When Danielle and Nate started planning their wedding, they were clear on their colors: dusty blue, sage green, ivory. They were drawn to different textures, but otherwise didn’t have strong flower preferences. Working with such generous parameters is a *dream* for a floral designer – and putting together the flowers for this lovely couple was a treat.
The groom’s boutonniere included thistle, echeveria, and sweet-smelling freesia. Photo: Jennifer Meija Darling Photography
The bride’s bouquet included lavender, thistle, hypericum berries, and dusty miller. Photo: Jennifer Meija Darling Photography
The harmony of colors and textures were captured so beautifully by photographer Jennifer Meija. Darling Photography
Kate and Tony planned their wedding day with glee and anticipation, relishing thoughts of welcoming their friends and family traveling from near and far, low-pressure ways to include their tiny nephews in the festivities (spoiler alert: they called them the Little Buds! ::faints with cuteness::), dreaming of details that would be special and memorable for all.
The couple chose flowers that both reflected the palette of the New England autumn and harmonized with Kate’s blush gown and Tony’s blue suit…
Black Magic and Shimmer roses, scarlet astilbe, viburnum berries, and scabiosa pods wrapped in linen ribbon; Kate’s grandmother’s watch was her “Something Old.” Photo by (Once Like A Spark) Photography
Kate and Tony wanted centerpieces that celebrated their appreciation for fine wine, and was a nod to their gorgeous venue, the 1620 Winery. The centerpieces were anchored with slices of a tree from Kate’s uncle’s land.
Kate and Tony had a sweetheart table to themselves, where they could sit for a moment and bask in the warm wishes and cheerful toasts from their loved ones.
The Metropolitan Water Works Museum is a gorgeous building. From the outside it looks like a stately library or part of a lovely college campus.
Photo: Lori Rider of Everyday Artistry Photography @ everydayartistryphotography.com
Inside, it feels like you’re in the hold of a massive ocean liner, with iron spiral staircases and mysterious dials and enormous pistons – the mechanics of the historic water pumping system.
The museum is a spectacular, albeit unusual, location for a wedding. It suited the couple; they are a duo who relish the unexpected and unusual! Matthias and Rebecca got engaged on a visit to the Gorey House. In celebration of that, and their fondness for Edward Gorey, we concocted some spooky, cobwebby arrangements for them to enjoy in the Bride Cave before the wedding.
Photo: Lori Rider of Everyday Artistry Photography @ everydayartistryphotography.com
Silvery dusty miller & Spanish moss; deep purple calla lilies, sweetpeas, and astrantia; Gorey illustrations adorning the mason jar.
Gorey illustrations were also projected on the exposed brick wall and incorporated in the welcome table – it was amazing!
Photo: Lori Rider of Everyday Artistry Photography @ everydayartistryphotography.com
Photo: Lori Rider of Everyday Artistry Photography @ everydayartistryphotography.com
We chose Quicksand roses and greens in mason jars and bottles, which were a lovely, homey, soft contrast to the iron and brick of the venue. The DJ furnished the “fireflies in a jar” – so festive!
Photo: Lori Rider of Everyday Artistry Photography @ everydayartistryphotography.com
Photo: Lori Rider of Everyday Artistry Photography @ everydayartistryphotography.com
We made some tiny posies for the flower girls’ little hands, wrapped in sage green satin ribbon to match their sashes!
Photo: Lori Rider of Everyday Artistry Photography @ everydayartistryphotography.com
Photo: Lori Rider of Everyday Artistry Photography @ everydayartistryphotography.com
A wish for the Waterworks Wedding Couple: may your married life be as joy-filled, whimsical, and unique as your wedding day was!
Photo: Lori Rider of Everyday Artistry Photography @ everydayartistryphotography.com
P.S. I credited the talented Lori Rider on all her photos in this post, and I encourage you to check out her site. Her photos make me want to hug everybody and eat a lot of blueberries.
When I started designing $10 bouquets for sale at NOCA, the goal was two-fold: to offer inexpensive, gorgeous flowers that would brighten people’s days, and to get the word out about Thimble Summer Flowers. So imagine my delight when I got this e-mail:
“I live near the coffee shop NOCA, and have really loved your flower arrangements there. My partner and I are getting married locally at the end of September — any chance you do flowers for weddings?”
After doing a happy dance or two, I got in touch with the couple, and we made a plan!
The couple had chosen the Wright-Locke Farm for their wedding site, a beautiful, rustic, working farm in Winchester, MA.
We agreed that the flowers should reflect the homey, welcoming spirit of the venue.
They requested fragrant arrangements; rosemary, bay leaves, lavender and eucalyptus would both provide heavenly scents and gorgeous greens and accents.
When we were setting up, we were welcomed by dozens of bees, who came to check out the offerings. (Every time I see a bee I smile; I did plenty of smiling that day!)
The farm has a re-purposed horse corral, the perfect place to put up a tent and tables, and dine al fresco.
The 1827 Barn is outfitted with festive lights, and is ideal for dancing, chatting, and soaking up the atmosphere.
Just as we left, we caught a glimpse of the bride in a moment of reflection before the festivities began – it was magical.
A wish for the Festive Fall Farm Wedding Couple: may your married life be as beautiful, peaceful and joyous as your wedding day was!
When I decided to start a flower business, I was stumped for a name. My husband suggested I consider names of things or places I’m fond of or that are meaningful to me. I pondered naming it after a favorite dessert, or an iconic image from my former professional field, or for a favorite flower.
But then I started thinking about books, and in a flash, I had it.
One of my favorite books as a child was Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright. It’s a sweet story of a girl named Garnet, living on a farm in Wisconsin in the 1930s, who finds a thimble in a stream at the beginning of a hot summer, and feels sure that it’s a magic talisman. I must have read it thirty times (more?); so frequently that sometimes anecdotes from the novel feel a little bit like my own memories instead of remembered text.
Did I ever get locked into a library? Oh, no. That was Garnet and Citronella…
Have I had a midnight picnic of pie by the lime kiln? Oh, no. That was Garnet’s family and Mr. Freebody, their neighbor.
This excerpt near the end of the novel captures its essential sweetness:
Garnet felt pleased. She…put her hands in her pockets. She found in one of them the silver thimble that she had brought to show Eric. She pulled it out and put it on her finger.
“Look Eric,” she said. “I found this in the river on one of the mud flats that came up during the dry spell. It’s solid silver and it’s very valuable. You know why, Eric?” she leaned towards him and said defiantly. “Because it’s magic, that’s why…Everything has happened since I found it, and all nice things! As long as I live, I’m always going to call this summer the thimble summer.”
Garnet was very happy. She was so happy, for no especial reason, that she felt as if she must move carefully so she wouldn’t jar or shake the feeling of happiness.
I keep a silver thimble on a shelf above my flower work-bench. When I see it while working, I’m reminded of the warmth, charm, and kindness of Thimble Summer, and I take my inspiration there.
How did we get here, anyway? Well, after an extended, informal love affair with flowers, I decided to formalize the relationship, and established (married? My analogy is falling apart…) Thimble Summer Flowers in 2017.
I’m constantly delighted and amazed by flowers—the astonishing variety of color and texture and scents; their changeability and fragility. My friend—let’s call her Sadie—hates cut flowers; she’s irritated by their impermanence. I, on the other hand, celebrate their impermanence; their very transience is a gorgeous reminder that this moment, this one right here, is a moment we should relish. Since spending more time with flowers, my eyes have been opened to the glories of foliage. I am awestruck by the zillions of shades of green in leaves, vines, and branches. When I walk outside (or go into the cooler at the flower market), I’m dazzled by the incredible variety of greens that Nature makes.Doing this work— creating floral arrangements to celebrate a moment in time — is a pleasure and an honor. I feel very lucky!
Since spending more time with flowers, my eyes have been opened to the glories of foliage. I am awestruck by the zillions of 
Doing this work— creating floral arrangements to celebrate a moment in time — is a pleasure and an honor. I feel very lucky!