The Full Bouquet

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! VISIT WITH US ON ELIZABETH ANNE DESIGNS

Happy holidays everyone!! As you might imagine we are very busy here. We are preparing for the arrival of Santa, we are baking cookies, we still have shopping to do, it's almost my birthday, and we have two weddings next week.

I am going to take the next few days off  to hang with the kids. As you can imagine they are all very excited about Christmas and I am looking forward to spending time with them. Our home and some of our holiday floral designs were featured today on the Elizabeth Anne Designs blog. I hope you stop by and check out some of our holiday decor, we actually have 2 posts on her lovely blog so scroll on down. We have lots of exciting things to share with you over the next few weeks!

I hope you are surrounded by the people you love!!

TURQUOISE & RED HOLIDAY DECOR WITH THE BRIDES CAFE

Several weeks ago I went to Richmond to visit my friend Janie Medley. Many of you know Janie as the editor of The Brides Cafe, but she is also an amazing floral designer. Janie was working on a table design for Kathryn of Snippet & Ink and she asked if I would like to be involved. Janie chose the fabulous color palett of turquoise and red. Since I did not have any holiday decor in turquoise, I got to go do a little shopping before I headed to Richmond.

The first blooms we arranged with were Janie's ranunculus and they were absolutely perfect. I loved seeing her amazing flowers.

I brought the red peony, red cabbage roses, and some red anemone. I have to admit though, I liked Janie's amemones best.

On my shopping trip I bought lots and lots of turquoise ornaments and we put them to good use.

I also bought these small turquoise candle holders.

Janie even had a pretty little cake. All of this was photographed by the wonderful Katelyn James. Katelyn is awesome and I have been dying to meet her in person. Katelyn shot one of my weddings last Spring, but somehow I missed meeting her. We have had several fun phone chats so being with her was an extra gift of the day. I am so glad I made the trip to Richmond. Plus I even got to use the ornaments here in my little office.

Happy Monday!!

OUR FEATURED WEDDING IN WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE

Should I cry, or should I scream with delight? I want to, but instead I am jumping up and down with glee.  In early September I designed, managed, and provided flowers for an amazing wedding. That wedding was just featured in the new issue of Washingtonian Bride & Groom.
  The family was truly heaven sent. They exuded complete and total faith in me, giving me courage and wings. The family initially just wanted me to help with referrals and design ideas. A dear friend of the family would be acting as the day of coordinator, and they were certain they did not need a professional on board to handle the event. As we moved through the process it became very clear that even though we had someone executing the day of, we certainly needed someone managing  the event. The coordination of vendors, rentals, and all of the little questions that became big, huge daunting tasks as we got closer to the event fell on my shoulders. Was I scared? Yes, very much so, but I just have this thing about jumping in and being certain that I will not let someone down. The more I loved the family, the more I knew I could nail this event. I helped the family choose almost all of the vendors, and we chose all of the rentals together, I managed lighting, placement of portable restrooms, and even floating arrangements in the pool. My amazing husband, Evan, came on board with me because he is an awesome project manager. He also helped to assure that there was enough power in the tent, and he even pin spotted the lights the day of the wedding. This all of course was infinitely easier because we had an amazing group of vendors involved. Many thanks to Douglas Armstrong of Celebrations Catering, who taught me so much about glassware, napkins, chafing dishes, and staffing. Perkins Lighting, who provided the lighting on a holiday weekend in spite of the fact that they were totally booked, and for allowing my husband to set the lights the day of the event. Genevieve Leiper, for always capturing my art and my brides so incredibly perfectly. Christina from paperzest, who went above and beyond creating extra little details that I dreamed of. Jason from Market Salamander, who created a truly unique cake, and the amazing Peggy Rust of Murray HIll, who shared here gracious home and her Southern Hospitality. This day, this wedding, this family was truly blessed.

Our ceremony site was the only glitch of the day. Due to wind, our beautiful vintage tablecloth and our simple and understated flower arrangement kept blowing over the cliff. The cereomony took place on a ledge, literally overlooking the Potomac River. A potential hurricane actually blew right past our wedding that weekend, so we were happy with the breeze and no rain. We placed this big floral piece in front of the table because it was the only piece heavy enough not to blow over the cliff. The wind died down just enough before the ceremony that communion was actually placed on the table and stayed put.

A huge old farm wagon was used to display the seating chart. My bride Mackenzie and her amazing mom spent hours gathering and creating this design. It was our job to set up the windows, mirrors, and pictures frames, in a way that was safe, pretty, and functional. This area took several people working to create.

I am so proud of our designs, everything was picture perfect.

The tent was a huge 'L' shape that wrapped around an extraordinary swimming pool. One long table seated the family and wedding party. 17 round guest tables surrounded the king sized family table. Natural-toned  linens were used, with amethyst goblets. The tables also featured white battenburg lace runners. Fruitwood  chairs were rented for the ceremony and the reception. 

Centerpieces were designed in wooden boxes made by Mackenzie's grandfather. We also used vintage scales, crocks, and compotes. Those scales are now on display in my office.

Herbs and little blossoms adorned each and every napkin.

The tent was designed with a lounge area. This space was also designed to be the back up ceremony site if  the weather became an issue.  I am convinced it is because we had this space that the hurricane blew by...

The lounge area held the candy bar, the cake, and this really cute popcorn stand. All popocorn was compliments of my dad at Heiders Country Store.

All antiques were gathered from On A Whim antiques!!! I loved this old scoop that was used for the popcorn and I loved the hand stamped bags Christina from Paperzest made to hold the popcorn.

The designs created for the pool became a must, after a late-night silly chat with a floral designer friend named Tracy from Park Place Designs in Michigan.  Tracy saw a picture of the pool on twitter and she got me inspired to create these floating florals. The designs were a surprise gift to my bride and her family.

I even rented wine barrels from Fabbioli wine in Lucketts.  The wine barrels were used to hold custom made table tops for the candy bar and the cake. The table tops were created for the bride and groom and became presents for them to use in their new home.

Murray Hill is loaded with many fabulous hidden little gardens and scenic views. Photographer Genevieve Leiper did such an incredible job capturing the day. It was such a pleasure to work on this wedding with this family. So many of the fabulous ideas and designs were inspired by my incredible bride and her wonderful mother. Getting close to both of these women was one of the highlights of my year. I truly feel honored to have been the one chosen to help with this event.

It is with a full and happy heart that I say, "Happy married life Adam and Mackenzie," I am so honored I got to do the flowers for your wedding.

P.S.- Many Thanks to Washingtonian Magazine, for adding me to your "Best of 2010" list, and making me your editors pick! I strive every year to be part of such an amazing magazine.

 

A HOLIDAY ARRANGING CLASS WITH THE WOODLEA GARDEN CLUB

Yesterday we had the pleasure of designing with the ladies of the Woodlea Garden Club. 25 members came for a visit and a flower arranging lecture. Those who wanted to take home a holiday arrangement paid a small design fee.  Some ladies even came with their favorite containers.

We provided several different types of greenery. Some of the greens are harvested right here at my flower shop home. We lined up pine-cones, pods, berries, ornaments, picks, and ribbon. The budding designers chose whatever elements their heart desired. This was a fun and relaxing change from the hustle and bustle of the wedding season.

Even Elijah got in on the action.

The hardest part of the class was remembering that Samuel needed to be picked up from preschool right smack dab in the middle of the class. I kept begging Debbie, Myriam, and Casey to help me remember that we had to go and get Samuel. It is so easy to lose track of time in the flower shop. We look at the clock and it's hours before pick up time, the next glance at the clock always reveals we are late. In addition to floral design all of the ladies help me with the kids. You have certainly heard the saying " it takes a village" around here it takes the whole flower shop team. 

I was totally impressed with the designs that were created. It is incredible to see 20 women come up with completely different designs. Every person has their own unique vision. That is why floral design is an art!!

The ladies all had a great time designing in the shop. Evergreen designs will last well into the New Year. The women of Woodlea Garden Club will be enjoying their pieces for weeks to come, and each time they see their designs they will think of their time at Holly Heider Chapple Flowers.

After we arranged our centerpieces, we left the flower shop and headed to the dinning room. We had fun setting up a little mini brunch for the ladies. I have an amazing set of The Johnson Brothers, Friendly Village China, and it is perfect for the winter holidays. The china belonged to Evan's grandmother and it is beyond precious to me. Grammy used this china as her everyday china and I have so many fond memories of being at her table. Each plate, bowl, saucer, and platter, depicts a different winter scene. One of the guests told me it is actually one of Martha Stewarts favorite collectibles. That was a fun little fact to find out. There are many days I wish I was more like Martha.

Evan's birch containers come in seriously handy this time of year, they are one of the many things he made me for this wedding season.

Designer Casey made these really cute pillows for her house, but she brought them over to my place just for fun. Casey is going to make one really super bride this year!!

The mantel is one of the few things already decorated and ready for the holidays in our home. My whole house is in a holiday holding pattern until this weekend. We wait for the big kids to come home from college, which of course is very annoying for the little people in the family.

 My office is however ready for the holidays. I am in love with Casey's moss snowman.

Many thanks to the ladies of Woodlea who came to visit. A special thanks as always, to my flower shop girls who helped me teach, helped with the kids and helped to host a lovely party.

HALCYON HOUSE- KELLY CANNON EVENTS- HOLLY HEIDER CHAPPLE FLOWERS

The above shot is of my bride Leslie and her fabulous wedding party. I love the mink coats and the incredible view of the city. The shot was taken in the back yard of the Halcyon House. This may be the prettiest picture I have personally ever taken. Thanks to Ashlee Wilcox who set my camera. Ashlee and her husband Thomas Van Veen are the amazing duo known as Documentary Associates. It was such a pleasure to be working with them on this wonderful winter wedding.

I really enjoyed watching this team work. It was so much fun to see them set the pictures up, and then watch them stand back and shoot, shoot, shoot. I loved the delight in Ashlee's eye, as she sees her husband has captured the perfect shots. Ashlee is 8 months pregnant and absolutely glowing.

The flower girls were so adorable.

When I asked this bridesmaid if I could take a photo she happily posed saying her dad was in another state and he would be so happy to see her in her grandmothers mink coat. She very lovingly opened the coat and showed me her grandma's initials sewn into the lining of the coat. So just so you know dad, your beautiful daughter is really loving and wearing her grandmothers coat.

Maids carried clusters of cream hydrangea, white majolica spray roses, and milky way roses. The bouquets were all clean and simple. The bridal bouquet featured mostly white roses and an additional rose called sahara. We also changed the hydrangea to antique green and added some white freesia.

This was the space as we started the wedding set up.

I loved watching the lighting by John Farr go up and into place. Two of the lighting designers were women, and for some reason that really impressed me. I am not so good on a ladder.

With my camera set by Ashlee, I tried to get artisitc with the stacked black chivari chairs.

Black was our accent color of the day, maids wore black full length gowns, black ribbon was wrapped around the vases of the low centerpieces, black chairs, and black frames to mark the tables.

A black chandelier was even hung above the bride and grooms sweetheart table. Peter helped hold it in place while the lighting crew pulled it into the air.

It was a pleasure to be working with Occasions Catering again this weekend, and it looks like we will be together quite a bit next year as well.

The cake was designed in black and white tones to keep with our color theme.

All in all, this was a beautiful event. Thanks to Kelly Cannon Events who planned and managed the day. I loved working with Kelly this wedding was simply DC perfect. Kelly is an awesome coordinator and she is super wonderful to work with, any bride would be blessed to have Kelly as part of their team.

Happy married life Leslie and Chris, I loved doing your wedding flowers.