Sunday, October 31, 2010

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

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

Friday, October 8, 2010

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

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  .

Thursday, October 7, 2010

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

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 Schubert Nursery
via Schubert Nursery
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

Monday, October 4, 2010

Hanging Glass with Flowers and Votives Inspiration

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




via Accent Decor Blog
via Accent Decor Blog
via Accent Decor Blog
via Jonas Peterson
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

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.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

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

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!