By Heather Lipp, J. Morris Flowers, Photography by Candice Adelle
A wedding consultation usually begins with initial questions about style, flower varieties and color choices. Brides often have a specific look they are trying to achieve with their wedding flowers and décor, and their styles typically reflect their personality. Larisa Nunley, a June 2016 bride, recalls taking a slightly different approach to this initial conversation – she began by describing a mood that she and her husband Greg were hoping to achieve. “We really wanted the wedding itself to be casual and festive and less about a traditional ceremony that can be so formal.”
Natural setting and decor at Stone Tower Winery made for a perfect complement to the deeply-hued summer colors. Photography by Candice Adelle.
“We also wanted our wedding to be about more than just us, we wanted it to be about friends and family… taking a break from life and celebrating, and the flowers had to be a reflection of that.” A celebratory atmosphere for them meant beautiful colors that set the mood. “We wanted the style to be very free feeling, happy and lively. That’s where it all stems from.”
I asked Larisa how much she knew about the types of flowers and varieties that would help her achieve the mood she was hoping to create. “Zero… zero, I know flower basics and I can identify some common varieties. A lot of people have a passion or love for a different type of flower and they want to see a lot of those flowers in their bouquets and arrangements. For me, it was more about the look and feel than the types of flowers, so I really relied on Jennifer and J. Morris Flowers to help me achieve my vision.”
Larisa loves jewel tones, and talked about colors that were earthy and bold. She wanted her flowers to complement the natural setting and abundant beauty at Stone Tower Winery, outside of Leesburg, Virginia. “I had obviously spent time pouring over Pinterest and all the other sites that people use and the bigger blooms were just something I gravitated towards. It felt like the bigger blooms were more free; less structured. Especially the peonies… they changed and opened up throughout the day.”
The invitation helped to set the mood right away. Greg’s boutonniere had Sword Fern in it. Photography by Candice Adelle.
Larisa and Greg’s invitations were done by Beacon Lane, a company that provides customized wedding invitations. (See below.) “We wanted the mood to be consistent across everything, we wanted to set the tone for our guests the moment the invitation arrived in their mailbox.” The wedding invitation, with its colorful, big blooms was a perfect pairing for the actual flowers and the setting at Stone Tower. “The invitations aren’t formal but colorful with a little sparkle. And, the staff at Beacon Lane were so amazing to work with.”
Weddings are so personal, that’s why no two weddings ever feel the same. Yet, they are all consistent in one thing, love and romance. Larisa and Greg have two children, Rhys and Fallon. Because they were already a family, the couple placed a big emphasis on being together. Since friends and family would be at their side throughout the day, they decided not to have a wedding party. “So for us, it was again, less about pomp and circumstance and more about what we were there to celebrate… uniting our family with the people around us that we love the most.” They didn’t want their guests to have any obligations other than arriving and having a great time. In lieu of gifts, they asked for donations to the American Cancer Society.
The peony in Larisa’s hair was unplanned. She wanted her ensemble to feel less formal, like the day. “I wanted to look as close as I can to my every day self. So, going with a hair style that was loose and natural made me feel comfortable. I wasn’t going to use anything in my hair but that flower did provide an extra pop of color.” In fact, the flower was suggested by a friend who scooped it up at the last minute from the large blooms that framed the ceremony aisle.
The cake table was decorated with the same whole blooms instead of petals. “I wanted to do something different, something that reflected the beautiful summer day.” The jewel tones of the flowers really popped amongst the wood and stone that are features of the winery décor. “A lot of the jewel-toned flowers that I saw in my planning were in pictures from fall weddings and were more like ruby and emerald. In the consultation, we focused on deep tones that were summery. The flowers came out gorgeous and the colors were perfect.”
Sword Fern adds a whimsical touch and a beautiful green. Photography by Candice Adelle.
Jennifer, Owner of J. Morris Flowers, explains that Larisa’s flower choices represent a change in the colors that brides are selecting. “These wedding flowers reveal the return of color to weddings in a new and vibrant way. We are playing with colors combinations like we never have before, coming up with some new and exciting looks that are truly striking. The flowers include Scabiosa, Dahlias, Coral Charm Peonies, red Peonies, white Peonies, Sword Fern, orange Ranunculus and Plum Mini Callas (formally named Swartzvalder).”
I asked Larisa what advice she would give future brides as they prepare for their floral consultation. “I would suggest coming prepared and if you haven’t got a specific vision then bring a few ideas and let those ideas guide the conversation. And, of course, plan to have fun with the creative process.”
For more information about the invitations from Beacon Lane, go to www.beaconln.com. But before you leave us, sign up for a weekly notification about our blog postings. Simply complete the form below.