Ellis Hotel Bridal Show

Join StudioWed, Chocolate Pink Cafe, and The Ellis on Peachtree, one of downtown Atlanta's finest luxury boutique hotels, for an intimate Bridal Show on May 7, 2009 from 6pm to 8pm. The cost is $10.00 to attend, and includes valet parking, appetizers, desserts, and Ellis' signature white sangria.

Brides who attend will also be entered to win one of the following:

• Girlfriend "Getaway" 3 Day/2 Night Stay at Ellis Hotel
• $50.00 off wedding cake Courtesy of Chocolate Pink Cafe
• Free venue rental for Bridal Shower at StudioWed ($240 value)

To register to attend, please email Ellis Hotel Sales Manager, Megan Corbett at mcorbett@EllisHotel.com.

Celebrate Mother's Day with "Mum Puppy" Flowers!

Tired of the same ol' traditional flowers for Mother's Day?  Celebrate your mum on Sunday, May 10th with "Mum Puppies"!!  These fun, signature creations are composed of white football chrysanthemums, assorted mini-carnations, and greenery in a handled basket.

Mum puppies are not just for moms!  They are great for kids, get-well gifts, animal lovers, or just plain fun!

Order your Mother's Day flowers by next Wednesday, April 29, and receive 10% off, plus free shipping within the Perimeter!

StudioWed Mentioned in Daily Candy

Special thanks to Daily Candy Weddings for mentioning StudioWed, and describing us as a "brand new slice of heaven" in last week's April 14th "I Do's and Don'ts" article!

Brides Against Breast Cancer

Buy the perfect wedding gown at a fraction of the price AND help out a worthy cause! AtlantaBridal.com is once again sponsoring the Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale April 16, 17, and 18, 2009, to help support the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation.  

Photograph courtesy of Rod Smith Photography

Location:

The Defoor Center

1710 Defoor Avenue, NW

Atlanta, GA 30318

Dates/Times:

Sneak Preview Event:

Thursday, 4/16/2009

6:30PM - 9:30PM

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

Click HERE to register.

Friday, 4/17/2009

10:00AM - 8:00PM

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Saturday, 4/18/2009

9:00AM - 1:00PM

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Photograph Courtesy of AtlantaBridal.com

Dawn Easter Events

I hope you had a Happy Easter this past weekend!

And speaking of which...special thanks to Dawn Easter of Dawn Easter Events for featuring me on her blog yesterday, April 13, 2009!  Click here to read the interview, and be sure to check out the rest of the Dawn Easter Events Blog, as DEE has proven to be a great resource for anyone needing a little help making their event extra special!

Black, White, and Modern - THE EVENT

I am so glad to share photos of the floral decor I designed for this "Black, White, and Modern Event" held at Atlanta's exclusive Twelve Hotel Atlantic Station!

Thanks so much to Lemiga Events for planning, coordinating, and providing inspiration for the entire event, and to the very talented Blue World Studios for capturing ALL of these incredible images on today's post!

The client's request for his 30th Birthday Black Tie Event was to have decor that was modern, masculine, and dramatic in a black and white color palette.

Single white phalaenopsis orchid in a 32" white cylinder vase.

White carnation pomander ball balanced on a black, contemporary vase.

7" White carnation pomander suspended in a 47" clear, cylinder vase.

White sofas and ottomans added a luxurious touch.  And I always love an excuse to use my White Nylon Spandex Chair Covers!

Additional Accolades to I Do Linens for creating the luxurious Custom Designed Linens.

The Birthday would not have been complete without the gorgeous Birthday Cake by Sugarplum Visions!  The cake was balanced on a glass sheet supported by 2" clear glass cubes arranged in a geometric pattern, containing single carnation blooms.

Cake display highlighted by a black, ornate chandelier with white hanging phalaenopsis orchids.

Black, White, and Modern - INSPIRATION BOARD

"Black, White, and Modern" is one of my favorite themes, so I was extremely excited to be invited to design the decor for a Black Tie 30th Birthday Party held at Atlanta's exclusive Twelve Hotel at Atlantic Station!  

Here is the wonderful inspiration board created by Lemiga Events.

Photo Credits - First Row:  Wedding Paper Divas, The Bride's Cafe, Jessica Claire

Second Row:  Accent Decor, Fabian Couture, All Things Bright & Beautiful

Third Row:  Designer 8, I Do Linens, Jessica Claire

Check back to see how the ACTUAL event turned out!

New York Philharmonic

Congratulations to the New York Philharmonic for kicking off their 2009 US Tour here in Atlanta, GA!  Directed by the famed Music Director Lorin Maazel, the 130 piece orchestra's first stop of their ten city tour took place in our beautiful city.

Photo Credit: Chris Lee

I was so thrilled to have been selected to design the arrangements for their generous corporate sponsor, Credit Suisse's, Pre-Performance Reception.  

Photo courtesy of Leslie Miller (Carole Parks Catering)

Photo Credit:  Chris Lee

Photo Courtesy of Leslie Miller (Carole Parks Catering)

Orange calla lilies, cymbidium orchids, mokara orchids, monstera leaves, lily grass, and a white hydrangea "collar" in 16" X 4" X 4" sleek, urban, glass plate vases.  Thanks to Carole Parks for their always fabulous catering!

The requests for the guest tables were floating candles and clusters of orange flowers in modern vases.

Clusters of orange mokara orchids, mango calla lilies, chocolate cymbidium orchids, and red hypericum berries in 5" sleek, urban, plate glass cubes.  

Photo Credit:  Chris Lee

Continued success to Credit Suisse and the New York Philharmonic!

Black Flowers - CENTERS - Part 4 of 4

Because there are so few black flowers that are available as CUT STEMS for event use and personal arrangements, an alternate option is to utilize the CENTERS of flowers as BLACK ACCENTS.  

Here are several flowers having black centers that are also usually readily available as CUT STEMS:

Anemone (White, Blue, Red, Pink, or Purple petals)

Available:  December-March

Flickr Source: white anemone, originally uploaded by lynnepet.

Black Eyed Susan

Available:  June-September

Flickr Source: Black Eye Susan, originally uploaded by ngl1145.

Gerbera Daisy (Petals of varying colors)

Available:  Year Round

Flickr Source: Gerbera, originally uploaded by rita_baer.

Sunflower

Available: Year Round

Flickr Source: Mingling Sunflowers, originally uploaded by Yobs.

Oriental Poppy

Available:  January-March

Flickr Source: Oriental Poppy, originally uploaded by 5348 Franco.

Black Flowers - ALTERNATIVES - Part 3 of 4

As so very few "black" flowers are available as CUT STEMS for event use, the following deep red, purple, and brown flowers are used most often as their ALTERNATIVES:

Black Mini (Schwartzwalder) Calla Lilies

Available:  Year Round

Black Baccara Roses (Also: Black Magic Roses - slightly more red in color)

Available:  Year Round

Flickr Source: Black Magic Roses originally uploaded by Eki Flowers.

Chocolate Cosmos

Available:  April-July, September-December

Fiddlehead Fern Shoots

Available:  Year Round

Painted Branches (Manzanita, Curly Willow, Birch, etc...)

Available:  Year Round

Read Part 4 of 4 for a brief review of additional flowers having black "centers," that are often used as black accents.

Black Flowers - CUT STEMS - Part 2 of 4

Because the GARDEN TYPE flowers outlined in the last post do not preserve and/or ship well after they are cut, very FEW black flowers or plants are available as CUT STEMS for event use or for personal arrangements.  Here are a few black floral products that ARE usually available:

Black Magic Elephant Ears

Flickr Source:  Black, originally uploaded by riaskiff.

Viburnum Berries

Black Kangaroo Paws

Available: October, November, and January

Flickr Source:  Perth-Kings Park -Black Kangaroo Paw originally uploaded by David Boehm.

Read Part 3 of 4 for a brief overview of the flowers that are often used as ALTERNATIVES to black flowers.

Black Flowers - GARDEN TYPES - Part I of 4

In honor of the "Weddings Unveiled" Winter 2009 gorgeous black and white cover and spread, I am posting a short tutorial about the availability of BLACK FLOWERS.

Most "black" flowers are actually a deep red or purple color, are often ONLY grown by individual, avid gardeners, and unfortunately, are rarely available as CUT STEMS for events.

Examples of these GARDEN TYPES include:

Black Bearded Iris

Black Nemophila

Night Queen Tulips

Black Prince (or Black Beauty) Pansies

Black Hollyhocks

Read Part 2 or 4 for a brief review of the very few natural "black" flowers that are available as CUT STEMS  for events and personal arrangements.

Venue Spotlight - Old Decatur Courthouse

Photo Credit:  Stacey Bode Photography

The Old Decatur Courthouse on Decatur Square is another one of my favorite venues because of its historic importance and its interesting elements for design, including high ceilings, bay windows, an ornate staircase, an open floor plan, and an outdoor gazebo.  Special thanks to Stacey Bode Photography and Michelle Lapid Photography for taking such wonderful images of my Courthouse decor!

Photo Credit:  Michelle Lapid Photography

Photo Credit:  Michelle Lapid Photography

Photo Credit:  Michelle Lapid Photography

Photo Credit:  Stacey Bode Photography

South Asian Bridal Show

The South Asian Bridal Show, hosted by Rivaaj Magazine was a hit!  Special thanks to Blue World Studios for taking the incredible images that are shown on today's posting!  I was so glad to have the opportunity to showcase my tablescape design at the "Orange and Blue Table"!

Thank you also to Lemiga Events and the other vendors from StudioWed Atlanta for making this tablescape so inspirational!

I Do Linens provided the gorgeous table linen and chair caps.

Ink and Paint designed the beautiful stationery.

I was also glad to use my flowers to accent these fabulous shoes from Sole Journey.  

As well as add a finishing touch to Sugarplum Vision's truly artistic cake.