Shawna and Steve's Elegant Backyard Wedding

Sometimes the floral consultation is the very first time a couple really thinks about flowers for their wedding day.

In the case of Shawna and Steve, our first meeting happened after months of correspondence. And ideas that had started out shadowy and vague, had become strong and definitive. Their vision would combine flowers, foliage and vines  into  woodsy and elegant designs that would complement an intimate backyard setting for the wedding and reception. 

And now it's so rewarding to see the reality of that vision in these stunning images taken by Rebecca of Rebecca Ames Photography.

Traditional flowers such as roses and hydrangeas shared the stage with garden flowers grown at Springwell, such as fragrant herbs, dahlias, gomphrena, tuberose, and Queen Ann's Lace. Textural elements such as lamb's ear, curly willow, and seeded eucalyptus were woven together with rich dark green Star Jasmine vine, and delicate Love in a Puff vine.

The feel was romantic and light, from the loose and flowing creations that adorned the arbor (created by Steve and his Dad), to the lanterns mingling among flower filled vessels and vines that swept down the center of the tables.

 

 

               

It was a privilege to create the floral designs for this sweet couple's wedding.

Be sure to check out Rebecca's Wedding Page to see more images from this beautiful wedding. She did an incredible job of capturing the all the elements that go into telling the story of their wedding day.

Peach Juliet Roses for a Garden-Style Wedding

Augusta loved the idea of wedding flowers that had a garden feel to them. Summer flowers in peaches and ivories and lots of greens- soft silvery greens and fresh summer greens as  

well as touches of silver and rich texture. It was great coming up with recipes that combined blooms from the garden such as peach colored dahlias and zinnias with wedding favorites such as peach and ivory spray roses and Juliet garden roses.

Vintage sewing drawer and fragrant cedar wood boxes were filled with nandina, illicium, seeded eucalyptus and Dusty Miller and layered with lots of lovely blooms.

Clear glass compotes added more interest to the reception designs.

All in all I think that my bride and her family were very pleased!

Dahlias for Stunning Centerpiece Designs

This is the third year of growing dahlias at Springwell Gardens, and I am looking forward to creating some beautiful bouquet and centerpiece designs for my couples later this summer and fall. 

 

The Café Au Lait dahlias definitely are eye-catching with colors that vary from blush-beige to soft lavender. The summer flowers are a bit smaller than the fall blooming ones. Here they are paired with Love-in-a-Puff vine, Queen Ann's Lace, lamb's ear and the peachy-red shrimp plant.

Bride-to-Be is a charming medium white flower, and Prospero is a lovely lavender pink. Cosmos, feverfew, foxglove and vinca vine complete the design in this vintage pitcher.

The Snoho Doris dahlias are varying shades of peach with soft yellow hues. They are featured in the design above with lamb's ear, ferns, zinnias, cosmos, foxglove, and gomphrena.
Look for these beauties and more from summer through late October!

Anemone and Ranunculus Centerpiece Designs for Spring

Anemones and ranunculus are probably the two favorite springtime bloomers at Springwell Gardens.

Anemones will actually start up during the winter months and slowly gain momentum through April. By mid March the ranunculus are joining in.
The bold faces of anemones with their dark eye and the full flounced ruffles of ranunculus are a nice contrast in floral designs.

I love to use them for wedding bouquets, but they are also stunning in centerpiece work as well. In  March they may be paired with other locally grown flowers such as Bridal Wreath spirea, Winter Daphne, pussy willow and hellebore.

And as springtime moves into April they are joined by leucojum, snapdragons and viburnum and the slightly fragrant buds of Spice Bush. In May they .

Foxglove for Beautiful Bouquets and Centerpiece Designs

Foxglove is such a regal flower in the garden and also in wedding designs.

Some varieties can produce flower spikes that are up to five feet.  Here at Springwell Gardens, the shorter varieties such as Camelot and Dalmation are grown.

These plants usually top out at 3 to 3 1/2 foot with about two foot of the stem covered in beautiful bell shaped flowers.

Foxgloves will be available in raspberry pink, lavender, white and peach from mid April through mid June. The tall spires make a lovely statement in ceremony and centerpiece designs.

And the side lateral stems which are much shorter are great for wedding bouquet designs. 

Sweet Centerpiece Designs for Spring and Summer

I am always on the lookout for something a little different to add to wedding flower designs...

whether it's a unique flower to try in the garden, a new way to present bouquets for delivery, or new centerpiece containers. So here's the latest item to catch my eye- sundae dishes.
These make lovely vases for casual, eclectic reception designs. They work with a variety of flowers and would be charming for spring and summer time weddings. The image above shows them filled with springtime bloomers such as anemones, Spanish Bluebells, muscari, viburnum and pansies. The next design features late spring flowers such as peonies, nigella, yarrow and penstemon, and old fashion Fairy shrub roses.

The designs below show them with late summer flowers such as dahlias, zinnias, African Blue Basil, crested celosia and fragrant herbs.

It's such a refreshing way to welcome guests to your reception!

Can't wait to share this idea with my brides!

Wooden Boxes for Centerpiece Designs

My husband Wilson made some wooden boxes a couple of years ago for our daughter's wedding, and I have loved designing with them ever since.

So whenever I see boxes at a thrift shop or flea market, I grab them up. They are the perfect containers for couples who want to bring a rustic elegance to their reception designs. 

These centerpiece arrangements created for a summer bridal shower were filled with flowers from the garden such as Queen Ann's Lace, Lamb's Ear, Love-in-a-Puff vine, Mountain Mint, zinnias, dahlias and more.

Below is a sewing machine box filled with zinnias and black-eye Susans for an inspiration shoot by Blest Photography.

And for the foodie- kale, purple hull crowder peas, and pattypan squash add a playful touch to this fall design.

Lantern Centerpiece for Winter and Spring

Last post about lantern centerpiece designs featured this lantern and this box with summertime flowers.

But lanerns are great for any season. For late winter and early spring, the wooden tray can be filled with cool season flowers such as pansies, hellebore, Winter Daphne, daffodils and anemones. These flowers are available (depending on the weather in the South) from mid February through April.

And for year round interest consider using lanterns with flower strewn wreaths.

This wreath was created with loosely woven of curly willow branches, then twined with mixed foliage such as Love-in-a-Puff vine, Dusty Miller, and a light scattering of peach colored spray roses. Other material can be used according to the seasons.

I love how versatile lanterns are, and so do many of my brides!

Lantern Centerpiece Design for All Seasons

Lanterns continue to be a great design feature for wedding receptions. There are lots of ways to dress them up with and without flowers.  Here is one of my takes on lantern centerpiece designs.

It features a low wooden box in which the lantern is centered, then surrounded by seasonal flowers, foliage material and moss.

It's a great design that sits low enough on the table for guests to enjoy one another's company without the centerpiece blocking their view.

Flower choices change with the seasons. This design features summer flowers such as monarda, gomphrena, feverfew, zinnias, and succulents.

Jewel Tone Anemone and Pansy Centerpiece and Bouquet

The garden beds are starting to crank out some real beauties! It's so exciting to watch tall stems of white and purple anemones unfurl to show off dark velvety centers. .Hellebores are starting to mellow to a mint green, and bridal wreath spirea and flowering almonds have reached their peak.  These are just some of the flowers of spring!

Here are a couple of designs that take advantage of these lovely flowers as well as others such as ranunculus,  hyacinth, viburnum, pansies and muscari.

 Muscari and pansies are delightful flowers, but they have short stems, so they had to be given a separate water source to use in both of these designs.

The ethereal beauty of these flowers makes them a joy for springtime weddings!

Zinnia and Dahlia Centerpiece In Jewel Tones

The zinnias continue to crank out. One of my all time favorites is this little beauty called Queen Red Lime. Had trouble finding seeds earlier in the season, so I don't have many  plants this year.

But I did find seed later, so there should be plenty of plants next year. .

This design, created with flowers from the garden, features zinnias in pink and wine, white and lavender summer phlox, Mountain Mint, Karma Chocolate Dahlias, wheat and crested celosia and a petite dahlia called Jitterbug.

Just add some foliage such as glossy ternstromia, lamb's ear and wisps of Love-in-a-Puff vine, and you have one very elegant centerpiece!