Floralisa Weddings and Events

Wedding Show in the Wine Country

2012-01-11T11:27:00.001-08:00

What a great time this past Sunday at the Dream Day Bridal Show. I met with fabulous couples and their entourages, and networked with some of the best wedding/event vendors in Nor Cal.

Here are some shots of the bouquets and centerpieces at my booth.

This tall centerpiece stood over 3 ft.

Two of the favorites were the candelabra with crystals

and the 42" tall centerpiece with the peacock feathers.

Everyone loves a little bling!

Below are more detailed shots of the pieces.

This majestic color palette of purples, magentas and plums is a popular wedding color scheme year after year.

This tall cylinder vase held a large, fluffy ball of yumminess! The soft pinks and corals popped next to the crisp white hydrangea.

The vintage look is so romantic and still wildly popular.

The colors in this peacock arrangement were just stunning! Orchids always make a statement.

Black and white weddings are classy and elegant. Even the groom gets in on the act rocken the bling in his boutonniere.

This sparkly stem wrap is an eye catcher and completes the look.

Candelabras always add elegance to a table.

Thank you to all the couples, bridal parties and Mothers of the Brides/Grooms that stopped by to take a look and say hi!

Happy Wife = Happy Life!

2011-12-27T23:22:00.000-08:00

I just love this shot! The bride looks so happy she is glowing.

Christina was a bride that definitely knew what she wanted. She had done extensive research on flowers and had it down to the number of stems in each bouquet.

An important detail to her bouquet was the use of her mother's rosary on the handle.

Elegance graced every aspect of the day.

The groom donned a pink rose boutonniere, while the groomsmen sported green roses.

Quaint church in the heart of the wine country.

Ready to walk down the aisle.

Another great shot captured by the talented Larissa Cleveland.

The bridesmaids carried a pretty mix of lisianthus, button mums and berries.

The bride carried garden roses, Ecuadorian roses, hydrangea and berries.

Half the tables had a sweet garden mix of flowers and the others had fluffy balls of hydrangea.

The head table centerpiece draped in front of the newlyweds.

The cake was baked by the bride's friend Alison Mitchell.

Cute entry table with a touch of whimsy.

I had to include these romantic images captured by Larissa Cleveland, for you to enjoy.

Congratulations Billy and Christina!

And thanks Larissa for letting me share your beautiful images.

Team of vendors:

Event Planner f. duncan reyes events by design
Photographer Larissa Cleveland Wedding Photography
Venue Chardonnay Golf Club
Ceremony St. Helena Catholic Church
Baker Alison Mitchell

Floral Design Floralisa

I want you to remember me...I'm leavin' my fingerprints

2011-12-13T16:50:00.000-08:00

What an adorable idea and a great alternative to the traditional guest book. Vince and Myshell had their guests "fingerprinted" at the door!

Each guest could choose from one of 3 wedding colors to dip their finger in and leave their print on the tree like a leaf. They could sign it with the gold pens if they wanted.

The color scheme was a striking red and black, so the flowers were done in shades of white from ivory to cream.

A little bling was added to the roses and the ribbon wraps to play off the Bride's love of all things sparkly!

The guys sported calla lily boutonnieres.

The view from the back of the Commodore yacht where the ceremony was held.

The tables were topped with half low and half tall centerpieces.

The Bridal table was perfectly positioned at the head of the yacht.

This was an adorable cake topper and it looked like they were dancing on a cloud of rose petals.

Cheers to the happy couple!

A Metro Wedding

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

Metro restaurant in Lafayette was the perfect setting for this chic couple. What a beautiful space with a lot of elements and texture. There was fire, water, stone, leather, a great outside courtyard and a cozy inside.

The couple wanted organic elements as they would be found in nature. A beautiful look that would make their guest feel like they were sitting among colorful autumn trees, but with the coziness of the indoors.

The bride chose a warm color palette of oranges, brick and bronze with pops of green and plum.

I love how the fall leaves peak out of the neck of the bouquet.

The boutonniere and corsages had a chic natural vibe.

Glass votives hung from the tree branches to add to the ambiance.

Love the colors here. The stacks of white china look like modern art.

The mix of Liquid Amber and Oak dance with color.

There were a mix of tall and low centerpieces throughout the restaurant.

The cake smelled so good while I was decorating it...cause you know I'm all about the sweets!

The cake was topped with a special topper of the couple's favorite novels.

Congratulations to L & J!

Now for a dip in the Jacuzzi...Jacuzzi Family Vineyards that is!

2011-11-17T12:05:00.000-08:00

What a rich and luscious palette for this late summer wedding in Sonoma. The couple chose Jacuzzi Family Vineyards for their beautiful destination wedding.

The bride carried an array of burgundy calla lilies, Merlot dahlias, burgundy orchids and velvety red roses, accented with berries and monkey tail.

The Bridesmaids bouquets mimicked the Bride's, but had the addition of champagne roses to pop off the backdrop of their burgundy dresses.

Another great shot of the happy bride.

The boutonnieres matched what the girls carried.

The entry table greeted guests with a wish tree and name cards among champagne petals.

The couple was married in the stunning barrel room amidst the olive trees and candles.

Full blooming red roses were submerged among twisted vines inside the tall centerpiece vases.

The tall centerpieces looked beautiful in the courtyard setting.

Waiting for the guests to come out of the Barrel Room.

The cake was a work of art by Fleur de Lisa Cakes.

Thank you to Visalli Photography for the wonderful professional images.

The courtyard is very romantic at night.

Stealing a quiet moment alone by the light of the full moon.

Congratulations Rachel and John!

I Heart Weddings!

2011-11-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

When working on weddings, symbols of love can be found everywhere.

This gorgeous bridal bouquet has show stopping peonies, roses and freesia. The Stems were wrapped in a beautiful bridal handkerchief.

Texture was added in with rabbits foot, monkey tail and hypericum berries.

The Bridesmaid's bouquets added in a touch of dark purple to play off the chocolate brown accents. Each girl had a necklace with their initial attached to the wrapped handle. A cute gift from the bride.

The boutonnieres and corsages had plenty of interest and texture.

Rustic bottles and jars were used throughout the venue and added to the charm.

Fans and a card cage greeted the guests as they entered the ceremony area at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma.

Roses and ornamental grasses graced the sides of the chairs.

Large urns were filled with free flowing, organic arrangements. These were later moved into the barn to decorate the lounge area.

Various mason jars, big and small were clustered together on the guest tables. No two were alike.

Each table had a short, medium and tall jar.

The completed look with the table numbers.

Jumping in...feet first!

2011-10-19T17:17:00.000-07:00

What a fun group of friends! The girls "dive in" at this fab wedding held at a private estate in St. Helena.

The gorgeous bridal bouquet was a fragrant mix of garden roses, Vendella roses, and ranunculas to name a few.

The bridesmaids carried a smaller version of the Bride with the addition of fuchsia roses.

The couples beloved dog wore a vest adorned in solid white and ivory roses.

And here's the model now!

The wedding was held at a private residence and the ceremony area was shaded by beautiful trees and looked over a lake.

Silver buckets hung off garden hooks along the aisle and later decorated the cocktail pool area.

The stairs leading to the pool were flanked by 2 large urns full of color.

The pool had a large round ball of flowers with orchids spraying out of the top like a fountain. Alex from Quintana Events actually waded through the pool to place the arrangement! How's that for service!

The pool had dozens and dozens of sweet smelling gardenias floating around.

Beautiful cake baked by True Confections.

Beautiful white and green cubes for the long king's tables.

The couple planned many activities for their guests like playing croquet. Can you spot the croquet ball made of flowers?

Volleyball was set up on one of the lawn areas.

Even the poles of the volleyball net were decorated.

Chilling out by the pool! Guests were invited to bring overnight bags and enjoy the weekend with the couple.

What a lovely wedding...full of fun, family and friends!

Thank you to the artistic Sabine Scherer for the wonderful professional images.

Pièce de résistance - Vintners Inn part 2

2011-09-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

What would be the cherry on top of a totally FAB wedding? How 'bout seeing your pro pictures before you even have time to return that rented tux! The team at Larsen's Photography sent these images on Monday from Saturday's wedding...yup, Monday.

You can see more of this gorgeous wedding on Larsen's blog here.

Special Thanks to Larsen's Photography...I look forward to working with you again!

Purple Splendor at the Vintners Inn

2011-09-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

Beautiful couple, wonderful weather and stunning colors made a picture perfect wedding day in the wine country.

The Bride chose all shades and tones of purple for her bouquet with little pearl accents in the roses. Some of her flowers included dahlias, lisianthus, freesia and orchids.

The bridesmaids were a smaller version of the bridal bouquet. The girls dresses were a deep purple and plum color.

The toss bouquet sat next to cake.

The ceremony was under the large pavilion overlooking the grapevines at the Vintners Inn. Mixed flower pomander balls hung from hooks that lined the aisle. Solid color pomanders in different sizes hung from 12 feet above the bride and groom. It looked stunning.

Mixed flowers and mums above, and all fluffy carnations below.

Love the color of this pomander.

Look at the texture and pointy shape these mums made.

Some of the balls hanging high above.

Nice shot of the pomander balls lining the aisle.

The ceremony table set up for the sand ceremony and with the 2 mother's bouquets. I thought this was a sweet idea. Each mother was going to give the other a bouquet of flowers.

The aisle was lined with a full row of lavender and ivory petals and a thinner sprinkling down the center. It was tied off with a beautiful and very large purple bow until it was time for the bridal party to walk down. Lindsey from Ooh La La Weddings and Special Events works closely with the Vintners Inn and was on top of each detail like this.

The guest tables were decorated with a cluster of 4 cylinders with submerged orchids, floating candles and lavender petals.

All in all it was a beautiful affair and love and cheer were shared by all!

Carnations...Colorful and Cost effective

2011-09-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

When I met with Jessica, she knew exactly what she wanted. "Lavender carnations and ivory roses please." Carnations? Yes, carnations! Music to my ears! I was so happy to finally have someone request these beautiful flowers.

Carnations sometimes get a bad wrap. People often say "cheap" or "out of style". I love carnations because #1 they are long lasting and very heat resistant. #2 they come in a vast array of colors. #3 they are fragrant.

Long gone are the days when carnation choices were red, white or pink. Just look at this beautiful lavender color. They also come in the darkest, richest purple you've ever seen, lime green, the hottest of pinks and magentas, as well as variegated varieties and everything in between.

The bride chose to dress her bouquet up with some bling to match the accents on her gown. The bridesmaids carried cute, fluffy and full bouquets of all lavender carnations.

The carnations look great on their own or even mixed with other types of flowers as in this toss bouquet.

Close up of the boutonnieres. The groom matches his bride with a little bling and the g'men match the girls.

The Mothers corsages were double carnations with a little filler and foliage.

This was the arch at the Old Homestead in Crockett. It is a very pretty property with a big house, huge deck under large trees and large garden. It is a very secluded outdoor setting in the East Bay.

The deck had the family tables and the cake. The centerpieces were low bowls that had floating carnations and roses with silver candles. A very light and fresh look for a beautiful summer day.

The happy couple left a great review that can be read below. Thanks J & K!

"My wedding was August 20, 2011. I found Lisa through this site and let me say she was AMAZING! Her prices are very reasonable, especially with this economy. She was very thorough when I met with her, listened to everything I wanted and was very accommodating. She sent me updated invoices and receipts with every change and payment I made over a 5 month span. The day of the wedding came and even with all of the hecticness (if that's even a word!) she still took the time to come in and say hello to me and wish me luck, which really meant a lot to this nervous bride! Her work was absolutely breathtaking! The flowers were beautiful and exceeding every expectation I had. The bouquets were simple, as I had requested, yet so very elegant and complimenting! The centerpieces were exactly as I wanted and the large arrangement on the arch was gorgeous! I cannot say thank you enough to her for making this one aspect of the wedding absolutely perfect and stress free! I will recommend her to everyone looking for a florist. GREAT JOB LISA!!"

A Day Of Remembrance...

2011-09-11T00:04:00.001-07:00

Love in full bloom!

2011-09-04T00:15:00.001-07:00

What goes better with beautiful red roses and diamonds...a sexy red pair of stilettos!

Love this shot!

Cy is really sweet and made such a beautiful bride.

The wish tree was adorned with red orchids. Tulips along with golden dahlias and roses
filled the urn.

Large florals on pillars decorated the ceremony and flanked the bridal table at the reception.

Mira Vista Country Club looked classy and gorgeous.

Congratulations to the lovely couple!

Miss you MOM.

2011-09-04T00:05:00.001-07:00

I will still always bring you flowers.

1931-2011

Featured Wedding

2011-01-10T23:36:00.001-08:00

So excited that this beautiful fall wedding was featured on the great "I do Venues" blog.

Check out the write up here and explore the tips and advice throughout this fun blog.

Peaceful Trentadue Winery in Geyserville

2010-11-21T21:30:00.000-08:00

Just look at that view for this beautiful autumn wedding in the heart of the wine country.

It had lightly rained on the drive up through Santa Rosa, but once in Geyserville, not a drop.

The guests were treated to a serene outdoor ceremony.

The bride decided on a mixture of textures and colors. Black Magic and Circus roses blended nicely with callas and dahlias for that autumn feel.

The girls had a touch of purple added to give the bouquets an extra "pop" alongside their rich red dresses.

The ceremony aisle petals mimicked the swirl pattern that was on the table linens.

Close up of the poles on the Chuppah in beautiful, deep colors of the season.

The tables had 2 different centerpieces. Some were orange/ivory flowers and some were burgundy/ivory flowers.

The head table was dripping in candlelight.

OMG! Doesn't this cake from Jill Branch look delicious!

Special thanks to all the great vendors that added their special touches to this wedding.

Trentadue Winery

Touch of Grace

First Comes Love Photography

Branching Out Cakes

Floralisa

Sleek and modern on the Silverado Trail

2010-11-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

When I met Kim, I knew this wedding was going to be fun and bubbly just like she was. She had this beautiful color scheme of lavender and magenta with touches of lime green. Her bouquet was an elegant display of white/ivory, green and lavender and is one of the most requested bouquets from new clients.

The bridesmaids carried bouquets of hydrangea, roses, dahlias and orchids in the magenta/lavender and white color scheme.

Boutonnieres for the groom and bridal party.

The ceremony was held on the lawn right off of the patio at the sleek Solage Resort in Calistoga.

The centerpiece vases were wrapped in tropical ti leaves that matched the colors of the wedding.

The cake really popped with the bright colored orchids against the dark linens.

The bride left a wonderful review that can be seen here.

Thank you to Lisa and Ricardo from BV Weddings for their skills to make the day run so smoothly.

Congrats GIANTS!!!!!

2010-11-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love to bake and that I have a huge sweet tooth! I look at the dessert menu before the dinner menu when I go out to a restaurant. I couldn't help myself, I had to bake cookies to celebrate the world series. They were so cute I hated to eat them...we'll not really...they were delish!

Surrounded by grapes at BR Cohn Winery

2010-10-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

K and T were a fun and lively couple that chose fun and lively colors for their winery wedding!

The bridal bouquet turned out to be one of my favorites of the year. It even had a few accents of Bells of Ireland to reflect the Groom's Irish heritage.

The bridesmaids carried lush bouquets similar to the Bride with a little twine on the handle to give it a little country detail.

The couple's dog was part of the wedding entourage and rocked this floral collar. I can't wait to get a picture of that!

The Groom's boutonniere of course had "Bells of Ireland" along with a pod and dahlia.

Corsages were definitely as festive as the girls bouquets.

A sign on a dirt road directs guests into the vineyard for the ceremony at BR Cohn Winery. If you want to get married in the heart of the wine country, this is it literally...chairs are smack dab in the center of all the grapevines. You are surrounded by grapes!

Canning jars filled with flowers hung on the chairs.

Guest tables were a mix of round and long with burlap runners that had a mix of large and small mason jars with flowers.

I can't wait to see some of the professional images from this beautiful wedding. I will post them as soon as I receive them.

Where to start...Which way to go?

2010-10-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

Left or right...where do I start? Sorry I have been MIA on the blogging, but I have plenty of beautiful designs to get you caught up on. I will start this week with some gorgeous weddings from Calistoga, Geyserville, Napa and Sonoma areas.

COLOR BURST!

2010-03-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

This beautiful wedding was at the impressive Orinda Country Club.
The bride chose soft colors of ivory, white, shades of pink and touches of green for her bouquet.

The bridesmaids carried rich orange, peach and green bouquets. They were wrapped in a burgundy wine color to match the color of their dresses.

Both colors came together in the decor for the room. The tables were made with both tall topiaries with submerged orchids and low lush centerpieces.

The Kings table for the bridal party had 2 tall arrangement on each side of the bride and groom with a low centerpiece in the center. Mixed color petals and orchid heads along with a ton of tea lights added to the romance of the table setting.

Low colorful guest table centerpiece.

This beautiful Chuppah is from Miracle Chuppah. They have a wide variety of styles and are very sweet and accommodating. They have a system of setting up that is quick and flawless, allowing me plenty of time to get the flowers on. I love it when vendors work well together!

The end result!

The wedding came together beautifully with the skills of Quintana Events. Alex and Debi once again coordinated a perfect wedding for a perfect couple.

Winter Blues

2010-01-29T10:53:00.000-08:00

The color scheme for this winter wedding at the Brazilian Room was cobalt blue and gun metal gray with touches of sparkle and white feathers. It had a real 1920's vibe.

The bride Mary Joy found these "cute as a button" keepsake bouquets for her bridesmaids on Etsy.

This was the Bridal bouquet.

Side view of the girl's bouquets. They were placed in vases with cobalt blue marbles down the center of the head table.

Mary Joy was also the winner of a complimentary wish tree. Her manzanita branches had white orchids and feathers.

Clusters of triple vases with submerged flowers and blue glass were placed down the center of the head table along with the button bouquets.

The ceremony was inside by the fireplace. Large topiary trees were on pillars that flanked each side of the fireplace.

The round guest tables had mostly white flowers with touches of blue and 2 white ostrich feathers in each metal cube.

Clusters on the long head table.

I will post the professional shots of this wedding soon. Please check back!

Champagne and Lattes on the bay.

2010-01-08T23:06:00.000-08:00

Gretel was a bride that knew what she wanted moments into our consultation. "Champagne and Latte"...why those are two of my favorite things to sip on...this was going to be fun.

The bride carried ivory roses, orchids and roses in a champagne color. Bits of burgundy and gold accented the bouquet.

The Bridesmaids carried flowing bouquets of phaelenopsis orchids and bear grass with either gold ribbon or latte ribbon.

The flower girls carried calla lilies and bear grass with latte ribbons to match the sashes on their dresses.

The aisle was lined with ivory, champagne and beige colored rose petals.

The arch overlooked the beautiful Sausalito harbor.

What a beautiful backdrop!

The men wore cymbidium boutonnieres and the women wore phaelenopsis corsages.

Gotta love that cake topper!

Featured Real Wedding.

2009-11-12T23:09:00.001-08:00

The beautiful summer wedding of Jessica and Minh was a crisp and fresh color combination of green and white. Calla lilies and orchids were used throughout the Brazilian Room in Berkeley, with a lovely backdrop of the rolling hills. A very special moment of the day was when a double rainbow appeared, setting the scene for an awesome photo op! Please click on the photo above to view the photos and read about the special day as featured in "Real Weddings" from San Francisco Style Unveiled.

Honoring All Who Have Served.

2009-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

The very least we can do everyday, but especially today is say "Thank You".

It's no secret I love to bake, it's my way of winding down. I enjoy themed desserts for every occasion. Flowers and dessert...what more could a girl ask for!

In honor of our Soldiers, both women and men, I would like to extend an offer from today until February 1, 2010. Any bride or groom with a Military I.D. that books their wedding with Floralisa will receive 10% off their flower total, up to $ 250.00 (Two Hundred Fifty Dollars).

Wedding must be booked between 11/11/09 - 2/1/10. Wedding does not have to be between those dates, just booked within those dates. Percentage will be taken off flower total (before tax and delivery fee). Military I.d. must be presented at time of order for offer to be valid.

I Love the Fall Season.

2009-11-09T21:53:00.000-08:00

With the weather changing and the leaves turning and the rich saturated colors of fall, I find myself in the car a lot, just driving around and taking in the scenery. If you haven't been to the wine country lately, give yourself a treat and take a ride. The scenery is breathtaking! The grapevines are turning orange and gold and you can still see some with purple grapes. Here is a wedding that shows all the vibrant colors of fall, complete with fall leaves sprinkled about and little bags of sunflower seeds for each guest.

Boutonnieres were all mini sunflowers except for the groom who had a mango calla. Accents of oak leaves and berries were added to all.

Love the use of leaves instead of the usual rose petals sprinkled around the tables.

Cute wedding favors made by the bride.

Sunshine on the Bay.

2009-11-03T22:21:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful day to get married, especially when your exchanging vows on the gorgeous San Francisco Bay.

The Bride and Groom chose bright yellow as their main wedding color and wanted a lot of roses used throughout. The guy's boutonnieres kept with the nautical theme by having seashells as accents.
They look so cute!

As the guests entered the yacht, they could drop their well wishes in the themed treasure chest.

These beautiful wreaths were the guest table centerpieces. A bowl with a fragrant floating gardenia was set in the middle of each wreath.

The romantic sweetheart table smelled divine with all the yellow rose petals.

The flower girl baskets were adorned with sea shells and crystals (very cute), and filled with...you guessed it! Yellow rose petals.

Another shot of the arch that overlooked the Sausalito yacht harbor. Congratulations to the happy couple that traveled from Stockton to treat their dearest family and friends to a beautiful celebration on the bay.

Chardonnay...need I say more.

2009-10-14T22:49:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Kristine and Marvin who had a beautiful wedding at Chardonnay Golf Club in Napa among a large festive group of their family and friends.

The Bride carried a fluffy all white bouquet with callas, rose and orchids to name a few.

The 7 bridesmaids carried a mix of white and bright pink callas.

The entire tent was draped in white with only little spashes of pink on the head table. All 21 guest tables sparkled in all white with 4 glass cylinders and candlelight on each table. White paper lanters gave it a fun festive look. Imagine what it looked like at night...how romantic!

Wine and Romance

2009-09-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

A perfect summer evening in the wine country. The celebration took place at the beautiful castle like setting of V. Sattui winery. The sweet scent of Casablanca and pink Oriental lilies wafted through the caves of the barrel room. Candlelight flickered softly throughout the venue and the bride looked stunning.

The bride requested a traditional cascade bouquet of lilies, orchids and roses with an accent of blush pink.

The bridesmaids carried hand tied bouquets in pink with accents of white.

The boutonnieres and corsages were made with roses and dendrobium orchids.

Both mothers stepped away from tradition and took a more modern route with small nosegays to carry. This is a great alternative to pinning flowers on some of the more delicate dress fabrics.

The aisle was lined with rose petals in ivory, pink and hot pink.

Small rose bowls with bear grass decorated the place card table and the cocktail tables surrounding the beautiful fountain in the upper courtyard. The team at Quintana Events put the finishing touches on the place card table. Everything runs smoothly with the expertise of Alex and Debbie, one of my favorite Event Companies to work with.

The table centerpieces were in glass urns with clear and colored pink stones at the bottom and were filled with large open pink lilies. They really popped on the black linens at the reception.

Don't you just love the sweetheart tables at V. Sattui. That half circle shape is great.

Judy from True Confections Cakes made this beautiful 3 tier cake. She was spot on with the pattern. The cake blends in perfectly with the table linen.

Please check back for professional images from the talented Richard Cash.

Mock ups

2009-08-07T01:11:00.000-07:00

Couples sometimes have a hard time picturing the centerpieces or bouquets that are described on the order. Even if they have a picture of something they love, they may not be able to imagine it in their color scheme. I get asked sometimes by my clients, " Do you do mock-ups?" The answer is, "Yes, I do!" It is always most important to me that any Bride or client that I work with feel comfortable and confident with their choices. It is my goal to give that WOW! factor to each client (and their guests) when they see the bouquets or the decor.

These photos are recent "mock-ups" made for clients. Please watch for them in upcoming weddings and events.

Designer wedding gown $ 4,000.00, most sought after photographer $ 9,500.00, organic caterer $ 15,000.00. Your dog as the flower girl...PRICELESS!

2009-07-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

That's Cookie up there in all her glory! She belongs to Dawn and Tim, you know, the couple that got married. Yeah, I know, I know...Cookie kinda stold the show. Could it be those bedroom eyes, saggy cheeks, wedding tutu? All of the above...she's rock'in the look! Now, back to Dawn and Tim.
They had a romantic and intimate back yard ceremony with their closest family and friends. Guests were greeted at the red front door with a beautiful floral wreath made with hydrangea, roses, peonies and Fuji mums.

The walkway was lined with silver pails that held white and blue garden favorites, that hung from garden hooks. The pails were later used to add decor at their reception.

Dawn's bouquet was a gorgeous, fluffy white bouquet of white peonies.

To give her bouquet a personal and meaningful touch, I wrapped her Grandmother's pearl necklace around the stems. Little unique details like this, help to make each wedding personal and special to the couple.

Close up of Cookies floral necklace.

The boutonnieres were wrapped in Tiffany Blue ribbon to match the men's ties.

The table centerpieces were all white with various garden flowers.

The couple and their guests celebrated under the stars while cruising the San Francisco Bay on the Empress Yacht.

The whimsical cake topper added to the fun of the night.

Congratulations to the Happy Family!

The Color Purple

2009-07-07T23:24:00.000-07:00

Purple and green filled the room at the beautiful Brazilian Room in Berkeley. This lovely March wedding sang of springtime with the use of all tulips.

The Bride carried all white tulips with green berries.

The bridesmaids carried cute bouquets of all purple tulips and green berries that mimicked the table centerpieces.

The Flower girl carried a dainty Bo Peep basket with both colored tulips and heather.

Going Green!

2009-06-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

From the moment I met Kim, I couldn't wait to do her wedding. She was full of ideas and photos and swatches and on and on. Her enthusiasm was contagious. She contacted me from recommendations from two previous brides I worked with, and we hit it off immediately. She and her Fiance were getting married at Garre Vineyards in the Livermore wine valley. Their colors were green, white/ivory and chocolate and the style was clean, fresh, young and fun!

The Maid of Honor carried beautiful green parrot tulips with a touch of brown berries.

The bridesmaids carried fluffy bouquets of white sweet peas.

The bride carried a dainty bouquet of her favorite lily of the valley and white sweet peas.

One of my favorite things about this wedding was the groom's boutonniere. The bride wanted something different that reflected the winery surroundings and looked a little more rustic than most. My other favorite thing is how the couple had this cake topper custom made depicting the two of them, complete with lily of the valley bouquet and wreath boutonniere.
So Darn Cute!

Toss bouquet with a little mixture of all the flowers from the wedding.

Love it when the studio is filled with flowers like this. Smells divine!

The aisle way was strewn with ivory and green rose petals and green button mums.

The guest tables had a crisp clean look. They had the guests commenting on their whimsical nature. You could often here ..."is that real grass"?

The sweetheart table also boasted a favorite photo of their fur kid.

The complimentary entry table centerpiece looked beautiful in the glowing lime color scheme.

The guests celebrated under twinkle lights and green and white paper lanterns.

I hope to post some of the professional photos soon, shot by Dawn Stoloff photography.

Wedding coordinator was the wonderful team of Lisa and Ricardo of BV Weddings.

Like cool lemon-aid on a sunny Sonoma day

2009-06-09T00:03:00.000-07:00

Kim and Tyler's wedding was at the beautiful Sonoma Garden Pavilion on one of the hottest days this May. Their wedding colors of icy lemon, ivory and white were the perfect compliment to the sunny day. The girls looked stunning in their pale yellow dresses against the back drop of the colorful gardens. The bride and groom make an elegant couple and every element of this wedding is a testament to the love you see between them and their friends and family. The bride chose an array of romantic spring flowers like peonies, ranunculas, freesia and roses to name a few.

The bridesmaids carried yellow bouquets with touches of ivory/white. They stood out nicely next to their pale yellow dresses.

The head table showcased light yellow Oriental lilies and roses.

Boutonnieres were fragrant freesia and berries. While the women enjoyed gardenias.

The entrance to the garden was flanked by 2 large urn arrangements. These were later moved by the bridge over the pool to be enjoyed during the cocktail hour.

Each guest table had 3 centerpieces at varying heights.

The Beautiful Bride!

Special Thanks to the talented Ashley Forrette for sending these professional images. Visit her website here for a slide show of this featured wedding.

Fur kids try and steal the spotlight!

2009-04-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

When Lynn, an avid pet lover was planning her wedding, it didn't seem out of the ordinary when she said that Terra and Araby would be a part of the special day.

While the groom, bridal party and "ring dog" waited under the flower filled arbor, the bride was brought in by horse and carriage.

Look at that tiny waist!

The fun "monkey tails" added to the whimsy of this light hearted wedding.

The beautiful summer colors helped to brighten up the backyard on this bright and sunny day in Walnut Creek.

And they lived happily ever after!
THE END

Photos provided by Photography by Franci

Raise a toast to Kim & Joe!

2009-03-17T00:33:00.000-07:00

This couple was married at the romantic V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena. The vibrant hues of pink and raspberry were matched with rich dark eggplant and deep, velvety red. The dark ambiance of the wine cellar "popped" with these colors flickering in the candlelight. Take a look at the great shots Ben Davidson at Perfectdaydesigns.com captured. To see more pictures of this wedding from an earlier blog click here.

Gotta love that tie!

Break out the popcorn!

2009-03-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

"On with the show"...take a look at a new floral slide show I put together here. It features weddings from some gorgeous wedding venues around the Bay Area, Napa, Sonoma and Livermore. To list a few - Casa de la Vista, Lodge at Sonoma, Sebastiani winery, Wente Vineyards, Ruby Hill, Murietta's Well and many more. Thank you to contributing photographers - JP Langlands, RAH Photography, Photography by Franci, Octavia Hunter, RDVD Memories, Lucie XYZ, Aaron Wilcox, f13 photo, Accents Photography, Tiffany Graphics.

Also maybe viewed on the home page of my website.

Beautiful Couple+Beautiful Venue=Rocken Party!

2009-03-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

Must have been the stormiest day of November that day, but the warmth, love and closeness of these two families made you forget all about it. The wedding took place at the lovely Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton. The plan was to decorate the outside terrace for the ceremony with tons of brightly colored red and orange rose petals...hello Mother Nature...enter plan B. The ceremony took place upstairs in the gorgeous marble foyer under a beautiful architectural dome overlooking the huge dining area. All those brightly colored petals now adorned all the tables and added that extra pop to the floral centerpieces. Mariachi music filled the air, the bride glowed, the groom looked handsome and the guests partied...hard! Thank you to Blue Lotus Photography for these great shots.

Vah-Vah-Viansa!

2009-02-19T20:37:00.000-08:00

On a beautiful summer day in July, I had the pleasure of traveling to the beautiful Viansa winery and Italian marketplace to do the wedding of a great couple from Southern Cal. The Bride chose a vibrant color palette of hot pink, orange, terracotta, beige and yellow. The accent color was silver. What a warm and rich color scheme this turned out to be. You couldn't help but feel festive surrounded by such happy colors. The venue is stunning and really makes you feel like you are on a hill side in Italy.

The bride carried brightly colored calla lilies in bright pink and flame.

The bridesmaids carried roses in mixed earth tones and bright pink calla lilies wrapped in silver.

The groom's flame calla lily boutonniere was wrapped in silver cord.

The ornate gates at Viansa were adorned with orange and hot pink roses and vines.

The colors really popped on the bright white linens.

The view from the patio made you dream of being in Italy. Ambiance rose petals added color to the floating candles.

The cake had a very romantic look.

Best of Show

2009-02-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures from the bridal show at the Brazilian Room last week. There was a great turn out and the weather was perfect. They did things a little different this year. Instead of having a room full of vendors with 3 or 4 in the same category, there were featured bakers and caterers with large delicious food displays and one preferred vendor featured from each of the other categories: photographer, officiant, D.J., video, rentals, strings and me (floral).
...And now on to the show!

I absolutely love these two winter bouquets. What a beautiful choice for a wedding around the holidays. All winter white flowers would be the perfect accessory for any bride. Striking red amaryllis, tulips and berries are very happy and festive.

Don't you just love the orange orchids on the manzanita branches. They look like butterflies.

Now look close...can you spot them?

The orange butterflies really just blend in with the orchids beautifully.

FEB. 3, 2009 BRIDAL FAIR

2009-01-26T21:38:00.000-08:00

The Brazilian Room in Berkeley puts on a bridal show every February and I am happy to be a part of the one on Tuesday, February 3rd. Enter to win your Bridal Bouquet for free ($150.00 value). There are always great caterers, bakers, photographers, officiants, musicians and the list goes on and on. It is a smaller fair and not over whelming as some of the big expo's are. Admission is free and it runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Congrats Mr. President!

2009-01-20T16:19:00.001-08:00

There is HOPE in the world again!

RED sure is the color of LOVE!

2008-12-30T21:24:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was the beautiful winter wedding of J & J! I feel like I have been waiting all year for this one. Not only did I know it was going to be my last one of 2008, it was at the jaw dropping Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena. I could not wait to see the barrel room in all its glory. RED was the word of the day. It was absolutely stunning. The linens were red, the chair covers were red, the fabric draped on the ceiling was red, the flowers were red, even the lighting was red. The room was kept dark with spot lights on the tables. The ambiance was very romantic, but it wasn't the easiest light to set up in. My photos came out dark but you can see the red - love ambiance I'm talking about.

Sweetheart table complete with holly and silver snowflakes.

These candelabras were 5 ft. tall. There were 10 that lined the walk way for the guests to find their way through the barrel room to the ceremony. During dinner they were moved to the outer edges of the dining area. Each table had 4 votive candles on the table surrounding the cubes of red tulips.

Notice the spotlight on the center of each table adding to the dramatic look and feel. I look forward to posting some professional shots in a few weeks. Congratulations you two and what a perfect ending to a wonderful wedding year!

Pretty in Pink!

2008-12-09T22:37:00.000-08:00

The Livermore wine valley is one of my favorite areas to work in. There are so many wonderful wineries in every nook and cranny with beautiful views. From the big players to the little intimate venues, you can't go wrong. This wedding was at the beautiful and well known Wente Vineyards. The bride stood out with an all white bouquet as the rest of the venue was decorated with splashes of pink, hot pink and mauve, with accents of sage and chocolate.

and they did!

Rustic charm

2008-11-30T23:52:00.001-08:00

I was contacted by a cute and soft spoken bride that was having a rustic, fall Napa wedding. It was going to be at a farm house on a private estate. She wanted a very natural feel to the flowers with a lot of texture. She also had dozens of ideas filling her head and wedding binder. We changed from urns, glass bowls, to watering cans, to french buckets, to galvanized buckets and finally decided on mixed ceramic containers. The color was to be the same, but the shape would vary on each. This added to the natural look of everything. It was as though someone had made them on a pottery wheel out in the barn and had collected flowers from the field to fill them. She found a great vendor on Etsy to make various containers and ship them over for me to fill. With the flowers being all orange and burgundy, I decided to use green oak leaves to accent those two colors. The oak leaves were great subtle accents for the boutonnieres and corsages. There was even a grapevine wreath decorated with fresh flowers that hung on a rustic fence that led the guests to the ceremony site. I look forward to receiving some of the professional images as I am sure they are beautiful. The bride and groom were very happy and wrote a nice yelp review. Enjoy!

Fall colored bridal bouquet

rustic centerpieces

Grapevine wreath that hung from the farm house fence.

Alstromeria boutonniere with oak leaf and berries

Boutonniere and corsages with alstromeria.

De ja vue...

2008-11-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

2 couples, same hotel, same church, same winery, 2 different, yet equally beautiful weddings. I was here a few months ago at Holy Family Mission Church in Rutherford and Andretti Winery in Napa and returned again on a beautiful summer day in August for the wedding of Jill and Scott. They had a classic and romantic Napa Valley celebration down to the grapes in the centerpieces. The color scheme of eggplant, mustard, olive and burgundy were echoed in the rich colors of the landscape and architecture. The beautiful photography is from J.P. Langlands and the wedding coordinator was Yong Suk Willendrup. Enjoy!

The bride carried a bouquet of all eggplant calla lilies with golden crystal jewel accents.

The bouquet was wrapped in gorgeous fabric from her dress with a stunning crystal applique.

The boutonniere had actual olive branches and olives hanging from it!

Real edible grapes hung from the centerpieces.

Doesn't that look good!

In honor of Halloween...

2008-10-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

I will take you to Ralston Hall Mansion in Belmont. It is a U.S historic landmark and was founded in 1864. It is absolutely stunning inside and out and just "screams" high society. Upon researching this venue I found out it is haunted, or said to be. Some claim it is on the top ten list of the most haunted mansions in Northern California. OOOoooh, scared yet? Well let me tell you, the only spirits I felt that day were happy loving ones, as this was one of the most supportive and tight-knit groups I have ever come across at a wedding. Everyone was joking and friendly and just genuinely happy. A funny story and a total "duh" moment for me...I do a lot of weddings for many different religions, cultures and beliefs. I come across many new and interesting traditions and cultural practices that have opened my eyes to many great things. At this particular wedding as I was pinning the groomsmen boutonnieres on, in between the guys shouting the latest score of the game and fist pumping to every awesome play, I noticed something interesting going on. I saw the ladies in the front row with large jingle bells. They were stringing them and passing them around. I thought to myself, "Hmmm wonder what they will do with those...will they jingle them as the bride walks down, when they are pronounced Husband and Wife or at the end when the couple walks down the aisle?" I never did ask, and I kept thinking about it as I crawled in traffic on my way to the Bay Bridge. I felt like such a dork as it hit me on 80 passing Berkeley. Earlier that week the bride had given me a response card so I could see her colors. Rather than having ______# will attend or _____with regret, this clever bride had as one of her choices, "___will be there with bells on." Duh! They were all there with bells on! Isn't that cute! Here are some pictures of the event...enjoy!!!

Bridal bouquet in shades of white ivory and pinky peach.

Bridesmaid bouquet in mostly peachy pink with touch of ivory

Ceremony urns with curly willow and flowers

Table centerpieces in glass urns

Lush and romantic

Tall trumpet vase centerpieces were on every other table.

Look at that chandelier! WOW!

Very romantic set up.

Coordinator: Bellissima Vita

Photographer: Noah Hawthorne

103 degrees! Oh my!

2008-09-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I was in Brentwood where it was hoT, hOT, HOT! I was decorating the wedding of Amanda and Chris at Shadow Lakes Golf Club. Amanda was a sweetheart of a client and often emails me with funny stories about her little girl, which I love to read. It really helped me learn her personality and develop a sense of design for her dream wedding. The bride and her family did the most beautiful job with fabric, covering the rafters on the ceiling with beautiful champagne colored fabric and lights. They also did their own table coverings and chair sashes that were absolutely stunning. The wedding coordinators from Elegant Soiree were very accommodating and helpful, even made sure my associate and I had cold waters while we worked outside decorating the ceremony site. Did I mention it was hot?! I can't wait for the professional images to come in as I am sure they will have one knock-out of a family photo. Congratulations to all 3 of you!

While the brides bouquet was a statement using almost 4 dozen Black Baccara roses, the bridesmaids had a softer garden look to their orange, ivory and burgundy autumn harvest bouquets.

Some tables had low bowl centerpieces and some had bigger centerpieces with tall curly willow.

The centerpieces were made with orange roses, hydrangea, dark burgundy and golden orange dahlias, black baccara roses, berries, millet sprays and hanging amaranthus. Lots of rich, warm colors and textures.

The toss bouquet added to the decor on the cake table.

Each place setting had a favor and a shutterfly card about sharing photos.

These initials hung above the gift table.

Look at the long head table with the beautiful table coverings.

Even the chandelier was decorated with ribbon, artificial flowers and crystals.

A family friend made the cake. Can you believe that...look at how professional it is. The scroll work was beautiful and it even had shimmering pearls placed here and there. I only added a few roses to the top for color and placed the toss bouquet on the table to accent the beautiful cake.

The ceremony decor looked very romantic.

The warm breeze added to the romantic ambiance of the site.

The pomanders were a rich mix of deep burgundy and golden orange dahlias, burgundy brown berries, off white hydrangea and millet.

Congrats to the Mumfords!!

I NEED YOUR VOTES!!!

2008-08-31T23:57:00.000-07:00

The S.F. Gate's "Best of the Bay" list is out and I'm excited to say...I'm on it!!

It is thrilling for me to be on a list with other such talented wedding florists that I have heard about throughout the years.

If you have a chance please register to vote and leave a comment if you're feeling really fancy! Sorry, no surprise running mates or knowledge of foreign policies or oil drilling mumbo jumbo...just wedding flowers!

Click here to vote!

My Mom can't be the only one to vote! What a sweet Mom!

Lucky 8's

2008-08-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

Pretty in Pink!

080808 was a record breaker for weddings. I was lucky enough to work with a great couple that got married at the Inn Marin in Novato. The bride's inspiration came from this magazine cover.

She loved the full round bouquet, but wanted all shades of pink, and she was hooked on those great shoes! Fast forward a few weeks and I received this...my inspiration photo.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE those shoes! I was on a quest to find flowers in this shade of bright pink and every pink shade that would compliment.

Because the bride was going bright with her flowers and wearing a white gown, it was decided to go all white with the bridesmaid's flowers, since they were wearing bright pink dresses. The Bride loves white spider mums, so I showcased those for the girls and complimented them with a few other white flowers. The stems were wrapped in black. Here are a few pictures of the flowers that I took and some that the bride was kind enough to send me. Enjoy!

Great hair!!!

The reception was shaded by a huge magnolia tree that held hanging paper lanterns that blew in the summer breeze.

What a great looking couple!
Here's to happy beginnings you two!

Chocaholic!!!

2008-08-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

Colorful Maid of Honor bouquet

Guest table centerpieces in brown urns.

Wish tree.

Who doesn't love chocolate? Pair that with velvety red wine colored roses and mango calla lilies and you've got yourself a feast for the eyes! Makes me hungry just thinking about wine, mangos and chocolate...yum! On 8/16/08 I had the pleasure of decorating the wedding of Stacey and Alan at the Lodge at Sonoma. Well thought out plans by the bride and detailed descriptions led to swift executions and beautiful results. Enjoy!

The bride stood out with an all white bouquet, while everything else had intense color.

Her Grandmother's locket hung from material from her wedding gown that wrapped the bouquet.

Rose bouquets and chocolate brown organza held up eucalyptus garland that blocked off the aisle to everyone but the wedding party. Petal cones hung from the chairs down the aisle to be tossed on the married couple.

The fountain was filled with red rose petals and the pergula was adorned with fabric and flowers.

Another shot of the MOH bouquet wrapped in chocolate.

Close up of the wish tree.

The wish tree with red rose buds attached to the manzanita.

An anniversary bouquet given to the longest married couple at the wedding in lieu of a bouquet toss.

Gift card bird cage holder.

SWEET! Candy buffet.

Super Sweet 15!

2008-08-22T23:11:00.000-07:00

What an exciting day for a young girl...almost like a pre-wedding, turning fifteen and being a princess for the day! This was a beautifully orchestrated quinceanera at St. Patrick Church in Rodeo, with the party at Hiddenbrooke Golf club in Vallejo. The flowers were all shades of pink and mauve with a touch of green. The table linens and chair sashes were mixed between light pink and mint green. The view was...well just look at all the windows in the photos. Happy Birthday!

"Start your Engines"!!!!!

2008-08-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

Mario Andretti is known for more than racing...his winery in Napa was the venue for J & M's beautiful vineyard wedding reception. I met this great couple from Davis last year and worked with them on the flowers for their spring wedding. Not a single detail was left untouched. The bride had everything mapped out and matched to a "T". Her many hours of planning turned out stunning as everything came together perfect. From the quaint little wine valley church on a dirt road to her "pinch me...we're married" seasoning jar favors, you could feel the thoughtfulness in every aspect. Some of the great vendors I had the pleasure of working with were Andretti Winery, Bellissima Vita Wedding Coordination, Sweetie Pies and Eclectic Visions Photography. Here are few pictures that I took of the flowers, I will post some professional shots when they come in as I am sure they are stunning!

Holy Family Mission Church

Corkboard place card holder

Beautiful natural looking centerpieces with the
seasoning jar in back.

The two different colored linnens really stood
out next to the Andretti backdrop.

The cake was adorible!

4th of July weekend...flying the red, white...and hot pink!!!

2008-08-12T22:59:00.000-07:00

The hot holiday weekend took me up to St. Helena to the beautiful V. Sattui winery. This couple chose all shades of pink and deep red to decorate the gorgeous venue. The tables had tall candelabras with roses, dahlias, alstromeria, hydrangea and berries. The ceremony had two topiary trees that looked awesome! They were made with the same flowers on natural wood stems and were set on top of large wine barrels. Hot and light pink flower heads and petals floated in the large fountain giving the guests their first clue to the pink explosion they were about to see. I can't wait for the professional photos to come in.

the outside ceremony

place card table outside of the cellar

very romantic!!

sweet all pink candy buffet

the ambiance in the cellar is breath-taking.

1-2-3-4-5...06/07/08!

2008-08-05T00:14:00.000-07:00

A very sweet bride was married on the popular 06/07/08 and I was lucky enough to work with her on her special day. The venue was at the Lake Temescal Beach House. I had never been there, yet had passed this gem of a spot hundreds of times when driving through the Caldecott Tunnel. The ceremony was outside among the landscape of lush greenery, beautiful stone walkways and even a waterfall. The reception was inside the beach house with great views of the lake. Her color scheme of light blue and yellow complimented the serenity of the spot beautifully.

Aime & Riley

2008-07-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of doing the flowers for a dear friend of mine. We have known each other since grammar school, made it through a strict all girls high school together and she was a bridesmaid at my wedding 18 years ago. Yeah, I'd say we've been through a lot! She had to go all the way to Idaho to find the man of her dreams, but they returned to the Bay Area to get married. The ceremony was at the gorgeous Casa Real in Livermore. It was wedding #9...it actually had a number since the venue was so brand new. These are a few pictures during set up, I will post professional shots when I get some. Enjoy!

The table cloths had beautiful sparkling crystals in them that caught the light beautifully. It added to the ambiance of their cosmic - angelic theme.

The angel wings that were imprinted on the invitation, lit up the dance floor. Not a single detail was left out.

The place cards were also the favors. They were very cute little boxes with a pink ribbon and inside were 2 pocket angels and a cute poem.

The year started...

2008-07-17T23:25:00.000-07:00

January started out with an all white winter wedding on a yacht in Sausalito. I work a lot with Empress Events and always find it fun decorating one of their beautiful yachts. Their staff is fun and friendly and the food always smells delicious when I'm setting up.

The Bride chose a mixture of fluffy white Peonies flown in from Egypt, tulips, bridal calla lilies, ranunculas and beautiful bloomed garden roses.

The stairway leading up to the top deck where the ceremony takes place was decorated with draping greenery, hydrangea, orchids, roses and ranunculas.

Ceremony under the arch with a beautiful view of the harbor.

Their elegant table decor included a fragrant gardenia on every napkin.

The cake was provided by Beaux Gateaux and I decorated it with a ring of flowers at the base only to carry out the all white, full and fluffy look of the wedding.

And so it began...

2008-07-05T23:32:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of you,

Well, I have finally decided to join the "blog bandwagon"! I have tried fighting it for too long. (As you can see I registered back in May and I am finally doing my first post in July). I have many wonderful brides that I work with every week and this is a great way to showcase some of the great ideas and beautiful color schemes that we come up with together. I hope you enjoy!
Please also take a look at many other floral images featured on my website at www.floralisa.com .

Cheers,
Lisa