Don't Eat This Easter Egg!

 Can you believe the couple from this week's wedding told me to give away all their reception flowers?   So friends and neighbors will have beautiful flowers on their Easter dinner tables. What can I do with all the fragrant light pink Hyacinths?......hmmm.....Here's what I came up with.  Smells delicious -without the fat or calories.
                                                       Have a Happy, Hope-full Easter.

Design Show Favorites

To flower lovers this is breathtaking!  At first glance I thought it was a Begonia. With a  closer look I knew it was a Hydrangea. It's a' Japanese' Hydrangea. Yes, they're really grown in Japan and shipped to the US.  They're only available for about two weeks a year and are very, very expensive; but if I were a bride again I would have to have at least one of them in my bouquet.

                                         .........and some of these Helleborus

                                                 and a few of these gorgeous Dutch Peonies

                                                       and definitely these Coral Double Tulips

                                                                  some of these  Lisianthus

                                                      and lots of purple Fringed Tulips

                                          a few more of these Coral Double Tulips- they're just so amazing,

         Oh my! It might just end up as big as this bride's bouquet ~  I wouldn't be able to carry it!  Good thing I'm already married :). 
                                Wedding season is about to begin.  Happy Easter everyone!

Longing for Spring

Will it ever come?  Little signs of spring are in my garden, but it sure doesn't feel like it.  Hyacinths, Peonies and Hellebores are peeking up through the dirt.  I am sooo ready for the yard work; that's how weary of winter I feel!  I decided to take a short break from writing proposals and look through my files of flower pictures to make myself happy on this rainy, cold day.  Here are a few from the past that I've been saving for such a time as this.

 A floral pot-pourri ...................

Photo by Brooke Courtney Photography

So I spent a day cleaning, organizing, ordering supplies and anticipating the new wedding season.  Even though I was cleaning I was in my happy place back in the flower shop.  I'm looking forward to a design show this weekend in NJ where my need for a flower- fix will be fulfilled until my first spring wedding.

Flowers for Showers

The Baby Shower Theme for Lindsay was Rubber Duckies. Of course we needed flowers for the centerpiece at the buffet, so I sculpted floral foam to make a duck using yellow Cushion Poms.  The duckie's beak was made of craft store foam sun visors. This little duckie sat in a baby swimming pool filled with ice, party food and drinks.

Amy's Baby Shower Theme was 'Puppies'. I used floral foam iglus and sculpted foam.

  White cushion poms, ribbon, button eyes and a pacifier make up this little pup.  One for each table, for take home game prizes. Now that's a lot of flower puppies!

Jessie was given a few bridal showers; one of which was a 'Lingerie' Shower.  So again I sculpted a few pieces of floral foam to create a bustier.  It's made of Roses, Spray Roses, Button Poms, Mini Carnations and Hydrangeas.

                                                 These cute  invitations were handmade by Amy. 

  At another bridal shower for Jessie I set up  a 'Flower Bar'.  Somewhat like a Candy Bar at a wedding.
  A beautiful table full of a large variety of vases filled with all kinds and colors of flowers.  We gave each guest a flower sleeve and said " Now make yourself a beautiful bouquet to take home with you".  That was a huge hit!  Everyone's bouquet looked a little different.  They loved making their own take -away gift!
 
Now we have another very important shower to plan.........Jessie's Baby Shower!  She and Doug are expecting their first son in July.  Three daughters giving us three grandsons..... Yahoooooooo!
                    So now I need to come up with another idea!  I will post the details later.........
WEDDING SEASON WILL SOON BEGIN AND WE'RE GETTIN' READY! Bring it On!

Wedding of the Year 2010

This is Katie and Jason.  Aren't they adorable?

This is Katie and Jason's cake topper.

Can you believe this is made of paper??

Here are close- ups.

The details of the wedding are even at the base of this incredible cake top.
The artist is Katie's bridesmaid.  Her name is Alissa Johnson.
Contact information:  alissa.johnson@gmail.com
Please email her and tell what an incredible piece of wedding art she has made!!
She may even make one for you!

The vintage books, mason jars, crocks and such that decorated the guest tables...........

Jason's Boutt.

Katie's Bouquet

Bridesmaids bouquets

The beautiful photography is by Wren and Field Photography  This picture is my very favorite!

This beautiful bride, Katie McMenamin, from Philadelphia is a talented wedding photographer herself. 

 Her wedding, engagement and kid's photography is so beautiful too!

Please check out these websites and blog- it will surely make you smile.

Some of the  images were posted earlier and were taken by my daughter Jessie.  Just a little re-cap so you can see why this wedding is my choice for " Wedding of the Year".  It's the personal little touches that were so lovingly handmade by her family and friends.  It was Katie and Jason's personalities that I enjoyed so much, and of course the seriously remarkable cake topper that has completely blown me away! 

To all the wonderful couples that we have done wedding flowers for in 2010,
 I must say that each of you hold a special place in my heart, and I loved doing each one of your weddings.
                                       Thank you, thank you for one terrific wedding season!
  Now on to a New Year and we're really getting excited for what we will be doing for all the couples we've  met, and are yet to meet.  I hope my blog inspires you!

Pretty Maids All In A Row

                                                                          Alyssa

                                                                          Ashley

                                                                                      Kari

                                                                 Karen and her 7 Flower Girls

                                                                                  Jennifer

                                                                                Katie


 I spent a couple hours with my dear friend Kris McElligott of KMPhotography this week and she so generously shared with me some great images from some of the weddings that we did together.
  All  of these brides were pure delights to work with and I'm having a great time remembering their weddings.  So often I post the wedding details and rarely get a picture of the bride and her bridesmaids- so I was very excited that Kris gave these to me. 
  It was an awesome year of weddings for ATB and we are so thankful for each couple that put their trust in us to make their day beautiful. 
  Oh how we love what we do!

A White Christmas Wedding Reception

  Rebecca and Oscar met with me in the summer of  '09 to talk about their vision for their December wedding.  After attending the  'Best of Weddings' show at the Lancaster Convention Center they hired our entire design team! It was great working together on that show, and so fun working together again on Oscar and Rebecca's wedding.
  The ceremony took place at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.  A truly beautiful historic landmark church in downtown Lancaster. 
  The bride's bouquet was all white Siberian Lilies, and the bridesmaids carried blue Hydrangeas with white Dendrobium Orchids. 
  The pew markers were white Orchids and Italian Ruscus which was later taken to the reception and made into a large hanging snowflake for over the center of the dance floor. Large white Poinsettias surrounded the altar.  (Sorry- I have no images of any of the above described.)

Vendor team was:  Shumaker, pdt. for lighting,  Special Occasions for linens,  Renee Connors of Designs by Renee for their stationary, Kris and John McElligott of KMPhotography, Derek Dienner of Lavon Films, Martine Cajas of House of Clarendon for their wedding cake,  DJFreez for the music, and ATB for the flowers and decor. What a treat to also be included as guests.  We had a great time enjoying all our labors of love throughout the evening.

Silver trees were the centerpieces for the 3 round bridal party tables.  The bases were embellished with glass bead garlands and snow.

The beautiful pipe and drape with blue lights and garlands twinkled behind the Bride and Groom's elevated sweetheart table.
Glass bead garlands with white Spider Mums created an icy-snowy sparkle effect to their table.  Silvery white linens draped to the floor was done by Claudia of Special Occassions.

Crushed ice in footed cylinder vases with White Birch Branches, Baby's Breath and crystals for some of the guest tables.

All guest tables had cylinder vases in various sizes with snowflakes inside and floating candles.

Personalized stemless wine glasses filled with kisses for every guest.

Lights and crystals on beautiful silver trees.

Eiffel Tower vases with snowy clouds of Baby's Breath for some guest tables were lit with blue lights as well as pin- spot lighting by Shumaker, pdt.

The atmosphere was magical. Eden Resort did a first class job serving delicious wedding fare. 

 DJFreez kept the dance floor packed all night long. 

What an awesome celebration of love on a very cold, rainy, windy winter night.

Best wishes for a lifetime of love and happiness to Oscar and Rebecca.  Thank you for the privilege of being a part of your beautiful  'First Day' of marriage.

Special thanks to my wonderful 'Team Beautiful' for an outstanding job, and to Jessie for taking pictures for this blog post.

Merry, Merry Christmas to all!!!