loras blog

2012-01-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day is just around the corner! Sophisticated Floral Designs & Accessories is joining forces with Bella Cupcake to bring you some wonderful offerings. On Valentines day, stop in at Bella Cupcake and get some wonderful desserts. While you are there, pick up a rose for your sweetie. There will be 4 colors to choose from. Thank you for supporting your local small businesses. Beautiful images courtesy of HF Photography.Please help us spread the word. ~Lora

We are a proud recipient of the Wedding Wire Brides Choice Award for 2012

2012-01-17T09:48:00.001-08:00

Wanted to share this exciting news!!!We are a proud recipient of Wedding Wire Bride's Choice Award for 2012!Thank you to my wonderful brides and clients for sharing your experiences and writing the wonderful reviews.Very much appreciated!!!

How are the winners determined?The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards ™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ are awarded solely based on the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds. Awards are determined by a combination of four factors: Overall rating (quality), total number of reviews (quantity), review performance from 2011 (recency), and consistency of reviews from year to year (consistency). This year's recipients represent the top 5% of WeddingWire's vendor community, across all service categories and all regions throughout the US and Canada.

2012-01-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from my Family to yours.Here's to a wonderful 2012! Filled with many beautiful flowers and ravishing brides and grooms. If you are getting married in 2012 contact us today. The spring and summer dates are going super fast and after the 3 January Bridal Shows we are participating in, I expect to be booked up for the year.

Beautiful photo courtesy of HF Photography.

Pantone's 2012 color of the year "Tangerine Tango" and Wedding Flowers

2011-12-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

PANTONE has introduced their 2012 Color of the Year “17-1463 Tangerine Tango”
This color gains popularity amongst designers; from runway fashions to home décor to wedding accents. You will be seeing this vibrant and exotic hue in many forms.
Orange in general is a very high impact hue, but paired correctly it will deliver stunning results.
If your wedding color palette includes any shade of orange, you are in luck as there are numerous blooms that will be available to you.
Here are some examples of gorgeous orange flowers.
Tulips
Dahlias
Roses
Orchids
Ranunculus
Calla lilies
Celosia (Coxcomb)
Alstromeria
Rose Hips
Hypericum Berries
Gerbera Daisies

Image references:
http://www.photographyblogger.net, http://cache2.artprintimages.com, http://www.fiftyflowers.com, http://flowers.kwtsales.com,
http://www.wholeblossoms.com, http://www.publicdomainpictures
http://us.123rf.com, http://2.bp.blogspot.com, http://www.sproutflowers.com
http://3.bp.blogspot.com

"Noelle Collection" -Christmas Headbands now available on my Etsy Shop.

2011-12-09T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here are most of the items in my Christmas "Noelle" Collection.
Visit my etsy shop to view those and other designs.
Those will be available for a limited time only-so hurry if you want to get them for a Christmas gift.
Beatiful photos courtesy of Missy B Photography, Tiera Faith Photography and Nikki Painter Photography. Thank you ladies for beautiful images.

Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!

~Lora

Photo shoot with Missy B Photography

2011-11-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed designing this custom One of a kind {OOAK} fasinator for the Photo Shoot with Missy B Photography. and this beautiful 5 year old aspiring model.
Melissa is a talented Newborn, child and family photographer located in Walnut Creek, CA.
I am honored to have Melissa take beautiful photos with my Accessories.
This was a custom made fascinator that will definitely make a lasting impression.
It would be perfect for your wedding, photo prop or special occasion/event!!!
Created with beautiful satin fabric, this is truly an all-handcrafted treasure that you wont find anywhere else.
Each petal was carefully hand cut, cinched and sewn together. The Peony bloom comes accented with light blue acrylic crystal center, orange mesh netting and Peacock feathers. {Who does not like Peacock feathers?}
This design can be customized to your choice of color.

It will now be available for a limited time at my online Etsy store

The cute matching romper was created by Babychique Boutique

We are Featured on Stylish Perfection Blog!

2011-10-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Stylish Perfection?
We are excited to be a part of this newest Wedding Style Blog
View our interview with Jessica here
This is a beautiful up and coming blog so be sure to check them out and follow them on facebook.

How to save money on your {Wedding Flowers}

2011-10-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

I often get asked-"Why are wedding flowers so expensive?"
The simple fact is that wedding flowers have to be in absolute tip top shape and premium quality which means they can get expensive.
When the flowers arrive from the wholesaler, they have to be properly cleaned, prepped and conditioned. An average wedding order can take anywhere from a several hours to a few days to prepare. Not including the time it takes to deliver, set up and collect any rental items after the wedding.
While you are enjoying your time with the family or getting pampered for your big day, your florist is working long hours to make sure your flowers look superb for your wedding.
Fresh flowers cannot be designed too far in advance, which means your florist may be working through the night to create your beautiful arrangements.
This being said, there are creative ways to save money without compromising your style and overall quality. Think outside the box with these helpful tips on getting the most out of your wedding flower budget.

1. {Set a Flower Budget.} When talking with a florist it’s really important to tell them what your price point is. They will suggest options that go along with your theme and colors and are more cost effective for you.

2. {Find a florist that will work with your budget.} I personally recommend looking for a florist that is flexible, works out of their home or studio and specializes primarily in weddings and events.
This is what I do and I know there are others like me out there. We are able to offer lower prices because we do not have the expensive overhead of a traditional floral shop. You will always get much more personal attention with such a florist.

3. {Seasonal Availability.} Choose blooms that are in season, or are always available.
Using out of season flowers will drive the prices up significantly as well as compromise the flower quality.

4. {Don’t settle} for just roses, because that is the only flower you know. There are a multitude of flowers that come in many shapes, sizes and price points. Don't be afraid to ask your florist questions to find out what flowers will work best within your budget.

5. {Be flexible with flower varieties.} If you have a very tight budget, have an open mind and be flexible on the type of flowers you want.
Do tell your florist what your likes and dislikes are, while allowing them to be creative and do what they do best.
This gives your florist the flexibility to choose flower varieties that will look best and be the most cost efficient option for you.

6. {Avoid major Holidays.} {Valentine’s and Mother’s Day being the top two}
Supply and demand is what drives the flower prices up and the quality down during the holiday season.

7. {Limit exotic and premium flowers~ie. Orchids, Calla Lilies, Gardenias, Stephanotis, Oriental Lily, Peony, Tropical's, etc} If your heart is set on using premium or exotic flowers, use them in moderation and limit them to bridal party flowers only.
Spend the bulk of your floral budget on the Bridal Party flowers, as they will be the most seen and most photographed arrangements at your wedding.

8. {Choose a “right” venue.} A venue that is already beautiful with lush manicured lawns or breathtaking views will not requires as much decor. It could be a park, garden or a golf course that will have these characteristics.

9. {Don’t overlook non-floral accents.} If you are getting married in the winter it may be a great money saving option to use pine cones, ornaments or Christmas greenery in your flower arrangements. In the fall there is an abundance of fall leaves, pumpkins, branches and pods. Summer season brings a lot of colorful fruits and vegetables. Don't be afraid to be a little different and you will end up with the most gorgeous wedding décor without compromising your overall style.

10. {Dare to Mix and Match} If you have your heart set on tall elaborate centerpieces but are having trouble fitting them in your budget, its best to mix it up with short centerpieces.
A good way to keep everything coordinated together is to stick with the same types of flowers or colors for both styles.
Depending on your overall style, you can also scope out your local Goodwill, flea market or garage sale to collect the unique containers and vases for your centerpieces.
Don't worry if they are not identical, it can often add more charm to have a variety of styles all in the same color scheme.

11. {Recycle your arrangements.} Using the same arrangements more than once will undoubtedly save you money. This means depending on design and location logistics you can re-use your ceremony arrangements at your reception.

12. {Choose your Focal Points.} Larger/Taller displays will always command attention. You don’t need to have many elaborate arrangements on every corner. However, when positioned strategically at your venue, they will give you the best results by highlighting the most important areas. Smaller arrangements scattered throughout the venue seem to get overlooked by the most.
Ask your florist to use more economical blooms for your larger arrangements. For example; Carnations and baby’s breath are very affordable way to go. A lot of people, myself included, used to really dislike them. However, when used in abundance and styled properly, they can be quite striking and pack a punch while not breaking your budget.

13. {DIY] There are some aspects of your wedding décor where DIY projects are perfectly acceptable. If you are a crafty person, you can create beautiful paper cones that will be filled with rose petals for each guest to toss at the bride and groom. You could also attempt to create a beautiful flag banner or another piece of décor in your wedding colors to enhance your overall wedding theme, if you so choose.
DIY projects can be a great way to personalize your wedding day-but don’t get carried away where you are trying to do it all and have no time to enjoy your big day. This is where the professional vendors come in-we are here to help you be stress fee on the most important day of your life.

I hope those tips were helpful to you while planning your wedding.

~Lora

{Photo Courtesy of Stacy J Photography}

9.3.11 Sneak peek

2011-09-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

Pretties for the wedding of Jennifer and Travis!
Orchids, pods, eucalyptus, fern curls, millet, berries, etc. Lots of beautiful textures in fall colors.

8.27.11 Erica & Chris

2011-09-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

I truly enjoyed working with this couple!
This was a beautiful wedding with many DIY items, (Bride is one crafty gal!) Lots of fun accents including Vintage Bird cages, blue cotton candy favors, tutu skirts for flower girls and many, many more fun and personal touches. The wedding theme was "Vintage Lovebirds" and I think Erica's creativity has really brought the whole theme together wonderfully. I really enjoy working with creative brides and their fantastic ideas and themes to create one of a kind wedding atmosphere on their special day.
Here are some beautiful photos, courtesy of Courtney Jade Photography! More photos to come.

Fall Wedding Ideas

2011-09-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

Fall is Here!!!

Here are some fun wedding inpirations in fall color.

Beautiful fall themed wedding decor and ideas.

We are 2011 Wedding Wire Rated Vendor!

2011-09-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Our Newest creation by Sophisticated Craft Designs on a beautiful little model!

2011-08-31T10:40:00.000-07:00

Riley is modeling my newest fall design. Ivory and Orange Rosette headband. The awesome photos are courtesy of Brandi Lombas Photography a Louisiana Lifestyle Photographer.

To purchase this Limited Edition design, please visit my Etsy store.

Photography props/accessories

2011-08-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

Another lovely young lady modeling my beautiful Tiffany blue lace and ivory rosette headband/fascinator.
Wonderful photos are courtesy of Kayla at Portraits Created by Kayla from Picayune, MS.
Thank you Kayla for such beautiful images.
To purchase this item visit my online Etsy store

8.27.11 Sneak Peek

2011-08-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peek of Erica's bouquet from today's wedding, which was held a private home in Beaverton, OR.
Blue hydrangea, succulents, mini calla lilies, fiddle-head fern curls, bear grass, button chrysanthemums and freesia.

Can't wait to see the professional photos by the Courtney Jade Photography
Congrats to Erica and Chris, I was honored to be a part of your beautiful wedding day!!!

Accessories for Tiera Faith Photography

2011-08-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

I created this beautiful light green Hydrangea bloom headband with pink pearls and accented with white feathers and French veil.
This stunning newborn photo was captured by the talented Tiera at Tiera Faith Photography in Nashville, TN
What a precious baby! Love seeing my headband on this brand new sleeping angels! :)
To purchase this item, please visit my online Etsy store

Newborn Photography props for Kylie Danielson Photography

2011-08-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful newborn baby girl! She is wearing my Ruffled Champagne headband. Photos courtesy of Kylie Danielson Photogrphy. Kylie is a personal friend of mine, who also does beautiful wedding photography in the Seattle, WA metro area.
To purchase this item -please visit my online Etsy store.
This design is available in many other colors, upon request.

2011-08-16T18:47:00.001-07:00

Got beautiful succulents for Chris and Erica's wedding.

Introducing our new line of Accessories. -Sophisticated Floral Designs & Accessories

2011-08-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce the addition of “Accessories” design line to our ever-growing wedding & event floral design studio.
My 6mo old daughter Adelynn was the true inspiration behind this venture.
We specialize in Children fashions, Photography props and Bridal Accessories.
I am currently working on updating our website to reflect the necessary changes.
In the mean time -please visit our online Etsy shop for our current designs and sales.
New product are continually added to expand our inventory. Follow us on Face Book for updates and specials. Custom orders are always welcome.

~Lora

**************
Here are some product photos-Enjoy!

7.16.11 Abernathy Center -Jordyn & Nick

2011-07-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Jordyn and Nick! This beautiful couple got married today at Abernathy Center. We love working with the staff at Abernathy, they are very helpful and make everything go as smooth as possible.
Today started out as a rainy morning and the staff was extremely prepared and ready to make this afternoon wedding a day to remember.
The beautiful photos were provided by the talented photographers at Holland Studios
Here is a slide show sneak peek of this wedding!

The tasty wedding cake was provided by Amber at Le Cookie Monkey

Jordyn choose "Rose Garden" as her wedding theme. Flowers included were roses in hot pink, pale pink and ivory. As well as mini gerbera daisies and fragrant white freesia and greenery.

Short testimonial from the Bride~
"The flowers were so perfect- they were exactly what I wanted! I had a ton of people ask me who did them. I Highly recommended you. -Jordyn"

~Lora

Our New Logo

2011-07-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Wanted to extend a HUGE Thank You to Kay at KLGdesigns.
She has been a pleasure to work with and created a lovely logo design for us.
If you are looking for a new logo or marketing package -check out her online Etsy Shop.
Highly Recomended!!!

Here is a quick Sneek Peek!

~Lora

5.15.11-Portland’s First Multicultural Wedding Show -Weddings of the World!

2011-04-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

We are looking forward to participating at the Portland’s First Multicultural Wedding Show
presented by Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel
Hope to see you there! Stop by our table and see our wedding flowers. We would love to meet you.

The Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel presents the Weddings of the World Show. A wedding show that will fill over 22,500 square feet of space in three separate ballrooms into an inspirational journey. Attendees will be greeted and offered their wedding passports, which will serve as their entry form into the many prizes including vacation packages with airfare and hotel covered as they get their stamps around the world showcases.

Brides will be greeted by the smells and sounds of the culture as they enter showcase ballrooms featuring Indian, Russian, Asian and Latino wedding traditions. They will enjoy music, complimentary appetizers prepared by renowned Sheraton Chef Barry Handley, exhibitor showcases from Portland's finest, and inspiration from around the world.
***
Wanted to say a huge Thank You to Jessica Kane-Marketing Manager for coordinating this Exquisite One of a Kind Bridal Show.

When: Sunday, May 15th, 2011

Time: 1pm-5pm

Fee: Free to enter
Goodie Bags: Brides who register will receive a complimentary goodie bag! (Only 1st 100 Brides)

What: Portland's ONLY Multicultural Wedding Show, Weddings of the World

Features: 3 Fashion Shows featuring multicultural wedding fashions for the entire
family!
Free Entry
HUGE PRIZES! Including 3 air/hotel vacation packages and more!
Entire ballrooms decorated and featuring the following cultures:
Russian, Latino, Indian and Asian

This event features complimentary entry. RSVP required at
http://www.portlandweddingsoftheworld.com

Want to give a huge shout out to the wonderful Jessica Belknap of Jessica Belknap Makeup Artistry. http://www.jessicabelknap.com
She is a very talented individual and one of my former brides with impeccable taste and extensive knowledge on how to transform any bride on the day of her wedding.
Come meet Jessica and many other top wedding vendors at the Portland's ONLY Multicultural Wedding Show-Weddings of the World!

Introducing our new baby-Adelynn Ava!

2011-01-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

We have been quite busy the last few months, to say the least. We have a need addition to our family. My beautiful daughters name is Adelynn Ava, she was born on December 29th, 2010 @ 9:04pm. She weighed 8lbs and was 20 inches long. She is the most wonderful baby ever!
Even-though, I enjoy spending every minute with her, I am looking forward to this coming wedding season and all the wonderful brides we get to work with.
Here are some beautiful photos taken by Claudia at CC Portraits. Claudia is amazing with newborns, she has a true talent and it really reflects in her work.
WWW.CCPORTRAITS.COM Thank you Claudia for doing such as amazing job for us, we will cherish those photos and memories for years to come.

9.25.10 Kristie & Matt -Black Butte Ranch, Central OR

2010-09-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

Kristie has chosen a beautiful color palette of green, ivory and chocolate brown with orange accents.
Very earthy and chic wedding!
Kristie's bouquet included roses, mini calla lilies, dahlia, button mums, curly willow, lisimachia, seeded eucalyptus, freesia and salal.

5.16.10 Bridal Shower

2010-05-17T22:09:00.000-07:00

Jessica was one of my brides from 2008 and she hosted a bridal shower for a dear friend of hers. The shower theme was "Afternoon Tea Party" the wedding colors were purple and silver, so we used the same colors in the bridal shower centerpieces and arrangements. I really love the dusty miller accents, it brings out the purple and lavender hues of the arrangements.

3.27.10 Mark and Alina's Engagement Party

2010-03-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

Flowers for the engagement party of Mark and Alina. The Wedding is scheduled for Sept 2010.

Vanessa & Travis 3.13.10 Hotel Vintage Plaza & University of Portland

2010-03-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

Vanessa chose pale yellow, ivory and white for her color palette.
The Bridesmaids dresses were "Cannery Yellow" from David's Bridal.
The flowers were primarily in yellow, white and ivory -accented with a lot of luscious greenery. A very fresh look for a spring wedding.
The bride is not a big fan of roses, so we used a lot of other flowers such as: Gardenia, tulips, freesia, stock, Asiatic lilies, callas, Dendrobium Orchids, etc.
Vanessa opted for a more elegant and classic design the "cascade bouquet" with a very modern twist. (Not your Grandmothers' bouquet of carnations and babies breath, spray painted with Peach)lol.
For the BM, I created a modern hand-tied bouquet with a mix of white and yellow flowers and greenery.
The boutonnieres consisted of white freesia and the corsages were a single Gardenia bloom.
Over all the bride chose a very classy and fragrant flowers!!!
***
Here is a glowing testimony from Vanessa.

"Hi Lora,
The flowers couldn't have been any better. They were exactly what I had hoped they would look like...actually they were better than I had envisioned. I was so sad that i couldn't take my bouquet on the plane with us....I loved it very much and it stayed fresh the entire day.
Thank you for all your help, you really helped to make our wedding day look as beautiful as it did!
-Vanessa"

Wedding flower ideas for Alina & Mark-September 2010

2010-03-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

The Bride Alina, choose Chocolate Brown bridesmaids dresses with Mocha colored sashes.
The bridal party flowers will be in the shades of pale pink, ivory and white with chocolate brown accents.
Some of the brides favorites are Asiatic lilies, roses, callas, freesia, stock, lily grass, tulips, cymbidium orchids, lisianthus.

Baby Shower Centerpieces

2010-02-27T15:59:00.000-08:00

I designed those cute centerpieces for my best friend Cassandra's baby shower.
The baby shower turned out very pretty and girly, welcoming baby Layla- who is due on April 16th.
All the decor reflected mommy to-be favorite colors: Hot pink, Lime Green and Chocolate Brown.
Congrats to Cassandra and baby Layla!

Welcome Spring and the Beautiful Spring Weddings!

2010-02-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love the pastel color palette of spring flowers.
Very soft and beautiful wedding bouquets, arrangements and body flowers.
Pale pink's, yellow's, lavender's and blue's make a wonderful choice for a amazing spring wedding.
Tulips, peonies, rununculos, hydrangea, hyacinth, stock and freesia top the list of most popular blooms for this time of year.

50th Anniversary at Ruth's Chris Steak House

2010-02-02T22:43:00.000-08:00

This was a great Surprise 50th Anniversary for a couple who moved here from California.
Their Daughter made all the plans for this wonderful surprise party at Runth's Chris Steakhouse in Downtown Portland.
Flowers included: lilies, roses, calla lilies, cymbidium and dendribium orchids, aspedistra, bear grass, ruscus with gold accents.
Wishing them many more years together!!!

11 Tips for Saving Money on Your Wedding Flowers

2010-01-25T17:27:00.000-08:00

As an experienced wedding and special event florist, I'm often asked for floral advice. One of the most frequent questions I'm asked is, "How can I save money on my wedding flowers?" Over the years I've given a number of money-saving tips to brides, their mothers, their wedding planners, and anyone else involved in the budgeting and planning of their weddings. I've compiled a few of the most common ways to cut wedding floral costs and listed them below.

Money Saving Tip #1 -
Keep the number of bridesmaids and other attendants to a minimum

I'm always amazed by the number of brides who say they have a very tight floral budget yet they have a very large number of bridesmaids participating in their weddings. One of the most effective ways to immediately reduce floral expenses is to keep the number of attendants, particularly bridesmaids, to a minimum. For example how the number of attendants can quickly inflate or reduce your wedding floral costs, take a look this comparison. A bride who selects a $65 bouquet style for her 8 bridesmaids will spend $520 in bridesmaid bouquets alone, whereas, a bride who selects the same $65 bouquet for her 3 bridesmaids will spend only $195. That's a savings of $325!

Money Saving Tip #2 -
Consider selecting flowers that are in-season

Fresh flowers that are in-season at the time of your wedding are always fresher, more vibrant, plentiful, and much less expensive than out-of-season blooms. Seasonal flowers produce the most consistent and reliable results, and they are often grown locally, significantly reducing shipping/transportation costs as well as providing revenue to local growers and the local economy. Specialty and out-of-season flowers are more expensive and must be imported, traveling long distances with high shipping/transportation costs. There is always the risk they may arrive too mature or in wilted condition and the costs for the flowers themselves, not including the shipping, can be very expensive.

Money Saving Tip #3-
Be flexible when selecting flower varieties

Season aside, certain varieties of fresh flowers are consistently more expensive than others based on a number of factors (how they grow, how fast they grow, where they grow, how many are grown, how they are harvested, etc). Use this guide as a general rule of thumb when selecting fresh flowers for bouquets, centerpieces, and other wedding arrangements. If your heart is set on the higher cost flowers, keep it to a minimum by using those flowers only in the Bridal bouquet and Grooms boutonniere.

Lower Cost:
Chrysanthemums
Daisies
Carnations
Gladiolus
Button Mums
***
Average Cost:
Roses
Gerbera Daisies
Hydrangea
Dahlia
Asiatic Lilies
***
Higher Cost:
Calla Lilies
Tropical Flowers
Stephanotis
Orchids
Peonies
Stargazer and Casablanca Lilies

Money Saving Tip #4 -
Avoid scheduling your wedding on or near a holiday

Fresh flowers are more expensive near holidays due to supply and demand. If your wedding is scheduled anywhere from two weeks before to a week after a major floral holiday, such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, fresh flowers are typically higher in cost and varieties are more limited in supply at that time.

Money Saving Tip #5 -
Choose simple vs complex designs

The price of flowers is only one part of your total floral costs. Labor is another factor. Larger, more complex designs, such as cascade and waterfall bouquets typically are more labor intensive and costly than simple, round designs.
Also, flowers that require tedious wiring and taping (stephanotis, orchids, and thin, short, or brittle-stemmed floral varieties) prior to placement in designs are more labor intensive and add to your floral costs.

Money Saving Tip #6 -
Minimize bouquet accents and "bling"

The past few years have seen an explosion of bouquet designs featuring jewels, crystals, pearls, rhinestones, crystal butterflies and dragonflies, feathers, bows, ribbons, and other add-in accessories. When used in moderation, the additional detailing and sparkle are beautiful, but if you're on a super tight budget, this is one easy way you can reduce costs. If you're trying to make a small budget stretch further, go for the natural look and let your bridal jewelry be the "bling" that sparkles. If your flowers are well-designed and of top quality, they will command attention all on their own, without the use of add-ins.

Money Saving Tip #7 -
Reuse bridal/BM bouquets

After all formal photographs are taken, reuse your bridal and bridesmaid bouquets to decorate your head table, gift table, guest book table, cake table, cocktail tables, bar, etc. This is an excellent way to stretch your budget and ensure that your bouquets are seen and enjoyed at the reception as well as the ceremony.

Money Saving Tip #8 -
Reuse ceremony arrangements at the reception

To save money on decorating costs, reuse ceremony arrangements at the reception. If designed properly and in a style that will transition well, your ceremony flowers can perform double-duty at both events. For a small fee, the ceremony flowers can be safely transported and set up at your reception location so they can be enjoyed and photographed at both venues.

Money Saving Tip #9 -
Use fewer, but larger arrangements

Larger, but fewer, floral arrangements offer more visual impact and "bang for the buck" than lots of smaller arrangements scattered around the reception facility that are likely to be overlooked. This is especially true if you'll be having a dimly-lit or candle-lit reception. A floral professional can assist you in finding the most visually strategic locations at your reception facility, where the large arrangements can be displayed.

Money Saving Tip #10 -
Using Candles/flowering plants as centerpieces

During the spring and summer when they are plentiful at home and garden shops, purchase and use flowering plants in pretty, decorative pots for your reception table centerpieces. As centerpieces they will contain both flowers and foliage, and the plant is likely to be larger than an equally-priced, formally arranged centerpieces. After the reception, guests can take the centerpieces home as a living favor, always to remember your special day.

Another great option is to use large candle as the centerpiece, surrounded by rose petals. This is a very simple, yet classy look that will stretch your budget and still have stunning results.

Money Saving Tip #11 -
"Do-it-yourself" often costs more

Sometimes brides think if they do everything themselves, they'll save money. However, that's often a false assumption and frequently "do it yourself" projects end up costing much more with less than professional results.
Do-it-yourself costs really add up, especially when you're purchasing items as a retail consumer and are forced to buy quantities on supplies (do you really need a box of 144 boutonniere pins?) when you may need only a few.
Add to that tools, equipment, material costs, immense stress, emotional pressure, last-minute design of all flowers the day of the wedding, the ticking clock as the deadline approaches, the dirty and chlorophyll-stained hands that ruined your beautiful manicure, the logistics and stress of who will deliver and setup everything since even the best intentioned friends and family members may not setup properly, on time, or without damaging your bouquets and arrangements.
When you hire a professional floral designer, there's no risk, no stress, no worries, and you know that everything will be designed, delivered, and setup properly.
By hiring an experienced floral professional, you never have to worry that your guests are noticing, and the wedding photographers are capturing, not-quite right, lopsided, do-it-yourself bouquets, wilting corsages, and bruised boutonnieres that were well-intentioned in the name of saving a few dollars.

I cannot tell you how many frustrated, stressed, and time-crunched brides, mothers of the bride, and wedding coordinators have contacted me over the years, requesting that I "fix" their do-it-yourself attempts. Unfortunately, every single "fix it" job resulted in higher material and labor costs to correct than it would've to hire a professional florist in the first place.

8.20.10 Sarah and Byron-Aerie at Eagles Landing

2010-01-18T21:41:00.000-08:00

Here are some ideas for Sarah & Byron's Wedding.
The ceremony and reception will be held at the beautiful Aerie at the Eagles Landing.
The wedding colors are Champagne, Ivory, Hot Pink and Light Pink.
Bride chose the following wedding flowers: Roses, Gerbera Daisies & Stephanotis.

Black and White wedding ideas

2010-01-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

Black and white, what a modern, sleek and stylish color combination! Very bold and absolutely stunning!!!

Green and Chocolate Brown wedding ideas.

2010-01-10T15:49:00.000-08:00

I love the simplicity of the green and brown weddings.
The earth tones are just so subtle and very understated. Absolutely beautiful.
Excellent choice for a Northwest Bride.

Blue colored weddings : Tiffani, Aqua, Royal Blue "Peacock Themes"

2010-01-10T15:40:00.000-08:00

So many fun blue colored weddings. Peacock feathers are a wonderful touch to this color palette.

Christmas themed wedding ideas

2009-12-10T15:22:00.000-08:00

Are you getting married in December? Why not go for a traditional Christmas Themed wedding?
Add fun touches with candy canes, pine cones, snow flakes, etc.
Or go very non-traditional, with fun color palette of Tiffani blue and red.

Christmas wedding "Green, white & chocolate brown"

2009-12-01T15:15:00.000-08:00

Great Christmas wedding ideas -with out the traditional "Red, White and Green" theme.
Very clean and stylish. I really love the pine cones-what a fun touch!

9.19.09 Reema & Eric -St. Joseph Catholic Church

2009-10-28T21:16:00.001-07:00

Reema was a great bride to work with. She has exquisite taste and her style is beautiful.
They got married at a beautiful Catholic Church in Vancouver, WA.
Here are some great photos from Reema and Eric's wedding.
Alicia Dickerson Photography did a great job capturing this beautiful wedding day.

Here is a glowing review from Reema-Thank you again, it was great working with you.

Lora,

I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for the amazing flowers you provided for our wedding day! The bouquets could not have been more lovely! I have to say I was more than pleased with your work! I got many, many compliments on the flowers and have been throwing your name out there to whoever wants to know who did our flowers! I will recommend you to anyone who needs flowers for a special occasion! It was very nice of you to stay and assist everyone with getting their boutonnieres pinned on in the correct fashion too. Eric's boutonniere was gorgeous! I loved the copper wire wrapped around the stem! Very cool!

In addition, when I saw our wedding cake, it took my breath away! It was, again, more than I had imagined! You have a great talent! Again, THANK YOU for everything!

Sincerely,

Rema

Bridal Show 2009

2009-10-24T20:10:00.000-07:00

The Bridal Show was held at Portland Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday -October 24th & 25th
Here are photos of the flowers we designed for the Portland Bridal Show 2009.
I would like to say a big Thank You to all my Brides/Models who helped us showcase our wedding bouquets. You girls did a wonderful job as always!!! :) And I would like to thank Bridal Exclusives for providing the stunning gown. I love Bridal Exclusives, that is where I got my gown few years ago, when I was getting married. I absolutely LOVE Maggie Sottero Gowns- they are the most beautiful gowns out there!!!

9.29.09 Erin & Randy -Bell Tower Chapel Boring, OR

2009-09-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

This was a very small and simple wedding at the Bell Tower Chapel. (Bridal Bouquet only)
Erin chose pink and white for her wedding colors.
The bridal bouquet consisted of roses, hydrangea, stephanotis, gerberas and chrysanthemums

Wedding Cake Ideas

2009-08-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

Some beautiful wedding cake ideas. I really love the stencils and swirls on wedding cakes. So stunning and what a contrast!!!

Purple and green centerpiece

2009-08-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

Miscellaneous Summer 2009 Flowers.
Purple and green centerpiece in square vase.

8.1.09 Mary & Rob -East Fork Country Estate

2009-08-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite blue colored weddings.
Mary was a very easy going bride and she let me be creative with her flowers, as long as it included blue.
The flowers were as follows: Bella donna, Roses, Dahlia, Lily grass, Stock, Oregonia & Gerber Daisies.
There is not a huge selection out there when it comes to blue flowers, but all in all this wedding turned out stunning!!!
Once again the beautiful venue was East Fork Country Estate in Damascus, OR. One of my favorite venues on the East side.

7.18.09 Brandi R. -Hood River, OR

2009-07-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Brandi chose hot pink and silver for her wedding colors.
Her bouquet consisted of calla lilies, roses and ruscus. The weather was beautiful in Hood River and the venue had a very relaxed atmosphere.
Overall, this was a classy wedding for a very traditional bride.

Red Bridal Bouquet

2009-07-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Miscellaneous Summer 2009 Flowers.
Bouquet with Black Baccara roses

7.11.09 Jennifer & Alan -Melody Ballroom

2009-07-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Jennifer and Alan had a very traditional wedding at the beautiful Melody Ballroom.
The wedding colors were different shades of purple and pink, with sage green accents.
Jennifer's bouquet consisted of roses, stock and stephanotis.
The Bridesmaids bouquets had a mix of pink and purple flowers.
Its a good thing that this wedding was held in the early afternoon. As I was rushing to get to Tacoma, WA for a relatives wedding that same evening. Crazy me-I always try to multitask.

7.8.09 Kristi & Brent -Lakeside Gardens

2009-07-08T16:24:00.000-07:00

Kristi and Brent came from Texas to get married in Oregon.
When I first met Kristi, she did not know what colors she wanted for her wedding. But after looking through the my photo albums she decided to go with Orange, Purple and White.
I really loved the color combo and all the textures we came up with for Kristi's wedding.
Typically I am not a huge fan of orange-purple or orange-blue combination's. It reminds me of sports and school colors.
However, this wedding turned out a million times better than I even predicted. The BM plum colored dressed looked fantastic with the orange and purple colored flowers.
I really enjoyed Kristi's bouquet-it turned out amazing!!!
Stephen Wagner did an awesome job on photography and Melissa from www.sweetcakesweb.com creating a stunning and unique cake.

Summer 2009 Flowers

2009-06-30T21:16:00.000-07:00

Miscellaneous Summer 2009 Flowers

5.30.09 Kimberly and Matt -Resort at the Mountain

2009-05-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

This was a beautiful outdoor wedding held at The Resort at the Mountain- http://www.theresort.com in Welshes, OR. The Staff at The Resort are absolutely wonderful and beyond helpful.
The Bride wore a stunning ivory laced gown and the BM's wore a beautiful shade of blue.
Our orange colored flowers really enhanced the blue and white hues of the wedding.
Kim's bouquet was a mix of roses in 5 different shades and mango-orange calla lilies.
The BM's had a smaller version of the bridal bouquet with the same selection of flowers.
The gorgeous & stunning photography was by Michelle at the Artistique Photographie -http://www.artistiquephotogrphie.com
The Beautiful cake was provided by Melissa the the Sweet Cakes- http://www.sweetcakesweb.com
I really enjoyed Kim and Matt's wedding!!!

Some beautiful and unique photos by Michelle at Artistique Photographie.

5.23.09 Janice & Pablo-North Harbor Courtyard Marriott

2009-05-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

We did the flowers for Janice and Pablo's wedding held at the North Harbor Courtyard by Marriott on Marine Drive in Portland, OR.
It was a beautiful spring day but a little bit windy at times.
The wedding day photography was by Ben and his crew at the Powers Studios Photography -http://www.powersoregon.com they did a great job as always.
Both the ceremony and the reception were held outdoors on the deck overlooking the Columbia River.
The wedding colors were White, Coral with Turquoise accents-very stunning!
Janice and Pablo were a great couple to work with-Thank you for having me be a part of your big day.

Green Bridal Bouquets

2009-04-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

I love the green colored Bridal Bouquets; they look so fresh and clean.
Colors are great too, but sometimes the simple green and white just looks so stunning

Bridal Show 2008

2008-10-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

Another Bridal Show... I love them, but there is so much work involved it really drains me.
So So tired after all this work and talking to thousands of brides.
Ah, the crazy life of a wedding florist!!!

10.11.08 Rachel & Andy-Acadian Ballroom

2008-10-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

Andy and Rachel were a great couple who got married at the Acadian Ballroom.
Rachel choose a color palette that included burgundy, plum and lime green with black accents.
The 7 bridesmaids wore black dresses and red shoes and carried alternating bouquets of red, purple and green flowers.
The brides bouquet included roses, orchids and calla lilies. I loved Rachel's original ideas.
Beautiful photos are courtesy of Evrim Icoz Photography

9.14.08 Lisa-Lake House at Blue Lake Park, Fairview, OR

2008-09-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

This was a small and intimate wedding at the Lake House at Blue Lake Park in Fairview, OR.
Lisa chose a to go with a natural palette of green, white and ivory. She wanted to stay away from the roses, but still have an all white bouquet.
Flowers included lisimachia, stephanotis, tulips, dahlia, freesia, lily grass

9.13.08 Collette & Mike-Ainsworth House & Gardens

2008-09-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful fall colored wedding.
The ceremony and reception was held at Ainsworth House & Gardens in Oregon City.
Collette's bridal bouquet is one of my favorite orange bouquets ever!!!
This was a very fun bouquet, the flowers included: calla lilies, dahlias, roses, fiddle head fern, hypericum, accented with white feathers.
Unfortunately I was not able to get the professional photos from this wedding. I contracted Zober Images several times, but never heard back. That's a good way to ruin their reputation.

8.30.08 Tina & Wah -Abernathy Center, Oregon City, OR

2008-08-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

Tina chose a beautiful fall color palette.
The flowers included; gerberas, freesia, zinnia, roses, hypericum, dahlia, amaranthus and gladiolus.
The ceremony was held at the beautiful Abernathy Center, under the gazebo. The Reception was at the same venue in the Ballroom.
The cake provided by the Abernathy Center was absolutely beautiful when accented with flowers.
The beautiful photos are a courtesy of Missy Cochran at http://www.artisanphotographics.com or www.missy-cochran.com

8.23.08 Crystal & Daniel -Private Estate, Oregon City, OR

2008-08-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Crystal was one of my favorite brides in 2008. She was absolutely a joy to work with.
She told me her colors and that she wanted to incorporate the peacock feathers and she left the designing up to me. The colors and textures were amazing.
I loved how everything turned out. Her bouquet was absolutely stunning!
Crystal and Daniel are an amazing couple and I wish them the best in their marriage.
The photography was of course provided by Powers Studios www.powersoregon.com
Their work is amazing and the brides just love them. It really shows, since almost every wedding we design flowers for-they do the photography.

8.23.08 Jami & John -Bell Tower Chapel -Boring, OR

2008-08-23T14:43:00.000-07:00

This was my third and last wedding for today.
Jami and John got married at the Bell Tower Chapel in Boring, OR.
They had their ceremony outdoors and the reception was inside the chapel.
Jami wanted to go with bright summer colors -hot pink, bright yellow and orange.
Photography provided by naturalimages.com

8.23.08 Amber -Oregon City, OR

2008-08-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

Crazy, crazy me.... This was one of three weddings I did today!
It's a good thing two of those three weddings were in Oregon City, the third one was in Boring, OR.
Amber had a fun backyard wedding at her home in Oregon City.
She chose orange, red, ivory and chocolate brown accents for her wedding colors.
Here are some photos.

8.22.08 Monika M. -Heritage House & Gardens-Aurora, OR

2008-08-22T22:43:00.000-07:00

Monika was refereed to me by Mandy, who was one of my brides earlier this year.
This wedding had a very fun and relaxed atmosphere. It was an outdoor wedding at Heritage House & Gardens in Aurora, OR.

8.15.08 Alexis-East Fork Estate Damascus, OR

2008-08-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

Another classy wedding held at the East Fork Estate.
Alexis has a very clean and classic style. Her wedding colors were Red, White and Black. She chose to go with mostly red and white roses.
For her bouquet she wanted to go with THE CLASSIC -red roses with stephanotis.
This is the most popular bouquet by far-I think I must do at least 5 of those every year. Never goes out of style.

8.9.08 Elizabeth & Paul-The First Unitarian Church

2008-08-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth and Paul had a beautiful wedding at The First Unitarian Church in Portland. The Reception was held at The Chart House.
Beautiful photography is a courtesy of David A. Barss Photography. http://www.davidbarssphotographer.com

Here is a glowing review from the Bride.

"I found Lora just by chance, after being utterly appalled by the outrageous prices I encountered from NW Portland florists who wanted to charge $250+ for a bridal bouquet. I randomly was searching on-line when I found her website. We met a few weeks later and I was really impressed with what she was able to do for us. I gave her my dollar amount, told her our colors and what I liked (tulips) and didn't like (roses). She didn't promise she could get tulips since our wedding was in August and they weren't in season, but she said she would try.

Lora DELIVERED big time!!! The flowers blew my mind. My bouquet was absolutely stunning, and she did manage to find dark purple tulips--yippy! The bridesmaid’s bouquets were simple but colorful and lovely. The boutonnieres were just perfect, and the groom's boutonniere lasted all through the week (somehow it came with us on our honeymoon). It was nice to have it the next day for our day after photos.
In the 11th hour I also asked her to do alter arrangements for the church and they were lovely too, in huge glass containers with gorgeous bells of Ireland. Lovely!
I would highly recommend Lora. She will work with any budget and make it fabulous!" ~ Elizabeth M.

8.8.08 Addie, Glen Otto Park -Gresham, OR

2008-08-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

This was a very casual and fun wedding at Glen Otto Park on Sandy River in Gresham, OR.
Addie's bouquet consisted of roses, calla lilies dahlias and ruscus.

7.19.08 Alyson B -Rock Creek Country Club

2008-07-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

Alyson's was refereed to me by Tina, who was my bride from August 2008.
This was a beautiful and very fun wedding at The Rock Creek County Club.
I really loved all the colors, they just looked so bright and beautiful both in photos and in real life.
Alyson's bouquet consisted of roses, freesia, gerberas, hypericum, calla lilies
The beautiful photos are courtesy of Randy at www.rjstudio.com

Here is a great review from the brides mother.

"Everything about the day was absolutely all we could have asked for. Your flowers were fabulous and we received many, many compliments. I have some good pictures I will share with you.
Thank you for the wonderful work and for being so responsive and dependable. You were there right when you said, with exactly what you described. Thanks, Lora."

~Robyn

7.12.08 Andrea B -Empress Palace Woodland, WA

2008-07-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

This was a crazy day!!!
2 weddings, same day-different locations (Boring, OR -Woodland, WA)
Both had the same colors and very similar flowers.
Andrea's wedding was held at a beautiful Empress Palace in Woodland, WA
It was quite a drive to get there, but the venue was breath taking!
Andrea had a very stunning gown with bird-cage veil, the cascade bouquet complemented her attire beautifully.

7.12.08 Holly & Mike -Bell Tower Chapel Boring, OR

2008-07-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

This was first of the two weddings we did today. I gatta say this was my most favorite wedding at the Bell Tower Chapel. The colors complemented the venue and everything looked stunning at this early afternoon wedding.
Travis Johnson Photography did an amazing job on the photos. www.tjphotography.com

7.6.08 Stephanie -East Fork Country Estate Damascus, OR

2008-07-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

Stephanie wanted to incorporate her fiances Chinese heritage into their wedding.
She chose to use the traditional red and gold/yellow colors.
Both ceremony and reception were held at the beautiful East Fork Country Estate in Damascus, OR.
The flowers included; gladiolus, roses, freesia, gerberas and alstromeria.

6.28.08 Mandy & Brian -Tualatin, OR

2008-06-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

Mandy is very much of a girly-girl so she chose hot pink for her wedding. Mandy's style was a princess/fairy tale wedding.
Mandy really loved her bouquet-she even had me re-create it again for her 1st anniversary. Mandy was great to work with and she also refereed 3 of her close friends to me, who all got married that same summer.

Here is her glowing review:

"Lora, You are Amazing! Thank you for everything! If you ever need a reference I would love to be one! The flowers were amazing and more then I could have hoped for!
Thanks!"
~Mandy

6.22.08 Anna & Derek -Camas, WA

2008-06-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

Derek and Anna were a wonderful young couple to work with.
Both the ceremony and reception was held at her church in Camas, WA.
Anna had an exquisite taste in colors and textures and I was honored to bring those ideas to life through her wedding flowers.
Anna's bouquet included cymbidium orchids, roses, freesia, lily grass and fiddle head fern. Everything turned out absolutely stunning. Green and brown is one of my favorite color combination's-so natural and pure.

6.21.08 Vivianne & Matt -Persimmon Country Club -Gresham, OR

2008-06-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

This was a last minute request to do wedding flowers. Most weddings I book are anywhere from 4 months to 1 year out. This was only few weeks out, so I was rushing to get everything organized and ready to go.
Persimmon Golf Curse is a beautiful place to get married outdoors in the summer time.
Once again, the cake was provided by Helen Bernhard Bakery
www.helenbernhardbakery.com
Overall this wedding turned out just perfect!!!

6.14.08 Holly M. Holiday Inn /Shakespeare Rose Garden

2008-06-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

Holly had a very classic and romantic wedding with roses and calla lilies in pale pink and ivory tones.

6.4.08 Mandy's Bridal Shower

2008-06-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Mandy was having a Cinderella/Fairy Tale themed Bridal Shower so she chose blue, white and silver as her colors.
Centerpieces consist of roses, calla lilies, freesia and hydrangea
I also did Mandy's wedding flowers a few months later.

6.1.08 Konnie -Bell Tower Chapel -Boring, OR

2008-06-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

Konnie had a very small wedding with just family and friends at the Bell Tower Chapel. She only needed two bouquets: the Bridal and the Maid of Honor as well as some boutonnieres.
This has got to be the third time I had to re-create this exact bouquet. The first time I designed it was in 2006. It is a very fun and colorful bouquet and perfect for a summer wedding.

5.24.08 Ceanna & Greg- Portland Yacht Club

2008-05-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

This was a beautiful wedding on a spring day.
Ceanna chose a traditional Rose and Stephanotis bouquet to complement her beautiful gown.
This wedding had a unique set up, there were no Groomsmen! There were 4 female attendants; 2 played the role of the Bridesmaids (wearing blue dresses) and the other 2 were there as groomsmen (wearing orange dresses.)
The orange bouquets of calla lily, roses and tulips looked fantastic against the blue dresses.
Once again, we had the pleasure of working with the Powers Studios, who provided the beautiful photos. Thank you Ben. www.powersoregon.com

Mother's Day 2008

2008-05-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

Some fun lavender and white arrangements for Mothers Day. I really love the short centerpiece with roses, freesia and stock-it had a wonderful scent.
The tall design was created for my friends' mother -who loves big and fancy flowers.

5.10.08 Michelle -McMenamins Kennedy School

2008-05-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Michelle got married at the beautiful Kennedy School. She chose to go with bright summer colors -hot pink and lime green.
The wedding had a very laid back and casual atmosphere. Michelle wanted a really fun wedding and it really was.

3.22.08 Jessica & Jesse -The Benson Hotel

2008-03-22T19:30:00.000-07:00

Jessica was refereed to me by her best friend Mandy. They both got married in 2008, only few months apart.
I loved the simplicity of all pale pink roses and petals for Jessica's wedding. The Benson Hotel was absolutely beautiful as always.
Jessica is a trained ballet dancer which did not surprise me that she chose pale pink and ivory for her wedding colors.
The wedding cake has got to be the largest cake I have decorated. The photo does not do it justice. The bottom layer had to have been around 24"
I am 5'3, so it was quite difficult placing flowers on the top of the cake, it was a very tall cake provided by Lamb's Thiftway.
Jessica had a very traditional and classic atmosphere, which reflected her personal style she is also a talented make up artist www.jessicabelknap.com
Once again, the photos were provided by Powers Studios. www.powersoregon.com

3.15.08 Heidi -MAC Club Portland, OR

2008-03-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

This was the second wedding for today.
Heidi's wedding colors were chocolate brown, light blue and ivory.
Bridal bouquet consisted of roses, hydrangea and stephanotis.

3.15.08 Jody -Mcmenamins Edgefield Troutdale, OR

2008-03-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

Jody had a beautiful spring wedding at the Mcmenamins Edgefield in Troutdale, OR
She chose roses and pale pink tulips for her wedding.
I really loved Jody's bouquet (the photo does not do it justice) It was very large and full of tulips. The only downfall-it weighed a ton.
This has got to be one of my favorite colors for tulips!!!

3.8.08 Ilona M. -Tigard, OR

2008-03-08T23:47:00.000-08:00

This was a pretty classic spring wedding with pastel colors.
Bridal bouquet consisted of roses, calla lilies and hydrangea.

3.8.08 Janice L. -Gray Gables Estate

2008-03-08T23:19:00.000-08:00

Janice had a classic red and white wedding with a traditional cascade wedding bouquet. This was the second of the two weddings I did today.
The beautiful photos were provided by Impression Arts Photography

2.23.08 Wendy & Curry -Portland Polish Club

2008-02-23T18:04:00.000-08:00

Wendy was referred to me by Erica, who was one of my brides in 2006.
This was another red and white colored weddings -such a popular color combination.
Wendy's cascade bridal bouquet is one of my all time personal favorites.
Bouquet included roses, calla lilies, cymbidium orchids, aspedistra, lily grass & ruscus.
I always enjoy working with Powers Studios. They do an amazing job at photography.
www.powersoregon.com
The beautiful and classic cake was designed by Helen Bernhard Bakery www.helenbernhardbakery.com

8.25.07 Erica & Micah -Gray Gables Estate.

2007-08-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite 2007 weddings. Erica was the sweetest person to work with. She chose her colors and left the design up to me!!! (Gotta love those!!!)
It took a lot of flowers and time to create the stunning display of 15" flower pomander balls that lined the aisle.
I used roses, cymbidium orchids, freesia in Erica's bouquet. The BM bouquets were a smaller version of the bridal bouquet.
The bright colored flowers looked studding against the black BM dresses.
The Beautiful cake was provided by http://www.beavertonbakery.com
Nicole Wickens at http://www.nicolewickens.com/http://www.greendoorphotography.com captured the beautiful day.
Everything turned out amazing!
Congrats to Erica and Micah!!!

Here's few words from the happy bride.

“Lora, I just wanted to say thank you again, for the AMAZING job you did at the wedding. The flowers were so MUCH BETTER than I had even hoped for!!! You are so amazingly talented....thank you for all of your hard work. I was blown away by the quality of your work. .”

8.18.07 Tonya & Emery -Vancouver, WA

2007-08-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

This was a very small and intimate wedding at Tonya's parents backyard in Vancouver, WA.

Here is Tonya's review:

"OH WOW...the flowers were absolutely gorgeous!! They were exactly what I wanted. I had so many people asking about who did our flowers.
We absolutely loved our flowers! You did a wonderful job and I will definitely recommend you.
Thank you so much!!!"
~Tonya

8.18.07- 25th Anniversary

2007-08-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

This was my parents 25th anniversary. It was a lot of fun. My sister and I did all the planning and it was a surprise party. I chose to add lavender color with the traditional white and silver for the silver anniversary.
I was shocked that we even pulled this off! We rented 2 large tents, tables, chairs, etc and invited over 50 guests and it was all held in my parents backyard.
We had my aunt and uncle take them out of the house for a few hours. We had to rush to get everything ready in time, before they got home.
To top this off, I also had a wedding today. Its a good thing it was also held in Vancouver. So I sneaked out for a little while to deliver the flowers and then came right back to the party.
My parents really enjoyed their surprise party!!!

8.11.07 Megan &Brad -Abernathy Center Oregon City, OR

2007-08-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

Megan had a very unique color combination -lavender and blue. I have not had a request for those two colors since. It was a gorgeous wedding at the beautiful Abernathy Center.
Megan chose the colors and left the design and flower choices up to me.
The results are beautiful and so fresh.

Here is Megan's Review:

“Thank you so much for all of your hard work. The floral arrangements you designed were beautiful & really made the wedding even more beautiful. You did such a great job! I cannot even describe how satisfied we were. Thank you again, for all of your help in making our wedding the most remarkable & memorable wedding ever!! I will be sure to refer you to all of my friends & family. I highly recommended you to the Abernathy Center staff as well.”

7.27.07 Bree W. -Lake House at Blue Lake Park Fairview, OR

2007-07-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

Bree was a great bride to work with. She was open to suggestions and was very easy going. The wedding venue-Lake House at Blue Lake Park was absolutely stunning.
Here is a review from Bree:

"Thank you so much for doing such an amazing job on our flowers, they were so beautiful! My bouquet turned out better than I ever could have imagined and the brides maids bouquets were stunning as well! This sounds silly but the toss bouquet was so pretty I almost didn't want to toss it! : ) Thank you again for making the whole process from picking out flowers to delivery so smooth, I will be certain to recommend you to anyone who needs a wedding florist!
Thank you a million times!"
-Bree

6.23.07 Tammi & Matt -Salem, OR

2007-06-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

Tammi and Matt had a small intimate wedding at their home in Salem, OR.
They chose royal blue and yellow for the wedding colors.

Here is Tammi's review:

"Thank you so much for everything. The flowers were EXQUISITE!! You are an exceptional vendor who made the stresses of the day melt away. If you would like a written recommendation please let me know. Thank you again, best of luck with your weddings."
~Tammie

6.23.07 Angela & David -The Overlook House Portland, OR

2007-06-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

This is my second wedding today.
Angela's wedding colors were white, lavender and sage green.
Her style was very traditional with a little vintage flair.
Both ceremony and reception were held outside at the beautiful venue called The Overlook House in Portland, OR. This was my first time there and I would love to be back.

Here is Angela's Review:

“The flowers were great; I especially loved the bridesmaids’ bouquets. You captured exactly what I wanted—they were my favorite. The colors, flowers, and textures chosen were excellent and accented the dresses wonderfully. My bouquet was great and big; the greens around the bottom were unique and I liked it. Thank you for being on-time, organized, and flexible. Thank you for helping us pin the corsages/boutonnieres on and finding all of the right people and placements. The meetings we had to plan and look at pictures were definitely helpful for both of us to get to know each others styles. You took my ideas, suggestions, and pictures into consideration and it showed in your work. I will definitely recommend your services to others and will keep your information for future reference.”
~Angela L

Welcome to my Blog.

2006-03-24T21:48:00.000-08:00

I have finally gotten around to creating my blog; to post my latest and greatest wedding flowers photos.
Please don't take my photos without permission, I work very hard on each and every wedding.
Enjoy!!!