Giving Thanks With a Grateful Heart




Thank you to Thomas Beaman photography for these images.

Time again to ponder all the things that I'm thankful for.  My list is very long, so if you don't like 'reading' blogs (like me), then you won't like this post.  There is only one picture this time.

   First of all, I'm thankful for the great life I have.  The gifts of my supportive and loving husband, 3 wonderful daughters, my 3 sons in law, and my  little guys Hudson and Kole. And my loving parents.  My dear friend just had to say "See you later, Dad"  this week and that makes my parents even more cherished right now. 

  To be chosen and trusted  by dozens and dozens of couples to be a part of their wedding day is something I am truly grateful for.  Not only is it a career that I have, but every week I am able to work with the most incredible wonders and beauty of nature.  I'm blessed with very talented and hard working staff that do everything they can to follow the motto on my shop's chalkboard:  "Make it Beautiful!"  

  My fellow florist friends. We help each other with resources for products,  share our inventory when needed, , go on field trips, have lunch to "talk shop", and even send clients to each other.  Six of us enjoyed having a group photo shoot together for  Lancaster Magazine.  Thanks to Martine of House of Clarendon for making it all happen at Cork Factory.  It was the first time I met the owners of Flowers by Paulette, Splints and Daisies, and Country Flowers.  And it was great to see the owner of Petals With Style and Flowers of Mount Joy.  We're all in this together and there is so much to gain by being friends.  No need to feel competitive or jealous over each other's successes.  We all work very, very hard to be the very best we can.  We all know what it's like to pull all-nighters, and how it feels to be at the end of wedding season.  

 I'm thankful for the kindness of Mari Beth (Flowers by Paulette).  She went right to her shop after the photo shoot and handmade a ribbon banner for me for my  friend's dad's funeral.  No charge, just a random act of kindness.  In these days  of worrying about the economy and the competition it is just so good to be a part of a group of  'wedding people' who march to the beat of a different drummer. 

  One more thing I'm thankful for is my blog readers.  Thank you for taking an interest in what we're doing at All Things Beautiful.  For making the time and effort it takes to blog worth it.  I hope you take the time to make your 'Thankful List" too.  Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Designer's Choice

Purple Anemone

The Bride's Bouquet- white Dahlias, Freesia, Roses and Buplurem

Bridesmaids wore brown and carried bouquets of  Amber and Circus Roses, Hypericum, Kangaroo Paws, Anemones, Mini Gerbera and Dusty Miller

Boutts. were Safari Sunset Leucadendron and Seeded Eucalyptus

The bride is a Doctor, the groom is a renown Chef.  They came all the way from Colorado to be married at the Casa di Fiori near their families.  When I met with the bride she said ...." Make my bouquet all white. To the Groom's boutt.  add chili peppers. Use  fruits and vegetables in the centerpieces, and make it bright colors- "Designer's Choice"!   So the colors at the venue work perfectly for this wedding.  Special Occasions Linens dressed the tables beautifully.
We added artichokes, kale, peaches, plums and white pumpkins with Sunflowers, Roses, Hypericum, Parrot Tulips, Mini Gerbera, Lilies, Hydrangea, Curly Willow, Esclepias, Anemones to name just about half of it.
  What a pleasure working with a bride that gives us design liberties. Thank you Dr. Thomas ,and may God bless you with a very happy marriage ( and a lifetime of having your husband making you fabulous dinners!)

Gorgeous, Classy ,Spooky & Fun

It's a Halloween wedding done in a classy, yet fun way.  Melissa, a nurse and Justin, a teacher planned a beautiful traditional wedding ceremony with a fun Halloween reception at Casa di Fiori at Leola Village Inn.  The ceremony took place in front of the fireplace.

Candy Corn Topiaries, made by Amy,  for the Escort Card Table. 

Later, Jasmine Clouser of Couture Cakery would come to transform this table into an amazing dessert and candy buffet.

Beautifully decorated lighted pumpkins line the aisle.

The bride carried a bouquet of deep dark purple Swartzwalder mini Callas, Uluhe Fern Shoots with sparkling accents, Moon Shade and Moon Vista Carnations and Cymbidium Orchids.

Bridesmaids wore beautiful gray dresses and carried bouquets of Mini Callas, Stock, mini Cymbidium Orchids, Italian Ruscus, and  a collar of Mini Hearts Monstera leaves.

  The bride wanted something 'different' than the traditional round bouquet.

Flower Girls carried spheres of green Poms and Tissue Statice.

Sparklers even look great before it's dark!

Justin carefully lifts all the layers of Melissa's beautiful gown into the limo.

Then after the sparkler exit, the guests exit and returned in costumes to celebrate the rest of the evening.

When Justin and Melissa made their grand entrance they were wearing crowns with Shrek ears.  So fun!

You'll definitely love the images that Jeremy Hess Photographers will be posting!!!

A few centerpieces were little lanterns with moss, candles and floating Dendrobium Orchids.

The rest of the centerpieces were large silver candelabra from Eagle Rentals wrapped with a garland of Amnesia and Black Bacarra Roses, Green Mini Hydrangea, Antique Hydrangea and Orchids.  The table numbers were uniquely made with cut-outs and a purple light inside to make it glow.

The gift card 'Coffin'. ..... "Deposit Souls Here", it says.

A shower gift from the Groom's Mother.  The groom is putting a spider ring on the bride's finger.

Byers Butterflake Bakery-mmmmm!

Sweets and Treats by Jasmine Clouser of Couture Cakery.

Great working with you on this, Jasmine!

And thank you to Team Beautiful:  Amy, Lynne, Jesssie, Joyce, and Rose Marie -3 big weddings this weekend with energy to spare! 

Best wishes to Melissa and Justin.

The other 2 weddings will be posted in the coming weeks.

Brilliance

Brilliance describes these fall colors. Circus Roses, Red Mikado Spray Roses, Shiny Red Hypericum, orange Mokara orchids, Green Mini Hydrangea for the Bride.

The ceremony took place between the pine trees on the lawn at Cameron Estate.  Lots of orange and yellow rose petals line the aisle and a bed of petals for the Bride and Groom to stand in.

Curly Willow and orange Gladiolas.

Hydrangeas and roses in mason jars hang from the shepherd hooks.

Bridesmaids wore green dresses and carried Mango Callas tied with satin ribbon and twine.

Guest tables

Sweetheart Table

In place of a guest book- a good wishes box.

Caramel Apple Favors

Adding our good wishes to Brian and Kathy for a great life together. 

Autumn's Warm Colors

Time to get back to blogging.  So many weddings, so little time to blog.

Here are the pictures, not too much time to write. 

Oregonia, white Lisianthus and white Freesia~ this bouquet looks like a hand-full, but is very lightweight and smells like heaven.  One bridesmaid told me that Kelly was holding it so she could savor it's fragrance during the ceremony.  When I went back that night, she was still holding it. (smile)  Warmed my heart.  No way was this pretty bride tossing her bouquet!

Bridesmaids carried Lisianthus, roses, Kangaroo Paws, Spider Mums, China berries & mini Gerbs.

       Reese's Pieces are the perfect fall colored candy.  I loved these clear leaf -shaped favor boxes.  

                                ...............and white mini pumpkin place card holders

                       Pottery Barn lanterns with Wheat Grass, candles and fall flowers. 

Head table with Cocoa Silk Runner from Special Occasions

                                          Wedding Cake by Byers Butterflake Bakery

Vintage Wedding Style

Katie, a photographer from Philadelphia and her fiance Jason were married in the Cobblestone Courtyard at Lauxmont Farms.  They love vintage items; perfect for a rustic barn reception.  So shopping they went, then brought me boxes and boxes of really old rustic crocks, blue Mason jars, teapots and cups, old drinking glasses, and tons of old, old books.  Some children's books and elementary readers, some old Bibles, one titled "The Devil In Bucks County", and "Runaway Ralph".  Each table was different and definitely made for interesting table conversations.  So we stacked them up, and filled all the vessels with flowers in lots of colors.  Katie's bouquet was white Mini Callas, Freesia and white Majolika Spray Roses with silvery-white Artemesia/Dusty Miller.  I wish I had a picture of Katie in her wedding dress.  She was a picture of modern/vintage loveliness.

Bridesmaids wore  beautiful chocolate brown satin dresses and had bouquets with Miracle Roses, Lemon Drop Roses, mini Sunflowers, Asclepias, Motso Moto Asters, Lilies, Dianthus, Artemesia, Dahlias and Athos Poms and Mini Gerbera. 

Boutts. were Craspedia (aka Billy Balls) and Kangaroo Paws

Handmade details make a wedding so personal.

One of the best handmade details I have ever seen,( of which I have a picture on my cell phone), is a cake topper made of paper.  It is  bride and groom that seriously look just like Katie and Jason, clear down to her dress and his suit!  Whoever made that could market them and make a boat-load of cash!  Truly adorable.  When I figure out my new phone I'll post it, but don't hold you're breath.  Not only am I not a photographer, I'm not a techie either.

Best of everything to a very adorable couple. Here's to Katie and Jason!