Brides New York

i've already told you how much i loved working with Nyssa and Chris and how beautiful their wedding turned out to be - in every way, not just the flowers. i wasn't the only one who thought so..Bride's New York featured their wedding in their Spring/Summer issue on newsstands now.

the wedding was truly beautiful and the photos by Carlos Andres Varela are breathtaking. the day went off without a hitch, due in large part to the seamless coordination provided by Roey Mizrahi...she makes it look effortless. i was thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful day that celebrated such a wonderful couple.

Nyssa & Chris...the final outcome! Part 3

all images by Carlos Andres Varela

Nyssa & Chris at the Mandarin

from the first minute i met Nyssa and her mother, i knew they had fabulous tastes and that they would be a pleasure to work with and i was right on both accounts. i worked with Nyssa and Chris (Chris, i met a bit later and thought what a great couple he & Nyssa made!) to create the decor for their rehearsal dinner and wedding. they were open to different ideas and in the end we created the perfect decor for their wedding.

Nyssa wanted to focus on pink and purple for the color palette and after a few revisions we decided to use pinks & purple blooms for the rehearsal dinner at Astra restaurant while we would focus mostly on varying shades of pinks for the wedding reception at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

the design was simple and slightly more contemporary; a combination of short and tall centerpieces created the perfect look. we used a crushed shimmer linen that changed depending on how the light hit it. clear glass candle holders and amber mercury glass votive candles completed the look.

so, as much as i try, taking pictures at any of my events is where i fall short. i try, i really, really try. but there is always something left to be done, candles yet to be lit and final touches that have to made. and well, then there is the issue of lighting, focus and a steady hand...none of which i have learned to control very well. so that's why i happily leave that to the professionals.

in this case, Carlos Andres Varela of Cava Weddings captured the details and i can't wait to see the results. and since he is the professional and he is producing works of art...we have to wait, just a bit, to see the images.

so in the meantime, here are some images that i did capture leading up to the wedding and some of tables in the process of being completely set.

shopping for pink hydrangea

verena rose hydrangea

captain romance calla lilies (from Holland)

low centerpieces while still at studio

a view of the Grand Ballroom...still in progress

a close-up...ahhh, love those phals!

low centerpieces bathed in a different light

so...i promise, you will see the real deal once i get my hands on some professional shots!!

Phaleonopsis Orchids

since i'm knee deep in phaleonopsis orchids today as i prepare for the wedding this weekend, i had them on the brain, so i thought i would share. the variety that i'm using is called "happy valentina", could easily be "happy valentine" which would be so appropriate for a romantic and love filled wedding day.

there is endless information to be found online about phaleonopsis, much more than i would be able to cover here. there are experts and enthusiasts who cultivate these orchids and i wouldn't insult them by pretending to know a lot about the plants, there are soooo many species and hybrids.

here are 5 things i do know...

1 - i love them.
2 - they are simply beautiful.
3 - they are unlike any other.
4 - they are feminine, romantic, simple and elegant.
5 - oh wait, did i tell you that i love them?

a single stem can create the greatest impact while a large quantity is beyond stunning. cut phaleonopsis stems can be difficult to come by since most plants are grown to be sold as plants and not many growers want to cut the stems. a design with cut phals can be a bit more expensive but the final outcome is well worth the cost.

here are some designs using phaleonopsis that i've created in the past.






i will be sure to post some from this weekend once i have them.
you may not hear from me until then, as i wade my way through the sea of beautiful phals over the next few days...jealous?
you should be!