Garden Wedding - Victoria, BC

My first post for the new year highlights a special wedding from this past summer. On a warm and sunny July day, my best friend Kendi married an incredible guy named Ken in a beautiful garden here in Victoria, BC. The venue was a private residence. The property was full of winding garden pathways that toured you through a mix of fruit trees, lavender and poppies. With no sit down dinner, guests were free to explore the property while drinking, grazing from food stations and playing games on the lawn.

My daughter was the flower girl so I was very excited to make her a beautiful flower crown. The ring bearer carried the sweetest old book (Kendi is a big reader) tied up with twine along with the rings.

The great room of the house was used for the bar, speeches, eating and dancing!

All the wedding signage was painted by a girlfriend on old cedar fence panels. All the chalkboard signs we made from thrift store paintings. We sprayed them gold and used chalkboard paint over the existing painting.

Kendi and I punched out beautiful paper tags and then they were tied to beer and wine glasses in hopes people would use the same glass all night.

Instead of the traditional guest book we thought it would be fun to have guests write down "words of advice" for the couple.

I just had to share this fun shot of the groom and his best man shortly before everyone started arriving! Nothing like a refreshing swim before you get married.

So I have to say that this was a first for me. I have never before been a maid of honour, or a bridesmaid for that matter. But I most certainly have not been the maid of honour AND the florist before. It was actually lots of hard work and had moments of stress but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Who needs to spend time on hair and make up when there are flowers to be done? Priorities of a florist! I will say though, all the hard work aside, it is very special to be able to create and share my talents with the people closest to me. Especially my best friend who has always been one of the biggest supports for my business!

(for more bouquet photos check out my blog post here)

(spanish for "with you")

Sophisticated Summer Wedding

This past summer I finally had the "dream clients" that everyone wishes for. What makes dream clients you ask? People who are open to ideas, appreciate the art of flowers and design, are trusting, genuine, and are thankful. 

This wedding was a dream come true for me in many ways. One being, with my background in interior design, my favourite environment for flowers is the home. And I was very excited to have clients who wanted flowers to play a major role in their home for their daughter's wedding.

(Tunde and Tamara)

We decided to clear the dining room and living room shelves of all books etc. and flood them with various flowers and a few photos of the bride and groom. We kept to a crisp white color scheme, and mostly clear glass vessels throughout. The bride's parents had the black and white print hanging on the wall of St. Paul's Cathedral made just for the wedding. Such a cool touch.

(Tunde and Tamara)

(Tunde and Tamara)

The couple was married under an old hydrangea vine climbing up an oak tree. The vine wasn't actually in bloom at the time of the wedding, so I covered it with white hydrangea and dahlias in water picks and it turned out to be a beautiful natural arbour.

(Tunde and Tamara)

The bride's lovely dress was from White Peony a local shop here in Victoria. The bride let the bridesmaids choose there own dress colors. Either grey, soft pink or soft yellow.

(Tunde and Tamara)

After the ceremony while the couple was getting photographed the guests had the opportunity to hop on a local "tourist" bus and explore a couple spots in Victoria. I loved this idea! What a treat for the out of town guests.

(Tunde and Tamara)

The reception dinner and dancing took place in the back yard under a white tent softened with draping by En Vied Events. 

(Tunde and Tamara)

(Tara McHugh Flora)

(Tunde and Tamara)

 Look at these lovely desserts by Delish Catering who catered the whole evening. I am so in love with this gorgeous wedding cake!! 

(Tunde and Tamara)

(Tunde and Tamara)

I am a big fan of floating flowers. We floated dahlias in various pots outside the the entry of the home and also in the back yard pond. I was super excited to have the opportunity to make a floating wreath and also use floating tea light holders!

(Tunde and Tamara)

(Tara McHugh Flora)

According to the bride and groom the day went off without a hitch, which I'm always happy to hear. All the best to L&G and your new adventures in New York City! And thanks to everyone who helped out on this wedding, you know who you are.