Ever After Florals

Our New Ad in Arizona Bride Magazine

2011-06-09T23:55:00.000-07:00

Check out our new ad for Arizona Bride Magazine! We love the way this came out and can't wait to see it in print! Special thank you to Kim McDowell with The Event Essentials for the design work and Sara Coral Photography for the wonderfully romantic photo of one of our bouquets. This will be a half page ad in the July issue hitting newsstands soon.

Vintage Charm at The Farm South Mountain

2011-03-02T23:14:00.000-08:00

LOVED this couple and LOVED their choice of flowers, decor, and their amazing photographer Sara Coral Photography.

All white bouquet of china mums, spray roses, astilbe, hydrangea, and a bit of variegated pitt around the edges. Looks like we picked the flowers right out of the field.

Simple centerpieces consisted of mason jars, as well as an eclectic mix of other sized vases tied off with a bit of jute and filled with various white flowers and fillers. Antique vintage candy dishes were used on the tables as well for the guests to enjoy.

Loved the grooms boutonniere of simple white button poms, white astilbe, and a bit of variegated pitt.

Heavenly by the candlelight!

Nosegays for the flower girls and the flower baby! We especially loved her headband and tutu, which tied everything together perfectly. This wedding definitely belongs on Style Me Pretty!

Thank you Tiffany & Tim for being such a wonderful couple and for LOVING your flowers the way you did. We wish you both a happily...Ever After!

Garden Inspired Bouquets

2011-01-10T09:57:00.000-08:00

Check out the bouquets we designed for the Spring/Summer 2011 issue of Arizona Bride Magazine. We were one of the three featured florists to design some delicious garden inspired bouquets. These bouquets were all made up of grasses, greenery, pods, succulents, and some fruits and veggies versus flowers. The pink and green bouquet had such ingredients as artichokes, kale, okra, and snowberries. The orange and green bouquet included clementines, brussel sprouts, chile peppers, and succulents all designed into a head of butter lettuce. We were thrilled with the outcome of our bouquets and how they still looked pretty enough for a bride to carry down the aisle, without including flowers. Although most of the items can only be found through a florist, the fruits and vegetables were all found at a local Sprouts Farmer's Market. Be sure to pick up a new Arizona Bride magazine today!
Photos by Dan Vermillion Styling by Lisa Parks Arizona Bride Magazine 2011 Spring/Summer issue

Purple and Green Wedding

2010-11-15T10:20:00.000-08:00

When I first met with Rennai, I instantly liked her. She was fun, friendly, and knew all about weddings, as she was also in the wedding industry {Mywedding film.com}. She wanted her wedding to be different and unique to all the weddings we've seen done before and of course she wanted to make it her own. She chose monOrchid as her venue, which is very urban and modern wherehouse type of feel. She chose purple and green as her colors and wanted to accent with peacock feathers. She had a very chic and modern, yet earthy vision. I loved her vision and couldn't wait to design for her. Here are a few photos of what we did for her on her special day!

Location: monOrchid

Photos: Darby Elizabeth Photography

Centerpiece photos: self

Flowers: Ever After Florals

Time Warp

2010-10-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

Check out some of these old wedding photos from the turn of the century through the early 1980's. It amazing to see how styles of dresses and flowers have changed. Most of the bridesmaids have bouquets bigger than what bride's carry today. It's very interesting to look back in time and think about what all these brides did for their reception and what music was played, etc. I can only imagine what they would think of our traditions and styles in today's world? I think some would be shocked to see the bride & groom break out into the Thriller Dance, witness the after dinner firework show, eat cupcakes vs. traditional cake, and blow bubbles at the bride & groom in lieu of throwing rice. I'm sure 100 years from now, someone may stumble upon this blog and mention this as being odd too.

Rustic Wedding at Juniper Well Ranch

2010-10-08T01:06:00.000-07:00

Wine bottles served as table #'s. Surrounded by candlelight and eclectic vases filled with blooms of hydrangeas, mums, safari sunsets and willow branches.

The arch were the ceremony took place was super romantic surrounded by fresh earth, vines, and ground cover. We spruced it up with some blue hydrangeas, ivory china mums, yellow rovers, safari sunsets, dendrobium orchids, greenery and curly willow branches. GORGEOUS!

Bridal bouquet started off small and ended up bigger as she walked down the aisle and gathered other blooms from close family/friends. Then her mother tied all of the bouquets together to make one large bouquet. Super colorful and perfect for this fall, rustic wedding.

Cake was amazing and looked magazine worthy! The favors for the guests were jars of honey, with "Meant To Be" the bride & grooms names and their wedding date listed. This wedding could not have been more detail oriented and absolutely breathtaking!

Photos by Capture This! By Brooke

Vintage accents

2010-09-30T22:49:00.001-07:00

We love to see all the unique styles and details brides are using at their weddings. We found a few great finds while searching etsy.com and thought we'd share a few good ones with you!

Vintage pink cameo necklace. LOVE it!

Something blue?

Love this for the hair!

Seeing lots of birdcage veils this year!

See what a sash can do to a simple gown! Amazing!

Juniper Well Ranch

2010-08-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

Have you been searching for a secluded rustic northern Arizona venue for your wedding? Well look no further. We have found a gorgeous spot just 20 minutes from downtown Prescott. Juniper Well Ranch in Skull Valley is a charming rustic ranch, featuring a vineyard, multiple gardens, patios and cabins/cottages. The property is lush with vegetation, including a canopy of 1,000 year old alligator bark Juniper trees covered in ivy. This area is perfect for shading your guests at the ceremony, which can hold up to 150 people. Juniper Well Ranch is amazing! Check out their website for more information http://www.juniperwellranch.com/weddings.html

10080 W. Tough Country Trail Skull Valley, AZ 86338 928-442-3415

If you decide to get married here, give us a call we would love the chance to go back and of course help you with all your wedding bouquets, wedding centerpieces, and wedding flower decor.

DIY Wedding Flowers Warning

2010-08-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

I posted this almost two years ago (1/2009) but it still holds true today and thought I would share this story with you again, as similar stories have been coming up more and more lately.

PREVENT A DISASTER WEDDING 101: Do it yourself FLOWERS.

This is a very risky idea that could end up costing you more money than having a professional floral designer help you with it. I had a bride who I quoted $1,000. This would cover her bridal bouquet, 3 bridesmaids, a flower girl, about a dozen boutonnieres, some corsages, 10 small centerpieces, cake flowers, and delivery & set up. Sounds like a lot of money, but it was actually pretty decent for all the things she wanted and the flower choices that she wanted. However, she decided that she could save a couple of hundred dollars if she went to Costco and bought and designed her own flowers with the help of some "creative" friends.
The bride decided that she would start working on the store bought flowers a few days before the wedding to give her enough time. So she went to Costco bought what she thought she needed, had her friends over to help her, and then started on it. This was harder than she thought. But they were all having fun and when all the flowers were used up, she had to make another run to Costco to get some MORE flowers, and then a third run because she didn't realize how many flowers she actually needed to make the bouquets look decent. Now she was getting worried because she was actually spending a bit more money than she thought. However, she was still under the $800 mark so she figured she still did good.
The bride had finished most everything a day ago, put the flowers in her refrigerator and felt that they would certainly do great in there. WRONG! Refrigerators have food products in them which give off ethylene gas and kill fresh flowers. This is exactly what happened to this DIY bride. Most of her flowers had gotten too cold, froze, and then turned brown due to the ethylene gas and some of the other flowers wilted due to the culture shock between Costco, the car ride home, the mishandling of the flowers by the unprofessional "creative" friends who helped design the flowers, and then going into the fridge. So the night before the wedding, the bride is now at a grocery store ordering her flowers. She ended up with whatever the grocery store had available, which was not exactly what she had wanted, and spent about $500 more here. Her total for flowers between Costco & the grocery store ended up being $1125.
It is not worth saving a few hundred dollars when you are working with perishable items. Leave this work to a professional florist who not only knows how to handle and design the flowers, but can guarantee them as well.

Melissa & Tyeson's Royal Wedding

2010-07-31T19:01:00.000-07:00

Imagine a dream wedding starring a gorgeous bride and a handsome groom. Now imagine an unbelievable venue with more gorgeous photo opportunities than you can count. Let's make the venue the famous Royal Palms Resort. Now envision a reception site with lots of shimmering crystals and the soft glow of candlelight with candles everywhere. Let's go ahead and add a hint of fuchsia for accent color, against an otherwise all ivory event. Can you hear the mariachi's as they play their acoustic instruments and lead the guests from the post ceremony cocktail hour to the ceremony site?

All this really happened and Ever After Florals was very excited to be a part of this special day! We worked with the bride to provide her with an exquisite all ivory bouquet made up of hydrangea, peonies, garden roses, and soft accents of sweet peas. Her bridesmaids also carried all ivory flowers including garden roses and spray roses with sweet pea accents. When we designed the centerpieces we added a bit of color and made the flowers a nice mix of ivory and fuchsia. Set upon 30" tall pilsner vases and strung with crystal garlands, this wedding reception's flowers were definitely dramatic and memorable. This is one we will never forget. Congratulations Melissa & Tyeson, your wedding was absolutely stunning. Special thanks to A Day to Cherish event coordinators for all their attention to details and to LaTricia Soucy with Marriott Photography for her beautiful photos.

Irish Bliss

2010-07-08T20:29:00.000-07:00

This was a very special wedding for several reasons. First, I was referred to this bride from a prior bride which is the best compliment ever. Second, the bride and groom chose St. Patrick's Day to exchange their vows which was very fun for me to include some gorgeous Bells of Ireland as the green accent for their flowers. And third, the groom looked very familiar to me and during our flower consultation we discovered that we had gone to high school together. It was a very "small world" moment for me. I never in a million years would have thought back in high school, that one day I would be designing his wedding flowers.

Karla & Patrick were such a great couple. I truly enjoyed working with them both and loved their laid back, easy going personalities. Karla wanted lots of bright happy colors to pop off of the green dresses she chose for her bridesmaids. We decided on hot pink with orange & green accents. Using mostly Gerbera Daisies, roses, stephanotis, and of course Bells of Ireland we made the flowers really stand out. The bride and groom had a gorgeous Catholic ceremony followed by an amazing reception at Anthem Country Club. They included a hint of St. Patrick's Day accents, such as, green chair ties, four leaf clover confetti, and some green mardi gras beads for all of the guests to wear at the reception. Congratulations Karla & Patrick O'Brien. Or shall I say, "Comhghairdeas or Maith thu!"

Bella Giardino- Venue spotlight

2010-07-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

Every now and then we focus on a special venue here in Arizona that is extraordinary. We have been fortunate enough to find a wonderful North phoenix location that is guaranteed to make you excited! Introducing, Bella Giardino. Located 1/4 mile north of Jomax off the I-17 Frontage road. It is an oasis in the desert. Once there... you forget where you are. You are instantly transported into a lovely Spanish Mediterranean style location that is guaranteed to make you feel like you spent thousands on a destination wedding. Bella Giardino is going to be the next wedding hot spot which will be booking up faster than you can blink. Why? Here is what we especially loved about this particular wedding spot:

Choice of indoor/outdoor reception spots
Gorgeous views
Terra cotta walkways, wrought iron accent lighting, covered patios
Beautiful Mahogany Chiavari chairs (included)
Elegant floor length tablecloths, linens & overlays (included)
On site professional & experienced coordinator to assist before & during event
Nine hour rental time
Large archways in reception area to offer wonderful views of the lawn & grounds
Luxurious bridal suite and groom suite with private patio
Waterfalls, trees, flowering bushes, & rose garden
It is the only one of it's kind in the Northwest Phoenix area!!

For further information and to to book your dream wedding location visit: http://www.gotobella.com/ or call 623-582-3905 today!

Fresh From the Kitchen LLC

2010-06-26T00:37:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited to a special tasting with Fresh From the Kitchen and a few fabulous brides to be & their fiances. It was a wonderful evening for all of us to try some of the wonderful food selections that Fresh From the Kitchen has to offer. Everything that I tasted was absolutely delicious and so perfect! If you are still in need of a caterer for your wedding, rehearsal dinner or even for an after party, I highly recommend Fresh From the Kitchen for your next event. They provide the highest quality ingredients, a wide variety of delicious food selections, and the best customer service EVER! Call today 602-694-2878 or visit their website at http://www.freshfromthekitchenllc.com/

Just Peachy!

2010-05-23T14:37:00.001-07:00

Gorgeous couple Erin & Chris were married March 20th at St. Francis Xavier church and celebrated with a gorgeous reception at the Pointe Tapatio Cliffs resort. Her flowers complimented her peach and celery color palette. Her bouquet was made up of peach roses, champagne spray roses, rice flower, white ranunculus, white sweet peas, and white peonies, wrapped in ivory satin ribbon with pearls down the handle. For her bridesmaids we used all peach carnations, peach ranunculus, peach spray roses, peach peonies, and champagne spray roses ribbon wrapped in celery satin ribbon with pearls down handle.

This peach & celery looks absolutely DELICIOUS!

Our ad in Arizona Bride magazine

2010-05-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to have our first ad in next month's Arizona Bride Magazine "Best Of" issue. They hit stands in June, so be sure to pick one up!

Luscious Lockets

2010-04-14T12:04:00.001-07:00

Many brides & grooms are always looking for special unique gifts to give one another on their wedding day. Well, I think I found THE perfect solution. Tina Steinberg in Temecula, CA has a very exciting collection of jewelry that is super personal and cannot be duplicated. You will undoubtedly have a one of a kind design when ordering these luscious lockets! We love the fingerprint cuff links too. For more unique ideas go to: http://www.tinasteinberg.com/luscious_lockets_collection.html type in "Meesh" as the coupon code for free shipping. Or contact Michelle at meesh@tinasteinberg.com for assistance in ordering and/or creating something beautiful for your bride or groom.

Laura and Alex's Simple Elegance

2010-04-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

From the moment I met Laura, I instantly liked her. She was passionate not only about her wedding plans and the man she loved, but she was also passionate about her flowers. She was not wanting the traditional standard type of arrangements either. She was brave and excited and seriously fond of millionstar gyp (a.k.a. baby's breath). Millionstar gyp is a variety of baby's breath that has many more smaller blooms to it, which makes it much fuller and less weedy. We kept the church and the bridal party in all white/ivory flowers with a bit of green. Laura had a bouquet of hydrangeas tied with an ivory satin bow. The bridesmaids dressed in a pretty coral pink, clasped large puffs of millionstar gyp bouquets tied off with celery satin ribbon. At the church we lined the aisles with wreaths covered in millionstar gyp as well as decorating the podiums with bouquets of gyp and some larger pieces of white & green blooms. Then Laura and Alex decided on a "cocktail party"style reception at the Arizona Country Club. They had various barista tables, some lounge furniture with low tables, a few round tables and a cigar station. At the reception they wanted to add a bit of pink to the mix. There we used two different sized mint julep cups filled with a variety of pink, white & green flowers such as, hydrangea, sweet peas, peonies, garden roses, million star gyp, ranunculus, and dianthus. It was very chic and simple elegance! We LOVED how this wedding turned out.

Photos by Drew Brashler Photography & Ever After Cake by Lulu's Cupcakes

Shabby "Chic"ness

2010-03-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

Inspirador is a gorgeous venue in downtown Chandler, which provides a phenomenal space for not only the reception & cocktail hour, but a grand room for the reception. Ever After Florals was excited to provide flowers for Emily & Brandon on their special day. This was our first time at Inspirador and we thought it was great! The bride chose a simplistic shabby chic style, and we provided the most delicious bouquets and centerpieces for the event. Using all pinks, ivory, & green we used peonies, ranunculus, dahlias, hydrangeas, roses, and hypericum to get the look just right. The bride's attention to details made this affair all come together. From the hand made chair decor & programs, to the hand decorated mason jars adorned with the couples stamped monogram. From the hand made cake stand, to the DIY table overlays. The bride used the same colors & materials throughout. We even utilized the leftover ribbon for the boutonnieres & corsages. It all came together very nicely and looked AMAZING!!!

Ocotillo Golf Club- Dena & Jake

2010-03-02T21:34:00.000-08:00

Photos by Claire Harrison 602.241.7181 www.claireharrison.com

It rained all morning long, and then as the flowers were delivered, and preparations to start photos and the wedding ceremony, the clouds parted and out came a little bit of sunshine. It made for a perfect day for our bride and groom, Dena & Jake. The flowers she chose were all very colorful & springy including various shades of pink & ivory ranunculus, pink peonies, and green hypericum and Bells of Ireland. We loved how colorful all the bouquets and boutonnieres looked. Here are a few photos to showcase this dream wedding!

Nicole and Luke at Eagle Mountain

2010-02-28T19:38:00.000-08:00

Ever After Florals was so happy to help a wonderful couple, Nicole & Luke, with their wedding. They chose a gorgeous color scheme and we were so excited to design for them. The bride went with a cascade bouquet of ivory cymbidium orchids and antiqued lavender hydrangeas. We did two various centerpieces to make the room a bit more dramatic. A tall one consisting of ivory dendrobium orchids adorned to curly willow branches. Simply yet elegant. A shorter vase filled with antiqued lavender hydrangeas, lavender roses, sterling spray roses, lavender stocks, and ivory cymbidium orchids. The bride and groom had a very memorable day at the Eagle Mountain Golf Club in Fountain Hills.

Photos by: Drew Brashler Photography
Cake by: Cake Contessa

Bejeweled, Bedazzled, Be Broached

2010-02-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

Check out this super unique bouquet made up entirely of a variety of 30-40 flower broaches/pins.

Perfect for the bride who wants something outside of the box, the jewelry box that is!

Exciting News

2010-02-12T19:47:00.000-08:00

Ever After Florals, owner and master designer Jen Colvin, is excited to share some special news with all her bloggers. She was recently interviewed by Mubin Sultan from The Wedding Expert.com and was featured as the "Flower Expert of the Week". Other experts of the week have been Martha Stewart, Preston Bailey, Vera Wang, and many other men & women in the flower industry. We were surprised to have been found all the way in the UK, and given this huge honor! Check out our interview and what they had to say about Ever After Florals!

http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/flowerexperts/jennifer-calvin

We are very happy to be part of this wonderful website & to join the list of other experts that we look up to so fondly!

Check out http://www.theflowerexpert.com/ weekly, to see who else might be chosen as the Flower Expert of the week.

Boojum Tree

2010-01-31T18:34:00.000-08:00

This weekend I was excited to design for a fabulous bride who chose Boojum Tree as her venue. I had not worked at Boojum Tree before and was truly impressed by all the waterfalls, fountains, vines,trees, blooming bushes, flowers, and ornamental items. They all worked so well together in this space and made for a very photographic backdrop. The staff is extremely helpful & friendly and everything ran extremely well. Congratulations Katie and Andy! Here are a few of the photos I took while I was there.

Check out more information about Boojum Tree at http://www.boojumtree.com/

A true hidden treasure awaits!

Ever After at the Bridal Show

2010-01-13T13:06:00.001-08:00

* Ever After Florals celebrated our 2nd year at the Arizona Bridal Debut wedding expo in downtown Phoenix last weekend. We were so excited to meet some fabulous brides!! We loved that you wanted to take photos of our work, pick up and touch our bouquets, and book appointments then & there. We hope we were able to answer all of your floral questions and would love to speak to you more about flowers for your wedding. We have a great Bridal Show special for all who attended. Ever After still has openings for 2010 & 2011. Call us today to be sure you are one of them.

SHOW SPECIAL

Free groom bout

Free toss bouquet

10% off total &

$20 off delivery

A few bouquets we showcased.

www.everafterflorals.com

480-234-3935

Event at monOrchid

2010-01-02T20:31:00.001-08:00

Ever After was featured at the December WEN{Wedding & Event Network} meeting. We paired with Fresh From the Kitchen LLC www.freshfromthekitchenllc.com for a night of Asian inspired cuisine and decor. FFTK provided excellent food, such as lettuce wraps, spring rolls, and noodles. And don't even get me started on their desserts. The pineapple cheesecake was too good to be true, as was the mini key lime pies, and coconut puddings. If you need a caterer for your wedding, rehearsal dinner, or day after brunch, you have to check them out. Noelle is wonderful and the food is phenomenal.

The event was hosted at monOrchid. They are located in downtown Phoenix {3rd St. & Roosevelt} www.monOrchid.com Very modern & artsy venue. Highly recommended to any bride looking for a reception site that is edgy & modern. Lots of room to work with. Very different!

What a night! Here are a few pics of my Asian inspired designs for all the different tables & areas of the venue.

A Troon North wedding to remember!

2009-12-12T16:53:00.001-08:00

Here is a gorgeous wedding we completed last week at Troon North Golf Club in Cave Creek, AZ. The bride chose black, ivory, and deep red as her color palette and then accented with silver. We used black magic roses, deep red carnations, burgundy ranunculus, and black Schwarz calla lilies for the wedding party bouquets & boutonnieres. Due to the Christmas holiday approaching, the bride also wanted to incorporate some holiday decor without it screaming... Merry Christmas!
We utilized some small clear & silver toned tree ornaments and lots of glittery silver sticks & sprays. The bride & her mother also decorated around the venue with extraordinary large silver packages wrapped in black & burgundy bows. We strung white lights & tulle netting on the large window panes for added ambiance, and lined the aisle with the largest deep red poinsettias available. It was spectacular! The perfect night was ended with a spectacular firework display in the sky! Congratulations Jamie & Jerrod.

Christmas Blooms

2009-12-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

{Poinsettias}

Many times brides who are wanting a wedding around the holidays are lucky to be able to utilize these blooming plants. Poinsettias are a seasonal flowering plant that come in a variety of colors, including pink & ivory. Same with Amaryllis, which come in pinks, reds, whites and variegated varieties. The Narcissus plant, otherwise known as paper whites, are also a beautiful flower to use for holiday time weddings. They however, only bloom in white. All of these flowers make a great accent on the aisle, the table pieces, and even serve a dual purpose as decor for the ceremony or reception and then become the favors for the guest to take home at the end of the night. Many of these plants come in 4" to 8" sizes, so there is a variety in not only color, but size & presentation.

{Narcissus/Paper whites}

{Amaryllis}

Thankful for Flowers!

2009-11-25T08:20:00.001-08:00

Photos courtesy of Country Living magazine.

http://www.countryliving.com/cooking/entertaining/thanksgiving-table-settings-1108

Hot pink & lime time!

2009-11-21T18:57:00.000-08:00

Kelli & Jacob's wedding at the Ocotillo Golf Club in Gilbert, AZ was a bright and fun event. Kelli chose black & white as the background for dresses & linens. Ever After Florals accented with lime green flowers such as hydrangeas, roses, coffee bean, bells of Ireland and astro poms with a splash of hot pink mini gerbera daisies, matsumoto asters, roses, and gladioulus. We also threw a few fresh limes into the centerpieces for a fresh festive addition.

The colors matched the fun personality of the bride & groom. The groom & groomsman also had fun by incorporating hot pink & lime green shoelaces into their super comfy Nike wedding shoes. Special thanks to Laura Segall Photography for getting us these great photos in less than a week. We wish Kelli & Jacob a happily....Ever After!

Filler UP!

2009-10-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

For this wedding, we used tons of fillers vs. expensive flowers to make up the bridesmaid bouquets. Heather, wax, misty, hypericum, and snowberry made excellent accents to all the flower arrangments. Full of texture & color, but not full on price. The Bride was very happy with the outcome and and we wish her a happily....Ever After!

Wedding at The Firesky Resort

2009-10-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Wendi & Keith. Your wedding at The Firesky Resort in Scottsdale was amazing. I loved the colors you chose and the simple designs that made everything look so elegant. We wish you both a lifetime of happily....EVER AFTER!

Red, White & Black

2009-10-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

Luck of the Irish

2009-10-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ever After Florals was excited to be able to create a floral headpiece and matching bouquet for an Irish wedding at the Irish Cultural Center. It was our first headpiece designed with fresh flowers and we loved the outcome just as much as the bride. Bouquet and headpiece consisted of all green cymbidium orchids, purple seafoam statice, bells of Ireland, and bear grass.

Busy?? Hire a coordinator.

2009-09-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

Are you busy with work, school and life and now have to start planning your wedding too?? Don't stress out, there are thousands of girls just like YOU! But only a few smart enough to hire a professional wedding coordinator. Seriously girls, try to work one of them into your budget. They can actually help save you time and money and practically pay for themselves if you have them help you with obtaining other vendors & your venue. You see, they are here to help. They are going to make YOU their #1 priority too, which is great at the time you most need it, your wedding day.

Valerie Bolitho of Blueprint Affairs can help you with a blueprint of your day and a blueprint of how you want your event to play out. She is available for brides who need help from the beginning of the planning process through the end of the day. OR for a bride who just needs help the day of the wedding.

Please think about your day and how much prettier you will look if you are not stressed out or worried about small details that you know need to get done. Valerie and her team at Blueprint Affairs will take care of everything. Their motto: "At Blueprint Affairs our mission is to create a memorable event that you will cherish forever. With attention to detail and never settling for anything short of your vision, Blueprint Affairs strives for excellence."

Did you know that one of the biggest regrets brides have were not hiring a coordinator? Don't let that be your regret too. Call Valerie Bolitho today at 623-215-8657 or find her at http://www.blueprintaffairs.com/

Good luck ladies!

Feather Wedding Flowers

2009-09-18T20:58:00.000-07:00

This bride wanted something a bit more unique.... Feathers! She loves the ostrich feathers and wanted to incorporate them into her bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages. What a beautiful way to add softness and movement to everything. The white calla lilies look splendid with the white ostrich feather accents. The black ostrich feathers made the magic roses & Swartz dark burgandy calla lilies look absoultely stunning! Throw in a couple of bouquet jewels and you've got something to talk about.

Bridal Pampering ALERT!

2009-08-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

Most brides I know would LOVE to do a little pre-wedding pampering and preparation for the big wedding day. Why not take a day and spend it at M.B. York's Lip & Lash Lounge located in Fleur'T at Gainey Ranch Shops. They offer facials, microdermabrasions, wax & brow shapings, as well as eyelash extensions and celebrity make up applications. Since you are the star of the day, why not be treated like the celebrities are. M.B. York's experience as a make-up artist include the Golden Globes, Oscars, Emmy's MTV Awards, commercials, films, and magazine covers. Her claim to fame is her go-anywhere "survival of the prettiest" Beauty Ammo Kit for eyes, packaged in a Hollywood GLAM hat box, and eyes are de-aged in three simple steps: the COLLAGEN EYE MASK, LINE PUTTY, and CAMOUFLAGE EYE DISGUISE CONCEALER. The Beauty Ammo Kit makes you look up to 10 years younger instantly, and is being used on the sets of Desperate Housewives, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, One Tree Hill, The Daily 10!, E! Live from the Red Carpet, the Oscars, and more.

I had the great pleasure to talk to Mary Beth York and she shared with me that many celebrities are also giving her prodcuts to their bridemaids as gifts for being in their weddings. Who wouldn't wanna be a bridesmaid if this was the case. Check out their website for some great beauty products and some great photos too! M.B. York's motto is "Survival of the Prettiest".

http://www.mbyork.com/

THIS HAS BEEN A BRIDAL PAMPERING ALERT!

Persian Wedding Experience

2009-08-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

Bride bouquet of all white peonies

Traditional Persian wedding ceremony

All red rose centerpiece

All yellow rose centerpiece

Tri-Rentals tent & lights

Wedding cake: Bruce Brown Catering

Alter with ceremonial items

Alter rug & chairs

Petals scalloped down aisle

Ever After was excited to be a part of this beautiful Persian wedding. The event took place at a Private Residence in Paradise Valley and the home was literally transformed into a super wedding resort. The ceremony was full of culture. The alter was set up atop a special rug with low sitting chairs and included candies, spices, fruits, goldfish, honey, a mirror for the couple to look into and see their future, as well as lots of flowers. Each item brought the couple something special such as blessings of prosperity, fertility, happiness & love. The aisle too was very different than most we have designed. The bride wanted the petals scalloped from the beginning to the end with red, yellow and ivory petals. Over 500 roses were used to complete this design.

After the special ceremony full of poems & prayers sung & spoken by family & friends, the guests were ushered out of the large tent and to the cocktail hour. This poolside cocktail hour included a belly dancer for entertainment and food & drink of course. During this time, the ceremony site was being made into the reception site as well. The large team at Tri-Rentals & us at Ever After Florals made everything come to life as we moved in tables & rearranged chairs. We also set up each of the tables with linens and large floral centerpieces of multicolored roses. The event was very colorful and included colors such as teal, ivory, red, orange, and yellow. Tri-Rentals also lit up the tent with thousands of white lights in tulle netting to give the tent a soft glow which made the event very romantic as well.

Ever After Florals was very proud to be a part of this amazing wedding and loved working with the bride and her family. This will always be one of the most memorable weddings we have ever done.

Carnation sensation!

2009-08-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

Carnations are back! They make a wonderful fluffy romantic garden style bouquet, boutonniere, and centerpiece. They can be mixed in with other flowers, but doing all carnations make them stand out on their own and give a much more elegant appeal! Carnations are also very affordable, long lasting, fragrant, and come in a rainbow of colors to please any bride.

That's A Wrap!

2009-08-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

Many brides like to do something fun and a bit artistic when it comes to wrapping their bridal and bridesmaids bouquets. Whether it be colored ribbon to match the bridesmaids dresses, a special heirloom broach or cameo, a print such as a floral or damask, criss crossed ribbon in various colors and sizes, rhinestones, pearls, or monograms, here are just a few ways to add in some color or sparkle to your bouquets.

Bride featured in Redbook

2009-08-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

Rudy Archuleta/Redbook

Finespun Photography

I was super excited to read about one of my brides, Christine Bettes-Cartell, in Redbook. She has a wonderful story about how she went about getting her dream wedding gown. Good things really do come to those who wait....

Click below for the full story: D: My Dream Wedding Dress -- For Half Price! (4 of 27) http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/get-everything-you-want?click=main_sr

A Wedding at The Intercontinental Montelucia

2009-07-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

Photo Collage above: Darby Elizabeth Photography

What a beautiful venue, a beautiful bride, and beautiful decor! Ever After Florals was proud to be a part of this super romantic affair. The bride chose a color palette of soft gold, ivory, and watermelon. Her Bridesmaids were in bright colored watermelon dresses and carried a mix of pale yellow cabbage roses, ivory & variegated pink garden roses, pale yellow stocks and ivory hydrangeas. Their stems were wrapped in buttercream gold satin ribbon. The brides bouquet was a bit softer, also wrapped in buttercream gold and polished off with an heirloom broach that was her grandmothers.

The ceremony was very simple and elegant. The view was amazing so we did not want to distract the guests from that. However, we did compliment the small lawn with a few ivory, pale yellow, and watermelon colored rose petals. It was very dramatic and super gorgeous!

We brought the romantic look into the ceremony as well, using a variety of roses, hydrangeas, stocks and a few watermelon colored peonies to brighten up the room. Each centerpiece sat upon golden vine patterned table linens, and were surrounded by tall candle holders with ivory floating candles that illuminated the room. The bride also requested personalized vases for each of her bridesmaids, so that they could place their bouquets into them at the reception. This not only looked great, but it served as the centerpieces of the head table.

This look can be accomplished for any wedding. Ever After provided gorgeous decor, but the Intercontinental Montelucia was so beautiful that it was hard to compete.

Give Em' the BOUTonniere

2009-06-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

Some brides & grooms are opting for NO boutonnieres....

Just remember this fellas, James Bond always sports one with his suits & tuxedos. It is not the suit & flower that make the man, it is the man that makes the suit! Boutonnieres take the tux/suit to a more formal level. They are personal and coordinate with the brides & bridesmaids bouquets to make it all flow together. Don't let your special day go without one of these bad boys.

Bridal Fashion Debut Bridal Show June 2009

2009-06-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

Thank you for stopping by our booth at the Phoenix Convention Center on Sunday June 7th, we were so excited to see all the brides to be! We are offering our show special to all brides who stopped by our booth. Which includes the following:

1 Free Groom's boutonniere

1 Free Toss bouquet

10% off flower total

$20 off delivery/set up fee

Call us or email us today for a free consultation and price quote.

480-234-3935 or 623-937-9552 jen@everafterflorals.com

Super Fun & Easy Do-It-Yourself workshop

2009-05-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

Ever After Florals is offering a Do-It-Yourself workshop on Saturday July 11th from 11am-3pm. Class will be held in Phoenix, and location depends on class size. This fun class will show you how to make a bridal/bridesmaid bouquet, a boutonniere, a corsage, and will give you tons of centerpiece ideas and other helpful hints to make your event perfect. Whether you are a bride that would like to design her own flowers or perhaps looking for something fun & different to do this summer, this class is for YOU!

Cost is $100 per person and all materials are provided. Bring a friend and pay only $150 ($75 each). You will learn so much and also get to take your finished products home to enjoy.

Hurry! Class size is limited and filling up quick.

Call 480-234-3935 or email Jen Colvin at jen@everafterflorals.com TODAY!

Laura Segall Photography

2009-04-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

Attention brides who are still looking for a wedding photographer! You need to check out Laura Segall Photography at http://www.segallphotography.com/. She is an amazing photojournalist who captures stories through her picture taking. Just see some of her work below.

Laura Segall Photography can arrange a package that best suits your needs. She is offering specials for June, July & August weddings here in Arizona. She also does A La Carte options before & after the wedding such as:

Rehearsal dinners
Boudoir session
Engagement photos
Bachelor & Bachelorette parties
Final dress fitting photos
Bridal portraits
and Trash the Dress pics.

Call Laura today at 480-718-9372 or email her for further information at segall.laura@gmail.com. I highly recommend this photographer!

Ebony & Ivory Backyard Wedding

2009-04-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

Black tables helped to make all the all white flowers POP!

All white Gerbera Daisies, stocks, roses, and hydrangeas, waiting to accent the guest book table, cake table, the guest tables, etc.

Large entrance pieces. Hydrangeas, stocks, mums, &Gerbera daisies in large black onyx vases with black branches behind them. Very nice first impression as guests walked up the front walkway.

Black sheer draping, accented with a large magnolia bloom helped make the front entrance to this home based wedding very swanky and extraordinary.

The fireplace mantle was adorned with multiple candle holders, fresh Gerbera daisy blooms, rose petals, and white pomeanders of carnations & mums set upon black candle holders of various sizes.

Black glass matte vases filled with all white roses, hydrangeas, Gerbera daisies with black centers, carnations, and mums. These centerpieces were very simple with no color, but oozed elegance once set upon the all black tables.

Alicia and Nick March 15th at Villa Sienna

2009-03-21T23:19:00.000-07:00

Hot pink/purple flowers made this cake bright and colorful.

Matched bouquets to dresses perfectly with Hot pink roses, seafoam statice, and greenery. Simple yet totally loud!

Hot pink/purple accent boutonnieres for the groomsmen.
Bride wanted all ivory, hot pink and purple flowers to compliment her wedding colors. We also added crystals for some bling in the flowers and down the handle of her bouquet.
Happy Bride!

Sara & Michael on March 14th

2009-03-13T18:13:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day, what a beautiful church, what a beautiful bride and what beautiful daisies! Sara chose a wonderful color combination for a spring wedding. She went with white, turquoise, and pink. We incorporated simple white daisies as well as a few shades of pink Gerbera daisies and accented everything with a perfectly matched shade of turquoise ribbon. It was pretty and happy and serene and I can not wait to get professional photos to include on my website. More brides should give the daisy a try. They are perfect for weddings, come in various colors, they are long lasting, and they won't throw you off your flower budget. Sara & Michael, with the help of friends and family, made their own centerpieces as well. They used silk daisies and incorporated some turquoise with white polka dot ribbon around the galvanized steel bucket container. This was an absolutely perfect wedding!

Girls Luv Pearls

2009-03-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

Are you still searching for wedding jewelry for you or your bridesmaids? Then you will thank me for finding Girls Luv Pearls. They are a local jewelry maker specializing in freshwater Pearls. They offer both traditional and contemporary settings and all with unbelievably affordable prices.

Girls Luv Pearls offer traditional white pearls as well as exotic colors like black, chocolate, peach, lavender, or multi-color. Can you imagine getting all of your bridesmaids matching pearl necklaces, bracelets, and earrings? They would enjoy them for a lifetime. Girls Luv Pearls has you order to your specifications and you will love the excellent quality and selection. To order a catalog email info@girlsluvpearls.com or call 480-236-6544

DIY Wedding Floral Design classes

2009-02-11T16:27:00.000-08:00

Are you a bride who has a limited income for your flowers? Are you thinking about trying to do it yourself? Then you will want to consider taking a DIY Wedding Flowers class. I will be personally teaching you how to design everything from your bouquets, boutonnieres & corsages, and will also give you several inexpensive centrepiece ideas with tons of info on how to obtain a gorgeous wedding for less. This class will be fun and informative! Hurry and call me today for more information on cost, location, and what you will need to bring with you. Classes will start soon and class size is limited. Now you CAN do-it-yourself and impress all your guests with the outcome! Call 480-234-3935 or jen@everafterflorals for more info.

Cabbage Roses vs. Peonies

2009-02-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

Attention brides who LOVE peonies!!

Peonies are not available year round. There are two seasons for Peonies, domestic or Peruvian. The Domestic Peonies are available from the end of May (usually the last week or two of May) through mid June. The Peruvian Peonies are available from the end of November through the second week of January. So only 4 months out of the year, you will be able to get fresh Peonies. Now there is always alternate growers off of the mass market who can sometimes get some big enough for cutting, but this is very rare and definitely not guaranteed. What I have been suggesting to my brides who have to have PEONIES, is a wonderful alternative that look very similar and are available pretty much year round. Are you ready for this super floral secret?...... Cabbage Roses! Yes, there is a variety of rose that has an extremely large petal count and open very similar to Peonies or a cabbage (hence the name Cabbage Rose). Can you tell which photo has Peonies and which are the Cabbage Roses? I'll give you a hint the one on the left is NOT peonies. So brides to be, please know that there is alternative flowers out there for you and a professional floral designer can help you obtain the look or style that you are trying for, without using the obvious.

Bella Boutique Cookies

2009-01-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

Do you still need a favor, a little something more to give the bridesmaids as a thank you, or are you having a shower and want a yummy dessert that will be talked about more than a cake from Costco or a tower of cupcakes? Then you must check out Bella Boutique Cookies. They are a wonderful company offering unique designed cookies for any occasion. I think these are perfect for wedding favors or if you are having a candy buffet for your guests, why not throw in a few wedding cookies as well. There is no minimum order and their prices are perfect. I have to say that you can never go wrong with food, especially couture cookies. Check out their website at http://www.bellaboutiquecookies.com/

Monograms, crystals, and rhinestones. OH MY!

2009-01-18T19:32:00.001-08:00

Many of my brides are asking for crystals, rhinestones, and monograms to be included in their bridal bouquets, their boutonnieres & corsages, and even on their cake.

There are many fun ways to incorporate some bling to the bouquet flowers themselves, or even on the ribbon wrapped
handles. We can even dangle monogrammed letters from the
bouquet to personalize each of the Bridesmaids' names.

The cost to add a bit of sparkle is very minimal. Ask for details during one of our free consultations.

Bridal Show Special

2009-01-13T09:53:00.000-08:00

The Bridal Show this weekend was a huge success! I was so excited to have over 800 brides come into my booth. Everyone was raving about my bouquets. I allowed anyone to take photos of my work and handle all of the flowers and bouquets as well. (What a wonderful compliment for anyone to want to take a photo or see the bouquets closer.) All of you girls were all very positive with your comments about the ribbon wrapped stems, the freshness of the flowers, and the colors and styles of all of my bouquets. I want to thank each and every person who came to my booth and was interested in my work.

If you are getting married and would like help with your flowers, I would love to design for your BIG day! Because I do not like to pressure people into contracts, I am offering my show special through February 1st. This way you can still take advantage of the savings of attending the show, but did not have to feel pressured to sign with me right then and there. The show special is a huge savings. Not to mention I am very reasonably priced to begin with. Please contact me today to get the "January Show Special". You can have the most beautiful flowers ever...at an affordable price.

SHOW SPECIAL:

*Free Grooms' Boutonniere

*Free Throw Bouquet

*10% off total flower order

*$50 off delivery & set up fee

Hurry! This offer ends 2/01/09

Preventing a disaster wedding

2009-01-02T10:52:00.001-08:00

PREVENT A DISASTER WEDDING 101: Do it yourself FLOWERS... This is a very risky idea that could end up costing you more money than having a professional floral designer help you with it. I had a bride who I quoted $1,000. This would cover her bridal bouquet, 3 bridesmaids, a flower girl, about a dozen boutonnieres, some corsages, 10 small centerpieces, cake flowers, and delivery & set up. Sounds like a lot of money, but it was actually pretty decent for all the things she wanted and the flower choices that she wanted. However, she decided that she could save a couple of hundred dollars if she went to Costco and bought and designed her own flowers with the help of some "creative" friends.

The bride decided that she would start working on the store bought flowers a few days before the wedding to give her enough time. So she went to Costco bought what she thought she needed, had her friends over to help her, and then started on it. This was harder than she thought. But they were all having fun and when all the flowers were used up, she had to make another run to Costco to get some MORE flowers, and then a third run because she didn't realize how many flowers she actually needed to make the bouquets look decent. Now she was getting worried because she was actually spending a bit more money than she thought. However, she was still under the $800 mark so she figured she still did good.

The bride had finished most everything a day ago, put the flowers in her refrigerator and felt that they would certainly do great in there. WRONG! Refrigerators have food products in them which give off ethylene gas and kill fresh flowers. This is exactly what happened to this DIY bride. Most of her flowers had gotten too cold, froze, and then turned brown due to the ethylene gas and some of the other flowers got wilty due to the culture shock between Costco, the car ride home, the mishandling of the flowers by the unprofessional "creative" friends who helped design the flowers, and then going into the fridge. So the night before the wedding, the bride is now at a grocery store ordering her flowers. She ended up with whatever the grocery store had available, which was not exactly what she had wanted, and spent about $500 more here. Her total for flowers between Costco & the grocery store ended up being $1125.

It is not worth saving a few hundred dollars when you are working with perishable items. Leave this work to a professional florist who not only knows how to handle and design the flowers, but can guarantee them as well.

Orchids at Troon

2008-12-22T09:28:00.001-08:00

This sexy wedding took place at the Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, AZ. I designed with all cymbidium and dendrobium orchids. I loved what this bride envisioned and was very excited to not only work with her, but to be able to work with nothing but orchids was very fun. The bride's original bouquet was to have been all phaelenopsis orchids, but unfortunately her wedding date was a bit to early in the year for them this time around. Therefore, we substituted with all cymbidiums and I think it was very classy and complimentary to all her other floral creations. Everything flowed so perfectly. Melissa was a beautiful bride and her venue was very chic. The flowers not only made this wedding gorgeous, it gave it the style that the bride was looking for. This was one of my favorite events thus far.... The photos are also very beautiful. Photos taken by Jane Zarzynski. Her photos are sure to make any bride happy. Check out her site at http://www.janjordanphoto.com/

2008-12-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

Pre-Show special

2008-11-29T21:27:00.000-08:00

HUGE SAVINGS!

I will be a vendor at the AZ Bridal Fashion Debut at the Phoenix Convention Center on Saturday & Sunday, January 10th & 11th, 2009. At the show I will have some package deals as well as a pre-book special for all my brides. I will offer this special to anyone who attends the show. However, I will be offering a pre "Show Special" early to all who read this.

Book your wedding with me by December 13th and you will receive the following:

Free throw bouquet

Free groom boutonniere

$50 off delivery & set up fee

15% discount off grand total

Hurry and call me today before your wedding date is no longer available. 480-234-3935

This PREBOOK special expires Dec. 13th, 2008

Leftovers?

2008-11-28T20:57:00.000-08:00

Turkey Cobb Sandwich
Put your Thanksgiving leftovers to good use with this delicious recipe for a turkey Cobb sandwich from the November 2008 issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Ingredients:
Makes 1.
3 slices applewood-smoked bacon
1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for roll or bun
1 brioche roll or hamburger bun, split
1/4 ripe avocado
1 teaspoon crumbled blue cheese, such as Roquefort
2 thin slices tomato
1 medium egg
4 thin slices cooked turkey

Directions:
Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, and wipe skillet clean.
Butter cut sides of roll or bun. Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Place roll or bun, buttered side down, in skillet, and cook until golden brown, 1 to 3 minutes.
Mash avocado and blue cheese in a small bowl. Spread mixture on bottom half of roll or bun. Top with tomato and bacon.
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add egg, and cook, until white is set, about 1 1/2 minutes. Gently flip egg, and cook until yolk is runny in center but slightly set around edge, about 30 seconds. Remove from pan. Add turkey to pan, and heat through.
Place turkey and egg on top of tomato. Top with remaining half of roll or bun, and serve immediately. Yum!

Truly Thankful

2008-11-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I will not be in charge of the turkey, the green bean casserole, or the pies. Today I am in charge of the table centerpiece. I am inspired by the above photo of a swag style piece. It includes green orchids, orange gerbera daisies, a variety of berries and an even wider variety of greens. The candleholders are cored out apples with a tea light placed in the center, as well as some mixed nuts sprinkled around like petals. What a glorious centerpiece that will be beautiful on the table or your buffet line. Today I am thankful for the beauty that will be on our table and sitting around it too.

Super CALA fragile LILY expialidocious

2008-11-21T20:51:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this bouquet. Simple, elegant, timeless, happy, romantic, affordable, lovely, gorgeous, classic, white and my favorite flowers to work with. I love to make this size for the bridesmaids, a slightly larger one for the bride, and of course make the boutonnieres all calla lilies with a single loop of lily grass to accent and match the bouquets. If you like this too, call me and I'll make one for ya!

Downtown Wedding

2008-11-08T20:47:00.000-08:00

Thinking of a place to have your wedding that is urban, upscale, and modern? Try going downtown. Here are some ideas for your downtown affair.

This beautiful ceremony was held at the Japanese Friendship Gardens, located at 1125 N. 3rd Ave. in downtown Phoenix, AZ. The aisles were tied off by copper organza sheers, and we added bunches of curly willow with a single Casablanca lily bloom every other row. The ceremony was surrounded by sereen and tranquil gardens, Koi ponds, and Japanese statues. The beauty in the park was more than we could have added ourselves, so we kept things very simple here. http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/jfg.html

The reception was held at Stoudemires Restaurant, located in downtown Phoenix, at 3 South 2nd St. http://www.stoudemiresdowntown.com/ The tops of these gorgeous centerpieces contain all white hydrangeas, roses, stocks, and alstomerias. Copper ribbon accent was adorned to lip of vases to add a touch of color. The base of the 24" tall cylinder vases, encased horsetail stems, curly lucky bamboo rods, and crystal clear glass cubes nestled at the bottom. We transformed this local sportsbar into a wedding venue with modern upscale class, making it feel more like a swanky New York loft.

FALLing in love...

2008-11-02T20:29:00.000-08:00

Fall is here girls, and bouquets like the ones above are perfect to bring in the fall colors. With flowers such as calla lilies, circus multicolored orange roses, classy red roses, safari sunsets, Gerbera daisies, and a hint of lily grass for some foliage; your wedding flowers are sure to look great and last throughout the day. The bride was very happy with the outcome and I was thrilled with how brightly these particular flowers photographed. These were all handtied bouquets with the stems wrapped in the same midnight blue color ribbon as the BM dresses. The center bouquet is the maid of honor's, which I made slightly larger and then added a few crystals to it. Click photo for larger image

Ever After Cocktail

2008-10-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Happily Ever After Cocktail

INGREDIENTS
1 ounce peach schnapps (30ml)
1 ounce cranberry juice (30ml)
1 ounce ginger ale (30ml)

DIRECTIONS
Pour all ingredients into an old-fashioned glass, stir and serve

Photography by Kristie

2008-09-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Do you still need a photographer for your wedding day? If so, you must check out this phenomenal photographer, "Photography by Krisite". http://www.photographybykristie.com/

They take wonderful photos and capture so much in each photo. I just spent a good hour on their site checking out all of their work. One word, AWESOME! They don't just do weddings either, check out the engagement, trash the dress, and tasteful boudoir images too.

Pushing up the daisies

2008-09-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

Are these not adorable? Perfect for the garden wedding favor or even as a bridal shower favor. These 2x2x2 boxes are not only cute, they are also filled with white chocolate amorini hearts. Yum! To order these must haves, go to http://www.myweddingfavors.com/gerber-daisy-favor-boxes.html

These are truly a find, for less than $3 each.

Say "I DO" to your bridesmaids

2008-09-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Cha Cha Bella has these great finds for your bridesmaids. You have to check this site out as it is amazing!!! Are you looking for the perfect jewelry/gifts for your girls? Then look no further, you found it here. Check out http://www.chachabella.com/ and you will thank me for it. They offer their friendship rings in a variety of colors and styles and the price is great too for these works for art. They also have beautiful wine glasses for your wedding toast. You have to check this one out ladies. Let me know what you think?

Floral Monograms

2008-09-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

Check out these cuties!! Can you imagine seeing these floral monograms at the guest book table or even on the cake table or both. The photo provided to the left is done with faux paper flowers, but wouldn't it be even more glamourous with fresh sweetheart roses? The great thing about this is we can make them as petite or as large as you desire for your space. Call me for the fresh flowers, otherwise you can go to the following website to purchase the faux ones:

https://www.getmarried.com/shop/products/Flower_Monograms-805-11.html

Garden of Preston

2008-08-21T23:47:00.000-07:00

Leave it to Preston Bailey to make such a wonderful centerpiece in the center of a table, a "tabletop garden". How cool would this be as your guest book table centerpiece? We could modify it to any flowers and colors, maybe incorporate some moss and river rock even. Very organic, earthy, yet classy and very beautiful. I would love to do this for you... Call me and we'll talk.

Photos from PrestonBailey.blogspot.com

Por Favor

2008-08-16T23:32:00.000-07:00

I came accross a wonderful website today that I thought I would share with you all. http://www.papermart.com/ It has some wonderfully inexpensive favor boxes, tins, and much more. If you are still wondering what you can do as a favor for your wedding guests, then do yourself a favor and check this site out for some wonderful ideas.

ALOE lujah

2008-08-10T23:13:00.000-07:00

I love succulents! I love them for my patio, I love them for my kitchen windowsill, but how about a little succulent & orchid combo seen here for a wedding centerpiece. Wouldn't this be a wonderful earthy & long lasting centerpiece, especially here in warm & sunny Arizona? I would love to see this on a chocolate satin tablecloth. Or for a big splash of color on a bright magenta tablecloth. WOW! For you non flower & plant people out their, succulents are water retaining plants. They store large amounts of water in their leaves & stems. The storage of water often gives succulent plants a more swollen or fleshy appearance than other plants. Perfect for our desert climate.

Calling all brides....

2008-08-08T14:06:00.001-07:00

Brides love the Bridal Fashion Debut. This awesome bridal expo is going to be held in just a few more months. Ladies, time to mark your calendars for Saturday January 10th and Sunday January 11th. Come see all that there is to offer at the Phx Convention Center. My booth will be located right accross from the David's Bridal booth and not too far from the Azteca Wedding Plaza. What a perfect way to come out and meet me, see some of my personal work, ask questions, register for free give aways, and enjoy all that the Bridal Fashion Debut has to offer. I am very excited as this will be my very first time participating in a bridal fair. Don't miss it. For more info go to: http://www.bridalfashiondebut.com/

Summer Weddings: Top Tips for Summer Flowers

2008-08-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

I took this from theknot.com as it was a great article about summer flowers....... However, the photo to the left is my summer wedding work. It was a tropical themed wedding done poolside at the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center. My bride also had a steel drum band and a lei for the minister. It was great! Here is some great advice for summer weddings.

We talked to top florists to get tips on how to keep your summer wedding flowers fresh.

Choose hearty flowers
Opt for flowers that will stay fresh throughout the entire day. Look for ones with a waxy texture to ensure staying power. Hawaiian blooms, such as orchids, are a great option (check out cymbidium and dendrobium orchids). Ginger halcyons, birds-of-paradise, tiger lilies, and even roses will champion high temperatures too. Buying local flowers is another way to go; blooms that are in season in your area will more likely survive a long day in a bouquet. Check with your florist to see which ones will work for your venue.

Maintain your blooms
When it comes to wedding flowers, the higher the temperature, the more upkeep they'll require. Have them delivered the day of the wedding and make sure there's a refrigerator on-site to store them before the ceremony starts. Also, be mindful of your flowers during photography sessions. When your photographer isn't snapping away, have a friend or bridesmaid hold your bouquet in a shady spot, or place it in a vase of cool water. If your blooms will be exposed to the summer heat for an extended amount of time, keep a spray water bottle on hand and give your flowers a light misting every hour or so. Summer brides -- beware of oversized bouquets. A smaller, hand-tied bouquet will hold up in the heat better than a full, cascading one.

Opt for bright and bold colors
For the color of your flowers, check out which flowers will be in bloom around your ceremony and reception site, and consider bold versions of those hues. For an outdoor or semiformal wedding, think violet, hot fuchsia, mango, magenta, and green. Wine colors and deeper shades are appropriate for formal weddings, like dark red roses or deep purple lilies. When it comes to casual weddings, sunflowers are a great option since you only need a few to create a vibrant pop of color.

Choose the right centerpieces
You have plenty of summer centerpiece arrangements to choose from. If you're having a formal ballroom wedding, go for tall vases overflowing with a mix of bold and deep-hued flowers accented with feathers or gems. To create a modern vibe, display monochromatic green, orange, or even yellow blooms in clear Lucite containers. For an outdoor wedding, consider wooden containers filled with colorful, locally grown flowers. During the cocktail hour, daisies in simple Mason jars will perk up the space. Or look into potted centerpieces so guests can take them home as favors.

Fleuroscope

2008-08-03T02:15:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday, so what better way to celebrate than to share with you the floral horoscope for August. Click the link below to read yours:

http://www.teleflorist.com/FLOWERBLOG/post/Flower-horoscopes-for-August.aspx

I'm a leo or a Sunflower according to Teleflora here is mine:
Leo: July 23- Aug. 22 / Flower: Sunflower

There's something you've been talking about doing for several months, maybe even years. Now is the time for action. If you need help, ask and you will receive. Meanwhile, be sure to savor the rest of summer: outdoor concerts, picking flowers from your garden, a day at the beach.

Silk vs. Fresh flowers

2008-08-03T01:10:00.000-07:00

Gone are the days when silk flowers were only for home decor. Now in the new millinium of floral design, silk flowers are made to look as real as possible. Many brides are now asking, can I do silk vs. fresh? I say, YES! Especially, here in Arizona, when weddings are not a common event in the middle of the summer. However, I suggest using the highest quality silk flowers possible. This way they look real and photograph more naturally. Most importantly your wedding guests will be asking, "Are those real?" The great thing about silk is that they will look great and last throughout the entire wedding, even in 115 degree weather. Matter of fact, they will last forever. Which saves you money getting your bouqet freeze dried and preserved. Now that I gave you the pros on silk, let me give you the cons. Silk does not mean cheap. Most high quality silks can run $5-$20 per stem, which is just as costly or in some cases, even more so than fresh flowers. The other con is that there is no scent, and they are made of plastic/silk/wire/etc... There is no right or wrong type of flower that you choose. Do what is best for your situation. I have even done some weddings that had fresh flowers for the bouquets and boutonnieres, yet opted to do silk flowers for the centerpieces. It worked out wonderfully!

Pictured above: Silk bouquet of white lilies, purple hyacinth, hydrangeas, and fillers. Photo provided by: Ever After Floral Creations

Pictured above top: Silk stem of candied cherry blossoms is tall clear vase. Photo provided by: Event Essentials & Ever After Floral

Centerpiece help

2008-07-17T01:08:00.000-07:00

Centerpieces are the most important thing at the table! Ladies, please don't skimp when it comes to your centerpieces. They are the focal point, where the eye is drawn when your guests walk into that expensive room you just rented for the night. You must put most of your emphasis into them. My big tip is to be sure and find out what your venue provides. If they provide glass tiles, mirrors, candles, vases, or table runners......then use them. Let your floral designer know what you will be able to get from the venue and they can be sure and take advantage of those items and use them on your tables, or even on the cake table, or wherever you might need some flair. Us designers can get pretty creative with that too.

When choosing your centerpieces:
1) Choose flowers that compliment the bridal/bridesmaid bouquets.
2) Know how many tables you will be needing so that you can give your florist the correct count.
3) Have a budget in place so that you know what your limit per centerpiece will be.
4) Know what size the area the centerpiece will be placed.
5) Never be afraid to ask your florist for some of her own ideas!!!!

Above photo: All white flowers, stargazers, dendrobium orchids, stocks, curly willow tips in Mikasa vases. Photo provided by: Ever After Floral Creations