Love & Marriage

If you have been following my  blog, you know that I recently had the opportunity to do the flowers and decor for a wedding for some friends-of-a-friend of mine. I had such a blast doing it, and everything came out beautifully! I took a few pictures of the prep and behind-the-scenes set up and have posted them below. Hopefully they tide you over until the professional photos are ready. Special thanks goes out to Curt, Daniel, Lou, Jaron, Melissa, and Carissa for all your help and inputs; to West Coast Wood Slabs and Jason for their beautiful pieces and the use of their shop; to my incredibly tolerant roommate Tyler for letting me turn the house into a flower shop/craft factory for the past two months; to the folks down at Southlands, the Flower Factory, and Whole Foods; and to Sarah and Wayne for letting me take part in their special day. Alright, now for the pictures. Enjoy!

Cuttings for the bouquets and button holes: sedums, echevarias, flowering origanum, senecio greyii

The flower selection: lisianthus, seeded eucalyptus, dahlias, native sword fern, dusty miller, freesia, baby's breath, eryngium, echinops ritro, gerba daisy, roses (defoliated for petals).

Wiring up the bridal bouguet: lisianthus, dusty miller, succulents, eryngium, echinops ritro, flowering origanum, dahlias, freesia, and a monster tillandsia xeographica. 

A fern frond and dahlia for the ladies in the wedding party to hold, and the bridal bouquet. A happy bucket!

The groom's button hole: tiny tillandsia, echinops ritro, seeded eucalyptus, senecio greyii, succulent cuttings. Backed with hand coiled silver wire, and wrapped in jute twine.

A more feminine look for the female friend who officiated: flowering origanum, seeded eucalyptus, echinops ritro, echeveria cuttings, and senecio greyii.

For the men in the wedding party: eryngium, echinops ritro, echevaria cuttings, seeded eucalyptus, and senecio greyii. 

And the same ingredients for a handsome man on the bride's side.

Setting up the ceremony site! The small and intimate gathering of about 25 friends and family took place at the gazebo on English Bay.  

Two arrangements, set atop stunning salvaged yellow pine side tables flanked the alter. White organza drapes gentle billowed in the sea breeze, really adding to the beachy-and-vintage romantic vibe. 

Alter arrangements: lisianthus, dahlias, gerba daisies, sword fern, eryngium, seeded eucalyptus, passion vine, dusty miller, succulent cuttings echinops ritro.

Cute bunches of sword fern, baby's breath, and eryngium wrapped in jute adorned the aisle-side chairs.

The guestbook table, a.k.a. my potting table, all cleaned up and and staged with various ferns and an agave from my collection, a succulent terrarium, and a few trinkets from home. 

Some antique window frames and old orchard crate planted with ferns and pennstemon welcomed guests to the wedding. 

A close up of the plants in the crate. 

The ceremony.

The view.

Part of the centerpieces, inspired by Studio Choo's "Flower Recipe Book." Craspedia mounted in small slices of salvaged arbutus.

The craspedia cuties from the side.

Last minute details for the reception! Recycled San Pellegrino bottles stuffed with seeded eucalyptus and leucadendron joined the craspedia pieces and small mason jars with LED tea lights on the tables.

Another picture of one of the alter arrangements. 

And the other....

A close up of the flowers and textures.

The guestbook table, a close-up.