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!
Organic Tent Wedding on Private Estate
Kristin and Sam’s organic tent wedding on his family’s private estate was a MAJOR highlight of 2020 for me! Their date was originally scheduled for late June, but they pushed it back into late August with a backup date on the calendar for 2021, as well. They ended up deciding to just go forward in August with as large of a guest list as they would be allowed to, and it turned out that it was scheduled for the perfect time, in that summertime covid lull.
Kristin and Sam’s organic tent wedding on his family’s private estate was a MAJOR highlight of 2020 for me! Their date was originally scheduled for late June, but they pushed it back into late August with a backup date on the calendar for 2021, as well. They ended up deciding to just go forward in August with as large of a guest list as they would be allowed to, and it turned out that it was scheduled for the perfect time, in that summertime covid lull.
Let me tell you: this property COULD NOT HAVE BEEN COOLER. Right on the Red River and less than 10 minutes outside of the city, with multiple cabins dating back decades, towering trees and a creek running through…it was so, so amazing.
Blush, cream, and sage is a timeless palette and Kristin wanted to keep the floral elements fairly simple, especially for the bouquets. This really allowed the incredible setting to take centre stage and caused the flowers to support the surroundings instead of compete with them.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: white o’hara garden roses, quicksand roses, blushing bride protea, white ranunculus, olive foliage, gunni and seeded eucalyptus foliages.
Kristin handmade this arch! She built it at home in Vancouver, then took it apart and shipped it here to Winnipeg in time for the wedding. She also designed all of her stationery, created her table numbers and escort cards, and some really cool acrylic signage. Quite creative! I wouldn’t have had a chance of making those details myself.
I love the statement these florals make. Again, it’s simple but appropriate in size and scale and really brought a garden-inspired feel. The ceremony overlooked the Red River, and with the tree line behind, it really couldn’t have been a more gorgeous location.
When you’re so tired mid-day that you just need to take a little break with your bridesmaids 😴
When I did a site tour with Andrea from Soiree Event Planning, we were both so struck with this tree. The shape of it! The size! It is just a perfect tree. We knew it needed to be used somehow, and I’m so glad that she suggested using it as a lounge setting. Wouldn’t you want to relax a little under this gorgeous tree? All of the lounge rental furniture was from Trend Decor and I particularly love those rattan armchairs. The addition of the rattan textures (lanterns, rug, chairs) brought a casual feeling element to the overall event design that was really nice.
Reception time! They installed 2 separate tents, one for dinner (with tons of space for the tables to be really spread out), and a smaller one with a lounge, dessert table and live music (this was also the backup location for the ceremony). We lightly strung greenery along the entire tent ceiling, and added greenery and florals to Event Light’s basket lanterns above the head table and above the bar. I loved this element — it felt really special and was one of those small touches that went a long way to creating an amazing atmosphere.
The floor plan included both round tables and harvest style banquet tables, all with a heavy amount of floral and candles added.
Since covid, a lot of couples have chosen an open-side tent. With every panel open, the flow of traffic can feel a little directionless, so establishing a focal point can make an enormous difference to your guests' experience. I loved using this opportunity to create a gorgeous entrance to the tent that also served a purpose: welcoming guests, guiding them to their tables, and adding to the overall event design.
One of my favourite design elements was actually the containers that I used, which might not be that excited to pretty much anyone else. Soiree’s design brief incorporated a lot of natural textures, so I selected a pottery compote and matching longer oval vessel along with ceramic stem vases. We also decided to use sandstone pillar candles instead of plain white, to bring a little more warmth to the overall palette.
The round table featured a floral piece in a compote with a little more of the blush tones in them (so they stood out from the white linens), and the harvest tables incorporated an elongated centrepiece in the centre, along with a lot of stem vases with petite arrangements. I loved the copper flatware they chose for the visual interest it brought.
Believe me when I say this — it was SO HOT. These misting fans were absolute life savers. I spent a fair amount of time in front of this one, myself 😂They were stationed around the dinner tent and around the lounges and dessert area as well. Thank goodness!
A huge thanks to my amazing team of freelancers who helped make this floral magic come together! My associate designer Deanna of Deer Dutch Creative, Kyla Ferguson, and Erika Tata. Each of them played such an important role, and together we all kept our heads (and our cool) on an insanely hot week. They also had the thrilling job of lifting and positioning sheets of plywood for me to drive the scissor lift on, and doing that inside of a clear tent is basically like doing heavy lifting in a greenhouse 😓
Brittany Mahood Photography ~ Soiree Event Planning ~ Planned Perfectly ~ C&T Rentals ~ Trend Rentals & Decor ~ Event Light ~ D’Lite Tents ~ High Tea Bakery ~ Laugh Love Cakes ~ MYUZ Artistry ~ Danny Kramer Dance Band ~ Urban Prairie Cuisine ~ Rhyme & Rhythm Cinematography
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!
Outdoor Summer Love at the Manitoba Club
When it looked like the 2020 wedding season was shot, every wedding vendor decided to get involved in some styled photo shoots. They’re a great way to work alongside friends, stretch our creative muscles, at the same time as generating content to show you all what we can do!
But then, as it goes, wedding season was far busier than I expected it to be, I committed to multiple styled shoots, and my life became absurdly busy lol!
I’d love for you to dive into this outdoor summer love shoot at the Manitoba Club!
When it looked like the 2020 wedding season was shot, every wedding vendor decided to get involved in some styled photo shoots. They’re a great way to work alongside friends, stretch our creative muscles, at the same time as generating content to show you all what we can do!
But then, as it goes, wedding season was far busier than I expected it to be, I committed to multiple styled shoots, and my life became absurdly busy lol!
I’d love for you to dive into this outdoor summer love shoot at the Manitoba Club!
Andrea from Soiree Event Planning approached me to be a part of this shoot, with the direction of playful colour and some modern elements. We knew it was going to be outside at the Bonnycastle Gardens at the Manitoba Club, which is a gorgeous spot for an intimate summer wedding, or even just for a ceremony once we can get back to indoor parties.
With that modern direction, I knew I wanted to design the bouquet without any foliage, and keep the size on the smaller side, layering blooms over each other and keeping them a little bit tighter.
How much do you think this bridal bouquet costs?
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients:
Anthurium
Poppies*
Zinnias*
Cappuccinno Roses
Cafe Latte Roses
Asters*
Lisianthus*
And finished with hand died silk ribbon from
Tono & Co
*Denotes locally grown here in Manitoba - yay!
BRIDAL BOUQUET COST: $215
I love the way this tablescape blends a clean, modern design with a feminine colour palette and some girly details. I LOVE a good place setting, and this layering of grey and green coloured plates and the rose napkin really draws me in. The replication of the pink in the menu, and of the grey in the stone place card (which are laser etched with the guests’ names — gorgeous!!) makes this even better!
These kind of details are a really easy way to elevate your wedding design, and carry your style through the entire tablescape. Something as simple as the way your napkin is folded can make a huge difference!
If you’re seating your guests at rectangular banquet tables, make sure you get the width of them. At the Manitoba Club, they use a “king’s table,” which is nice and wide (that’s what you see here). A lot of venues use narrower tables, which simply gives less space to add in decor. You need to be aware of how much space you have to add in flowers, candles, glassware, and so on.
With this table, we had a lot of space to feature 2 fuller centrepieces, with 3 petite modern stem vase style arrangements of pink anthurium. We tucked in taper candles and still had plenty of negative space — which is crucial in a design. A lot of the time I feel that tables are overloaded, but it can be the negative space that sets off design.
Lounges, baby! I’m excited that Winnipeg’s rental companies are bringing in more options for lounge furniture, because it allows us to create far more interesting spaces where your guests can kick back and enjoy the vibe that you so carefully created.
I love the varied textures that we worked with here, the overhead lighting, the fact that this little brick nook is PERFECT, and obviously, the flowers. A few smaller floral pieces were really cute accents, but the main focal point was a freestanding floral piece that I loved! It brought a fun spotlight of colour and texture.
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!
Elegant Covid Tent Wedding with Peaches and Blues
Nicole and Colin’s backyard tent wedding was a really special one for me, because it was my first “full” wedding post-Covid. They were originally planning for 250+ guests at a large venue, but they were not interested in postponing. One month beforehand, they cut the guest list to about 35 people, and changed the plans to host both the ceremony and reception in Colin’s parents’ backyard in La Broquerie.
Nicole gave me total flexibility with the flowers, and basically just told me to surprise her. I decided on a palette of warm neutrals and was then surprised when I walked into the cooler at the wholesaler that week and found some eye-catching peach tones that I wanted to use — and I think they worked perfectly!
2020 has been a weird year for weddings, and sometimes it seems like it’s not even worth talking about anymore. That’s exactly why I’m starting this blog series, because I want to celebrate our “Covid weddings” and, at the same time, inspire you with ideas on how you can make sure that Covid-19 doesn’t define your wedding!
This is the 5th instalment of the Covid Weddings series, and today I’m sharing a backyard wedding at the family home in La Broquerie.
NICOLE AND COLIN ~ JULY 4, 2020
Photos by Janice Wiebe Photography
Nicole and Colin’s backyard tent wedding was a really special one for me, because it was my first “full” wedding post-Covid. They were originally planning for 250+ guests at a large venue, but they were not interested in postponing. One month beforehand, they cut the guest list to about 35 people, and changed the plans to host both the ceremony and reception in Colin’s parents’ backyard in La Broquerie.
Nicole gave me total flexibility with the flowers, and basically just told me to surprise her. I decided on a palette of warm neutrals and was then surprised when I walked into the cooler at the wholesaler that week and found some eye-catching peach tones that I wanted to use — and I think they worked perfectly!
It’s a good thing momma was around, because she fixed the placement of that boutonniere 😂 For the record, boutonnieres are affixed to the lapel on the left side of your chest, and you shouldn’t see any pins once it’s pinned in properly. Traditionally, you wear either a boutonniere OR a pocket square, and not both.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: Sahara roses, beige/peach carnations, anemones, butterfly ranunculus, forget me nots, larkspur, bunny tail, and various eucalyptus foliages. I loved the way this bouquet was on the smaller side but still felt like it was spilling over.
Nicole’s dad made the arch, and I tossed around a few ideas for florals, including a heavy floral piece for the arch, or taller pedestal arrangements, some ground based florals, and in the end I decided on a slightly lighter application on the arch itself, with large arrangements on pedestals at the start of the aisle. I tucked a few extra peonies and larkspur stems into galvanized buckets near the pedestals and welcome sign.
You’d really have thought that this was the Plan A, considering how perfectly everything fit. This flagstone patio was ideal for the wedding ceremony, especially with the way the landscaping gives privacy. Going heavier on the florals with multiple pieces brings a sense of purpose to the space, too, which I think is really nice especially for a smaller wedding. I also just LOVE these cross-back chairs from Planned Perfectly. They’re so versatile and can go with a number of different styles.
The soft blue textured linen that Nicole chose from Planned Perfectly is one of my faves, and it pairs so well with those chairs, doesn’t it?
I chose to design 2 centrepiece styles for Nicole, but I wasn’t entirely sure what the floor plan was going to be in the tent or how much space we’d have.
This is one of those incidences where giving your vendors trust and flexibility ends up being the best — because Nicole had told me to do whatever I thought was best, I could change up the plan on the fly. Originally, I was going to place one large arrangement on each table, and flank them with stem vases. But, the guest tables were REALLY narrow (which isn’t terribly uncommon with banquet tables), but some of the tables were set for 4 people and some were for 6 people. The tables set for 4 were a little roomier, so I chose to place the larger floral arrangements there, and then I lined the centre of the 6 person tables with stem vases. The rest of the larger floral arrangements were placed on the U-shaped head table, along with a few extra stem vases, and the numbers were worked out perfectly — almost like we planned it 😉 The tall white candleholders are from Planned Perfectly!
Our original plans were to have a 275 person wedding at The Gates on Roblin. Due to uncertainties in May with gathering sizes, we chose to move our 50% deposit with them to a new date next year to celebrate our 1 year anniversary with family and friends (fingers crossed MB is still in the clear by then).
One month ago, we decided to shift everything over to my in-laws backyard outside of Winnipeg. We had to reduce our guest list to only parents, siblings, god parents, the wedding party and 4 friends. We had 27 people attend and it was still the best day of our lives. Seriously—you will not regret keeping your day.. at the end of the day, it’s all about the marriage, not the wedding.
My heart is with all of the couples that are juggling with the decision on whether they should move forward or not, but just know that whatever you choose is completely validated and nobody else’s business. We’re living through unprecedented times and all opinions outside of yours are just noise! Enjoy your relationship as a couple and know that everything will work itself out.
Janice wiebe photography ~ JP Media Works ~ Planned Perfectly ~ C&T Rentals ~ Tentation Tent Rentals ~ Chantal’s bridal ~ moore’s ~ Jeanna Lee Artistry
Need more Covid-style intimate wedding inspiration?
Check out this Birds Hill Park elopement (they’re planning their reception for 2021!), and this backyard Jewish wedding ceremony and dinner!
If you're planning a small tent wedding and need help figuring out your seating arrangements, don't miss this casual al fresco tent wedding with great ideas for socially distanced seating!
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
2021 wedding dates are limited and my 2022 wait list is now started! 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!
Colourful Summer Covid Wedding on the Farm
2020 has been a weird year for weddings, and sometimes it seems like it’s not even worth talking about anymore. That’s exactly why I’m starting this blog series, because I want to celebrate our “Covid weddings” and, at the same time, inspire you with ideas on how you can make sure that Covid-19 doesn’t define your wedding!
This is the 4th instalment of the Covid Weddings series, and it’s extra special because the bride is my second cousin / lifelong best friend!
2020 has been a weird year for weddings, and sometimes it seems like it’s not even worth talking about anymore. That’s exactly why I’m starting this blog series, because I want to celebrate our “Covid weddings” and, at the same time, inspire you with ideas on how you can make sure that Covid-19 doesn’t define your wedding!
This is the 4th instalment of the Covid Weddings series, and it’s extra special because the bride is my second cousin / lifelong best friend!
ROBERTA & FERNANDO ~ AUGUST 7, 2020
Photos by Esther Funk Photography
We made the official decision June 1 but knew probably mid May and discussed alternatives prior to making the decision. So when we made the decision all it took was drafting the email we sent out and sending it out.
Our decision was to go ahead with the ceremony, and postpone the reception to whenever the borders opened. Our ceremony consisted of my immediate family (unfortunately Fer's family could not attend being from out of the country), the girls who would be in my wedding party, and Fernando's groomsman and wife. We had 15 people total, then had a delicious meal.
Now I’m not going to share TOO many of the details of this wedding today, because I am going to basically cover my blog with them all winter long lol. I did both floral and event design, so I have a LOT to tell you. Basically, all you need to know for now is that Roberta and Fernando both love colour and we took that very seriously.
I realized that the change took a lot of pressure off me, because despite loving planning events and parties and things, I hate being the centre of attention (I'm a choir director...I am in the middle of everything but people look right past me!) Fernando always wanted to have a small wedding but was having a big wedding for me. Planning was now a lot of fun because things that were too expensive if you had to order 150 of, were now very affordable when you only need 15! So I could splurge on fun things like fancy cutlery and funky seating options.
When we made the decision to replan, we were strict in our list and although there were quite a few people who would have most likely been "number 16, 17 or 32, 33" we drew the line and people understood.
Our wedding was fantastic. My family surprised us with a fireworks show at the end of the evening. I grew up in a very close-knit rural community and my dad invited the neighbours in our community to the fireworks show. As we were walking down the gravel road people would roll down their windows and say congratulations, but being dark outside, I couldn't tell who was out there, but it still meant soooooo much to see all these neighbours come out for the fireworks. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and it was so so nice to be with such a close group. The food was delicious, and we could create our own menu with Chew. They were so fantastic to deal with throughout the entire process too!
It was a beautiful day but there are parts I wish I had the other way too.
- I wish Fernando's family was with us. That was the hardest part of the day for me. We Facetimed them throughout the day at various points, but wish we could have them with us in person. That's when Covid sucks the most. The summer before we visited his family in Mexico, and Fer's mom asked "If you get married, can I be invited?” I was shocked and replied "OF COURSE YOU WILL BE THERE. WE WON'T HAVE THIS DAY WITHOUT YOU!" But then Covid changed that.
- I wish I had my choir there. I am one of those girls who has dreamed of the wedding day for years...and years...and years....and years..... I had planned things for a lifetime, one of which was walking down the aisle to a choir (made of my students and the people I sing with on a regular basis) singing the song "The Ground" by Ola Gjielo. Instead, my brother played Harvest Moon on acoustic guitar. It was beautiful. He sounded fantastic. I am glad I am part of such a musical family.
- I knew many people were celebrating with us that day even though they were not there. Some of my closest lifetime friends sent many messages, snapchats, and sweet videos. I wish they were there. Some family members "drove by" the day of and ended up pulling in and having cake with us. I wish they could have spent the entire day with us. But in actuality I realize I probably wouldn't have seen them much during the day anyways. I honestly don't understand how a wedding of 150+ could do it. I felt the day was crazy and I didn't see the 15 people who were there celebrating with us.
I am so glad we still made our wedding feel like a wedding. In reality, we might not have a party later. We know that the border might not open for a while, and who knows if we will still feel like having the big party when the border opens (but let's be real, I will wear my dress again WHENEVER I get the chance). But if we don't get the chance to have the party, I don't feel like my wedding was a "mock wedding" — our wedding felt like a wedding.
Here’s my best advice: Do what works best for you. If you want to go ahead with the wedding, do it! If you want to postpone, do it! Know where you are comfortable with Covid things, and allow that to guide your decisions. Follow the guidelines of the province (or your local authorities), but then make decisions based on your comfort level. People may judge you for having a 50 person wedding, but if you follow Covid guidelines, and everything is allowed that you are doing, enjoy the day!
Some of your guests may not feel safe attending and that is on them, not you. It is not your fault if someone chooses not to attend your special day, and you should not let that burden you. If you are not comfortable in big group settings these days, or work in a high risk environment, then know that everyone will hug you that day and plan accordingly (I loved getting every hug I got that day!). But try not to focus on Covid all day. Be smart and safe, but still enjoy your wedding. Don't let other's Covid intensity drive every decision you make.
One of things I really enjoyed was intentionally planning the day, and making it feel special with little things like the flowers, getting your hair and makeup done. Especially if your day has had to change a lot, you can still make the day very special.
Finally, know that people understand. It is tough to cut the list, but everyone's life has been affected.
Esther Funk Photography ~ Essense of Australia ~ Bliss Bridal Boutique ~ BHLDN ~ RW & Co ~ Stone House Creative ~ The Blushing Blonde ~ Justine Barry Artistry ~ Planned Perfectly ~ C&T Rentals ~ Trend Decor ~ Chew
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL AND EVENT DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
2021 wedding dates are limited and my 2022 wait list is now started! 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!