Wedding Art

Jessie and Doug received yet another beautiful wedding gift on Christmas Day:

 A painting of their wedding begun on-site by artisit Nancy Perotti.  We were so pleased with what she chose to paint and how wonderfully they turned out; what a treasure.

 Jessie and Doug really love art, in fact they first met in a high school art class, so they really appreciate this.

 Lighting their candle in prayer is a great reminder of the spirtitual significance of their marriage.

  I love how Nancy captured the details of pansies down the aisle and the hanging vases of flowers in trees.

In the shadows we can see Erika and Jessie's new sis, Sondra.

Nancy surprised us with another painting of the parade of children.

When I asked Nancy about the concept of painting on site during a ceremony she was excited about the idea, and agreed to do that for us.  The dampness in the air that day made it difficult to do, but she certainly didn't disappoint us.  She finished her work from photos she took while there and the end result was beyond what I imagined.  It meant a lot to me that she was willing to do that, and the best part is that Jessie and Doug will always have a piece of art to remember their wedding day.

Want to contact Nancy Perotti to paint your wedding?

sunflowergallery@yahoo.com

Welcome to My Home this Christmas

My intention was to get pictures of all my holiday decorating and starting with the back porch door, invite you in. (Don 't they say back door guests are best?) However I am a very, very poor, photographer and I couldn't get any lighting right with my little digital camera, so this is all I have.  Even this isn't good, but I wanted all of you blog watchers to know that I would've loved to welcome you into my home this Christmas to have a cup of coffee and some homemade sugar cookies and a little inspirational 'wedding talk'. 

This is the time of year that I really enjoy switching gears for a short time and focusing on the wonderful Christmas Season.  Then in January I'm diving into all my new wedding books (that hopefully will be under the Christmas tree), signing up for design seminars and looking for new ones to attend this winter.  I take some time to sift thru all of  the pictures I've tried to take of our work-and decide which are going to make it onto the website or blog, as well as gathering from my photographer friends some of their fabulous images of our work.

  I also love to have some of my 'wedding friends',  over for lunch to chat about all things wedding.  Last year we took a  'field trip together to NYC to a big Bridal Show, which was great fun!

 And best of all I spend lots of time meeting with brides, grooms and moms to plan their wedding flower decor.

It's been a great year and I'm so thankful for each wedding we were blessed to do.  So in closing on this last blog before Christmas (well, maybe I'll do another one-) I leave you with an image of this inspirational carved frame I have in my home.  It's one that makes me stop and think- and try hard as the New Year approaches, to remember to apply these things to my life. Hope you get something out of it too.

Merry, Merry Christmas

Best of Weddings Show 2009

Well, it was the wedding show of my dreams!  No cramped 10x10 vendor booths and a maze for the crowds to push thru.  It was wedding eye -candy to the max!!!  Such tremendous attendance and so much wedding buzz that it made all the hard work and expense so worth it. 
Jonnaysa Kirkham gets the credit for Wedding Show perfection! You wanna talk about passion, energy and attention to detail???....she had all the bases covered and was relaxed, calm and smiling all day long.

This was the Spring Display using Tulips swirled under-water with a floating candle and lovebirds.

Couples with a tight wedding budget appreciate the simple, yet unusual centerpieces.

Leslie Gilbert just sent me a few shots she took of our team's Heritage Ballroom on the third floor of the Lancaster Convention Center.  Check out her blog for the 2nd floor team's display.

This was a guest table in our Winter display.  We used white birch branches in our footed cylinder vase with crushed ice and white tulips.  Tulips are one flower that continue to stretch and grow in the warmth of candles and the lighting in the room.  These tulips definitely stretched that day!

In our Fall display we used a giant artichoke for the center of long tables that formed an X. It was filled with purple artichokes, Scarlet O'Hara Peonies, Silver Dollar Eucalyptus, Purple Intergrefolia and Parrot Tulips.

 It would be ideal for a small wedding where all the guests sit at one large table for a wedding feast, or as an over-sized Head Bridal Table.

And then of course the purple Cauliflower.

It was fantastic working with a first-class team of Central Pa. wedding vendors.

Rod Shumaker,

Renee Connors

Martine Cajas

Jeremy Hess

Cynthia Fry

Events Central

If you want to see Jeremy Hess' pictures then log onto:  www.pictage.com/758759

The event key will be: November22

As of today, Tuesday the 24th, they are still being prepared for publishing. But keep checking back in.

More images will be posted when I receive them.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  Let's be mindful of all our blessings.

Would you believe... Purple Cauliflower?

On my weekly trip to one of my many favorite  'happy places', which is downtown Lancaster's Central Market, I saw something that inspired me for one of the 4 Season's table displays at the Best of Weddings Show.
 If you come to the Show, find me and mention that you saw this on my blog and you will have your choice of flowers from any of my 4 displays at the end of the show.

The Halloween Wedding

The couple planned a hot air balloon wedding but the weather didn't allow for the balloon to launch, so the wedding took place at the Eden with just the closest family members.

The Bride's favorite holiday is halloween so she wanted her flowers, centerpieces and wedding cake to reflect it.

I designed her bouquet with Orange LA Lilies and black raven feathers.  The stems were wrapped in black ribbon with orange button details.

Centerpieces were hurricane globes with lots of spiders crawling over it and black candles. Flowers used were  orange mini Gerbera, Pumpkin tree, Japanese lanterns, Kangaroo Paws and Curly Willow tips.

The wedding cake was made by Renee of Bella Manse.  Notice the 2 little bats flying against the moon!

Only 2 more weeks until the biggest, best wedding show around: 

http://www.bestofweddingsbridalshow.com/

Are you coming???

Catching up on a couple recent weddings.

 From the first wedding at the Cork Factory.  Green Mini-Cymbidiums

                       

Kristi was a wonderful bride to plan wedding decor with.  She had so many decorative elements that she really loved and  wanted to somehow have all of them.

The elegant reception was held at the new Marriott in downtown Lancaster.

 The beautiful bride carried an all white bouquet of Hydrangeas, Lisianthus and Freesia.

  Bridesmaids wore gorgeous black dresses, and carried hot pink and light pink Roses with pink Hypericum .

Rehearsal dinner centerpieces made of Spider Mums in black vases did double-duty on the credenza in the pre-function area.

A classy display of Manzanita branches with Good Wish cards to hang and rose petals was the first taste of all the good things awaiting inside the ballroom for the guests.

The Head Table was a grand size with a gorgeous lacey, sequined overlay that sparkled like diamonds under the professional lighting done by Studio Jenz, a local event company. One hundred -twenty white Super Dendrobium Orchids were bursting out of our new footed cylinder vases and placed down the length of the extra-long table.  If you look closely at the head table, you'll see the place cards are those folded paper finger games we used to make when we were kids to guess who we would marry.  Kristi loves the details....my kind of bride!

An elegant pink candy buffet was being set up by Marriott staff when we were leaving.  (Sorry, no picture )

Wedding Planner Jonnaysa Kirkham and her team were as always, a delight to work with.

Beautiful wedding cake by Rosie's Creative Cakes

Leslie Gilbert Photography documented the day.  Her blog slide show is amazing!

Congratulations Kristi and Jeff. We loved being involved in such a wonderful day in your lives.  ATB wishes you a happy lifelong blessed marriage.

Next post:  A Halloween Wedding!

Next big event for ATB

This is a' must-see' for all of those in the beginning stages of their wedding planning.  Each of 3 ballrooms at the Lancaster Marriott will be fully dressed for several themed wedding receptions that will blow you away! 

The 3rd floor ballroom is where we are teaming up with Stationer Renee Connors, cake designer Martine of House of Clarendon, Jeremy Hess Photography, Event Designers of Shumaker pdt, Occcasions DJ's,
Events Central rentals and Special Occasions, linens.  This is our big chance to pull out all of our very best, most creative ideas for each of the Seasons and work as 'design teams'.

More than that, there will be a fabulous fashion show, food, entertainment plus gift bags for registered brides and giveaways.
Register in advance online soon for discounted admission.
http://www.bestofweddingsbridalshow.com/

Fall Weddings

The Casa di Fiori at Leola  Village Inn was the venue of the day.  After 3 days of gloomy, rainy, cold weather, we were happy for all those couples getting married today.
  I forgot to take bouquet pictures, but we got a few of our reception centerpieces.  The bride wanted earthy items and fall colors of oranges, purples and greens.  The head bridal table was a large square for 16, so we filled the center from corner to corner with moss, orchids under glass and succulents with lots and lots of candles, plus large vases of Curly Willow branches with Cymbidium Orchids hanging from them. 

Some tables had unique candle holders that we added Circus and Black Bacarra Roses  and Orange Freesia with Green Hypericum.  One table had all Freesia, one had all Orange Dahlias, one had all Green Spider Mums, and one with Purple Picasso Callas. All centerpieces were on a bed of moss with roses and candles.
  The wonderful staff at Casa Di Fiori with Stephanie Lambert and Scott Hengst made it easy for us to work creatively on this unique wedding.  We were given 'design freedom' by the bride and that is always so enjoyable, but it takes a great venue and staff to allow us to do our creative best.
  My  'Team Beautiful' designers Joyce, and daughters Amy and Lindsay did me proud today-thanks girls!!!
It's always a pleasure to be teamed up with Jonnaysa and Diana from Planned Perfection.
Special Occasions provided the gorgeous linens.. they always do a great job suggesting the perfect linens for the venue.  Thanks Cynthia !
  And our best wishes and congratulations to Jessica and Greg.  Wishing you a whole lifetime of love, health and happiness.

  Later I'll blog our first 'halloween wedding!

The New Cork Factory's First Wedding

It's Lindsey Dukeman's wedding day! Lindsey is the friendly face of Hamilton Ballroom, and now also of  the new The Cork Factory  She's been assisting with hundreds of weddings in the past few years, and today it was her turn to be a beautiful happy bride, marrying Brad. 

Lindsey and Brad's invitations had lovebirds on them, and she used them throughout the decor

on the table numbers, cocktail tables, little salt & pepper shakers on the sweetheart table, and on the wedding cake.  Just enough, not overdone.

Beautiful linens from Special Occasions.

Below Rosie Rohrer assembles and finishes another cake masterpiece.

Lovebird details.

It's so exciting to have a another beautiful venue in Lancaster County.  It's a great  historic building and has been beautifully restored and enhanced.  The Powder Rooms are a must-see!

To make an appointment to see the Cork Factory for your wedding reception go to:

http://www.hamiltoneventsinc.com/

Wedding season is winding down in the next couple months, and we're looking forward to putting on the best wedding show EVER, the Sunday following Thanksgiving.

Patriot News Wedding Style Magazine

My husband 'just happened' to pick up the Harrisburg Patriot News at work and noticed a nice full-page feature on wedding planner, Jonnaysa Kirkham of Planned Perfection.  He had no idea the picture of the flowers was our work, he was just so excited to see Jonnaysa in the magazine, so he put it on the kitchen table for me to discover this morning.  What a nice surprise to wake up to.   Kris of KM was the artist behind the lens.  She always wows me with shots of the details.  Thanks both of you!

This week Lindsey, of Hamilton Ballroom is getting married, and we're designing her flowers!!  Her wedding is the first to happen at the new 'Cork Factory' venue.  I'll be sure to be posting some detail pictures.  (That is if I can get any decent shots!!)   

Very exciting upcoming wedding event-not to be missed!

Birght Colors for a wedding at Stoudt's Black Angus

Bridesmaids wore dark blue and carried bright colorful bouquets of Sweet Akito Roses, Hot pink Motso Moto Asters, Orange Babe Spray Roses, Bright Blue Volkenfreiden, yellow Waxflower and purple Alstromeria.   Designed in color groupings rather than scattering them throughout so each flower  is highlighted.

Bride's Bouquet was made of hot pink mini Callas, Mango mini Callas and yellow Sun City Spray Roses.

The Head Table for 16 was a large rectangle.  Three pilsner vases, (very fitting for a brewery), had Curly Willow branches, orange Lilies, Volkenfreiden, and green & yellow Spider Mums.  Cylinder vases with floating candles and purple Hyacinth bean, and lots of votives filled the length of the table.

Two kinds of Guest table centerpieces .....

Purple Hyacinth Beans were added for a bit of interest to the low centerpieces.  Oranges and limes added to at the Groom's request. 

Fun House Mirrors are in the entry to the  venue.  What a hoot, especially for those that have had a few drinks!  Jessie and I looked like munchkins with cone-heads!

Strands of crystal beads with light pink spray roses attached for a backdrop hung at the ceremony area.

Five  Grandmothers carried a tiny colorful bouquet.  Colorful handmade programs made it very personal.

~Congratulations to Tabitha and Jason.  Wishing you a lifetime of blessings and love.~

Chocolate and Pink

Each bridesmaid carried a different shade of pink roses. Left to right: Light Orlando, Topaz,
Esther, Espirit and Aqua. Looks so pretty with chocolate.

Bride's Bouquet was Engagement Roses, white Mini Callas, and Alchemilla. Fall wedding season is soon here and we have some exciting ones coming up; 2 of which are at the new Marriott/Lanc. Convention Center, then the Best of Weddings on Nov. 22.

An all B & W Wedding

Bride's Bouquet of White Peonies, Tulips, Mini Callas and Viking Poms. This wedding will be in the Knot soon. http://www.kmphotographyweddings.com/ shot this one in Harrisburg in May and submitted her work. This is 'our shot' of the bride's bouquet. I'll be posting when the issue hits the stands. Kris' photography is always being chosen for publication, we're just the lucky ones to have done the flowers! Thanks Kris, again......... and if you can book her, let me tell you; you're one lucky couple to have her document your wedding day!

Each bridesmaid's bouquet was a single kind of flower, and each centerpiece was a different white flower and that's how each table was named rather than numbered.

Here's a simple idea for high top cocktail tables................ .... mini Cymbidium Orchids in a wide cylinder vase. So many colors to choose from. You could float a candle on top too.

And now to show off my little birthday boy Kole. He has such a happy heart and will wear any hat you put on him. We'll probably be in trouble for the fuzzy birthday crown in a few years, but he's GG's boy!

Hudson is 16mos, going on 3 yrs. . He's adventurous, curious and calls me 'Gig-ee' These little guys "melt my heart like a popsicle on the 4th of July",

( as quoted by Darla in the 'Little Rascals').

Busy wedding week. Hope I get chance to take pictures of flowers, we'll see......................