Jill and Brian

Jill has a fabulous story to tell everyone about how she and Brian met...it was at the Kentucky Derby! And what better way to theme their wedding than around the derby. They chose The Darby House as the setting, which is owned by the Galbreath family, known nationally for their prized horses. They named each guest table after a horse who had won the Kentucky Derby. Her flowers? Roses, of course. Lush, rich red roses. She aspired to create a formal classic setting with infusions of modern aspects to create sophistication. For her bouquets, we created clean, round hand-tied bouquets of all red roses with no accents or greens. Her flower girl wore an adorable halo of ruscus with miniature roses throughout. The men sported red roses on their lapels and to set Brian apart, we incorporated a few loops of bear grass.

Upon arrival to the Darby House, guests were greeted by a series of stair-stepped in height arrangements along a long table draped in a white linen. The arrangements were designed of red roses and white lilies to set the mood and create ambiance.

The ceremony was outdoors, and Jill asked for two classic arrangements to be created of red roses and white oriental lilies. We placed them on the pillars provided by the Darby House to frame Brian and Jill as they exchanged vows!

In the Racing Room, guests mingled for the cocktail hour before dinner, enjoying photos on the walls of champion horses and the two really cool World Series trophies on the mantel. Mr. Galbreath was part-owner in the Pirates. On the cabaret tables, guests enjoyed a short vase with a single white lily resting on the lip and swirls of bear grass looped inside the vase for added texture.

The centerpieces are one of my all-time favorites. They were simple and classic. Sixteen tables were graced with a 6" tall rectangle vase housed a hand-tied of roses and lilies with wispy grasses swooping off to the side. The cake was perfectly finished with a crown of red roses on top.

Jill's wedding has been one of my all-time favorites. She was beyond thrilled with her flowers and has referred friends to us to design for them!

Ceremony & Reception Location: The Darby House, Galloway, Ohio

Flowers: Freedom (red) roses, white Oriental lilies, white Asiatic lilies, bear grass, stephanotis (parent's flowers) ruscus, miniature white roses

Budget: $2000-2500

Photographer: 808 Studios http://www.808photos.com/

Classy at the Venue

"No roses!!" was the only request shuttered by Monica Dorman who entrusted her wedding flower design for her September nuptials to us. She had a taste for perfection and a flawless vision. Clean, classy and simple were the three keywords she gave me at our first consultation and with that the creative juices ran. Monica also wanted something different, something that kept with the urban look of The Venue at Smith Brothers in downtown Columbus; an upbeat, modern building with exposed brick walls and a bit of an industrial flair.

Monica's bouquet was a hand-tied collection of white and green hydrangeas, white delphinium, white dendrobium orchids and splashed of green cymbidium orchids. Texture and dimension was her desire as she didn't want the ordinary. Her bridesmaids carried a tightly gathered bouquet of green fugis and white cremones accented by green hypericum berries. The men sported crisp white dendrobium orchid blooms on their lapels with a touch of green hypericum berries.

The ceremony was kept simple in the grassy area just outside the main doors. A classic arch was the backdrop with a Boston Fern on each side exercising her taste for simplistic beauty.

The reception boasted of candle glow and exquisite callas and orchids all around. Monica embraced a modern look by utilizing Tuscan-styled tables in the center of the room while surrounding the perimeter with smaller round tables for her guests to dine. The Escort table had a backdrop of three large cylinder vessels brimming of coordinating flowers and the ladies room was infused with the sweet aroma of gardenias. To date, this has been my favorite reception!

Monica and her husband, Wade, had only raving reviews for us when we saw them after the wedding. Her wedding has also been entered into a design contest! Wish us luck!! :-)

Ceremony Location: The Venue at Smith Brothers, Columbus, Ohio

Reception Location: The Venue at Smith Brothers, Columbus, Ohio

Flowers: Hydrangeas, delphinium, dendrobium orchids, cymbidium orchids, cremones, fugis, hypericum berries, bear grass, callas, gardenias, bamboo, river rock

Estimated Budget: $2800-$3300

Photography courtesy of: Kimberly Potterf http://www.kimberlypotterf.com/

Something Blue...and Lime Green!

Jennifer Kennedy had a clear-cut vision of her dream florals...she wanted something linear, blue and green. Her fresh approach to hand-tied bouquets led us to create an amazing bouquet of tall green Bells of Ireland encompassed by electric blue Dendrobium Orchids. Her bridesmaid's carried a stunning collection of all blue Dendrobium Orchids (yes, they are naturally blue!) while the men sported boutonnieres designed of blue Dendrobium Orchid blooms. Her ceremony at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Columbus boasted handmade paper cones with white rose petals inside tied to the ends of the chairs lining the bridal path (sorry, I don't have a photo). Jennifer was very happy with her flowers, so much that she just referred her friend and we met with her this past Thursday!

Ceremony Location: The Renaissance Hotel, Columbus, Ohio

Reception Location: The Renaissance Hotel, Columbus, Ohio

Flowers: Green Bells of Ireland, Blue Dendrobium Orchids

Estimated Budget: $300-500 (for bouquets and boutonnieres, only)

Photos courtesy of the bride; Photographer Leah Stafford http://www.leahstaffordphotography.com/

An Intimiate Evening at the Darby House

We are honored to be a preferred vendor for the Darby House, located just outside of Columbus in Galloway. Recently we attended their tasting and provided centerpieces for the guest tables. Above are a few pictures from the evening (sorry the pictures are sort of grainy).