Garden Wedding

Ohmygosh - it's just tooo gorgeous! Can I create this for YOU?? PLEASE???

I saw this wedding on Stephanie Williams Photography's site and yes, I WILL create this look for someone's romantic walk down the aisle someday, I promise!! Will it be you?

Preston Bailey Video

Tacoma Wedding Expo Jan 2&3

Oooooh - I'm getting exciiiiiteeeed - it's almost time for the Tacoma Wedding Expo at the Tacoma Dome Jan 2&3!!

Confession: I'm addicted to wedding shows. My husband says that the real reason I do wedding shows is because I live for all the excited ooh's and aaah's when the brides see my booth...

I love it when brides get inspired and find "just their perfect color scheme" in one of my bouquets - or finally find their DREAM bouquet - "OHMYGOSH - THAT'S IT!!!"

Lime and Cherry: Yuliya's Flowers

Oh, I'm sooo thrilled with how these turned out - here is a sneak peek - more later in "Featured Weddings":

Here is Yuliya's bouquet - all gorgeous, romantic deep red roses, with accents of evergreens

And the bridesmaids bouquets had accents of lime green hydrangeas.

The personal flowers were all done in red roses and evergreens also, with pops of lime green "kermits" - this is a very hip and updated version of the traditional Christmas colors.

Wedding Industry Cruise

Hubby and I went on the Wedding Industry Cruise put on by Down Home Catering - we got so busy talking to everybody that I didn't even get out on the deck (it was pretty cold anyway)

Here's a pic of me with Brad Buckles (Bridesclub.com) - Brad produces the Wedding Expo at the Tacoma Dome (coming up on Jan 2 & 3 - ooooh, I'm getting EXCITED..... did I mention I'm addicted to wedding shows?)


Here's the view out the front window of the Islander - what a dreamy place to get married...

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My one goal in attending was to smooch with my sweetie out on the deck - we had done a bridal show on the boat and worked so hard we didn't really get to enjoy the cruise - and this time we just talked and talked with everybody there... never made it out on the deck for our kiss - oh well, next time!

We did sneak off afterward to Seattle to walk around Pike place holding hands, and had tea and crumpets together at the crumpet shop - did I mention I LOVE being married???

Elegant Bride - more photos

Here are some better photos of the trunk show at The Elegant Bride - I just LOVE the owners Irina and Steve, and all the ladies who work there are just wonderful.

	Each bride was given a beautiful long stemmed rose as a special thank you for participating in the trunk show. See all those photos on the wall behind the roses? Those are thank you notes photos, and rave reviews from all the happy brides who found their dream gown here...
	Oh, and if you happen to like sparkly things - The Elegant Bride has a DAZZLING selection of absolutely GORGEOUS jewelry, tiaras, and accessories for your special day! (Did I mention I'm easily distracted by shiny objects? I love bling!)

Elegant Bride Trunk Show!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

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Best Floral "Bang for your Buck"

Getting the most "Bang for your Buck" is very important in planning your wedding. You want to concentrate your floral dollars where they will have the most impact.

As I'm helping brides decide how to best allocate their floral budget, I advise them to really stop and think about their guests. Where will they spend the majority of their time? Where will their eyes be focused most?

The ceremony is obviously extremely important - you have 200, 300, or even 500 people all seated there in rows for half an hour or more waiting... they need something really gorgeous and interesting to look at - something that sets the tone for the whole celebration.

Another very important place from the guest's perspective is the dinner table. Your guests will be seated looking at your centerpiece for 4-5 hours, so that's extremely important.

You want your guests to know that you really thought about what their experience at your wedding would be like, and you planned for their time to be very special.

That way you can look back at your wedding day as being your biggest gift to each person that's special in your life. This lovely thank you card one bride made for each place setting really summed it up:

The Dad Conspiracy

Today I got a top secret phone call from the father of the bride - her floral consultation is tomorrow. "Don't tell her I called, but..."

He wanted me to convince her to use carnations & baby's breath.(No, I am not making this up, I swear!)

It took me a good half an hour to convince him that carnations would actually be a price INCREASE over what she had already told me she wanted - roses & hydrangea.

He had worked in a floral shop before and was convinced that the carnations & baby's breath was the cheapest route.

I explained to him that because I buy directly from the farms - and I buy in quantity (by the box instead of by the bunch from local wholesalers), roses & hydrangea are the more economical choice - even though at the average florist shop they are among the most expensive.

I just kept repeating the same thing over & over - "OK - but this will mean a price INCREASE if she agrees - Carnations are MORE EXPENSIVE than roses & hydrangea." Firmly, consistently, hoping it would sink in.

He finally believed me - and was baffled, but pleased...