Nicole and Steve’s Wedding, Krippendorf Lodge, Milford, OH

Nicole and Steve were married at the beautiful Krippendorf Lodge, on the grounds of the Cincinnati Nature Center in Milford, Ohio. I had been praying for good weather for at least two weeks, and couldn’t have imagined a more perfect day – 75 degrees and sunny with a light breeze. The landscape surrounding the lodge was just bursting with blooms – hellebores and daffodils blanketed the ground and magnolia blossoms graced the trees. I wish I had had more time to explore! Nicole carried a textural bouquet with succulents, ranunculus, garden roses and orchids in white, ivory and green.

Woodland inspired bridal bouquet by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with succulents, white ranunculus, Patience garden roses, Mondial roses, mini green hydrangea, green mini cymbidium orchids, Green Trick dianthus, Jade trachellium, Haworthia fasciata, Echeveria ‘Painted Lady’ and Kalanchoe tomentosa.

The bridesmaids’ bouquets included a pop of orange pincushion protea.

Woodland inspired bridesmaid bouquet by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with orange pincushion protea, Patience garden roses, Mondial roses, mini green hydrangea, green mini cymbidium orchids, Green Trick dianthus and Jade trachellium.

The ceremony arrangements brought in a touch of purple, which followed through into the reception flowers.

Ceremony arrangement at Krippendorf Lodge, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, OH, with Birch branches, purple larkspur, Gladiator allium, Amnesia roses, Jade trachelium, Mondial roses, white hydrangea, Professor Rontgen parrot tulips and orange pincushion protea.

Close up of ceremony arrangement at Krippendorf Lodge, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, OH, with Birch branches, purple larkspur, Gladiator allium, Amnesia roses, Jade trachelium, Mondial roses, white hydrangea, Professor Rontgen parrot tulips and orange pincushion protea.

There were two styles of centerpieces. The low centerpieces were landscapes of flowers and succulents surrounding ghost wood branches. Each piece of ghost wood was unique and beautiful.

Woodland centerpieces at Krippendorf Lodge, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with ghost wood branches, succulents, Amnesia roses, Echeveria lilacina, Kalanchoe tomentosa, green hydrangea, Green Trick dianthus and green trachelium in a birch bark pot.

Woodland centerpieces at Krippendorf Lodge, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with ghost wood branches, succulents, Amnesia roses, Echeveria lilacina, Kalanchoe tomentosa, green hydrangea, Green Trick dianthus and green trachelium in a birch bark pot.

Woodland centerpieces at Krippendorf Lodge, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with ghost wood branches, succulents, Amnesia roses, Echeveria lilacina, Kalanchoe tomentosa, green hydrangea, Green Trick dianthus and green trachelium in a birch bark pot.

The tall centerpieces were fresh moss topiaries with a lush base of succulents and flowers. All of the centerpieces were surrounded by mercury glass votives.

Tall moss topiary centerpieces at Krippendorf Lodge, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with mood moss, birch branches, succulents, Amnesia roses, Echeveria lilacina, Kalanchoe tomentosa, green hydrangea, Green Trick dianthus and green trachelium in a birch bark pot.

On the welcome table there was a wishing tree where guests could share their wishes with the bride and groom. Each wish was written on a star and hung from the tree. Such a wonderful idea!

Wishing tree at Krippendorf Lodge, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with manzanita branches, succulents, Amnesia roses, Echeveria lilacina, Kalanchoe tomentosa, green hydrangea, Green Trick dianthus and green trachelium in a birch bark pot.

I really enjoyed working with Nicole and her mother Sharon. Congratulations to the newly-weds, Nicole and Steve!

Casey and Brian’s Engagement Party/Wedding, Hyde Park Country Club, Cincinnati, OH

This is one of the coolest weddings that I’ve been a part of – an engagement party turned surprise wedding! It all went down at Hyde Park Country Club at the end of March. Casey and Brian are both Cincinnati natives, but had recently relocated to Portland. They wanted flowers inspired by the woodlands of the Pacific Northwest. Casey’s bouquet is one of my favorite bridal bouquets to date. The purple sweet peas, scabiosa, hellebores, and fritillaria are so gorgeous, but my favorite part… the variegated Solomon’s seal!

Woodland inspired bridal bouquet by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with uhule fern curls, Pretty Purple Japanese scabiosa, Wiltshire Ripple sweet pea, Fritillaria meleagris, Echeveria Lola, Echeveria Painted Lady, dusty miller, Blue Star fern, Haworthia fasciata, Silver Lace fern, green ranunculus, Kimberly Queen fern, variegated Polygonatum odoratum variety pluriflorum and Maidenhair fern.

The bridesmaids’ bouquets were made to match the bridal bouquet, and doubled as cocktail table arrangements. The bridesmaids snagged them off the table right before walking down the aisle.

Woodland inspired bridesmaid bouquet by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Pretty Purple Japanese scabiosa, Wiltshire Ripple sweet pea, Blue Star fern, Silver Lace fern, green trachelium, green ranunculus, Kimberly Queen fern, variegated Polygonatum odoratum variety pluriflorum and Maidenhair fern.

Woodland inspired bridesmaid bouquet by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Pretty Purple Japanese scabiosa, Wiltshire Ripple sweet pea, Blue Star fern, Silver Lace fern, green trachelium, green ranunculus, Kimberly Queen fern, variegated Polygonatum odoratum variety pluriflorum and Maidenhair fern.

The beautiful fireplace and mantel at Hyde Park Country Club were dressed with ferns, succulents and branches.

Fireplace mantel at Hyde Park Country Club, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, OH, with ghost wood branches, fiddlehead fern curls, agonis, Echeveria colorata, Blue Star fern, green trachelium, and Kimberly Queen fern.

An hour after the engagement party started the wedding party slipped out and changed. The doors to the dining room were opened immediately before the ceremony, and an aisle runner was rolled out to the ceremony arch. I used my new black steel chuppah (folded down into an arch) and dressed it up with ferns and hanging succulent terrariums.

Ceremony arch at Hyde Park Country Club, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, OH, with agonis, Echeveria Lola, gunnii eucalyptus, Blue Star fern, Silver Lace fern, variegated Solomon’s Seal, green trachelium, mood moss, Kimberly Queen fern and Maidenhair fern.

Ceremony arch at Hyde Park Country Club, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, OH, with agonis, Echeveria Lola, gunnii eucalyptus, Blue Star fern, Silver Lace fern, variegated Solomon’s Seal, green trachelium, mood moss, Kimberly Queen fern and Maidenhair fern.

Ceremony arch at Hyde Park Country Club, by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, OH, with agonis, Echeveria Lola, gunnii eucalyptus, Blue Star fern, Silver Lace fern, variegated Solomon’s Seal, green trachelium, mood moss, Kimberly Queen fern and Maidenhair fern.

After the ceremony, guests sat at tables with woodland centerpieces inspired by Portland native Francoise Weeks. The center of each arrangement featured a Juniper slice that I purchased at the cut flower market in Portland over a year ago. I couldn’t imagine finding a more perfect couple for these!

Woodland centerpiece by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Juniper slices, burgundy helleborus, white muscari, Echeveria colorata, Echeveria lucita, Echeveria derenbergii, Echeveria Lola, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Blue Star fern, Haworthia fasciata, Silver Lace fern, green trachelium, Kimberly Queen fern, mood moss and Maidenhair fern.

Woodland centerpiece by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Juniper slices, burgundy helleborus, white muscari, Echeveria colorata, Echeveria lucita, Echeveria derenbergii, Echeveria Lola, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Blue Star fern, Haworthia fasciata, Silver Lace fern, green trachelium, Kimberly Queen fern, mood moss and Maidenhair fern.

Woodland centerpiece by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Juniper slices, burgundy helleborus, white muscari, Echeveria colorata, Echeveria lucita, Echeveria derenbergii, Echeveria Lola, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Blue Star fern, Haworthia fasciata, Silver Lace fern, green trachelium, Kimberly Queen fern, mood moss and Maidenhair fern.

<a href="http://floralverde.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/20140328.3489.jpg"><img src="http://floralverde.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/20140328.3489.jpg" alt="Woodland centerpiece by Floral Verde LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Juniper slices, burgundy helleborus, white muscari, Echeveria colorata, Echeveria lucita, Echeveria derenbergii, Echeveria Lola, Kalanchoe tomentosa, Blue Star fern, Haworthia fasciata, Silver Lace fern, green trachelium, Kimberly Queen fern, mood moss and Maidenhair fern." width="500" height="333" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1369" /></a>

Congratulations Casey and Brian!

Woodland Workshop with Françoise Weeks

Woodland centerpiece detail with a large wood slab from a Juniper tree, contorted filbert branch, white cyclamen, Haworthia fasciata, Grevillea, sea star fern and moss I have loved Françoise Weeks’ work for years. I would look at her arrangements and wonder “How did she do that?” I finally attended her Woodland Design Workshop at the end of January. It was amazing. What made it even better is that Alicia (of Flirty Fleurs and Bella Fiori) attended too! We had a blast!

Françoise has a vast set of techniques, mechanics, and secrets to teach, but encourages you to pursue your own ideas when inspiration strikes. She works through projects with you, and assists with the simple mechanics so that you can focus your time and efforts on exploring designs and creating multiple pieces. I walked out of her workshop with a completely new style in my repertoire, and enough photos of my creations that I am already selling my new style to brides. I was even able to add a new gallery to my portfolio which you can see here.

Françoise Weeks’ floral studio, Portland, OR

Her beautiful studio (pictured above) is just bursting with unique flowers, foliage, succulents, branches, mosses and pods. It was hard to know where to start. I was so inspired to create that it seemed as if each day passed too quickly. I left Portland invigorated and hungry for more; even three weeks later I am recording new ideas in my sketch book daily.

Françoise is a passionate artist and a generous mentor. This workshop was not only a joy to take, but a valuable investment in the future of my business. I plan to attend the Botanical Couture Workshop next. Thank you for being so open with your knowledge, resources, and time Françoise!

Here are some of the arrangements I created at the workshop. Woodland centerpieces:

Woodland Centerpiece with a large wood slab from a Juniper tree, contorted filbert branch, white cyclamen, Haworthia fasciata, Graptoveria amethorum, Scindapsus pictus 'Philodendron Silver Cloud', Grevillea, sea star fern, maiden hair fern, mushrooms and moss

Woodland Centerpiece with a large wood slab from a Juniper tree, contorted filbert branch, white cyclamen, Haworthia fasciata, Graptoveria amethorum, Scindapsus pictus 'Philodendron Silver Cloud', Grevillea, sea star fern, maiden hair fern, mushrooms, sponge mushrooms and moss

Woodland Centerpiece with a large wood slab from a Juniper tree, contorted filbert branch, white cyclamen, Haworthia fasciata, Graptoveria amethorum, Scindapsus pictus 'Philodendron Silver Cloud', Grevillea, sea star fern, maiden hair fern, mushrooms, sponge mushrooms and moss

Woodland centerpiece with a Juniper wood slab, contorted filbert branches, Paphiopedilum orchid, succulents, eucalyptus and moss

Arrangement on a root structure:

Woodland arrangement on a root structure with white cyclamen, ivory poppies, Pteris ensiformis 'Silver Lace Fern', jasmin vine, succulents, lichen and moss

detail of woodland arrangement on a root structure with white cyclamen, Pteris ensiformis 'Silver Lace Fern', jasmin vine, succulents, lichen and moss

Bouquets:

woodland bridal bouquet with contorted filbert branches, privet berries, acacia foliage, pinecones, white cyclamen, green leucadendron, Philodendron 'Silver Cloud', sea star fern, maiden hair fern, seeded eucalyptus, Graptoveria 'Silver Star', Crassula rupestris subsp. marnieriana, sponge mushrooms, lichen and moss, with a eucalyptus and river birch bark handle treatment

detail of woodland bridal bouquet with contorted filbert branches, privet berries, acacia foliage, pinecones, white cyclamen, green leucadendron, Philodendron 'Silver Cloud', sea star fern, maiden hair fern, seeded eucalyptus, Graptoveria 'Silver Star', Crassula rupestris subsp. marnieriana, sponge mushrooms, lichen and moss, with a eucalyptus and river birch bark handle treatment

Bouquet with green leucadendron, scented geranium, eucalyptus and Colmanara Wildcat orchids, with a river birch bark handle

Bouquet with succulents, Crassula rupestris subsp. Marnieriana, ivory double tulips, peach poppies, yellow kangaroo paw, Italian mini variegated pittosporum and scented geranium with a birch bark handle treatment

Bouquet with succulents, Crassula rupestris subsp. Marnieriana, ivory double tulips, peach poppies, yellow kangaroo paw, Italian mini variegated pittosporum and scented geranium with a birch bark handle treatment

Boutonnieres:

Boutonniere with succulents, Crassula rupestris subsp. Marnieriana and contorted filbert. a second boutonniere with a Colmanara Wildcat orchid and contorted filbert

Flower Girl Basket:

woodland flower girl basket with contorted filbert branches, white cyclamen, Philodendron 'Silver Cloud', maiden hair fern, seeded eucalyptus, aeonium, Crassula rupestris subsp. marnieriana, lichen and moss, in a eucalyptus leaf basket

woodland flower girl basket with contorted filbert branches, white cyclamen, Philodendron 'Silver Cloud', maiden hair fern, seeded eucalyptus, aeonium, Crassula rupestris subsp. marnieriana, lichen and moss, in a eucalyptus leaf basket

Check out Françoise’s workshops and classes. Maybe I'll see you at one!