I think I can really call myself a florist now (I wish anyway)

I had the biggest of my wedding gigs to date this weekend. A challenge I was really happy to undertake, both to gain experience and to learn how to deal with pressure! I truly loved every wedding and every bouquet I've done, but in no doubt this has been one of my favorites.

This couple's background is really interesting. The elegant bride is from Ethiopia, and moved here along with her sisters 6 years ago (her father lives in Ottawa, while her mother still owns a business in her native country). The groom grew up in Paris from Dominican parents. They met about two years ago, shortly after he arrived here.

She wanted a mix of modern/Western and of traditional African in her wedding, which I loved. For instance, she wore a white wedding gown, but her bridesmaids wore beautiful dresses made of a delicate, intricately woven, red and gold Ethiopian fabric. This was the main inspiration she showed me for the flowers. I immediately though about lush, tropical, fresh blooms and foliage: orchids, glossy palm frowns, anthuriums and the like. After some discussion and input from both, we decided on a mix of traditions on this front as well: orchids and palm leaves to tie the bouquets in lieu of ribbon, but also roses, calla lilies, gerbera daisies, and alstroemeria. The colors they chose were golden orange and red.

I was a little nervous to work with the fragile orchids: I hoped they would last throughout the day, and it was the first time I used the wiring technique. Orchids come in 5 or 6 blooms per stem, which is a very good value, but to be used in a round bouquet (called a 'nosegay' in the floral lingo), they need to be delicately removed and attached to a long pliable metal wire with floral tape. It was also my first time making wrist corsages. It seemed a little intimidating but was quite straightforward in the end. I ordered the bracelets from a floral supply online store, and used floral adhesive.

I will never say enough how much I love doing this, all of it: having flowers all over the house, getting up at dawn to arrange the bouquets, happily looking at my work being done, being part of people's special day...

{The bride's bouquet; with this third picture I just wanted to show the dramatic foliage detail}

{Three of the bridesmaid bouquets}

{Two kinds of boutonnieres; the orchid one was for the groom}