Intimate Family Easter

There's something about sitting at the table and remembering why you put flowers. It's always to welcome us to have conversations and share in moments that remain in our memories. Sometimes they are more minimal designs, and sometimes more grand...and more often than not it's a combination of both. I love little details on napkins, and I love my candles that never stay lit...because that is the phase we are in with my son. 

Before life with a kid, my husband and I used to always set the table for our dinners. We always used the favorite dishes or linens and silks. And then I started worrying that my kid would ruin them or set them on fire, so we stopped using them...but lately, I've decided that's all part of the memories we make together. So, I let him help with set up, and be a part of it, and he really loves it. And it makes dinner more fun. Which I think is how it should be for all our special events and weddings. We set the tables to help guests engage. We create a setting that encourages living a really good life. All of my fondest memories from my trips or phases of life revolve around meals in those places.

So, I thought I'd share a few of our personal moments here too, so you can see how it plays out at home before I bring it to a wedding or holiday dinner for my clients. Because I really create for them versions of what I create for us.

Bailey + Brittany Wedding

One of my favorite arch designs was from this wedding last December for my nephew and his new wife. I was lucky to work with Sara Weir and have it documented so beautifully.

It makes such a difference to show up on a wedding day and work with a friend in another field. We always go above and beyond for each other when we collaborate, which means the couples we work with really benefit too because we always try to elevate each other's craft. She and I have worked together over the past couple years and really honed each other's styling and portfolios, so working on a real wedding together is always such a dream situation for us. 

This wedding was the perfect example of how well having that established relationship with vendors can play out. While I was still setting up the church she took the bridal party flowers to the other location so they could be shot in the best light and not rush any timing. Timelines are something we always collaborate in detail before a wedding or event to make sure we are on the same page for everything to go smoothly. 

While we were at the church doing detail shots, we carried a table through mud onto the grass area where the reception was originally supposed to take place. Because the couple had to make last minute changes due to rain, we wanted to still preserve some of the memory of the garden setting they had dreamed up, even though the reception had to be moved to the concrete area. Those are the things we do for each other, and that we can offer our clients that just elevates the day. I think it really shows how much we enjoy our work too. We want the best shots for our couples, and we want the best shots for ourselves...and mostly, we want to really enjoy our jobs because that's what elevates our inspiration. Rarely do weddings play out exactly as planned...but with good collaboration, hopefully those things aren't what are remembered or even noticed when the day is passed. 

The area I help design and create with florals, and which Sara captures as memories, is a place that holds sacred ground for the exchange of personal vows. It should be a reverent place. And I believe the energy your team brings into the event should be blessing that space and enhancing it to all its potential. I think these photos really epitomize our work process together. I knew without a doubt as the rain poured down, she would get messy with me without questions to create and capture beauty together.  

You can find the full featured gallery on Style Me Pretty. Also featured in July 2017 on The Knot.

Alix's Pasadena Bridal Shower

I really love getting to be part of both the weddings for clients and their pre-celebrations like bridal showers. These are a few details from Alix's tea bridal shower at Madeline's Gardens in Pasadena. It's such a beautiful location with a lot of history and stories behind this architecture. The perfect place to shower someone with celebration, and seeing their details in a small setting just makes me really excited to design for their garden wedding next weekend when it will be huge, and beautiful, and no details will be overlooked. Stay tuned for more photos from the wedding!

Marissa + Tyler Wedding April 2017

The bright colors in the florals for this wedding, brought out a wonderful balance in the natural brick walls, and a wonderful contrast to the white wood work details. I absolutely loved all the shapes of these arrangements. Bright accents aren't my usual request, but I highly recommend it if your venue is a place where they can live well without too much competition with existing venue decor. Every table was a little different, and it was so pretty as an overall atmosphere for guests to walk into. Everything about this wedding felt warm and inviting. And every single flower was taken home after the wedding was over, which so rarely happens. But these were so beautiful to leave to die.

Danielle + Brenden March 2017

This art gallery wedding, which took place at the Long Beach Museum of Art was the type of dream wedding as a designer. With a slight Grecian theme, we included fig leaves, and simple draping into the decor. We also came up with 3 different design concepts for the various tables for variety. We wanted each arrangement to feel like it's own sculpture to fit in with the art aspect, but also tied in their own aesthetic into the decor. I loved how it all came together.

Some vendors I used in my photos:

Vessels by @beanpole_pottery +  @notary__ceramics

Planning: @michelleisabel_

Silks + ribbons: @froufrouchic

Florals + photos: @pavanfloral