I’m smitten with winter weddings. They seem so much cozier, and thus, more romantic. And the flowers are all the more beautiful for being such a rare spot of color and freshness in the winter dullness. I rarely get to decorate winter weddings though since there’s really not much blooming here in chilly Philadelphia between December and March. But there are exceptions to the rule.
I met Kate at Thanksgiving when she bought a holiday centerpiece to give to her future mother-in-law. I could sense this was a woman with a kindred spirit, and I made sure to tell her she should contact me when she and John had a wedding date set. They were thinking sometime in June.
And then in January came an email from Kate, wondering if it was even remotely possible for me to pull off flowers for a wedding in February! I told her to drop by the studio so we could chat about it. Well, that chat lasted two and a half hours, and I was totally infatuated with her vision for the speedy nuptials. Even though I wouldn’t be able to design with only locally-grown flowers, I was sure I could get the rest grown sustainably in California. And thus began a whirlwind of planning and putting together a wedding in a month!
The venue was an adorable historic boutique hotel in downtown Philadelphia, the Morris House Hotel (someday I will treat myself to a night here, just for fun). The wedding hosted just two dozen close friends and family. The color palette was one of my new obsessions: orange and warm soft pink (with gray and white). All the florals were designed in antique silver and pewter and were meant to look as though they belonged perfectly in the hotel’s decor. And there were loads and loads of candles, inside and out.
And did I mention the wedding was on a Monday night? I am now entirely obsessed with the idea of weekday weddings. It means only the people who really want to be there will be there.
I think this is all wonderful – small, no need to wait a year to book a room, lovely and in off-season.
Absolutely, Geraldine!
All night long, I just could not stop talking about the flowers. Jennie, you transformed a charming little library into a warm and sunny Eden. Your orchestration of my rough ideas was absolutely stunning. It was a complete joy to work with you!
KATE!!! Are you back from sunny Mexico?? I hope it was amazing! Thank you for such sweet words. I adore you. But you knew that already. XOXO
Jennie! I cannot express how beautiful Johnny & Kate’s Wedding area looked. As Kate’s sister-in-law, I can tell you for sure, the flowers transformed the area. You would have never known it was a cold February Monday outside:) The colors of the flowers were just so beautiful. You made Kate a VERY HAPPY Bride…and really isn’t that what it is all about? Thank you for being part of the most intimate wedding I have ever been a part of.
Jean
Aw, thanks, Jean! It was such an amazing evening. I felt so lucky to be part of such an intimate celebration!
Two of my favorite things – beautiful flowers surrounded by books in the quiet setting of a library + favorite people. What more could anyone want to complete a happy occassion.
Aunt Linda ~