Modern, Organic Wedding at St Norbert Arts Centre
Every wedding that I’m hired for full event design for is a special project for me. Chantal and Avo were planning from out of town (she’s originally from Manitoba) and we had a few bumps in the road thanks to Covid causing us to postpone a year AND their venue closing a few short months before their wedding.
The creative brief called for a calm, intimate atmosphere (Avo wanted it to feel like a family dinner) with a modern, organic vibe. Whites with cool mixed blues and greys, warmed up with a few wood accents felt so good.
Every wedding that I’m hired for full event design for is a special project for me. Chantal and Avo were planning from out of town (she’s originally from Manitoba) and we had a few bumps in the road thanks to Covid causing us to postpone a year AND their venue closing a few short months before their wedding.
The creative brief called for a calm, intimate atmosphere (Avo wanted it to feel like a family dinner) with a modern, organic vibe. Whites with cool mixed blues and greys, warmed up with a few wood accents felt so good.
Photos by Esther Funk Photography
I really hit the flower jackpot the week of Chantal’s wedding! The ranunculus was gorg, the spirea was delish, but the icing on the cake was that we were able to find some white lilac — Chantal’s fave that I just never guarantee because if I get it in wholesale, it always craps out. But if it’s blooming locally, then we’re good! And my friendly neighbourhood flower farmer, BLD Gardens, had these gorgeous lilac AND the most mind-shattering tulips that blew all of Instagram’s minds that week.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: white lilac, ranunculus, tulips, sweet pea, and spirea, with a few touches of olive and stalks of wheat to remember Chantal’s late father with.
The stationery suite! We worked really closely with Meredyth from Leech Letter Co to design this custom suite, in both French and Lebanese. I wanted to create this watercolour ombre effect on the vellum overlay, with a blue fade. We kept the rest of the design quite simple, with just a minimal branching touch.
Nothing to do with flowers, but Avo’s first look reaction was just amazing. This deserved to be memorialized.
Everything was out at St Norbert Arts Centre. I wasn’t confident that there was enough space on the lawn to fit their smaller guest list, but the chairs were angled to kind of work around some tree stumps and it actually fit just fine!
Originally, we were going to be at the the former Cloakroom Wellness, which was a downtown venue with an industrial vibe. Obviously the very natural setting of SNAC is pretty different than the original vision, so we tweaked the design plan. We were always going to use a lot of greenery, but instead of ground-based pieces that curved around a window nook, we went up, creating some greenery pillars to frame the couple in.
And now inside! I love the feel of SNAC (though it can get really hot there, as it’s not air conditioned, so just a word to the wise!). The only thing I don’t like is the red beams. Whyyyy anyone would use red as an interior colour is beyond me, especially in a space that is otherwise white/wood/light brick. Those red beams were the first thing to address.
I worked with Planned Perfectly to add some draping between red ceiling beams down the centre of the room — it didn’t perfectly hide the beams, but it softened and somewhat camoflauged. And it would have made for a lovely rain plan for the ceremony as well, to walk beneath the drapery as an aisle.
The next thing I wanted to do was camoflauge the red posts that greet you at the entrance. In the original venue, we were going to have greenery boughs suspended from the ceiling, hanging above all the guest tables. We basically took all that greenery and funnelled it into these central posts. It looked gorgeous!
I loved the way we used the small entryway to welcome guests in, with this lovely blue seating chart and floral piece along with a small cocktail table for guest cards.
We brought in all of the wood tables and crossback chairs (which were planned for the original venue), which brought in some much needed warmth.
The centrepieces were simple and minimal, leaving enough space for family style platters of food (the menu looked incredible, tying together specialities from both their heritages). We cannot use real flame candles as the venue is a heritage building, but I don’t mind the battery-powered tealights when they’re tucked inside a coloured glass votive holder! Textured white florals in ceramic stem vases featured sweet pea, spirea, and tulips.
I always want to make sure there’s a beautiful place setting — there’s just something about them that I love. Layering a charger and a dinner plate can feel wasteful if budget doesn’t allow, but with family style meal service, they’re super functional. The salad was served on a small grey salad plate, which was then layered with white and grey plates. An oatmeal linen napkin and blue water goblet were added, with personalized menus added to each.
Looking for a Wedding Floral & Event Designer in Winnipeg?
2024 wedding dates are now booking! Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
Effortless, Nature-Inspired Wedding at St Norbert Arts Centre
It’s incredibly flattering to be sought out by fellow members of the wedding industry vendor community for their own weddings. When Jessica of Jessica Kmiec Artistry reached out to have me design the florals for her effortless, nature-inspired wedding at St Norbert Arts Centre (in 2019), I was so excited.
Throughout the planning process, I learned that Jessica has exquisite style and an incredible eye for detail. She’s done my makeup many times (including for my maternity photos) and she’s incredibly talented, so I wasn’t surprised that she was meticulous. As you can see, the end result was worth the work
It’s incredibly flattering to be sought out by fellow members of the wedding industry vendor community for their own weddings. When Jessica of Jessica Kmiec Artistry reached out to have me design the florals for her effortless, nature-inspired wedding at St Norbert Arts Centre (in 2019), I was so excited.
Throughout the planning process, I learned that Jessica has exquisite style and an incredible eye for detail. She’s done my makeup many times (including for my maternity photos) and she’s incredibly talented, so I wasn’t surprised that she was meticulous. As you can see, the end result was worth the work — and Izabela’s photos are completely breathtaking. The portraits are just incredible, so I included a few more than I usually do and I hope you enjoy!
I think that every bride should have some glamorous photos of herself. These images of Jessica getting ready (and my goodness, her dress — right?!) are reminiscent of Old Hollywood glamour shots, and I can just imagine a great, great-granddaughter somewhere down the line coming across these images and being blown away by Jessica’s incredible beauty.
Okay, back to her dress: this sequinned gown is flawless. Detailed and unique, the beading on the cap sleeves is remarkable, and the sheer back is unforgettable.
And the Badgley Mischka shoes! I would have been tempted to pair this gown with a simpler style, but I LOVE the combination of all of this stunning beadwork.
Let’s talk about wedding party attire goals right here. I love the palette chosen: Mike’s classic black tux, with the men in shades of grey and the two bridesmaids in detailed grey and taupe gowns create a soft, effortless vibe.
For the flowers, we played up those soft tones while layering in medium pink, a touch of burgundy, light and dark blues, and a hint of peach.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: roses, spray roses, carnations, privet berries, delphinium, chocolate cosmos, white snowberry, eucalyptus, nagi and ruscus foliages.
The St Norbert Arts Centre is a blank canvas that I love working with. With white walls, wood floors, and touches of exposed brick, it’s begging for some life to be brought in with fresh florals!
Jessica chose long banquet tables, and a clean base of white linens and chairs, so the feminine colours were added in with flowers. We went with long, low centrepieces in rectangular vases and added in touches of trailing greenery placed lightly down the length of the table.
Jessica also tied in her tarot/astrological theme with cards at each place setting and the table numbers. It was so pretty!
“Lauren, words cannot express how thankful we are for your wonderful work. From day one we loved your professionalism and patience while you helped us navigate in choosing flowers for our wedding. You are an absolute talent and we’re happy to have had you as part of our wedding team. I love forward to see what you dream up next, the next time we cross paths.” - XOXO, Jessica and Mike
Izabela Rachwal Photography ~ Jessica Kmiec Artistry ~ Megan Stanick ~ Amra Sabic ~ erikadoesmynails ~ Stone House Creative ~ Karen Willis Holmes (Caitlyn dress) from bliss bridal boutique ~ Eph Apparel ~ Teri KlowaK ~ Appelt’s Diamonds ~ St. Norbert Arts Centre ~ 6 Degrees Photo Booth ~ All Seasons Catering ~ Oh Doughnuts ~ Something Borrowed ~ Royal Event Rentals
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
Getting married in 2022? Wedding flower appointments will start in the new year and I have a wait list started in the meantime. Click the button below to get on my wait list!
Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!