Summer Weddings for Two Sisters

What a busy summer for the Dannels family! Catie and Calli both got married, one in July and one in August. I was lucky enough to be the florist for both and enjoyed seeing their different visions come to life.

Catie and her bridesmaids- Photos by Steele House Photography

Calli and her bridesmaids- Photos by Grassroots Studio

Can you see the difference in styles? Catie wanted lilies and roses in white and burgundy with blue accents, and a beautiful cascading bouquet. Calli’s colors were rust and orange with dried elements and her bouquet had a free-flowing, organic feel.

Some of the flowers I used in Catie’s bouquet were white lily, burgundy spray rose, alstromeria, Polar Star rose, astrantia and blue thistle. Calli’s bouquet had Coffee Break rose, Sahara spray rose, white scabiosa, chocolate cosmos, pampas and bunnytail grass.

And finally, I love the tiny details a photographer captures. These are the moments of your wedding you want to remember.

Heart of the Summer Wedding in Emporia, Kansas

This bouquet was everything! Blair asked me to make her bouquet unique, and to include pheasant feathers and some dried elements. Challenge accepted! I love being asked to be artistic and to be trusted to make your dream bouquet.

Bride's bouquet with king protea

Beautiful photos by www.briannahuynhphotography

This is the wedding of Blair and Doyle Conley on July 1, 2023 at the Messiah Lutheran Church with the reception at the Anderson Building in Emporia, Kansas. It was a beautiful day! Blair’s bouquet was a mix of blush roses, peach and white ranunculus, white scabiosa, and pale pink stock, accented with mixed eucalyptus greenery, feathers and dried grasses. The focal point was a white king protea.

Another great design element in this wedding was the groom’s pocket square boutonniere. I really love making these and this one is definitely a statement piece.

Groom's pocket square boutonniere

And finally this picture. Isn’t this what wedding parties are all about?

Congratulations to Blair and Doyle!

Part Two: Josie and John’s Magical Wedding Day

I’m so happy to share these professional photos of Josie and John’s wedding day on May 14, 2022 at Clover Cliff Ranch. All photos are by Lifeleak Visuals and they are beautiful!

I loved this combination of flowers. Coral Charm peonies, butterfly ranunculus, larkspur, delphinium, roses, feverfew and white daisies. It was like a fairytale meadow. All the colors of the rainbow.

And this smile!

Josie's wedding bouquets

My favorite part of the professional photos is seeing the wedding come to life with family and guests and all the happy faces. My couples spend so much time dreaming of how all their plans will come together, and I truly love being a part of the process, and seeing the final results.

This last photo is my favorite. This is how I pictured the reception flowers in my mind. This is what I thought Josie was imagining as well. This photo is when I know I did a good job and can put away my anxiety that happens when planning every wedding! Thanks for following along with me on this blog and please know how much I appreciate any referral you want to send my way.

wedding reception with floral garland

Part One: How It's Done

What do these things have in common? Cable wire, small sledge hammer, tin snips, staple gun, ferrules, nuts and bolts, zip ties, chicken wire and a scissor lift. You guessed it! Those are all things I used to make Josie and John’s wedding floral dreams come true. And flowers. Lots of flowers.

Read more

Decorating with Wreaths Year Round

Check out the recent Redfin article we were featured in:

Stunning Wreath Decorating Ideas to Adorn Your Home All Season Long

When it comes to festive decor, wreaths are undoubtedly one of the most popular and classic options to bring holiday cheer to your home. And with so many different options, from classic florals to show-stopping festive ornaments, decorating with wreaths doesn’t have to be limited to just the holidays - with a few simple swaps, you can seamlessly transition your wreaths to suit the season.

Redfin reached out to us and other experts from Victoria, BC, to Tampa, FL, for our best wreath decorating ideas to adorn your home. Whether your style is whimsical and playful or rustic and organic, take a look at these wreath design ideas to find one (or a couple) that’ll speak to your home’s aesthetic. 

Stunning Wreath Decorating Ideas to Adorn Your Home All Season Long

 If you are interested in learning to make fresh or dried wreaths for any season with a group of friends, let me know! I love teaching you new tricks about floral things!


Married in Madison- Jenna and Robbie

Jenna and Robbie were married in Madison, Kansas on August 21, 2021. It was a beautiful sunny summer day in this small town and I’m so excited to share their wedding flowers with you.

These kind words from Jenna are why I love my job- “I want to say thank you so much for agreeing to be our florist, we truly could not have picked anyone better. The flowers were absolutely perfect and exactly what I was hoping for!”

Jenna's bouquet

All photos by Jennie Marie Photography

The couples’ colors were dusty blue, slate, and navy with sage and blush. Jenna’s bouquet was hand-tied, with white anemone and blush garden roses, blue thistle, other blush and ivory flowers with mixed greenery including seeded eucalyptus.

There is just something special about a church wedding for me. The beautiful architecture and windows, flowers on the altar, friends and family in the pews are all wonderful symbols of the love surrounding this couple.

white and blush bridal bouquet with bride

This is Jenna with her bouquet outside of the First Christian Church in Madison, Kansas.

Bridal party wearing dusty blue and navy

The reception was held at the Sauder Center in Madison. Every detail was thoughtfully considered–from the mismatched antique china, to the display of both mothers’ wedding gowns, to the rustic wood and burlap accents–the theme was unique and romantic throughout every detail.

By far my favorite thing about this wedding was the story of the car. Jenna’s grandfather drove away with her grandmother after their wedding in this very same car many years before. The family spent time cleaning it up and getting it to run for Jenna’s wedding. Jenna told me even if someone had to tow the car with a tractor, she would definitely be seen pulling away from her wedding with Robbie in this car. As far as I know the departure went off without a tractor!

Vintage car with floral garland

What a joy it was to work with both Jenna and her mother Diane on this beautiful wedding. My clients are the best and some of the kindest people you ever want to work with, including this family. Congratulations to Jenna and Robbie and best wishes for a happy, healthy marriage!

Sisters in St. Louis

My sister’s sister-in-law got married in St. Louis on September 5, 2020 and I got to be the wedding florist! I was happy and honored to be a part of Mary Beth and James’ big day, but I was equally thrilled and excited to work , play and hang out with my sister Melissa who I hadn’t seen in months thanks to the pandemic.

When I said yes to this wedding, I knew I would have to find a place to purchase flowers and design in St. Louis since it is six hours from my studio. A huge thank you to the Baisch and Skinner home office for renting Melissa and me space to work, and allowing me to order and pick up all my flowers from them. They are my wholesaler at home as well, with a branch in Topeka. Always the very best customer service!

The wedding was held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and the reception was at The Cedars Event Center. It was a joy to work with Mary Beth on all the details. After a year that created many challenges for everyone, especially the Abkemeier family, it was so nice to be able to help with this event that brought joy to such a nice family.

Bride and Groom

Mary Beth’s colors were shades of plum and lavender with pale yellow accents. We used lavender roses, plum callas, lisianthus, scabiosa, and ranunculus, along with yellow stock. Beautiful for a late summer/early fall wedding!

Bridal Party at the Arch!

I just had to include this picture to prove we were in St. Louis! It was such a fun weekend spending time with my sister. Even though she’s not a florist, she has worked in the business and has the same love of flowers I do. It was hectic not working in my own studio and not knowing my way around the area, but Melissa and I even managed to find time for some takeout food and a glass of wine. Congratulations to Mary Beth and James and thank you so much for choosing me to be your florist!

Photos by Sarah Klump with White-Klump Photography

The light at the end of the tunnel!

It’s here! Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2021 and it is actually two colors. Illuminating which is a sunny yellow, and Ultimate Gray which needs no explanation. Pantone chooses colors late each year that will be trending in the coming year. According to this New York Times article these colors very clearly represent “the light at the end of the tunnel”. Maybe “A Tale of Two Years”? “Out with the old, in with the new”? The difference between 2020 and 2021?

Ultimate Gray and Illuminating

Ultimate Gray and Illuminating

In my world of Kansas weddings, could this be the year of the sunflower?

Sunflower field
Sunflower Bouquet
Sunflower Bouquet

Let me know what you think. Is yellow an option for your wedding? There are some beautiful natural yellow flowers that can be used as a soft contrast with many other colors. And honestly, gray and yellow are beautiful together. Click here for more bouquet photos with yellow accents.

Larkin and Martha's Wedding

Larkin Bennett and Martha Johnston were married on August 15, 2020. It was sunny. It was warm. It was beautiful! To be fair, I’m biased because Larkin is my son, but it really was a wonderful day.

Larkin

My sweet new daughter in law Martha was the perfect bride when it came to designing wedding flowers. She told me she loves purple and was fine with whatever flowers I chose to use. What could be more fun for a florist?

Martha’s bouquet was a mix of all shades of purple, and had lots of texture. Ocean Song roses, plum ranunculus, anemone, larkspur, stock, veronica and scabiosa.

Martha's bouquet

This wedding was such a family affair- top to bottom! The photographer for the amazing photos was Hannah Kraus Photography and her husband, Connor, my stepson and daughter in law. My grand daughters were the flower girls, Nora and Eleanor. And Larkin and Martha’s day was complete when they got to take photos with their chocolate labs, Rebel and Hazel.

Martha, Hazel, Larkin and Rebel

Our Family- these kind of pictures always make me so happy and thankful.

One of the best parts of their wedding ceremony was the tree planting. Sort of a unity ceremony that blended their two families together. Larkin is from Kansas, Martha is from Minnesota, and they have made their home, and bought a farm, in Iowa. For the ceremony they each added dirt from their home state to an oak tree that they later planted on their Iowa farm. How cool is that?

Each one of my weddings is special to me. I wouldn’t be in the business of wedding flowers if I didn’t care about each and every wedding I do. But of course this one is extra special. Larkin is my last child to be married, so there is also a sigh of relief!

Jennifer and Larkin

I saved the best picture for last. The look of pure joy on Larkin and Martha’s faces is exactly how it should be on your wedding day!

Larkin and Martha

For the love of houseplants!

In this crazy out-of-our-control year, let’s talk about something that adds joy to our lives just by existing. Houseplants! Okay maybe it’s just me, but there is something about growing things that keeps me grounded (pun intended) and reminds me that some parts of life aren’t cancelled. Like spring, summer, fall and winter. For three seasons, I love my big cut flower garden, but in winter it’s my houseplants that make me happy. I am a firm believer that armed with good information anyone can keep a houseplant alive and thriving. So here is everything you need to know!

Peperomia

First things first! What plant to buy? It all depends on your available light. Decide what room the plant will live in, and check the light. Big south window? Office with no window? North or east window with low light? Make sure you research which plants work best in that space. This little Peperomia sits on my office desk and only gets light when I turn the light on. It’s doing okay but a Sansevieria would be a better choice for no natural light.

Another consideration is size. In order, these are Bird of Paradise, Ponytail Palm, Kimberly Queen fern, and Norfolk Pine. They are all BIG, which is fine in the summer when they spend their days on my covered porch. But before first frost I’m scrambling to rearrange my house and find a helper to help me lug them inside. Still love them! If you are looking for a plant that can totally be ignored, it’s the Norfolk Pine. That one is probably 10-12 years old, has only grown about 6 inches and requires very little water. I know this because I constantly forget to water it and it always looks fine!

Phalaenopsis orchid

This is one of several Phalaenopsis orchids that I have. They also spend their summers outside, no special attention at all, watered with the garden hose. The key to re-blooming is never cutting off the bloom stem- it will produce new buds. This is my favorite flowering houseplant.

Lemon Tree

See where the grasshopper ate those leaves? This is how you know my plants are on the porch right now. See those bring green fruits? This is my lemon tree! I have absolutely no advice for you on how to successfully grow lemons or limes. I have had both trees for about 10 years and they only bloom and bear fruit when they feel like it. It’s been three years since I’ve had a single lemon.

Pilea

This little guy is Pilea or Coin Plant, or Pancake Plant. It’s the newest addition to my collection and so far has been easy to grow. If you are just getting started, start small. The real keys to success for any potted plant is to grow them in a pot with a hole for drainage (a must), fertilize in the summer/don’t fertilize in winter, repot in late winter/early spring and then let them spend their summers in the fresh air, somewhere protected from direct sun. They can not tolerate frost (because houseplants are all considered tropical) so don’t put them out until danger of last frost is over and bring them in before freezing weather in the fall. In Kansas, the average dates for first and last frost are October 15 and April 15.

Even though I am an Extension Master Gardener in Kansas, most of my houseplant knowledge came from trial and error, and I have had to tell myself many times that it’s okay to throw away a plant that’s on it’s last leg even though they all feel like children to me.

Here’s a link from K-State Extension that has all the best information on growing your own houseplants, but the key is to just dive in!

Basic Care of Houseplants

Spring, is that you?

I admit I’ve been hibernating/hermitting for the last few weeks. Everything is strange and weird and different and I like things to stay the same. Not my best quality. All my 2020 customers are dealing with hard decisions every day and I don’t feel like I have any good advice or insight to share. Our whole floral industry is on hold- from the growers, to the shippers, to the wholesalers. No one knows the answers to any of the hard questions. So I just kept quiet. But then I decided to get some fresh air/fresh perspective and pull some weeds. And guess what? Spring came in the middle of a global pandemic! Some things do stay the same and I couldn’t be more grateful! So here are some pictures of better things to come, especially in my little flower garden world. These are all things I have used in your bouquets and will again for all my future brides. Happy Spring!

Stairway to Heaven- Jacob's Ladder

This one is new from late last summer and I can’t wait to use it. Stairway to Heaven- Jacob’s Ladder.

Silver Mound Artemisia

Sweet little fine foliage plant that turns silver gray as it grows into a mound- Silver Mound Artemisia.

Nine bark

I know it’s hard to tell but this shrub’s leaves will turn dark burgundy as they grow. The perfect bouquet accent for fall weddings.

Peony

This is a peony! I am so excited to watch this grow and bloom. One of my favorites!

Purple Hyacinth

Purple Hyacinth- I don’t get to use this flower very often as it blooms in early spring when I don’t have many weddings. But it blooms with many flowers on a stalk and smells heavenly.

Tomato plants

And of course Tomato plants! I don’t have a huge garden anymore but I always plant at least a few tomatoes in my flower beds.

I know that to others these might just be pictures of dirt and leaves, but I see more. Gardening is a hopeful hobby. In my mind, I can always see the great things to come. So I walk through my spring flowers every day looking forward to what summer will bring. I am hopeful for summer and fall weddings and I will be ready to help you plan your wedding flowers, or make changes and updates when you need to. Hopeful, faithful, positive and optimistic. These are the words I use most when things are hard and they definitely apply to gardening and pandemics!

Source:

Rustic Boho Fall Wedding at Mill Creek Lodge in Alma, Kansas

The weather was absolutely perfect for an outdoor fall wedding. The setting was too. The wedding of Abby and Dayton Allen was held on October 19, 2019 at a beautifully restored barn/lodge venue on Mill Creek in Alma, Kansas. Abby’s idea for a rustic boho wedding was pulled together with vintage carpets, macrame, bolo ties, and fall colors including burgundy, blush, forest green, and burnt orange with lots of copper accents.

pumpkin arrangement with mixed flowers

Big copper mums, peach carnations, hanging amaranthus, pepperberry, orange waxflower and agonis were used to adorn a pumpkin for the entry.

The groom’s boutonniere was a single brown cymbidium orchid with waxflower and copper wire.

This might be my favorite part of the decor. Dayton built a rustic tepee frame for the ceremony backdrop and we added the florals. Pampas grass, rust, peach, and burnt orange flowers with lots of mixed greenery including agonis, ruscus, and silver dollar eucalyptus.

Abby and Dayton

Why do the girls look way more serious than the boys? Good question that only the photographer may know the answer to! Aren’t these photos beautiful? All by the amazing Hannah Kraus Photography. And another favorite detail of Abby’s inspiration is the hoops for the bridesmaids with mixed greenery, fall flowers and succulents.

Fall bouquet with pampas grass

This beautiful bouquet checked all my boxes- garden style, lots of texture, vibrant color palette and interesting florals. I loved the way it turned out and think it captured Abby’s dream of a rustic boho wedding.

One more thing that made this wedding so very special- Dayton and Abby are family- and it was a joy and an honor to be the florist for their beautiful fall wedding. I wish them all the very best in their new life together.

Rustic Boho wedding of Abby and Dayton

If you are newly engaged and want to talk about pretty flowers with me for your 2020 wedding (or 2021!) just hit the Check My Date button at the top of this page! I have some AMAZING couples booked for the new year but I’m looking for some more! Are you one of those couples? I would love to get to know you and talk about your wedding. And if I was your florist and you are seeing this give me shout out if you loved your wedding flowers. Thank you so much!

Source:

Wedding Flowers at The Brownstone, Topeka, Kansas

June began with a beautiful summer Sunday wedding at The Brownstone in Topeka, Kansas. The bride and groom had a long distance relationship- from Mississippi to South Africa! and chose Topeka as the destination since it was close to her hometown. There was so much joy in the air as we set up, so many family members and friends excited to see Rachel and Reece get married.

Ceremony Arch with all white flowers and mixed greenery

Ceremony Arch with all white flowers and mixed greenery

Beautiful bride and friends

The pictures above from Megan Hein Photography capture the simple elegance of this wedding. White, ivory and cream roses with blue thistle, waxflower and large mums. Also mixed eucalyptus with silver dollar, baby blue and gunni.

Brides’ Bouquet

Brides’ Bouquet

Dusty Blues and Greens

Dusty Blues and Greens

A close up of the Bride's Bouquet

The picture above is one I took before the ceremony. Flowers featured are roses, stock, thistle, caspia, willow eucalyptus, gunni eucalyptus, and waxflower.

You don’t have to obsess over every detail to have a beautiful wedding!…with a few inspiration photos, an understanding of the overall wedding style and some freedom to create, I’m happy to run with an idea and bring it to life!

How do you want your wedding day to feel? Start with the feeling and build your plans from there.

Corsages and Boutonnieres- Do we need them?

Do we need corsages and boutonnieres for anyone in our wedding party? Remind me again what they are? And why is boutonniere so hard to spell?

What are boutonnieres and corsages?

A corsage is a small bundle of flowers that is pinned to the lapel of a woman's clothing or tied around her wrist. Taken from the French word for buttonhole, the boutonniere is a small, single flower or the grouping of two or three flowers worn on the lapel of the groom or the other men in the ceremony.

Who wears them?

Traditionally everyone in your wedding party wears or carries flowers, but you are free to make your choices on this one. In most weddings I’ve done, groom and groomsmen wear boutonnieres that match what the bride and bridesmaids are carrying. Beyond that, there are lots of options. Most couples either don’t know the full count yet of what they will need or haven’t even thought about this question.

Here are some things to think about. Corsages and boutonnieres are a way to honor important people in your life. If your families and friends don’t really know each other, and they see someone at the reception wearing a corsage or boutonniere, then they know immediately that person is someone special to you.

Personal flowers, like corsages and boutonnieres, are a way to identify the people guiding the service, i.e. ushers. At large weddings, it’s nice to know who to ask for information. Other personal flowers could be flower crowns for flower girls or tiny boutonnieres for the ring bearers.

So groom, groomsmen, ushers. Who else? Most importantly- moms! They do so much work to help plan your wedding and their only reward is a beautiful corsage! Also grandmothers, fathers, grandfathers, readers, musicians, candle lighters, hostesses, personal attendants, officiants……. you get the idea. Anyone you want to honor and recognize.

With so many important people, where do you draw the line? Totally your choice. There is no right or wrong. While I enjoy making corsages and boutonnieres, they are a lot of work. Kind of like tiny little flower arrangements that take a lot of abuse through the day, and need to be sturdy enough to last. I love the creativity of them and definitely try to put some character into each one, thinking specifically about who I am making it for.

Please let me know if I can help you plan your beautiful wedding flowers. My favorite part of the process is meeting you and discussing all the little details!

How to spell boutonniere- one t, two n’s, one r, lots of vowels.

boutonnieres white with eucalyptus
Jenn’s Portrait Photography

Jenn’s Portrait Photography

wrist corsage on wide bracelet
floral crown with red roses and tiny sunflowers
Kristen Golden Photography

Kristen Golden Photography

matching bouquet and boutonniere
red and white rose boutonnieres
making corages with red spray roses

Where the magic begins....

Have you ever considered the idea that wedding flowers are a crop? They are grown in huge fields all over the world just for your bouquet. Holland, Ecuador, California, Japan, Alaska, Colombia and Kansas. Even in my backyard! As I have mentioned here before I love the idea of adding something I’ve grown to every bouquet, just a little blessing from me to you for a happy life. 

This year adding my own flowers has become a big challenge. I moved last fall from my house with very established cut flower gardens and a beautiful variety of shrubs for unique greenery. My new house sadly has no flowers! (I know right?) So this spring on days when it was warm enough, I started planting all the things I love and miss. Hopefully at this time next year my yard will be filled with blooms. 

Here are a few of my favorites things and a couple of surprises:

Eucalyptus- favorite wedding varieties are seeded, silver dollar or Gunni

Eucalyptus- favorite wedding varieties are seeded, silver dollar or Gunni

Citronella- Not only does it smell like lemons, I love the cut-leaf foliage

Citronella- Not only does it smell like lemons, I love the cut-leaf foliage

Scabiosa or pincushion flower- it comes in so many great sizes and colors

Scabiosa or pincushion flower- it comes in so many great sizes and colors

Astilbe- there are two tiny little buds showing. This is a fluffy filler that comes in white, pale pink and red

Astilbe- there are two tiny little buds showing. This is a fluffy filler that comes in white, pale pink and red

Zebra Mallow- just another sweet little purple flower

Zebra Mallow- just another sweet little purple flower

Dusty Miller- who doesn't love pale gray fuzzy foliage?

Dusty Miller- who doesn't love pale gray fuzzy foliage?

Heuchera- a foliage plant in many beautiful colors with dark veins

Heuchera- a foliage plant in many beautiful colors with dark veins

A skink- not what I wanted to see but I've been told they eat bugs. So I guess we'll be friends.

A skink- not what I wanted to see but I've been told they eat bugs. So I guess we'll be friends.

Tree Frog- my other friend

Tree Frog- my other friend

Nora's first day as a freelance gardener/florist. Not a bad start- she only ate one leaf!

Nora's first day as a freelance gardener/florist. Not a bad start- she only ate one leaf!

So wish me luck, sunny skies and weekly rain! I can't wait to have blooming flowers at my fingertips when it's time to work on your beautiful wedding.