Fashion Fridays! Jason Wu Wedding Dress

Going “short” for your wedding dress is definitely a modern brides’ trend and for those that want even more freedom as they walk down the aisle.

Designed by Jason Wu, this dress combines expert draping and a material that looks like a combination of organza and foil. The layering in the shoulders gives this dress movement and a more formal flare as well as the black bow at the waist. 

Do you think that this could be your wedding dress?

Big Things in Small Packages

Chosen carefully, you can have a smaller centerpiece that makes a big visual impact. Sometimes, a concept can actually require that your centerpiece be intricate and detailed, but on a smaller scale.

In the photograph above, a rose is encased in a birdcage. The roses are essential for giving the structure life, which is accentuated by the surrounding greenery. The dark color of the birdcage itself gives your ceremony an elegant and romantic feel.

The Little Details

Part of the benefit of having an experienced event planner at your disposal is to have someone who covers the most minute details. Based on the photograph, this even entails making sure that ribbons are not tangled or the religious texts are properly organized!

Sometimes, couples who have indoor events think that there is little room for error, but it takes a careful eye to spot a painting on the wall that is tilted, a paper that may have fallen to the floor, or a table napkin that is not aligned or folded properly.

Your main focus as the married couple-to-be should be on one another and the rest should be left in the hands of your event designer or planner. If photos are taken, you won't have time to look at every bridesmaid or groomsmen to make sure everything is in proper order. Don't take your venue for granted and entrust the minute details with your coordinator!

Bridal Bouquet Photography Trends

The bridal bouquet comes in various forms and once you’ve selected your flowers and bouquet style, it becomes part of your wedding decor. Not only are most bridal bouquets paired with wedding dresses, but its other purpose is to match the theme of your event. 

In the spirit of having the details of your event work together, photographers are also trying to capture the details that matter most to the couple.  More and more people are requesting photographs that include the bridal bouquet, which often includes the couple and adds a soft introduction to the entire picture.  This is another great approach to tell the story of your big day!

Now That Takes the Cake

Maybe it’s because of the show, Cake Boss, but when you think about your event or wedding reception dessert the choice is often cake.  Often times, people believe that choosing the flavors and number of tiers is the biggest decision.  Mostly, because the decor of the cake tends to follow the decor of the event. 

You may want to consider that as cake time approaches, your cake will suddenly become the center of attention. Though its debut may be short-lived why not make the most out of it and create that “wow” factor to have your guests remembering what your cake tasted and looked like.

In the pictures, we arranged flowers and customized them to fit the structure of the cake.  You’ll find, as many others have, that the secret ingredient your cake needed was a just a dash of creativity!

Flowers and Pearls

The Shadowbrook has been an elegant wedding venue location since 1942. With varied clients from the New York tri-state area, its many onsite event areas can be customized for any couple.

One particular couple wanted to combine pearls and flowers into their reception theme, but wanted the overall affect to be understated and delicate. You might think, how can jewels and flowers equal understated? Well, in the above picture the floral arrangement was elevated above guests line of vision, but did not umbrella over the heads of guests. With careful flower and pearl selection and arrangement, we were able to create a sophisticated design with a modern Victorian flare.

The color and arrangement of each chair subtly weaved into the overall texture and tone of the room. The results were stunning and delicate, which proved that your flowers and pearls can work in perfect harmony!

D.I.Y – Parisian Spring Picnic

We aren’t wine experts, but we do know that if you are looking to reuse some of your prettier wine bottles, then you might find them of value as centerpieces.  In the pictures above, we delicately arranged flowers in wine bottles for Julie’s wedding.  It was unobtrusive, yet subtly sophisticated and familiar.  The centerpieces that you create don’t have to be for a wedding, but used in your own home.

If you are entertaining guests, you may decide to pick a “Parisian Spring Picnic” theme. Placing a lovely floral arrangement in your (empty) wine bottles can bring your picnic to life, even with eighteen inches of snow outside!

You should briefly consult with your florists if you really want to find the prefect flowers to compliment your glass bottles. It might be important to have lush yellow flowers with a blue wine bottle, but white orchids for you black wine bottles. If you are truly dedicated, then you can even use flowers that evoke feelings of Paris in the spring, such as yellow Tulips and Hyacinth flowers. Oo-la-la!

Your Wedding Wine Options

Arguably, the food and wine tasting for your wedding menu is one of the most fun parts of planning. Of course, not all couples will decide to have wine at their event, but if you do, make sure to ask your caterer about his or her venue’s full wine list.

There are certain wines that are traditionally served at weddings, but if you want to break away from tradition, just a little bit, keep these types of wines in mind:

Red

• Syrah or Shiraz. A very popular, darker grape, with a powerful, full-bodied flavor.
• Malbec. Grown around the world, the Malbec grape is known for having a slightly plum flavor and blended with other red Bordeaux wines.

White

• Sauvignon blanc. This green-skinned grape is found in many dessert wines and has a range of tastes from mildly bitter to almost tropical.
• Moscato. Moscato is really a derivative of the word muscat - a family of grapes. Typically sweet in taste, this wine can range from a very light color to a very dark color.

Photo by sxc.hu, andrewatla

Preserving Your Flowers

Today, so soon after Valentine's Day, people tuned in to watch the Tiger Woods' press conference. Most people are aware of the conference topic, but we won't let this spoil our month of romance!

Valentine's Day is not only meant for couples, but for acknowledging the love that people share. If you were awesome enough to have a party (rather than an inclusive dinner for two), then hopefully you had some pretty cool decorations and floral arrangements.

But before you toss your Valentine's Day flowers into the trash, have you considered preserving them and having the romantic glow last for a couple, maybe even a few more weeks?

You can dry and preserve flowers in the convenience of your home, but it never hurts to consult your florist about your particular floral arrangement or your options to freeze-dry your flowers or not.

Before hanging your flowers upside-down in a cool, dark place, remove the leaves and tie the stems with twine. You can then take silica gel and store the flowers within a container that contains the gel. This method should allow your pretty flowers to keep for an extra week or two!

Delicious Designs

We are always trying to create innovative designs and seek inspiration through our surroundings.  Our latest centerpiece creations are particularly yummy. 

The first centerpiece is a Manzanita tree (California origin) with Phalaenopsis Orchids designed to appear  organic and sculpted.  The hanging flowers are subtly dangled, appearing as robust raindrops, which accessorizes the overall lush aesthetic.

The second fabric centerpiece uses Dendrobiums Orchids to create a softly layered affect, which gives the centerpiece elegant movement.  The flowers are subdued enough to be profound, yet unobtrusive atop any table.

Both centerpieces have versatile flowers that will have an even greater visual impact when enhanced through your event lighting.

Which centerpiece is your favorite? Vote here.