Hi friends! I’ve been a little quiet on the blog lately because there have been some major changes in the works over here and I wanted them all settled before making this announcement – and now its time! I have accepted the position as VP of Business Development with Organic Bouquet! You can read the press release here.

What does this mean for my clients and potential clients? I will continue to offer wedding and floral design services in Southern California as I have for the last six years as The Spiraled Stem Floral Design – however I will now be operating these services as Organic Bouquet. I’m still in the same location, have a great design team, and am available to help make your wedding or event beautiful with the finest eco-friendly floral decor available on the market. You can reach me at all of the same contact information for now, and I will be transitioning the website and blog and such to Organic Bouquet in the near future. I would love to hear from you with any questions you might have or to schedule a consultation for your event! And blogging will resume regularly soon!

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Focus on Flowers is a weekly educational series were I take questions from brides and share my insight as a floral designer.

Today’s question is from Amanda who wants to know –  ”How do I plan my wedding flower budget?”

There are two key drivers for cost: Venue and Guest Count.

The VENUE is ALL ABOUT PROPORTION! Small arrangements are appropriate in a casual backyard wedding whereas tall glass vases with large arrangements on top with orchids cascading down suit a 5-star hotel ballroom (and not vice-versa). Remember the size and shape of the table dictates how much volume and substance will be needed to make an impact on your tabletop. A budvase on a 72″ round will drown and a 3′ diameter arrangement won’t allow enough room for place settings, stemware, and the bread and butter. A great guideline for the cost of your centerpiece should be equivalent to the per person cost for your reception food and beverage (e.g. $50/person = $50/centerpiece).

The GUEST COUNT plays a large role in your flower budget. Its all a numbers game – THE SPIRALED STEM LAW OF MULTIPLIERS! (yeah I wrote the law). The more people the more tables, and the smaller the table the more of them. The larger the wedding party the more bouquets and boutonnieres. Some people like to give corsages and boutonnieres to extended family, such as aunts and uncles, which will add cost to your flower budget. Your ceremony site will be a place where a lot of photos will be taken. Decorating the site with flowers will add a beautiful frame to all your photographs, but how many rows are in the aisle? The longer the aisle the more clusters on the ends, square footage to cover with rose petals on the ground, you get the picture.

I hope that my insight on venues and guest count helps you plan the budget for your wedding flowers. E-mail me or post a question in the comments section and maybe we can address it in an upcoming episode!

As an added bonus, leave me a comment and I will send you the budget calculator that I give my brides before our consultation so they have a realistic idea of what to expect their quote to be.

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Hi there! I came across this article on MSN had just had to share – a groom updated his Facebook and Twitter profiles from the altar – between saying “I DO” and kissing the bride. What do you think – sign of the times or taking it too far?

I attended my girlfriends wedding a few years ago, and her husband is famously ALWAYS on the phone. Well, he’s a sports agent for extreme athletes, so there is always drama, broken bones, or some other fire to put out. During their ceremony (as a joke) he had someone call him on his cell phone! Not even his wedding ceremony was safe!

I bet if we had the technology at the time (only a short 6 years ago!) Darrell would have done the same thing!

Here’s the article:
I do take thee, Facebook and Twitter updates
Groom creates viral storm tweeting from altar during wedding ceremony
NEW YORK – A Maryland groom has created a viral storm after he interrupted his wedding last month to update his Facebook and Twitter accounts from the altar.

Dana Hanna, who works for a pet Web site, also posted a short video of the ceremony on the Internet. It showed him reaching into his pocket for his phone as the minister was about to pronounce the couple husband and wife.

The video has had more than 350,000 views.

“Oh, Dana is updating his relationship status on Facebook,” the minister said as the audience at the wedding laughed.

After Hanna finished twittering he continued the ceremony.

“As I was saying, I now pronounce you husband and wife. It’s now official on Facebook. It’s official in my book. Dana you may kiss your bride.”

Hanna, who lists his profession on the networking site LinkedIn as chief architect at Next Day Pets, described his reaction to the ceremony on his YouTube account the day after the ceremony.

“I surprised not only my guests, but also Tracy (his wife) by pulling out my phone and posting on Facebook and Twitter from the altar during out wedding,” he said.

Though users have sent marriage proposals over the micro-blogging site Twitter, interrupting a wedding ceremony to update social networking site Facebook and send out a tweet on Twitter about it appears to be a first.

“I had her phone ready in my pocket, so when she asked for it I could hand it to her. No one knew about this except the minister and myself.” he said on YouTube.

The Twitter post, which has garnered Hanna instant online fame, is still up on his account.

“Standing at the altar with @TracyPage where just a second ago, she became my wife! Gotta go, time to kiss my bride. #weddingday 1:48 PM Nov 21st from Twittelator.”

Yesterday, apparently overwhelmed by media attention, Hanna posted a new comment on his Twitter account.

“To all the criticizers of my video out there questioning my sanity: You don’t get it. I was having fun at MY wedding! Loosen up, have fun!”

His new bride, apparently also surprised at the viral storm her husband launched, also posted on her Twitter account.

“Can’t sleep, very anxious about this new fame. What will become of it?” she asked.

Copyright 2009 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

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Hello! One of my frustrations with my current website is that I don’t like how the photo galleries work, and what do you – my potential clients – want to see most? Pictures! So I am researching options to have a more photo oriented website, while still bringing you all of the information and resources you like to see on my blog. So… my first trial is with a service that makes videos out of a photo gallery. What do you think? I’d love feedback and if you have a web program that you know of that does a fantastic job of displaying photos, please leave a comment – I’m open to suggestions!

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Environmentally and economically (eco-eco) conscious brides, couples, and those contemplating a party for any occasion, are invited to the Environmental Nature Center to meet local businesses providing affordable, “green” products and services that can reduce environmental harm while ensuring a joyous, memorable and stylish celebration. Come explore the Center’s facilities, which are now available for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners and showers!
 
Signed copies of New York Times environmental writer Mireya Navarro’s best selling book “Green Wedding” will be available for sale. All proceeds from book sales go directly to the programs and operation of the Environmental Nature Center.

Participants:
Bloom Where You’re Planted
118 Degrees
About Town Bartending
Avanti Café
Beach Pit BBQ
Boulevards of Travel
Braedon Photography 
CandlEssence
Classic Party Rentals
DJ Wendy
Flutist Susan Fries
Fly by Night Studio
Kathleen Neilson, Esthetician
Nature’s Gifts
Newport Beach Vineyards
Savory Concepts Catering 
Sun Flour Bakery
Where’s the Party?
and more!
 
$15 Admission to the event includes an eco-friendly lunch and flower arranging workshops with Veriflorist Janet Peloquin, owner of Bloom Where You’re Planted. Participants will learn to make their own bouquets and boutonnières.
 
Call 949-645-8489 or complete the registration form below.  The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) is located at 1601 E. 16th Street in Newport Beach, CA.

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Hi everyone, recently I ran a promotion on Facebook – offering 50% off setup and delivery for people who become fans and book their 2009 wedding with us. Duh – I should have posted it on my blog too. Sooooo, Become a Fan on Facebook!

When you book your 2009 wedding with us, you will get 50% off your setup and delivery charges. This only applies to weddings in 2009 – so if you are one of those brides who is waiting until the last minute to book, now is the time! We added about 50 new fans in a week and have been scheduling new consultations daily.

I am still accepting weddings for September through December (and into 2010!), so call us today at 714-632-6885 for your consultation before the dates get filled. Just a note – the e collection has been really popular this fall, so check it out for very reasonably priced florals that will reflect your color scheme and bring just the right floral touch to your wedding at just the right price. Its a fantastic value for this tough economic time!

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Congratulations to Angela and Thomas who got married just this past Thursday at Rancho Las Lomas. The bride wore three different dresses throughout the course of the evening, and the ceremony was infused with Indian traditions. For the flowers, we used shades of reds, golds, and oranges, featuring roses, spray roses, pincushion protea, safari sunset, tulips, marigolds, cymbidium orchids and james story orchids.

A special thank you to Jason Young from Garner Films for this fabulous highlight video, and I should be getting another one of just the flowers soon. I love the attention to detail!

And speaking of details, a special thanks to Kerrie Underhill from Platinum Weddings by Kerrie for coordinating all of those beautiful details!

Watch the video here

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Join us on Sunday, March 15 from 2-4pm for an exciting afternoon learning about Green Weddings from the experts. Mireya Navarro, author of Green Wedding: Planning Your Eco-Friendly Celebration will be discussing green weddings with a panel of experts, including a floral designer (me!), a green lifestyle authority, an eco-chic wedding planner, and a bride who had a green wedding in 2008. This book is a MUST HAVE in any wedding professional’s library, and serves as a practical and inspirational guide to brides and grooms who are trying to do right by the planet during their wedding.

Please click on our Green Wedding Panel Discussion and Book Signing Event page for profiles of the panelists and all of our fabulous sponsors. You can also register to attend this FREE event here!

Yummy refreshments and beverages will be served, come and enjoy a relaxing and inspiring afternoon with us!

View an article on the TODAYSHOW.com website with Mia here!

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This Friday and Saturday February 27-28, the Brides Against Breast Cancer Nationwide Tour of Gowns stops in Anaheim! For two days only, brides can shop from a huge selection of wedding dresses in all sizes and with prices at 25-75% below retail. These beautiful wedding dresses have been donated by past brides, designers, salons, and manufacturers so that proceeds from the sales go to benefit Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization which grants end of live wishes for terminally ill metastatic stage IV breast cancer patients.

Power Hours
Making Memories will host special morning hours of operation to offer brides a “sneak peak” and first pick of the thousands of gowns available for her one special day. “Power Hours” are on Friday, February 27, 2009, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – admission is $20, advanced registration is required, and space is limited. Visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/275961408 for Power Hours registration.

Here are the details on the Brides Against Breast Cancer Wedding Dress Sale:

Location
Anaheim Marriott Suites Hotel
12015 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA

Hours
Power Hours:
Friday, February 27, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Gown Sale:
Friday, February 27, 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 28, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Registration
Power Hour: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/275961408
Brides: http://www.makingmemories.org
Volunteers: http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org

Payment
Cash and credit cards are welcome. General admission is FREE.

BONUS!

A coupon worth $50 off any gown over $500 or $25 off any gown from $250 to $499 will be printed in the Orange County Register and the LA Times – Orange County Edition on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for additional savings! Brides must present the coupon clipped from the newspaper to redeem the discount.

View the Brides Against Breast Cancer Dress Sale Press Release.

View the Brides Against Breast Cancer Dress Sale Flier.

View the Brides Against Breast Cancer Dress Sale Coupon (you must bring in printed newspaper coupon to redeem!)

The Spiraled Stem Floral Design is honored to be the volunteer local coordinator for the Brides Against Breast Cancer wedding dress sale, so we will be on site for the entire sale. We are still taking volunteers so please contact me at christine@thespiraledstem.com if you are interested!

I learned about BABC last year as part of The Green Event Studio launch, and we were happy to host the launch as a Pink Envelope Project event. I also pledged to donate my wedding gown in support of BABC, and that is just what I did last year.

My dress professionally cleaned and boxed had been sitting in my closet for 5 years.

My dress ready to join the thousands of others waiting for a new owner.

Me with my dress before we part ways.

Yes I had to try it on just one last time.

No it didn’t still fit! Be careful girls, this can happen to you too!

If you are a recent bride who would like to donate your dress, you can bring it to the sale and we will accept donations, just like how I did last year. For dresses that are really damaged or are non-sellable for any reason, there is still hope! Brides Against Breast Cancer will still accept the donation, but they use the fabric for quilters to make fabulous quilts that are worth thousands of dollars, and the proceeds of their sale go to Making Memories, just like the dresses!

For all the brides who are still shopping for a dress, or for past brides who want to donate their dress to a good cause, we look forward to seeing you this weekend!

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I hope you had a great Valentine’s Day!

Our V-Day at The Spiraled Stem was very special because my very good friend since the 7th grade, Carly, got married to her Valentine DJ. We were honored to have done the flowers and to be part of such a special night. Here’s a picture of Darrell and I after all the work was finished and we were dressed up for the reception (and our Valentine’s date – two in one!).

Carly and DJ chose a beautiful location in Del Mar (San Diego area) called the Powerhouse, which is right on the beach! We were a little nervous on Friday because it was POURING, but the forecast called for clear skies on Saturday, and while it was chilly, the rain stayed away and it was a beautiful day!

Here is a picture of me just after I finished making the Maid of Honor bouquet on Friday.

Darrell and I started setting up the reception in the afternoon. Carly chose the beautiful and very popular submerged orchid in the tall glass vase centerpiece, with a floating candle on top. I have a lot of brides doing this centerpiece in 2009, and I can tell you since I was at the wedding that all of the guests loved it. Its classy and elegant, without being overdone and you still get the height of a tall centerpiece at a much lower cost than the big arrangement on top. We used two different colors of orchids, brown and burgundy, to reflect the African safari theme of their honeymoon destination.

Here are some more ambiance pictures from the reception. Since it was Valentine’s Day, they had a candy bar with all kinds of tasty treats!

It was a special treat for me too to see my friends Ali (since 1st grade), Elizabeth (since 7th grade), and Carly’s friend Shea – who were all Spiraled Stem brides! Well actually, Elizabeth and myself both got married before The Spiraled Stem was officially in existence, but it still counts since I did the flowers. So here are all of the wives – welcome Carly as the newest to the club! I also dug up pictures from each of our weddings, but luckily pre-2003 isn’t digital so I’m not going to dig those junior high school prints out!

Elizabeth – August 2002

Christine – September 2003

Shea – August 2005

Ali – September 2005

Carly and DJ – Married 2-14-09!

I don’t have any pictures of the couple from the wedding day because I snapped all of these pictures before i realized the camera had no memory card… I’m a florist not a photographer! So I pulled this from the archives. I hope to add some wedding pictures of them soon when I get them from the  real photographer. In the meantime, congratulations to Carly and DJ and have a fantastic honeymoon!

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