  I also saw two women in traditional, magnificent Korean hanbok.  What an array of beautiful color I saw that day.

There are several locations that a couple can hold their ceremony on the grounds of Aldie Mansion. Anna and Chiyong selected to have both of their ceremonies underneath the wonderful old tree, which you can't see in this picture - but it's there!

I've worked at Aldie many times. This was my first one where the white globes were used inside and out. Since this couple wanted a fun wedding - they worked perfectly with their theme. And I must say that I absolutely loved them - especially with a ceremony under the large tree. I think they are well worth the rental fees. And if you look on the left side of this photo, you'll see Anna in her gorgeous sari.

This is a small table near one of the entry doors. It's a perfect location for a couple to place their programs so guests can pick them up on their way in.

Near the beautiful staircase is a landing area where a bride can do so many different things. We asked for a table to be placed here. It's a great location for frame photos. I filled a blue ceramic vase with hydrangea, yellow mums, and agapanthus.

On the inside cocktail tables I placed glass squares of yellow foam. I used blue hydrangea and white crown asters to top them off.

Outside on the patio are several sets of tables and chairs. I filled silver buckets with white hydrangea and cornflowesr. I added yellow polka dots to the buckets which added to the cuteness factor.

The balcony at Aldie Mansion is a great place to take pictures - or throw a toss bouquet! I like to add a little color to it and did so for Anna and Chi with white tulle and yellow bows.

Also outside of the mansion are two fountains - one in the back and this one in the front. I scattered white and yellow gerber daisies in the water which moved around with the spray.  I also made a really cute polka dotted wreath for the front door but failed to take a photo.

I scattered yellow rose petals among the placecards. In the center I put an eiffel tower filled with yellow bubbles. From the top I sprayed white and blue dendrobium orchids.

Anna wanted to make use of her color scheme throughout the ballroom. We decided that every table would have blue, yellow, and white flowers and bubbles - which added to the happy atmosphere this wonderful couple were going for.

Some tables had centerpieces made up of white and yellow alstromeria with blue dendrobium orchids while others had a mix of yellow roses, white roses, and cornflower. I don't have a photo of the other centerpiece made up of white lilies, yellow lilies, and blue delphinium.  All of these arrangements were done in glass cylinders filled with a mix of blue, yellow, and white bubbles.

Finally I used white orchids in a central cylinder surrounded by blue hydrangea with blue bubbles and yellow roses with yellow bubbles. I thought all of the centerpieces were wonderful.

I placed floating candles on top of cylinders of white orchids on the sweetheart table. These alternated with more yellow pillar candles to add more glow to their table.

I loved this cake...so whimsical!  Anna and Chi chose to put a koala bride and a panda bear on the top of their wedding cake.  But the very best part was that someone added a little brown baby bear as a surprise!  They had no idea!

Anna and Chi - thank you so much  for having me be a part of your wedding and being so easy to work with.  You certainly sparked my creativity.  I think I had almost as much fun working on it as your guests had attending.  The very best to both of you!

Raechel & Patrick - Peachy Perfect

Peach has become such a popular color for brides this year. Raechel chose to combine the beautiful pastel with lemon yellow, green, and white - perfect for her summer wedding.  

Raechel's beautiful bouquet consisted of peach spray roses, white lisianthus, green hypericum berries, yellow dahlias, and craspedia.  I loved this combination.  Patrick and his groomsmen did not wear boutonnieres.

Bridesmaids carried adorable bouquets of daisies, craspedia, green hypericum berries, and peach mini carnations.

Moms wore wrist corsages of yellow spray roses with an accent of peach ribbon.  Of course the boutonnieres for Dad matched!

In keeping with the lovely peach color, Raechel chose peach mini-carnations for flowers for grandparents.

Raechel did send me some wonderful pictures of her flowers to share, but I am so incompetent on the computer that I can't copy and save them correctly.  Sorry!

A big thank you to Raechel for having me help Patrick and her with their wedding flowers. I wish the two of you the very best.

Val & John - Coral Color

Val and John celebrated their marriage with friends and family at Mermaid Lake in Blue Bell, PA.  Val is so very sweet and asked me to help her with her personal flowers.  Her color palette of coral, lime green, and white was perfect for a summery wedding.  

Val's bouquet included coral carnations, green mini-hydrangea, and white lisianthus - soft looking flowers to add some texture to her lovely bouquet.  I even had matching color pins to secure her ribbon in place.

John wore a coral standard carnation boutonniere that matched Val's bouquet.

I used flowers similar in color but different from Val's bouquet. Her MoH carried a bouquet of Atlantis daisies, green button mums, and coral standard carnations wrapped in dress fabric.

Val's two bridesmaids also carried slightly different bouquets with non-standard carnations.  We used more daisies, green button mums, and coral mini-carnations in these. The stems were also wrapped in dress fabric.  I was so pleased with how well we matched the coral dress color.

I used Atlantis daisies to make boutonnieres for the groomsmen and the three sons of Val and John.

Moms wore wrist corsages of coral mini-carnations and the gentlemen wore matching boutonnieres.

Congratulations to Val and John on your marriage. I wish your whole family many, many wonderful years together.

Ideas I Love: Fur Babies

Wedding guests enjoy looking at photos whether they are childhood photos of the couple or family/friends' wedding photos. So many brides have pets that mean the world to them and feel they deserve a place of honor at their wedding. This is how two of my couples shared their love of their fur babies.

Cairnwood Mansion has several nice areas to display framed photos. Natalie used one mantle for family wedding portraits; another for photos of the two of them; and this one for their cat. As an animal lover I can appreciate this lovable idea.

I need to give equal time to doggie fur babies. As you can see, this couple displayed photos of their dog. This time also at Cairnwood, I added an arrangement of flowers made in a ceramic dog bowl. And it you look closely, I scattered dog bone shaped treats throughout the flowers. Love it!!!

Ideas I Love: Vintage Suitcases for Placecards

Ideas I Love:  Laura created a vintage scenario for her placecard table at Fonthill.  She lined two old suitcases with moss and added some moss balls.  Placecards were put inside the suitcases and on the table.  I echoed the green with a flower arrangement on top of green apples.  Simple yet effective and very cute!

Amy & Justin - Bling at the Ben

Amy and Justin celebrated their marriage with an outdoor ceremony at the Philadelphia Horticulture Center and a reception at The Ballroom at the Ben. Amy wanted a classic white wedding - only with lots of sparkle! Crystals, bubbles, lights, brooches, and rhinestones added the bling that brought this party to a whole other level. And it was fantastic!  Great job Amy!

Amy carried a bouquet of standard white calla lilies wrapped in white satin ribbon. I think that the brooch she choose adds the perfect touch to her flowers. Justin's boutonniere was a white mini-calla lily.

I used white roses and white-mini calla lilies for the bridesmaids' bouquets. Groomsmen wore a matching white rose.

Moms carried a single white calla lily decorated with ribbon and a brooch.

Corsages were made with little white spray roses and pool blue ribbon. Pretty and petite.

The view at the Horticulture Center beyond the arch is spectacular. No wonder Amy wanted her ceremony here. Since I didn't want to crowd the view or interfere with the space under the arch, I created two white topiaries to "stand guard". Matching white pomanders, with either pool blue or navy blue ribbon, lined the pathway.

There are 18 cocktail tables upstairs at Ballroom at the Ben. We topped off the simple blue squares with white hydrangea.

I enhanced these amazing centerpieces with flowers that Amy's sister created for her. I can tell these were a labor of love - so much time and work went into creating these. She did an outstanding job!

With the lights dimmed, the ballroom looked drop-dead gorgeous!

For Amy and Justin's sweetheart table I filled glass squares with white hydrangea, white roses, and white mini-calla lilies. Crystals were sprinkled in between the vases to give the table some sparkle.

The beautiful classic white cake was topped off with a dome of white lisianthus.

Congratulations to Amy and Justin.  May you have many, many years of happiness and love. And Amy - any student that is on your team (with Ella) is in for a wonderful year!  You ladies are the best!!!