Vendor Profile :: Save The Date Events

Today is the perfect day to profile Save The Date Events as we have a beautiful and wonderful wedding with Debbie and her team tomorrow! We will be working on a wedding at Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado.

Debbie and I first met on April 15th, 2006 at Rheana and Vince's wedding at the Pines at Genesee. We have had some amazing weddings together. The most memorable was a wedding at Boettcher Mansion, December 30, 2007 at 6pm. Yes, an outdoor ceremony! I will admit, this was perhaps the most difficult wedding I've worked on. The couple had us install a chuppah outside... outside in 50 mph winds. Ahh... Colorado! My girls and I stayed outside in our layers of ski jackets and clothes and held the chuppah in place until ceremony started. We did it and the wedding did take place outside, in the 50 mph winds. Point of the story - Debbie and I make the bride's wishes come true.
Debbie and her assistants have taken floral design classes with us at Bella Fiori. Sarah and I had a great time during the two classes helping Debbie, Gabby and Danielle learn tips of tricks for floral design.




Debbie DiClaudio Orwat
Professional Bridal Consultant
Member, Association of Bridal Consultants
Knot Best of Weddings Award in 2008 and 2009

debbie@savethedateevents.com
P 303.550.9261 | F 888.866.8972

"We are based in the Denver area and provide expert wedding and event planning for all of Colorado including Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Estes Park, Winter Park, Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Steamboat, Glenwood Springs, Telluride and Crested Butte."

Flower Inspiration :: Phalaenopsis Orchid Centerpieces

Thought I'd share a beautiful elevated centerpiece. It is filled with Phalaenopsis orchids, bells of Ireland, mini-calla lilies and white stargazer lilies.

Fabulous Florists :: Euforia Eventos y Arte Floral

My good friend Julie of Classic Creations recently sent me a link to a wonderful florist in Cancun, Mexico. Julie is a Denver based wedding planner who happens to plan quite a few destination weddings in Mexico. I love seeing what types of flowers she uses down south. Here is a link to the florist she most often works with:

Euforia Eventos y Arte Floral

Flower Inspiration :: Hotel Teatro

I was looking through some old photos and came across this wedding, it was from 2005. I still love it, the garden style, lots of candles, greens draping from the chandelier. The couple had 30 people at their reception dinner and everyone sat at this long rectangular table. The bride provided all her own linens and many of her candle holders. I designed a long arrangement down the center of the table, filled with peonies, sweetpeas, roses, orchids, hydrangea, chocolate cosmos, dahlias, hypericum, callas, ivy, salal leaves and queen anne's lace.


The credenza was decorated with curly willow and rose petals among the candle holders.

Vendor Profile :: Gourmet Catering

We love Kristin Collard of Gourmet Fine Catering. She is a super fun and hip event designer! We work with Kristin quite a bit at Parkside Mansion.

Contact Information:
Kristin Collard
Event Designer
Gourmet Fine Catering
*Please Note our New Location*
3600 E. 40th Ave.
Denver, CO 80205

303-825-4545
303-573-0947 (fax)

www.gourmetfinecatering.com
www.parksidemansion.com

Fabulous Florists :: Belle Fleur NYC

I'd like to introduce an amazing floral design studio located in New York City. I'm pretty sure if any of my readers actually live in NYC, you'll already be familiar with Belle Fleur. Their work has been published in numerous magazines, both wedding and home decor related. They have an amazing website that I feel many of you will be inspired by.

Here it is, enjoy!

Belle Fleur

Flower Varieties :: Lilac

Lilac, one of the most beautiful flowers in the world, the colors, the shape and the fragrance - wow! I fell in love with the lilac as a child. My grandmother had three bushes in her yard, the light colored lilac bloomed the most. The dark purple lilac only gave us a few blooms each spring which made it more treasured to me. I loved arranging the lilac and garden roses the most - the shapes and fragrance looked so beautiful together. sigh.... :)
Now living here in Denver I get to enjoy lilacs even more. So many everywhere I go!

If only the computer would allow us to scratch & sniff!




This photo brings back memories from childhood. My grandmother loved when the monarch butterflies would flutter in and visit the lilac, we only saw a few each year.

Book :: Paula Pryke, Festive Flowers

An oldy but goody:

Flower Inspiration :: Westin Tabor Center

Vendors involved in this lovely wedding:
Ceremony: St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Parker
Reception: Westin Tabor Center
Wedding Planner: Save The Date Events
Photographer: Ken Miller
Cake: Das Meyer (303) 425-5616
Music: DJ on Demand

Vendor Profile :: Intricate Icings

Rachael Teufel of Intricate Icings is a very talented cake designer located in Erie, Colorado.
Intricate Icings will design an unforgettable cake that is tailored to your event theme. These elegant cakes are as flavorful as they are visually stunning.




Contact
Owner: Rachael Teufel
Phone: 303-479-9922
Email: cakes@intricateicings.com
149 South Briggs StÂ
Erie, CO 80516

at the studio :: continuing education

I feel one of the most important parts of being a good floral designer is to continue my education with other floral designers. Last month I attended a floral demonstration at our local wholesaler. What made this particular open house very interesting and fun are the ladies who gave the demonstration. I met Lisa Weddel and Kris Colwell about 7 years ago while working at Teal Floral Design. They are amazing friends who have taught me so much. Also, demonstrating at the open house was Crystal of The Perfect Petal, I'm fortunate to have Crystal as a friend - she is so sweet.
The ladies did an amazing job and I learned a few new techniques, particularly with corsages and boutonnieres.
Here are photos of the ladies hard at work!::

Flower Inspiration :: Cascading Bouquets

This cascading bouquet is from the very first wedding I ever did (that wasn't for a friend or family member)! It has blue delphinium, roses, freesia, plumosa fern and ribbons. Cascading bouquets have come a long way from this look, we rarely use any ferns or ribbons now. Nonetheless, this bouquet will always hold a special place in my heart.

Here is the first cascading bouquet I ever made, I did it in a floral design class that I took at College of San Mateo. At the time I was working in a software firm in San Francisco and in the evening I took floral design classes for fun and relaxation. The rest, as they say, is history.

Book :: Paula Pryke, Simply Pink

Wonderful news!!! Paula Pryke has released a new book!!! I don't have it yet, but believe me I will be ordering it ASAP!

Vendor Profile :: The Bridal Collection

If you are looking for a great place in Colorado to go dress shopping be sure to visit The Bridal Collection.

They have an amazing selection of wedding dresses, dresses for the bridal party and tuxes for the men.
I might add that my Best Friend bought her wedding dress at The Bridal Collection. We had a wonderful experience with the ladies there. They are super sweet & helpful.
Plus, Leigh does an amazing job with their blog, be sure to check it out!

Here's their contact information:
The Bridal Collection
8101 East Belleview Avenue, Suite G
Denver, Colorado 80237
Find us on the map

Telephone: 720 493 9454
Fax: 720 493 3866
Email: info@coloradobridalcollection.com

The Bridal Collection is located just off Interstate 25 in the Denver Tech Center, one and a half blocks to the East on Belleview Avenue, on the Northeast corner of Ulster and Belleview.

Flower Inspiration :: Hydrangea in a silver dish

I love this centerpiece, blush pink hydrangea in a silver dish with touches of dark green pitt.

Fabulous Florists :: Petalworks

I came across a beautiful florist website:

Petalworks

Petalworks is located in Austin, TX. The wedding work is gorgeous!

La Tavola Linens, Napa, California

I was so fortunate on my last trip to Northern California to be able to attend a open-house event at La Tavola Linens in Napa.

La Tavola's boutique is so beautiful, fresh and lovely. I was amazed by the variety of linens they offer and equally amazed by all the florals they had on display.
I'm pleased to share these photos with you - hope you feel equally inspired!
This arrangement was the first one I saw when entering their showroom. The base of the vase is lined with celery! A full & lush arrangement of viburnum.

Here's a unique green linen, so fresh. Cool arrangement with pheasant feathers.









An beautiful and more traditionally set table for a wedding.

Here is my favorite table! I love the tall, wrought iron stand with all the glass globes hanging. The florist attached mokara orchids to the glass globes. Around the base were tons of bud vases filled with yellow peonies. Very unique!



I feel like La Tavola placed one of the best tables in a slightly hidden space in their showroom - like a little surprise for their guests that kept exploring the space. Check this one out!



Here are two beautiful cocktail table linen options:



Two more settings:



One of the lovely meeting spaces at La Tavola:


Racks of linens:


And now for the coolest moment of attending the event ... my mentor was there! I didn't expect to see her and was tickled pink when Arlene walked through the door. I ran over to hug her and chat!! Arlene owns Violetta Flowers in San Francisco.


Please note these amazing vendors that participated in the open house:
Hors d’oeuvres from Caridwyn & Sons Catering
Champagne from Schramsberg Vineyards

Participating florists:
Anne Appleman Flowers & Plants
Flaxx Floral Design | Flowers Claire Marie
La Fleuriste | Lush Floral Design
Michael Holmes | Montbretia
Valerie Arelt Design

Book :: Preston Bailey, Fantasy Weddings

Preston Bailey WEDDINGS!!!

Flower varieties :: Hellebores

I'm still amazed by the varieties of flowers in the world. I first saw Hellebores while walking down a sidewalk in London. I stopped to look at a flower patch and wondered what this beautiful flower is called. I visited a flower shop and found it is a Hellebore. That was quite a few years ago... Now I'm finding Hellebores are available to us in Denver. I love the colors they come in, ranging from green to all hues of pink.
Here are some photos of this little beauty: