Succulent Wedding

Simple succulent weddings. I love including succulent rosettes in bouquets and arrangements. These succulents were grown here in Oakland, and the dahlias were grown in Half Moon Bay.

Photos courtesy of www.MicheleBeckwith.com

I also love simple weddings like the one featured here. The client asked Gorgeous and Green to provide the bouquet and boutonnieres for the Bride and Groom, family and special friends. There wasn't a big wedding party full of 10 bridesmaids in pink taffeta or 15 groomsmen in rented shoes. There weren't huge crystal candelabras or 7 layer cakes. Sometimes we can do those things and try to be as sustainable as possible (rent the candelabras and taffeta) But sometimes keeping those things off the list can actually make it easier to be sustainable with the concentrated amount of decisions left to make in a more simplified wedding.

The magnificent redwoods and ferns that make the lush landscape of Stern Grove in San Francisco was plenty ceremony decor for the couple. I've asked the photographer for some up close shots of the bouquet, since it was so lovely, but in the mean time you can peruse these lovely shots of the couple from afar. Very romantic.

G&G

Small and Simple doesn't have to be Blah

Last year Gorgeous and Green did the wedding flowers for a couple who were having an intimate gathering in the North Bay. The bride had some specifics, like purple veronica and dahlias. Her groom was going to wear an orange bow tie so she wanted some orange pieces. I decided to make the bouquets and centerpieces "wow", with lots of dahlias in bright and mellow oranges and pinks. I also threw a bunch of wispy ferns in and around the bouquets, to give them a lot of texture. They came out looking spectacular and the bride loved them.

Although the wedding was small and the budget was on the smaller side, the flowers added such a nice and snazzy touch. And of course, all the flowers were locally grown and the dahlias and sweet peas were non-sprayed and organic.

As a florist, I read the client right and made an artistic statement that hopefully she will appreciate for a long time. If you are a bride looking for something out of the ordinary, you'll want to pick a florist who can tap into their creative and unusual side. It's also important to share your style and likes/dislikes with the florist and most importantly, make sure you give them space to be creative!