The Anniversary Party

My Girls, My Team

Last Friday I had the honor and privilege to celebrate with my closest friends, family and industry peeps! I have said it many times, but every time it rings true, I could not have done it with out them! Many many thanks!

The party was made complete with rentals from Midway Party Rental, photography by Studio Laguna, tasty treats by Muddy Paw's Cheesecake and amazing help from Hire a Host.

Hire a Host

Bartender from Hire a Host

Tables and Linens by Midway Party Rental

Muddy Paw's Cheesecake

Centerpieces of Cymbidium Orchids, fur collar and a vintage pin.

The Design Studio

Agapanthus

I am excited to be starting a new year with new events, new clients and old. There are many great things in the works for SHBA and I will keep you posted! Also check out SHBA on Facebook for current updates.

1 YEAR!!!!

Well, I made it one year! January 1st marked my 1 year anniversary in business. In some ways it was way easier (maybe just less scarry) than I had expected and is some ways it was much harder (not a fan of 18 hour work days!). Either way, I had a blast and am still blasting!

2010 looks to be a busy and beautiful year. I have already met with many brides that are having fun cool weddings that I am honored to be a part of.

I do have to say that my #1 business "resouloution" is to keep up with photos and blogging. (Soo not my strong point) I am ashamed to see only 20 post last year! And photo's, another problem... unfortunately, remembering the camera on the check list has been missed! I am in the process of collecting professional photo's of 2009's weddings and will post ASAP.

Remember, you can also keep up to date with the going on's of SHBA on Facebook!

In closing I will leave you with a few pics from one of my last events in 2009.

Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry is now on Facebook!

Yes, there is now a page for my work. Please check it out! I have posted many photos and there are many more to come.

Be a fan? ;)
Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry

"And it was all yellow"

I will admit that if asked a year ago I would say yellow was (to quote a very cute 8yr old) "my enemy color". I am happy to say that we have reconciled our differences and made peace.

I've had the privilege to work with this happy sunny color a few times this year. When paired with the right accents this color can be both chic and elegant while keeping a fun fresh atmosphere.

My favorite was a wedding I did at the Como Zoo and Conservatory. The bride wanted lush large blooms but not a traditional look. We combined the large Victorian blooms in a clean line design in both the centerpieces, cake and place card table.

We did 2 designs for the centerpieces. This low impact piece included Roses, Stock, Acacia and China Mums.

This is a composite centerpiece made up of different shape vases and different yellow blooms such as Hydrangea, China Mums, Roses, Gloriaosa Lilies and Oncidium Orchids

The place card table was accented with a simple line of bud vases and China Mums

China Mums also accented the cake in a non traditional style.

I also designed for the Center of the American Experiment. In this event They Style Laboratory combined a black white and yellow color scheme which we accomplished with amazing linens from Linen Effects, crisp yellow orb centerpieces and bowls of lemons. The McNamara Alumni Center provided the perfect back drop for the style and feel of this event.

Yellow Carnations on black and white damask

Bowls of lemons with yellow Vanda Orchids and below simple black votives also with an orchid accent

Lime Greenery

This past weekend I had the privilege of working with a great couple at both, a venue that's a favorite and one that was new to me.

Bethany and Rod were married at the Como Lakeside Pavilion last Saturday with a reception at the Campus Club. Green and blue were the color's chosen and the result was a very cool refreshing look that complemented the hot sultry weather...

The stage was set with two garden arrangements of Hydrangea and Bells of Ireland on top of columns that couldn't have matched the columns of the pavilion better if they were custom made.

Bells of Ireland lined the aisle with their squirly shape, making them some of my favorite "pew" decorations yet.

At the reception it was all about the limes. I used 3 different style centerpieces to accommodate the different sized tables. This tall cylinder filled with limes added just enough height to the room with out taking up to much surface space on the smaller round tables.Multiples of these were lined down the center of the long rectangle tables. Side point, the sliced limes smelled delicious in the room!And last but not least, a sea of blue and green. This wide cylinder took up just enough space on the larger round tables and looked refreshing enough to jump in for a swim!Let them eat cake! Provided by Woullets Bakery

Where is my Season?

With the unusually cool weather, my sickness and stint in the hospital, and just being to busy; I feel that I have lost this Summer completely! I'm feeling sad today because it feels like it's almost over and I haven't even had a back yard BBQ yet! So to cheer myself up and anyone else who is feeling the same way I wanted to post some pictures of the most Summery fun centerpieces I've done so far. Just looking at these amazing photos from LaVie Photography makes me happy!

These were designed for and event last month at Solera. The clients wanted a whimsical garden look but not too messy. It was all based around a red, ice blue, green and white color scheme.

Enjoy and may the warm weather, BBQ's and beach still come!

Ouch, 2 months!?!?!

You know that feeling when you need and want to do something but you just haven't gotten around to it and then a little while becomes a long while? Yeah... I started this wedding season with excitement and optimism which is all good, I just wish I would have been more prepared for complete exhaustion and loss of time.

That being said, my sincere apologies for my blogging absence. But boy do I have weddings to talk about!

I'm going to start first with a wedding that kicked off 20 min from my home town of Sauk Centre. How random to get hired for a wedding so close to home!

Beka and Ben came to me by referral from the photographer Ezra James. The couple was very cool and easy going. They knew they wanted to have an interesting wedding, but with enough traditional touches to keep the mothers happy. Ezra did an outstanding job with the photos, giving it the look of a photo shoot rather than just photo journalism.

The colors Beka chose were purples, lavenders and steel blue. I used a lot of interesting texture with thistle and berry's and combined it with the classic calla lily, roses and lilacs. I think we pleased everyone;)

Enjoy the pics!