Buy in Brooklyn

The Floral Lab will be making its East Coast debut during the month of December as part of Buy in Brooklyn's 4th Annual Snowflake Celebration. Floral goodies will be for sale at Lion in the Sun located at 232 7th Ave, corner of 4th street in Park Slope on December 16th. Stop by and say hello. I would love to meet you. Plus, everything in the store is 15% off!

You'll also be able to support more store employees doing their thing on the side! Check em out...they're awesomely talented ladies.

Stephanie Land

Mallory Larson

Erica Rothchild here and here

Read about the Snowflake Celebration here. Come out to support and show some Brooklyn love!

The Perfect "January Wedding" Song

Getting married in January and don't have a wedding song yet? Check out this song called "January Wedding" by the Avett Brothers. So fitting and the lyrics are sweet.

She keeps it simple

And I am thankful for her kind of lovin'

'Cause it's simple

No longer do we wonder if we're together

We're way past that

And I've already asked her

So in January we're gettin' married

She's talkin' to me with her voice

Down so low I barely hear her

But I know what she's sayin'

I understand because my heart and hers are the same

And in January we're gettin' married

And I was sick with heartache

And she was sick like Audrey Hepburn when I met her

But we would both surrender

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/january-wedding-lyrics-avett-brothers.html ]

True love is not the kind of thing you should turn down

Don't ever turn it down

I hope that I don't sound to insane when I say

There is darkness all around us

I don't feel weak but I do need sometimes for her to protect me

And reconnect me to the beauty that I'm missin'

And in January we're gettin' married

No longer does it matter what circumstances we were born in

She knows which birds are singin'

And the names of the trees where they're performin' in the mornin

And in January we're gettin' married

Come January let's get married

Fall In Love (Some More)

For a look at the second fall inspired tablescape with Carter and Cook Event Co. and Jill Thomas, head on over to Snippet & Ink. Here's a peek at what you'll find:

Persimmons, pears, pomegranates, succulents, ranunculus, mini persimmons, privet, broom corn pods, ilex berries, pincushion protea, and berzelia berries, were all used in the design. LOVING all that texture!

Carter and Cook provides all the great DIY details seen in these two shoots. Click here to visit their blog.

Fall in Love

This morning on Snippet & Ink: Carter and Cook provides great DIY inspiration with a colorful paper garland and gold sequin place mats and swizzle sticks.

Posh Paperie designed these lovely heart locket menus and key place card tags.

The centerpieces were designed with cockscomb and roses. The bouquet was made of bouganvilla.

{Photography by Jill Thomas}

Bouganvilla was the perfect choice for this photo shoot. However, out of water, the life of this paper-like blossom is short.

Real Wedding: Sarah+Kevin {Sneak Peek}

Real Wedding: Monica +Elliot

Bright with a bit of whimsy were words used to describe the wedding of Monica and Elliot who shared their vows on August 21st at the La Jolla Bridge Club. The day was coordinated by the lovely Courtney Toney of Joyful Weddings and Events.

Monica's nine bridesmaids carried posy bouquets of billy balls, oncidium orchids, and china mums. Elliot and his groomsmen wore boutonnieres designed with billy balls.

Flowing turquoise satin ribbon were placed on the chairs lining the aisle. Small, medium, and large button mum pomanders resting atop cylinder vases of varying heights provided the backdrop for the ceremony.

I made a wooden box, painted it white, accented it with coordinating ribbon, and filled it with wheatgrass to serve as the escort card display. The tablescapes were designed using bud vases containing billy balls, rectangular vases containing china mums, and eiffel tower vases containing oncidium orchids. For that bit of whimsy (and a pop of orange), Monica provided goldfish for some of the tables and clocks served as table numbers.

(Photos by Anjuli of Photorange )

A Big Apple Announcement

Fact: I moved to Brooklyn, New York.

Fact: The Floral Lab is still alive and thriving and will continue to do so throughout Southern California.

A job offer from Tiffany & Co for the husband and an opportunity for me to establish The Floral Lab NYC.... too good to pass up. I'll be taking the next few months to get settled in our new apartment and get The Floral Lab's Brooklyn studio up and ready to take on 2011 clients.

I'm beyond excited to welcome Emilia to The Floral Lab! She's has taken the reins and will be managing and designing beautiful floral decor for the business. You may remember that we were paired for the 1st Hitched event in Los Angeles a few months back. She's been super helpful in pulling together the last four weddings of the year and is a natural talent. I couldn't be happier with the relationship that has evolved and cannot wait to see what the future holds. Bi-coastal floral decor domination, perhaps? A girl can dream. Note: Emilia also provides personalized event design, planning, coordination, and beautiful handcrafted decor!

Please continue to refer your clients to The Floral Lab SD and if you know of anyone getting married within the 5 boroughs of NYC, I'm available to meet for a consultation. If you're a photographer, planner, or paper goods designer and are traveling to NYC for a client or for fun, I'd love to schedule a photo shoot with you.

I have a lot of blogging to do highlighting weddings and photo shoots from this past summer and cannot wait to share them with you. Keep checking back for all the exciting SoCal and NYC happenings!

Welcome Emilia!

Real Wedding: Nicole + Christian {Sneak Peek}

More to follow...

Real Wedding: Kelsey + Jordan {Sneak Peak}

Photography by Sean Walker

Real Wedding: Daniella + Dan {Sneak Peek}

Photo by Meurer Image Photography

La Jolla's Estancia Resort and Spa was the location where Daniella and Dan exchanged their vows and became Mr. & Mrs. Sloan on July 23rd, 2010.

Romantic. Natural. Garden. Words used to describe Daniella and Dan's wedding day. Daniella was the biggest breath of fresh air. She has the sweetest heart and was just the most stunning bride. Look at that dress!

Congratultations Daniella and Dan!

Real Wedding: Lauren + Caleb

Lauren and Caleb's ceremony and reception took place at the Red Horse Barn in Huntington Beach on August 14th. The location set the tone for a wedding full of natural and organic details designed by the fabulous team of Carter and Cook Event Co. The photos by Jill Thomas were stunning and really captured the emotion of the day.

Lauren's bouquet was designed with garden roses, scabiosa pods, dusty miller, silver brunia, sola wood flowers, and star of bethlehem. Her bridesmaids carried posy bouquets of sola wood flowers, dusty miller, and silver brunia. All of the bouquets were wrapped in burlap and accented with natural twine. Caleb and his groomsmen wore boutonnieres of sola wood flowers and natural sticks. The centerpieces were designed after a centerpiece that Lauren had found and absolutely fell in love with. Wooden crates (rented from Atelier Joya - so nice!) held olive branches, dusty miller, hydrangea, and gardenias.

Carter and Cooked designed the ceremony backdrop and all of the table top details: the burlap runner accented with lace, gold rope wrapped around the votive candles, wooden utensils tied on fabric napkins with natural twine, and bottles of water with table numbers displayed. The natural and organic details that went into this wedding were amazing and added to an already beautiful wedding day.

Congratulations Lauren and Caleb! xxoo

Runway Bouquets

Here are snapshots of the bouquets that were sent down the runway at Hitched, taken by yours truly.

The first bouquet was designed with Cattelya orchids.

The second bouquet was designed with cockscomb, ranunculus, mini calla lilies, snowberry, roses, and cymbidium orchids.

{love}

From Inspiration Board To Reality

I approached my first meeting with Emilia, of Sweet Emilia Jane and my Hitched partner-in-crime, with a bunch of energy. I hoped that I hadn't scared her off after using the words "street chic" and "modern" as my inspiration for our Hitched table design. I wanted to do something different, something other than the wildflower look that has flooded the blogs. Don't get me wrong, I love wildflowers, mason jars, and all things anthro, but I thought that Hitched would be a great venue to change it up a bit and think outside the box. Here's the inspiration board Emilia designed after our meeting {she totally rocked it}:

I've seen a lot of engagement pictures using graffitied walls as a backdrop. It's perfect, super colorful, interesting, and fun. Exist 1981 created the most amazing designs for our cinder blocks that we used to contain white hydrangea and phalaenopsis orchids. Throw in some gimp wrapped votives, silverware dipped in white paint, hot pink chevron napkins, crystal candlesticks, chilewich place mats, some rock candy, and we've got our table.

Hitched and the Smog Shoppe overflowed with talent and provided incredible inspiration for brides-to-be. A most genuine thank you to:

Paige Appel, Kelly Harris, and Audrey Woolen for creating such a venue for the modern day bride-to-be and asking The Floral Lab to come play.

The Smog Shoppe for being a gracious host.

Exist 1981 for artwork that was beyond our expectations.

Sarah Yates and all the talented photographers that snapped pictures of our table and the event.

All the blogs that featured Hitched.

Lastly, Sweet Emilia Jane for being the raddest partner {you haven't seen the last of us - wink wink}.

Hitched takes over the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs on January 30, 2011. See who got snagged here!

A Hitched Farewell

There has been a lot of blog love for Hitched. For those of you who missed it, Hitched was the wedding event of the year. To be a part of something so great was so overwhelming. The love, support, and encouragement was truly inspiring.

Hitched from Shark Pig on Vimeo.

Real Wedding: Monica +Elliot {Sneak Peek}

Photo by Photorange Photography

Hitched: Sneak Peek

Photo by Sarah Yates

Inspired by great packaging and product.

While shopping this weekend, I stopped by one of my favorite stores, Grounded, in Encinitas. As I was checking out, the owner was unwrapping a new jewelry line for the store. I was instantly attracted to the packaging and immediately picked up a pair of earrings. They were packaged in a mini glass bottle. I was sold!

verre new york: let them wear glass is the company name. Verre is the french word for glass and each piece is handmade by the designers. I couldn't agree more with their belief that simple is elegant and that less is more. Event better is that 10% of all verre new york sales goes to selected charities.

Their necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets are a perfect gift.

Feeling inspired by great packaging and product.

Real Wedding: Molly + Donovan

The O'Donnell Golf Club in Palm Springs provided the outdoor setting for Molly and Donovan's summer wedding. Fun was had by all in attendance at the Ace Hotel in the days leading up to and the day after their big day. Their wedding day was effortlessly coordinated by Carter and Cook Event Co. and captured by Windy Dougall Photography.

A natural beauty, Molly is one of the sweetest girls I have ever met and I'm so happy to have her as a friend. She is fun loving and just radiates positivity. Her friends and family mean everything to her and she tells you that often.

Molly's bouquet was designed of light pink astilbe.

The bridesmaids bouquets were designed of white astilbe.

Molly's dad looked as sharp as could be to walk his daughter down the aisle.

The ceremony was designed of a variety of cylinder vases filled with rocks and lit pillar candles. Simple and stunning.

The happy couple, ready to get the party started.

The tablescapes were designed with a combination of ghost wood with succulents, bottles with billy balls, and large mason jar terraniums. All were able to withstand the desert heat and are still thriving today.

Dear Darling created Molly and Donovan's wedding invitations and cute table numbers.

All the sweet treats were provided by Melody over at Sweet and Saucy Shop. I don't think there was a piece of cake or mini cupcake left on the table at the end of the night. So yummy!

I had so much fun working with Molly in the days leading up to the wedding. I had a weekend in Palm Springs to talk about the floral design and chill with a good friend by the pool. I was wined and dined at Donovan's family restaurant, Guiseppe's Pizza and Pasta, and got a taste of the mouth watering food that would be served at the wedding. Seriously, when you find yourself in the desert, you have to eat there....and you have to order a side of spinach!

Thank you so much for asking me to share in your special day. Love you guys!

xoxo