San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Florist

Bridal Showcase Promo Code--Wedding Salon's Bridal Showcase at the London West Hollywood, 3/21/2011, 4-9pm

2011-03-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

We are excited to share with our readers the promotion code to attend an exclusive bridal showcase hosted by the Wedding Salon at the posh London West Hollywood on March 21, 2011, 4-9pm. Please see details and promo code above.

2011 Winner of Brides' Choice Award from WeddingWire

2011-02-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

We are excited to be the winner of the Brides' Choice Award for three years in a row now! This award is given by WeddingWire.com, one of the online leading bridal resources.

Autumn Wedding in the Wine Country

2010-11-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

Catering: Wine Valley Catering
Cake: Sweetie Pies Bakery
DJ: AMS Wine Country AMS Wine Country
Flowers: Grandiflora
Hair & makeup: Amber Owen
Lighting: the Lux productions
Photography: Andre Niesing
Venue: Nicholson Ranch Winery

Mid Summer Wedding Celebration

2010-09-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

Flowers: Grandiflora
Gown: Mariage Couture
Photography: Junshien Photography
Venue: The Gardens at Heather Farm
Wedding Planner: Simply Sparkling Events

Wedding Gown Alternatives

2010-06-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

Wedding has increasingly become a more personalized experience throughout recent years. It is no longer "what we should do" as in accord to traditions, but "what we want to do to make it our very own journey". Many couples prefer to think out of the box, and brides are now more open to wearing gowns that are less than traditional.

High end retails or department stores such as Saks and Neiman Marcus always carry fantastic designer gowns in the evening wear section. I came across the following gowns while browsing Neiman Marcus' sales section online, and was amazed by the price tags.

Here are my favs, and all are made of silk or chiffon. Silk and chiffon are natural materials, and hence a green alternative to synthetics such as polyester, other wise know as satin. What more amazing then the fabrics used in these gowns are the price points, all under $300. It is almost impossible to find a wedding gown in natural fabric that is less $1500 or $2000 in a bridal salon.

This gown by Aidan Mattox combines a statement bib necklace with a Grecian-inspired silhouette. All that you need to add is perhaps a pair of simple earrings. $252. Image & Source: Neiman Marcus.

If "something blue" is what you must have, this is a gorgeous alternative to the bridal white. Don't you just love the ribbon details on the shoulder? This silk and chiffon Aidan Mattox gown is friendly priced at $264. Image & Source: Neiman Marcus.

Another one-shoulder silhouette that as become all the rage. I especially adore the pleating details around the bodice. Design by Xeniya and constructed in silk, this gown is priced at $210. Image & Source: Neiman Marcus.

Just the perfect short gown for a city hall ceremony or elopement. The origami-liked bow is a great departure from a typical bow as we know it, and provides just enough drama without going over the top. Constructed in silk and designed by Robert Rodriguez. $297. Image & Source: Neiman Marcus.

Featured on San Francisco Style Unveiled!

2010-06-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to see Kana and Phil's east meets west wedding selected as a featured wedding on Style Unveiled. Special thanks to photographer Kevin Chin for capturing all the fantastic details. To see the full feature, click on San Francisco Style Unveiled.

Spring Bouquet in Classic White

2010-05-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

Wedding at the Claremont Hotel

2010-04-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

Accessory: Jin Wang
Cake: Katrina Rozelle
Flowers: Grandiflora
Gown: Nicole Miller
Photography: Jessamyn Photography
Venue: The Claremont Hotel Club and Spa

DIY Chandelier for Wedding or Home

2010-04-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

Isn't this a fantastic idea to give a second life to plastic bottles? I spotted this display at an Anthropologie store. The yellow and blue pairing is refreshing. Feeling inspired, I immediately conjured up images of blue distressed wooden picnic tables and benches decked out with yellow daffodils, all against a pristine white sand beach.

Spring Bouquet with Ranunculus

2010-03-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

Spring is the season blessed with various bulb blossoms--frequently favored flowers for wedding include ranunculus, tulips, daffodils, narcissus, muscari, hyacinth, fritillaria, just to name a few. Ranunculus come in a wide array of color choices and possess the full petal appearance that is echoed in the current bridal fashion trend, as we see fuller gown silhouette adorned with ruffle-liked details.

Grandiflora on Style Me Pretty

2010-02-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

Karen and Jay's uber modern wedding at the De Young Museum was recently featured by Style Me Pretty. Inspired by elements of the reception site--the vibrant orange and fuchsia pendant lights and the geometric black Grcic chairs in the De Young Cafe, we picked out orange, fuchsia for most floral elements, using grey as a neutral medium, and a bit of black for accent. Karen and Jay are adventurous when it comes to designs, and designed all the invitation, program, menu, even label for the bottled water.

This wedding would not have been possible had it not been for Karen and Jay's distinctive style, and a whole lot of creative vendors behind the scene. Special thanks goes to the ladies at Simply Sparkling Events for bringing the team together and Lilia of Lilia Photo for documenting the day.

For more amazing images, go to Style Me Pretty.

Grandiflora Receives 2010 Bride's Choice Award

2010-02-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce that Grandiflora is once again the recipient of the 2010 Bride's Choice Award from Wedding Wire. We couldn't have done it without our brides and grooms' support.

Ikebana--arrangement with horizontal emphasis

2010-01-31T17:28:00.001-08:00

As a life-long student of Sogetsu ikebana, here is a horizontal ikebana arrangement I made with cymbidium, celosia, ming fern, and agonis flexuosa.

A Wedding at the Campbell Garden and Hall

2010-01-19T12:54:00.000-08:00

Catering: Cater Marin
Chairs: Especially Yours
Flowers: Grandiflora
Invitation/Program: Wild Apple Studio
Music: Joel Nelson Productions
Photography: Kevin Chin Photography
Venue: Campbell Garden and Hall

Bouquet for a Blushing Bride

2009-12-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

Grandiflora Featured on Wedding Nouveau!

2009-11-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks Fri of Wedding Nouveau for featuring Jessica and Arshan's wedding, a celebration that fuses western with Persian traditions. Get some practical advice from the bride from this thoughtful article from Fri.

See the full length feature and more beautiful images on Wedding Nouveau.

Purely Orchids

2009-11-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

Vanda and Cymbidium orchids in orange, rust, and cream.

White and Purple Bouquet

2009-11-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

White phlox is combined with purple blue echinops in this fragrant bouquet.

Pink Roses Bouquet

2009-11-04T13:39:00.000-08:00

Pale shades of pink may not be the most trendy color choice, but these soft blushing hues still capture many brides' fancy, and remain a timeless classic choice.

Green Kale Bouquet

2009-10-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

Ornamental kale is one of my personal favorite material. It is really a foliage material, but takes on the shape of a big blossom. Whether it's entirely green, in variegated green with cream, or with purple, it is flexible to take on a bucolic or a modern appearance.

A Seaside Affair at Berkeley Marina

2009-10-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

Chairs and Sashes: Especially Yours
Flowers: Grandiflora
Linen: La Travola Linen
Music: Joel Nelson Productions
Venue: Doubletree Hotel Berkeley Marina

Inspired by the ocean view at the Berkeley Marina, we used locally grown blue green hydrangea and white star fish as the main ingredients for this seaside affair.

Burgundy and Pink Calla Bouquet

2009-10-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

A bouquet of pink and burgundy calla lilies framed by a collar of explosion grass.

Our Designs Featured on Wedding Nouveau

2009-10-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

I was pleasantly surprised to find our works featured on Wedding Nouveau. Thanks for showing off our creations! For the full feature, click the link above.

Hanakubari--Part I

2009-10-15T15:44:00.000-07:00

In modern western floristry, floral foam is a commonly used medium for holding the flowers in place, typically camoufloaged in an opaque container such that the oasis is not visible. For eastern arrangement like ikebana, a metal floral frog is used.

Yet natural botanical material and other industrial materials can be used to create structures to hold the flowers in place, and the mechanics used to hold the flowers together can be a design element in itself. Hanakubari is the precise art of this technique. One of the modern ikebana school in Japan, Mami Flower Design School, extended this concept and introduce it to a greater general public.

I recently attended a workshop conducted by one of the master teachers from Mami Flower Design School, Keiko Okada, and observed her magic in making hanakubari.

A wire frame topped with thin black bamboo segments as flower holders.

Segments of horsetail are bounded together to create a floating structure in the flower container. Because horsetails have a hollow straw-liked structure, flowers can be then added to the horsetails.

Another closer look at the horsetail hanakubari. This floating structure will turn with wind, making the entire arrangement dance with air movement.

Disposable chopsticks are attached to the rim of a martini glass vase by the use of tension of these chopsticks before the two halves are separated. Vine materials swirl around beautifully to finish this design, best appreciated from bird's eyes view.

Another look of the details, this martini glass arrangement is approximately 18"-20" across.

Split branch technique is frequently used in ikebana. If you ever wondered how a branch is held at a certain percarious angle in a vase with the opening much larger than the branch diameter, this is one of the few popular ikebana techniques utilized.
Noticed that the branch is splitted twice, one time to secure the branch to the rim of the flower container, and one more time to hold the blades of foliage and the flower.

A Bouquet of Orange Calla and White Roses

2009-10-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

An orange and white bouquet of mango calla lilies and eskimo roses, accented by fuchsia gomphrena and pale green berzilias. Green ribbons of two contrasting textures provide the finishing touch.

A White Yellow and Green Wedding

2009-10-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

Catering: Miraglia Catering & Event
Flowers: Grandiflora
Gown: Marisa Bridals
Linen: Classic Party Rentals
Photography: Jade Studio
Venue-Ceremony: Church of the Nativity Menlo Park
Venue-Reception: Palo Alto Women’s Club

Brown and Green Bouquet

2009-10-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

This is a mostly green bouquet of green hydrangeas, green cymbidiums, with a splash of brown provided by sunflowers without petals. I like the bold graphic effect provided by the brown centers of the sunflowers--without petals, the shape is more prominant and modern. If you are a fan of sunflowers, you can extend its vase life by first displaying a sunflower bouquet as is, and as the petals start to wilt, peel them back to enjoy the petal-less look. Our clients are often surprised as they find out that the "green sunflower" is just an ordinary sunflower without its petals.

San Francisco Sample Gown Sale 40-75% Off

2009-09-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

Where: Jin Wang, 111 Maiden Lane, 3rd fl., San Francisco

When: Now until 10/10/09

What: Sample Gown Sale 40-75% off --sample wedding gowns and dresses from various designers including Jin Wang, Angel Sanchez, Jenny Packham, Amy Michelson, Junko Yoshioka, Domo Adami, Enzoani, Model Novias, Nicole Miller, Youlin, Reva Mivasagar, Jim Heljm, and more.

photo credit: Lion Photography

Wedding at Mills College Chapel

2009-09-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

Discovering new venue is always exciting. Being still relatively new to the Bay Area, we are constantly encountering venues that we have not yet worked at. Through a recent wedding, I had the pleasure to discover the Chapel at Mills College in Oakland. The space unfolds like a treasure--once you enter through the discreet double doors and continue down a brief corridor, a surprise circular sanctuary unfurls and soars. The circular floor plan embodies an intimate atmosphere, and I was surprised to learn from my bride that it held 150 guests nicely. Designed by architect Charles Warren Callister, the mid century structure (1958 to be precise) is a juxaposition of wood and concrete, shadow and light.

For event rental contact,click here

A Bouquet in Cream and Avocado

2009-09-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

Burgundy Bouquet with Feathers

2009-09-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

Framed by a collar of burgundy feathers, red roses and rust orchids made up this vintage inspired bouquet.

Restaurant.com Promo Code

2009-08-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

Restaurant.com is having a 80% off sale on top of its already great savings. Discount code is TASTE, offer valid until 8/31/09 11:59 PM PST.

Lemon and Lime Bouquet

2009-08-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Bouquets for young flower girls in the colors of lemon and lime.

Real Wedding--Hacienda de las Flores

2009-08-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Cake: Patisserie Lafayette
Caterer: Wild Thyme Catering
Flowers: Grandiflora
Linens: La Tavola
Photography: Great Expressions
Venue: Hacienda de las Flores, Moraga

White Daisy Bouquet

2009-08-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

Daisies are sweet and unpretentious. We paired them with a contrasting grosgrain ribbon with top stitch detail for a more tailored look.

Fuchsia Rose Bouquet

2009-08-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

Vibrant pinks such as Barbie pink, raspberry pink, and fuchsia have lately became popular color choices. Roses in various pink and fuchsia are combined with summer pink celosia and burgundy scabiosa for textural interests.

Oh Dumplings!

2009-08-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to an unexpected early afternoon traffic along the 101 Fwy, I recently had a surprising culinary encounter on the way to visit our friend. We detoured off the freeway, and ended up on Broadway in Burlingame, a main street dotted with mom and pop style stores that felt like they are steeped in local traditions rather than cosmetic glitzy fanfares.

A sign in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese caught my attention. It's a dumpling house on the corner of Broadway and Laguna. Or more precisely, Grace Garden is a restaurant specializing in Shangdong cuisine, of which flour-based staples, such as noodles, buns, dumplings are the specialties. Yes, there are other dishes on the menu, but whenever I come across a Shangdong restaurant that handmade their dumplings, I had to try them.

The boiled dumplings (port with leek) and steamed Shao Long Bao dumplings were amazing. Shao Long Bao is more of a Shanghainese dumpling, and is "the item" to try at well-known Ding Tai Fung dumpling house in the Los Angeles area, or Arcadia to be precise. Since moving from LA, we have not found a satisfying dumpling place. My homemade version is not bad, but I don't have the expertise to make the dumpling skin myself and always had to rely on the mediocre machine-made variety from Asian grocery stores. At the end of our meal, we couldn't resist but bought more dumplings in its frozen-and-ready-to-cook form as a quick rescue for a "I'm too lazy to cook" weekday dinner. The home cooked version is equally good. The dumplings are as plump and juicy as the ones we had at Grace Garden.

Grace Garden Restaurant
1200 Broadway
Burlingame, CA 94010-3424
650.343.3322

Wedding Gown Sale at Glamour Closet

2009-08-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Glamour Closet is hosting its End of Summer Sale now through August 15. All wedding gowns are marked off an additional 10%-25% on top of their every day sample sale prices. With two locations, one in San Francisco, and the other in Los Angeles, Glamour Closet operates on a walk-in basis only, and does not take appointment.

A Summer Bouquet of White and Green

2009-08-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

White with green is a timeless classic combination. We combined white hydrangeas, white mini calla lilies, and freesia for its subtle fragrance, for this summer bouquet.

Real Wedding--a Persian Celebration

2009-08-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

Cake: Masse’s Pastries
Flowers: Grandiflora
Gown: Jin Wang
Music: The Ebrahimi Brothers
Photography: Lion Photography
Sofreh Design: Angel’s Touch
Venue: MacArthur Park Palo Alto

Featured on Style Me Pretty

2009-07-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

Our eco-friendly botanical flower ring pillows are featured on Style Me Pretty today!

The design of the ring pillow follows a process of blending the botanical elements left over from the wedding floral designs instead of ordering extra materials for its creation. The rest is a truly organic design process, inspired by the mood and feel of the location and the textures and palette of the flowers.

Here's one of the featured ring pillows designed for a wedding ceremony that took place at a seaside white chapel overlooking the Pacific.

photo by Suzanne Sizer

Orange Bouquet

2009-07-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

Tangerine orange dahlias, yellow cymbidium orchids, and orange vanda orchids compose this cheerful summer bouquet.

Real Wedding-Brazilian Room

2009-07-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

Accommodations: The Claremont Resort & Spa
Catering: Carrie Dove Catering
Chair Covers: Especially Yours
Flowers: Grandiflora
Photography: Ko Photography
Venue: Brazilian Room

Pink and Lavender Bouquet

2009-07-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

A romantic and fluffy bouquet with pale pink dahlias, lavender roses, and a small splash of greens, finished with French wired ombre ribbons.

Small Space Living--77 sq. ft. in Florida

2009-07-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

Some weeks back I came across an article on SF Gate about small space living in a mere 77 square feet. I've always love small space living and admire those who live in it--it forces us to face the inevitable question of what is needed versus what is desired. My smallest ever apartment was a 6-tatami-mat room (approx. 9' by 12' space) in Japan, with a bit more elbow room to accommodate a tiny kitchen and bath (those are not in the 6-tatami calculation). I even have my own book collection celebrating the art of small space living, but have never come across any design as compact as 77 sq. ft.

Compelled by the article, I contacted the heroin in the story, Sergio Santos. To my surprise, Sergio replied and shared his journey in downsizing to what he refers to as the"matchbox" NY-styled loft in Florida.

A London-trained architect originally from Brazil, Sergio found himself caught in the midst of the economic and construction downturn with uncertain job prospect, he soon decided to look for a more affordable place to call home. While checking out a room for rent, he noticed a storage room next to it. At a whim, he asked the landlord if he could rent the 77 sq. ft. storage room and got it for $150 a month.

Sergio started downsizing and traded his large furnishings with his previous landlord for pieces of wood in the garden. In early March, Sergio moved into his new place with a much lighter load of belongings, and all the second hand construction materials he had collected and immediately started measuring and sketching--every inch counts.

With a glass shelve, a Formica slab, two fabric covered boards, a door, a mirror, two white ceiling panels, two industrial metallics shelves, and the wood from his previous landlord--Sergio invested another $64 for materials. The matchbox loft was completed after much planning and 16 days of renovation.

Kudos, Sergio, for showing us the possibilities of innovative space design.

Work space with a sleeping loft above.

Decorative shelves that double up as ladders to the loft.

A view into the room.

A bird's eyes view from the sleeping loft of the window banquette with storage beneath.

Sleeping loft equipped with TV and a corner to store clothes. Underneath the sleeping loft is a kitchenette.

To get a walk-through of the space, check out this link at MSNBC.

And yes, there is a bathroom in the hallway for sharing--that was the first immediate question that popped up in my head as I read the article.

Green Bouquet

2009-07-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

A green summer bouquet with jade roses, hypericum berries, green cymbidium orchids, and green anthuriums that paid homage to the the bride's hometown -- Oahu, Hawaii.

Tangerine and Green Bouquet

2009-07-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

A tangerine and green bouquet of roses and hydrangea, designed to complement a purple and gold wedding.

You are Invited!

2009-06-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

Promises and Pearls, a bridal soiree presented by MB Wedding and Event Designs and Especially Yours Chair Covers will take place at the historic Payne Mansion on July 8, 2009. Click here to register as a guest.

Wedding Bouquet -- Ivory, Green, and Magenta

2009-06-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

A bouquet of classic ivory and green with a touch of magenta and burgundy--ivory ranunculus, green dendrobium orchid, green dianthus barbatus, and burgundy uluhe fern curl (a.k.a monkey tail).

Pink Peony Bouquet

2009-06-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

Soft and feather-liked, peony is a very popular flower for late spring and early summer weddings. Fragrant garden roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and cymbidium orchids are used in the making of this pastel pink bouquet. We made this bouquet extra special with our signature bear grass wrapped handle.

Yellow White and Green Bouquet

2009-06-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

A bridal bouquet with sunny yellow roses forming a cheery background for the white ranunculus, green hydrangea, and hypericum to shine through.

Mission Gelato--Best Gelato in Italy?

2009-06-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

Getting daily dosage of gelato is a must when traveling in Italy. Determined to savor the best of the Italian gelato in cities we were visiting, I did an obsessively amount of gelato research before our recent trip.

Armed with my own gelato map that I made in Photoshop, we meandered through the maze-liked streets with high hope. I have to confess that a few gelaterias on my map came highly recommended by an article from well-established newspaper, who shall remain nameless here. Perhaps our anticipation was heightened by the warm weather and the hardship of locating the gelateria, our taste buds became more discriminating and demanding, and we left those gelaterias unsatisfied. After consecutive disappointments, we decided to toss the map and rely on our intuition.

To make our mission more successful, we made some mental notes of "what not to do". We decided to skip the gelateria displaying large mount of ice cream in the style similar to what you see in Coldstone. This turned out to be a good strategy because we later learned that many of those places carried mass-produced gelato from large ice cream manufacturers. Dodging tourist trap is another key--we avoided the tempatation of trying gelato in major tourists areas, or places with prominant signs in English. How did we know that those places were no go? Dehydrated, sweaty, and out of desperation, we had gelato at a few major city squares, and we were sorry that we even went there.

After many trials and errors and tasting of some bad, mediocre, good, and exceptional, the one gelateria that tops our list is Gelato Zeno e Cioccolato in Verona. Not only does Roberto Bonato, its owner and creator, insist on using only fresh seasonal ingredients, he went one step further to use only locally produced ingredients--"low carb" as it's called, meaning low carbon emission. Here's a short video clip from CBS on Gelato Zeno e Cioccolato.

What are the flavors to try? Let Roberto be your guide. Because the flavors change with seasons and the availability of local ingredients, be adventurous and your taste buds will thank you.

Possible the best gelato in Italy, certainly the best of the ones we tried during our trip, it is probably one of the greenest ice creams out there.

Gelato Zeno e Cioccolato
Piazza San Zeno 12a, Verona

Couple more bonuses... Gelato Zeno e Cioccolato is located in Piazza Zeno, where St. Zeno Basilica is located. We were there on the third Saturday of May, and were happy to find a local flea market bustling with actions.

Bridal Gown Sale

2009-06-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

Bridal Image in San Francisco is currently running its Annual Sample Wedding Gown Sale through June 15. Some of the bridal gowns it carries include: Blue by Enzoani, Casablanca, and Pronovias, just to name a few.

Modern Daisy Bouquet

2009-06-03T11:05:00.000-07:00

Even humble daisies could hold center stage and command attention. Combined with the clean and unfussy texture from yoko ono mums and green china berries, this daisy bouquet is modern and refreshing.

Real Wedding--Lavender and Purple

2009-05-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Accommodations: The Palace Hotel
Cake: Masse’s Pastries
Flowers: Grandiflora
Photography: Mischa Photography
Rings: Bvlgari
Venue: Yank Sing Restaurant at Rincon Center

Real Wedding--Murietta's Wells

2009-05-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

Catering: Wente Vineyard

Flowers: Grandiflora

Linen: Pleasanton Rentals

Photography: Tinywater

Venue: Murietta’s Wells

Eco-Friendly and DIY Centerpieces

2009-04-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

Green has become the hottest color for weddings, not only the color green, which as been popular for a while, but the attitude of minimizing the environmental impact.

As we celebrated Earth Day earlier this month, here are a few examples of what a green wedding could look like when it comes to floral decor.

* Simple is Beautiful-- Less is really more. Left: Locally grown yellow roses and green mums nestled in a glass container "framed" by the pristine glass rim--as opposed to having flowers flowing out of the container. Right: The power of repetition is best demonstrated here with simple cymbidium orchid display and candles in multiples.

* Support Local Growers and Use In Season Flowers--Check out these dahlia arrangements in gorgeous vibrant colors--all from a local grower. Dahlias have gained tremendous popularity for summer and early fall weddings.

* Potted Plant DIY Centerpiece--Potted plant are the simplest and most stress free DIY centerpiece a bride can make for the wedding. Not only will the plants live well beyond, the DIY could be done well before the wedding, unlike fresh floral arrangements. Here are two examples from two savvy brides we had last year. One choose to use different succulents in various greens and added small ceramic bird, a motive found in the invitation and program, another choose orchids of various striking colors.

Floral Design:
Grandiflora, except for the DIY pieces

Photo Credit:
Ed Pingol Photography
Jennifer Skog Photography

Light and Glass

2009-04-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

A friend forwarded me the photos he took of this ethereal table scape from a party he attended. The illumination from the back lit table, the shapely glasswares, and scattered flowers made an unforgettable presentation.

Butter and Egg Days in Petaluma

2009-04-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Butter and Egg Days in Petaluma! The festival is held on April 25 and 26 in downtown Petaluma, including an Antique Faire on April 26.

Real Wedding--Elizabeth Gamble Garden

2009-04-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

Like many couples nowadays, one of our spring couples choose to see each other before the ceremony for some fun pre-ceremony photos. Rose of Lion Photography took them to the Elizabeth Gamble Garden in Palo Alto for a spin. Incidentally, the garden also serves as a wedding venue for intimate fair.

The Gift of Life--You Could Save a Life

2009-04-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

My good friend and industry colleague Stacie Tamaki needs your help. Stacie's cousin Tami was recently diagnosed with Myelodysplastia, a condtion otherwised known as MDS. Similar to Leukemia patients, bone marrow transplant is the answer for MDS patients.

Just 4 simple cheek swabs is all you need to join the National Bone Marrow Registry. If matched, you could save a life! Find out how you could help Tami and possibly others in similar need at HelpingTami.org.

Inspired by Easter--eggs and feathers

2009-04-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! Here are some fun arrangements I came across while traveling in Belgium and the Netherlands last Easter.

Floral Interpretation

2009-04-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

Bouquets to Art is an annual fundraising event held at the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park to benefit the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The event had just celebrated its 25th anniversary last month, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to drop by and enjoy the creations and designs of our accomplished colleagues in the Bay Area. Of the many beautiful pieces, my favorite was designed by Rumiko Shiraishi Manako, inspired by a painting by Ed Rusha titled "A Particular Kind of Heaven". I did not attend the opening night event nor met Ms. Shiraishi in person, but was fortunate to get the permission to borrow a photo from Emma Krasov's Art and Entertain me blog showing the floral designer with her creation. In the emails I exchanged with Emma, she expressed that the floral piece "captured the spirit of Ed Rusha's painting precisely." And I could not agree more.

photo by Yuri Krasov

photo by Karen Hsu

As a Green(er) Wedding Floral Designer...

2009-03-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes last month, we were pleasantly surprised to find ourself included in the Common Ground Magazine's green wedding guide in its February issue. It is quite an honor, but I also felt bashful about having the halo of the green label on me.

Throughout the course of my floral design career, I have never felt comfortable enough to categorize ourself as "green floral designers". While there are quite a few organic flowers available, most of the time we can not be certain if the foliage and textural botanical materials we would use with the flowers are considered organic. Fortunately, a lot of foliage materials have local origin, which makes them somewhat greener over their imported counterparts.

As far as our effort of being and becoming greener, we encourage using seasonal flowers because less energy and resources are consumed to produce flowers in its natural growth cycle. Locally grown variety is preferred over imported when qualities are comparable. Since our move from Pasadena/Los Angeles to the Bay Area three years ago, we have established relationships with local gardeners who supply us garden clippings--those may be shapely branches or overgrown bushes that would otherwise be discarded. The widely varied microclimates within the relatively compact (as compare to the Los Angeles area) Bay Area help to nurture a great variety of materials, and our gardener friends always bring us nice surprises.

During our less busy winter/spring months, visiting nurseries and interacting with local growers help us to get a vibe of where happy, well-cared, and healthy flowers come from.

While we continue and strive to be greener in our practice, we look forward to challenges in greener floral and event designs.

Real Wedding--Old St Hilary in Tiburon

2009-03-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

Cake: Fine European Desserts
Dining Wares: Classic Party Rentals
Event Coordination: Amy’s Wedding & Events
Flowers: Grandiflora
Gown: Amsale
Lighting: ATL Events
Linens: Classic Party Rentals
Music: Harpist Michelle Sell and Big Fun Disc Jockeys
Photography: Suzanne Sizer
Transportation :Sausalito Limousine Network and Mr. Toad Trolley
Venue: Old St. Hilary Church and Servino Restaurant

Featured at Preowned Wedding Dresses

2009-02-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

We were invited to write a blog post couple weeks ago for Preowned Wedding Dresses to feature some unique designs on wedding flowers. And it was posted a few days ago! February 25, 2009 to be exact. For bride-to-be and eco-minded brides, this is a great resource. The site is updated frequently; you never know if you would see your dream wedding dress available at the site. Here are a few of our favs, from top to bottom:Rivini, Cymbeline, and Alvina Valenta.

Orchids!

2009-02-25T16:18:00.000-08:00

One of our all time favorite flowers, we adore orchids for their rich varieties, colors, shapes, and graceful lines. Varieties like cymbidium and phalaenopsis are hardy and long lasting.

Behind the Scene with Jin Wang

2009-02-24T16:02:00.000-08:00

A behind the scene look of a collection of wedding gowns hand-selected by Jin Wang at last month's bridal showcase at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco.

Flowers: Grandiflora
Gowns: Jin Wang
Makeup: Stacy McClure and Carrie L’esperance
Photography: Lion Photography

Flower Ring Pillows--Part 2

2009-02-14T09:04:00.000-08:00

Botanical ring pillows are an example of how small detail could add another level of personal touch to your wedding day. Here are a few from our studio. Check out a few more from an earlier post from 1/21/09.

2009 Bride's Choice Award!

2009-02-06T17:48:00.000-08:00

We are very excited and honored to find out that we have been chosen to receive the Bride's Choice Award sponsored by Wedding Wire, a leading online wedding resource. Thanks to you, our brides and grooms, for your love, support, and continuous referrals!

Real Wedding--Aboard Commordore Yacht

2009-02-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

Hosting your wedding on a chartered yacht is a fun way to treat your guests, especially those from out of town, to the waterfront views of San Francisco, Oakland, and a close-up personal view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Get a glimpse into a recent wedding aboard the Chardonnay Commodore.

Juming Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

2009-01-31T13:27:00.000-08:00

I love that Ju Ming's sculptures leave a lot to the imagination--the abstract men, women, boys, and girls were created by the sculptor in what seemed to be effortless manipulation, whether by a slight dent or twist of the metal as in the exhaust pipe figures, or a few chistles to create the sculpture series know as the Tai Chi Series, and the stories among the characters were left to the beholder's interpretation. What seemed effortless, and the less is more approach, is never accidental, and most achieved with deliberation or via subconscious force that is the second nature of the seasoned artist. On our recent trip to Taiwan, Juming Museum was our favorite destination. Located just outside the City of Taipei, it is the only outdoor museum in Taiwan.

Marvelous Pussy Willow

2009-01-28T14:25:00.000-08:00

Our pussy willow tree in the backyard is budding again. The tiny catkins are covered in white silver-ish fur before it flowers. When the pussy willow flowers are fully open, the yellow pollen-bearing anthers are protruding and the stigmas are visible. It looks like a fur ball with yellow pollen at the tips of the fur.

This is the time I hand harvest branches from my tree, and peel the buds to reveal the catkins to preserve the whiter silver color.

Inspired by its graceful lines, I used the pussy willows with orchids in three ikebana-inspired arrangements designed to form one large display for a private function.

Anemone Bouquet

2009-01-25T11:26:00.000-08:00

Anemones are such darling flowers. We recently used them in a bouquet for a bride who asked us to surprise her with any blooms in strong vibrant hues. The combination of fuchsia and purple makes it a strong statement.

Flower Ring Pillows--Part 1

2009-01-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

Ever since we started making flower ring pillow, more brides had added it to their wish lists. The ring pillow design process is more organic and spontaneous, and all of the ring pillows shown here were the result of impromptu design inspired by personal flowers, namely the bouquets and boutonnières.

Real Wedding-Berkeley City Club

2009-01-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

Cake: Katrina Rozelle
Event Coordination: Grisez & Co.
Flowers: Grandiflora
Gown: Kenneth Pool for Amsale
Invitation: Leila Press
Lighting: Elle Music
Linen: La Tavola Linen
Makeup & Hair: Maria O’Reilly
Photography: Kaarin Svendsen and Jenny Vosacek
Venue: Berkeley City Club

Martin Puryear at SF MOMA

2009-01-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

We were lured by SF MOMA's banners around the City featuring sculptor Martin Puryear's work, and were absolutely delighted. Below is an excerpt taken from the website of San Francisco MOMA on Puryear's work:

"Made from a variety of natural materials — including wood, tar, rawhide, and stone — Martin Puryear's distinctive sculptures combine modernist geometry with international craft traditions. Influenced by woodworking, basketry, and construction techniques, the pieces at times resemble familiar objects. By blending cultural references, however, Puryear avoids fixed associations of time and place. This major retrospective charts the artist's career from his first solo show in 1977 to the present. SFMOMA's presentation includes a special installation in the Haas Atrium including Ladder for Booker T Washington (1996), made from a 36-foot-long split sapling, and Ad Astra (2007), a 63-foot-tall work that rises to the museum's fifth-floor bridge."

This exhibit ends on January 25, 2009.

Photo credits from top to bottom:
Douglas Parker
Richard P. Goodbody
David Wharton
Richard Barnes

Hidden Gem--First Church of Christ, Berkeley

2008-12-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

Designed by Bernard Maybeck, the First Church of Christ Scientist in Berkeley is a well-known architectural gem among the design community in the Bay Area, yet it is often overshadowed by Maybeck's Palace of Fine Arts.

This is a little known wedding venue for those planning a wedding in the Bay Area. Fans of the Palace of Fine Arts and the Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco will probably find this church enchanting. Built in 1910, the church is a concrete and heavy timber structure and a manifesto of architectural elements found in Romanesque, Byzantine, and Gothic architecture that somehow coexist in harmony. The first 10 feet of the structure was concrete, as Maybeck was concerned about making a fire resistant building. The main sanctuary is grand and splendid, yet the scale is very human, a common thread found in Maybeck's designs. The side chapel, more commonly known as the Sunday School, has a more intimate feel.

Public tour of the church is organized by the Friends of First Church and takes place on the first Sunday of the month at 12:15 pm. Additional public concerts and events information can be found at Friends of First Church, Berkeley.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-20T08:06:00.000-08:00

Many couples who came in for wedding design consultation had asked me what this piece was about. Two years ago, we created this modern Christmas tree as part of a special project. Incidentally, the patron observes Hanukkah and lives in a house with many wall to ceiling windows. The goal was to have a holiday-inspired botanical piece that fits into its modern surrounding. The 6 feet wide "tree" was designed to rest nicely on a magnificent bench designed and created by Oakland artist Garry Knox Bennett.

Happy Holidays.

Real Wedding-Limn Gallery

2008-12-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

Caterer: Caridwyn & Sons

Flowers: Grandiflora

Photography: Erin Beach Photography

Venue: Limn Gallery

Real Wedding-20s Glamour

2008-12-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a sneak preview of one of our wedding designs inspired by the 20's--shimmery metallic hues, rich embroidery, and feathers were incorporated into the table top design.

Dining by Design 2008

2008-12-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

We were priviledged to have the opportunity to attend the Dining by Design event organized by the Design Industrieds Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) in the San Francisco Design Center. Each year DIFFA organizes a series of Dining by Design events held in major cities to benefit hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide. Each design team is to create a dining space/environment for ten people. Here are some favorites.

Art Meets Geometry--Origami

2008-12-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

It is amazing what a piece of paper could be given life to become a three dimensional creation--and origami artists have mastered this art form. I came across this postcard in Japantown, which led me to visit the origami exhibit at the National Japanese American Historical Society located at 1684 Post Street. One of my favorites is the "Peace Sphere" by artistLinda Mihara. The sphere is formed by connected origami cranes, all of which folded from one piece of paper with strategic cuts to leave the negative space between the cranes. An additional origami exhibit is held concurrently at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch at 100 Larkin Street. The last day for both exhibits is December 31, 2008.

Real Wedding-Berkeley Faculty Club

2008-11-30T15:20:00.000-08:00

Cake: Montclair Bakery

DJ: Sound in Motion

Flowers: Grandiflora

Makeup: Studio Abasi

Petits Fours: Dragonfly Cakes

Photographer: Ed Pingol Photography

Venue: Berkeley Faculty Club

* The bride's friends and family created series of green centerpieces using ornamental grass and succulents. Each long table was finished with candles and black river rocks. With some care and love, the succulents and grass will be sustainable for years of enjoyment.

Bridesmaid Dresses Under $100--& She Would Love to Wear Again

2008-11-28T16:14:00.000-08:00

There are amazing marked downs on J Crew Dresses that may be used as bridesmaid dresses. Your friends will love you for picking out a dress that they could enjoy again on different occasions. Here are a few of our favorite for under $100.

Real Wedding-Cambell Hall and Garden

2008-11-24T15:57:00.000-08:00

Jill and Antonio's wedding was a celebration of union that reflected her Jewish lineage and his Mexican heritage. Shades of red, burgundy, tangerine, and copper were incorporated in the botanical choices, and showed up wonderfully against the linen color, and highlighted by cobalt blue water goblets chosen by the couple. The white carnation pomanders were accented with daisies, and hung from the top of the chuppah. Jill's tangerine calla lily bouquet was finished with berry collar and leaf-wrapped handle. For the bridesmaids' bouquets, we added some chili peppers, a staple of Mexican culinary tradition, for a flair of whimsy.

Arne Quinze's Cityscape--Brussels, Belgium

2008-11-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

Discovering Arne Quinze's Cityscape in Brussels at 6 o'clock in the morning was a pleasant surprise after the long transatlantic flight. We were on the way to look for the hotel we had reserved, but made the wrong turn after getting off from the Metro at Place Louise station. The structure was beyond impressive, seeing it was like a wake up call, a dramatic greeting. The photos were taken before we left Brussels, during mid day amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. More of Arne Quinze's work can be found on www.arnequinze.tv, which includes a recent publication of "Cityscape", showcasing the making of wood sculptures similar to the one in Brussels.

Real Wedding-Hacienda de las Flores

2008-11-02T14:29:00.000-08:00

Caterer: Miraglia Catering
Flowers: Grandiflora
Music (classical guitar): Mori Achen
Photography: SJ Kim Photography
Venue: Hacienda de las Flores, Moraga

The Coolest Pumpkin!!

2008-11-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

When I first saw my neighbors' pumpkin in broad day light, I couldn't quite make out of the design they had on it. Came the evening, and I saw it--it's an Obama pumpkin!

Real Wedding--Eco and Green

2008-10-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

Veronica and Cate had an intimate ceremony and celebration at Cate's mother's place. While the wedding decor was important to the couple, Veronica and Cate both wanted to stay green. Locally grown dahlias were used in abundance for the centerpieces, and Cate opted for a small simple dahlia bouquet with green wheat. Dried ficus leaves highlighting the structure of the leaves were used as part of the table setting. We looked for items that may be used for decor at Veronica and Cate's house. A few of their photo frames were used to showcase seating arrangement, eliminating the need for place cards. Black was the chosen color of the attires, and incidentally it was quite of a popular choice up until Queen Victoria's 1840 wedding that popularized the concept of wearing a white wedding gown.

Real Wedding-Berkeley City Club

2008-10-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

Cake: Masse’s Pastries

Event Coordination: One Fine Day

Flowers: Grandiflora

Photography: Darcy Padilla

Venue-ceremony: Berkeley Botanical Garden

Venue-reception: Berkeley City Club

Real Wedding--A Celebration at Home

2008-10-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Robert and Dave have been together for 12 years. Their wedding was an intimate green celebration at home. The table clothes were the remains from the couple's bulk purchase of fabric for their various home improvement projects. The dinner plates were borrowed from friends in matching sets of 6. We bought the dahlias for the centerpieces from a local grower. Even the pebbles on the floral trays were "borrowed" from the couple's side yard landscape-Dave pitched the "pebble loan" idea after we presented the design concept.

Pink Designs

2008-10-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

Couple of our designs are featured in Style Me Pretty--October 16, 2008, one of Martha Stewart's favorite resources! Here are a few more of our pink designs. Check out the site for more lovely pink design ideas for weddings and events.

Ant Invasion

2008-10-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

We had an episode of ant invasion this weekend. A trail of ants were found along the kitchen sink even without signs of food nearby. The small army of ants led back to a small crevice between the base molding and the wall closest to the sink. I then remember what my friend Stacie Tamaki once told me that ants love to follow water source. After close inspection by my very handy husband, he found the sign of an exterior leak near the sink location. I supposed that it was a good warning the ants brought, without them we may have ended up not noticing the leak.

Have a Cup of Tea

2008-10-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

I love having a cup of tea or coffee in the morning after breakfast. It's a ritual that signals the start of the day. When my assistant designer brought me some sencha from Japan, much to my delight, not only was it wonderful and aromatic, the clever design of the tea bag made me smile. The tag at the end of the tea bag string has a small slit, and it is meant to sit on the rim of the tea cup. No more tag swimming in the tea and the messy rescue that ensues.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

Please help those in need to get a free mammogram checkup.

Tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle).

This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors /advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.
Here's the website! Pass it along to people you know.

www.thebreastcancersite.com

AGAIN, PLEASE TELL! 10 FRIENDS TO TELL 10 TODAY

Real Wedding-Purple, Blue, Green, and Lavender

2008-09-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

Our Michigan couple, Michael and Daniel, had originally planned to travel to California and tie the knot at the San Francisco City Hall. Good news traveled fast, friends and families from all over the country and out of the country all wanted to witness their union of love and share their joy. A City Hall ceremony quickly blossomed into a full blown celebration at the Cliff House. Michael and Daniel asked me incorporate the color blue, purple, and highlight the combination with lavender and green. A blue hydrangea arrangement set atop a tapered glass vase greeted the guests at the sign-in table; the treatment inside the vase incorporated special effect that resembled bubbles and adorned with pearls.

Real Wedding-the Claremont Resort

2008-09-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

Get a glimpse of Kate and Vicki's wedding that took place at the Claremont on a gorgeous day. Of the many picturesque spots at the Claremont, Kate and Vicki picked the Pool Arbor, a surprisingly hidden oasis from the pool. Photos by Bella Pictures.

Bridal Gown Sale--Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, and other cities

2008-09-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

What is sweeter than getting a good deal while helping a great cause? The Wedding Gown Sale organized by the Making Memories Breast Cancer Fund is a nationwide tour of gown sale that takes place in various cities, including Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Savana, El Paso, Orlando, Cleveland, just to name a few. Gowns are donated by manufacturers, retailers, designers, and individuals. This is a series of sales events that reoccur every year, for the most updated gown sale schedule and learn to contribute to this cause, go to Making Memories Foundation, Gown Sale Event Calendar.

Ikebana-Nageire emphasizing Curve Line

2008-09-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

material: phaleanopsis, curly willow

As a floral designer, I continue to study ikebana (Sogetsu School). Here is one of my recent creation.