Stephanie and Andrew's Stylish, Organic Wedding at Cielo's Garden
Stephanie and Andrew were married mid-June in an incredibly stylish, organic wedding at Cielo's Garden. They live in Toronto, and it was clear to me from our first email exchanges that Steph has a gorgeous personal aesthetic so I was really excited to work with them. I think the biggest challenge was deciding on the colour palette - we started off with Steph telling me that she only wears black and gray, but wanting a bit more colour at the wedding. We thought about lots of terracotta accents (which were eventually removed from the plan), and ended up tucking in a bit of mauves to the loose palette of peaches, plum, apricot, dusty greens, and earth tones.
I worked on their event design along with their floral design, though we ended up doing a bit of a hybrid design package as a result of the features of the venue as it is. You don't need to bring in a lot to make Cielo's gorgeous!
Photos: Ariana Tennyson ~ Floral and Event Design: Stone House Creative ~ Venue: Cielo's Garden ~ Day of Coordination: Melanie Parent Events ~ Catering: Chef Ben Kramer ~ Stationery: Everly True ~ Hair: Mallory at Prep Hair ~ Makeup: Tina at Myuz Makeup ~ Officiant: Colleen Olafson
Head's up: there are a LOT of really good flower photos from this wedding, and I'm just going to share them all. Sorrynotsorry.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: cappucino roses, amnesia roses, ranunculus, scabiosa, iris, flowering ninebark, freesia, magnolia, boxwood, and ruscus. I finished it with a touch of mocha toned silk ribbon from Tono & Co.
The girls chose their bridesmaid dresses sort of at the last minute. The one thing Stephanie said at the beginning was that she didn't want them to wear blush 😂I absolutely love their choices - both dresses complemented Steph's so well and I love that they're obviously not "bridesmaid" dresses. They just look stylish.
Below is Stephanie's second dress of the night - see what great style she has?
They loved the hanging greenery pieces that I've done for other weddings, but asked that I sort of mimic the shape of the window. I really love how this one came together - we used several different types of greenery so it was really textured, and almost looked more like a living plant wall.
Because of the features of the venue itself, Steph wanted to really load up the tables and make them look full, but also keep them really in keeping with the natural environment. With the clear walls and ceiling giving you 100% views of the woods around the tent, I think it's really important to suit the views with the design. Steph's personal preference was for nothing to look perfect, so I used several different types and cuts of glass vases (keeping them all in clear glass maintained the overall design integrity while bringing visual interest), and a mix of fuller arrangements, individual floral or greenery stems, and greenery arrangements.
Stephanie and Andrew dropped by the studio a couple days before the wedding and she saw my scraps jar, and really liked that - which I thought was hilarious. So, I made sure to add in lots of texture and dried "weedy" bits into the floral arrangements, and almost went a little haphazard with the greenery arrangements to keep them messy.
Looking for a wedding florist in Winnipeg?
Getting married in Manitoba? I might be biased, but 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!
Limited summer 2019 wedding dates remain available. Click below to check your date!
Jessica and Liam's Jewel Tone Summer Wedding
Jessica and Liam are possibly the sweetest couple I've ever met. They're just adorable - and it doesn't hurt that Liam has the BEST Irish accent. It was so much fun to be a part of their wedding (and you might recognize them from this styled shoot last year that they modelled for!), specifically because Jess LOVES colour and really wanted to go for it - which, as you all know, makes my heart sing. Their wedding planner, Amanda Douglas, did a great job of guiding them to choose a vibrant and beautiful combination of jewel tones that worked beautifully together.
Wedding Planner: Amanda Douglas Events ~ Photography: Sugar & Soul Photography ~ Venue: Rustic Wedding Barn ~ Linens: Planned Perfectly ~ Cake: Buttercream by Alareen
Bridal bouquet ingredients: peach Juliet roses, light and dark purple stock, coral ranunculus, magenta snapdragons with italian ruscus and sprengeri fern.
We wanted to go with rich jewel tones, while adding in a touch of vibrancy to bring more life to it. I can't tell you how totally perfect those garden roses were!
Can't quite deal with how awesome these textures and colours were!!
It's been a few years since I've been out at the Rustic Wedding Barn so the ceremony space was new to me. They have done a really great job in there! For the ceremony flowers, Jessica wanted to go a little more subtle so we toned down the colour.
The reception was full of flowers, from the large piece we did on their head table to the colourful centrepieces on each guest table. The champagne linens were a great, subtle base for the rest of the colour. And in a space like this, I would always recommend keeping those centrepieces low to the table - with it being a longer, narrower space, I think that tall arrangements would feel too hectic in there.
Looking for a wedding florist in Winnipeg?
Getting married in Manitoba? I might be biased, but 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!
2019 dates are booking very quickly. Click below to check your date!
Karen and Scott's Intimate Fort Garry Hotel Wedding
Karen and Scott were married early this spring in an intimate wedding at the Fort Garry Hotel and it was basically a dream wedding for me to be involved in. The circumstances weren't the best, as Scott's mother in Winnipeg was ill and the couple (from Vancouver) decided to change their original plans from a West Coast wedding to a small Winnipeg celebration in just a few weeks. When we started emailing I think there were 4 weeks to their date, and still a number of details to be confirmed, but I'm proud to say that Winnipeg wedding vendors really came together for them. When I arrived on the morning of the wedding to deliver Karen's bouquet, she said how amazed she was that they were able to create such an incredible wedding in a short period of time and said it was all thanks to how great Winnipeggers are. Go us!
Fort Garry Hotel ~ Photo by Peggy ~ Barney's New York ~ Hugo Boss
So here's why I said that their wedding was a dream: despite the sad circumstances that caused the re-scheduling, Karen and Scott still wanted to throw a really fantastic party. They wanted it to be an incredible celebration, where their families could be spoiled and have an amazing time. They went all out with the floral decor, seated everyone at one long table, and chose an awesome menu. Because the wedding was in March and the hotel wasn't busy with other weddings, they were actually able to host the reception in the foyer between the two large ballrooms on the 7th floor - and let me tell you, there is no hallway more gorgeous, anywhere.
Bridal bouquet ingredients: Spirea, peonies, ranunculus, anemones, quicksand roses, and jasmine vine.
My next favourite thing about their wedding was their attire. The couple said right off the bat that they like more modern, unique designs and then Karen showed me a pic of her INSANE red cocktail dress. Is this not incredible, or what? Scott wore a slick checked jacket with a subtle red stripe through it that my husband was literally salivating over.
The ceremony took place in the fireplace loge on the 7th floor, where I have ALWAYS dreamed of having a wedding ceremony. It's a really narrow space so it would be challenging to do with a guest list of more than 20 or so people, but it was perfect for them!
Isn't this hallway just THE most gorgeous setting? It's so luxurious and detailed. We decided to set the table fully, but simply with just two elements: repeated tall vases with organic arrangements, and clusters of tiny arrangements in cut glass stem vases. Most of the florals were white and green, but I also tucked in some soft, sandy pinks and beiges to warm it up and fit with the setting really well.
Looking for a wedding florist in Winnipeg?
Getting married in Manitoba? I might be biased, but 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!
2019 dates are booking very quickly. Click below to check your date!
Elegant New Year's Eve Wedding at Breezy Bend
While I'm a total homebody and love pretty much nothing more than laying on the couch with some chips and guac, I have to say that the idea of a New Year's Eve wedding has always given me a thrill. What better way to ring in the new year than celebrating with people you love? And for those of us who, like me, find New Year's Eve a little bit stressful (Should I host a party? What if I don't get invited to a party? Is it okay that all I want to do is go to the movies?), being a guest at a New Year's Eve wedding is the perfect solution. Built-in dinner, dancing, and fireworks. Perfect!
So needless to say, I was really pumped to be asked to do the florals for Libby and Kevin's wedding at Breezy Bend Golf Course. I could tell right away that Libby has great style, and she had a pretty clear idea of what she wanted right off the hop. When I arrived on the day of to set everything up, I couldn't believe how much I loved everything she had chosen. It was glitzy without being tacky, elegant without being stuffy, and glamorous without being over the top. In a word, it was perfect!
Izabela Rachwal Photography ~ Breezy Bend Golf Course ~ The Manitoba Club ~ Planned Perfectly ~ C&T Rentals
Libby went for a classic black, white and green palette (with an emphasis on lots of green). We still wanted to bring in a lot of texture to the flowers.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: Garden roses, lisianthus, anemones, yin and yang poms, with several varieties of ruscus, podocarpus, and English boxwood (funnily enough, Libby's only request was for English boxwood!).
Obviously I had to include one of me delivering the bouquets :) With a winter wedding, this is how everything comes: wrapped up in layer after layer of plastic to keep the warm air in and the cold air out. It was stinking cold on December 31, 2017 (as it usually is on NYE) so I think I actually had 3 layers of plastic bags on these bouquets!
You'll also see me below showing Libby how to hold her bouquet, which I do with every bride/bridal party. Unless your bouquets are round in shape, there will be a front side and a back side. I always tell my clients that the pins are in the backs of their bouquets, so that's where they can place their thumbs. Once they've got the right side, we talk about where to hold the bouquet so it's most flattering. I really don't want you to cover up your entire dress by holding your bouquet too high! The best position is to place your wrist bones on your hip bones, and angle the bouquet slightly out.
The ceremony was held at the Manitoba Club (just like this winter wedding was), in the ballrooms. It's such an elegant and high detailed space that we didn't want to do too much in here. We tossed around the idea of a draped backdrop with florals along the top, but in the end, settled on a set of 4 mixed height gold, thin gold stands with textured greenery arrangements set on top. It drew the eye in to the "altar" without taking away from the space.
We kept things much the same at the reception: lots of greenery, lots of white, lots of gold. I'll tell you, when I walked in and saw how good it all looked even without centrepieces, I got REALLY excited. The tables were covered in white sequins, which added just the right NYE feeling without feeling gaudy in any way, and the gold-rimmed glassware really upped the elegant factor.
For the head table, Libby wanted a beautiful, low, lush arrangement that would make the small table feel really special. Keeping the focus on the greenery, I decided that the only white bloom I'd use would be white hydrangea. It's a classic, and is perfectly suited to this type of setting.
The guest tables featured a large greenery bouquet, white sequinned table linens with gold accents, and a greenery sprig on each place setting with TONS of candlelight.
Planning a winter wedding in Winnipeg?
Planning a winter wedding in Winnipeg? I'd love to dream up some incredible ideas for your wedding flowers and I'm now booking for winter 2018/2019! I have plenty of availability throughout November, December, January and February. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
Sophisticated Ballroom Wedding with Garden Inspired Style
From winter to spring in a week! I can't believe that Stefanie and Jared's spring wedding at the Fairmont Hotel was almost a year ago already. Their wedding was at the end of May, and let me tell you: May sees the BEST combination of flowers. EVER. Of all the months (and if you've been around here for a while, then you'll remember me extolling all the virtues of a May wedding). So when it came time to plan all the florals and event design for Stefanie and Jared, we knew that a sophisticated, garden-inspired design would be perfect for them!
Fairmont Hotel ~ Dustin Leader Photography ~ Planned Perfectly
Along with the florals, I was also hired to do full event design for Stefanie and Jared. These weddings always end up being some of my favourites, because I get to be so much more involved with all of the aesthetic decisions. Some couples need a guiding eye, some have a hectic schedule so the introductions to other vendors are invaluable and time saving, and others just want to hand off the process. Any of those is perfectly fine for me!
We always start the event design process with an exercise that helps me to get a really clear picture of what's important to the couple as we plan their wedding. For Stefanie and Jared, the clear direction that we created was for an elegant wedding filled with thoughtful, sophisticated details and sentimental charm.
The Fairmont Hotel was a beautiful choice (and it also made it so easy for the guests!) but as it's definitely a classic ballroom, my challenge was creating an overall style that was also fitting with the garden-inspired florals that the couple sought after. The result is one of my favourite styles: sort of an elegant garden party. Because there's no reason why a ballroom wedding has to feel stuffy! Most of my weddings aren't quite this formal, so it was a nice chance to merge my style with theirs.
I couldn't decide which angle of Stefanie's bridal bouquet that I liked best, so you get both ;) It was lush and organic, with a touch of trailing vine and the most delicious combo of fragrant blooms.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: peonies, ranunculus (some of the most gorgeous I've ever seen!!), anemones, hyacinth, several varieties of roses, tulips, and finished with eucalyptus, italian ruscus, and the most perfect blooming jasmine vine (we literally NEVER get blooming jasmine).
For Jared and the guys, we just did a simple ranunculus boutonniere. It also bears mentioning that of this couple, Jared is the one who loves flowers, which made me laugh. He was more than willing to blow their wedding budget on massive centrepieces, ha!
I loved the ambiance we created for the ceremony. For logistical ease, we decided on having the ceremony take place in the far end of the ballroom, with a double-sided panel of draping installed by the masters over at Planned Perfectly to separate the ceremony space from the other side of the ballroom, where the reception would be. Candles lined the aisle, and I designed a detailed altar with 4 large floral arrangements set atop thin gold stands. All of this was intelligently incorporated into the wedding's reception design, as well! Take a peek - I'm so proud of how well this all came together and in a way that really maximized their budget.
On the other side of the drapery, we set the head table. Planned Perfectly created a gorgeous design that the couple loved. We let them do their thing with just a touch of guidance as to what Stefanie was drawn to, and I really think that that's when the very best things happen! You can see that we re-purposed two of the tall gold stands from the ceremony to the head table, which just helped to anchor the couple in the large room. The other two were used as centrepieces on the parents' tables, and we also moved over all of the candles from the ceremony to the head table as well.
One of my favourite days during the event design process is when we select linens. I usually have a pretty clear idea of what's going to look great based on the venue and the wedding's colour palette, and for Stefanie and Jared's wedding I knew we wanted to use something in the ivory/champagne/soft gold direction. I brought a few options with me to a walk-through with Stefanie at the Fairmont, which helped her to visualize the space a lot better (I also brought along a few chair cover and rental chair options - I love being able to do this for my clients!). She decided on this soft gold lace overlay, which perfectly toes the line between elegant sophistication and garden-inspired.
We chose two centrepieces styles to bring dimension throughout the room, half tall and half low. The tall ones were my personal favourite! I loved adding the trailing fern to enhance that garden ambiance.
We worked with PSAV, the Fairmont's in-house audio/visual department, for the lighting. Whenever I'm working on event design, I think about a few key things: colour, lighting, and texture. We settled on a blushy amber tone, to create a romantic candlelit feeling.
Looking for a wedding florist in Winnipeg?
Getting married in Manitoba? I might be biased, but 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 - along with full event design - to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
(Popular 2019 wedding dates are already booking up!)