Jen + Steve's Halloween Wedding at the Carnegie Institute for Science in DC

I love a good fall wedding but this one was special because it was on Halloween weekend but didn't include any pumpkins, leaves or decorative gourds! Instead, Jen and Steve's wedding had a moody yet romantic tone but gave a nod to the season by incorporating black feathers in the bouquets and silver vampire teeth as place card holders!

Both the ceremony and reception were held at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC. The bride wore a modern and glamorous gown complete with feathers and a fur stole so we carried that feel into her bridal bouquet. Her bouquet was a sexy design of only dark eggplant (black) calla lilies accented with black ostrich feathers. Her bridesmaid wore black and white and carried a bouquet of white and mini green hydrangea accented with eggplant callas and feathers. The men wore single mini calla boutonnieres.

The low centerpieces for the reception were clean and light with lots of fluffy white and green hydrangea and dark accents of rich eggplant mini callas. The sweetheart table was accented with the bridal bouquet, candles and a garland of eucalyptus. The cake topper was designed and created by the bride's father and we added touches of seeded eucalyptus around the base.

A simple yet stunning wedding with some of my favorite vendors! Enjoy the gorgeous photos from the talented Shandi Walllace!

Flowers: Uncloudy Studio

Photography: Shandi Wallace Photography

Wedding Planner: Katie at The Plannery

Caterer: Spilled Milk

Venue: The Carnegie Institution for Science

Noah + Sandra's Wildflower Summer Wedding at Josephine Butler Parks Center, Washington DC

There are so many things I loved about Noah and Sandra's wedding last summer! First, the brides! They are kind, sweet and creative and involved family and tradition and memories into their Jewish/Brazilian wedding. Second, the venue, Josephine Butler Parks Center is by far one of my favorites venues in Washington, DC. The staff is amazing, the space is gorgeous (so many fireplaces and mantels to decorate!) and the feel is intimate. Third, the color and whimsy of the decor which included local seasonal summer flowers in every color you can imagine!

Noah and Sandra's ceremony was held outside in Josephine Butler Parks Center's outdoor ceremony space under a chuppah. Each bride carried a wildflower bouquet of white, lavender and yellow with bird of paradise as the focal flower in memory of Noah's mother. The other blooms were: hydrangea, chamomile, lavender, craspedia, dahlias and baby's breath. The bridesmaids wore flowing gowns of dusty lavender and carried baby's breath bouquets wrapped in burlap. The adorable flower girl wore a floral crown of baby's breath and wildflowers and tossed petals down the aisle which was lined with birch buckets filled with baby's breath. The men all wore bird of paradise boutonnieres, in remembrance of Noah's mother.

The baby's breath and wildflower theme continued inside the venue filling an assortment of vintage style bottles, jars and vases and wooden crates and boxes. Noah's sister, Leigh, provided a plethora of rustic details and decor to the flowers adding extra warmth and a personal touch. Each mantel was draped in either baby's breath, foliage or wildflower garland along with the railings on the grand staircase. There were flower arrangements inside the fireplaces, on the windowsills, in the restrooms, you name it! The guest tables were all different but coordinated beautifully with an assortment of vessels displaying bright, seasonal wildflowers and a framed table number atop a rustic slice of wood. The flowers used in the centerpieces and throughout the venue included: hydrangea, celosia, scabiosa, veronica, marigolds, black-eyed susans, sunflowers, ageratum, millet, wheat, asters, zinnias, dahlias, craspedia and chamomile to name a few. The place cards were held in notched birch logs nestled on a bed of moss and there were candles everywhere!

Check out this glowing review from the beautiful brides (I'm blushing just reading it again):

Noah and Sandra said...
"Jolie is the kindest, most responsible, professional I have ever worked with. Jolie made our wedding so very beautiful by listening to exactly what we wanted and bringing it to life. She was the only florist that we interviewed who brought us a sample flower bouquet to our meeting as a gift for meeting with her. We were not easy customers, we asked for a lot, and Jolie did it all with a smile and a true love for what she does. In every way that we asked her to she went above and beyond her call of duty. If you are looking for a florist who can work with whatever budget you give her, listen to you with professionalism and warmth, and bring to life your dream day - Jolie is the person for you! Out of all our vendors, Jolie gets our highest ratings and endorsement. Additionally, we are an LGBTQ couple and Jolie is incredibly welcoming and supportive of our love and did all that we asked to incorporate new and old traditions into our wedding day."

This wedding was so much fun to be a part of and the vendor team was amazing! So if you're looking for a beautiful yet intimate venue in DC with a rockstar cast of vendors then check out the list below!

Now, enjoy these fun photos from the Doug Stanford Photography!

Flowers: Uncloudy Studio

Photography: Doug Stanford Photography

Planner: Jasmine Smith and Co.

Venue: Josephine Butler Parks Center

Caterer: Main Event

Sarah + Andy's September Wedding at The Anderson House, Washington DC

Everything about this September wedding was lovely; the bride, the venue, the color palette and the day!

Sarah and Andy's late summer/early fall wedding took place at the Anderson House in Washington DC which is a gorgeous venue. The color story was berry tones: fuchsia, plum, deep pink, blush and ivory with accents of gold. Sarah's bridal bouquet was a soft and loose romantic mix of hydrangea, garden roses, ranunculus, dahlias, scabiosa and succulents with green privet berries and hanging pepperberries for texture. The bridesmaids wore dove grey dresses and carried smaller versions of the bridal bouquet. Andy's boutonniere was designed with a single succulent and berry accents. The rest of the boutonnieres were all slightly different but complimented each other. Sarah and Andy's ceremony was held outside in the Hoyt Garden which features a pool, statue and stone columns. The varying height columns were the backdrop for the ceremony and each held a lush arrangement in gold pedestal bowls. The pool's corners were accented with gold lanterns, votive candles, foliage garland and loose blooms.

Cocktail hour was held indoors in The Olmsted Gallery with tiny arrangements in gold vases on the cocktail tables and place cards nestled in beds of moss on gold wooden trays. The reception was in The Ballroom with tables draped in ivory linens and accented with lush seasonal centerpieces of antique hydrangea, dahlias, ranunculus, roses, berries and foliage in matte gold vases and footed bowls.

Now, enjoy these fabulous photos from the The Happy Couple!

Flowers: Uncloudy Studio

Photography: The Happy Couple Photography

Planner: Anne from Atrendy Wedding

Venue: The Anderson House, Washington DC

Catering/Cake: Windows Catering

Lauren + Andrew's Garden Rose + Hydrangea Wedding at The Long View Gallery in DC

In the heat of July, Lauren and Andrew kept it cool with their simple yet chic wedding at The Long View Gallery in Washington, DC. They are a down-to-earth couple and I loved working with them! They had a clean and modern vision for their wedding - white and coral with accents of gold - which was held in an art gallery with a raw and urban vibe. Their wedding ceremony was held in the back of the gallery against a brick wall which was accented with tall vases of curly willow and white snapdragons (one of the bride's favorite flowers) with candles down the aisle. Lauren's bouquet was designed using all peach Juliet garden roses. For a personal touch we added lace and a brooch - family heirloom's from Lauren. The bridesmaids all carried white hydrangea bouquets that were later used on the head table and the flower girl carried a nosegay of Queen Anne's lace. The men's boutonnieres were peach garden roses (Andrew) and peach spray roses. The reception was held in the front of the gallery with bubble roses of white hydrangea, candles and gold numbers on each table.

Enjoy the photos from and this 5-star review from the bride:

Lauren said...
"Jolie was absolutely a joy to work with. She's friendly, professional, and great at what she does. We worked together via email, phone, and in-person, and she was always up-beat and helpful. I really appreciated that she would take our ideas, and then give me multiple flower and price options to consider. She was also ready to spring to action when we had a last-minute change in venue and needed her help with new decor. I would highly recommend her and hope I have reason to work with her again!"

Flowers: Uncloudy Studio

Photography: Shawn Hubbard Weddings

Coordination by: Simple Breathe Events

Venue: Long View Gallery

Lovely Lilac, Lavender and Peony May Wedding in Washington DC

Uncloudy Studio was only a small part of Caitlin and Paul's lavender-filled wedding this May in Washington DC but the bride was so amazing, and so were these photos, that I just had to share! Caitlin was a DIY bride and provided all the flowers (with the help of family and friends) but called me in to design her bridal bouquet and altar arrangement. The floral theme was lots and lots of fresh lavender which was incorporated into the design of the bouquet and large-scale arrangement. Caitlin's bouquet was a lovely, lush mix of purples and white with fresh local lilacs, lavender, peonies, ranunculus and double tulips. The altar piece, which was displayed during the ceremony and repurposed at the reception, included the same flowers with the addition of coral charm peonies, larkspur, stock, hydrangea and curly willow.

Enjoy the photos and check out this glowing review from the bride!

Flowers: Uncloudy Studio

Photography: Brandilynn Aines Photography

Hair by :Thomas Shelton, Thomas Shelton Hair Design

Invitations: Minted

Venues: The Lutheran Church of the Reformation and Phoenix Park Hotel

Run for the Roses Event with Garden and Gun at Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington DC

On May 2, 2015, Garden & Gun and Bulleit Frontier Whiskey took the Kentucky Derby on the road and hosted a "Run for the Roses" Derby Social at the Washington DC, hotspot Jack Rose Dining Saloon. Uncloudy Studio had the pleasure of providing the floral arrangements for the event which included lots of lush red roses and fresh mint with accents in all shades of pink. The event was held on the entire second floor of Jack Rose, which is an incredible space, with it's open air terrace, balcony room and cigar lounge. The table arrangements were designed in silver mint julep cups with open red roses and fragrant fresh mint. The larger bar arrangements were designed in silver ice buckets with red roses and mint plus a seasonal mix of hydrangea, tulips, ranunculus and peonies in soft shades of pink. We also provided a festive flower crown in lieu of the traditional derby hat.

Enjoy the photos from Guest of a Guest Photography and be sure to check out Jack Rose Dining Saloon for drinks, dinner or to host your next event!

Cheers!

Grooms + Garlands + Gold = Gorgeous Wedding at Josephine Butler Parks Center in Washington DC

I had the absolute pleasure of working with Anthony and Darius last fall for their October wedding at Josephine Butler Parks Center in DC. They had a very chic and understated vision for their flowers - simple, white with gold accents and lots of garlands for the mantels. They also wanted to keep costs down which we were able to do by keeping the flowers simple and using them in the ceremony and the reception and focusing on foliage only for the large areas. For the flowers we focused on classic mini calla lilies, fluffy hydrangea and elegant dendrobium orchids with touches of gold ribbon. To add warmth to the large rooms we placed garlands of foliage on all the mantels in the venue designed with Italian ruscus and plumosa fern. The mantel that provided as a backdrop for the ceremony was accented with white hydrangea in matte gold vases and votive candles in gold mercury glass holders. The bridesmaids' bouquets were repurposed as centerpieces at some of the guest tables by placing them in the same gold vases that were used on the mantel. We also added a large, all-white arrangement on the windowsill on the landing of the grand staircase to welcome guests upstairs. The final look was warm and intimate thanks to all the wonderful vendors involved!

Flowers: Uncloudy Studio

Venue: Josephine Butler Parks Center

Photography: Victoria Ruan Photography

Event Planning: Bright Occasions

Caterer: R&R Catering

Wedding Cake/Desserts: Huda's Sweet Bee Bakery

Ceremony/Cocktail Hour Music: Piano D'Amore

DJ: Chris Laich Music Services

Video: Craig Schattner Productions

Officiant: Joan Phillips

Flashback to a Fall Wedding in Washington DC

These cooler temperatures and the end of summer (sigh) approaching have me thinking ahead to fall and thinking back to one of my favorite brides ever!

I had the pleasure, a few years ago, of working with the lovely Stephanie Lew Block on her October wedding in Washington, DC. She was an absolute dream and we were fast friends even keeping touch to the present day. You can read her testimonial here.

Her color palette was rich autumn tones of red, orange, deep burgundy, yellow and a pop of bright green. Her flowers included mini calla lilies, hypericum berries, mini gerbera daisies, spray roses and roses.

Enjoy the flashback and her beautiful photos from Renee Michele Photography.


Uncommon Flowers for a Non-Traditional Wedding in DC

I love love love it when a client says "you have creative license" and that's exactly what was expressed to me when Uncloudy Studio worked with Miss Fete and Bloompop Weddings to do this editorial wedding on Hains Point in Washington, DC. The theme was unconventional, non-traditional with bold, rich colors. Most of the flowers were local like dahlias, cottage yarrow, ageratum, scabiosa, millet, straw flower, celosia, amaranthus and peonies. Others were not like protea, air plants and ostrich feathers. I had so much fun!

Here are a few of my personal photos. Professional photos coming soon so stayed tuned for a look at the whole wedding...

Happy Friday xo!


Elegant Blue, White and Green Wedding at the Arts Club of Washington

Today I'm taking a trip down memory lane to an elegant and intimate wedding at the Arts Club of Washington in Washington, DC. The subtle color palette was light blue, green and white. The flowers used to create the soft and subdued bouquets were: blue hydrangea, white mini callas lilies, white and green roses, star of Bethlehem, green hypericum, dusty miller and fresh rosemary (for remembrance). The boutonnieres were white mini calla lilies with a touch of hydrangea and rosemary plus a bloom of star of Bethlehem. The corsages were bracelets of flowers incorporating hybrid delphinium, white spray roses, green hypericum berries and hints of rosemary. The setting for the ceremony was outdoors with white seating and two large floral arrangements in urns to accentuate the altar area. The floral displays included large calla lilies, bells of Ireland, hybrid delphinium, white oriental lilies, blue hydrangea, white snapdragons, roses and green mini coin.

Enjoy!

(photos by Kenneth Staab Photography)

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Simple Steps to Prepare for your Flower Consultation

As engagement season comes to a close and wedding and event season start to ramp up it's time to pick a florist (me!) for your special day. This can seem overwhelming and intimidating but it shouldn't be, it should be fun. My goal for a consultation is to have the client walk away saying "that was easy!" Below are a few tips to help you prepare for our first floral meeting:

  • Pick a color palette. This can be determined by the bridesmaid’s dresses. If so, bring a swatch of fabric with you.
  • Determine your style. For example, are you looking for modern, structured flowers with clean lines? Maybe soft, feminine and romantic is more your style. Or do you picture wildflowers with an organic, bohemian flair?
  • Know your numbers. How many are in the wedding party? How many guests and/or tables will there be?
  • Establish a budget. This may seem intimidating but it helps me steer you in the right direction when choosing types of flowers, styles of arrangements and amount of floral decor. As a general rule the flower budget is 10% of your total wedding/event budget.
  • Don’t stress your flower knowledge. You don’t need to know every flower name and when it’s available, that’s what I’m for! Just know what you like (and don’t like) and based on your color palette, style and budget we can determine the right flowers for your event.
  • Do your research. Gather inspiration and make a Pinterest board. Print pictures that you see online, tear pages from magazines, take pictures and bring it all with you. You are also encouraged to send me links beforehand so I can be better prepared for our consultation.
  • Expect to spend approximately one hour (more or less given the size of the event) for your initial free consultation.

Now head over to my contact page and schedule a consultation. The fall season is booking up fast so don't hesitate. I can't wait to meet you! xo

Little Borrowed Dress Trunk Show in Dupont Circle

Last weekend I had the pleasure of working with Bridal Bellhop, Little Borrowed Dress and Emily Clack Photography at Shohba in Dupont Circle. Little Borrowed Dress supplied a gorgeous selection of bridesmaids dress that the ladies can rent rather than purchase and we had a steady stream of gals trying on dresses, modeling floral crowns and showing off bouquets all day long. Emily Clack took creative and candid photos of the lovely ladies and the entire event (including all the photos you see here) and Gateau provided delicious macaroons. I brought a selection for bouquets, boutonnieres and floral crowns in classic white, perfect pink and peach and the color of the year. The white bouquet included tulips, ranunculus, anemone, spray roses and umbrella fern. The pinky/peach bouquet included frill tulips, garden roses, viburnum, dusty miller, brunia and naked seeded eucalyptus and was wrapped in burlap. The "radiant orchid" bouquet displayed dendrobium orchids, hyacinth, hellebores, succulents, scabiosa pods, and brunia. It was a blast watching everyone accent their dresses with crowns and flowers!

A special thanks to the ladies of Bridal Bellhop for organizing the event!