Josilyn and Michael are Married!

Who: Josilyn and Michael

What: Romantic and timeless wedding done in shades of peach with a pop of orange and hot pink

When: July 2008

Where: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sacramento, Ca and The Library Galleria, Sacramento, Ca

Images by: True Love Photo

Annie and Colby are Married!

Who: Annie and Colby

What: Gorgeous wedding in colors of deep navy, silver and bright green

When: July 2008

Where: Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento, CA and The Old Sugar Mill, Clarksburg, CA

Images by: Stephanie Smith

Candles...

Candles add a warm and romantic feeling to your event. I love using candles of all shapes and sizes to add a sense of intimacy and luxury to my client's wedding decor.

A few things to consider when decorating with candles:

Safety first- always use glass to shield the flame of the candle.

No scent is good sense- Un-scented candles are the way to go when decorating at an event where food will be served. Heavily scented candles can interfere with the enjoyment of food. Additionally, some of your guests may have an allergic reaction to the scent.

Mix it up- a variety of shapes, sizes and color candles can communicate homeyness and will give your decor a little something special.

More is better- 6 to 9 votive candles per guest table (provided you have the space) will give your tables a romantic and flattering glow.

Beat the heat- If your wedding is planned for the hottest months of the year use less or battery operated candles.

Make the glow last- Tealight candles (the little candles in a metal or plastic cup) typically do not last long enough for the average wedding reception. You want to choose candles that have a burn length of 6 or longer hours.

Images by: Allison Stahl, Diana Miller, True Love Photo, Wendy Hithe, Christa Hoffarth and Flourish

Sacramento Bride and Groom

Have you seen the new cover of Sacramento Bride and Groom? The yummy red rose bouquet was happily designed by Flourish this past September. Our bride, Samantha was perfectly photographed by Rachelle Photography.

Tricks of the trade

One of my favorite decor tricks is to add an extra sparkle to fresh fruit by coating it in glitter. The fruit apprears to be frosted. Fabulous!

Image by: Andrea's Images

Rootie, tootie fresh and fruity

Fruit is a fabulous design element in floral displays. Not only is fruit a great way to bring the season into your designs it can also help strech your decorating dollar.

In the spring use bright green apples and pears mixed with soft pink Esperance roses and fluffy Sarah Bernhardt peonies. In the summer citrus fruit is all the rage. Use sliced lemons, oranges and limes in your centerpieces and watch your guests admire your fruity sense of fun. In the fall it is all about abundance. Bosc and Seckle pears, shiny deep red apples and gorgeous bunches of purple grapes will give your decor a seasonal flair.

Images by: Christa Hoffarth, Andrea's Images, Bella Rose, True Love Photo and Flourish

Pink and orange

The color combination of pink and orange has become increasing popular over the last two years. It is no wonder why! Few other color combinations communicate flirty fun as well.

My Favs: Ravel and Orange Unique roses, gerbera daisies, callas

Images by: True Love Photo, Rachelle Photography and Flourish

Orange

"Orange is the happiest color." Frank Sinatra

I think my favorite color to use in the summer and fall is a deep rich orange. Orange just pops in photography. When added to royal blue, deep purple, rich red and bright yellow- orange turns the color palette into a rainbow of stunning hues. Orange, red and yellow makes for a show stopping fall combination.

My Favs: Orange Unique, Circus and Tropical Amazon roses, dahlia, hypericum, aranda and mokara orchids, gerbera daisy, Mango calla, tulips

Images by: True Love Photo, Sharpe Photographers, Kight Photographers and Flourish

White

"White is not the mere absence of colour, it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definitive as black..." G.K. Chesterson

White is the classic bridal color. It symbolizes purity and new beginnings. White can be coy and innocent or starkly modern. I love using cool clean white flowers to evoke a restful and soothing atmosphere.

My Favs: peony, roses, orchids, stock, hydrangea, sweet pea, tulips, ranunculas, callas and lisianthus.Images by: Kight Photographers, True Love Photo, Wendy Hithe Photography and Flourish

Blue

"Oh! `darkly, deeply, beautifully blue',
As someone somewhere sings about the sky."
Lord Byron

Blue is the rarest color for flowers. Not many plants and flower sport this heavenly hue. Gardeners have prized this color over all others for centuries. Even with all of the advances in science the blue rose eludes plant geneticists to this day.

Pair a light powdery blue with a host of soft pastel pinks, yellows, lavenders and green for the ultimate is springtime splendor. Deep, dark blue becomes mysterious when coupled with purple and burgundy.

My favs: hydrangea, hybrid delphinium, belladonna, monkshood, scabiosa, agapanthus, forget me nots, love in the mist
Images by: Kight Photographers, Wendy Hithe Photography and Flourish

Yellow

"The yellow one is the sun!" Brian Regan

Yellow is an under-used color in wedding flowers. I love yellow flowers. They inject a feeling of fun and whimsy into a wedding.

When paired with pink, red and orange yellow completes a sunset themed color palette. Lemon Yellow, sherbet orange and lime green gives a summer wedding a color theme good enough to eat.
My favs: tulips, roses, orchids, spider mums, callas, gerbera daises, sunflowers
Images by: Andrea's Images, True Love Photo, Kight Photographers and Flourish

Purple

"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it."
Alice Walker

Purple is the color of royalty and riches. Purple can be mysterious, sexy, intimate and deeply romantic.

To evoke a rich feeling pair purple with the jewel tones of ruby red, sapphire blue, emerald green and a dash of gold or silver. To give purple a icy, wintry feeling couple it with platinum, lavender, white and light blue. Purple can be shocking and playful when used with orange, red and yellow.

My favs:
Vanda, dendrobium and phaelopsis orchids, lisianthus, stock, trachelium, gladiola, sweet peas, freesia, kale, and Moongene carnations.
Images by: Lori Makabe, Sharpe Photographers, Bradford Shepard, True Love Photo, Kight Photographers, Rachelle Photography and Flourish

Light Pink

" My colors are "blush" and "bashful." " Shelby in Steel Magnolias



Light pink is such a soft and romantic color. I love to use blush pink mixed with bright green to give arrangements a fresh spring like look. Mixed with taupe and champagne light pink will add a sultry and rich undertone. Add chartreuse and sherbet orange and light pink becomes fun and flirty.

My favs:
Peony, Charming Unique and Candy Bianca roses, lisianthus, cymbidium orchids, dahlias, Princess dendrobium orchids, ranunculas and sweet peas.
Images by: Bella Rose, True love photo, Wendy Hithe, Diana Miller and Flourish

Green

Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.
Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Green flowers have been so hot this year!

I love working with green flowers because they lend themselves to so many different looks. Green can be clean and modern, soft and romantic or funky fresh.

My favs are:

cymbidium orchids, Super Green roses, hypericum, Yoko Ono spider mums, Kermit button poms, hydrangea, Bells of Ireland, sedum and carnations.

Images by: Lydell photography, Andrea's Images, Xsight, Anne Mask and Flourish

More boutonnieres

The wearing of a flower in the man's lapel goes back to a knight wearing his chosen lady's colors.

In some cultures the wearing of a boutonniere started by wearing small clusters of herbs to ward off curses and evil spirits.In modern times a boutonniere worn by a man is usually reserved for proms and weddings. But gone are the days of the giant rose nestled in a pouf of Baby's Breath. Boutonnieres are now fashioned to make a stylish and personal statement.

Today's Groom can choose from the traditional and classic stephanotis blossom or a contemporary cluster of pods and ornamental grasses to play the starring role on his lapel. Either way the boutonniere is meant to be the final perfect touch for a very special day.

Better late than never...

I just found these images on my camera. So I thought I would share our Thanksgiving table with you.

The centerpiece was massive! I designed a large cornucopia filled with branches, fruit, leaves and roses.

I was inspired to design this because I saw a project video on http://www.floraldesigninstitute.com/Leanne Kesler did a stunning cornucopia. I have not designed one of these in a very long time. I thought it would be fun centerpiece for my family's shin dig.

By the way- if you are looking for floral design classes I highly recommend the Floral Design Institute. I took a week of classes at their Seattle location about five years ago. I loved it!

More from the photo shoot

These images are from the yearly shoot I produce with True Love Photo. Dresses by Belladonna, hair and make-up by Image Provocateur.

For Yo' Mama

Flowers for the special females in your life can take on many design styles. The most popular are : pin corsage, wrist corsage and a small posy of flowers for her to hold.

Images by: Christa Hoffarth, Diana Miller, Wendy Hithe Photography, Image Outfitters and Flourish

Flowers for her hair

I love it when a bride wears flowers in her hair. I just seems to add that extra special touch to her ensemble.

Some things to consider when choosing flowers to wear in your hair are: The flower's size, scent and hardiness.

Cutie Pies!

I love designing for the littlest member of the wedding party. Children bring a lightness and fun to what is otherwise a serious ceremony. How can you not smile when you see these little cuties heading down the aisle?

Images by: True Love Photo, Diana Miller, Gino Creglia, Melanie Mages and Andrea's Images

Yummy...

Goregous Lindsey and dapper Josh

I am often amazed at how stunning my brides are on the day of their wedding. The excitement, love and adrenaline gives them a glow you could see from space.

Lindsey was no exception. When she walked in with her hair and make-up done perfectly and looking so tall and willowy in her wedding gown she took my breath away!

Not to be outdone Josh rocked a tan suit like nobody's business. Wasn't he Hot??!

Lindsey was up for fun and unique florals and you know how I like to get crazy! We had a blast. Glittered apples, coffee beans and green wire were just a few fun and funky touches we added to the event.
photos by True Love Photo

I am so excited! My designs were featured on ubloom. Ubloom is a website filled with inspiration, knowledge and community for florists. I am totally addicted to this site. To have my designs noticed and appreciated by other floral designers is the highest compliment. All I can say is "You like me, you really like me!"

Here is the post:

by uBloomBlog (By Lisa Luck)

Exquisite designs, captured by stunning photography, are what you’ll find when you view Shannon Cosgrove-Rivas ‘ new Bridal Bouquet picture gallery.
The bouquets are absolutely AMAZING, and rival anything seen in popular floral trade magazines. I was so impressed with Shannon’s breathtaking designs that I had to find out more about them and get Shannon’s "take" on her creations. I asked her how/where she got her inspiration for her designs and this is what she said,
"When I am designing a bouquet, I try to encapsulate the bride’s personality, the wedding theme, and season all into one hand held creation. Some of the more practical design aspects I always consider are the flower’s hardiness and weight along with the balance and size of the bouquet."

When you view Shannon’s pics, you will immediately notice how incredible the photography is and how well her bouquets present themselves in the pictures. Shannon takes special care to make sure her bouquets are going to show their absolute best when photographed. Here are some of Shannon’s "Petals of Wisdom" when it comes to making bouquets look great for the bride as well as in the photographs.

"I think that one of the most overlooked, and quite possibly, the most important element to consider when designing bridal bouquets and wedding flowers is, how the finished designs will look when photographed. Too white, and the bouquet will blend into the bridal gown. Too solid and monochromatic, and the bouquet will appear as a colored "blob" in the photos. If the greenery and textures used are too fine, the camera will read the design as "messy." If the bouquet is too big, it will overwhelm the bride in the pictures. Conversely, if the bouquet is too small, it will make the bride appear giant by comparison (never a good look!)."

"I am often asked to design bouquets for photo shoots. I look at these shoots as a great opportunity to grow as a designer by taking risks with flowers, textures and colors."
I also asked Shannon to give me some background info on her favorite bouquets and here was her response. "Some of my favorite bouquets have come from the craziest combos. The bouquet in the gallery with deep purple Vanda orchids, trailing bittersweet vines, pumpkin orange celosia, golden yellow ranunculus, ruffled gloriosa lily, chartreuse green roses and shiny fatsia leaves make my mouth water and bring a smile to my face. What a wacky combination, but it totally works. Most brides probably would not want this bouquet, but when they see the picture, they appreciate the color combination, the floral textures, and the skill it took to design the fantasy bouquet."

Well, I can’t imagine any bride not wanting one of Shannon’s designs, and as for myself, I’ve become a HUGE "Flourish " fan!!!

Once you view pics of Shannon’s Bridal Bouquets by Flourish , you’ll become a "Flourish" fan too!

White done right

I loved this wedding Grand Island Mansion! It is white done right.

When working with white flowers it is so important that you use shades of white and accent the designs with greenery. Why? Well grasshopper, so your carefully chosen blooms do not look like white blobs in the photos. Never a good look.

When my bride came to me she had a wonderful vision of florals that would blend and accent the antique decor at Grand Island Mansion.

We chose a soft palette of white, ivory, champagne and cream offset by deep green. Fabulous!