Reason 1: Cost 
Per Lizzo, all the rumors are true- yeah. It is more cost effective to have a winter wedding. Most venues in Vermont offer off season rates which can be more than ½ off in season rates. Other vendors, like us, drop our minimum spend so you are able to book with vendors that may have not been able to before.

Reason 2: Availability 
Most wedding vendors in Vermont slow up considerably in the off season. Therefore you have a much wider pool to pick from. During the summer and fall months you have to think about booking vendors 12 to 18 to even 24 months out if you really want them. With off season weddings, that isn’t the case typically. 

Danielle and George tied the knot at the Old Lantern Inn in Charlotte, Vermont in the early spring. This fun loving couple wanted romantic flowers to match their sweet and romantic wedding. 

Danielle opted for a fun twist on the classic blush and white color palette by adding a pop of pink with raspberry scabiosa. 

Vendor Credits:
Photography: Anne Mientka Photography
Venue: The Old Lantern Inn
Flowers: Tipsy Tulip Designs 
Hair: Shear Envy Salon
Makeup: Emily Littler MUA

Elizabeth and Nick tied the knot in an elegant wedding at The Essex Resort in Essex, VT in late May. Elizabeth, a fellow local wedding photographer, had a clear vision for her day. She dreamt of lush florals with a soft and feminine color palette. She wanted a large floral moment to wow her guests and knew she wanted to make that moment somewhat unusual too.

For Elizabeth's bridal bouquet she wanted something garden style-esk but still refined and elegant to match her other florals. She wanted minimal greenery to allow the soft flowers to really shine. Elizabeth and Emily decided that quicksand roses and blush astilbe would be the perfect pop of dusty pink to compliment the white flowers in her bouquet. 

The Essex Resort provided the couple with a beautiful clean white blank slate for them to decorate for their reception. The couple opted to stick with the white elegant vibe and dress up the tables with large gold compote vases and taper candles. 

One thing the couple wanted to was recreate Elizabeth's grandparents classic wedding photo of the young couple in their car. Elizabeth and Nick found a similar car from Country Boy Classics in Enosburgh, VT and we're able to pull off the photo recreation of a lifetime. 

Are you planning to use peonies in your wedding flowers? Were you surprised to learn that peonies aren’t always available despite the idea that in today’s day and age you can get anything at any time? ​

Emily - The Barn at Smugglers’ Notch - Jenna Brisson Photography 

Emily’s bouquet is fairly self-explanatory why it’s here. It’s big, it’s bold, and yet still soft and romantic. TBH this bouquet also won us the 2021 Best of Flowers award from Vermont Weddings. This bouquet is filled with local goodies like cafe au lait dahlias, garden roses, lisianthus, panicle hydrangea, gomphrena, and bunny tail grass. Along with those local blooms, this bouquet also features some other blooms we sourced from our local wholesaler. Those blooms include thistle, ranunculus, astilbe, pampas grass, bleached ruscus, and a variety of eucalyptus.

Erin - Top Notch Resort - Henry Cotton Photography 

Erin’s bouquet was an all-round favorite from everyone. It is a classic garden-style bouquet with all white flowers and a mix of greenery. All white flowers with mixed greenery is one of the most requested palettes we get. While some may think it’s boring or plain we LOVE it. We find it to be timeless, elegant, and fit any theme or style you have for your wedding. Erin’s bouquet featured peonies, ranunculus, dahlias, stock, garden roses, lisianthus, veronica, hypericum berries, italian ruscus, and of course a variety of mixed eucalyptus.

Abby - Lilac Inn - Colette Kulig Photography 

Abby’s bouquet was another classic favorite of a white and blush palette. Getting married the first week of June, Abby knew for sure she wanted peonies everywhere. When creating Abby’s bouquet we started off the the obvious, peonies. We then added in ranunculus, stock, roses, veronica, lisianthus, hypericum berries, thistle, italian ruscus, olive greenery, and silver dollar eucalyptus. Eucalyptus is technically off-crop in the spring and early summer so locating it can be a little tricky. Luckily we are able to pull from a variety of different vendors to source the eucalyptus. 

Carly - The Barn at Smugglers’ Notch - Zack Griswold Photography

Carly’s bouquet is twist on the blush and white palette by adding in some punchy pinks. Originally Carly dreamed of coral charm peonies in her bouquet but unfortunately, they were not in season locally or internationally. Peonies are locally available from late May to mid-June. However, from July in to part of August, peony growers in Alaska can ship those beautiful blooms to us. From there the peonies are pretty much impossible to get until late fall early winter in November / December timeframe. However, there are many garden roses that offer the same ruffly petals as a peony. In Carly’s bouquet, we used Yves Piaget Garden Roses in place of the peonies. The rest of Carly’s bouquet was filled with ranunculus, garden roses, spray roses, anemones, and a variety of eucalyptus. 

Nichole - Stowe Mountain Resort - Amy Bennett Photography 

Nichole’s bouquet was a fun punchy fall palette with of shade of burgundy, orange, copper, and white. From the start, Nichole knew she wanted something more bright and vibrant to complement the beautiful foliage Vermont has. The other thing Nichole knew she wanted was dahlias. We were able to source some beautiful local dahlias for her bouquet from a local flower farmer, Bridget’s Bouquets. Nichole’s bouquet also featured cherry brandy roses, snapdragons, ranunculus, pom mums, spray roses, alstroemeria, italian ruscus, and both seeded and silver dollar eucalyptus.

Alexa - Maqaum Barn & Winery - Anne Mientka Photography 

Alexa’s bouquet is one of our favorites because of the flexibility we had with it. Yes, it is technically a burgundy and blush bouquet. However, we were able to incorporate more of a dusty rose/ mauve tone in place of the traditional light pink blush. In Alexa’s bouquet, we added some unique goodies like astrantia and the mauve lisianthus that gave her bouquet that “wow what is that flower” factor. We were also able to include all of our favorite flowers such as the Hearts Rose, thistle, hypericum berries, anemones, and ranunculus. You know we finished off this bouquet with a variety of eucalyptus and israeli ruscus.

Maddy - White Rainbow Farm - Anne Mientka Photography 

Maddy bouquet was another bouquet that we had a lot of flexibility with. Her vision was a palette of mostly white and pops of blue. Blue flowers are incredibly rare in nature however we were able to snag some beautiful local light blue delphiniums and blue anemones. We also added in some blue thistle which not only is an incredibly long-lasting blue flower but one that adds some great texture to the bouquet. For the white in her bouquet, we added Tranquility Garden Roses from Grace Farms, veronica, hypericum berries, solomio, poppy pods, sword ferns, italian ruscus, and parvifolia eucalyptus.

Monica - Round Barn Inn - Ellen Sargent Photography 

Monica’s bouquet was a soft feminine bouquet filled with tons of fluffy petaled goodness. This is the type of bouquet that we love to refer to as classic elegance. The main star of her bouquet was white peonies but they were quickly followed up by romantic antique garden roses, coral ranunculus, watermelon ranunculus, stock, astilbe, anemones, lisianthus, billy balls, italian ruscus, olive greenery, and jasmine vine. Yup, no eucalyptus at all! Truth be told, we kinda liked it and that is just another reason Monica’s bouquet is on our favorite’s list of 2021.

Marianne - The Barn at Smugglers’ Notch - Todd Stoilov / Still & Motion

Marianne’s bouquet was a must-add to our list of 2021 favorites because we finally got to incorporate succulents into a bouquet! We added a few larger focal succulents to her bouquet and wired in a few smaller ones to act as fillers as well. This gave Marianne’s bouquet not only a unique color palette but also some great texture. Along with the succulents, we also incorporated roses, stock, anemones, lisianthus, thistle, olive greenery, italian ruscus, and a variety of eucalyptus.

2021 was certainly a year to remember and I hope you all found our favorite 2021 bouquets just as beautiful as we did. We can’t wait to make this a tradition and next year and share our 2022 favorite bouquets. We may or may not already have one on our list. ​

With 2022 wedding couples booking us earlier than normal, we are getting a little sneak peek into what 2022 weddings will look like. While some of them may not surprise you, others just might! Here are some of the trends we are seeing with our 2022 wedding couples and their wedding flowers. 

Did any of these trends surprise you? Are there any trends you'll be participating in for your 2022 nuptials? Leave us a comment below of your favorite 2022 wedding flower trend. 

The 2021 wedding season will be like no other, to say the least. While 2020 had its fair share of challenges, postponements, and firsts, we are prepared and looking forward to a busy 2021 season. 

This is something we have been watching and dealing with in real-time and we feel it is something that is important to share with everyone. Back in March of 2020 when the world shut down, the fresh-cut floral industry struggled. You may have seen the photos or news stories of fields of cut flowers being destroyed or seen the Dutch auction come to a halt. There is an image of flowers from the Aalsmeer flower auction that will forever be etched into our memory. With over 200,000 large blooms the message was clear, #LetHopeBloom. 

I know a few of you may be thinking well, that not in America. Which, for some part, is the truth. However, American florists rely heavily on other countries such as the Netherlands, Columbia, Ecuador, and others to get the volume and special varieties they need for large events like weddings. One of the leading growers of those stunning garden roses, Alexandra Farms, is located in fertile savanna Bogotá, Columbia. 

We promise this blog isn’t to scare you or upset you. We want to keep all our couples up to date and let them know what steps we are taking to stay ahead of this situation and deal with the upcoming unknowns. We are resilient and resourceful. We will deliver you beautiful wedding flowers for your special day. That is our promise and we intend to keep that promise at all costs.

So what steps are we taking to combat the global fresh-cut flower shortage?

• We are ordering early and often from our local wholesaler.

We have been blessed to have formed an incredible relationship with our local wholesaler who is keeping us up to date on the current happenings and status of the market. Curious what is in their cooler right now? Check out this link to view their frequent cooler tours! 

• We are actively seeking out more local farms to purchase from.

We have recently been in contact with a local farm called Unity Farm in Charlotte, VT, and are excited to be purchasing from them. We pick up our first order of tulips for our mothers day bouquet from Unity Farm next week! We also have recently joined a group of local farmer florists in an effort to purchase more local blooms. 

• We are building a larger cut flower garden this year at our studio. We have invested in hot ticket flowers such as peonies, garden roses, and hydrangea. 

Fall of 2020 we put in over 50 new peony plants and expanded our flower gardens to make room for more hydrangeas and specialty roses. We have also bulked up on our annual seeds and hope to start over 250 annual flowers for this season. Yes, these plants will need time to grow but we are actively seeking out more plants and reconfiguring our space.
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We know this is not the news you want to hear but it will get better. We will do everything in our power to get that specific rose variety that you love but please have an open mind. We promise you will LOVE that Combo Rose or Honey Dijon Rose just as much as a those highly prized Toffee Roses. Check out the comparison below!
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 Toffee, Combo and Honey Dijon Roses (in that order). 

I know what you're thinking, but what about daffodils?! Well, to be honest, daffodils do not play nice with others. When a daffodil is cut the stem secretes a milky substance that can poison other flowers and actually kill them. For that reason we skipped them in our 10 must have spring flowers for your wedding. However, if you are dead set on having them in your bouquet we do have a few work arounds to incorporate them.

​Which flower above is your favorite? Are you planning to use any of them in your spring wedding? Let us a comment below!  

Boutonnières, also know as "buttonholes", are most notably worn by the groom, groomsmen, and male family members of the groom. However, we have been seeing them become more popular for females as well! They should be worn on the left lapel of the man's suit jacket. Boutonnières have a long history. Historians believe that they can possibly be traced all the way back to the Egyptians or the Aztecs. Boutonnières seemed to have gain popularity as a fashion accessory in the 19th century. The choice of a fresh boutonnière was as important as a pair of freshly shined shoes. Moving into the 20th-century and present day, men transitioned the boutonnière into more of an accessory for their wedding day ensemble. Typically the groom's boutonnière matches the bridal bouquet and the groomsmen and fathers/family have similar style boutonnières. Though, we have seen a rise in all matching boutonnières lately.

Photography by: Jenna Brisson Photography

So how much do boutonnières typically cost? This of course varies on many factors such as the focal flower and other flowers being used, the attachment style (i.e. pin on, magnetic or other), and the finished wrap style. Traditionally florists used to just wrap the boutonnière stems in plain green tape. We think that is a little outdated and more prom than wedding though. Some of the most common stem wraps we do include twine, satin ribbon, and silk. A standard boutonnière will usually cost between $19-$22.

Photography by: Shem Roose Photography

It's the wedding day, and you're ready to pin that boutonnière on but you are not sure how. Depending on the man's attire, you will have to choose the correct method for the application. For grooms who are wearing a traditional suit, the boutonnière will be placed on the left lapel. Place your thumb on the underside of the lapel and firmly grasp the front of the boutonnière with your index finger. Once the boutonnière is in the correct place gently fold back the lapel to expose the underside. Gently push the pin into the fabric starting from the outer edge of the lapel. Continue to push the pin through the stems and back into the underside of the lapel. Think of a sewing stitch! If you have a heavier boutonnière you can place another pin in about a 1/2" below the first one. Remember you should be pinning through the top of the stem where it is the thickest. 

Photography by: Coryn Kiefer Photography​

Have any other questions regarding boutonnières? Drop them in the comments below and we will be happy to answer them! ​

Please note this post may not be up to date pricing as the 2022 and 2023 wedding season flower shortages have effected the pricing from both local farms and large wholesalers. We have seen anywhere from a 10-15% increase on the cost of wholesale flowers and greeneries. 

This is often a question a lot of couples come to us with, “How much do wedding flowers really cost?” or “How much should I spend on my wedding flowers?” The answer to this question is completely personal and something individual to each couple. There are a ton of different wedding blogs and websites out there saying you should spend only 8-10% percent of your total budget on flowers. While that % could be totally accurate for you and for individual situation, we find that couples we work with tend to spend a little more, somewhere in the 12-15% even up to 18%-20% range. So let’s break it down! What does a $1,500, $3,500, $5,000 and $10,000+ budget look like. Please remember these examples are based on an in season wedding in New England with roughly 4-6 attendants on each side and roughly 100-125 guests. This of course does not include tax, delivery or any breakdown fees. 

$1,500 Budget 

Most Common Flowers and Greenery Used: 
hydrangeas, sunflowers, alstroemeria, tulips, stock, gerbera daisies, mums, standard roses, carnations, leather leaf fern, lemon leaf, isreali ruscus 

Bridal Bouquet: $215-$235
Bridesmaid Bouquet: $105-$125
Boutonniere: $18-$19
Centerpiece: $40-$50

Couples who have around a $1500 budget usually pick up their flowers or have them delivered to their venue. (We do not offer setup weddings or full service weddings under $3500.) This means we create all the bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces and other flowers for you and deliver them to you ready to use. This is a great option for couples who are on a budget or are looking for an affordable, easy and convenient flower experience for their wedding. Typically couples who opt for this are not very picky about flower choice. They typically have a color palette and style but aren’t set on having a lush peony bouquet. 

Photography by: Great Impression Portrait Studio​

$3,500 Budget

Most Common Flowers and Greenery Used:
peonies, ranunculus, astilbe, anemone, delux roses, garden roses, lisianthus, dahlias, eucalyptus, huck, olive, italian ruscus 

Bridal Bouquet: $275-$295
Bridesmaid Bouquet: $145-$165
Boutonniere: $20-$21
Wrist Corsage: $45-$55
Centerpiece: $125-$150
Arbor: $325-$475

Couples who spend around $3500 usually have a simple setup wedding. This means all the bouquets, boutonnieres and other wearable flowers are delivered to site ready to be used. The other items such as the arbors or more elaborate centerpieces are assembled on site the morning of the wedding. Typically these are centerpieces that involve loose greenery runners and small amount of other florals in the form of bud vases or blooms tucked into the greenery. The arbor is typically a medium to large sized top corner arrangement with a mix of flowers and greenery. 

Photography By: Darling Photography​

$5,000 Budget

Most Common Flowers and Greenery Used:
peonies, ranunculus, astilbe, anemone, standard roses, garden roses, lisianthus, dahlias, eucalyptus, huck, olive, italian ruscus. (Typically the same flowers as above) 

Bridal Bouquet: $275-$295
Bridesmaid Bouquet: $145-$165
Boutonniere: $20-$21
Wrist Corsage: $45-$55
Centerpiece: $195-$245
Small Arrangements: $75-$95
Arbor: $625-$825
Greenery Chandelier: $245-$265

You’ll notice the cost of the bouquets and other personal flowers stayed the same. We find couples who have roughly a $5,000 budget opt for more lush centerpieces and arbors. If their venue allows they will include a greenery chandelier or two. Some couples also opt to add in smaller arrangements throughout the venue in places like the bar, dessert table, bathrooms and welcome signs. These weddings are typically done as simple setups or full service weddings. Simple setups just like the one above do not require us to come back for a strike. However, if a couple opts for items such as a greenery chandelier or other install, we consider those full service. A small strike fee would be added to the bottom of your estimate to cover our time and travel back to the venue after your event to clean up and breakdown these items. 

Photography by: Ellen Sargent Photography​

Still not sure where you fall on the budget spectrum? That is totally fine! We’d love to setup a complimentary consultation to help you set a budget and create some gorgeous wedding florals. 
Schedule your complimentary consultation below. ​

The Barn at Smugglers' Notch 
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Some of our favorite weddings from both friends and clients have been at The Barn at Smugglers' Notch. From the white shiplap walls, to the gorgeous chandeliers, there is not a square inch of this barn that has not been thought about. Owners Steve and Jennifer take extreme pride in their venue and it shows!

One of our favorite ways to dress up the venue is to add greenery to the chandeliers and staircase. We often find wedding couples opting for greenery garlands to run down the farmhouse tables as centerpieces. Adding the greenery to the chandeliers above helps to bring out the cozy vibe and adds a touch of color. It's a great, fairly affordable option to really dress up the venue and keep your guests talking about your special day.

The location of the barn is another thing we feel we should note. It is tucked into the hills of Jeffersonville and offers a stunning mountain backdrop for your ceremony. While the fields around offer beautiful wildflowers in the summer, the venue truly comes alive in the fall. The foliage here in the fall is out of this world.

Photography by: Ellen Sargent Photography & Coryn Kiefer Photography 

Vermont Swiss and Bloom Farm 

The Vermont Swiss and Bloom Farm is a dreamy barn located in Enosburg Falls. This 1850’s hand‑crafted timber frame barn is surrounded by beautiful gardens of lush blooming hydrangeas. Once you open the doors to the interior of the barn you will immediately fall in love with the character and unique features the barn offers. Our favorite feature (besides that grand staircase) are the chandeliers and vintage couches!
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The farm also offers a large farmhouse for you and your wedding party to stay at. With 7 bedrooms this house holds a ton of people and is the perfect spot to get ready for your wedding. This venue also offers a fire pit! Talk about the perfect wind down to the perfect evening.

While this hasn’t been done at the barn yet, we dream of doing greenery dripping from all the exposed beams and a lush floral install that frames the vintage couches. Thinking of having your wedding here and wanting to create a floral magic moment to wow your guests? We’re happy to do an onsite consultation to show you the endless options that can be done!

Photography by: Great Impression Portrait Studio

The Inn at Burklyn

The Inn at Burklyn is a sprawling estate on 86 acres of lush grounds surrounded by beautiful mountain views. This luxurious mansion is located in East Burke, Vermont but it is totally worth the drive! The mansion itself houses 14 ensuite bedrooms for couples and guests to stay at. The Inn at Burklyn offers multiple ceremony sites with both our favorite being the intimate garden and greenhouse area. 

One of the most notable features at Inn at Burklyn is the gorgeous greenhouse tucked off to the side of the inn. In the summer the greenhouse is crawling with beautiful green vines and blooms. We find that the greenhouse offers a beautiful spot to hang a floral chandelier. Other than the greenhouse, one of our other favorite spots to decorate with florals is the large porch. 

The Inn at Burklyn is certainly a must see for couples who are looking for something a little different than the traditional Vermont barn wedding. We have near endless ideas of how to dress up this beautiful mansion and cannot wait to be back here designs soon.

Photography by: Coryn Kiefer Photography 

Which venue could you see your self getting married at? Do you have any must see venues for us to check out? We love to hear from you all and cannot wait for our next adventure. 

​​Today we had the pleasure of speaking with a couple of amazing wedding photography pros! These pros are here to give us their best advice from selecting your wedding photographer to the must-have photos on your wedding day and beyond. Let's introduce these amazing wedding pros quickly before we jump into the fun stuff! 

Amelia, the owner of Amelia Marie Photography, is based out of Burlington, Vermont but serves all of Vermont, New England, and beyond. Amelia is truly an adventurous soul and is not afraid to jump in headfirst for her couples. Amelia has that warm personality that just invites you in. You will truly leave any session with her feeling like you've made a new friend. 

Ellen, the owner of Ellen Sargent Photography, is based out of Boston, MA but has some very strong ties to Vermont as she grew up on the shore of Lake Champlain. One of our favorite things about Ellen is that she has mastered the art of simultaneously streaming a Boston Bruins game while catching up on the most recent episode of The Bachelor. We have worked with Ellen numerous times on weddings and her talent has never ceased to amaze us. We were recently featured on Vermont Weddings with Ellen after she reached out to us for a Surprise Spring Mini-mony for some of her amazing clients. Check out the feature here!

We curated a list of questions for Amelia and Ellen and they so graciously answered them all in great detail. 
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• Since wedding photographers are one of the most important vendors for couples to book, what is the single most important question that they ask you. 

Both Ellen and Amelia agree, one of the most important questions is most easily the first question you should ask, "Are you available for our date?" Ellen says it's really important for her to hop on a call, zoom, or (pre-pandemic times) meet up for coffee with couples before they book. Ellen always tells her clients if you don't feel like we vibe, go with your gut instinct and choose someone you do vibe with. You should of course follow up with other more important questions like pricing and packages but keep it simple to start off. Amelia has a great blog called 15 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer. We highly suggest you check out her blog after you're done here! 
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• When does a couple typically book your services? 

Amelia says, "At least a year in advance is a good rule of thumb. However, like most other wedding vendors, photographers have experienced many postponements and reschedulings in 2020 and 2021. So, keep in mind your dream photographer may be booked farther out than normal due to COVID." Ellen followed up to say, "I'm booking into September 2022 and beyond, which is the furthest out I've ever booked. With this pandemic wreaking havoc on the event industry, I think that any "rules" that existed before March 2020 are out the window!"

• On the wedding day when do you typically arrive? Do you have a suggested number of hours to book? 

Ellen helps couples create a wedding day timeline that best suits their photography desires. Both Ellen and Amelia agree that 8 hours seems to be the sweet spot for coverage. Amelia says that her typical wedding day starts at noon to 1pm and end anywhere around 8-9pm in the evening. This allows your photographer time to get everything from those getting ready shots to those dirty dance floor shots. Ellen says she rarely stays to the end of the reception. She said those late-night photos are best shot on your iPhone. 

• What is your favorite photo to take on the wedding day? 

Amelia says, "I love taking the opportunity to step away from the celebration with just my couple to snap a few portraits at golden hour. It gives the two of them a moment to really soak it all in, and I get to capture them in the most beautiful light of the day!" Ellen agrees but says, "Ohh, that’s so hard to answer! While I work hard to make everyone feel comfortable in front of my lens and assist with posing so there’s no excuse that my clients are “awkward in front of the camera”, my favorite images are often not from any of the posed portraits. I live for candid photos. The photos that freeze time forever and let my couples look back at the belly laughs they shared with some of their favorite people."

• What about photos couples tend to overlook and then wish they had taken later on? 

Both Ellen and Amelia agree that is it so important for couples to create a shot list so that they don't miss those must-have shots. Amelia noted though her style is very candid, authentic, and in-the-moment. However, she makes a point to still get those priceless photos of grandparents, dads, sisters, brothers, etc. Ellen says while she works incredibly hard in the planning phase to ensure it doesn't happen usually if it does it is due to things that are out of everyone's control(like the bus breaking down on the way to the wedding venue). Woof! Sounds like that has happened before. 

• As a wedding florist, we are a huge lover of detail shots. What are some items that couples should have on hand for those detail shots? 

Both Ellen and Amelia recommend having some items on hand for detail shots but think it is a task best delegated to a wedding party member or family member. Ellen says some of the most common items to have on hand are: a full invitation suite, shoes, jewelry, rings (both bride’s and groom’s), any special heirlooms, veil, and dress are typically photographed. She suggests couples consider bringing an attractive hanger so we’re not left to use the one the dress was stored on or one from the hotel’s closet. Ellen says some couples opt to purchase a ring box from The Mrs Box to play on their color scheme and elevate their flat lay. Side note, we love when couples ask us for some styling blooms. Those tiny pops of florals also help add some dimension and interest to your detail shots.

• Do you think it is important for couples to have an engagement shoot with you before the wedding?

Amelia and Ellen both feel so strongly about the importance of an engagement shoot before the wedding that they include it complimentary in their wedding packages. Amelia says, "It’s a great way for the couple to get to know their photographer and vice-versa, as well as have the opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera and break the ice a bit before the wedding day so you know just what to expect." Ellen says she loves doing engagement shoots because if your portrait time on the wedding day gets cut short, we can still get a lot of awesome shots because the couple has already experienced a couples session and knows the posing, prompts, etc. You spend more time with your wedding photographer than anyone else on your wedding day so it is so important that you are comfortable with them.
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• If you could give couples any last advice when scoping out a wedding photographer what would it be?

We really resonated with Amelia when she said, "My biggest piece of advice would be to invest in a photographer that fits your personality and style." We could not agree more with that advice as it is something we often preach to our own couples who seek us out for wedding florals. Both Amelia and Ellen agree it is important to do your due diligence by not only looking at their social media but also asking for a full gallery of images so you can see what the finished product may look like. Ellen noted, "Do keep in mind that each galley is shot with the couple's vision in mind, so while it might not be exactly what you'd want, look through the lens of do you like the style, do you like the edits, and do you like the overall vibe?"

Thank you so much Ellen and Amelia for letting us #AskTheExperts and breakdown some photography questions. We have worked with Amelia and Ellen many times and a lot of photos in our portfolio actually belong to them. We highly suggest you check them out if you are in the market for a wedding photog. We will leave links to them below! Who do you want to see us chat with next? Venue Owners? Caters? Bakers? Let us know in the comments. 

Ellen Sargent Photography 
Amelia Marie Photography

  #BouquetBreakdown - The "Lindsey" 
​This winter bouquet breakdown holds a special place in our hearts as it was for a dear friend of ours. The bride, Lindsey, and her now-husband are huge winter lovers. They dreamt of a snowy winter wedding with cedar garlands and red berries, a true woodland winter wonderland. This bouquet has been highly sought after as inspiration for many winter weddings since and we absolutely love it. 

So why do we LOVEEEEE this bouquet?

We LOVE this bouquet for its simplicity. While most of our bouquets have between 8-12 different floral ingredients this bouquet has only six. The simple luxurious flowers make for a very clean, classic, and elegant design. This bouquet will be something you look back on in 30 years and say, "wow, I am so glad I choose that bouquet."

So let's break it down! 

White Cloud Garden Roses: White garden roses are the epitome of a classic romantic wedding flower. The swirling petals create a soft cushion-like feel. They always pair nicely with peonies and especially eucalyptus. We opted for the variety white cloud in this bouquet as it is a true white rose. Garden roses are available year-round and we give them a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

White Veronica: Veronica is considered a line flower meaning its blooms are lineal. Some other more popular line flowers are snapdragons and delphinium. While veronica is not nearly as large as the other line flowers it does give a bouquet some nice height. The blooms can be placed deeper in the bouquet to only show a green point or closer to the surface of the bouquet showing the white to green gradient. Veronica comes in a variety of colors and is available year-round. We give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Red Hypericum Berries: Hypericum Berries are a unique filler flower that we love. The small cluster of berries adds an element of interest and intrigue. And no, they are not edible but they look it sometimes. They come in every shade of green, red, pink, white, peach, and cream. We also used these berries in the boutonnieres! They hold up extremely well out of water and offer a more masculine feel as they aren't a traditional bloom. Hypericum berries are available year-round and we give them $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Seeded Eucalyptus: The ultimate texture foliage in our book. The tiny seeds pods on the seeded eucalyptus are just so versatile! We love using them in a winter bouquet to offset the softness of the winter greenery like cedar. Seeded eucalyptus does go off crop in the early spring and some parts of the year can have brown cupped seeded instead of the desired green seed pods. We give seeded eucalyptus a $$$ out of $$$$$ rating on our expensive scale.

Parvifolia Eucalyptus: This eucalyptus is fast becoming another favorite of ours! It has elliptical shaped leaves that offer a dainty and feminine touch to the bouquet. Parvifolia Eucalyptus can be found year-round but during certain seasons the tips of the new growth will have a burgundy red tone to them. While it is not as common as the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus it is just as expensive if not more. For that reason, we give it a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Cedar: Cedar is the perfect winter foliage. It gives you the perfect amount on length and fluff in a bouquet all while giving your bouquet a winter feel. Cedar is available year-round however we haven't used it outside of the winter season yet. We have always dreamed of a Christmas in July wedding though! We give cedar a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

What do you think about the "Lindsey"? Doesn't it make you want to get married in the winter with that beautiful snow backdrop and cozy atmosphere? 

Photography: Jenna Brisson Photography 

#BouquetBreakdown - The "Kylie" 
Let's be real, you knew we couldn't do only half of the iconic duo. Very much like the "Kendall" and "Kylie" you are more accustomed to, these bouquets are both special in their own ways. The "Kylie" is soft, she's feminine and elegant. She features some of the classic flowers like roses, stock, and lisianthus but with a twist. We find that the "Kylie" is perfect for those longtime sweethearts who want a romantic and intimate wedding. 

So why do we LOVEEEEE this bouquet?

We LOVEEEEE this bouquet because we got to use some of our favorite flowers that we haven't been able to in a long time. Thanks, Covid.... We love the white, blush, and mauve tones of this bouquet. It's romantic and it's timeless. We also LOVEEEEE the shape. It is a non-traditional oval and we think it compliments the flowers so much more. You know what they say, spread the love!

So let's break it down!

White Snowy Jewel Roses: Snowy jewel roses are another favorite of ours. They have an incredible rose fragrance and open up beautifully. If left to bloom completely, they will open up 100% of the way exposing the inner yellow center. One thing to note is while they are a white rose, they are not as white as a Playa Blanca Rose. Snowy jewel roses have a little more of a cream tone to the center of them but it is something we have come to love! They are not available all year but are most often available during the traditional wedding season. We give snowy jewel roses a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

White Lisianthus: Lisianthus is our most popular wedding flower. Lisianthus is available in a huge spectrum of colors. Yes, even find those hard to get mauves, champagnes, and yellowy apricots. Lisianthus kind of reminds us of spray roses in the way the fresh-cut blooms look. The rosettes in the middle have the same shape as spray roses and open up to reveal a gorgeous center with tiny little stamens. Lisianthus is available year-round and we give them a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

White Mums: White mums are a wonderful substitution for dahlias when they are out of season. Mums have an incredible vase life and come in a huge variety of colors. We know, mums are best known for being those little button-sized flowers you put on top of your hay bales on your front porch in the fall. These mums are much larger and are roughly the size of a dahlia. They are also available in a large more "dinnerplate" size as well. Mums are available year-round and we give them a $ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.  

Amnesia Roses: Amnesia roses are another love of ours. They are so unique and fit every mauvy, dusty pink lavender palette under the sun. When paired with other pastels and ivory flowers they give an antique vibe. However, when paired with brighter tones they give off more of a modern vibe. Amnesia roses are a very unique color and don't have any truly great dupes making them very desirable. While during peak wedding season they can be hard to get a hold of, don't fret! We have our secret sources who seem to always come through. They are available year-round and we give them a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Blush Stock: Stock is such a beautiful timeless flower. It has an incredible scent that is reminiscent of cloves. Stock is said to mean a happy life when added to a bouquet. Stock comes in a large variety of colors from white, blush, salmon, lavender, fuchsia, dark purple, and more. It is available year-round and we give stock a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Blush Alstromeria: Alstromeria is a great inexpensive filler flower. It comes in a variety of colors and typically has 4-7 blooms per stem. Their common name is the Peruvian lily and I am sure you can tell why. They look like mini lilies with their petal shape and bloom structure. Alstroemeria is a very hardy flower and makes a great choice for arrangements that will be out of water for an extended period of time. Alstromeria is available year-round and we give it a $ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Peach Hypericum Berries: These little berries are so versatile and we love sneaking them in everywhere. Did ya notice they were in our last bouquet breakdown as well? While no, they are not edible but they can certainly look it sometimes. Hypericum berries come in every shade of green, red, pink, white, peach, and cream.  Hypericum berries are available year-round and we give them $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Silver Dollar Eucalyptus: All hail the king! Silver dollar eucalyptus is back in our bouquet breakdowns and we've really missed it. This silvery sage green foliage is super versatile and used in nearly every bouquet we create. It always pairs well with other eucalyptus varieties and contracts dark foliage like ruscus. Silver dollar eucalyptus is available for the most part year-round but does go off crop for a short stint in the spring. We give silver dollar eucalyptus $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Seeded Eucalyptus: I know, shocker! You know we love it and have to use it in nearly every bouquet. We find the seeds give an amazing texture to any bouquet but fit best with cascading summer bouquets or fall weddings. Seeded eucalyptus can be found year-round for the most part. It does go off crop in the early spring and some parts of the year can have cupped seeded instead of the desired green seed pods. We give seeded eucalyptus a $$$ out of $$$$$ rating on our expensive scale.

Italian Ruscus: This dark green foliage is great for adding height, weight, and even length to a bouquet. The deep green leaves are often a great contrast to the silvery eucalyptus. The way the leaves are positioned on the stems gives this greenery a lighter more airy look. Italian ruscus is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

So what do you think of the "Kylie"? Isn't she so sweet with a flair of fierce?

Photography courtesy of: Amy Bennett Photography

#BouquetBreakdown - The "Kendall" 

These cooler fall days have us ready to cozy up on the couch with our laptop and write away. We have had so many incredible bouquets over this wild 2020 wedding season. The "Kendall", however, seems to be the fan-favorite of the year so far. It's bold, it's vibrant, its texture and adventurous. It's perfect for that fall mountainside elopement. 

So why do we LOVEEEEE this bouquet?

It's the uncommon flowers in this bouquet for us. Please somebody get that TikTok reference. We loved using dahlias as the star of the show instead of the standard rose. It opened up our realm to use more uncommon flowers and more local flowers. Which, we think gave this bouquet the overall perfect fall vibe. 

So let's break it down!

This bouquet is jam-packed with a huge variety of different in-season local blooms. While the dahlias may be the star of this show there are some other fun new faces like strawflower and oats. 

Orange Ball Dahlias: A first here on our bouquet breakdowns. These ball dahlias are a great option for a bride who doesn't love the standard rose for a wedding. It is still a nice round flower but has a very unique petal structure. Ball dahlias come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. The one downfall of the dahlias is that they are very finicky. They prefer to not be shipped and only last a few days after being harvested. For that reason, we only purchase local dahlias. Local dahlias can be found in the summer and fall. We give ball dahlias a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Orange Amaranthus: Orange upright amaranthus is another fall favorite. It often comes in a few different hues ranging from bronze to bright orange. Just like the red upright amaranthus, the orange features the same fuzzy lineal bloom. We find orange amaranthus is best when bought from local growers. It is available from the summer to the fall and we give it a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Orange Strawflower: Strawflower is a new found love for us! It is a truly unique flower and dries just as beautiful as it looks fresh. The strawflower gets its name from the feel of the petals. Don't be fooled though, once completely opened the flower reveals a velvety smooth core. Strawflower comes in a huge variety of colors from white, blush, peachy all the way to burgundy and plum. It is a wonderful local cut flower and is in season from the Summer to the Fall. We give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.  P.s. Check out the strawflower up close in the boutonniere photo below. 

Peach Hypericum Berries: Hypericum Berries are a unique filler flower that we love. The small cluster of berries adds an element of interest and intrigue. And no, they are not edible but they look it sometimes. They come in every shade of green, red, pink, white, peach, and cream.  Hypericum berries are available year-round and we give them $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Burgundy Ball Dahlias: Much like the orange ball dahlias, these are a great option for brides who don't love roses. Ball Dahlias come in a huge variety of colors and while they are finicky, the are the hardiest of all the different dahlia types. They prefer to not be shipped and only last a few days after being harvested. For that reason, we only purchase local dahlias. Local dahlias can be found in the summer and fall. We give ball dahlias a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Red Astranthia: This fun filler can often be found in the background of our boho, rustic, wildflower, and garden-style bouquets. The flower bloom itself is very unique in the fact that the stem bears many blooms. Each bloom itself has a collection of soft tips that create a circular focal point that is enclosed by an outer ring of pointy petals. Astrantia comes in a few different colors but white and mauve are our two favorites. It is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Red Amaranthus: Red Amaranthus is a fall favorite. It is available in both an upright and hanging form. For this bouquet, we used both the hanging and upright form. Red upright amaranthus features a fuzzy lineal bloom on a red stem. Typically the bloom is roughly 3" to 6" long. Amaranthus is available year-round but we find it best in season for the late summer and fall. We give red amaranthus a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Blue Thistle: Thistle typically will have 4 to 5 blooms per stem which gives you a great bang for your buck. They are a little sharp the more mature the bloom is but we promise, it's totally worth it. Haven't you heard, beauty is pain. Blue thistle is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Oats: Yup! Just like you would eat. These funky oats were amazing for adding texture and movement to the bouquet. They floated and danced above the bouquet in the wind. Oats are available in the fall season and are sourced locally. We give them a $ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Bunny Tail Grass: Bunny tail grass is a tan soft fluffy grass that has gone to seed. While it isn't a large showy bloom like the roses, bunny tail grass tucked into the bouquet it is just important as any other floral element. This grass is also sourced locally and available in the summer and fall. We give it a $ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Seeded Eucalyptus: Obviously, we had to throw some sort of eucalyptus in here. The tiny seeds pods on the seeded eucalyptus are just so versatile and just give the bouquet that much more dimension and interest. Seeded eucalyptus does go off crop in the early spring and some parts of the year can have brown cupped seeded instead of the desired green seed pods. We give seeded eucalyptus a $$$ out of $$$$$ rating on our expensive scale.

Parvifolia Eucalyptus: More eucalyptus! The elliptical shaped leaves of the parvifolia eucalyptus offer a dainty and feminine touch to the bouquet. Parvifolia Eucalyptus can be found year-round but during certain seasons the tips of the new growth will have a burgundy red tone to them. While it is not as common as the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus it is just as expensive if not more. For that reason, we give it a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Photos courtesy of  Amelia Marie Photography 

Trending Wedding Flowers for 2021

With 2021 wedding consultations in full swing, we thought we would breakdown some of our favorite trending color palettes and flowers for this upcoming season. These popular flowers and color palettes are pulled directly from our consultations and bookings for 2021. From bright pops of color to the simple white and green we are here to break it down for you. We will start with our three base color palettes and then add in some popular touches to switch them up a tiny bit. ​

#BouquetBreakdown - The "Liberty" 

We're back for another #bouquetbreakdown and this bouquet gives us all the patriotic vibes. From the deep reds to the bright whites and pastel blues this bouquet screams America. No matter the season this bouquet is always going to pop. 

So why do we LOVEEEEE this bouquet?

Well, we are very patriotic and very much love our country but we also love the bright colors. It is not often we get to use such bold colors in wedding work. When our bride, Sarah, was needing a color palette redesign we were ecstatic to offer the red, white, and bloom palette. She surprised her now-husband with the flowers and he loved them so much he had them preserved for her after their intimate wedding. 


So let's break it down!

We have categorized the blooms by color this time and we're starting off with that bold pop of red!

Red Spray Roses: These bright red spray roses were the main blooms for our pop of red. Spray roses are a great all-purpose flower and just like ranunculus come in a rainbow of colors. Spray roses are available year-round and we give them a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


Red Mini Gerbera Daisies: These red mini gerbera daisies were our supporting actress in the red category. They have a very different bloom structure than the red spray roses and therefore gave a nice definition to the red category in our color palette. Mini gerbera daisies are available year-round and we give them a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.  


Red Astible: We love using this fluffy red astible in bouquets. We find that adding in even the smallest amount gives the bouquet so much more dimension. Astible is a line flower which means it blooms vertically instead of in one round ball. Some of our other favorite line flowers in delphinium, stock, veronica, liatris, and snapdragons. Astible is available year-round and come in a variety of colors from white, blush, pink, red, and burgundy. We give astible a $$$ our of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 


White Anemones: Anemones are another unique blooming flower. They don't have any great dupes which makes them highly sought after. Their dark black centers can throw off a navy tone in some varieties. Anemones are also available in a wide variety of colors such as white, red, blue, purple, pink and even a beautiful burgundy wine color. They are a very delicate flower with tissue paper-thin petals. They are often placed last into a bouquet. Anemones are available year-round and much like ranunculus we give them $$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 


White Lysimachia: A new face to the bouquet breakdown! Lysimachia is a fun new mini line flower. We love it because each individual bloom is star-shaped. We know, we know a little cliché for the red, white, and bloom pallet but we couldn't help ourselves. These blooms very much remind us of a more plump veronica. Lysimachia is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 


White Stock: Stock is a fairly fragrant flower that reminds us of a spice smell, almost clove-like. They are made up of little clusters of ruffled petals that grow upwards towards a small spiked top. They can be purchased year-round and come in a huge variety of colors. We give stock a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


Blue Thistle: Blue thistle another bouquet breakdown classic. When you're thinking you still need something blue for your day, this is almost always our go-to. Thistle comes in a variety of colors and some of our other favorite colors include green, white glitter, and purple. Blue thistle is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


Blue Delphinium: Another new face to our bouquet breakdowns. Delphiniums are a wonderful flower to add a pop of blue. There are very few naturally true blue flowers and delphinium is one of the best in our opinion. They can range from light to dark blue and come in both a regular and hybrid form. For this bouquet, we chose the standard form to give the bouquet a lighter more whimsical vibe. The hybrid version is often much larger with thick stems and near 100 individual blooms. Delphinium is available year-round and we give it a $$-$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 


Dusty Miller: This fun pop of bright silver foliage is a great addition to any bouquet. The soft silvery leaves help bring out the light and bright silver tone of the eucalyptus. It is typically grown as an annual in our area and not many people think to add it to their bouquet. One thing to note about dusty miller is that it is a very water thirsty foliage. It can often wilt in the hot summer so it needs to be tucked into bouquets and supported by other greenery and blooms. Dusty miller is available year-round and we give it a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 


Willow Eucalyptus: Willow eucalyptus has long beautiful wispy leaves. While it is not super aromatic like the baby blue eucalyptus it does have a nice hint of eucalyptus scent. It is a wonderful greenery for cascading bouquets as it has a nature drape and incredible movement. Willow eucalyptus is available year-round and most often February through May can be found to have seed pods like the seeded eucalyptus. We give it a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


Seeded Eucalyptus: Like we've said before it hasn't  *quite* outran it's cousin Silver Dollar Eucapytus but it is getting there! We find the seeds give an amazing texture to any bouquet but fit best with cascading summer bouquets or fall weddings. Seeded eucalyptus can be found year-round for the most part. It does go off crop in the early spring and some parts of the year can have cupped seeded instead of the desired green seed pods. We give seeded eucalyptus a $$$ out of $$$$$ rating on our expensive scale.


Italian Ruscus: This greenery is great for adding height, weight, and even length to a bouquet. The deep green leaves are often a great contrast to the silvery eucalyptus. The way the leaves are positioned on the stems gives this greenery a lighter more airy look. It is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


Would you consider the red, white, and bloom palette for your wedding?! We hope so! 

Photography by Coryn Keifer Photography ​

#BouquetBreakdown - The "Celeste" 
​
Hiiii! We're back for another #bouquetbreakdown and this one is LONG! We hope you've got your snacks and a glass of wine ready! This boho-inspired bouquet has a whopping 18, yes 18 ingredients! So what makes this bouquet "boho"? The texture, the color, and dare we say, the free-spirit vibe. The mixture of the traditional greeneries, not-so-traditional greeneries, and grasses poking out gives this bouquet more of a loose, meadow feel. Yup, you heard right grass. Well, technically grasses.

So why do we LOVEEEEE this bouquet?

We love this bouquet because it's different. It's unique and wild. This boho bouquet is perfect for a mountainside or woodsy elopement. This bouquet could even be rocked in a more rustic venue or lakeside ceremony.

So let's break it down!

Within our 18 ingredients, we have 7 different types of greenery and 11 different flowers. A lot of these flowers are old favorites with a funky twist on the color and variety.

Toffee Roses: Toffee Roses are a truly unique rose. Their warm brown and tan hue is great to mix into a boho bouquet to give it a moody feel. They mix nicely with other champagne, blush, apricot and mauve tones. Toffee roses are available year-round. They are fairly new to the market which means they tend to fetch a higher price tag than other more traditional roses but their unique color is worth it! We give toffee roses $$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Mauve Mums: Another new face to our bouquet breakdown! These mauve toned mums ofter a great alternative to the expensive dahlia. Their petal structure is fairly similar to the expensive dahlias but for half the cost. One of the best things about mums is that they come in endless amounts of colors and sizes. These mums are available year-round and we give them a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Cream Hypericum Berries: Hypericum Berries are a unique filler flower that we love. The small cluster of berries adds an element of interest and intrigue. And no, they are not edible but they look it sometimes. They come in every shade of green, red, pink, white, peach, and cream.  Hypericum berries are available year-round and we give them $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Burgundy Snapdragons: These burgundy wine toned snapdragons are an amazing lineal flower to add some height and structure to your bouquet. They bloom from the bottom up so you get a stunning ombre of colors running up the flower as it blooms. They are available year-round and we give them a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale

Nigella Pods: These neatly structured pods add an unexpected texture and design element when tucked into bouquets. Each pod has a viney, lace-like cone that encompasses the pod. As the pods age and dry out they go from light green to a deep burgundy. Nigella Pods are sourced locally and therefore only available in the summer months of July, August, and September. We give them a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Wine Hellebores: Hellebores have a beautiful deep cup-shaped bloom that is often so heavy it faces down. They are also the first things to bloom in the spring, often while the snow is still on the ground. While they do make beautiful cut flowers and garden flowers be sure to keep pets and kids away as the blooms and plants are toxic if ingested. Hellebores are certainly at their peak in the winter/spring but can be found year-round from other growers outside the US. We give hellebores a $$$ out fo $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Bunny Tail Grass: Bunny tail grass is a tan soft fluffy grass that has gone to seed. This soft grass elevates any fall or boho bouquet to the next level. While it isn't a large showy bloom like the roses, bunny tail grass tucked into the bouquet it is just important as any other floral element. This grass is also sourced locally and available in the summer and fall. We give it a $ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Explosion Grass: Explosion Grass just like the name says, is an explosion of long soft tendrils from the top of the grass. It very much reminds us of a firework! While some may consider it a weed, we consider it a must-have textural element for boho brides. Explosion grass is available from local farms during the summer and fall. We give it a $ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Cone Leucadendron: This unique greenery very much resembles a pine cone. From the overall shape to the way the "petals" are formed on the cone. Leucadendron itself is part of a much larger flower family and comes in a variety of sizes, colors and textures. It is technically a tropical flower and available pretty much year-round. We give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Blue Thistle: Thistle typically will have 4 to 5 blooms per stem which gives you a great bang for your buck. While yes they are a little pokey they are so worth it. Haven't you heard, beauty is pain. Blue thistle is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

White Astrantia: This whimsical filler can often be found in the background of our boho, rustic, wildflower, and garden-style bouquets. The flower bloom itself is very unique in the fact that the stem bears many blooms. Each bloom itself has a collection of soft tips that create a circular focal point that is enclosed by an outer ring of pointy petals. Astrantia comes in a few different colors but white and mauve are our two favorites. It is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Green Frill Lisianthus: This fun pop of green will bring the light and bright out in any arrangement. As the bloom ages and opens more it starts to turn a more creamy white color. Just like the white lisianthus we love it. There are always multiple blooms per stems and the smaller unopened blooms are usually confused for spray roses. Lisianthus is available year-round and we give it a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Double Ruffle White & Green Ranunculus: This special ranunculus is a showstopper. It is uniquely colored. The green shining from within the white-edged petals gives the bloom great dimension. It may not be for everyone and every bouquet but we are certainly here for it! Ranunculus are available year-round and we give them a $$$-$$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Italian Ruscus: That famous "hot" cousin of the Israeli ruscus that everyone wants. This greenery is great for adding height, weight, and even length to a bouquet. The deep green leaves are often a great contrast to the silvery eucalyptus. The way the leaves are positioned on the stems gives this greenery a lighter more airy look. It is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Israeli Ruscus:  Israeli ruscus is a great traditional greenery that is amazing at adding some bulk and brightness to a bouquet. It may be hard to see here but it does have a beautiful deep green color. We find that it works as an amazing base for those larger bouquets. It helps cradle the blooms while still letting the other greens shine. Israeli ruscus is available year-round and we give it $ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Leatherleaf Ferns:  Leatherleaf fern is the most traditional greenery used by florists and we find it to be a little underrated. It is a beautiful true deep green shade that allows the flowers' blossoms to be highlighted. Leatherleaf is available year-round and we give it $ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. You'll typically find this tucked into all of our arrangements in one way or another. 

Grevillea Foliage: This jagged almost saw style greenery transitions from a dusty green to rusty red. Grevillea Foliage is available nearly year-round but peaks in the fall and winter. We give Grevillea Foliage a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Silver Dollar Eucalyptus: You thought we could go a bouquet breakdown without it. Whoops! I told ya we used this stuff in everything. Silver dollar eucalyptus is available for the most part year-round but does go off crop for a short stint in the spring. We give silver dollar eucalyptus $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

So would you dare to rock this boho bouquet? The "Celeste" is not for the faint of heart.

Photography by: Danielle Allendorf 

#BouquetBreakdown - The "Juliet" 

When we're asked to describe what we envision as the holy grail of wedding bouquets, we immediately think of the "Juliet". Juliet just like the fairytale name suggests is a romantic, timeless love story featuring white blooms in a bed of lush greenery. 

So why do we LOVEEEEE this bouquet?

Whether you're getting married in a rustic barn, lakeside retreat, or winery this bouquet is for you. The white blooms bring a very bridal feel while the greenery giving you the pop of color to distinguish the white blooms against the white dress. It's been deemed one of our all-time favorites and we can't wait to share more imagines from this stunning mini-mony with you! 

So let's cut to the chase and break it down.

Duchesse de Nemours Peonies: These brilliant white peonies came straight from our personal cut flower garden. They are a garden favorite as they smell heavenly and have stems that often produce multiple blooms! Peonies are typically in season from May to June with limited availability through July and August from flower farms in Alaska. We give peonies a $$$ to $$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale

White Ranunculus: Ranunculus are still a favorite for us! We tuck these fluffy swirling blooms in everywhere. Ranunculus are available in a rainbow of colors and are super hardy out of water. They are available year-round and we give them a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

White Lisianthus:  Lisianthus is another one of our best-kept secrets when it comes to wedding flowers! Lisianthus is available in a huge spectrum of colors. Yes, even find those hard to get mauves, champagnes, and yellowy apricots. Lisianthus kind of remind us of spray roses in the way the fresh-cut blooms look. The tiny rosettes in the middle have the same shape as spray roses and open up to reveal a gorgeous center with tiny little stamens. Lisianthus are available year-round and we give them a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

White Perennial Scabiosa: Perennial Scabiosa, not to be confused with the Scabiosa Scoop, is another great filler for a more rustic or wildflower style. Unlike its cousin Scabiosa Scoop, the perennial version lacks the fluffy center. The stems also can branch to have multiple blooms per stems. While Scabiosa can be purchased year-round we find the local season to be June through October. On the expensive scale, we rate Scabiosa $$ out of $$$$$.  

White Hypericum Berries: Here we go again with the texture thing. Someone get us a thesaurus! While yes they are great for texture they are also great for adding small pops of color in bouquets. The small cluster of berries adds an element of interest and intrigue. And no, they are not edible but they look it sometimes. They come in every shade of green, red, pink, white, peach, and cream.  Hypericum berries are available year-round and we give them $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

White Veronica: Veronica is a truly unique filler flower. It is considered a line flower meaning its blooms are lineal. Some other more popular line flowers are snapdragons and delphinium. While veronica is not nearly as large as the other line flowers it does give a bouquet some nice height. The blooms can be placed deeper in the bouquet to only show a green point or closer to the surface of the bouquet showing the white to green gradient. Veronica comes in a variety of colors and is available year-round. We give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Green Thistle: Green thistle another great textural filler flower. The stems typically have 4 to 5 blooms which gives you a great bang for your buck. I know you hear this a lot from us but it does give the bouquet great texture. Texture is so important when making a bouquet really stand out and look ultra-lux. Green thistle is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Silver Dollar Eucalyptus: Good ol' faithful! I told ya we used this stuff in everything. Silver dollar eucalyptus is available for the most part year-round but does go off crop for a short stint in the spring. We give silver dollar eucalyptus $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Parvifola Eucalyptus: More eucalyptus! The elliptical shaped leaves of the parvifolia eucalyptus offer a dainty and feminine touch to the bouquet. Parvifolia Eucalyptus can be found year-round but during certain seasons the tips of the new growth will have a burgundy red tone to them. While it is not as common as the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus it is just as expensive if not more. For that reason, we give it a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Israeli Ruscus: The good ol' trusty Israeli ruscus! It's a great traditional greenery that is amazing at adding some bulk and brightness to a bouquet. It may be hard to see here but it does have a beautiful deep green color. We find that it works as an amazing base to those larger bouquets. It helps cradle the blooms while still letting the other greens shine. Israeli ruscus is available year-round and we give it $ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Olive Greenery: Yes! A new greenery to our bouquet breakdowns! Olive, just like the name suggests has a beautiful olive color to the leaves. They very much match the silvery tone of eucalyptus while adding another leaf shape and texture. And, Yup! It still is one of the oldest symbols of peace. Olive is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.  

So tell us, would you want the Juliet for your special day?!


Photography by: Ellen Sargent Photography 

#BouquetBreakdown - The "Jennifer" 

While the crocus and daffodils might be known as the first signs of spring, you also often hear that peony blooms are the first sign of summer. And this week, we’re shouting from the rooftops! The peonies have begun blooming!!! To celebrate the first sign of summer we’ve done a bouquet breakdown on this show-stopping peony bouquet. We first met with the wedding couple in early 2018 to discuss their flowers. The bride shared a vision of peonies as far as the eye could see. Let’s be real here, we LOVED IT! After deciding on a light pink, blush, and white palette we went over a few different options of bouquets. It didn’t take long before we sketched out a large bouquet filled with eucalyptus, peonies, garden roses, and more!

So why do we LOVEEEEE this bouquet?

The “Jennifer” has all the elements of a traditional bridal bouquet but with added pops of greenery to give it some more dimension and depth. It’s classic, simple, and a very understated bouquet in our book. Peonies will never go out of style!

So what’s in this bouquet?

There are three different varieties of peonies in this bouquet, some garden roses, and a few different greens. Some greens that are new to our bouquet breakdown!

Festiva Maxima Peonies: These stunning white peonies are our go-to when we hear "I would love some peonies in my bouquet". They are a tried and true variety! The huge white blooms are often characterized by tiny red flecks in the innermost petals. Peonies are typically in season from May to June with limited availability through July and August from flower farms in Alaska. We give peonies a $$$ to $$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale

Pecher Peonies: Pecher peonies are the creme-de-la-creme of blush peonies! They have such a soft and feminine tone to them. Much like the festiva maxima peonies, they offer a large bloom filled with ruffled petals. Peonies are typically in season from May to June with limited availability through July and August from flower farms in Alaska. We give peonies a $$$ to $$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale

Sarah Bernhardt Peonies: Sarah Bernhardt peonies are named after the famous French actress who once played Queen Elizabeth in the 1912 film, Les Amours de la Reine Élisabeth. These peonies have been around for over 100 years and are still a favorite among wedding couples. The light pink hue of these peonies always pairs well with both a blush palette and a more electric palette. Peonies are typically in season from May to June with limited availability through July and August from flower farms in Alaska. We give peonies a $$$ to $$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale

Myriah's White Garden Roses: White garden roses are the epitome of a classic romantic wedding flower. The swirling petals create a soft cushion-like feel. They always pair nicely with peonies and especially eucalyptus. Myriah's white is our most commonly used white garden rose but some other great options are patience, purity, white cloud, and white o'hara. Garden roses are available year-round and we give them a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Silver Dollar Eucalyptus: Good ol' faithful! I told ya we used this stuff in everything. What can we say, silver dollar eucalyptus is everything. In this bouquet, we've used it more tucked in as a greenery accent instead of the main show like some other bouquets. The dusty sage green gives the light pinks a nice pop. It also helps whiten up the center of the garden roses which can tend to pull a little yellow or blush depending on the variety. Silver dollar eucalyptus is available for the most part year-round but does go off crop for a short stint in the spring. We give silver dollar eucalyptus $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Baby Blue Eucalyptus: Baby blue eucalyptus is just another eucalyptus we LOVE and love to tuck it into everything! You've seen it in a couple of our bouquet breakdowns now and despite the sticky sap when processing it, we still can't help ourselves. It is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Nagi Greens: Nagi Greens have to be one of the most scented greens on the market that we use. When their leaves are stripped or stems cut, they have an incredible lemon scent! The dark green glossy foliage is great for contrasting against the lighter eucalyptus foliage. Nagi is available year-round and we give it $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Plumosa Greenery: Another new face to our bouquet breakdown! Plumosa is a light and airy fern that has a feather-like texture. It is another old-school classic greenery that is making a come-back. We find that Plumosa best fits with woodys, rustic, or boho theme. Plumosa is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Which flower or greenery is your favorite in this bouquet? Stuck on the peonies like us? 

Photography: Jenna Brisson Photography 

#BouquetBreakdown - The "Alexis" 

Another day another bouquet breakdown. Today we're here to breakdown our first bridal bouquet we ever made for a real wedding! And yes, today is their first anniversary! This beautiful bride dreamed of blush and white fluffy peonies and garden roses. After seeing this bride in person we couldn't have imagined a more luxurious and posh bouquet for her dreamy day. 

So why do we love this bouquet so much? 

Besides the bouquet having such a special place in our heart for being our first bridal bouquet ever, we love the simplicity of it. The clean and simple design really allows for the bride and her dress to be the center of attention. 

So what's in this bouquet? 

Not a lot to be honest. Once again the simplicity gives this design the high-end feel. 

Blush & White Peonies: Peonies are 100% the most highly requested flower for weddings and bridal bouquets. We'd be lying if we said we didn't love them from the bottom of our hearts. They also tend to have a connotation of being super expensive and unattainable for lower budget wedding couples. Well, myth busted! We are finding more and more that peonies are becoming more available and more affordable every year. Peonies are typically only available from May to early July but the season can be extended into August and even sometimes the first week of September depending on the Alaskan weather. We give peonies $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Tsumugi Wabara Garden Roses: We think these are the hidden gems or the garden rose world. They are the perfect pale pink. Not to bright but not to blush. They have large heads and open up to a soft swirling interior. While they aren't to fragrant their beauty more than makes up for it. Tsumugi wabara garden roses haven't been on the scene for very long. They were just put into cut flower production in 2018. They are available year-round and we give them $$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.  

Have we changed your mind on the big greenery heavy boho bouquets? Sometimes the clean and simple all flower bouquets are 100% the way to go.

Photography by: Natascha's Photogrpahy 

#BouquetBreakdown - The "Nikki" 
We're coming at you with a super unique bouquet for this bouquet breakdown. We'd be lying if we told you this bouquet was a breeze to make. The giant tillandsia xerographica was HEAVY! Our traditional wire and stick method that we use for other non-flower things like succulents did not work for this. We had to think outside the box. Our solution, a chicken wire cradle! Hidden under all that greenery and all those blooms was a chicken wire cage. We carefully glued and wired the xerographica in the cradle and then filled in with blooms and greens around till the cradle was hidden.

So why do we love this bouquet?

We love a challenge and we love to problem solve. Side note: many of you may not know, but I(Emily), am a real math and science nerd. Till life decided it had other plans for me, I was set to attend Iowa State University as a chemical engineering major. Wild! I know! While I am kind of sad I wasn't able to follow through with that path I am so incredibly happy with the path life has provided to me. With that backstory, I am sure you can see why we love problem-solving and critical thinking. The tougher the challenge the more interesting it is to us.

So what's in this bouquet?

We'll cut right to the chase with this one and start with that huge air plant!

Tillandsia Xerographica: The tillandsia xerographica aka the "Queen of Airplants" started to become more popular in bouquets over the last couple of years. They are a dry-forest epiphyte that grows without any soil. They simply require high light conditions and a good 20-30 minute soak upside down in water every week or so. We love having unusual things like the tillandsia xerographica in bouquets because it adds a special element. Once the other traditional blooms have faded you can pop this out of the bouquet and have it live on as a special memory of your wedding day. They are available year-round but are one of the most expensive things you can add to a bouquet. For that reason, we give them $$$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

White Ranunculus: Ranunculus the new favorite for us! This time we used it in white to give the bouquet another textural difference to contrast against the white roses. While it may not be super noticeable at first, we find that even the smallest change in bloom structure or petal structure makes a difference. Ranunculus are available in a rainbow of colors and are super hardy out of water. They are available year-round and we give them a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Playa Blanca Roses: Playa Blanca Roses are a wedding staple in our opinion. Anytime you see a white rose in one of our bouquets it's 95% of the time a playa blanca. These stunning white roses open up so large and have a more garden rose feel to them even though they are just a standard rose. A fun fact is that the playa blanca rose is named after the southernmost town on the Spanish island Lanzarote. It is truly a stunning pure white rose. Playa blanca roses are available year-round. We give them a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Blue Thistle: Blue thistle is another secret texture element we love to throw in. The quite literal sharp lines and points of this flower are so unique.  When you're thinking you still need something blue for your day, this is almost always our go-to. While we admit we do use the blue color quite often, we find ourselves using the green and purple varieties just as much. Blue thistle is available year-round and we give it a $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.

Silver Dollar Eucalyptus: We're going to go out on a limb here and deem this the "king of eucalyptus". You may notice that we use it in almost every bouquet. The truth is wedding couples absolutely love it! It has a stunning silvery sage green. Silver dollar eucalyptus is available for the most part year-round but does go off crop for a short stint in the spring. We give silver dollar eucalyptus $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale. 

Seeded Eucalyptus: Much like it's cousin silver dollar eucalyptus we can't get enough of this stuff either! While the silver dollar eucalyptus may be the king of eucalyptus, this is probably the queen of eucalyptus. With this eucalyptus variety, it is truly sought after for the all-important texture element. The tiny seeds are just so versatile and just give the bouquet that much more dimension and interest. Seeded eucalyptus does go off crop in the early spring and some parts of the year can have brown cupped seeded instead of the desired green seed pods. We give seeded eucalyptus a $$$ out of $$$$$ rating on our expensive scale.

We hope you loved our bouquet breakdown of the "Nikki" leave us your comments below!

#BouquetBreakdown - The "Alyssa" 

So, we've decided, bouquet breakdowns are kinda our thing. We absolutely love flowers and talking about flowers. I suppose you could say, "well that's because you're a florist." While that is true we also have a small suspicion that you guys like them as well. We hope you at least find them entertaining and maybe even a little educational. This bouquet breakdown might be a little shorter than our other ones but none-the-less we LOVE this bouquet.


So why do we love this bouquet so much?


We find the "Alyssa" to be super elegant and timeless. This is the kind of bouquet that you'll look back at 30 years from now and think wow! I'm so glad I picked such a classic bouquet.


So what's in this bouquet?


You may be thinking hmmm that looks like just roses. Well, we do have some stunning roses in here but we also have a new kind of eucalyptus and lisianthus. But first, let's start off with those roses!


Quicksand Roses: Quicksand roses might be the most sought after wedding roses right now. They are best described as a nude or dusty champagne color with a hint of pale pink. These creamy stunning roses are sure to compliment any color palette and reflect the other color tones of the bouquet. Quicksand roses are grown in a variety of different countries and harvested from a ton of different farms. That means depending on which farm your roses come from, they could be more tan or sandy in color or more pinky. No matter which farm or county they come from they are sure to be a stunner. Quicksand roses are available year-round but being one of the most sought after roses they also carry a higher price tag. We give quicksand roses $$$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


Secret Garden Roses: Secret garden roses might have the most misleading name. They are not garden roses at all. They, in fact, are just standard roses. However, they get their name for their stunning color and way the rose blooms. The secret garden rose has a 100% bloom aperture which means it will completely open up like a garden rose and expose the stunning peachy yellow core. The dusty light pink petals are a sure-fire match for any light mauve dress. If you can't get secret garden roses some other great options would be the menta rose or the faith rose. We give secret garden roses $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


Blue Manhattan Roses: Blue manhattan roses are a standard rose in a stunning lavender shade. They have a large bloom size and if allowed to, they will open up to a 100% bloom aperture. These roses are typically imported from Columbia. Some great alternatives if the blue manhattan rose isn't available for order would be ocean song, moody blues, and avant garde. We give the blue manhattan rose $$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


White Lisianthus: Lisianthus is another one of our best-kept secrets when it comes to wedding flowers! Lisianthus is available in a huge spectrum of colors. Yes, even find those hard to get mauves, champagnes, and yellowy apricots. Lisianthus kind of remind us of spray roses in the way the fresh-cut blooms look. The tiny rosettes in the middle have the same shape as spray roses and open up to reveal a gorgeous center with tiny little stamens. This specific lisianthus is just a single white but some colors are also available is doubles with fun ruffly edges. Lisianthus are available year-round and we give them a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


Parvifolia Eucalyptus: The new kid on the block when it comes to eucalyptus in our bouquet breakdowns! Parvifolia eucalyptus is another great variety of eucalyptus that gives a beautiful light green pop to a bouquet. It grows as a long stem multi-branch tree! Yes, a tree! A tree that can reach 35-45ft when fully mature. The elliptical shaped leaves of the parvifolia eucalyptus offer a dainty and feminine touch to the bouquet. Parvifolia Eucalyptus can be found year-round but during certain seasons the tips of the new growth will have a burgundy red tone to them. While it is not as common as the Silver Dollar Eucalyptus it is just as expensive if not more. For that reason, we give it a $$$ out of $$$$$ on the expensive scale.


So what do you think of this classic rose bouquet? Do you have a bouquet you think we should breakdown next? Drop a link in our comments.