Metals Still Trending in Wedding Design / Alternative Wedding

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.

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.

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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!

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

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 

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

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.

Flowers with an edge

 

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.