I nearly cried when I couldn’t find these images.  I have recently done quite a few funeral pieces for women but only a couple for men.  This particular design was for a well respected professor who suffered with a heartbreaking disease.  The family allowed me to interpret their vision, when they told me he was a Botanist, I was thrilled to be able to use more unusual flowers and textures and was so honored to be a part of the service.

I can’t explain it, but I struggle with purple.  Whenever I try to think up something incredible in purple it doesn’t click for me.  It happens to be my baby girl’s favorite color but happens to be one of my least.  Still, this bouquet was super last minute and it turned out pretty, I think….

I wish I could pull something off as breathtakingly purple as this, by Ella Bella Floral in Logan, UT.

Sarah was my out of town bride with a lemon lime vision.  She was the sixth generation bride to be married in the Manti temple, what an incredibly sentimental, special experience!  She did a great job executing her theme down to the lemon-lime & orange lollipops for the kids and petite favor boxes with what else?  lemon lime sweets!

For the centerpieces we designed loose, playful arrangements with grass and sliced citrus.  The bride loved her bouquet and told me “it belongs in a magazine”, what a compliment!  Thank you Sarah, you were wonderful to work with!

Flowers used: Green Cymbidium Orchids, Papaya Roses, Yellow Freesia, Green Kermit Poms, Green Hydrangea, Orange Mokara Orchids, Yellow Dubium, Yellow and Orange Asiatic Lilies, Craspedia, Coxcomb, Tulips (opened by hand), Orange Calla Lilies, Yellow Calla Lilies, Yellow Iris, Beargrass

Cake by: Lauri Olsen

I have to admit, when Natalie first told me her wedding colors, I was having trouble picturing it all together but I have to say, it was unexpected, delicate and feminine and I think everything turned out beautifully.  One of my favorite things about her front yard reception was that she used colorful patio seating areas, which was so adorable!

Flowers used: White Cymbidium Orchids, Yellow Fever Few, Yellow Freesia, Geraldine Roses, Spray Roses, White Hydrangea, Curly Willow, Camelia, Burgundy Snapdragons

Cake by the fabulously talented Lauri Olsen

Just in case you are wondering, it is offensive to walk into a store for the first time without looking around and say “What should I expect from you?  I am from a big city and I am used to really nice flowers”.  We are not untalented and completely un-cultured in rural Central Utah.

Please realize when you buy from any flower shop you are not just buying flowers, you are paying for design.  If you don’t care what kind of design you get, you can go anywhere and get a cheap vase full of flowers.  I am an thoughtful, experienced floral designer so when you say “I don’t care for the way you do that”, it is offensive.  Maybe consider saying instead “I appreciate classic, traditional design” and then I will know, you aren’t looking for a thoughtful combination of textures and colors.

I realize not everyone appreciates the art of floral design and I don’t expect everyone who walks in my door to like what I do, I do expect some kind of respect and courtesy for my craft.  Just because I choose to plant my design pants down in an unexpected place doesn’t mean anything other than I love it here and want to share my talent with the people who make it great.

Flowers used: Scabiosa, Scabiosa Pods, Ranunculas, White Dove Roses, Anemones, Fern Curl, Millet, Gardenia, Andromeda, Bay, Safari Sunset

Cake by: Fawn Miller

White and Peachy Coral Ranunculas, Coxcomb, Seracena, Andromeda, Scented Geranium (which I am slightly obsessed with lately).

The perfect combination of my spring favorites: Peonies, Astillbe, Viburnum, Ranunculas, Hyacinth, Scented Geranium, Birch

Green Hydrangea, Green Ranunculas, Green Parrot Tulips, Green Hanging Amaranthus, Green Cymbidium Orchids, Green Berzelia, Green Button Mums, Bells of Ireland, Reindeer Moss, Scented Geranium and Super Green Roses

Cake by the super talented Laurie Olsen

We did this bouquet a couple of weeks ago using Vendela Roses, Berzelia, Garden Roses, Lisianthus, Ranunculas and Bayleaf.  It turned out a beautiful mixture of delicate textures.