Villa Marco Polo Inn - Italian Inspiration Shoot

One of the most beautiful locations in Victoria for a small wedding with European flair has got to be the Villa Marco Polo Inn. The boxwood lined gardens are elegant and private and depending what month it is, filled with roses, clematis or rhododendrons. It would even be great for rehearsal dinners or small family functions.

The following are photos from an Italian inspired wedding shoot featured on FAB YOU BLISS a wedding and lifestyle blog. Every photo shoot you learn something new and it's always such a pleasure working with other local talented vendors.

Enjoy!

(Bouquet - peonies, parrot tulips, camellia, red current, anemones,ranunculus)

 

Kim Kalyn Photography - photography

Villa Marco Polo Inn - location

Tuktu Paper Co. - invitations and stationary

Erin Bradley & Conscious Hair - make up and hair

The White Peony - Anna Campbell dress

Outlooks Menswear - suit

Toque Catering - food

Summer Wedding Flowers

With such beautiful weather and very little chance of rain, summer is the most popular time of year to get married.  If you are considering getting married in the months of June, July or August the following are some of my favorite local flowers available. All these flowers can be grown here in Victoria in your garden if you have a green thumb. But for us florists when larger quantities are needed for weddings many of these flowers can be ordered from the main land where there are some fabulous greenhouse growers.

JUNE -  delphiniums, peonies and lady's mantle

JULY - sweet peas, peony, dusty miller

AUGUST - dahlias and roses

Alstroemeria - available 12 months of the year in a variety of colors


How important is "supporting local growers" in your wedding planning?

 

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")

Garden Rose Bouquets

My best friend's wedding. What can I say, it doesn't get any better as a florist to have carte blanche. She knew she wanted soft and romantic, and I knew I wanted to use garden roses! 

In her bouquet I ended up using three different varieties of roses, white peonies, dusty miller, yarrow, and some eucalyptus.

A special detail was the heirloom diamond pendant borrowed from her mother-in-law which I hand stitched onto the ribbon. And don't you just love her jewellery? The fine, simple gold bracelet is my favourite!

I was also lucky enough to be the maid of honour and the only one in the bridal party, which meant I got to make myself whatever I wanted! Here is my bouquet being held by a girlfriend of mine, and doesn't it look like it was made for her?

Love you Mrs. Henderson!  xoxox

More on this wedding coming soon......

Summer wedding - Pine Lodge Farm

Here are a few photos from a recent wedding at Pine Lodge Farm. I had no idea this beautiful outdoor  venue in the Cowichan Valley existed until now and I am in love with it! 

Ameris Photography

Ameris Photography

Ameris Photography

Ameris Photography

Ameris Photography

The idea of being married on a bridge, over water, surrounded by gardens is just dreamy. And look at how happy this beautiful couple is.....

Ameris Photography

The bride's request was a bouquet that looked like it had been "hand picked". So nothing too perfect, a little bit wild looking and some purple. I chose to use purple veronica, scabiosa, deep purple lisianthus, peonies, queen ann's lace and various fern and hosta leaves.

Ameris Photography

Ameris Photography

The boutonnieres were lisianthus, lavender and astrancia.

Tara McHugh Flora

Ameris Photography

What a happy couple! Wishing you all the best J & D.