I absolutely love rainbows! LOVE, love love! Since I was 6 and looked through the JC Penney catalog daily at the rainbow canopy bed that I wanted so badly. (I never got it.)

But can rainbow fit into weddings?
I'm sure we;ve all seen those BAD 70's photos of the crazy rainbow weddings that were so popular then. I'm NOT talking about that.
But if you just love that natural color progression, like me, can it tastefully be incoporated into a 21st century wedding?

YES!

Look at the wonderful inspiration I've found online........................


rainbow wedding cake
Surprise!

via The Fab Bride
Cake by Whisk Kid

Rainbow wedding cake

Baker Unknown

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Two above photos via Boho-Chic

Now onto my favorite incarnation of the rainbow -

OMBRE!
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So you’ve found a florist that you want to meet. What’s next? What should you bring and what should you expect to happen? I have a list of things that I like my brides to bring to their first consultation. I will list them to make it easy.

Photos of flowers you like
A list or an idea of flowers you don’t like
Photos of bouquets and centerpiece styles you like
Photos of your dress
Photos and swatches of the bridesmaids dresses
List of those in bridal party and others who will need flowers
Guest count
Number of reception tables
Photo of cake or cake style
 
A florist should have plenty of questions for you as well for instance,What look do you envision for your wedding day? What is your personal style? Do you have a theme? Do you want to stick to your wedding colors or incorporate other “pops” of color? Do you like tall or short centerpieces? Do you need cake flowers? Etc., etc., etc.
There are really many questions that I personally ask my clients so expect the first consult to be about an hour. Bring an open mind and a notebook, Don’t feel intimidated, Ask lots of questions and make sure you look at the florist’s personal portfolio. Ask the florist what their personal design style is. You may not always mesh perfectly with everyone, but a talented and inquisitive florist should be able to execute your dream florals.

Which leads to the next point – Should you shop around? By all means, see who is available, what others can offer, check out your options. But if you seem to click with someone and would like to secure their services, don’t be afraid. Like I said in my last post, you usually have good instincts!

Now you’ve found a florist you want to meet with and are sure of what to expect at your initial consultation. Do you really know what kinds of flowers and styles you like? Do you want a beidermeier or cascade bouquet? Do you want pilsners or bowls for your centerpieces? Do you need a chuppah? Hmmmmmm.
 
Design Styles - Let's talk later.... ;)
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 You wouldn’t believe how many brides ask me this question. They have an idea of what they like, but aren’t quite sure if it’s nice enough, or even acceptable. They want and need assistance and/or approval of their decisions. While a florist is willing and able to assist and guide anyone in their choices, no one needs our approval.

 If you happen to just love sunflowers and purple orchids – so be it! Your mother may have other ideas :), but never should a florist tell someone what they love is wrong.
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 Now, do some flowers lend well better than others? Of course, I return to the “I am willing and able to assist” comment. Sometimes we ladies (and gents) need guidance with what works best together. After all, the general public is rarely designing masses of flowers by color, theme and season. A florist can and should guide you with color palette matching, accent color choosing, flower availability, ribbon and lace choices, etc. But never will I tell you what you SHOULD have. Ultimately it is your wedding and you have to be happy on that big day, and when you look back at your pictures.

 Most don’t realize that they have very good instincts. So many ladies will email me 13,000 pictures and say, “I know I’m all over the place.” But as I scan the additional 12 pages of photos printed out :) I notice a vein of similarity. Comparable shapes, textures and pops of color, their particular style always shows through. I say it’s usually very good to go with your gut.

Now, I also ask the other side, those who know that they want “5 pink Vendela roses, 5 white cymbidium orchids and a touch of greenery”, to be open. Your  florist is a great source of what you didn’t know existed.

So what should you do when you are a little lost, unsure and unaware? Come to your consultation prepared and ready to ask lots of questions.  We want you to be happy and pleased, and we’re here to help.  Ask your florist for assistance and guidance, but not approval. We’re NOT your mother. J

 So now you feel better about your choices, right? Well what’s next? What should you really expect to happen at your florists consultation? The next post will address what you should bring, questions you should ask, and what a good florist should provide.



~Necoh
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A couple of months ago, I was taking petals off of some red roses for reception decor. Well, as I plucked the petals, I noticed how pretty the stamen, anthers and filaments were. They were so colorful, they actually made me stop and look a little closer. The detail was just incredible!
I just had to do something with them!

Now, I'm normally a romantic, fluffy type designer, but these just needed me to work with them! They were calling my name.

So with a little Lemon Leaf, and my favorite Japanese "Crispy Wave", I created something I think is pretty neat.......

I hope you likey!

Necoh~
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Japanese Flowers 01/30/2011
 
I recently had the pleasure of attending the Japan Bloom Fair in NYC. 
There were about 200 varieties of the most exquisite flowers I've ever seen.
Imagine - Ranunculus, Sweet Peas, Lisianthus, Garden Roses, Scabiosa, Orchids........  All in one room, the smell was divine!

I love my suppliers and they have very fresh, quality flowers. But the quality and SIZE of the Japanese flowers was insane.

Take a look at the difference.

Below is a very nice purple Lisianthus from California -
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Very pretty right?

Well here is the Japanese Lisianthus -
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Um, How fab????????????

Now one more example with a pretty delicate pink Ranunculus. These are one of my favorite flowers. These beauties are from Israel.
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Ok, now miss Japan Ranuncula.
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WOW, right?!?!?
I couldn't stop looking at these. And all of the colors they had there, oh my, it stopped my heart!

Now you ask, is there a price difference? Yes, of course there is, but you get what you pay for. And you GET these!

The Japanese flower market is still small in Philadelphia, there aren't as many varieties of flowers available as in other cities, like New York. But New York is a short trip away for those of you who would so love to have these beauties! Well it would be a short trip for me, I do the buying. :)

Seriously, though, these flowers are very incredible. I was actually on the verge of tears seeing some of the unique blossoms they had at the Japan Bloom Expo. The quality was exceptional, the color range incredible, there was nothing to not love about these flowers.
Take a look at my Facebook page and see all of the pictures I took that day!

Enjoy!
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I walked up to my studio door and was SHOCKED with this fabulosity!
We had discussed it, but I didn't know it was finished....

I Heart you ice sculpture.....
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The words and design are IN the ice, not etched!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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If you want your OWN fab sculpture,
call Rob Capone, Ice Master and co-owner of
Ice Bars, Luges and Logos!
rob@icebarslugesandlogos.com
(267) 702 ICEE


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I found out on a fluke, that a wedding I worked on was filmed and featured to highlight the Philadelphia Racquet Club as a wedding venue.
Take a look.............
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The answer to the question above is YES!

I had the Pleasure of assisting a very sweet, yet devastaed bride. I arrived at the wedding venue, to find the bride upset, almost in tears, about her cake. It was the wrong design, wrong color and wrong EVERYTHING.
Her colors were wine and ivory, the cake was Ronald McDonald red and white. It was supposed to have minimal sugar flowers, it was covered in iced flowers. Blech!

Look................
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NO!
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Take that!
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New and improved!
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The topper is a little larger than I would have preferred, but it had to cover all that red! :)

Here's what the brides mother had to say -
"I cannot thank you enough for the beautiful arrangements and bouquets they were perfect, and what you did with that cake was spectacular!"

And the bride -
"This was the ugliest cake I ever saw, I am so thankful that you were able to salvage the cake before my guests saw this cake. Can't wait for someone to get married so I can send them to you. I loved my bouquet so much. It was more beautiful than I could imagine. There are not enough words for me to say thank u, u saved my life."

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You're quite welcome!!!!! :)
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Long Time No See 11/29/2010
 
I have seriously neglected my blog!

Wedding season has been soooooooooooo busy.
I hope you can look at my new pics. Also, stop on by my FB page too see some extras not here!
Royal Design on FB

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Hello all.
I know I've neglected the blog............ Weddings, visitors and surgery have slowed me down quite a bit!
BUT, if you'll notice, I added a "Featured Weddings" page to my portfolio. Every so often I'll be updating it. (More frequently than these latest blog posts!!!)

Hope you enjoy!
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