Dancing Queen

I'll admit that I got caught red-handed a few days ago...totally dancing to the beat of my own music.  Completely free with no reservations, I danced my little heart out.  Until...I found myself face to face with my friendly neighbors staring at me through my wide-open window.  Everything stood still for a moment in time while I stared back at them like a deer in headlights.  My saving grace?  My two little children who stopped dancing only because I had.  "Mommy, come on!  Keep dancing!"

Since when did we decide that someone else's opinion of our free-spirit hinder us to express ourselves?  My boys completely skipped that momentary beat of judgment and checked me back into the dancing world.  I swear, I love my little teachers.  

Although I serve the wedding industry as a designer, I find myself in a counseling role for my brides all the time. A frequent concern?  The RIGHT way to do things, etiquette, structure, gifts, etc.  I find that a huge source of stress lies in what should/shouldn't be done for their own wedding. But who said that we HAD to follow the rules of what someone deemed as "tradition"?  If a wedding is about a union of love between two people, why can't the event completely reflect the couple?  

Remember the JK Wedding Entrance Dance video on You Tube?  If you need a refresher, just click here.  

This makes me smile every single time!  This couple truly embraced a celebration of their marriage that reflected them, throwing the "rules" out the window.  To date, this video has had over 70 million views in addition to parodies featured on TV shows (The Office being one of them) and countless other couples following suit for their own wedding. 

(Photo courtesy of google images)

I'm not sure that they expected such a response but I commend that they took complete freedom to dance to the beat of their own tune.  

The lesson?  Depends on how you take this post.  As for me, I think I'll keep dancing with the windows wide-open like nobody is watching.

Cheers to the beat of your own music!

Yours truly,

Joanna

PS - Have any great ideas on how you make your wedding a reflection of you?  Let's hear it! Send me an email or leave a message below!

Press: Floral Sense Paper Flower Backdrop with Tessa Kim's 2012 Line: Part 1

You are probably already familiar with our ginormous paper flower backdrop created for Tessa Kim's 2012 Line of bridal accessories.  I wanted to share this awesome video that Jakfoto Productions filmed during the actual photoshoot.  Click here to view the film via Vimeo.  Enjoy!

Tessa's new line was also featured in Utterly Engaged and The Wedding Chicks (just to name a few).  I'll post on those soon enough!

Yours truly,

Joanna

Press: Floral Sense Wedding Decor on Junebug Weddings

Remember the high-fashion glam wedding of Stew and Connie Webb held at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA?  Well, here is the blog feature on Junebug Weddings!  Enjoy!

Yours truly,

Joanna

High Fashion Glam Wedding at Richard Nixon Library

It looks like Richard Nixon Library is where the parties are happening lately!  Considering that it IS a gorgeous historical landmark, this venue is hard to pass up.  The wedding featured today was held back in July and I am super excited about sharing the images with you!  Our bride, Connie, came to me with this glitzy, glam, high-fashion styled theme for her special day.  The trick was to get gold peacock feathers and crystals to work in the design while keeping the feel of high-style branding.  Here's what came about!  Enjoy!

 

 

Congratulations Stew and Connie Webb!!

A special thank you to our day of set-up team Jesse Baker and Iris Marialaki!

Yours truly,

Joanna

Even Hungry Hungry Hippos Get Substitutions

Remember the game Hungry Hungry Hippos?  This used to be one of my favorite games as a kid so it was only fitting that I pass on the tradition to my own kids.  The only issue I ran into was the blatant choking hazard of the small white feeding marbles for the hippos' voracious appetite.  So, rather than waiting a few more years to introduce the game, I decided to substitute the little white marbles with cereal (ie. Kix).  This simple substitution works perfectly for my little men!  They get to enjoy the game and eat at the same time!

 

My point?  Yes, I do have one that pertains to the floral world. I know some of you may not want to hear this but there are times that florists will need to use botanical substitutions depending on what Mother Nature decides to offer during that season.  Keep in mind that Mrs. Nature has a mind of her own and no one can control what she will produce and how she will produce it.  For the most part, we can predict what will be in season but sometimes she likes to throw us a curve ball.  So, in the event those precious peonies are not available in exact shade you wanted, your florist should contact you to let you know what the other options are.  And if you end up hiring a GREAT designer, he/she will make your decor look just as stunning (if not better). Let's face it....its not as much about the flowers as it is the designer.  Right?

As a word of advice, I might have a few back-up options in the contract if you have specific varieties in mind for your decor.  My personal preference is to go with a general feel of your decor in seasonal flowers if possible.

Hope that this tid-bit of info helps you in your wedding decor planning!

Yours Truly,

Joanna

Featured Wedding at Mastro's in Costa Mesa, CA

Looking for some fun, colorful, modern floral decor ideas?  Here is a great modern wedding Floral Sense participated in back in July.  The pictures were taken with a personal camera but you'll get the gist of it all. Enjoy!

 

Yours truly, 

Joanna

Fulfilling Your Childhood Dreams

I’m a little sad that the OC Fair is over but I really only go for one reason each year.  It's to win my boys one of these ginormous animals. That’s right.  I have talent like no body’s business!  

I won the cow this year.  

The frog is from the previous year. 

And who knows what next year holds.

I just want to clarify that I didn’t wake up one day and decide that winning these animals was going to be an annual tradition. As with most things for me, I had a great source of inspiration: Randy Pausch.  If you don’t know the name, you will want to know the name AND spend the next hour or so watching his Last Lecture.  (Warning: have a notebook and a box of tissues handy.)  I refer back to his last lecture regularly.  Each time I watch it, I leave with yet another lesson and find ways to apply it to my life.  There’s the head fake lesson, achieving dreams lesson….and the ginormous animals. Yes, Randy Pausch inspired me to fulfill my childhood dream of bringing home an oversized carnival toy.  And now I’m hooked.

I remember entering the wedding industry years ago for mainly one reason: To bring to life the childhood wedding dreams for a couple (ok, its usually the bride's asthetic dreams coming true and the man just wanting his woman to be happy).  There is something so satisfying after a wedding set-up to take a moment, step back and admire the hard work of creating a gorgeous setting for a grand nuptial celebration.  And yes, each of those details make a huge difference!  Whether its the specific flower breed used to remember the couple's first date or the family heirloom brooch adorned onto the bride's bouquet, they all play part to the special day.  Truly, nothing beats having a couple tell me that their wedding decor was more than they ever dreamed!

Cheers to fulfilling your childhood dreams! 

Yours Truly,

Joanna


PS - We are returning to our original Monday/Thursday blog post schedule!

Barbie and Ken Get Married

I came across this awesome photoshoot by Beatrice De Guigne of Barbie and Ken's wedding. 

Yeah....pretty damn amazing! I've seen many wedding photos and I take particular interest in the detail shots.  Beatrice took no shortcuts to photographing this wedding! View the rest of her photos here on her blog.

Thanks for rocking my Barbie world!

Yours truly,

Joanna

Coscto Size My Wedding

I have a love/hate relationship with Costco.

Love: They have everything under the sun in massive quantities at great prices.

Hate: I, without fail, leave with a ginormous bite taken out of my wallet. This is the very reason I avoid going there.

Case in point: I don't know if you're a Modern Family fan.  I am unashamedly obsessed with this show.  There's an episode in which Cameron, the country mouse, introduces Mitchell, the upscale city mouse, to the wonderful world of Costco. During their outing, doubtful Mitchell is quickly and comically converted to Costco-ism, excitedly filling up carts full of "needed" items.  (In truth, you're going to have to watch the episode to appreciate all the humor if you haven't already.) 

But this is what happens...you go in with the intention of getting a few items and, before you know it, you walk out with hundreds of dollars worth of stuff. What the hell happened?

In regards to wedding planning, I'm going to call this the Costco-syndrome. Most couples tend to under-estimate their wedding budget mainly because they start shopping not knowing what to expect, what is available and how much services will really cost.  It doesn't take long for a couple to realize they are going to need some financial reinforcement to sustain their wedding day wants/needs. Trust me, I see this all the time.  

I get it.  The options are a bit overwhelming.  Who knew that there were so many different colors and textures of linens to choose from? Personal flowers should go to other people outside the bridal party? Wedding gifts are supposed to be given the members in the bridal party?  The venue has a separate cost for cutting the cake?  Alright,I feel your anxiety. I'll stop there for now.

My solution for wedding planning is the same solution for an outing to Costco: Have a budget and shopping list ready before you get out there and get sucked into Costco-syndrome.

For my consultations, I suggest that my couples list out their priority floral items (shopping list) and some extra items they would like to have.  Then we talk about styles that will fit within their price-range (budget).  That way, when I send over the formal proposal there isn't much sticker-shock.  See, you got it.

As for me, I have yet to overcome Costco's drug-like effect.  Wish me luck.

Happy event planning!

Yours truly,

Joanna

PS - Due to a sudden influx of professional photos from past events and new editorial content, the blog post schedule will temporarily change to Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Policies, Schmolicies

There's a new rule in my house effective August 10, 2011: 

Chewing gum will not be used to decorate one's face. 

With two boys under the age of 5 in the home, you can only imagine the implications of how this policy came to pass. I can assure you it was one big sticky mess I was left to deal with. I've come to realize is that even with this new rule in place, it doesn't completely prevent the mess from happening again.  It just serves as a reminder in hopes that the mess doesn't happen again....a preventionary (yeah, I know that's not a real word but it is now) measure.

Having said that, I have occasional questions come up regarding Floral Sense policies. So here's a little Q and A of our top competing questions:

Q) How much of a deposit is required to reserve Floral Sense services for my event date?

A) A 25% non-refundable deposit of the total cost is due once an agreement is signed.  This deposit serves to reserve your date so we are committed to your event and all your decor needs surrounding your event.

Q) Why is the final balance due 45 days prior to the event?

A) We rarely purchase products for future events unless we are certain the event will be taking place.  Each event we service is so unique which affects the types of products that need to be purchased. There is no cookie cutter order log.  45 days gives us the time we need to order specifically for your event and receive these items in time for production. This is also why any changes that need to be made are done prior to the 45 day countdown, ensuring we have all the design elements cohesive to your event's look.

Q) Do I really need to sign a revised contract with each change to the decor?

A)  Yes.  The reason? We refer to the most updated version of the contract during ordering and production. Any changes need to be reviewed and approved by you so that you get everything you want for your special day. Unfortunately, if its not in writing in the most updated contract version, the change doesn't exist.  This is also why you will be contacted prior to the 45 day mark to go over the final details of your decor just to make sure everything is in its place.

So there you have it: Floral Sense policies in a nutshell. Some of our policies may change over time as we learn and grow through our experiences.  In the meantime, all of these safety nets are in place so that we don't run into sticky messes on your special day.

Cheers!

Yours truly,
Joanna

Press: A Rustic Wedding in Southern California with Floral Sense

I love it when our couples get featured in editorials for their special wedding day! Meet Tiffany and Steven Shores who got married several months back at Dove Canyon Country Club. Check out their pretty, pretty pictures here on www.insideweddings.com.



Tiffany was an awesome bride to brainstorm wedding designs with! A country girl at heart with an affinity for bling, we fused the two together by adding touches of rope and crystal throughout the floral decor.

By far, my most memorable moment that day was handing Tiffany her bride's bouquet. I got lucky enough to get that moment captured on film.


Then there's the moment all the ladies in the bridal party get to see their line-up of bouquets complete with personalization!



Congrats to the beautiful couple Tiffany and Steven! Thank you for allowing Floral Sense to share your special day with you!

And a special thank you to our day-of set-up team members Roger Hua and Thomas Cemo for all your hard work!

Yours truly,
Joanna

Summer Bloomin'!

Summer in Southern California is definitely a favorite of mine. The smell of sunscreen and BBQ grilling signify that school is out and the beach is in. As for us wedding folk, we get the glory of being immersed into the full swing of nuptial season. And with that come some great summer blooms for the floral decor! You may even have the pleasure of coming across these beauties in your own garden. Here are a couple of my top picks for mid-year bloomers.

Lilac


Kangaroo Paw


Cockscomb


Euphorbia


Cosmos


Dahlia


If you're planning a summer wedding for next year, you may want to consider inviting these pretty things to the party. Happy summer lovin'!

Yours truly,
Joanna

All photos courtesy of google images.

WIPA event at Church Estate Vineyards in Malibu, CA

If you've been following the Floral Sense blog, you'll know by now that detail shots are a favorite to post. From the florals, to menu cards, to food presentation...love it truly in the details. And when you pull together the wedding industry's top vendors, no detail goes unnoticed. Last Thursday, Floral Sense had the privilege and honor to participate in providing floral decor for a beautiful WIPA meeting (all the vibrant, citrus colored arrangements). The chosen venue was Church Estate Vineyards in Malibu, CA. The location may ring of bell...its where Fergie and Josh chose to hold their nuptial celebrations! After sifting through these shots captured by Immaculate Immagery, you'll agree that this is a venue worth checking out. So grab a glass of wine, sit back and enjoy the eye candy!

Speaker Area:








Guest Speakers:




Cocktail area in the vineyards:








Lunch Lakeside:








The lake was complete with adornment of black and white swans.


Dessert - Fresh mini donuts!


Thank you Chris for this fab shot!


Participating Vendors:
Venue
Church Estates
Karen Waldron
Director of Events
6415 Busch Drive
Malibu, CA 90265
310-678-6199
kwchurchestate@aol.com
www.churchestatevineyards.com

Catering
Good Gracious! Events
Michelle Nowak
5714 W Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90019
323-954-2277
michelle@goodgraciousevents.com
www.goodgraciousevents.com

Catering – Desserts
The Fry Girl Inc
Shelley Beals
2052 W. 146th Street
Gardena, CA 90249
213-590-1710
minidonutgirl@aol.com
www.thefrygirlinc.com

Catering - Beverages
Stockholm Vodka
Stockholm Imports, Inc
Erica Swenson
30495 Canwood Street, Suite 101
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
310-999-5639
stockholmkrystal@gmail.com
www.stockholmkrystalvodka.com

Linens
Napa Valley Linens
Sharon Dexmier
1054 Shary Circle Suite E
Concord, CA 94518
925-459-0470
sdexmier@nvlinens.com
www.nvlinens.com

Décor Rental and Event Design
Raj Tents
Maurice Walsh
16921 S. Western Avenue. Suite 222
Gardena, CA 90247
310-329-8222 Ext. 25
maurice@rajtents.com
www.rajtents.com

Entertainment
Trio
818-217-6118
masatoshi.sato@hotmail.com
torio.bandcamp.com

Menu Design and Printing
Grand Soirees
Linda Ly
1940 E Deere Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92705
949-274-7725
linda@grandsoirees.com
www.grandsoirees.com

Florals
Floral Sense
Joanna Park
Anaheim, CA
714-512-2443
contact@floral-sense.com
www.floral-sense.com

Bound, A Floral and Event Studio
Rhonda Clelland

(909) 208-2171

Rentals
FormDecor
Jeff Sigler
14371 Industry Circle
La Mirada, CA 90638
714-493-9501
jeff@formdecor.com
www.formdecor.com

Premiere Party Rents
Sandy Radicevic
12100 W. Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90066
310-391-2552
www.premierepartyrents.com

Coffees
Andrew Resnick
The Cappuccino Club, Inc.
8005 Masefield Court
West Hills, CA 91304
818-347-0472
andrew@thecappuccinoclub.com
www.thecappuccinoclub.com

Photography
Imagery Immaculate Photography
Chris Griffiths
18818 San Felipe Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
562-537-6844
iiphoto@mac.com
www.iiphoto.net

DJ
Vox DJs
KC Campbell
500 S. Sepulveda Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310-372-2222
kc@voxdjs.com
www.voxdjs.com

Thank you to our co-chairs for this event:
Sarah Kern Possick, Events of Distinction
Michelle Nowak, Good Gracious! Events

Events of Distinction
Sarah Kern Possick
310-463-6520
sarah@eventsofdistinction.com
www.eventsofdistinction.com

Good Gracious! Events
Michelle Nowak
5714 W Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90019
323-954-2277
michelle@goodgraciousevents.com
www.goodgraciousevents.com




Sending a special THANK YOU to Mike Kanaly for tech support.