How To Choose Your Wedding Florist
Every couple getting married has different priorities. And let’s be straightforward — weddings are typically expensive, and no matter what your budget is, we each care about different things and how we spend our wedding budgets are going to vary from person to person. I want to make sure that no matter how much you’re spending on your flowers, you’re spending it wisely
How to Choose Your wedding Florist
Every couple getting married has different priorities. And let’s be straightforward — weddings are typically expensive, and no matter what your budget is, we each care about different things and how we spend our wedding budgets are going to vary from person to person. I want to make sure that no matter how much you’re spending on your flowers, you’re spending it wisely (my husband is a financial planner…so we seek the balance between wise decisions with some fun expenditures around here!).
When it comes to weddings, I like to think that I know a little about a lot of things. But when it comes to wedding flowers, I know a lot. My experience in the wedding industry started in serving weddings at a golf course, and then I worked as the editor of a small, local (now defunct) wedding magazine. From there, I went on to manage the weddings for one of Winnipeg’s largest floral shops, followed by a couple of years working in sales and editorial writing for one of the largest fine art wedding blogs in the US. During this time, I started Stone House Creative, and we’re now looking towards year 11 in business! So yes, I know a fair bit. I also know that most of YOU don’t really know much about weddings. And how could you?! You probably haven’t done this before.
All that to say, let me help YOU make a wise decision on how to hire a wedding florist.
What to look for in a wedding florist:
The first thing is possibly the most basic, but often overlooked: ask yourself, what’s important to you? What’s IMPORTANT TO YOU needs to line up with the unique value that each designer offers.
For example, one of my unique values is my holistic design approach: attention to the overall and complete event design, to make sure that the florals seamlessly become part of the design. For example, I absolutely hate to see flowers placed on a cake by the baker that have absolutely no tie to the wedding flowers themselves. So I’m a proactive designer, communicating with the client and often the bakery directly what the plan is, so that your cake doesn’t stand out in a bad way. Or, you might be after the lowest quote that you can get because you don’t really care much about the flowers. Instead of inquiring with a designer like me, rather look for a florist who markets themselves as budget-friendly. The types and quality of the flowers they use are different, the design approach they take is different, and they will fill that need you have.
—Other things that may be important to you:
-a beautifully curated rentals collections that suits your aesthetic
-a focus on environmental sustainability within the florist’s business
-a small business or a larger team (*and note: all of the floral shops and studios in Winnipeg are considered “small” businesses so no matter who you choose, you’re supporting a small biz!).
-a dedicated wedding studio vs a large retail shop
-if you’ve seen their work first-hand at the wedding of a friend, that can be great!
-maybe you really need a designer to guide the entire process for you, and someone you can trust to take the reigns
prior to reaching out to florists, here’s what you need to do:
-Take a good look through their portfolio. If they don’t have a lot of images of their work readily available on their Instagram or their website, or if they don’t have a lot of images showcasing the style of design that you want, then just move on.
-One of the most important ways that you can make sure you’re going to love the florals you get on your wedding day, is if your aesthetic and the designer’s aesthetic are aligned. If you don’t love your work, then don’t bother reaching out.
-Read through their FAQs or pricing information they have on their site, to find out what type of budget range you should be expecting for the designs that you want. It’s helpful to at least have an idea of how much you absolutely CAN’T spend on your flowers.
Questions to ask a wedding Florist:
*I don’t usually have couples asking me that many questions. I think that’s likely because as we talk, most of these questions are answered. It’s better to have a great conversation with your florist, rather than pepper them like it’s a job interview. You’re hiring a creative and you need to trust their process. But if you have any red flags, then ask the questions you need answered.*
-again, what’s important to you? If keeping strict to your budget is the top priority, be CRYSTAL CLEAR about that. I’ve always got floral design ideas swirling around in my brain, but if I know that you absolutely need to stick to a strict number, then I’m not going to fill our conversations with ideas of things that you cannot afford.
-what is included in their service fees (do they deliver and set up, do they offer 1 am teardown at your venue, can you pay them to stay and flip the ceremony flowers to the reception, can you pay them to re-deliver to their brunch the next morning, mileage, etc)
-Do they offer creative and personalized design plans? If the florals and overall event design are a priority for you, then it can be really helpful to hear them talk about their design process.
-What rentals do they have in inventory that will fit your style?
-Can they take care of candles, if desired?
-How large of a team will be needed for your particular wedding? (and don’t worry if the answer is 1-2 people. Most weddings in Winnipeg are perfectly well taken care of by a floral team of 2 people).
-What sustainability practises do they follow? (and if this is important to you, then specifically ask: do you compost? Do you use dyed or preserved flowers? Do you use floral foam? If the answer is no to composting and yes to the dyed flowers and foam, then this is not the florist for you).
-Have they worked at your venue before? (Note: it’s really not crucial that a florist has worked at your venue. If we need to go and take measurements of a fireplace mantle or consider how we’ll suspend a hanging piece, then we can do that. It doesn’t mean you can’t trust someone who hasn’t worked at your venue yet. BUT if the designer you’re interested in HAS worked at your venue, then it can be a bonus to be able to rely on their experience.)
-HOWEVER, if they have worked at your venue, they can often offer very valuable insight into what it’s going to take to create the look you’re going for, given the scale of the space. Someone might ask for me an arch corner piece, but if I know the venue’s arch is 10 feet wide, that corner piece is going to look like you spent $5 on it. We might need to go more. Similarly, I’ve had people ask me about doing fireplace mantle installations but I know that the mantle just doesn’t have the depth to actually add flowers to it, so it would be a waste.
-How long will it take to receive a proposal? and, what is the booking and payment process?
-Don’t ask if they offer packages. That’s a very 1990s thing. Pretty much no florist offers a set package anymore; we’re designing for you, and figuring out what you love and dream of. It’s going to be a custom quote, baby.
When to hire A wedding floral designer:
There’s not really a wrong time to hire your floral designer, but generally: if you’re particular about your flowers and the florist you hire, then book earlier. If you’re not picky, then you can hold off a bit. My clients usually seek me out for my elevated approach and unique designs, and flowers are a budget priority for them, which means that my calendar is usually booked farther in advance. I typically book 6-18 months in advance of your wedding, with a lot more date flexibility in the off months (November through April).
Bonus Question:
If you need recommendations on other vendors to hire, then don’t hesitate to ask your florist for referrals! Vendors have the inside track on which other vendors have similar work processes, or who they work well together with. You can usually trust a referral from a vendor a lot more than a referral from a past client.
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
If what you’re looking for is a designer to guide the vision for your wedding, come and ask me any questions you want — I might just be your girl. I offer custom designs, creative and unique design boards that communicate the vision, have countless testimonials that speak to the creative trust the client had in me, and I also just love what I do.
Reach out to check your date!
Best Tips for Small Weddings in Winnipeg
Lately I’ve been finding myself more and more drawn to small, intimate weddings. Possibly because the two weddings I’ve designed for so far in 2025 have both been for under 30 people, but also because there’s just SO much that you can DO with a smaller wedding.
Let’s get into it — if you’re thinking about having a smaller wedding, here are some of my favourite ideas!
Lately I’ve been finding myself more and more drawn to small, intimate weddings. Possibly because the two weddings I’ve designed for so far in 2025 have both been for under 30 people, but also because there’s just SO much that you can DO with a smaller wedding.
Let’s get into it — if you’re thinking about having a smaller wedding, here are some of my favourite ideas!
WEdding Dinner Party
Photos by Tedi Jean
I absolutely love a good dinner party. Full disclosure: I am almost never invited to them 😂 But I love being with a small group of people (whether at a home or at a restaurant!) and eating amazing food. With a smaller group of people, you can really go for it with multiple courses, pairings, and a customized menu that feels a lot more interesting than the typical banquet fare.
Now even if you can’t host your entire group in your dining room (understandable!), we have SO many amazing restaurants and unique venues in Winnipeg, many of which can take on small weddings. Some of my favourite unique venues to work at are Smith, Pizzeria Gusto and Gusto North, and Cibo. These images are from a wedding I designed in summer of 2024 at Pizzeria Gusto, which was set up like a combo cocktail party meets dinner party. Such great vibes!
Small Backyard Wedding Reception
Photos by Esther Funk Photography
A few years ago, we planned my cousin’s wedding. It was originally going to be a larger wedding, but scaled back to 15 people due to you-know-what, and we ended up in her parents’ farmyard. Let me tell you, it was PERFECT. With a small group of people, we didn’t need to worry about renting in bathrooms, or a rain backup plan (we would have all fit inside the house if we needed to!), and we could afford to rent in upgraded tableware items that they wouldn’t have been able to prioritize for a group of 150 people.
The florals were bright and colourful (which is always what I want, but I think the colour especially pops off all the green in the backyard!), the dinner was catered by a local restaurant and served out of the house kitchen, and the details were really quite easy to pull together.
View this entire, colourful wedding here!
Garden Wedding Reception Outdoors
Photos by Brittany Mahood Photography
If you have a connection to a beautiful property or yard where you can host your wedding, then an outdoor garden wedding reception is truly unmatched. Shannon and David’s wedding was hosted a few summers ago on the property of a family friend, and it made for such a beautiful atmosphere. Not only was the yard beautiful, but the ambiance was made even more special because of the happy family memories spent on that very lawn.
They hosted about 30 people, all seated at one long table, and served an incredible multi-course dinner by Academy Hospitality. They had a raclette cheese, guys. Obviously I filled the table with as many florals and candles as I could, and it was set against the backdrop of the lush treeline. It was perfect.
view this entire garden wedding here!
what if you don’t have access to a property for your small wedding?
There’s no reason why you can’t have your dream small wedding at a venue.
If you don’t have access to a property or garden, consider one of these spots: Wild Skies Resort, Elkhorn Manor if you’re up for a bit of a destination, the Manitoba Club Bonnycastle Garden or the Oak Room, or The Pavilion at Assiniboine Park.
Each of these locations offers a different vibe, so if you’re hoping for intimate but an elevated indoor spot, then the Oak Room at the Manitoba Club is the one for you. If you really want to disconnect from the world and celebrate in nature, there’s no better place than Wild Skies. You may not own the property, but there’s no reason why you can’t still have the small wedding of your dreams.
see more of this intimate wedding at wild skies resort here!
Photos by Megan Steen
what about a good old elopement?
Photos by Kass Donaldson
When Vanessa and Richard began planning their wedding, they quickly realized that what they really wanted was to spend the day together, just the two of them, and then jet off to Europe for a honeymoon. So that’s what they did! They added 3 friends — one to marry them, and two to act as witnesses — and I added some flowers (courtesy of my a la carte wedding florals collection!) and the day was spent just celebrating them, with nothing else to think about.
They chose a beautiful nook in Assiniboine Park’s English Gardens, and just rolled on up.
Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?
Appointments to plan your dream florals are now available. Click the button below to get started!
No matter the size of your wedding, I can design the florals of your dream that will take the ambiance from 1 to 100. Let’s get started!
Top Trends for 2025 and 2026 Winnipeg Wedding
I love this quote encouraging couples planning their weddings: “You can’t please everyone, so please yourself. Trying to make every family member and guest happy can lead to a wedding that doesn’t reflect you two as a couple. Focus on what makes you happy.” So my friends, if you don’t like what I have to say here, that’s TOTALLY FINE. You do you, my friends. Make your wedding the greatest it can be, for you.
And before I get too far, the wedding trends I forecasted last year (and the year before, TBH), are still totally relevant: sculptural floral design, creative floor plans, focal design moments, mono-bloom bouquets (I see this fading out, but I don’t know why — I still love it!), meandering aisles (still looking for someone to let me dig into this for them!), unique draping, and a few bows touches here and there!
And now, let’s get into the pretty and inspirational! (And PS — if you’re newly engaged, congratulations! If you’re new here, welcome! Here on the blog, I share a deep look into my real weddings, along with sharing planning advice and tips!)
I always love forecasting wedding trends, so here we go!
Writing my annual wedding trends post is one of my favourite posts to work on. It’s fun to see how many of my couples are digging into “trends,” and TBH it’s also kind of fun for me to hate on trends that other people are talking about. Not all trends are good trends, friends.
Photo above by Brittany Mahood Photography
As always, before I jump into some of my favourite trends that I hope we’ll see continuing into 2025 and beyond, here are a few things that are always at the top of my list:
Environmental Responsibility
Quality Over Quantity
Locally Grown Flowers
Doing Things Your Own Way
I love this quote encouraging couples planning their weddings: “You can’t please everyone, so please yourself. Trying to make every family member and guest happy can lead to a wedding that doesn’t reflect you two as a couple. Focus on what makes you happy.” So my friends, if you don’t like what I have to say here, that’s TOTALLY FINE. You do you, my friends. Make your wedding the greatest it can be, for you.
And before I get too far, the wedding trends I forecasted last year (and the year before, TBH), are still totally relevant: sculptural floral design, creative floor plans, focal design moments, mono-bloom bouquets (I see this fading out, but I don’t know why — I still love it!), meandering aisles (still looking for someone to let me dig into this for them!), unique draping, and a few bows touches here and there!
And now, let’s get into the pretty and inspirational! (And PS — if you’re newly engaged, congratulations! If you’re new here, welcome! Here on the blog, I share a deep look into my real weddings, along with sharing planning advice and tips!)
Mocha Mousse: The Pantone Colour of the Year
I’ll admit something here: normally I hate the Pantone colour of the year. And maybe I hate the colour itself less than the way people use them. Typically I just find the Pantone colours of the year to be so saturated, and then wedding vendors with no design sense (oops, but I’m just being honest) take it in the most literal way and make crap with it 🫠
But this one!! I like this one! Though again, I think I like the mocha mousse less than I do the things that we can add to it. I’m seeing the mocha tone look amazing with chartreuse and bright shades of green, mauves, even with richer burgundies.
Sculptural Floral Ingredients
Last year I highlighted sculptural floral designs as a trend; this year, I’m getting more into the detail of it by telling you that it’s all about the INGREDIENTS.
As floral designers, we can’t create the unique and funky shapes you’re inspired by, without using unique and funky ingredients. If this is what you’re looking for, then you need to hire a designer who actually gets it. This is where a lesser designer will falter.
I’m seeing lots of calla lilies, lilies, clematis, gloriosa lilies, antherium (yes, still!), nerine, hellebores…unfortunately, all the things that are expensive 😂
Moody Ambiance
Where great lighting, rich colours, and a desire for a chic, elevated vibe combine, we can create a really moody ambiance. I’m not sure what has spurred this trend on, but it’s here and definitely not going anywhere.
A few tips for achieving a moody ambiance: Lighting will be key. The overhead lights should be dimmed or off, with uplighting and spotlighting made a priority. Add in table lamps and candles to boost the ambiance.
Deep colours work really well to naturally lend a moody feel to a design, as do long tables and signature cocktails.
Rounded Shapes
Circular altars surrounded with florals, curved meandering aisles, round guest tables arranged in a serpentine shape, rounded die-cut wedding invitations or table numbers, or scalloped edges on a veil — what we’re looking for is ways to soften the hard edges that might feel a little too harsh.
Pattern Play
I know this is going to stress a lot of you out. But maximalism pattern play is a really fun trend that we’re going to see taking centre stage — but in larger markets. In Winnipeg, this is going to be really hard to accomplish because our rental options are so much more limited.
So how can you make this happen in a smaller town? Pattern play will be best accomplished through stationery and signage pieces, and bold colour florals/mismatched vessels. Throw a fun table number into the mix, and see what you can find for coloured glassware, and that’ll make a big difference!
Cottage + Granny Chic
I see the cottagecore trend of a few years ago moving more into a granny chic vibe, retaining those kind of sweet, old lady elements: nubby linens, soft floral patterns, pastels, woven or rattan textures (lamp shades, chair backs, and so on!).
Think charming, English countryside wedding. Like if Iris from “The Holiday” got married at her sweet little cottage.
Even better if you can hold your ceremony in an overgrown, outdoor ceremony, with a flowing dress with some lace touches, and mismatched ceramic vases.
Old World Opulance
This one comes to us from my friend Kayla at Kayla Lagos Weddings:
In 2025 we are seeing the revival of old world opulence and the Rococo era. Think, ultra feminine, pastel, Bridgerton garden party! For tablescapes we will continue to focus on gold and brass accents through cutlery, candlesticks, and dinnerware. Floral arrangements will be abundant in pastel colour palettes on guest tables and in ceremony spaces. We will see lots of intricate details like lace, bows, ruffles, pearls and ditsy floral prints in things like stationery, linens and accessories. Intricate piping on cakes and dessert tables, as well as ruffle cake layers is also continuing to trend. Linens will be very important this year in lots of draping and choosing tablecloths with florals, texture and pastel tones to bring the whole look together. In wedding attire the continuation of bows is important along with pearl accessories, coloured embroidery and drop waist gowns. We are so excited to see how this trend and these elements are interpreted in 2025!
Unique Draping
I’m straight up recycling this from last year because it’s not slowing down. This one is a bit harder because it really hinges on your venue, but I’m seeing a lot of really interesting, unique draping installations and I’m HERE for it. Why?
Draping can create a really cool ambiance, and completely change the vibe of the space. Dreamy, modern, organic, clean…all things possible with drapery. And no unsightly venue walls to contend with.
Images Above: Dress, Table, Champagne Tower
looking for a wedding floral designer in winnipeg?
We can design an incredibly beautiful wedding for you, trendy or not.
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!
Modern Architectural Inspired Wedding at the Leaf
It’s finally time to share SO MUCH DETAIL from this architecturally-inspired editorial I designed at The Leaf!
My vision was something chic, sculptural, and heavily influenced by the use of a single type of flower (in this case, white lilies). The slatted wood wall in the mezzanine area of The Leaf was absolute perfect backdrop for the strong lines I wanted to create.
It’s finally time to share SO MUCH DETAIL from this architecturally-inspired editorial I designed at The Leaf!
My vision was something chic, sculptural, and heavily influenced by the use of a single type of flower (in this case, white lilies). The slatted wood wall in the mezzanine area of The Leaf was absolute perfect backdrop for the strong lines I wanted to create.
I’m going to start with a very quick visual overview of the design elements, and then get down into some nitty gritty of the pricing for you!
Photos by Keila Marie Photography
Aren’t these details just perfection! I’m so grateful to all of the wedding professionals who helped me bring this to life. It takes a team, friends!
The tabletop was a labour of love to design. Pretty early on, I decided that I wanted to use Planned Perfectly’s toffee linen and Union Table’s matte black flatware with ribbed glassware, but I hemmed and hawed over the place settings. I’m so glad I chose the speckled plates because they add such fun!
Multiple sculptural floral centrepieces are featured down the table, accented with ribbed olive green candles, black trays with fresh fruit, and chains of hyacinth blooms, which added some really fun, modern whimsy.
How much do you think this bridal bouquet costs?
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients:
Freesia
Tweedia
Hellebore
Mini Cymbidium Orchids
Allium
Looped Hyacinth Chains
And finished with hand died silk ribbon from
Tono and Co
BRIDAL BOUQUET COST: $435
This bouquet was a bit of a trial for me — because it wasn’t at all what I had planned on. Almost none of the flowers that I ordered for it actually came in! I envisioned a bouquet that was on the smaller side, with a chic, highly textured design, with these hyacinth chains as a major focal point. That’s basically the only element that came together the way I had originally intended.
That being said, sometimes we have to roll with what we can, especially when we’re working with live, perishable product! The lime cymbidium orchids were perfect for tying through that bright chartreuse tone I needed, and while I didn’t plan on using the white freesia, I loved the warm yellow in the centre and the linear stem shape.
Most of my bridal bouquets aren’t this high cost, but the ingredients I used are mostly premium product and that comes with a higher price tag.
I love wandering around the Tropical Biome at the Leaf, but I didn’t want Erika’s portraits to feel too “wedding photos at the Leaf.” Keila took my vision of clean, bright, fine art meets tropical and played up the atmosphere and the way it supported Erika’s modern column gown, rather than going too typical and obvious.
This is the Aesling Sagrada gown. It’s chic, minimal lines paired with the dramatic (detachable!) cape is what drew me to it. It was perfect for this architectural vision!
Get the Look
The arch was my personal focal point; I wanted something strong, something modern, and choosing to focus on just one ingredient type is not at all common, but forcing myself to stick to just one element allowed me to really play up the star shaped flower.
I tucked in a few double lilies for a softer texture here and there, which were absolutely divine.
Add in a set of minimal black chivari chairs, and you’ve got quite a cool ambiance thanks to that slatted wall and lily arch combo! If there’s a piece of architectural interest at your venue, consider how you can play it up.
THIS CAKE. Jenna did an amazing job, as always!! This wafer paper design feels feminine, structural, and really strong all at the same time. I honestly cringe at the thought of how long this must have taken her to make! The vertically applied wafer paper is reminiscent of that slatted wood wall I took so much inspiration from, and I love the way she curved it around the cake, and added some delicate movement to it. Cake perfection.
I remember gasping when I opened up the stationery suite from Rae + Dot. They used a speciality printing technique called blind debossing to add a three-dimensional ribbed texture to the paper, again perfectly hearkening back to the slatted wood wall that I love so much. I had requested a patterned envelope liner, and suggested that an architectural take on a lily bloom would be cool. The line drawing with the warm toffee paper was AMAZING.
Isn’t Erika absolutely gorgeous? She ALWAYS is, by the way. It’s kind of irritating how beautiful she is. Jessica Kmiec went pink and glowy on her, and Bailey pulled her hair back with these striking pearl hair pins. Chic, modern, goddess. Yeah baby.
Erika also helped me set the table and helped me clean up, and I’m so grateful to you 😘
Keila Marie Photography ~ Stone House Creative ~ The Leaf ~ Planned Perfectly ~ Union Table ~ Jenna Rae Cakes ~ Rae and Dot Studio ~ Love note Bride ~ Jessica Kmiec Artistry ~ Bailey VanderVeen
Hire a Talented Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg
Not to toot my own horn (too much), but I happen to be really good at this. I’d be thrilled to design an incredible atmosphere and accompanying florals for your wedding.
A Springtime Floral Dream ~ Reverdie Workshop
Earlier this spring, before wedding season kicked off, I travelled about an hour outside of Montreal to attend Reverdie, a floral design workshop. Hosted by Trille Floral (a Canadian designer) and Winsome Floral (an American designer), the experience was quite amazing.
I’ve always believed that hands-on floral design education, and inspiration, is of utmost importance. It’s been a few years since I’ve been able to attend a workshop, and it was worth every penny and every moment. Let me tell you about it.
Earlier this spring, before wedding season kicked off, I travelled about an hour outside of Montreal to attend Reverdie, a floral design workshop. Hosted by Trille Floral (a Canadian designer) and Winsome Floral (an American designer), the experience was quite amazing.
I’ve always believed that hands-on floral design education, and inspiration, is of utmost importance. It’s been a few years since I’ve been able to attend a workshop, and it was worth every penny and every moment. Let me tell you about it.
Photos by Grace & Ardor Co
When I started working in flowers, I was quite apprehensive about actually designing. In fact, it was quite a long time before I was “allowed” to design. Despite that, I received some really wonderful hands-on design training and solid basics and mechanics from several of my colleagues, who I still consider to be some of the best designers in Canada. When I left that retail shop, and then eventually started Stone House Creative, I made it a priority to continue investing in hands-on and online design training. It’s really cost me quite a lot of money, but I don’t regret it at all.
A strong sense of basics, design elements, colour theory, and flower care are all of high importance in floral design. Without these, you can’t figure out your own style or create pieces that both look good and hold up. So to all of you who may be interested in floral design, please don’t hesitate to receive hands-on training. Yes, it’s an investment. But just as I wouldn’t trust a dentist who hasn’t gone to dental school, I wouldn’t be comfortable with a floral designer charging for their work without investing in any actual training (and yes, obviously I understand that there’s an enormous difference between a medical professional and floral design).
Reverdie was a 4 day experience, set at a beautiful European-inspired chateau and vineyard where we all were able to stay on-site. The first afternoon, we met and got to know each other, and then sat down for a welcome dinner that was absolutely incredible.
We sat at the long table above, with a simplistic and inspiring design of simple spirea arrangements and warm toned candles and linens.
On day 2, we sat for 2 design training sessions before letting loose into the flowers: centrepiece arrangements, and bouquet design.
Above is the arrangement I created. Trille and Winsome have a slightly different process for designing arrangements than I do, so it was cool to give that a shot and see the final product. The tulips were absolutely incredible, so I wanted to make them the real focal point and let them do their thing. I love the wonky lines that tulip stems create, and this cinnamon-and-butter palette was so lovely for spring.
Love these table designs? Let's talk about what makes them amazing.
1: Repetition of Elements
The overall tablescapes here are quite straightforward: a pairing of candles, a floral moment // A pairing of candles, a floral moment // A pairing of candles, a floral moment...you get the drill. If you're unsure how to design a great tablescape, keep it simple!
2: Florals en Masse
Our first two dinners had striking floral centrepieces, and possibly what's most striking is that we have just one ingredient, en masse. This is a design tactic that always feels clean and elevated to me. If this is something you're drawn to, be sure to tell your designer as most of us don't expect that you're wanting this.
3: Curated Colour Palette
You know I love colour -- and hopefully you've also heard me say that you don't need to go super vibrant to indulge in colour. Each of these dinners features a different palette, and different accent colours, and we can take inspiration from all of them: whites with warm neutrals, vibrant pink with complimentary mint tones, and saturated yellows. Take a look and decide what draws you in most: monochromatic, highly saturated, or complimentary tones!
On day 3, we took part in 2 different group installations: one outdoors at a chapel, and one indoors to create an incredible meadow.
Obviously I cannot choose a favourite, but I will say that the high volume of yellow forsythia branches that we use has me completely inspired. Clustering in pockets of varied pinks and creating height and depth made this feature come to life.
For our final dinner, we used each of our centrepieces down the length of the table, again paired with taper candles and also with the most exquisite handmade plates by Kels in the Studio, a New Brunswick potter. It was a really full table, making it slightly less practical but I’ll tell you what, it was SO nice to be able to be a guest at our own table instead of always setting it for someone else! We also repurposed many of the forsythia pieces that we used alongside the chapel into the window sills, as well as around the base of the cake table. This is the kind of oomph that goes a long way in creating an environment, rather than just designing pretty floral centrepieces, and if there’s opportunity to repurpose florals (read: there must be enough time to make it happen), then this is definitely a way to do it!
I’m so grateful to Courtney and Cara for this beautiful experience. It was restful, inspiring, and so peaceful. Many of us students were also moms of young kids, so the group was in need of some rest. It was such a wonderful respite! If you’re a floral designer looking for a workshop to attend, definitely consider Reverdie (or their annual fall workshop, Autumn in New York). It was magical.
Workshop Hosts: trille floral & winsome floral ~ grace and ardor ~ elegant productions ~ chateau ste agnes ~ pearle by katrina tuttle ~ kels in the studio~ paper chain stationery ~ scribble and script ~ ana capbatut ~ alexis burkhardt Hair ~ victoria roggio beauty ~ just iced custom cakes ~ glow the event store ~ the studio house~ native ribbon co
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
We can design a beautiful, unique wedding environment for you. Find out more about our floral services by inquiring below!
Call me 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!