We've got bouquets on the brain, so we figured we'd hop over to The Full Bouquet [florist Holly Chapple's blog] to share some of our favorite bouquets from the DC flower queen.
If you've yet to settle on a florist, be sure to check out Holly's work-- we promise you won't be disappointed, and she's an absolute doll to work with!
Though the weather has certainly had its fair share of ups and downs these days, spring is certainly headed our way! We thought we'd share some garden party wedding inspiration from around the web to celebrate!
[Inspiration Board 1 via Bklyn Bride, 2 via The Bride's Cafe, 3-7 via Style Me Pretty]
If you're planning a wedding that will be simple and subtle yet rustic and chic, pinecones are the perfect accent. See for yourself!
[1 Love & Lavender, 2 Wedding Chicks, 3 Style Me Pretty]
It's the most wonderful time of the year! OK, well not quite yet-- but it is certainly time to start thinking about holiday preparations. Between gifts to wrap and parties to plan and huge meals to cook, there's so much to do this time of year that little things can sometimes fall through the cracks. Well, we're here to remind you to order some stunning stationery to send season's greetings to your loved ones both near and far. Now is the perfect time, as Smock [one of our favorite paperies] is offering a stellar holiday deal on letterpressed greeting card envelopes!
Here are some of the gorgeous options that would be sure to make any recipient feel merry and bright!
As with all Smock products, holiday cards are completely customizable and totally eco-friendly. Give us a call or shoot us an email [202.333.6162 or [email protected]] to take advantage of this awesome deal!
[Photos courtesy of Smock]
In early August, Hitched Invitations Manager [and self-proclaimed paper lover] Annie, was lucky enough to tour the offices of one of our most beloved stationery vendors, Smock. Below is an in depth recap of what was undoubtedly one of the most exciting days of her life.
Annie: At the beginning of this month, I took a little road trip to Syracuse, NY. I figured since I was in the neighborhood, I'd drop in on my favorite paperie, Smock, and take a look around. For those of you who aren't familiar with Smock, they are a creative, eco-friendly letterpress company. At Hitched, we carry their Wedding Invitation albums, and the company's wide range of design options and flexibility makes them a huge hit with our brides!
Erica was kind enough to give me a tour, and I literally felt like a kid in a candy store. It was awesome! As someone who has such an afinity for their products, it was so amazing to see where and how they produce everything.
Right in the lobby, Smock has a mock-shop set up with display ideas for their invitation samples and everyday items. I love the invitation tree idea!
Inside, there were sheets of decorative paper and stacks upon stacks of beautiful boxes. Heaven!
My favorite part of the tour? The rows of old letterpresses and shelves of ink colors.
I left the building begging my husband to move us to New York so I could spend time at Smock everyday. If you love creative stationery and are looking for a luxurious, eco-friendly company to produce the perfect invitations for your big day, then give us a call [202.333.6162], and we'll book an appointment for you to view the Smock albums. Whether you find something that you love as-is, or work with us to design your own creations, we know you'll be head-over-heels in love.
Thanks so much to Annie and the folks at Smock for giving us the inside scoop on this fabulous paperie!
[Photos by Annie Thompson, except for last photo from Smock]
February is flying by, and spring is in the air... and with spring comes beautiful weather and gorgeous flowers! With flowers on the brain, we thought we'd spotlight one of our favorite DC florists, Sidra Forman of Flowers by Sidra. We hope you enjoy her insight and expertise!
Q: Where should I start when looking for floral inspiration?
Sidra Forman: The first question I always ask is for the couple to give me a few words to describe the vision for the wedding. The bride that I met with this morning said "Polka dance party!" No matter what the vision may be, this seems like a good place to start. Other good descriptions I have recently heard are: welcoming, comfortably elegant, old Hollywood, organic, and lush.
Q: Are there good resources online for determining what flowers will be in season for my wedding?
SF: To answer your question I just googled, "seasonal wedding flowers" and found several good sights. I would say that these are helpful starting places, but it's really best to talk with your florist to find out about seasonal local flowers and the florist's specific resources near and far.
Q: How did you get started with floral design?
SF: Growing up, there were often fresh flowers in my house-- we picked them from the garden, foraged for them in the woods and occasionally bought bunches to bring home and arrange. My mother was comfortable arranging flowers and it never seemed intimidating. When I moved away from home, fresh cut flowers were something I often indulged in. However, I started arranging flowers much more often (and in greater quantity) when we opened our restaurant Rupperts in DC. From day one, and for the following 8 years that we were open, in addition to my duties as pastry and sous chef, I became the florist. We always had at least two very large arrangements and several smaller ones and I started to explore and discover sources for flowers, giving me the chance to make a whole lot of flower arrangements. The first several weddings I did flowers for were a result of people coming to eat, seeing the flowers and asking me to do flowers for their weddings.
Q: What are some of your favorite flowers for wedding bouquets?
SF: I think one of the things I like about flowers is that the best ones depend on the season, which keeps it interesting and always new. Every season something surprises me and that might be what I enjoy the most! In the spring, summer and fall, many flowers come from local growers and my own urban garden. In the winter and for flowers that are not grown around here, I rely heavily on the Dutch auction. I have a broker in Holland who I order from on Tuesday morning and the flowers are on my doorstep by Thursday morning when I wake up. I also have excellent sources throughout the US and the world. I make an effort to ensure that the flowers I use leave as little negative environmental impact as possible and are raised and processed using fair labor practices.
A few of my favorite things, though? In the spring– sweet peas, peonies, white forsythia, herbs. In the summer– chocolate vine, sunflowers, garden roses, zinnia, cosmos. In the fall– rose hips, dahlias, hydrangeas, salvia. In the winter– Dutch tulips, New York State anemones, French ranunculus, local forced quince.
Q: What are the best ways to cut down on cost when it comes to my flowers?
SF: More flowers in fewer spots. Determine what is important to you-- it is not necessary to put flowers everywhere, but make an impact where you do decide to put them. For example, maybe just put votives on cocktail tables and skip the flowers, but put more of your budget into the centerpieces. I also find that grouping small vases for a single centerpiece uses less flowers than one large centerpiece, while still giving a fairly abundant feeling. Often I also loan empty vases so the bridesmaids bouquets can be reused in various spots during the reception. If a bride has a budget in mind I am always happy to explore ways to make the most of it.
Q: How should I prepare for the initial meeting with a potential florist?
SF: I always encourage brides to bring any photos of flower arrangements and other inspiration that they do or do not like. But if they don't have photos, we can usually figure it out during the first meeting. After looking at photos together of my previous work, it is always easy to determine likes and dislikes and come up with a vision. This is the fun part! My favorite part about doing wedding flowers is the collaboration-- determining a plan while taking into account seasonal availability and feasibility. I also like to see images of the bride's gown and bridesmaid dresses if they have been chosen, as well as any other visual elements that have already been determined-- because in my mind these tell more about the wedding that words can.
Thanks so much to Sidra for all these helpful hints on an often-overlooked wedding topic! Any other vendors you'd like to see us feature on our blog? Shoot us an email to [email protected].
[All photos by the oh-so-talented Kate Headley, and all flowers pictured were designed by Flowers by Sidra]
