Eryngium - Sea Holly

What is eryngium? Eryngium is a blueish purple thistle flower, also known as sea holly. It actually is a rare color in the flower world, which is one of the reasons why I love it! As a cut stem flower it has a good long vase life, around 7-14 days depending how fresh it is. The flower itself grows on an odd irregular shaped stem, so they don't look their best displayed on their own. But they do however compliment many other beautiful flowers.

Anemones, parrot tulip, berzelia, eryngium

 Hellebore, eryngium, grape hyacinths

 Eryngium and parrot tulip boutonniere

They are a great flower for wedding work as they don't ever wilt!

Indoor weddings at Butchart Gardens

Victoria is home to one of the most famous gardens in the world, Butchart Gardens.

I just found out recently, you can actually have an indoor garden wedding and reception at Butchart Gardens between January 15th and March 31st. The garden recently hosted some of us wedding vendors and gave us a tour and information about hosting weddings at their venue.

The wedding ceremonies happen in the "spring prelude garden" which is a lush indoor garden full of beautiful fragrance and spring blossoms. The number of guests allowed is 60, so it's perfect for an intimate wedding, or vow renewal. Once the ceremony is over receptions are held in the historic dining room of the original Butchart family home.

Another beautiful room that just blew me away was the "breakfast room". I think it would be perfect for a bridal shower, with the tables full of pink peonies!

My visit there was in prime daffodil season. And believe it or not, some lucky person's job is to pick flowers from the "cutting garden" and arrange them using the garden's collection of beautiful vases. Could be one of my dream jobs I think!

Butchart gardens would make a lovely venue for an early spring wedding. All the benefits of an outdoor garden wedding except for the rain of course!

Spring Boutonnieres - hellebore and succulent

Succulents are still popular for bridal bouquets and boutonnieres, and I love them. What is kind of neat about using succulents in your wedding is that after the wedding you can carefully remove the succulent from the boutonniere or bouquet and shove it in some soil. It will take root after a couple weeks and you will have a living keepsake from your wedding day!

Top boutonniere - succulent, anemone, clematis buds

Bottom boutonniere - hellebore and sword fern

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

Victoria Women of Weddings - Laurel Point Inn

The first ever event hosted by the Victoria Women of Weddings took place February 12th at the beautiful Laurel Point Inn. What a gorgeous space to host your wedding reception! A few of us wedding vendors collaborated on this first event to help make Sharon Rai's vision come true. The theme was "Hearts and Arrows" with the date being so close to Valentine's Day, and the turn out of vendors was incredible. Here are a few lovely pictures by Deanna McCollum Photography of the flowers I did for our feature table. All the beautiful decor for the event was done by Magical Moments Decorating

white hydrangea, yellow mimosa, red tea spray roses

red roses, yellow witch hazel

 

In my home - Spring tulips

I am most often drawn to vibrant rich colors, but these pale yellow tulips I just couldn't resist. And the fact that they were a "double tulip" made them even more irresistible. The more they open, the more spectacular they are!

Oh ya, and the silver poodle Marley, he is pretty spectacular too!

Modern Bride Victoria

At the beginning of the month, not only did I have my first wedding for 2013 but I was also part of the Modern Bride event. It was the first of it's kind, and the idea was to have a "bridal expo" that was like no other. Booths were set up though out the mall by various wedding vendors. And the day ended with a "live" wedding, in which one lucky couple had their whole wedding paid for as long as they were married in the mall amongst friends, family and strangers. 

I shared a booth with Tricia from En Vied Events.

Tricia also came up with three different "wedding looks" with her beautiful table linens and accessories which were also on display through out the mall. I added the final touch of flowers which always helps complete the look.

pink rhododendron, deep purple hellebores and white hyacinth

viburnum, everest roses and freesia

Would you get married in a mall if it was all paid for?