Real Wedding: Kaitlyn + Justin {Sneak Peek}

Another beautifully detailed wedding by the fabulous Carter and Cook. I cannot say enough about these girls. What natural talents they are! The bride, Kaitlyn, gathered pewter containers at flea markets during her time in spent in Germany. With the addition of pheasant feathers, antlers, chandeliers, and a private barn setting this wedding was perfection. You're sure to see more of this stunning couple's wedding day captured by Bonnie Tsang in the months to come.

Kaitlyn + Justin: Same Day Premiere by Aqua Vivus Productions

I had the absolute pleasure of designing for this fun-loving couple. I was super excited for this one. This wedding was absolutely stunning! I cannot wait to show you pictures by Bonnie Tsang and all the details by Carter and Cook. Until then, enjoy this same day premiere by Aqua Vivus.

Justin + Kaitlyn Same Day Premiere from AQUA VIVUS on Vimeo.

a year in review

This posting pretty much brought me to tears. Please read and then I'll explain why.

I love and miss these talented girls so much. Many of the florals in the pictures they included in their "The Best of Two Thousand and Ten" post were designed by The Floral Lab. I have been fortunate enough to work alongside Ashlyn and Heather over the years. True friendships have developed. We've laughed. We've cried. They are so genuine and creative, fun and fresh. They make me a better floral designer. Here's to an amazing 2011 girls!

Catch Carter and Cook at HITCHED at The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. They'll be blending army chic with ballerina glam. No doubt it will attract attention!

xxoo

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: 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

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

Real Wedding: Aimee+Colin

Aimee and Colin were such a wonderful couple to work with. Their energy and excitement was contagious. The two, along with the talented girls of Carter and Cook, designed such a beautiful day enjoyed by all who attended. The ceremony and reception were held at the amazing Condor's Nest Ranch in Pala. The views stretch for miles and you really feel atop of the world. The day was so effortlessly captured by Colleen Sherman.

What a gorgeous bride. Aimee carried a bouquet designed with roses, ranunculus, hydrangea, hypericum berries, and peonies.

The girls carried simple posy bouquets designed with roses.

Look at that ceremony backdrop. Crazy, right?! Colin made this structure of reclaimed wood and old windows. Perfection!

The reception tables were family style. The tables had runners designed with shutters, old books, peaches, and a random eclectic mix of vases and flowers. Each time you looked down at the table, you noticed a handmade detail.

Simply stunning!

Exquisite Weddings Magazine

I had the privilege to work alongside the girls of Carter and Cook on this stunning, shabby chic inspired table top design for the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of Exquisite Weddings Magazine. The Floral Lab making its debut in a print magazine! Alyssa McNees, the Creative Director for the magazine referred to Carter and Cook and The Floral Lab as "fresh talent" and "newbies" who "went for a youthful, whimsical look." I couldn't have described who we are and what we're about any better!

It was an incredible feeling to be a part of this shoot and I hope to have another opportunity like it again soon. Go pick up a copy for yourself to see all the other inspirational table top designs. All of my thanks for the following team of people who made this shoot possible:

Exquisite Weddings Magazine www.exquisiteweddingsmagazine.com

Table Designers: Carter & Cook Event Co. www.carterandcookeventco.com

Florals: The Floral Lab www.theflorallab.com

Cake: Sweet and Saucy www.mysweetandsaucy.com

Linen: Classic Party Rentals www.classicpartyrentals.com

Paper Stylist: Love at First Invite www.loveatfirstinvite.com

Photography: Terri Rippee, Rippee Photography www.rippeephotoweddings.com

Location: Rancho Valencia Resort www.ranchovalencia.com