October Has Never Been Sweeter...

It was a perfect October afternoon. Sun shining, bride smiling, and The Villa San Juan Capistrano provided the ideal, intimate backdrop. It was even more special when Jessy (the bride) came skipping out of the dressing room to greet us, thanks us, and get a little teary-eyed at all the decor. LOVE it! Jessy and Greg had been planning this wedding for over a year, and it showed in every precious detail!!!

It was also our first time working with Paul and Leanne of Sargeant Photography, and we can't wait to do it again! They were so kind to share their jaw-dropping photos with us, and we hope you enjoy them too! Click here to see their blog.

All photos by Sargeant Photography.

Simple, yet beautiful bouquet of Calla Lilies and Cymbidiums.

We love this guestbook idea!! Their engagement photos were printed and bound in a keepsake book (with space for their guests to write their messages).

These manzanita centerpieces were so fun to make! Full of hydrangea, mood moss, and more green cymbidiums.

One of the perks of getting married in San Juan Capistrano??? Pictures at the amazing, historic mission!

This wedding was sweet in more ways than one :)

Crystal chandeliers were hung on the tress to add a little sparkle to the night. We also lit little hanging votives on the manzanita centerpieces.

It's sweet couples like Jessy and Greg that make spreading floral love worth all the time and effort. Hope you enjoyed this wedding as much as we did here at Floral Occasions!

Summer of Love 2011, It's a Wrap!

 
Fall is here on our doorsteps...although I can't wait to welcome the beautiful colors, pumpkins, apples, delicious spiced drinks, and all the other goodies of Fall, I have to be thankful for this past summer. Floral Occasions did some amazing weddings, and just ended the Summer season with a super romantic benefit gala at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. I was so honored to have had the opportunity to participate in a such an spectacular event! As a tribute to this Summer (all the amazing people, events, and new experiences), I just wanted to post a favorite photo from each event and give a shout out to some of the great venues and photographers we were lucky to work with. Read on and have fun. Congratulations to all of our wonderful couples.

We were honored to be featured on Wedding Chicks for being part of this fabulous wedding at the Villa!! This picture captures such a hidden, romantic moment for the newlywed couple.....and what a GREAT shot by Hugh Forte Photography. 

Breana and Jeremy 7/9/11

Another unforgettable highlight of this summer was the Mission San Juan Capistrano Benefit Gala.
9/16/11

 

A great wedding at Maison Des Oliviers, complete with romantic roses in soft pastels. Loving the fountain as a background! Picture by Goddard Studios.
Breana and Tom 5/29/2011

 

This centerpiece, for another Maison Des Oliveres wedding, was overflowing with romance (literally...the amaranthus was perfect for it!) Photo by the amazingly talented Paul Von Rieter.
Brittany and Justin 5/21/11

Awww....this stunning couple was married at the gorgeous Casa Romantica in early June, and she looked absolutely stunning! Photo by Troy Grover.
Katie and Kyle 6/5/11
Julie was married at the Hotel Laguna. She kindly sent me this picture from her wedding day. Isn't her dress gorgeous?
Julie and Richard 6/11/11

This wedding at The Folly was adorable, and check out the hanging frame on the door! Seriously, this wedding has some of my favorite details. :) Thanks to the phenomenal Lane Dittoe for the picture!
Jillian and Edward 7/28/11

I have so much respect and love for our military, so being able to participate and make 21 BOUQUETS for this mass military wedding was such an honor! There were 21 lovely couples getting married, but I'd thought I would share this photo of Ariel and Philippe.....don't they look so happy? Both photos are by Luminaire Images.
Mass Military Wedding 5/22/11

This was my first wedding at Marbella Country Club and WOW, it is a beautiful venue here in San Juan Capistrano. The skies were the perfect shade of blue and there were red roses galore!
Jennifer and JS 9/10/11

Another beautiful wedding at The Villa that was featured on 100 Layer Cake! Tyler Branch Photo, you rock!!
Julie and Tyler 5/21/11

This wedding was a first for us at The Center Club in Costa Mesa, right next door to The Performing Arts Center. I hope that the talented Ashley Rose doesn't mind that I borrowed this beautiful picture from her blog.
Stefanie and Dale 7/23/11

Also, here's a shout-out to even more fabulous couples who had weddings recently and/or we do not have a photo for:

Lichia and Anute @ Torrey Pines 6/18/11
Angela and Joe @ Franciscan Gardens 7/16/11
Katie & Adam @ Maison des Oliviers 7/23/11

Nichole and Matt @ Private Residence 8/20/11
Krista and Colby @ The Villa 8/27/11

Deanna and Nic @ Franciscan Gardens 9/3/11
Michelle and David @ Franciscan Gardens 9/4/11

We wish all of our newlywed couples the very best! This was a jam-packed summer for Floral Occasions, but we wouldn't have had it any other way.

We'd also like to mention the addition of two new members of the team......Randi and Susan!! They both started this summer and have been so much fun, welcome ladies, we are so happy to have you with us :)
Here's to spreading floral love allllll summer long!

What's The Must-Have Flower For Your Wedding? - Part 5: Ranunculus

    
Ranunculus
Season: Grows abundantly in Spring, also available in late summer from Chile
Price:  In spring they can be very affordable.
Colors: red, white, yellow, pink, hot pink, orange, purple/plum, peach
Meaning: Maybe because of the Ranunculus' bright colors or because it's petals form the cutest layers, the Ranunculus is said to symbolize charm, admiration, and attraction.  It can also be referred to as the "buttercup" flower.
Cool Fact: You can visit the Carlsbad Flower Fields each Spring to see the stunning acres of Ranunculus blooms. Seriously, the fields are filled with rows and rows of gorgeous, brightly colored Ranunculus blooms!

Why we LOVE them: Ranunculus blooms are perfect for soooo many things! They are the perfect size for boutonnieres (not too large or small), GREAT for bouquets, are bold enough to stand on their own as a centerpiece, and can fit any wedding style (rustic, modern, vintage, ethereal).  They just happen to be Stacey, the owner's favorite flower :)  Randi, our new assistant loves them too!

Check out Floral Occasions' many Ranunculus designs:

What's The Must-Have Flower For Your Wedding? - Part 4: Peony

  
Peony
Season: mostly May-June. Peonies from Chile are available late October-December.
Price:  High, but when you think about the size of the flower, so worth it!
Meaning: Peonies are very lush and full-bodied flowers, most often meaning good fortune, luxury, and prosperity. Peonies are also said to symbolize good wishes and loving marriages.
Cool Fact: Peonies originated in China, AND not only are their blooms greatly treasured, but their foliage is often used as greenery in arrangements.

Why we LOVE them: When I think romance, I think peonies! They look almost feather-soft, like gorgeous clouds...and their fragrance is amazing!!!

Check out Floral Occasion's Peony creations:

  

Photo by Elle Photography

Photo by Tyler Branch Photography (and picture below)

Photo by Lucero Photography

So far we have featured Peonies, Calla Lilies, Roses, and Cymbidium Orchids....one more feature left to go! I won't give away the name of this super-popular bloom until tomorrow, but I'll give you a hint: it also has MANY layers of petals like the Peony. :)

What's The Must-Have Flower For Your Wedding? - Part 3: Cymbidium Orchid

    
Cymbidium Orchid
Season: Mostly available year round. 
Price:  Moderate to high.  Worth every penny!!
Colors: white, rusty orange, light to dark pink, green, yellow, burgundy/plum, new brown tones
Meaning: Cymbidium orchids most often symbolize strength, beauty, and wealth.
Cool fact: Once a Cymbidium flower opens, that flower can last (on the plant) for as long as 2-3 months! Off the stock, it will hold up for at least 2 or 3 days.  You can also get smaller "mini" Cymbidium orchids for boutonnieres or corsages.

Why we LOVE them: Cymbidiums have such bold colors and can make a grand statement all on their own. They can give any wedding a feeling of luxury and elegance.

Check some weddings that have used Cymbidium Orchids, a la Floral Occasions:

Photo by Lucero Photography

Photo by Elle Photography

As you can see, it doesn't take very many Cymbidium blooms to make a statement. We hope you enjoyed today's installment of the most popular wedding flowers. Please share any comments, ideas, or other favorite flowers with us below. What was your favorite Cymbidium photo?