Music Love: Natural Woman

I still love this song. Please don't hold it against me. I used to sing it at the top of my lungs when I was about five or six. If you can imagine. I totally have this vision for a wedding where as the groom waits for his bride, the bridesmaids break into Natural Woman as the bride walks down the aisle! Corny, I know. I can't help myself. Do you believe I lie awake at night and think of such things? Maybe, someone will buy my idea and make a movie with Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts and Drew Barrymore with this scene in it....or maybe Kate Hudson.Matthew McConaughey could play the groom as long as he has a scene where he doesn't wear a shirt because seriously, that man without a shirt is a work of art! Really, Mathew McConaughey without a shirt inspires me to make all kinds of wonderful floral designs and sing, You make me feeeel like a natural womaaaan at the top of my lungs....

Bride Love Makes My Day!

I am so happy when a Bride takes the time to let me know how much they appreciated my work on their wedding. I know brides get busy with honeymoons, settling into their new lives and writing thank-you cards after the wedding so when one takes the time to send me a special email or thank-you card I am overjoyed! I put a lot of love, heart and thought into each and every piece I create, so to hear back so soon from a recent wedding....well, I am simply OVERJOYED! I wish Susan and Lauren all the joy and happiness in the world.Thank-you so much for your letter it means the world to me.
Here is the letter of bride love from Susan and Lauren, Married May 23, 2009.

Dear Sarina ,

We are home and finally settling in after our wonderful wedding in Victoria. Thank you SO much for the beautiful wedding flowers you prepared. I know I speak for both of us when I say we were stunned with the beauty, artistry and magic you preformed. The flowers were such an important part of the wedding for me, and one that I was in charge of. My expectations are very high, but you exceeded my vision and gave us such beautiful and rich bouquets and arrangements. You were fabulous to work with, Sarina, and we are so appreciative of your artistry. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

The flowers I was able to bring home are drying in the garage. I smile each and every time I walk in there.

Thank you 10,000 times for the work you did Sarina. You are the best!

XXOO Always! Susan and Lauren

Photography Love: The Garden's Muse

I love photography. Let me rephrase that...I love good photography. I tend to like photography that is evocative, that tells a story, where the personality of the subjects are portrayed and that are details driven. I find much inspiration from photography that I can translate into my floral designs. I actually design bridal flowers with the awareness of how they will look photographed for the bride. Which is usually something that brides and other florists do not think about, but is so important to the photographic memories of the bride. So many times I feel heartbroken for the bride when I see the photographs from her wedding. A photographer whom she has paid well to document her day has taken absolutely no detail shots of her bouquet,her shoes, of her centerpieces, of her dress! I know how much thought she has put into all these details not to mention money. A bride recently just said to me, "It's all about the shoes!" She had just purchased a hot pink satin pair for which she had been searching and searching. Now imagine if she receives wedding photography and those shoes are not documented! Needless to say, professional photos shot in bad light drive me crazy and will propel me into a diatribe which no one pays much attention to, and so is probably not very good for my health! Let me also say by detail shots, I do not mean placing the bouquet on the grass and photographing it ! I want to inspire photographers to be creative, to think outside the box, to think about their subjects personalities, style and vibe, and to capture the evocative emotions of the day.
Jeremy Harwell and Kyle Egan two photographers based out of Atlanta took this bridal fashion shoot and I think the shots are lovely and have some ideas that bridal photographers could employ. I originally spotted their images over on Style Me Pretty's fabulous blog.
The use of accessories and props. Do not be afraid to stage your bride. By all means document the important events in the wedding but do not be afraid to take the bridal party away and stage them like you were doing a fashion shoot. Find fabulous locations near the venue, bring props that relate to the bridal party. The groomsmen are all in a band together? Get them to string on their guitars and bass.Pull out the drumsticks! They'll love it and have fun while you are shooting. Allowing the photos to express their true personalities. Take the time to get to know your subjects so you can portray them well.
The use of light and texture.The light shining on the models hair makes her look like a pouty angel. The texture of the tree in black and white adds visual interest. Texture is incredibly important in black and white photographs and I design bouquets with this in mind.
The fabulous hairstyles were done by Caprice Green and make-up by Lay' Na Anderson.The bridal fashion is from Etain and Morgan from Bridal Naturals. Whom you may remember from my earth week floral fashionista post.
I love this shot of the bride baring her knees and standing slightly pigeon toed.It has an element of girlish rebellion which just calls to me! Aren't the hair flowers gorgeous! Have you seen our hair flowers. We can custom make whatever you desire. Have you noticed how the hair flowers change from different images? By simply changing an accessory like a hair flower(easy to do without messing up the brides hair too much if the flowers are made onto alligator clips); the look of the photograph can be changed from romantic to vintage.
Love the vintage feel of this shot. By getting your bride to change the colour of her lipstick(really, really simple) you can get a vintage feel in black and white. Don't be afraid to ask you bride to bring different lipstick or hair pieces to the after wedding shoot. If you mention this in the initial consults and explain why; she may be really into it. What bride doesn't want to look fabulous in her bridal photos!
I love the use of pink tulle in these shots. Different from the bridal veil.It adds romance, mystery and high fashion to the shot instantly! I believe every good photographer should have a "tickle trunk" like Mr. Dressup (remember him from when you were a child? ). The "tickle trunk"is the only reason I watched Mr. Dressup as a child.What costumes would they pull out to wear and what skit would they stage! Because I have a background in theater and dance, I absolutely LOVE the use of props in photography; it makes photography so much more interesting to view. If you are a photographer get some good staging items for your bridal shoots from umbrellas to fake mustaches...it's all in good fun and makes the bridal party comfortable instead of stiff and formal in every shot.

Thank-you Jeremy Harwell and Kyle Egan two photographers from Atlanta for allowing me to blog about your work. I do so appreciate it.
If you are a local photographer and have some photography pertaining to weddings that you think I may love. Don't be afraid to contact me.I don't bite...well only sometimes! Here at Bella Fiore we appreciate all that is beautiful and artistic and are more than willing to spread the love!
If you are a photographer I hope you have been inspired. If you are a bride do not be afraid to make specific requests for photography shots to your photographer.....that's why they get the big bucks!

Floral Fashionista Fridays Presents: Holly Stalder

Holly Stalder is an independent designer from Portland, Oregon.I think her work is fabulous and she is just a hop, skip and jump across the pond from us here in Victoria! Holly uses salvaged antique fabrics and trims in her designs to create modern pieces of wearable art. You can check out her shop here. She takes custom orders.Hurray!
The Opera Society tiered,corded dress with vintage pearl collar made to order.Just Love. I am hoping one of my brides comes to me saying this is her dress because I have a fabulous idea for a floral piece for this dress that I am just longing to create.
O.K. How sexy is this dress? Ivory silk,chiffon and lace backless dress. I love backless dresses. I think the back is underrated as a very sexy part of the human body male or female.
I LOVE this caplet by Holly Stalder! Little Red Riding Hood goes Baroque or something....really just love it. I think it would be fabulous used in a Boudoir photography session for a brave bride. Little lacy, red bra and panty set, high heels, this caplet and basket of flowers and goodies for Grandma! Can you visualize? The Big Bad Wolf would probably just love it!!
I am really into yellow wedding details these days. Although, I actually detest yellow for myself and do not own a single yellow piece of clothing or accessory. I love it in spring weddings so bright , cheery and joyful.
A little reclaimed velvet ribbon here, a little Edwardian lace there, salvaged antique applique from a 1920's dress and Voila! Pure Holly Stalder fabulousness here!

Meet the Brockintons=Inspiration

I stumbled upon this video on YouTube and it just brings me such joy that I thought I'd share it with you all. I love it as an introduction to their photography business. It gives you a sense of who they are....wouldn't you just want to hire them as your photographers for your wedding? I also think Ashley has an incredible fashion sense. I love every single outfit she wears! Also, their children are just adorable.
But then, I had an idea...Oh Oh....
I thought, why don't a bride and groom hire a videographer to film themselves in a similar manner. Share quirky details about themselves,why they love each other,pet peeves about each other,how they met,with costume changes and various locations and send it out as a wedding invitation. All with a great soundtrack! They could provide all the details about the wedding in the video. Send the guests a video link via email. How cool, fun, and eco friendly would that be!
Do you like this idea? I have them all the time you know.....ideas I mean.

I've Been Interviewed!

I've been interviewed! Not by some fancy smancy magazine, but by my teen-aged son....which in my opinion is even better! Although, if some fancy smancy magazine wanted to interview me I wouldn't turn them away ; )
He had to interview an artist for one of his classes to help him design a piece of art that represented himself; and he chose me...just imagine. I was incredibly honored actually. What follows is the interview he conducted.


Sunlight floods in through our living room window as my mom sits down on the couch kitty corner to me and sets her feet up after a long day of work. Tired but happy, she is excited to be my artist interviewee. I have prepared a set of questions both to gain an understanding of floral design as an art and to help myself with the process of finding a way to illustrate my context visually. I have a general idea of how she will answer the first two questions, but after that, I am interested to see how she responds.

Q: To start, tell me a little bit about yourself.
A: Well, I have always been artistic, and have dabbled in creative pursuits from painting to poetry to dance and theater. I would consider myself a Renaissance woman.

Q: What made you decide to become a floral designer?
A: I decided to become a floral designer after being a massage therapist for over 20 years and my poor thumbs were taking a beating. I have always loved flowers and liked the idea of being able to create something that brings joy to people, no matter their circumstances, from birth to death and everything in between.

Q: How would you define art?
A: Art is subjective, and whatever gives a person pause to reflect is art. Art evokes a response and emotion.

Q: So if someone came up to you and said that floral design is not an art form, what would you say to them?
A: I would say that I disagree. Floral design is an art because you use form, texture, shape, scale and colour to create something out of the ordinary that evokes an emotion and a response.

Q: Where do you find inspiration when working on a floral piece?
A: Nature, photography, fashion design, interior design, and from other floral designers whose work I admire.



Q: What is your favourite floral piece to create and why?
A: My favourite floral piece to create is anything of a custom nature, in which I have to take into consideration the person, the place, the event, and the mood to create a work of art.

Q: If you could pick one flower that represents you, and that you identify with, what would it be and why?
A: An orchid, because it is exotic, beautiful, unique, graceful and flamboyant, but not too gaudy. Orchids have a classy elegance, a subtle beautiful scent, yet are amazingly hardy.

Q: Throughout history, we have seen the influence of society reflected in the art of the time. Do you think society today has influenced your approach to floral design?
A: Yes. Today there is a greater demand for green initiatives: flowers grown locally, and without the use of pesticides. There is the influence of modern and Japanese styles, with exotic flowers over generic roses and carnations.

Q: When you put together wedding bouquets for brides, are there certain things you look for in their personalities that you can translate into the bouquet?
A: Absolutely! Flowers are as unique as people, and people have certain characteristics and styles that can best be represented by certain flowers.

Q: Can you offer any advice for me to help create a piece of art that reflects my values, influences, and nature? How can I look into myself and create something that is synonymous to me?
A: I would say to write down the first five things that you think about when you think about yourself. I would tell you to write down the first five things that come to your mind when you think of your favourite colour. I would tell you to write down the first 5 things that come to your mind when you describe the thing you love to do best. I would ask your five favourite people to describe you in adjectives. Then I would pick from each category one description that resonates best with you and create your art based on those. Do not over think things!

There's the interview. My son got 97% on his art project and it's defense. That's my boy! The best boy in the whole world!

Memorial Weekend Wedding Floral Details: Sneak Peek

I had the honor of creating the floral designs for Susan and Lauren's wedding this weekend. A nicer couple I have not met. It was an intimate affair; which are always the loveliest of weddings.The couple came all the way from Alaska to have their wedding here in our fair city and I must say the weather did not disappoint!
The bride, I would say is a true classic, romantic and requested flowers with a romantic,garden style theme. She also requested no daisies or carnations and said in her initial email to me and I quote, "I am a complete flower freak and there must not be any daisies or carnations in this wedding!" It was a pretty easy request to comply with! She also requested some heather and thistle as Lauren was wearing a kilt. Susan also loves sweet peas which were tricky to get as it is still a bit early in the season for them....but we managed to snag some at the auction...yeah!
Here is her bouquet...so utterly feminine and romantic.
What do you give a woman wearing a kilt probably more comfortable in jeans and t-shirt? Who does not want a bouquet? Not a corsage, not a boutonniere but a borsage....my new name for a floral piece that has a little bit of both elements ! Floral designers are allowed to make up words...it's true!
The corsages.
The boutonnieres .
The wristlet.
The altar pieces.
The flowers waiting patiently for the bridal party to arrive at the church.
The fabulous stained glass window at the church. The First Unitarian Church has the most beautiful vibe of any church I have ever been in. Such a lovely venue.
The centerpieces in the studio.
Centerpieces in the venue.
A tented affair. Setting up.
A close up of the head table piece.

The head table piece.
Susan phoned me tonight, the day after her wedding just to tell me how much they loved the flowers and how the floral pieces totally exceeded their expectations.This was so nice of her and completely unexpected as she really should be honeymooning . This just made my evening! I love flower freaks! Any more of you out there?
We wait with bated breath to see the professional photos once they are finished being processed.
All the best to Susan and Lauren for a life rich with love and happiness!

Wedding Favors: Cocoa Mosaic

I love chocolate! Especially gourmet chocolates with unique flavors. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Cocoa Mosaic an artisan chocolate and truffle company from Toronto. Jackie the owner trained in Switzerland to make truffles and chocolate creations by hand using blends of Belgian chocolate and other natural ingredients.Her chocolates contain no preservatives. She also makes custom chocolates that I think make great wedding favors. She can customize the chocolates with your monogram, design or picture. Custom orders should be placed as early as possible, a minimum of one month in advance. Edible favors are so much more enjoyable than salt and pepper shakers! These favors won't be left on the table....they are that delicious !
Sweet little boxed chocolates with exotic flavors like matcha green tea, Italian espresso or vanilla bean. There are many more flavors. Jackie is also working on a line of single origin chocolates that I look forward to trying in the future.

Here is an example of one of Cocoa Mosaic's custom wedding favor orders. Aren't they beautiful and elegant!
Remember the movie Chocolat with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche.....one of my favorite movies by the way....remember that big vat of melting chocolate ? I had dreams I was swimming in that vat of chocolate for weeks after watching that movie! I have a feeling I will be dreaming Cocoa Mosaic dreams tonight!

May Long Weekend Floral Details: Sneak Peek

Here are some of the floral details of the wedding I did this May long weekend. They had beautiful weather and the bride was beautiful inside and out. I can't wait to see the professional photos, but in the meantime you will just have to make due with mine!
I met with the bride, her mom and sister last May they wanted a real fresh spring like wedding. The bride really liked the pairing of white and chartreuse green with garden like elements and a loose bouquet style. The Mother of the Bride loves lily of the valley and wanted to incorporate some into the floral details.
This is the bride's bouquet. I used parrot tulips with a ruffly edge for added texture and added a little bling into the stephanotis to pick up some sparkle in the bride's dress.
This is the groom's boutonniere. I like to use flowers from the bride's bouquet for the groom but feared the tulips would not withstand the beating boutonnieres can take, so I substituted the chartreuse button mums.
These are the groomsmen boutonnieres.I made sixteen total boutonnieres and corsages for this wedding in an hour! Hmm...a world record me thinks. I was seeing a little cross eyed by the last one but I think they turned out simply beautiful and elegant with just a touch of whimsy; just like my beautiful bride!
The Corsages.
This one just for the Mother of the Bride because of her love for lily of the valley.The studio smelled fabulous with the mix of lily of the valley and stephanotis. Floral aromatherapy heaven!
Simple centerpieces with bear grass swirls, parrot tulips and chartreuse spider mums.
I also did centerpieces in tall fluted vases with just the tulips to provide visual interest in the room. The venue has a very high ceiling and open glass windows to the ocean; very bright and airy. I think the room called for some height with the centerpieces.
The bride brought to the initial consultation a tear out from a bridal magazine which contained candelabras covered in grass and hanging amaranthus. She loved the organic green quality of them and wanted to know if I could recreate them? What did I say? But of course!
The altar flowers. Sometimes you don't need big flashy altar pieces; in this case I think these fit the bride's style beautifully.
I hope the bride and groom have a wonderful honeymoon in Maui. I'm so jealous with all the awful rain we have had today...I was so loving the sunshine on their wedding day....come back sun....pretty please.

Sweetness and Light

I have a huge wedding this May long weekend but wanted to give you a little sweetness and light to take away with you.

"And in the sweetness of friendship

let there be laughter

and the sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of the little things,

the heart finds its morning

and is refreshed."
~Kahlil Gibran~

The Art of Being Prepared

Despite months of planning for your wedding, chances are that something might just not go according to plan. When the unexpected happens try to stay positive. Keep in mind the big picture.This is your wedding day,you are celebrating your love in front of friends and family. Most likely, no one will notice or even know about the little things that did not go according to schedule. Do not " sweat the small stuff".Keep your sense of humour intact and it helps to be prepared for the little crises within your control.
Here is a little be prepared list.You may want to add items that are important to you :

• Be prepared for the weather rain or shine. Have umbrellas handy if it starts to rain during the outdoor photo shoot.Also hand fans are handy on hot days...hot,grumpy bridal parties do not make nice wedding photos! Bottled water...heat stroke equals not fun.Think of your guests too in regards to the weather especially if you have planned an outdoor wedding.

It is wise to put a little"be prepared kit" together with some of these items:

• Aspirin or pain medication for headache
• Antacid for pre-wedding jitters
• Bandaids for blisters from those fancy high heels
• Safety pins...just in case (God Forbid!)
  
• Needle and thread in your colours
• Personal Hygiene items
• White chalk...I have heard this hides marks on a white dress in a pinch
  
• Spot remover
• Crazy glue....once a bridesmaids heel got caught in a grate and tore right off her shoe...crazy glue saved the day!
• Handkerchiefs.....sometimes even the groom cries!
• Hairpins
  

Hopefully, your wedding will go according to plan and if it doesn't ....well, you will be prepared with a good attitude, a sense of humour, the knowledge that in the big scheme of things nothing is more important than your LOVE!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers in the World! I hope you all were spoiled rotten......and now it's time to put my feet up.....aah....and sleep....I hope my kids bring me breakfast in bed....

A Cherry Blossom Fairytale

I love cherry blossoms and in a cruel twist of fate I am allergic to their pollen...sigh. They also tend to be pink( one of my least favorite colors), but strangely, I love them still.
Maybe I love them because if I did, I could wear a princess dress like this...
or diamond earrings like this.



After the ceremony I would have my picture taken here under a canopy of blooms and a carpet of petals. The blossoms would gently flutter down like snow. I would make sure I wore my glass slippers. I wouldn't sneeze once, not once.
At the reception I would cut this cake for my guests....except I wouldn't want to....but I would, because hey,even I can let them have cake.
I would lounge on a white divan surrounded by massed cherry blossom branches in crystal illuminated vases sipping this martini (all princesses love martinis by the way). I wouldn't sneeze once, not once.
I would have my maids over for a sleep over a few days before the wedding; where we would make these lovely meringues for wedding favors. We would tie them in sweet little clear bags with pink and white satin ribbon.We would be allowed to eat only two but I would have three because I am the princess. We could have as many martinis as we like ( because maids love martinis too). I am a generous princess. Oh yeah, I nearly forgot we would all have to wear those open toed slippers with a heel and feathers like movie stars from the 50's wore and pink satin aprons that say "Cupcakes" on the front. I found them online somewhere ( because even princesses shop online and presidents wives too I'm told).
After the reception my prince and I would escape in this pink Cadillac. I fired my coach driver because he really was a mouse..... Oh yeah, and I wouldn't sneeze once, not once!

Somtimes it's all in the Details!

I came across this real wedding this morning on Style Me Pretty 's Blog. It you have not checked out this blog. I seriously recommend it for wedding inspiration. This is the real wedding of Kelly and Chris as photographed by Erin Heart's Court .You can see all the fabulous photographs from this wedding on their blog.The flowers were done by La Partie Events.
I love all the little attention to details that this couple provided for their wedding. I think the photographs illustrate so well how important it is to tie all the details together to provide a cohesive theme to a wedding. All the details shown here are very manageable for any budget.

Look at the texture of the floral pieces. Texture in floral pieces is so important for your photography to look interesting. Inexpensive blooms with massed textural features can provide just as much eye candy as centerpieces dripping in orchids and crystals.
The wedding took place in a lemon/orange grove (I'm not sure which) ; but as you can see, the bridal couple took their inspiration from this one fact and built their theme around it. The bridesmaids wore different bright yellow dresses and the groomsmen wore black and grey. This is such a great color pairing. It just uplifts the spirits doesn't it ? You must really check out all the photos to see the complete loveliness.
Rose petals in patterns are just as effective as blankets of roses. In fact, in my opinion, more effective as it creates that lovely texture and visual interest that I am so fond of!
This is the cutest idea I have ever seen! A great replacement for the confetti toss. The cones contain mini wool pom poms in yellow and white. Soft when thrown, colorful and funky. I love, love this idea. I can just imagine all the children at the wedding scampering around to collect them all up .... seeing who has collected the most pom poms!

Succulent wedding favors and table seating combined. So clever.
Sweet little labels.
Favor bags to tie it all in.
Thematic candy bar and cupcakes. See how it all comes together?
The photos from this wedding bring me such joy......right down to their....


shoes and those socks aren't bad either!

Floral Fashionista Fridays: Sarah Seven

Floral Fashionista Fridays presents the work of a young, talented, independent designer from Portland,Oregon. Her name is Sarah Seven. I think her designs are fabulous. She designs and sews all the dresses herself in her studio. Sarah takes custom orders which take about four weeks to produce.You can learn about all the details in her shop.
Each dress seems to tell a story. When I look at the dresses, I envision a certain style of wedding. This is so inspiring to me as a custom floral designer because it helps me to create a design that befits the bride and her dress. With so many wedding dresses being variations of the same basic style it is so refreshing to see something unique.
If I could have one wish for bridal styles to evolve. I would wish for coloured bridal dresses and shorter hems.....O.K. two wishes! I'm always kind of surprised when these young, hip brides come to see me and they describe their wedding dresses. I guess it surprises me that tradition still plays such a major part in wedding styles for the bride. I truly feel that a bride can hold true to wedding ideals and traditions but still wear a coloured and unique dress. Maybe, it's just me.....my daughter has said she is going to wear bright red on her wedding day! I can't wait! Well, actually I can!
I love the whimsy of this one for a bridesmaid dress. Yellow is a hot spring trend right now. I also just love the moodiness of the photograph. Kudos to the photographer.
O.K. I love, love this dress. Secret Agent Girl! I wish I had the legs to pull it off....sigh. But how cool would this dress be to put on after the reception? Jump on your new husbands motorbike and take off into the night. Again, way cool photograph. I must ask Sarah who the photographer is....
Too cute!
I love simple elegance. It is so great to accessorize with flowers.
I actually think this dress would be great to wear to a summer wedding.
Remember my wish regarding colour? The first bride who contacts me for a wedding consultation who is not wearing white, off white, diamond white,cream,taupe or any derivative of these colours will get 20 % off their bridal bouquet! Mention this blog post...so I remember.
Sarah donates 10% of her profits to charities. Book her while you can.... because the girl is in demand!

Natural Beauty: La La Bloom

I believe in make up for your wedding day.Even if normally you abstain from wearing any. I don't believe in layering it on thickly and making yourself uncomfortable in the process. I don't believe in putting make up on your skin that is harmful to you in any way.What we put on our bodies ends up in our bodies.
I believe in make up that will enhance your natural beauty, that will make you feel beautiful when all those eyes are looking at you as you walk down the aisle. I believe that well applied makeup transcribes very well to photographs and video. I know this to be true because I have a background in dance and theater.It is always important to define the eyes and lips, as this is what conveys emotion in any medium.
I have worn all kinds of make up from stage pancake to designer spa labels.I have been searching and searching for mineral make up that does not cost an arm and a leg to own. I have been searching for a mineral make up that does not layer on so thickly it looks like you have smeared dirt on your face ! Why the search? Because mineral make up is not harmful to you or your skin and contains no toxins.
I am pleased to introduce to you LaLa Bloom Mineral Makeup My search is over! Where did I find it? Right here in Victoria!
I LOVE IT !
How dramatic is this colour grouping? It's my favourite . Dana the owner of LaLa Bloom makes it easy for the novice by pairing complimentary colours together into kits that you can purchase easily in her online shop.
Look at all the different colours! I am sure there is something for every skin tone.
Absolutely, smoldering!
Eyes are so important in wedding photography.

Lips are so important too!
Especially for the after vows kiss!

Want that golden glow? I've just come back from Maui look without the sun damage?
Good mineral make up applied correctly gives a youthful glow; this is because of the natural light reflectors it contains.Mineral make up enhances your natural beauty without covering it up. Be naturally beautiful on your wedding day and always, always continue to BLOOM !

Introducing: Bella Bling Hair and Bouquet Jewelry

Introducing Bella Bling our newest line of custom made hair accessories and bouquet jewelry. After years of making these for brides I finally had an "Aha Moment !". My daughter and I were watching our favourite reality ballroom dance program. You know the one, where the girls wear those incredibly beautiful costumes and tend to show a lot of skin? While we were watching we noticed that girl after girl .... all were wearing these incredibly fabulous hair flowers. I mentioned to my daughter how fabulous their hair flowers were. My daughter said, "Yeah, Mom they are nice but not as nice as some of yours. You should sell yours." That's where the "Aha Moment" happened and the rest is history!
These are my absolute favourite because they are so dainty and feminine. They look incredibly beautiful in a bridal up do; they add sparkle and whimsy to just about any hair style.
Custom made hair flowers with netting add a bit of vintage glam to a hairstyle. These can be custom made to match your colour scheme; so don't be afraid to contact us to make something special for you.
These are made attached to alligator clips for easy use.
Ooh La La! This one is called "Swan Lake" and looks fabulous in a bridal up do!
Diamante Bouquet Picks can be custom made in any colour and look great in bridal bouquets and luxe flower arrangements.
Bella Bling Hair and Bouquet Jewelry can be custom made for any occasion in any colour you desire. We can also ship these internationally so do not be afraid to contact us. We would be pleased to make something custom for you. Bella Bling, Bling it On!!

Floral Fashionista Fridays: Natural Bridals

In keeping with our earth friendly theme this week we are featuring Natural Bridals. A new line of eco-friendly designer wedding gowns and accessories designed by Morgan Boszilkov. Morgan is based in Atlanta, Georgia, but works with brides from around the world. These dresses are handcrafted with love in the United States, and 5% of profits are donated to environmental causes. Morgan uses sustainable fabrics and strives to apply green and socially responsible principles to all aspects of her business. Her designs are elegant, beautiful, luxurious and Green!
Some of these dresses have been designed with detachable bottom skirts! This is a great option for a bride who wants something a little different at her reception, or plans to wear the dress again in its shorter form. A multi-purposed dress! We Love it!
Some of the fabrics Morgan uses in her designs are Peace Silk, Bamboo, Organic Cotton, Organic Linen, and Hemp. I have a particular fondness for all these fabrics.Luxurious but practical.

This one is my favorite for it's simple elegance and almost Grecian styling. The neckline, empire waist and soft draping of the fabric is so flattering.
You also got to love the back. Beautiful, elegant and sexy!
Natural Bridals eco-friendly bridal wear for the eco -friendly bride! Maybe we could encourage Morgan to create a line of eco-friendly bridesmaids dresses too. Then you could have one stop shopping!

Jewelry Inspiration: Swept From the Sea

Swept from the Sea is a local jewelry designer based right here in Victoria, B.C. Yeah! Cheri creates her designs from recycled beach glass found right on our very own beaches and sterling silver. We think her pieces are great for a beach themed wedding and would make lovely gifts for your female attendants. Please check out her shop. She has just had a big Earth Day Sale but am sure she will replenish her shop shortly, so check back.
These are my absolute favorite...flowers and beach glass! Perfect for bride or bridesmaid.
Simple elegance.

Such great jewelry sets for the bride! Very reasonably priced!


A junior bridesmaid or flower girl would love this silver anklet. She has a mermaid one too.
Swept From the Sea such a great business name and we think would make a lovely wedding theme. Think pale aqua, green, or sand coloured bridesmaids dresses, beach venue, bouquets embellished with shells and pearls, flip flops for shoes, seashell embossed cake, seafood appetizers and of course wedding jewelry from Swept from the Sea!

Earth Day 2009 : Seven Ways to a Greener Wedding

Well, Earth Day is almost over.It's actually very sad that we even have to have an Earth Day. In truth, we should always be thinking about how we can reduce our carbon footprint.Sometimes it's the smallest and easiest things that in the long term makes the greatest impact. Here are seven ways you can have a greener wedding:

1. Start with the Rings: No one ever seems to think that they can make a green choice when purchasing their wedding rings but you can. By purchasing a ring made with recycled gold, platinum or silver you can make a difference. There are many up and coming jewelry designers who only work with recycled precious metals. Do you have lots of gold and silver jewelry lying around? Take it to your local jeweler who specializes in custom rings and have them melt it down to create wedding rings just for you. You will be supporting a local artist and using that old jewelry you never wear anymore.
2. The Invitations: Invitations made from recycled paper, printed with soy ink or ones that after the event your guests can plant because they are embedded with wild flower seeds. Make your wedding invitations like a postcard because it uses less paper. Skip the RSVP inserts instead have an email address set up so that your potential guests can email you their RSVP. If you have a wedding website you could have it directly on your site. Saves paper,stamps and money.
3. The Wedding Dress: More and more designers are designing wedding dresses with hemp, bamboo, organic cotton and fair wage silk.Check in on Floral Fashionista Fridays this week where I feature such a designer. Think of reusing a wedding dress. It could be your Mother's or Grandmother's, even one you found in a second hand store. With a dry clean and some design adjustments by a good seamstress you could actually have the dress of your dreams without breaking the bank. It's very trendy by fashion designers to upscale garments and fabrics to make something new and modern.You can do it too! Think of purchasing a dress you will reuse somewhere else later down the road and don't forget this aspect for your bridesmaids dresses either.
   
4. The Flowers: By using locally grown in season flowers you support your local flower growers. Buy locally grown organic flowers. When purchasing organic flowers from California or Columbia it really doesn't reduce your carbon footprint when you think of what is involved to import them. Look in your own garden you may find some flowers and greens you would love to have in your bouquet. Don't be afraid to wild source, for example salal and ferns grow in abundance on Vancouver Island. Ask your neighbors, friends and family for flowers from their gardens. Have a neighbor who has a green thumb? I do. I'm notorious for spotting plants in my neighbors gardens. "Is that dusty miller I see over there? Would you like some plums in exchange for some?" It also helps to keep bottles of wine, boxes of chocolates or home baking around for bargaining leverage! Some florists do not mind if you bring in flowers from your own garden. I certainly don't. I use wild sourced, neighbor bribed and my own garden pickings all the time in my designs!
   
5. The Food: Buy local organic produce and use a caterer who is all about supporting local artisans. We've got some good ones in Victoria. Build your menu around organic, local initiatives. That goes for your cake too. You can ask your cake baker to only bake your cake with organic ingredients.
6. The Booze: Buy organic beer and wine to serve at your wedding. Even better if it's local.
7. The Candles: Use soy candles, beeswax or vegetable wax. So much better for you and the environment than petroleum based candles. Support your local candle makers.

By using the three "R's" of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in your wedding planning you can make a difference in your local economy and have a stylish, elegant green wedding.