Win a Kelly Moore bag!

Okay! Super exciting giveaway going on from the Kelly Moore website! She's giving away 1 bag and the winner gets to choose the color!

Interested? Find out more here at her blog!

Lovely

There is really just one way to describe this cake from Maple Wedding Cakes and it might posibly be perfect. It's pretty and soft and lovely and just plain amazing. I'm drooling.

Sigh. . . gorgeous.

Invitation Information!

So Mr.TB and I usually do not agree when looking at invites. I love to look at like hundreds of different invitation samples in catalogs, in person, and online. It just makes me happy. As a graphic designer, I totally plan on designing my own invite. The idea to do otherwise never occurred to me. I always planned on designing the paper goods for our big day. Either way, finding inspiration never hurts (nor does drooling over luxe invitation suites).

So, while visiting Mr.TB and spending some time together, we were just perusing invitations on etsy. I found one that I thought was cute, and TB agreed! I was totally surprised because he tends to lean towards the very traditional side of things. I don't love the invite, so I don't think we'll be doing anything similar, but I was excited to see him embracing his inner hipster! (Not to mention that it didn't hurt that the invite just happened to be in our wedding colors :-D)

The Sarah Wedding Invitation by Invitesbyjen.

If I was less traditional . . .

If I was less traditional my wedding would have this amazing cake from Pink Cake Box just so it could match these amazing shoes from endless.

I'm Back. . .And Reese too!

Hello Blog!
Yes, yes, yes, I realize it's been a very long time since I last blogged. Unfortunately unemployment got in the way and all my extra efforts (aside from a minimum wage part time job) went to job hunting. I put the blog on the back burner so I could spend my time perusing internet job boards for way too many hours a day.

Anyway! More importantly! Back to the blog!

I knew I had to blog about this when I saw it. Reese Witherspoon has a new perfume out from Avon (called 'In Bloom' if you're curious). I don't know if the perfume smells nice or not (lets hope so), but Reese in the commercial for it has on the most amazing dress. Granted, Reese always looks gorgeous, but this dress is something else! It's a warm ivory/soft butter color, and it definitely looks like it could be an amazing wedding dress. It's way glamorous.

Seriously, it's soooo pretty. For reals.

Anyway, take a look for yourself, but try not to drool.

Update!

We're tying the knot, getting hitched, getting married, and so on and so forth! But wait, you say, that's not a surprise at all! That's old news!

Well, I got a call back from my pastor today (left him a message yesterday). And our date is officially on the books. It's concrete! It's our day! No on else can take it! We have a day!

This is all very exciting and starting to feel realllll!

I know we're a year & a halfish out, but in my area things book up real real fast! In fact, our reception venue (hopefully, we love it) said that for a May 2011 wedding, we can't book in later than December 2009. I think it's because we're so close to Chicago where people pay big bucks for some big places. A lot of folks look outside Chi Town to save money.

In fact, I've been researching photographers and basing them around our list of wants and $1500 budget. I found a really nice affordable photographer and emailed them, saying our wedding is May 2011, but we're not looking to book until this May 2010, and asking if I could see a price list anyway. They were very nice, but turns out they're all ready booked through March 2011. Better get on it!

Either way! I'm excited! TB keeps getting on me to book the place we want for the reception, but I'm super hesitant. This place is absolutely perfect, and I know we'd never change out minds, but it's a scary thought to put so much money down when I'm unemployed. Granted, their rates aren't too bad by industry standards, but I'm worried about the idea if I don't get a full time job soon?

Regardless, our date is concrete at the church. Life is good!

Submerged Love: Part Two

So update! I still love submerged flowers! Haha just kidding, that's not really an update.

But continuing on, last time I gave you all some tips on your own submerged flowers. I have some more tips, especially helpful I think, if you're going the DIY route.

The following is all from this post on the Mocha Rose Blog (all images from there as well). Check it out. All credit it due there. I'm just sharing because I find her post extremely helpful!

First, what exactly is a submerged arrangement?
As the name suggests, it is a flower that is literally underwater and it is showcased in glassware and often accented with crystals and candles.

What types of flowers can be used in submerged centerpieces?
The short answer is: Any! However, some flowers work much better than others. My favorite flowers to use are orchids, roses, hydrangeas, calla lilies and tulips. Orchids work beautifully to fill the space in a tall vase. Roses always seem to magnify about ten times their size underwater and it is a very unique effect. Hydrangeas fill out the space in a short wide vase and even look beautiful when placed in a vase that is a bit too small in diameter. Calla lilies and tulips are perhaps my favorites because they can be twisted, curved and intertwined every which way to create a piece of floral art.

There are only a few flowers that I do not like to use and they are flowers with lots of pollen or those with delicate, paper thin petals. The pollen filled flowers like lilies can cloud the water (though with lilies, you can carefully remove the pollen). Paper thin petals like those of anemones can close up under the pressure of the water.

Can I use silk flowers since no one would be touching them?
Everyone seems to think that if they are underwater, no one would know the difference. As a flower lover, I believe that the reason that you choose this sort of arrangement is because you want to magnify the natural beauty of a bloom. If you are magnifying a silk flower, you are only magnifying the flaws of the impostor. (Yes, that is my official opinion of silk flowers.) Do you want frayed edged, dyed fabric and shiny plastic stems to be put under a magnifying glass at your wedding? There is nothing that even comes close to the beauty of a real flower.

Will the flowers die before the end of the night?
Absolutely not!!! Flowers love water. In fact, if you take them out of the water at the end of the night, they'll be as perky as ever. I've done tests in my studio and I've had submerged arrangements last up to four days. The water will go bad before the flowers do. After a day or two, the water may start to cloud (even quicker if the arrangement is in sunlight or a very warm room.) If you want to keep the arrangements for more than two days, I'd recommend completely changing the water and bleaching the stones to eliminate all bacteria. I'd imagine that these arrangements would last a week or more with the proper treatment.

How do you keep the flowers from floating to the top?
Well, we can't give away all of our secrets, can we? I will say that if you simply try to stick the flowers into a few rocks, they will most definitely float to the top. Flowers float and some more so than others. Roses, hydrangea and lilac can be tricky.
It seems simple, right? Can't I make my own submerged centerpieces for my wedding?
I wouldn't wish this on any bride for her wedding day! Submerged arrangements must be constructed on site and often at the last minute. Most of the cost of submerged arrangements (see next question) is in labor and for a good reason. They are not easy and are often quite messy to set up. There is also an issue of transportation. Vases and stones can get quite bulky and heavy and if you don't have access to a van, you will probably spend a good part of your wedding day loading, transporting and unloading the materials.
How much does a submerged arrangement cost?
Here at Mocha Rose, our submerged arrangements range in price from $29-250. They are generally an affordable option as your flower cost is kept at a minimum of 1-3 stems. Most of the cost of these arrangements is in labor because they often take additional staff available due to last minute set up. Our typical arrangements will be priced in the following manner: floral cost + vase rental + stone rental + votive rental + floating candles + labor + pick up. However, if you were trying to make these centerpieces on your own, you'd be purchasing the vases and stones and will most likely ending up spending about the same or more than having us do the arrangements.

Of course, if you are using five calla lilies (expensive) as opposed to a single rose (affordable) there will be a huge price difference. A florist can guide you in which flower will work best with your colors, look and budget. It's what we do ;)

Will my guests like the arrangements?
As a florist, I get to hear a lot of feedback from my brides, the guests and the staff at the reception site. One of the most common reactions is "Wow. I haven't seen anything like that before!" or "That is the most unique centerpiece I have ever seen!"

All I can say is that I receive more comments about these centerpieces than any other type I do. People love them.

Am I limited to flowers?
No! I love to experiment. Below is a submerged arrangement of fresh whole and cut limes. If you are using fresh fruit, I'd recommend waiting to the last minute or the water may cloud. We also use another secret (I'm not telling!) to keep the fruit from browning.

If you have something in mind, it never hurts to bring it up to your florist. I'm willing to experiment with anything which is why I know that a peacock feather does in fact look beautiful under water.

Is there any way to bring submerged centerpieces to the next level?
Absolutely! We have a few vases that allow us to create a submerged arrangement and build an arrangement on top of that vase like the beautiful pink and red orchids below.

We know that you like calla lilies and tulips, but are there any other flowers that work very well in submerged centerpieces
I love the look of cymbidium orchids when they are under water. They are such a beautiful flower. They are on the expensive side, but they sure do make a statement.
Bubbles or no bubbles?
There is a big debate on the issue of what kind of water to use in submerged arrangements. Some people use distilled water so the water is crystal clear. Some use tap water and when they do, there are natural air bubbles that will cling to the petals and stems. Some will even add San Pellegrino to the water to increase the bubbles that will attach to the flowers.

My stance on bubbles: I like them! I think that they add dimension to the arrangement and look pretty neat. I use regular old tap water most of the time, but will add a bit of San Pellegrino when I want a little more pizzazz. I personally think distilled water looks flat. (And why bother with the additional expense?)

Gladiolas are a more affordable alternative to the look of cymbidium orchids.

Have any other tips to share about submerged flowers?