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August is busy

Understatement of the summer, perhaps? So very busy that it’s hard to find time to even look through the latest flower pictures, let alone post them. Here’s a couple from this weekend and I’ll try to get some more up after next weekend’s triple header but it might just have to be September instead. Promise it’ll be worth the wait!

Seattle wedding flowers centerpiece

The dusty looking flowers are scabiosa. I love them. They come in a beautiful range of red, yellow and purple hues from faded to vibrant. And don’t get me started about the clematis. I almost died when I saw the double blossoms at the market. Raspberry colored, ruffled blossoms on vines so dark that they almost look blue. Seriously gorgeous.

Seattle vintage wedding flowerswhite garden roses, scabiosa and clematis
scabiosa and clematis

Abbie and Matt’s June wedding at Golden Gardens has to be my favorite wedding to date. Abbie was a dream client – a bride with vision on a mission to craft every element of her big day who loved every idea I dreamed up. I loved the location – Golden Garden’s Bathhouse, I loved the catering plan – Taco truck and Molly Moon’s ice cream, and I loved the high style, low budget vintage travel theme. An all around love-fest. Very fitting seeing as Abbie told me afterwards that someone told her the reception decor could be summed up in one word – “love.”

After months of planning, designing, cutting out tiny felt mustaches (Abbie), and growing (I let my catmint grow rampant in preparation for this wedding), Julie and I arrived to set up around noon and were met with bags and bags of paper pom-poms, paper place mats, shells and vintage bottles. Then I got to roam free, setting up all the prop displays and floral arrangements, hanging ribbon and pom-poms and decorating to my heart’s desire. Did I not say it was a dream wedding?

I really struggled to narrow down the images I wanted to share. I took so many pictures and then I saw the gorgeous images from Nickel Images and just went a bit wild. Definitely check out the Nickels’ blog for more details (a two part post!) of the day and some words from Abbie about her inspiration. There’s a story for every prop display…

{All images courtesy of Nickel Images unless otherwise credited}

The bride and bridesmaids wore silver sparkly Toms!

Photography: Finch & Thistle (except top image)

Photography: Finch & Thistle

Photography: Finch & Thistle

Images 2,6,7 Finch & Thistle

 

I think Tess would agree with me that she and Ryan chose the perfect time of year to get married – peony season! We share a love of the fluffy, fragrant beauties and I was keeping my fingers crossed for a lull in the rain and some sunny weather so I could use them in their wedding flowers. No such luck on the rain, or the sun, but fortunately Eastern Washington has a different climate altogether from the Puget Sound and a few stems started making their way westward so I was able to use them sparingly in the bouquets and centerpieces. I’ve already shared one of the church arrangements here but here are a few more images courtesy of the fabulous Angela and Evan Photography

Tess’ bouquet was mainly comprised of white peonies. I wrapped the stems in lace and tied Tess’ parents wedding rings onto it as a sweet reminder of her late father. It looked so pretty against her simple, strapless wedding dress!

The bridesmaids bouquets were pink and green with tones ranging from blush to magenta. The groomsmen’s bouts had pink dogwood and scabiosa pods with the groom’s made up of two white and pink cymbidium orchids to match the bride’s hair piece.

The Rainforest Pavilion at Woodland Park Zoo was hung with pink and green lanterns and lengths of ivory fabric to mark the dance floor. The tables were covered in navy blue satin tablecloths, blush pink napkins and gold chargers. I wanted to keep the centerpieces  loose and romantic so I filled footed silver bowls with peonies, scabiosa, queen anne’s lace, freesia and roses. They smelled amazing and the silver bowls reflected the light from the pink Glassybaby votives.

Tess and I had our first meeting at Top Pot donuts and when she confessed that she had a weakness for the sweet treats and was looking for something fun to serve later in the evening, donuts seemed an obvious choice. I love the mini cartons of milk she added. So cute!

milk and donuts wedding favors

And so where does the peacock come in? Well, just as we finished setting up the reception space, it started to rain. No light NW misting either, think absolute torrential downpour. As I was running to my car, encumbered by boxes and buckets, I noticed this flash of green and blue to my right and low and behold the zoo’s resident peacock was racing along beside me, apparently also seeking shelter in my open car trunk. I don’t know which of us was more surprised! Fortunately, I out-ran him and slammed the door shut before he could jump in and after some angry squawking he swooped around and headed back towards the zoo.  Imagine if I had driven home with a peacock in the back of my car? I’m not sure how I would have explained that one to the zookeepers…!

I came home from a two day mini vacation and found all my garden roses in bloom! I’m not sure which was better, the time off or the surprise arrival of all these beauties. They have the most delicious scent and are currently gracing my dining table with a lemon-y/rose-y/lavender-y fragrance. Have a happy, sunny holiday weekend!

garden rose arrangement by Finch & Thistle Event Design
orange david austin rose in an arrangement by finch & thistle event design

 

I went to high school in Salt Lake City and am a frequent visitor to the state as my parents still live there. I love Utah – beautiful mountains, red rock, clear blue skies and lots and lots of brides! – so I am thrilled to see my flowers on the cover of the premiere issue of Salt Lake/Park City Bride and Groom!

Finch and Thistle and Salt Lake Bride and GroomI dream of spending the winter months skiing and designing winter weddings in the Salt Lake/Park City area so if you’re looking for an florist and event designer and you like my work, please contact me via the Finch & Thistle website. Let’s talk!

The new magazine hits newsstands on July 5th and in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek on Utah Bride Blog.

A couple of months ago I designed and styled a Royal Wedding inspired shoot for Seattle Met Bride & Groom. You might remember the sneak peek I posted here. My copy just arrived in the mail and it is so fun to see the final product.

Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom Royal Wedding

I designed the flowers with a modern princess in mind. Two different bouquets – one more formal in faded pastels and one more loose, organic and playful made up of Amnesia and Quicksand roses, hellebore, anemones, pink jasmine and ranunculus in royal shades of burgundy, purple and faded pink. I wrapped the bridal bouquet with antique seed pearl beading and incorporated vintage silk velvet leaves in the boutonniere.

Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom Royal Wedding

I have shared some additional pictures with Notes on a Wedding (the newest Northwest focused wedding blog) so hop on over there to check them out. Also, check back tomorrow for some exclusive behind the scenes shots of how a big fashion shoot comes together…

All pictures courtesy of the brilliant Ryan McVay for Studio Lucile