Bettina and Laura's Intimate Plum, Blush and Gold Fall Wedding at the DC War Memorial

I loved loved LOVED working with Bettina and Laura! It really doesn't get much better than that. Seriously. Bettina and I just clicked when we met last summer. Her vision was right in line with my aesthetic and I didn't want to wait until October to see it all come to life! But I really got excited for this wedding when I met Laura during a venue visit. I could feel the love so strongly between these two that I was inspired to do my very best to create the perfect flowers for their wedding. The look was organic, lush, seasonal and textural. The color palette was blush, burgundy, plum and gold. We used deep red peonies, antique hydrangea, peach garden roses, pink ranunculus, red dahlias, hanging amaranthus, blush anemones, blushing bride protea and seeded eucalyptus with accents of gold. The bouquet was wild and lush and Bettina told me she took it with her on their honeymoon :) Each boutonniere was different from the next as were all of the centerpieces. The ceremony took place outside on a gorgeous fall day at the DC War Memorial and the intimate reception was held at Poste Moderne Brasserie adjacent to the Hotel Monaco in downtown DC. The centerpieces were designed in beautiful ombre vases with gold table numbers (provided by the bride). I'm kind of sad that it's over...

Okay, enough gushing. Happy married life you two xoxo! Enjoy a few photos from Nick Stone Photography (and a few from yours truly)!

Flowers: Uncloudy Studio

Venue: Poste Moderne Brasserie

Photography: Nick Stone Photography

Event Planning: Lovebus Events and Design

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

Sam and Steve's Orange and Gold Autumn Wedding at the Carnegie Library in DC

I've said it before and now I'm saying it again: I have the best clients! When Sam and I met we immediately clicked and I knew we would have a great time working together. Her vision was "I really like orange and gold" and "rich, old people's stuff" and from that we created elegant personal flowers and eclectic table centerpieces that combined flowers in warm tones of orange, red, gold and green in gold mercury glass vessels of varying sizes and shapes along with vintage books, birds and library cards as table numbers. Sam's bouquet was designed using orange "Sunset" garden roses and her bridesmaid carried golden orange dahlias against a gorgeous navy dress. The boutonnieres were a mix of roses, dahlias and mokara orchids - each one different from the next - and the three little flower girls looked adorable with their floral crowns and nosegays. The ceremony flowers were designed in tall gold vases with orange snapdragons, garden roses, orchids, dahlias and wax flower and they were repurposed for the reception.

It was such a pleasure to be a part of this fall wedding in Washington, DC! Please enjoy the photos from Michael Bonfigli Photography.

Flowers: Uncloudy Studio

Venue: Carnegie Library

Photography: Michael Bonfigli Photography

Event Planner: Troyal Events

Outdoor Fall Wedding in DC with Blue Hydrangea, Seasonal Flowers and Herbs!

I feel very to lucky to have been a part of Adrianne and Danny's October wedding which took place her parents beautiful back yard in Bethesda. They are such a warm and sweet couple and were an absolute pleasure to work with! The bride was in love with hydrangea, dusty miller and mint so that was focus for the personal flowers. Adrianne carried a lush bouquet of blue hydrangea and silvery dusty miller with a touch of mint. The bridesmaids wore navy blue and held simple bouquets of dusty miller and mint which popped perfectly against their dresses. The ceremony took place under a chuppah constructed of birch poles and branches draped in an elegant foliage garland. We added a lot more color to the reception but placing natural wood boxes on the tables filled with a seasonal mix of dahlias, celosia, sunflowers, salvia, hydrangea, billy balls, dusty miller, amaranthus and herbs. The cocktail and buffet tables were accented with smaller wood boxes of potted herbs like mint, parsley, lemongrass and thyme.

So happy to have been a part of this special day! Enjoy the photos from Bonnie Sen Creative Photography and flowers by Uncloudy Studio!

Blush and Succulents for an October Wedding in Virginia

In early October, I had the pleasure of designing the flowers for Laura and Ryan's wedding in Virginia. Laura is sweet and creative and a dream to work with and we captured her style with romantic flowers and a soft color palette. We styled the flowers around a navy, blush, white and green color story with fluffy high-petal count flowers, on-trend succulents and textural foliage. The flowers used to create this look included: white hydrangea, peach garden roses, pale lavender dahlias, pink astilbe, blush mini calla lilies, echeveria and seeded eucalyptus. Enjoy!

Flowers: Uncloudy Studio

Venue: River Creek Country Club

Photography: Bonnie Sen Creative Photography

Amy and Curtis' September Wedding at DAR in DC

It was my absolute pleasure to design the wedding flowers for Amy and Curtis' wedding in September at DAR in Washington, DC!

Read More

Colorful Autumn Wedding in DC with Flowers, Fruits and Veggies!

As I gear up for the fabulous frenzy of fall weddings, I'm looking back at some of my past favorites. This week I'm taking a stroll down memory lane with Melissa and Mike and their gorgeous October indoor/outdoor wedding at 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church.

The ceremony was held outside on the beautiful terrace under a handmade chuppah of birch and curly willow accented with fresh bittersweet vines. The bride and groom wanted a "farmer's market" flower feel with all seasonal flowers in vibrant colors to pop against the black bridesmaid's dresses and touch of purple was added to match their purple shoes! The bride and her bridesmaids all carried hand-tied bouquets with sunflowers, orange roses, dahlias, celosia and zinnias with a touch of statice and ageratum. The men all wore slightly different boutonnieres and instead of corsages, the Mother's carried single sunflowers wrapped in eggplant ribbon.

The indoor reception carried over the same color palette and flower choices but also incorporated fresh fruits and vegetables and a "Moroccan" feel with lanterns, candles and framed table numbers. The centerpieces were each unique and included pomegranates, artichokes, protea, oranges and bittersweet.

The bride and groom were an absolute joy to work with and their floral vision allowed me to create a beautiful seasonal wedding that I still love to share!

Enjoy the photos from me and Evan Rowland Photography.

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!


Flowers for a Last Minute Wedding or Event in DC? No Problem!

Not all of us are planners. Some of us like to fly by the seat of our pants. Go with the flow. Roll with the punches. Or get married or plan an event in less than a month. Scary or exciting? Depends on how you look at it. With the right attitude and the right people to assist you then definitely the latter.

I love a good challenge and the spirit that goes along with planning a spur of the moment party or a "Hey! Let's get married next month!" wedding! Uncloudy Studio can design and deliver beautiful bouquets, arrangements, centerpieces, boutonnieres and corsages, you name it, in the Washington, DC metro area with less than 2 weeks notice!

So here's what you do:

  1. Just go to my contact page, fill out and submit the form.
  2. I will contact you in 24 hours or less. We will either schedule a time to meet in person to discuss details or the whole process can take place by phone or email.
  3. After we get your flower plan in place I will email you an invoice which you can pay with check by mail (if we have 2 or more weeks advance notice of the event date) or by credit card.
  4. Once payment is made you will receive a receipt by email and piece of mind that your flowers are in good hands even with short notice - see, easy!

And here are few things to keep in mind when requesting flowers for a quick turnaround wedding or special event:

  • Having a color palette is great! If you love all things purple including your flowers then be sure to mention that. If you're not a fan of red and would be really bummed to have red flowers in your centerpieces then mention that too!
  • Not having a color palette isn't problem. "Colorful" is also a color and makes flower selection a breeze!
  • Be flexible with the flower choices. Some flowers just aren't available in every season and some flowers just aren't available on short notice so if you're last minute party planning be aware that substitutions may need to be made in the flower department. And that can really be fun too!
  • Make a list. Take a moment to think about your event. Is this a wedding? How many bouquets will you need? Boutonnieres? Centerpieces? Is this a dinner party? How many tables will there be? Come up with a good idea of your flower needs and rest will be discussed when we chat.
  • Budget. This is important. When time is of the essence you'll want to have a good idea of how much money you have to spend on floral decor and delivery. This also helps me steer you in the right direction. For example: Only have $50 to spend on each centerpiece? No problem but that means we won't be using orchids in three foot tall vases...
  • And finally, the delivery details. Know the date, time and location for delivery of your flowers and if you won't be the one accepting the delivery have a specific person in charge of that responsibility to handle that final detail for you.

Now what are you waiting for?! Let's get busy :)

Flower Recap on a Few Recent Events in DC

I've been a total slacker at blogging lately. Sorry. Each time I sit down to write I think I hear my garden calling me and that's the end of that! So I'm going to do a little recap today of a few of the events that Uncloudy Studio was lucky enough to be a part of in the last couple of weeks.

Pride and Preservation: Cocktails in the Castle. This event took place earlier in the month at the Heurich House Museum. This official Capital Pride Week reception honored and celebrated the National Park Service (NPS) LGBTQ Heritage Initiative. For more information about the event and the initiative please check out the Heurich House Press Release.

Absolut Elyx Event at Chez Billy. This launch party for Absolut Elyx Luxury Vodka and was held at a great restaurant/bar, Chez Billy, in Petworth. The theme was clean, classic, simple luxury using an abundance of open white roses arranged low and lush in copper square vases.

Fit Foodie 5K Race Weekend with Cooking Light and Health magazines. The Fit Foodie race was held in Fairfax, VA and Uncloudy Studio designed a few arrangements to accent the Celebrity Chef (Anna Bullett and RJ Cooper are seen in two of the photos) cooking experience hosted by Eco Caterers. The theme for the flowers was colorful, eco-friendly, natural and locally sourced. The arrangements were designed in natural birch boxes and used 100% local flowers including peonies, lilies, black-eyed susan, thistle, yarrow, zinnia, honeysuckle and more.

I had so much fun designing each event and, as always, feel so lucky that my job is a floral designer in Washington, DC! Have a great weekend everyone :)

Washington DC Florist and Urban Gardener

I've been in the floral industry for all of my adult life but I've been in the garden (or some version of it) my entire life. I've always loved being outside, exploring nature and watching things grow. I grew up in Michigan with the four seasons and all the changes that happen in nature with each season. When I was young we always had a garden with fruits and vegetables and when I got older we had flowers, vines, shrubs and perennials. Weeding, picking up sticks, dead-heading and watering were common chores around our house and I loved them! When I was a teenager I worked for a local greenhouse for the most amazing people that I'm honored to say are still my friends and they strengthened my love of plant life and taught me so much.

I've lived in lots of other states and if I couldn't have a garden of my own I was lucky enough to work somewhere that did or have a porch to support a pot or two of something planted. But when I moved to Washington DC (nearly 6 years ago) I quickly learned that city living and gardening did not go hand-in-hand. So, when we started looking for a house to buy the number one thing on my wish list was a backyard that was not covered in concrete. I'm happy to report that we found it! 

In the three years that we've lived in our home we've managed to create a little urban oasis to satisfy my green thumb. It's a work in progress but I feel confident saying I'm not only a florist and floral designer living in Washington DC, I'm also an urban gardener ;)

Happy Summer!

Wedding flowers with Bloompop...that was easy!

In case you missed it last week, Bloompop announced their newest venture, Bloompop Weddings, and I'm thrilled to be on board as one of the wedding florists!

Here's how Bloompop describes their mission: "Bloompop Weddings features the unique, artisan designs of the absolute best local florists. Our florists are highly experienced, professional, creative, and extremely talented artisans. Our Wedding florists typically don't sell their wedding services online, but they've created exclusive packages for Bloompop in a range of styles and color palettes. We're confident you'll be able to find florals to compliment your unique wedding's style and budget!" 

They've created a simple and affordable way to select flowers for your wedding including bridal and bridesmaid's bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages plus centerpieces and cocktail table arrangements just by choosing a color palette and adding the items to your cart.

You can check out my shop page or browse the selections: Breathtaking Blue (blue with a hint of white and silvery/grey), Coral Charm (coral, peach and pink), Radiant Orchids (purple and silvery/grey), Simple Sophistication (white and green), Natural Tropics (a colorful mix including red, orange, yellow, green and succulents) and Classic Romance (classic roses in any color palette). And if you have any color selections you'd like to see available please let me know!

Happy Wedding Planning! xoxo

Succulents and Scotch! Event Flowers for a Tasting in DC

Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of working with Jack Rose Dining Saloon and a marketing group out of Chicago to provide flowers for an intimate scotch tasting event. The event was held in the cozy balcony room of Jack Rose which features a stone fireplace along one wall and a bar along the facing wall with floor-to-ceiling windows and balcony space. The theme for the flowers was green and white with touches of burgundy and rich earthy textures. Some of the flowers used were succulents, kale, artichokes, hydrangea, kangaroo paw and scabiosa pods. The bar arrangements were designed in tall glass cylinders wrapped with dark ti leaves and the tables featured long and low arrangements in wood boxes and tiny burlap wrapped votive cups holding a single echeveria.

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

Cheers!

Family time and Flowering trees at the National Arboretum →

After breakfast this past Sunday we stopped by the National Arboretum. We hadn't planned on it but we were in the neighborhood and the sky was so blue and the sun was shining and why not? I'm ashamed to admit that sometimes I forget about the Arboretum which I'm promising to never do again. It is a true treasure in the city and if you haven't been there yet or lately please do yourself a favor and GO! Right now the magnolia trees, forsythia and other flowering trees are in full bloom. The spring bulbs like daffodils, crocus and hyacinth add bright colors throughout the park. And in the Asian Collection the camellias are starting to show color and the hellebores are hanging their beautiful heads above the ground. I could've stayed all day but it was naptime for the kiddo... Until the next time please enjoy a few photos from our fun family outing!

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)

Read More

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!