Ashley & Guy Married 6.19.10

Just in time for their six month anniversary!  I know, this one’s a little late, but it’s here now. Pam gets all the credit for this one.  It’s an anomaly that only one of us does a wedding, but I was off on my honeymoon and she took care of every last detail. 

Ashley and Guy were married on a beautiful piece of private property right on the Piscataqua River in New Boston.  They had a wonderfully sunny day, perfect weather to showcase their vibrant wedding colors.  Bright pinks, yellows and greens punctuated their outdoor ceremony.

Photos by Marsha of Harper Point Photography (Amherst, NH)

Ashley adores Tulips, Gerbers and Carnations, all of which made of a beautiful bouquet when accented with green Bells of Ireland and Hypericum Berries.  Green, pink and yellow votives filled with blooms hung from shepherd's hooks down the aisle where an arbor full of flowers waited, flanked by various planters. 

The groom’s boutonniere included a few sprigs of Rosemary as a nod to his profession – chef!  In fact, the wedding was held just down the lane (yes, there are lanes in New Boston) from their restaurant, The Northeast Cafe.  Pretty convenient considering Guy did all the prep for their wedding feast!

The cute couple in the Cafe (photo pilfered from the Cafe’s Facebook page – taken by Monica)

Such a beautiful wedding for this enterprising couple!  If you are ever in New Boston, be sure to stop into the Cafe for a sandwich, one of their delicious specials, or a cozy dinner with a romantic river view.

Spotlight…On Us!

 

The ladies over at Prepare to Wed (another website you should add to your list of “must visits”) were nice enough to write up a neat little feature on us.  Check it out!

Pantone Reveals Color of the Year for 2011

Pantone created a flurry of tweets and online buzz today by announcing the new “it” color of 2011.  Drum roll please…Honeysuckle!  Or as I call it, pink.  

“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

Eiseman continues, “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”

Instead of joining the online banter (my current favorite quip: @socalgecko Pantone announces Color of the Year for 2011. They should've named it "Pepto" since the economy's still causing ulcers), or point out to Pantone that I was totally ahead of the curve on this one with my own 2010 wedding, I decided to harness all that festive and uplifting power Eiseman highlighted and create an inspiration board.  A little something simple and fun with accents of orange and yellow…

Dresses - The White Dress By The Shore, Invitation - Wedding Paper Divas, Candy Spread - Amy Atlas Events, Cake - The Knot

For more about the newly minted hot color of 2011 click here for the full press release.

Candlelight Stroll

Looking for a festive holiday activity?  Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth is hosting their annual Candlelight Stroll (weekends through December 19th.) 

Hundreds of candles and strings of twinkling lights lead you through the beautifully preserved homes and workshops filled with 350 years of winter traditions.

 

What amazed me the most was the abundance of local materials used to create the decor.  Every wreath, swag and arrangement was made in the tradition of the period.   They featured an assortment of berries, barks, seed pods, greens and dried flowers harvested locally, just as the original occupants would have done.  I even saw a perfectly preserved daffodil tucked into a spray on a mantle.  How they managed that I’ll never know!

Walking through the glowing candlelit grounds was truly magical.  I can’t help but think of what a spectacular wedding site it would be.  Turns out the unique space is available for rental!  I’ve been daydreaming of the beautiful vintage bouquets perfect for such a space ever since…

Wedding Revisited – Nan & Jim

You may remember our initial post (and the terribly lit photos from my little point-and-shoot) about Nan & Jim’s Boston wedding.  Jo from Jo Cush Photography was kind enough to provide these fabulous images from the October 16th celebration.  The couple blended tradition and their clean modern style for a stylish fall look that really comes through in these photos.

Simple but brilliant mango calla lilies were the theme of the bridal party for the ceremony at St Brigid Parish in South Boston.

The reception, held in the City Suites of the State Room in downtown Boston, boasted incredible views of the twinkling skyline.  The cocktail tables featured alternating tablescapes: low cylinders filled with vibrant mokara orchids with bloom scatter, as well as a trio of votives surrounded by blooms. 

The dining space was breathtaking.  Tall clear cylinders weighted by polished river stones sprouted branches full of natural fall foliage on half of the tables.  The other half displayed a trio of clear cylinders of varying heights filled with spiraled mokara orchids.  Every table had a scattering of the orange orchid blooms and twinkling votives.

To see a complete slideshow of Nan & Jim’s big day, visit Jo Cush’s blog.

A big thanks to Jo for her images!  With an extensive travel history and a background in graphic design, Jo’s camera captures amazing detail as well as all those big moment shots.  She does it all; from love to families to beauty & portraits. Check her out!

One Week!

Accepting orders and delivery through Wednesday the 24th.

Order early for the best selection!

Reminder - Upcoming Holiday Event

 

Bedford Village Inn Holiday Shopping Stroll

Sunday, November 28th

10am – 3pm

 

 

 

A great collection of holiday artisans (including us!) showing unique wares.  Come shop for those on your gift list or maybe get a little something for yourself.  We will have our always popular wreaths and swags as well as new basket designs for your door.  Stay tuned for a full post about our 2010 holiday line!

Click HERE for a full listing of vendors

Bouquet of the Week

Rich fall colors with a touch of whimsy!

Thanksgiving Countdown – Two Weeks!

  designs@ideas-in-bloom.com

Trish & Adam Married 10.30.10

We love repeat family business!  Trish’s sister Chrissy came to us for her very pink May wedding a while back and we were thrilled when Trish came back to plan her fall celebration.  One of eight siblings (six girls!), there have been plenty of weddings to celebrate in their family and everyone seemed cool, calm and collected when I delivered the bridal party flowers.

  The beautiful Bride and her bouquet!

Adam’s family runs a working farm in the Concord, NH area so we added a touch of rustic charm to the flowers for their church wedding. 

The boutonnieres were wrapped in natural raffia and the mothers’ corsages had a wildflower look to them.  My favorite were the little ring bearers’ sturdy hypericum berry clusters.  Perfect for rowdy boys!

The six bridesmaids carried matching bouquets in bright fall colors to match the bride.  The eldest of three flower girls carried a posy of cheery yellow mums, green hypericum berries, and red mini gerbers.  Her younger counterparts carried single stems of mango callas.

The reception was held at Camp Spaulding in their rustic event space.  The couple and their families did a great job of decorating the entrance with mums, pumpkins, and corn stalks from their farm.  Inside, tables featured a centerpiece with a bottle of wine with a custom label displaying one of their engagement photos.  We then scattered red and yellow mum blooms on each table to give them a subtle touch of color.

We also provided a small arrangement for the guest book table and the couple rented our reclaimed barn wood “reception” sign.

And, of course, I couldn’t leave town without visiting with a few of the farm’s young cows.  So cute and friendly!

 

FLOWER BOARD:

 

Purple anemones, red roses, red gerbers, yellow billy balls, yellow roses with fiery red tips,  mango callas, deep maroon scabiosa, purple stock, sunflowers,  and more!

A Refined Take on Pumpkin Decor

Love these sophisticated and shiny pumpkins from Real Simple!  With Halloween just around the corner, bright orange jack-o'-lanterns can be found on almost every doorstep, but that vibrant color might not fit into every event’s palette.  A few quick coats of metallic paint and you have some glam gourds.   Integrate them into your centerpieces, line them on a mantle for a stunning display, or group a few at an entrance to greet your guests.

Upcoming Event

It may be a balmy 70 degrees in Boston today, but it’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays.  I can hear your collective groans, but let’s glance at the calendar,  Thanksgiving is a mere month away!

What better way to usher in the holiday shopping season than to break free of that turkey coma at the end of the holiday weekend and join us at the annual Bedford Village Inn Holiday Shopping Stroll?  Browse through an impressive assembly of vendors, gaze at the BVI’s always spectacular holiday decor, and top off your afternoon with a relaxing glass of spirits in their cozy Tavern. 

Hooked you yet?  Good, we will see you there!

Stayed tuned for the launch of our 2010 Holiday line of decor!

Seasonal Cut of the Day

Purple artichokes!  Not our usual seasonal bloom, but a great botanical to integrate into an autumn arrangement.  The fall season revolves around the concept of the harvest and what better way to showcase the bountiful fruits of the earth than to use them as an accent in our floral work?  These beauties were nestled in a bright fall mix with yellow sunflowers and rich red roses.  They are also stunning grouped in a low centerpiece and I have seen them carried in bouquets by adventurous brides for a very organic/vintage look!

Scarecrow Alley 2010

Those of you who drive through the “down town” section of our sleepy little town have noticed that the scarecrows have begun to congregate on the common again.  The Recreation Department and Friends of the Library sponsor the annual Scarecrow Alley contest and there are some really great entries going up. 

Our Garden Lady of last year was a bit traditional and we decided to go out of the box for this year’s creation.  You can visit our “Garden of Earthly Frights” until October 30th. Once again we used live plant material in our constructions.  The little “frights” are all live potted plants and our Wicked Witch sports a head of shocking blue hair that is actually live ivy.  This is always one of the most fun community projects of the year!

Remember to vote in all three categories (family, business, organization) at the Town Hall, the Library, or Dodge’s Store.

Here’s hoping for a repeat!

It’s Here!!!

The new website is here!  Check it out!

www.ideas-in-bloom.com

A big thanks to Emily Ryan for all of her hard work!

Nan & Jim Married 10.16.10

We had the pleasure of providing the floral decor for Nan and Jim’s wedding day in Boston. Nan carried a bouquet of mango calla lilies and burgundy hypericum berries tied with a satin ribbon to match.  Her maid of honor held a slightly smaller bouquet of callas and the super cute flower girl had a small posy to match her new aunt’s bridal bouquet.  Jim and his best man sported simple calla boutonnieres with berry accents and a black satin ribbon wrap.  Following the early afternoon ceremony at St. Brigid’s Parish in South Boston, guests were treated to a boat cruise around Boston harbor while the Cityside Suites at the State Room were readied for their reception.

Nan and Jim have a great sense of style and took a fresh and modern approach to the classic fall look.  The celebration began with a cocktail hour where guests enjoyed passed hors d'oeuvres and drinks as well as a stunning view of the dusky skyline.  The room featured both low tables with seating and high-tops.  Each low table featured spiraled vibrant orange mokara orchids atop polished river stones and a dusting of bloom scatter on the tabletop.  The high-tops glowed with a trio of votives surrounded by the colorful orchid blooms.

As the cocktail hour came to a close, a partition wall gave way to the waiting dining room.  Guests enjoyed a tasty meal as well as the stunning view of the glowing Boston skyline from 33 floors up.

Nan and Jim wanted to infuse a touch of rustic elegance into their dining design so we integrated natural branches into five tall arrangements held aloft in tall clear cylinders weighted by a bed of river stones.  Each arrangement was surrounded by orange orchid blooms and flickering votives.

The remaining five dining tables featured a trio of clear glass cylinders of graduating height filled with the orange mokara orchids.  River stones once again served as a base and blooms and votives completed the tablescape.

I was lucky enough to attend the event as a guest and the entire evening was such a beautiful celebration of this couple.  It was such a pleasure to add to the already stunning ambiance of the State Room’s accommodations.

Congratulations again to the happy couple!

PS Apologies for the lighting and resolution of some of these photos.  Time for a new camera :)  If you’d like to see close-up of any of these images, visit our Facebook page.

Shari & Eli Married 10.10.10

It was a beautiful morning for a wedding!  Shari and Eli tied the knot at historic Gore Place in Waltham, MA.  The former estate of Governor Christopher Gore, this Federal period historic house is owned and operated by the Gore Place Society, a nonprofit members organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Gore Place.

Shari had a very specific bouquet in mind for her special day – large sunflowers and orange roses with purple accents.  We took that color scheme and expanded upon it for the reception arrangements.  These pieces adorned the buffet tables, bar, and escort card table.

Shari and Eli love games, so they had created their own fun centerpieces out of the bits from some of their favorite board games.  The escort cards were made from game pieces as well.  Very creative!

I got to mill around the grounds a bit while waiting for the caterers to set up and captured quite a few photos.  Enjoy…

(To be fair, the arrangement photos were taken before delivery)

And the first look!

 

Congratulations to Shari and Eli!

A BIG Thank You to Our Fans!

 

We are thrilled to announce that YOUR votes propelled Ideas in Bloom into the top 25 blogs named winners of the 2010 Weddzilla.com Guru Awards!

 

Thank you, thank, thank you for your support!  The winners were chosen based on votes from the Weddzilla community of Nearlyweds, wedding professionals from across the United States, and our wonderful fans.  This blog is a lot of fun to write and it’s so great to know that you all enjoy it too!

We have posted links to all of the winning blogs in a new section of our right-hand sidebar.  Check them out!

 

Click Here to view the full press release.

Boutonniere 101

The busiest wedding weekend of the year is upon us (10-10-2010), so I thought it fitting to provide a refresher on the proper way to pin a boutonniere.

Step One: Hold the stem of the boutonniere, the front facing you, on the left lapel. It should sit about 4 inches below the top of the shoulder. Tilt on a slight angle to the right and take a step back to access the placement.

Step Two: Coming in from the outside of the body, use the pin to pierce the fabric from under the lapel beside the boutonniere stem.

Step Three: Move the pin over the top of the stem and pierce through the opposite side of the lapel. Pull tightly to secure the boutonniere. Ideally the pin should be placed so that any exposed section is camouflaged by foliage.

Step Four: In the event that the boutonniere is a bit heavy or the recipient is…lets say “particularly active,” a second pin can be used to secure it. We always provide two!

Image courtesy of Aurora Photography

Sneak Peek!

 

 

Sneak peek of our scarecrow for New Boston’s Scarecrow Alley 2010!  We’ve dubbed it “The Garden of Frights.”  Here’s a few of the creatures in our “garden.”  More photos to come once it’s up!

 

How are you decorating for Halloween?

Seasonal Decor That Lasts

Happy October!  There is no denying it now, it’s Fall.  Time for apple picking, leaf peeping… and redecorating.  Looking for less expensive ways to be festive?  Silks are a great way to spruce up your home without breaking the bank.  A one-time investment can provide years of enjoyment.  Call us for your own custom adornment today!

Rustic wreath for a loyal customer

Unique container arrangement perfect for the hearth or foyer

Seasonal Cuts of the Day

And they are back – Seasonal Cuts of the Day! 

Fall offers an abundance of great seasonal flowers and accents.  Gorgeous sunflowers (above)

Wispy broomcorn (above & below)

Beautiful cattails (above).

Playful Plumage

 

Fall is such a great time to experiment with different textures and accents. 

Feathers add a whimsical yet earthy touch to bouquets, boutonniers and arrangements. Tasteful tufts just exude a vintage-like grace that conjure up the simple elegance of an estate nestled in the English countryside. 

It’s a great twist on the classic fall look!

 

 

Field Trip!

 

I took advantage of this temperate Sunday afternoon and strolled around the Arnold Arboretum.  It is the oldest public arboretum in North America.  At a vast 265-acres, the Arnold Arboretum is both a research institution and public space. It was certainly a popular destination for families, runners, bicyclists, dog-walkers, and plant enthusiasts today.

Though the landscape wasn’t awash in color, the earthy tones of fall played backdrop to an abundance of berries, fruits, and seed pods.  Without showy pops of color distracting the eye, one notices the interesting textures each plant specimen has to offer. 

Even the most clueless about horticulture can enjoy a visit to the grounds.  FREE guided tours are offered (click here to view the calendar), as well as printable maps for those who would rather move at their own pace.  Admission is FREE every day of the year (except the major holidays), as is parking, so there really isn’t an excuse not to visit.

You can even use any part of the grounds for wedding ceremonies!  And it’s FREE!!!  You are welcome to conduct small (less than 40 people) wedding ceremonies, or other other group activities on the grounds.  It would be a bit tricky since you can’t reserve a specific location on the property, erect a tent, or set up seating, but it would be a lovely spot for a very laid back couple or some gorgeous wedding photos.  It would be a fun location for an engagement session as well.  I’m a little sad I didn’t think about it myself!

It’s a beautiful spot to spend an afternoon.  Just put on your walking shoes, grab a bottle of water and go!

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