Blog

A little about what's happening in our big flower world...

A Fine Wine & Dining Wedding to Remember | Bardonesso & Ad Hoc, Yountville, CA

Michael & Emily are such a sweet and talented couple. Both Ivy league alumni with with careers in investment and finance, they delight in spending their down time running marathons, enjoying delectable foods, and sampling fine wine. Planning their wedding from New York, Emily reached out to me with a few requests: bright, cheery, seasonal flowers, lots of texture with a touch of blush and jewel tones. They wanted their wedding celebration to feature the fine food from Chef Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc kitchen as well as the many wines their guests would taste from near and far.
Their August ceremony was located at Bardonesso Hotel & Spa followed by a garden dinner at nearby Ad Hoc & Addendum. The evening ended with dancing back at the Bardonesso ballroom. Their style exuded classic sophistication with noteworthy personal accents. Each floral centerpiece differing in color and texture from the next for a unique presentation. A personalized logo incorporating Ad Hoc's token pig dancing with a city mouse adorned their menus, signs, and stationary. Tables were named after marathons they've completed together. This was one of our favorite celebrations of the year. The gorgeous images of the event were captured by Matthais Photography of San Francisco. Here's a peek...

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Emily & Michael~ Congratulations again! Thank you for including us in your special day. We loved designing your flowers and the photos bring us so much joy to see you both enveloped in love. You were a true pleasure to work with right from the start. Many wishes to a wonderful life together filled with laughter, love, and plenty of fantastic wine. Cheers!

Ceremony Venue: Bardonesso Hotel & Spa | Reception Dinner Venue: Ad Hoc & Addendum | Photography: Matthais Photography | Hair & Make-Up: Carrie Aldous | Floral Design: The Pollen Mill

August on the Vineyard Wedding | Vine Hill House, Sebastapol, CA

What started off as a misty morning turned into the perfect summer setting for Jenna & Tom's August wedding. Overlooking the vineyards with juicy grapes ready for harvest, Jenna & Tom celebrated their nuptials along with some of their closest friends and family. Their wedding was all about the details...confectioners cookies depicting their coastal origins, monogram door decor, vintage crystal vessels from Jenna's grandmother. Each detail carried with it a little part of Jenna & Tom's love story. It was truly a special day honoring two of the sweetest lovebirds.

The first time I met with Jenna about designing for their wedding, her face beamed with pure excitement. Her true adoration for Tom shown bright in her eyes each time she spoke his name. Just the kind of excitement I've come to really appreciate in my career. Jenna wanted her floral designs to feel romantic, timeless, and fresh from the garden. Simply classic with some whimsy. Even her floral crown was as timeless as those worn during the days of the original Woodstock.

We dosed their wedding in summer's floral delight...dahlias! Accompanied by garden roses, flowering basil, waxflower, vibernum, lisianthus, Bells of Ireland, and scabiosa their flowers took on an English garden aura. All tied up in navy and white ribbon for the men and Silk and Willow hand-died ribbon for the ladies. It was just so much fun! Take a look at their dreamy photos captured by the talented Mindy Aagard of Sweet + Marie Photography.

Jenna & Tom~ Thank you for letting me play a part in your special day! I love when clients turn into friends and you two are some of the best. Thanks you for giving me creative license to design something special just for you. I know you two are in for some fast and furious adventures together. I hope we can hold hands over a glass of scotch soon. So much love to the two of you. Congratulations! XX

Venue: Vine Hill House, Sebastapol, CA | Photography: Sweet + Marie Photography | Hair & Make Up: Kayla Erbland |  Wedding Dress: Sarah Seven | Wedding Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Floral Designs: The Pollen Mill

 

An Americana Celebration of Love | Vine Hill House, Sebastapol

Words can hardly describe how much I LOVED Kate & Taylor's 4th of July wedding! Everything from the flowers, attire, decor, lawn games, and smiling excited faces. Everything was simply beautiful and just perfect.

Kate requested flowers that were bright & cheery with a "fresh from the garden feel." She also wanted the flowers to reflect their celebration on America's birthday, but not just your typical red, white, and blue. So, we went with bright pinks, subtle red hues, ivory, and then separated the green and light blues to accentuate their true American love. We scattered fresh cherries, grapes, and dahlias about the dining tables and alter to tie-in with the gorgeous vineyard view. And we can't forget the cake we adorned with deep burgundy cherries and hints of robin's blue nigella...it was one of my favorites.
Take a peek at the magic...

Kate & Taylor~ I loved working with you and was honored to play a role in your special celebration! Your sweet first look on your wedding day will be forever embedded in my heart (and of course make me all misty eyed). The two of you have a true comfort with one another and a sweet understanding love that was very present throughout your planning and into the day of your wedding. I wish you many, many love-filled years and exciting adventures to come. Cheers!

Thank you Kelly Boitano for the stunning images. You're work is amazing lady!

Venue: Vine Hill House, Sebastapol, CA |  Catering: Grapevine Catering | Photography: Kelly Boitano Photography | Cinematogography: Hoo Films | Cake: Sweet by Jill Habansky | Dress: Amy Kuschel | Hair/Make-up: Angela Womack

 

 

Oakland Country Club Wedding with Summer Corals and Blush | Sequoia Country Club | Oakland, CA

Monica and Phil knew just what would look perfect for their August wedding in Oakland, CA. Fresh and romantic blooms in soft corals, white, and blush to highlight the Mediterranean-style clubhouse at the Sequoia Country Club. The sun was warm, the breeze light, and these two were just so much fun! Whitewashed birdcages rested alongside milk glass vessels on the dining tables with tiny succulent guest favors at each place setting. Monica's bouquet was filled with cafe au lait dahlias, blushing bride protea, spray garden roses, and scabiosa balls all hand-tied with Silk and Willow plant-dyed flowing ribbon. And what can I say about the resurrection of carnations...these coral carnies will kill all your dispositions about 80's carnation boutonnieres paired with baby blue tuxedos and mullets. All in all, it was a gorgeous day to celebrate an awesome couple. Thank you Monica and Phil for letting us be part of your special day! Cheers to endless years of laughter and love together.
 Venue: Sequoia Country Club www.sequoyahcc.com
 Day of Wedding Coordination: Ann from Lux Premiere Events www.luxpremierevents.com
 Photography: Wild About You Photography www.wildaboutyouphotography.com

 

Sneak Peek: Mediterranean Romance Styled Wedding | Oakland, CA

Just a little sneak peek from the Mediterranean Romance wedding flowers we designed this past weekend. More to come. Happy Monday. XO

Cafe Au Lait Dahlias, Blushing Bride Protea, White Pom Pom Dahlias, Seeded Eucalyptus, Stellata Pods, Spray Roses, and White Wax Flower.

Coral Dahlia Bud, Wax Flower, Seeded Eucalyptus, Stellata Pods, Sage, Passion Flower.


Bespoke Bride:Wedding Blog Feature | Suisun, CA

We are so excited to have our designs featured on Bespoke Bride: Wedding Blog! Here are some images of our Styled Photo Shoot at Rock Creek Vineyard. Huge thanks to Crystal Lynn Photography for submitting our pictures. We always love working with the very talented Crystal and massively appreciate her gentle soul. Another big thank you to the other vendors who made this shoot an amazing one: Seamless Details: Styling and Signs, Pieces of Time: Vintage Furniture & Accessories, Jessica Elise Hmua: Hair & Make-Up.

Cheers to a job well done! XO

You can see the full feature here: http://www.bespoke-bride.com/2014/08/19/love-lavender-lemonade-a-styled-shoot/

(Click on photo blow to view gallery of images)



Goal Digger

We've been hitting the ground running, filling our fire with forks, and jumping off cliffs hoping for nets. It's the only way to take the world by the horns...Right? Maybe?

If you asked me six months ago where we would be today, I would have never said here. It's hard to believe it has been six months since officially opening our doors...I mean mind-blowning. I didn't have many expectations for what would happen with this little flower biz. I was just fine with throwing sand into the wind and holding my eyes closed really, really tight. But what happened was nothing like anticipated.

I met so many new faces. Many which immediately became friends, mentors, muses, angel-sweet-magician-helpers who are steering me along this journey to build and establish my little business. They are true motivators who keep me up into the wee hours of night, thinking, planning, glowing with excitement. It seems impossible that one, simple conversation can have such an impact on life...but it can. You bet your booty it can! And I've watched it happen over and over.

Last month marked a few photo shoot adventures, weddings, rehearsal dinners, fundraisers, anniversaries, baby showers, and more. And as we come to the end of summer and start of autumn, it's Groundhog's Day. Feeling more and more the same with continued requests for pastel centerpieces made with peonies that are long gone. That's not a complaint, it is a treasure. I see it as still getting to be a teacher of sorts. I teach my clients about the seasonality of flowers and how our dry winter and summer impacts availability as well as cost. Days filled with meeting new people, brainstorming ideas, creating inspiration boards, and designing flowers...shoot, it all makes me smile.

Now six months later, with a collection of forks, nets, and tired toes, we are embarking on exciting new realms and peeking out of those squinted closed eyes to see a glimmer of what is about to happen...

First, we are going to put our green thumb to the test and start planting. I mean, actually planting, like on acreage. We were offered a sweet space to put down some roots and pray that we actually get SOME rain this fall. With plants going into the soil in the next few weeks, we will be watching, waiting, learning, no doubt failing, and trying to figure out how the heck to grow mass quantities of dreamy blooms for our designs. It's going to be a real experience being a Goal Digger. If you'd like to take your hand in planting, feel free to shoot me a message. We are going to need all the help we can get to plant, weed, seed, till.

Second, I have been asked to be the curator of a museum exhibit for next spring. Our exhibit will feature floral and botanical designs in their natural form. I am in the process of pulling together potential exhibitors, so if you know someone who is a local florist or floral designer in Solano County or the surrounding area, please shoot me an email with their contact information. The exhibit will launch next spring with many special activities and events. Please keep your eyes peeled for what happens next.

With that said, I am still trying to take it all in. I told my husband and brother-in law the other day, that sometimes when I talk to people about how work/the business is going, I feel like I am talking about someone else who I happen to know a lot about. Because it really hasn't hit me yet that so much that has happened, is happening, and is about to happen. So, HEEHAW cowgirl! I better get a saddle (and a helmet)!

Oh and one last thing, we have a few more spots left for our DIY Floral Fun Workshop~Flower Crowns on 8.27.14 at Pietro's #1 from 6:00-8:00pm. Please email thepollenmill@gmail.com if you are interested in signing up. Details are under the "Events & Workshops" tab of our website.

As always, thank you for believing in me and my little floral dream. It's people like you who are making it all come true. Love Locally!




Soul Food Farm Photo Shoot | Vacaville, CA

Last weekend we were blessed to take part in a photo shoot at Soul Food Farm on Pleasants Valley Road here in Vacaville. This place, is just, phenomenal. Every time I step foot on this property, I feel like I turn into a child again and want to skip, roll around with bare feet, and talk to the chickens and trees (ok, so maybe not much has changed and I still regularly do all of these things but yeah, it really brings out the hippie spirit).

Alexis, the owner of Soul Food Farm has a beautifully comforting spirit. She is easy to talk to, even easier to love, genuinely caring and very supportive of our little community. Not only is Soul Food Farm a working farm raising chickens, lavender, and olives but it is on the verge of becoming the new "it" venue for events and weddings in the area. With the barn doors about to swing open, Alexis has hired one amazing event planner to take on the feat of helping to plan events on the farm. Amber is working to coordinate events and make your special day as flawless as the farm surroundings. She is talented and kind with a warming smile. Her humble sense of style and simple beauty made for some amazing photographs last weekend. Amber is not only the event coordinator, but a talented photographer as well. Her work can be seen at http://mysweetnessphotography.blogspot.com/

Check out the venue in all its glory, amongst the beauty of the whimsical olive orchard on a particularly bright and sunny evening.

These olive trees scream "come frolic in my branches" about as much as Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree.

These summer flowers were selected in bright but soft hues to compliment the silver in the olive branches and golden grasses.

Peach dahlias, pink rice flower, immature hydrangeas, gomphrena, and blushing bride protea snuggle up and embrace.

Tulips in full bloom stretch out their petals passed a cafe au lait dahlia.

And the mix & match china and crystal, place settings...Ugh, stop it already with the cuteness

Just breathtaking.

Thank you Alexis and Amber (Soul Food Farm & My Sweetness Photography) for asking us to be a part of this beauty. We love working with you and we are excited for our many adventures to come! XO