Empress Hotel Photo Shoot

I recently received some gorgeous photos from the girls over at Two Tiny Elephants. They had asked me to do up a bridal bouquet for a photo shoot they were doing at the Empress Hotel. It's always very exciting to see my flowers in a beautiful shoot! I just can't get over the blue chair, red lips, and that dress, I love it all!! What do you think?

The bouquet was filled with local speckled hellebores, tulips, viburnum, freesia and fern.

To view this whole shoot please visit the Two Tiny Elephants blog.

Photography - Two Tiny Elephants

Invitation and stationary - Two Tiny Elephants

Dress and accessories - Blush Bridal

Hair and make-up -  Rika Kirihara

Flowers - Tara McHugh Flora

Location - Fairmont Empress Hotel

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")

Ivan Meade on Flowers

I thought it would be fun to bring in my friend and local interior designer Ivan Meade of Meade Design Group for an interview on the blog today. Curious what this designer loves and hates about flowers? Well you will have to read to find out!

(www.meadedesigngroup.com)

1) As an interior designer, when do you like to use flowers and why?

I like to use flowers in all of my interior design projects, and I always have natural flowers at my studio.  I believe flowers  can bring a space to life and complement the interior design.  They can be the final touch that finishes off a room.   If you don't have plants or flowers in an interior, it can look very sterile; flowers add the sense that a soul lives in the space, or works in a space.  I believe flowers remind us that we are part of something bigger, a reminder of the beautiful things in nature.  When you go to a restaurant and you don't see flowers on the table, the restaurant feels very mechanical - the space doesn't invite you to relax and enjoy yourself.  Flowers at the entrance of a business is always a kind way to say 'Welcome, I am glad you are here' (this is one of the reasons I always have natural flowers at my studio).  Flowers are actually the best investment to make me and my clients happy.

(Meade Design Group Studio)

2) Is there anything in the" flower world" that drives you crazy or that you don't like?

Plastic and silk flowers – I cannot stand them.  If you are going to use flowers go for the real deal or go home.  Why bother!

3) Do you have a time of year or particular season that is your favorite for flowers?

I don't have a particular season or flower that I like – I usually like unexpected flowers or leaves that are interesting. For me, it is more about the composition, but sometimes a single flower says more than anything.  I really like Magnolia flowers and you only need one to make a statement. I personally prefer white flowers such as peonies, roses, calla lilies, paper whites, poinsettias, etc.  White flowers are always crisp and always attract the eye rather than having a colourful arrangement that complement the space.  I like the simplicity that white can bring, but I also like colours on some occasions.  I definitely cannot say no to red parrot tulips or burgundy calla lilies.  Depends on my mood and where I am planning to use flowers.  A year ago, we designed a wedding and the client wanted yellow and blue flowers, not my first choice personally, but we made that work beautifully.  You have to be open to the occasion, the location and the general mood you want to create.


4) What is your favorite spot for flowers in your own home?

If I am having people over I like to have an arrangement on my dining table, at the very least, and if there is a vase elsewhere in need of some flower love why not – Sometimes flowers in unexpected places can create a very unique atmosphere.  I do like a theme around the flowers I am using in my own home, so you can tell a story involving the interiors as part of your own voice.  You are the narrator, your interiors are the main actors and the flowers are the celebrity guests.   

There you have it, a designer's thoughts on flowers. Feel free to comment as I am always curious about why people love flowers and what flower is their favorite!! And if you are a lover of interior design check out Ivan's blog at http://meadedesigngroup.blogspot.ca/  for  beautiful inspiration and many great interviews with world renown designers.

A Classy Pink and Pearls Wedding in Victoria, BC

I am very excited to share some beautiful photos of a February wedding that took place here in Victoria. If you choose to get married in Victoria in February, chances are you will need an indoor ceremony and reception venue due to the likely hood of rain. But, for this lucky couple they had nothing but blue skies, sunshine and not a single drop of rain for their wedding day!

Ashley and Brandon Photography

Nikki and Logan chose to be married inside the St. Ann's Academy chapel with it's beautiful gold and soft blue ceiling, which I must admit I just love to see in pictures! And to see more lovely photos of Nikki and Logan's wedding day please visit  Ashley and Brandon Photography. Ashley and Brandon captured their day perfectly.

Tara McHugh Flora

One of the first things Nikki and her mother gave me at our initial meeting was the invitation which they had made back in Canmore, Nikki's hometown. The color palette started with this item.

  Ashley and Brandon Photography

The bridesmaids' bouquets were a mixture of various roses and white hydrangea. To see more on Nikki's all white bouquet read my blog post here. 

 

 Tara McHugh Flora

I just love the next couple shots of the bouquet delivery. I love to be able to see the bride personally at the delivery and sometimes it just isn't possible.

Ashley and Brandon Photography

Ashley and Brandon Photography

 Ashley and Brandon Photography

A palette of soft pinks, cream, white and gold created such a sophisticated feeling for this wedding. And especially with all the pearl accents, from the beautiful jewellery she wore, to the details at the reception, it was all just simply classy!

The reception was held in the Vancouver Island Ballroom at the Grand Pacific Hotel. We decided to go with two different centerpieces on the tables. One being, a trio of three vases filled with tulips, pink alstroemeria, hydrangea and baby's breath. And the other a "twisted tulip bowl".

 Tara McHugh Flora

 Tara McHugh Flora

 Tara McHugh Flora

 The head table had hydrangea and baby's breath arrangements on them. Once the reception started the bridesmaids could then place their flowers in the bouquet holders supplied by the decor company which hung on the front of the table. Double duty, do it when you can!

  Tara McHugh Flora

Another big thanks for the beautiful photos from Ashley and Brandon Photography

Tomas De Bruyne in Victoria

This past week I went to a lecture by world renowned Belgian floral designer Tomas De Bruyne. His work is quite unique as it is common for him to use planks of wood, screws, yarn and other unusual materials and techniques. I found him inspiring! Being a new floral designer I often get scared of going too far "outside the box" in fear of how people will respond. But listening to Tomas speak, he made me realize many people want creative design. Unfortunately, his pieces were very hard to view during the lecture unless you were in the front few rows. Tomas himself was quite funny and had me laughing numerous times. The designs were put on display after the lecture and I got a few shots with my iphone, so forgive the quality please.

To view more of Tomas De Bruyne's work please visit his website at www.tomasdebruyne.com

Spring with Style - Hyacinths & Forsythia

I am finally feeling like spring is upon us. The gardens in my neighborhood are full of spring blooms right now which inspired one of this week's floral installations. As you will see below I have exposed the root ball of the hyacinths in clear cylinder vases for a modern look. And as for the forsythia branches, they pack a punch of bright yellow to help battle any grey days we may have left this month.