We have to dedicate two posts to this particular couple because the story just can’t fit into one! In our business we get to see many couples and  we think Anais and Andrew are the perfect couple for a number of reasons.  She does all the talking and he mostly smiles and looks at her lovingly.  She is hilarious and he laughs at her and appreciates her.  She loves him and his quiet ways.  The only time he reigned her in during the entire planning process was to say no to the silver votive candles we proposed and so we all agreed, that because he was so undemanding, we would grant him this one wish.

We have known Anais for about 4 years, she used to work part time for us and so we knew she would appreciate us bringing our humour with us to our very first official consultation for her wedding.  We dressed up in wedding gowns and made her wear a veil.  That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the planning stages.

Anais and Andrew decided to get married on their favorite beach and have their reception at her uncle’s stunning condo in Tofino on Vancouver Island.  While all that was a great idea, the logistics for us were mind boggling, to say the least.  We had to figure out how to safely deliver hundreds of stems of white phaeleonopsis orchids, a few hundred roses, hydrangeas and more not only to Tofino, but also how we were going to traipse the orchids and vases down to the beach.  Our first order of business and one of our better decisions was to rent a cargo van to drive and house all the flowers and supplies.  I’m not sure about the pink bow, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

OK, I can’t believe I just posted that picture of myself.  Taking one for the team.

We spent the rest of Friday afternoon settling in to our VERY luxurious accommodations at Anais’s uncles condo development.  His name is Walker McKinley of McKinley Dang Burkart and he is the very charming and very talented architect of The Shores.  Friday night was spent wiring orchids, making bouquets, centrepieces, bouts and getting ready for the ceremony on Saturday.

This is the deck before we worked our magic.  Stay tuned for the transformation.  I know, it is fabulous like it is now but wait until you see it!

We started planning this wedding back in January with the bride Karen and her Mom along with our very favorite and THE most capable and organized wedding planner we know, Christine Smart of Smart Events. After tossing around many, many ideas we narrowed it down to what became a most elegant combination of traditional white and green for the ceremony and dinner reception, and a riot of spicy, bright Indian inspired colours for the cocktail reception.  We were thrilled because sometimes it is so hard to decide between the bright, vibrant colours and the more subdued, always perfect, whites and greens. We didn’t have to decide, we did both!The whole day took place at the stunning home of the bride’s parents in Cordova Bay.  It was all hands on deck for this one as the timing  was tight.  We called in our most trusted and talented team of helpers and had such a great time; lots of diet coke, swollen ankles and sore feet.The ceremony was held in the huge white marquee, supplied by Apex Tents, with the guests seated in a circular fashion around the bridal couple.  Guests then wandered to the ocean side of the house for the high energy cocktail reception with elaborate food stations all catered by the ever popular and talented Truffles Catering. Meantime the Verbena team, the Truffles team, Christine and her good friend Gary (whom she was able to talk into coming all the way from Toronto to help her with all the details) were busily transforming the marquee for the sit down dinner to follow.  The gorgeous linens for the whole event were supplied by Around the Table from Toronto . We are posting our photos but stay tuned for the much anticipated “real” photos from the photographer Helene Cyr. We had so much fun with this wedding.  The bride and her Mom were wonderful to work and plan with.  Turns out the entire family was so gracious, friendly and welcoming that is was hard to say goodbye and wrap it up.

My baby sister turned 30 this past weekend, and the truth is that I would do anything for that girl, so when she said she was having a dinner party called “Over the Top” and that all she wanted for her birthday this year was for me to come and for a bridal bouquet. I mean who dosent want to play with thier own bridal bouquet for the day? I think everyone should have one on their birthday. Given the parameters were over the top, we thought a matching centrepiece would work well with the bridal bouquet so we turned to most dramatic, and “over the top” flower we could think of – The Peony. Grown locally only at this time of the year we splashed almost 60 of them all along the long arrangement that we ran down the middle of the table. Along with massive heads of fluffy pink hydrangeas, and beautiful Esperance and Faith roses we constructed part of it in the studio and then I drove it over the next day and finished the masterpiece right before dinner started. I am a strong believer that the flowers ALWAYS make the event, but then it is my job to believe that. I wish I could say that this was true on Sunday night however Nancy’s beaming smile and the love and laughter of her beatuiful friends made this event over the top. Here is a look at what happens when you can express your love for someone with what you do.

A few weeks ago we were asked by Christine Smart out at Sea Cider if we would like to participate in an open house with them and Truffles Catering to showcase some ideas for all their upcoming weddings. We just had to use 2 of our favorite coloured roses “Cherry Brandy” and “Latin Ambiance” along with some beautiful fresh green viburnum and some pale pink lisianthus. This palette was one of the 2 we had chosen the other was of course the classic and timeless white and green. This we accomplished with a simple and modern arrangement of white and green and Hydrangea. Of course we dragged Jenna Shouldice (nee Tye) to capture our work with her artistic eye and lens. Gosh we are so spoiled to have such enourmesly talented friends who are willing to shoot for us. We met with some wonderful people and look forward to being able to work with them in the future.