May 2011 @ Tendenza. Absolutely stunning photography by Readyluck. By far, my new favorite photographers in Philly.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Get Silly.
I often wonder why mustaches are so trendy. However, to be honest I am totally on the mustache band wagon so I guess the reason for their popularity is null. I came across this picture and then looked at some of the more formal pictures that have been taken at my weddings and can’t help but think… people should start getting more “silly” shots. Although your wedding may be a formal event, tell your photographer to snap a ton of candids.
Here’s a list to give to your photographer so they have some guidelines as to what pictures are an absolute must. (p.s. if your photog doesn’t know this already, you may want to reconsider)
1-Shots of the happy couple with and without family members, close friends, etc.
2-The bouquet toss.
3-Picture of guarder belt on leg of bride or her tossing it (or both).
4-Arrival of the bride and groom (inner, outer and getting out of limo shots).
5-And now you may kiss the bride.
6-The cutting of the cake and the bride and groom feeding each other.
7-Bride and groom getting in the customary “Just Married” vehicle.
8-First dance.
9-Groom and mother dance.
10-Bride and father dance.
11-Various guests or family members dancing (parents, grandparents,etc.).
12- Father giving away bride.
13-Bride walking down aisle (front and side views recommended).
14-Groom waiting at altar.
15-Small children having moments or dancing with bride or groom. (this sounds creepy….)
16- Groom with key people (grooms men, mother, father, grandparents, siblings, etc.).
17- Bride with key People (bridesmaids, mother, father, grandparents, siblings, etc.).
18-Wide shot of church (inside and outside / with and without guests).
19-Bride and groom toasts and speeches.
20-Maid of Honor and Best Man toasts and speeches.
21-Groom checking the time. (no, this one is not silly, just dumb)
22-Key portraits (bride and groom, parents, bridesmaids, grandparents, etc.).
23-Throwing of the rice (or bird seed).
24-Key people eating / talking (bride and groom, family, friends, etc.).
25-Over the shoulder shot of bride looking at groom and vice versa.
26-Hand holding of bride and groom, parents, etc.
27-Groom putting wedding ring on bride’s finger and vice versa.
28-Pictures of rings by themselves (laying on bible, etc.) or on the fingers (being shown off, etc.).
29-Bride and groom leaving church.
30-Guestbook signatures.
A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain
Got $35 for a centerpiece?
what you need;
wood cut about 2″ thick
dollar store glass vases
tall slender pillar candles (also can be found in dollar stores)
1 gardenia (we have these available for $11ea)
ribbon/raffia
So simple. So easy. So freaking gorgeous.
Cupid’s Chokehold
This Valentines Day, I found myself working at a busy flower shop in Center City. Having not had to do this for a few years now (I’m usually behind the scenes), I found myself enjoying being out there talking to the masses, helping them pick out custom designs for their counterparts. Something traditional? dozen roses. Something different? exotics in a cube. Something sexy? Black Baccarras.
While my personal feelings towards Valentines day are ones a florist should never share (let’s just say any obligatory Hallmark holiday is not one I hold in high regard). Most florists depend on Valentines Day and Mothers Day to stay in business, so any holiday that boosts sales for local businesses is ok with me. About halfway through my first day, my delectation soon began to turn…
About 85% of the customers that came into the shop had no interest at all in sending flowers. Dudes would say “just send anything, as long as she gets something, I won’t get in trouble”. One guy came in to buy flowers for his wife and his girlfriend, and seemed to have no shame in putting the charges on two separate credit cards so his wife wouldn’t find out, like a true gentleman.
Sending someone flowers is one of the greatest gifts you can give. It is 100% guaranteed to make them smile. If you don’t want to make someone you care about smile, then you suck. Don’t wait until February 14th when the cost of flowers is four times what they normally are and everyone (and their mom) is getting cookie-cutting “designs”. Send them for no damn reason on some random day of the year. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!
Floral Wire Jewelry
A co-worked of mine told me about Hitomi Gilliam about 4 years ago. She is by far one of the most inspirational, out of the box floral designers of our time. If you’ve got 10 minutes and want to learn something cool, watch this video. All you need is floral wire, and it comes in a variety of colors and gauges so the possibilities are endless. Plus, you can get about 160 feet of it for less than $10! Score!
Calling all DIY Brides!
Finally! Well friends, it’s been a long time coming and the site is finally here. I no longer have to explain to clients that our web site is “under construction” when in reality it never existed (I know, I know, but i just never seemed to get around to it). The purpose of this blog is to share and exchange ideas and inspirations for your wedding day. Our company tends to cater to the more Do It Yourself bride who isn’t afraid to get a little creative and think outside the box.
As a 25 year old currently living in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia, I am always trying to figure out ways to change the shape of the floral industry. Who says you can’t bring a passion and pizzazz into floral design? Having worked as a floral designer for the last decade at one of Philadelphia’s premier wedding florists, I can’t even begin to tell you how often we have made the same centerpiece over and over again, wedding after wedding. Every bride should feel like there wedding has been custom designed with their vision in mind, not produced in a factory.
We work out of a home based studio, but are so excited to, at last, be expanding! To put it plain and simple, we are a new company who needs to build up our portfolio, so in short, we are far less expensive than your average florist without having to sacrifice vision and quality. Check out our gallery page to see some of our most recent work. Our services page has our prices right out there for all to see, which is something no other wedding florist can offer. If you like what you see, contact us today and let’s swap ideas over a cup of coffee. If your looking for something a little different without breaking the bank, you’ve come to the right place. After all, your wedding flowers last forever in your photos and sometimes… a picture is worth more than a thousand words. (Photo cred: Allebach Photography)
A Vintage FTD Ad? not so different today
This video came out the year I was born, 25 years ago. I have never been a fan of any of the FTD, Teleflora or 1800Flowers designs, but have had to make probably over a million of them in my lifetime. Designers would all stand around at a big long table and make floral arrangements assembly line style. One person add the carnations, the next a rose, the next babies breath. C’mon people, what year is this again? The end result, a lop sided mess that never looked complete. Not much has changed today…
While the quality of the actual designs pictured on these sites nowadays has gotten better, keep in mind, what you see is not what you get. Here are some things to think about before ordering from a floral wire service.
- each arrangement has a “recipe”. For example, the Fields of Europe Bouquet from 1800Flowers is by far the most popular. I have made probably 300 of those in my life and the recipe is engraved in my brain. 1 Asiatic lily, 5 50cm roses, 1 stem purple pride waxflower, 3 alstromeria, 2 buttom mums and 3 monte casino. The way the image shows on their website has the design all facing front, not 360 degrees like it is in real life. So you get a much smaller, much less full version of what you think.
- The trick for these companies is most of the time, the person who places the order never gets to see the actual arrangement. And who would ever call up someone who just gave you flowers to complain that it doesn’t look like the picture on the website?
- The shops that make these make a fraction of what you pay for them. 1800flowers.com takes the order and sends it to one of their real local florist members in the recipients town. The real local florist receives only 71% of the money you paid 1800flowers.com. When you order $50.00 worth of flowers from, the real local florist gets paid $35.50 for $50.00 worth of flowers. Are you getting your money’s worth? When I managed a strictly 1800flower shop in Center City a few years back, we made only a fraction of what we could have if you would have ordered straight through us. That shop is now a frozen yogurt place. Seriously.
