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feature
story
picture-perfect
weddings
The winners of our ninth annual
contest, plus a taste of the nearly 150 entries we received.
by Kelsey E. Smith
 Christina Averkin
A Bud & Beyond; Incline Village, Nev.
Date: Sept. 8, 2007
Ceremony and reception site: Hyatt Lake Tahoe; Incline Village,
Nev.
Number in wedding party: 12
Number of guests: 255
Approximate retail floral bill: $7,400
Photos by Gina Munda Photography; Reno, Nev.
Selected as our overall winner for its creative flair, attention to
detail and cohesion to the couple’s desired look, this late-summer
wedding was approximately one year in the making. The bride booked the
florist after attending a wedding in 2006 with her husband-to-be for
which Ms. Averkin had arranged the florals. “Molly is a stylish young
woman with very modern and elegant tastes,” Ms. Averkin says of the
bride. “She was extremely organized and knew exactly what she wanted.”
The bride’s main desire was to make a statement with color—specifically,
black and fuchsia. To help achieve an “upscale look with a funky twist,”
the florist suggested including black ostrich feathers, which graced the
arch décor as well as the centerpieces, the bridesmaids’ bouquets and
the groomsmen’s boutonnieres. Pine cones from the Lake Tahoe area added
another distinctive element to the event, giving a nod to the location
on a grassy bluff overlooking rustic Lake Tahoe.
In addition to coordinating the flowers, the florist also rented vases
and linens to the couple for the reception, which took place in the
hotel’s Lakeside Ballroom. A Bud & Beyond exclusively handles events,
creating florals for approximately 50 weddings and corporate functions
each year.
 Judi Tsuchida
Fena Flowers, Inc.; Kirkland, Wash.
Date: Sept. 7, 2007
Ceremony and reception site: Woodmark Hotel; Kirkland, Wash.
Number in wedding party: 6
Number of guests: 165
Approximate retail floral bill: $38,000
Photos by Azzura Photography
Held inside a large tent on the grounds of the Woodmark Hotel, which
overlooks Lake Washington, this ceremony was abundant with flowers,
fulfilling the couple’s wishes for an elegant, spectacular
“wedding-of-the-year” event. Luxurious drapings of fabric and a
“floating altar” created from Hydrangeas, ‘Stargazer’ lilies, ‘Vendela’
and ‘Mocha Magic’ roses, Dendrobium orchids and snapdragons set the
stage for the exchange of vows. The flowers were arranged into floral
cages, which were secured onto the crossbar of a
6-foot-wide-by-8-foot-tall metal arbor. Eighteen 36-inch-tall
candelabra, which the couple rented from the florist, were adorned with
the same flower varieties and lined the aisle. Following the ceremony,
the tent area was transformed into the reception site, with the
candelabra moved to the tables as tall centerpieces around which smaller
arrangements and votives were placed. reception.
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 Loann
Burke, AIFD
Furst Florist; Dayton, Ohio
Date: July 21, 2007
Ceremony site: St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church;
Beavercreek, Ohio
Reception site: Schuster Center for the Performing Arts; Dayton,
Ohio
Number in wedding party: 8
Number of guests: 225
Approximate retail floral bill: $5,700
Photos by Mark Garber Photography
The bride requested bright summery colors to complement her
watermelon-hued bridesmaid dresses. In addition to the lime-hued
bells-of-Ireland—a must for honoring the bride’s Irish heritage—the
palette included callas and roses in orange, pink and coral hues. The
neatly trimmed hand-tied bouquets were finished with wrappings of
ribbon, in ivory for the bride and in lime-green for her three
attendants.
best reception
decorations
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 Beth O’Reilly, AIFD, and Coby Neal,
AIFD
The Flower Studio; Austin, Texas
Date: May 19, 2007
Ceremony and reception site: private residence outside Austin
city limits
Number in wedding party: 10
Number of guests: 175
Approximate retail floral bill: $15,967
Photos by Suzi Q, Q Weddings
A tent with fabric draping, chandeliers and specialty lighting was the
setting for this celebration, for which the couple wanted an “artistic,
yet relevant” design melding traditional elements with modern appeal.
The wedding party feasted beneath a canopy of wild smilax and suspended
tealight candles. Head-table centerpieces reflected a European design
concept of tilted, balanced bouquets, all composed of white stocks bound
with silver aluminum wire. Candles and smaller cube vases holding smooth
pebbles and white Hydrangeas filled the table as well. Guest tables
centered around the same theme, with ‘Casablanca’ lilies joining the
stocks in the tall vases.
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 Kaywin Kubesch, AIFD, TMF
Rhinestone Angel & The Flower Company; Flatonia, Texas
Date: Oct. 13, 2007
Ceremony site: Presbyterian Church;
La Grange, Texas
Reception site: Ellinger Hall;
Ellinger, Texas
Number in wedding party: 27
Number of guests: 550
Approximate retail floral bill: $5,900
Photo by Diane Mueller
The wedding cake and wrought-iron backdrop were the main focus of this
“rustic elegance”-themed reception. To create the 5-inch-thick base,
which was covered with flowers that complemented the bridal bouquet, the
florist attached bricks of wet floral foam, cut in half horizontally, to
sheets of plastic foam with wood picks, tape and wire. Carnations were
used as the base flowers, then more delicate stems were added, including
tulips, lilies, Fuji chrysanthemums and ‘Kermit’ spray chrysanthemums. A
few Gladioli blossoms, Nerines and orchids joined the assortment at the
corners of the cake, their stems taped and placed into the icing. A
floral topper crowned the confection.
Watch for the kickoff of our 10th annual
“Picture-Perfect Weddings” contest in the July issue of Florists’
Review.
thanks to our sponsors
The following companies contributed prizes for the 2007 “Picture-Perfect
Weddings” contest:
B&C Mortensen Wood Products, Inc.
burton + BURTON
Fitz Design
Florigene Ltd.
The John Henry Company
Lion Ribbon Co.
Smithers-Oasis
The Sun Valley Group
Syndicate Sales, Inc.
Vacuum Orna-Metal Company, Inc.
the winners receive:
best wedding
Awarded for overall quality of design and craftsmanship, including
flower quality, creativity and fulfillment of the couple’s wishes.
• a monthly shipment of premium fresh flowers from The Sun Valley Group
from January 2008 through December 2008 (total prize value approx.
$2,000)
• a $500 product package from Syndicate Sales, Inc.
best bouquets
• a $500 wedding product package from Smithers-Oasis
• a $250 product package from Fitz Design
best ceremony setting
• a $500 product package from Lion Ribbon Co.
• a $250 merchandise credit memo from B&C Mortensen Wood Products, Inc.
best reception decorations
• a $500 merchandise credit memo from burton + BURTON
• a $250 wedding product package from Vacuum Orna-Metal Company, Inc.
best cake
• $500 worth of ‘Moon’ series carnations from Florigene Ltd.
• a Wedding Flower Style book and CD set and a Wedding Flowers: Tips &
Techniques book from The John Henry Company (a $160 value)
• To read and see more,
Click here
to purchase the current issue of Florist's Review. |
