continued learning

Investing in your own education might be the most important thing you can do for your business.  I think all of us small business owners know this but seriously, when do we have the time.  Miraculously the time, the money and the perfect workshop aligned. And you know I jumped on this as quickly as possible.

So off I was to Seattle to visit one of my all time favorite designers, Steve Moore of Sinclair and Moore.  He was hosting an Event Design workshop at a time where I was about to launch this service for my clients, and thought this has to be a sign.  Chris, my fiance, was itching to see his friend that happened to live in Seattle so we booked it and don't regret it.

As I anticipated what the week would bring, I never imagined what would actually occur.  I think we all believe that others have an answer that we are longing to hear and know all about.  That someone else's path is easier because they found the secret sauce.  Wouldn't that be nice?  In reality I discovered that he works is ass off and he deserves all the success he has and will continue to have... I could stop there because honestly that's 90% of it.  But I broke down the top 5 things I learned at The Sinclair and Moore Workshop for fun, but also to look back and have a place to remember these moments.

1) Kill them with kindness.  I am a firm believer in kindness leading the path to success.  It was so relieving to see that he is determined to do the same.  He and his wife and the kindest souls.

2) Pay attention to the details.  He runs a small boutique service that is dominated by the attention to detail.  When I get a little lazy and think someone won't notice I think of Steve.  Because from what we all love about his aesthetic... it truly is all in the details.

3) Your team matters.  Steve surrounds himself with likeminded ambitious people.  That are driven, kind, pay attention to detail and have his vision at the forefront of all things they do.  It's so obvious and addicting.

4) Stay driven.  Even if it makes his vendor uncomfortable, he demands excellency.  He humbly discusses requesting tasks done over, and over again to nauseam, to make sure the vision is accomplished. I have to imagine it drives people crazy, but I know why... the perfection matters.  And let's all admit that it makes a difference.

5) Mistakes happen.  Let's get super real, everyone loves seeing someone else deal with difficult times.  Not because you want to watch the train wreck, but because it allows someone to be relatable. Be flexible and allow option B to run as smoothly as option A.  

Thanks Steve, for your humility, honesty and drive.  You have taught me so much and giving me many things to ponder, discuss and continue to learn.  

maram + adam [crystal ballroom]

Every once in a while, a wedding comes along where the portraits of the Bride and Groom and wedding party are so great that an entire blog post dedicated to just those shots are needed...and Maram and Adam's wedding shot by Candice Adelle Photography at the Crystal Ballroom is one of those weddings!  Keep scrolling for all the wonderful images! 

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For the florals we designed, we utilized anemone, dahlias, roses, peonies, and dusty miller. We kept the florals in light and romantic tones of white and light blush. The balconies and the Crystal Ballroom really are a superb place to shoot so we wanted to make sure that all the florals accented the bright, airiness of the space!

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And can you get enough of Adam's reaction during the first look?! Moments like these make our job so fulfilling! The couple exudes joy and love! Combined with the gorgeous images I could just live in this feeling all day!

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For Maram's bridesmaids we crafted similar bouquets in dusty pink and cream to pop against their navy dresses. We also love how the blue in the few anemone throughout the bouquets pop!

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We also love keeping our Maxit grooms dashing with simple boutonnieres. These gentlemen shared a bond with Adam that included military service and we love that they incorporated their bond into the big day with their backpacks!

While choosing photos to share with you, I was so impressed by how Maram and Adam's personalities shined through every single shot. As I scrolled, I felt they were with me in the room, laughing and being silly. Their bridal party encouraged the joy in the day as you can see below! 

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We wish Maram and Adam the best! Thank you for trusting us to help your day be perfectly romantic and heartfelt! Cheers! XOXO

going away party [el tiempo]

We partnered up with Courtney and her company, Little Coterie again for a fun, fabulous and festive going away dinner at El Tiempo Cantina on Navigation!   This party, captured by Kerry Kirk Photography, was influenced by the colorful culture of Mexico and echoed the hard-working and loving personalities that come from it. Plus you can never go wrong with a tart margarita and some delicious food! 

We opted to create a long, hand-tied eucalyptus garland filled with hot pink roses, spray roses, and touches of ranunculus! We knew that the pink would pop against the decor of the restaurant and still leave space for the queso and salsa to fit! 

The festive dinner was further accented with rentals from Goodie Rentals, a division of Little Coterie. They have such a fun eye to find the best pieces to complete any party or event! 

And what about these poppers?! They were filled by Courtney with memories of the guest of honor and were read out loud during the dinner! What a wonderful touch! 

We loved being a part of this important moment for the guests and thank Courtney for the opportunity! 

Thank you a hundred times over for trusting us, Courtney. You are a joy to work with! XOXO

alicia + brady [briscoe manor]

This past July, darling Alicia and Brady tied the knot in a lush garden affair at Briscoe Manor.  We just received the images from the always-talented Mustard Seed Photography and are excited to share all the details below! 

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The day was full of large white roses, overflowing hydrangeas, and tons of greenery! We also crafted delicate floral crowns with our favorite petite flower, the wax flower! These little beauties add the perfect touch for adorable flower girls! 

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The bride and her gals had a wonderful time getting ready and came together with their elegant bouquets full of gorgeous white blooms! We love how the simplicity of the white and green pops against the bridesmaids dresses and also further enhances the brides sophisticiation!  

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The groom and his men donned classic black tuxedos and we accented them with white boutonnieres of spray roses. 

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Briscoe Manor has the perfect outdoor spot for a welcome sign! To accent the ornate gold frame we created a garland of eucalyptus and lemon leaf with an accenting touch of white blooms! We echoed this light garland inside the chapel to attach to the hanging draping. We doubled the garland at the bottom and added white blooms to the tie-backs to create a garden feel inside.  

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We always love the photos that Mustard Seed captures but how about the fun and sassiness from the flower girls and ring bearer below! These little ones brought such life and fun to the procession and we are so happy that Mustard Seed caught these moments on camera! The older flower girl had an absolute blast sprinkling her rose petals down the aisle. 

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After the ceremony and lovely kiss between the bride and groom, they got to steal a few moments away and shine in front of the camera! The couple was ready to enjoy their garden reception though, keep scrolling for all the greenery! 

For the reception space, we drenched the room in lush hydrangeas and roses. Our favorite roses to use include a mixture of Eskimo, Tibet, and White Majolika spray roses!  We also love how well these white blooms accent the warmth of Briscoe Manor's space from the natural stone walls and wooden ceiling.

Our favorite detail of the day was the garland we added to the sweetheart bench for the happy couple! Combined with the Mr. and Mrs. sign on the table and the large greenery backdrop, it was quite a beautiful sight! 

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When it comes to greenery, we love Silver Dollar Eucalyptus and Lemon Leaf. Not only do they have fun shapes and texture but they also smell just heavenly! Wouldn't you love for your reception space to not only have the look of a romantic garden but the smell of one too?

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We wish Alicia and Brady all the happiness in the world! It was so fun to create the perfect lush garden for your big day! We also cannot wait to work with Briscoe Manor and Mustard Seed Photography again! Cheers! XOXO

featured [flower magazine]

Fall is finally here! Officially at least because in Houston the fall weather won't arrive for a while longer! But with the official season shift, we acknowledge that floral decor also shifts towards the deeper, richer "fall" colors and vibe! 

Enter Flower Magazine! They have collected floral insight from eight different floral designers and we are so happy to be included on their list! My feature is entitled "A Recipe in Bloom" can be found here! It is a How-To where I outline step-by-step what you need to create your own arrangement like mine! Below you can find a few details from my feature and some of my other favorite designers in the article! 

For me, fall means more time hosting family and creating delicious spreads of food! One day while I was shopping at Central Market I fell in love with the colorful selections in the produce aisle and knew that I wanted to utilize the scents and texture I was enjoying into an arrangement! One of my personal secrets is to add herbs to an arrangement for not only the play of colors and textures, but also the intoxicating aromas, which will make others fall in love with the design!

I had such a fun time crafting this arrangement and capturing my step-by-step process so that YOU can create your own fall arrangement the next time you find yourself in a grocery store with amazing produce! You can check out my full how-to here and I'd love to be tagged in any photos you take of your our creations! 

If you'd rather eat your veggies than decorate with them, the article has seven more articles for you to enjoy! I feel so very lucky to be featured with some of my all-time favorite designers! 

One designer I admire, Erin Benzakein, has her own flower farm and her contribution to the article "Top Tips for Working With Mums" utilizes many blooms from the chrysanthemum family. You can check out Erin's tips here.

Another personal favorite designer of mines is Joy Thigpen from Atlanta. In Joy's feature, "Fall Out: A Bold Autumn Arrangement", she outlines the materials and steps she took to create the bright and beautiful arrangement below! You can check out Joy's how-to here.

So even if the weather outside does not agree that it is fall yet, you can still utilize florals inside your space to invoke the colors and smell of autumn! 

Thank you so much to Flower Magazine for allowing me to be a part of this feature! I hope that you enjoy the insight into my flower design process and that it inspires you to create your own fun fall arrangement. XOXO

tomiko + braxton [mcgovern centennial gardens]

It's been a little while since we shared a wedding on here! It's just been a season of parties! But this wedding, shot by the absolutely amazing Joseph West, is a fabulous one to follow up all the intimate events we've been sharing. 

Presenting Tomiko and Braxton's wedding at the McGovern Centennial Gardens as captured in all the stunning and artistic fashion that Mr. West is know for. 

For the bridal party, we kept the color with the bride and groom. The groom donned a deep purple calla lily and the bride carried an asymmetrical bouquet with peonies, garden roses, and spray roses in shades of blush, deep pink and wine.  

The aisle was decorated with loose stems in an ombre color palate starting with deep reddish pink and ending in white as the bride met her groom at the alter. A backdrop of hanging white paper cranes accented the loving ceremony. 

This event was filled with so many fun details and vendors! Loot Vintage Rentals and Aztec USA provided the various rentals throughout the reception area. We accented with lots of pops of color and single stem bud vases. The reception took place under a large white tent from Peerless Events & Tents and draped by Tech Ave Events. Our favorite floral contributions included:

• Hanging loose flowers over the head table;
• A photo booth backdrop of loose flowers; and
• A lush garland draping the center chandelier dripping in roses.

During the reception, the Bride and Groom snuck away with Joseph to capture their love with artful photographs. Our favorite has to be the cloudy backdrop Joseph captured towards the end of the evening!  

Other vendors involved in this amazing evening include planning by Caroline from Belle of the Ball, videography by Cake Walk Films, hair and makeup by Lucky Cat Beauty, cake by Susie's Cakes, catering by Cafe Natalie, and DJ from LG Entertainment.

We absolutely enjoyed flexing our artistic muscles to collaborate on this beautiful day for Tomiko and Braxton and cannot wait for the next opportunity to work with theses talented vendors again! XOXO

baby shower [baby bear]

We love the community of creative business owners and event professionals that we get to work alongside in Houston. Many of these end up as sweet friends that we get to watch grow in life and in love! Corley and Ben from Spell Events are the perfect example of two amazing wedding planners that have become friends. So when the Spell's announced their bundle of joy I knew that not only would we have the opportunity to assist in throwing them a magical baby shower but that it would be a beautiful affair with some of the best Houston people involved!

Our friends at The Cotton Collective captured these adorable images from the shower that took place at The Space HTX. Dear friend to the Spells, Cake & Confetti, contributed her love for balloons to the day with the elegant installation above the dessert spread. 

We used lots of greenery and soft blooms to accent the space and cake by Whisk Bakery. The space was filled with furniture and linen rentals from Aztec USA and A Fine Flourish created all of the beautiful signage and gift tags for the shower. 

Other vendors that contributed to the shower include: mocktails provided by Palace Party Beverage Company, adorable custom sugar cookies by Okie Doughkie, catering by MyLeighs Morsels, and additional dessert items from Sweet Maries Dessert Studio and Triffles Houston. Needles to say that all of the attendees enjoyed the vast array of sweets and drinks! Each guest also got to take home an adorable bear shipped candle in honor of the little babe. 

For the mamma-to-be we crafted a soft floral crown to accent her hair and makeup from Tousled and Teased. Corley absolutely glowed and Ben kept the biggest smile on his face the entire day! We know that these two are going to make wonderful parents and we cannot wait for their little bundle of joy to arrive! XOXO

galveston shoot on a whim

As we get back into the swing of business after Hurricane Harvey, we were delighted to receive these beautiful photos from a Galveston photo session shot by the wonderful Kelly Hornberger Photography! 

Kelly is one of my dear friends so when she asked me to collaborate on this romantic idea that she had, I of course said yes! 

In light of the hurricane, I love how these soft images capture the cool colors of the beach and the call of the ocean. So much beauty can be found from the elements of the earth. Lithesome Lettering provided the elegant invitation suite and place cards for the shoot. 

The table scape was filled with conch shells accented in soft pinks and I echoed those colors in the florals. The cream and rose shades also accented the blues of the majestic ocean backdrop. The dress was provided by Lovely Bride.  

Kelly's eye for beauty and respect for our earth and all it's elements above and below is something that I greatly admire. I cannot wait to have the opportunity to work with her again, especially when I know that her effort and images will be spectacular!  XOXO

birthday dinner party [private residence]

We've said this before...but have to say it again: We love Courtney and her company, Little Coterie. That serious girl-crush status is still going strong! Each of her events are so wonderfully detailed that we can't help but drool over every single one!  

This time around, we got to assist with a black, white, and gold birthday party captured by Kerry Kirk Photography! 

We decorated the table with bright greenery to pop against the gold and black. The festive dinner was further accented by candlesticks from Goodie Rentals, a division of Little Coterie. Goodie Rentals also provided the vintage cake platter for that decadent cake! The menus and paper products were designed by HH Design House. All in all it was a glamorous evening with the company of close friends and a hint of whimsy. The best way to celebrate any birthday!

We love every concept that Courtney delivers and enjoy helping her craft the details through our love of floral design! We can't wait until she dreams up the next party! 

Thank you a hundred times over for trusting us, Courtney. You are a joy to work with! XOXO

end of summer soiree [house of harper]

It's time for back to school already?!

Man, summer sure flew by!  

Summer goes by faster and faster each year! Though the summer temperatures are here to stay a bit longer, August means school is back in session and the official summer break comes to a close. We swap sunscreen for notebooks and pool floats for backpacks! 

 When Caroline from House of Harper reached out about an End of Summer Soiree, complete with margaritas, we were so excited to participate! As a supermom blogger to two boys, Caroline chose to celebrate the end of summer with a bright and colorful bar cart, complete with a big pink balloon! Caroline has flawless taste and we have previously worked with her for her 4th of July celebration which you can check out here!  

Caroline's vision included transporting her guests to the plush and tropical landscape of Acapulco so we went bright and colorful with a variety of pink blooms and tropical leaves.  We also crafted the arrangements in gold geometric vases to add a pop of glamour to the evening! 

Caroline invited her dear friend, Nancy of Natalie Gene Creative to bring The Original Margarita recipe to life on one of the large Monstera leaves. Nancy's calligraphy style meshed perfectly with the playful vibe in honor of a wonderful summer!  

For the dinner, we created a garland of Monstera with accenting pink blooms including the always-fun light pink Anthurium! Nancy also provided invitations printed on clear acrylic to further elevate the pink, gold and greenery place settings. 

Don't those margarita's look refreshing? After a sweltering summer there really is no better way to cool off than with great company and a perfectly crafted drink in hand! However, no soirees are complete without florals influencing the atmosphere!

Aille from Snapshots by Aille Petrovic captured Caroline's soiree perfectly! With the vibrant colors and fun setting, you can practically feel the Acapulco breeze wafting through Caroline's backyard!

The end of summer is always bittersweet. But sure is a lot more sweeter when ending it in such a fabulous way! We wish each of you a productive school year, whether you are in school, have littles in school, or are out of school but constantly learning! Cheers!

hailey + miles [briscoe manor]

We have had a non-stop spring and summer in the studio and are finally getting the chance to share all of the goodness that we've worked on! Be on the lookout for all the beautiful images in the near future! 

Hailey and Miles chose a beautiful October evening to stand before their family and friends to commit their hearts to each other.  Mustard Seed Photography captured all of the best moments from the joyous day that took place at Briscoe Manor in Katy. 

The mix of white florals and greenery always steals our hearts and was the perfect choice for this beautiful day at Briscoe Manor.  The ivory, white and touches of greenery accented the sophistication of the day. The Bride even took it a step further and donned a floral crown made with the same mix of roses, hydrangea and greenery as her luscious bouquet.  

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Hailey's bridesmaids donned a mix of blush and rose gold dresses so we added touches of pink to their bouquets! We added touches of Camellia Greenery to their bouquets as well as similar ribbon to the brides. The bridesmaids' joy for Hailey's big day was palpable and the laughs where often and big all throughout the day.  

For the heartfelt ceremony, we chose to accent the stone-walled alter with organic hanging similax. Tiny touches of white and ivory flowers  were sprinkled throughout. We knew that the greenery would make a sublte yet impactful accent to the room and, as as we've said before, a little greenery can go a long way! The focus of this day was the union between these two souls and Briscoe Manor's chapel makes that such an easy thing to accomplish.  

Hailey and Miles glowed with joy during their photo session after the ceremony. Now as husband and wife, the two could not keep their eyes off of each other. The Groom's boutonniere was simple and featured spray roses with accenting greenery. It looked as if it was plucked straight from the Bride's bouquet! 

When a couple is so full of love and joy as this one was, you want the florals and atmosphere of the day to reflect the beauty of love back on the couple. A couple ways in which we do this is:

• Keep florals neutral and light - the Bride and Groom should be the visual focus of the space.
• Make arrangements luscious and elegant - the florals are the whipped cream to the day and should promote the sweetness and playfulness to the celebration. 
• Add warmth to the space with the use of candles - warmth and love go hand in hand so use the amber glow of a flame to reflect the love in the room.

The reception area was focused on the happy couple and added warmth with a variety of candles and shades of rose gold, ivory, blush, and touches of greenery. A 40 foot garland dropped the head table with luscious hydrangeas and greenery 

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The simple elegance of the venue was a big inspiration for the floral design. Guest tables were a mix of small arrangements and loose greenery with candles. The mix of arrangements allowed for ample conversation between guests who gushed about the lovely bride and groom and the wonderful time they were having!

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Hailey and Miles chose to accent their cake with white florals and accenting greenery and their new monogram. 

After an evening of celebrating, Hailey and Miles embarked on their new life as a married couple under a shower of petals. We wish the couple many years of happiness and love! Cheers to a beautiful day and a beautiful couple!

fourth of july house party [house of harper]

Happy Independence Day, y'all!

(We know, we are totally fashionably late.) 

We have spent some time out of the office to celebrate the holiday and refresh with family and friends. While the tiny break was much needed, it is always so nice to get back into the office and back into the swing of things. It's even nicer when there is a gorgeous photo shoot sitting in your inbox upon arrival!

 To say that we get to work with some of the best creatives in Houston is an understatement. We are truly so lucky when it comes to collaborations, that we sometimes have to pinch ourselves. This latest shoot is part of a dinner party series by House of Harper.  Caroline (the creator) is an entertainer extraordinaire, fashion virtuoso and a supermom blogger of two boys. 

When Caroline reached out to us to work on this 4th of July inspired event, we immediately started dreaming of an all white floral spread. Keeping all of the flowers the same shade makes such a surprising impact and veers away from the traditional blue and red overload. The massive arrangement that was the centerpiece of the dinner table, featured some of our favorite blooms:

• garden roses
• spray roses
• ranunculus
• viburnum
• peonies
• seasonal greenery

We also provided small cocktail arrangements to adorn the adorable drink station. We fell in love with these small woven basket containers and just had to incorporate them somewhere. A backyard dinner party was the perfect setting. We kept the theme of all white florals for one of them and then filled the other with a heaping amount of viburnum. 

Besides working with Caroline and House of Harper, we also got to brush creative shoulders with our long time calligraphy guru friend, Meg Grant. Our flowers got to provide a stunning backdrop for her gorgeous hand lettering. Meg provided menus, place cards and drink containers for the soiree.  

Although we didn't get to enjoy the fare, we can't get over how beautiful all of the catering was. Huge thanks to Smart In The Kitchen for making us crave watermelon all over again. We can't wait until its our turn to taste test these amazing treats. 

The sweet lady behind Kate Robinson Photography provided us with all of these gorgeous detailed images. We must say, she sure does know how to make all of our hard work look good- especially in this summer heat!! Make sure you check out more of her work here. 

We hope all of you enjoyed your holiday with family and friends. We are so lucky to be able to celebrate our freedom! Cheers!

romantic and rustic [editorial]

This summer has been coasting by so quickly, can y'all believe it is almost July?! (Us either.) I guess in between weddings, photo shoots and events, we have lost track of time AND blog posts. 

Although we have been MIA for a little while, we have the perfect treat to share with y'all as our big debut back to the blog world. This gorgeous dusty blue inspired editorial at The Vine featured on Inspired by This  a little while back has got to be one of the most romantic ones we've created thus far. The rustic details companied by organic free-flowing flowers simply gives us all the feels.

Working with Smith House Photography & Plan our Day we really got to bring in the idea of a rather masculine color palette becoming something feminine and delicate. Some of our favorite florals used for this shoot were:

• Garden Roses
• Spray Roses
• Freesia
• Eucalyptus
• Amaranthus

The bridal bouquet was large and lush to compliment the massive fireplace arrangement. Because the venue is so simple and raw, we wanted an element of grandeur and boldness. 

However, we didn't want the look to feel too heavy,  so we created an organic greenery runner along the tablescape. Gorgeous place settings and flatware by A Finer Event paired with decor from The Borrowed Flea made our rather simple runner truly POP. The "Expo" linen from House of Hough is definitely one of our new favorite, BTW. 

Touches of greenery and white adorned the wine barrels and a smaller arrangement similar to the fireplace beauty sat next to the cake, created by Cakes by Gina. A single anemone was placed on the sugary, marbled cake. 

Some of our favorite details of this editorial include the "blue suede shoes" by Steve Madden, the low-back bridal gown from Unbridaled, the collaborative paper products by Camel & Birdie and Lynsey Creative, the watercolor crest by Jamie Lewis Artistry and amazing glam by Misty Rockwell....seriously, that hair style is killer. 

HUGE special Thank-You to our models for the afternoon, Sarah & Caleb. Not to brag, but this stunning engaged couple are KIND OF a big deal....Sarah just so happens to be Ms Texas United States 2015 while Caleb is an outfielder for the Syracuse Chiefs minor-league baseball team. [You can check out their schedule here.] Can you say power couple?!

mallory + jacob [beckendorff farms]

It's always a happy day when Mustard Seed Photography sends tons of pretty images right to your inbox. This time, it is Mallory & Jake. The amazingly sweet and joyous newlyweds were married at Beckendorff Farms in Katy this past March. Their wedding style was organic, airy and sophisticated. Event Planning by Christina from Pomp & Circumstance.

Mallory requested a loose, garden style, semi-oversized bridal bouquet. Her bouquet featured blooms of garden roses, ranunculus, freesia and peonies in ivory & white tones.  

We used roses, spray roses and eucalyptus to create bridesmaids bouquets that perfectly complimented Mallory's stunner. 

Jake and his groomsmen arrived donned in tan suits, the perfect color for spring. They wore neutral ties and rocked simple boutonnieres. Our signature Maxit boutonnieres featured a large white ranunculus, white spray roses and accenting greenery. 

The mini's looked like dolls in their greenery crowns & miniature boutonnieres. [Do y'all see that precious stank face the ring bearer was giving us?!] 

The ceremony reflected the style of the wedding in every sense of the word. The florals were kept minimal and organic to showcase the act of marriage. Guests were greeted by a hand lettered 'welcome' sign featuring light greenery. Aisles of white garden chairs were spruced up with groupings of greenery. The arch was asymmetrically dressed in smilax. 

Although we loved the simplicity of the ceremony, we were excited to add some florals and character to the reception space. The guests were instructed on where to sit by a large wooden seating chart featuring small buds. A small compote arrangement was nestled between heirloom photos of the family at previous weddings. The two bars were draped with greenery and garland. 

We broke up the gorgeous large barn space by adding different layers of florals on tables. We used small, low compote arrangements on the linen draped rounds. The arrangements featured:

• Hydrangea
• Roses
• Spray Roses
• Veronica
• Ranunculus 
• Eucalyptus 

Wooden farm tables with and without linen were dressed with greenery garland and simple white candles. 

The head table was a nod off of the guest tables. It was adorned with greenery garland with loose floral blooms throughout. We added height and variation by using pillar candles and votives. The bride & groom chairs wore asymmetrical garlands on the back. 

One of our secret pleasures about any wedding is the cake. It's always fun to gauge the couple's personality on what they chose for flavor and design. While we didn't get to try Mallory & Jake's cake, we did get to decorate it (and the cake table) with some of our florals and garland. 

While we promise to never play favorites, Mallory & Jacob- your big day was one for the books. We are so grateful for amazing clients like you. Thank you for believing us and joining our Maxit Family! Here's to the newlyweds! Cheers!

dried floral wreath | creative clients

Just a heads-up: This blog post is going to be a little out of the ordinary from what you are used to seeing. And we love it. 

Our bride, Jessica, sent us this amazing email with 'after' photos of her bridal bouquet. She worked some magic and turned her stunning bouquet into a gorgeous DIY dried floral wreath. We love when brides have a creative bone and recycle flowers so beautifully. Check out the instructions below:

We were dying to know how to create such a gorgeous piece, so we reached out to Jessica and here is what she had to say:

“We took apart the bouquets and arrangements and individually clothes pinned them upside down on a drying rack. It was a little tedious but worth it. I kept it in my laundry room which was dark, for a couple weeks until they all got pretty crispy.”

“I started with a grapevine wreath; that we got at Walmart for $5 and then started glueing. Starting with big leaves and moving to smaller leaves then finishing with eucalyptus. I then began making little flower “story” bundles and arranging them to be glued as well. ”

The DIY is pretty simple, but should you need more instructions, we found a decent tutorial here. We want to thank Jessica for sharing this gorgeous piece with us and for getting our creative juices flowing! We can't wait to get her wedding photos back and show you what the 'before' looked like! 

laura + connor [chandelier grove]

This past week has been an insane blur for us. The studio "crew" has been in and out of the office and our fearless leader, Maria just returned from a trip to Seattle. Although it is always admittedly hard to get back into the swing of things, finding this couple in our inbox sure did make it easier.

Laura and Connor recently tied the knot at Chandelier Grove in Tomball, TX. We absolutely love this venue, not only because we are a preferred vendor there, but because it is so comfortable and inviting. Some of our smoothest event days begin and end at Chandelier Grove. 

On to showcase this gorgeous couple and their big day- Laura and Connor are newlyweds straight out of a magazine and their day was nothing short of that. They chose a neutral color palette of ivory, blush, small touches of steel blue and tons of greenery. 

The blushing bride looked sophisticated and fresh in her fitted lace gown with sheer straps. She carried a fresh organic bouquet featuring blooms and stems of:

• Roses
• Peonies
• Spray Roses
• Veronica
• Freesia
• Jasmine
• Eucalyptus
• Berries

Her bridesmaids draped in blush held bouquets similar in style to Laura's with additional touches of blush. We achieved this look by adding snapdragon and various blush toned roses. Laura's mother held a small posey bouquet while walking down the aisle that perfectly complimented her blue gown. 

Connor and his crew looked incredibly dapper in classic black tuxedos. [swoon...we love the classics.] They each donned a traditional boutonniere featuring a ranunculus, spray rose and accenting greenery. The ring bearers even joined in and wore mini bouts with spray roses. House members wore Maxit's signature corsages. 

The couple's ceremony was dreamy and fresh. We decked out the altar with a large overflowing installation featuring:

• Roses
• Hydrangea
• Freesia
• Spray Roses
• Pieris
• Jasmine
• Snapdragon
• Snowberries
• Smilax
• Eucalyptus
• Lemon Leaf 

Using the same florals we created compote arrangements for the end of the aisles in large compote containers. The arrangements were then set on wooden pedestals. 

After the loved filled ceremony, guests were welcomed into the reception space with a hand lettered sign. They were escorted by a large wooden seating chart donned with a hand tied garland. The sign in table showcased a gorgeous compote arrangement. 

The reception space created a warm and homey environment with the mix and match tables and chairs. The head table had a large, lush garland cascading over both sides. We used hydrangea in the garland to create the volume and accented it with roses, spray roses and greenery. The guest tables consisted of medium compote arrangements, tall centerpieces and recycled bridesmaid bouquets. [A great way to stay economical!]

Their traditional white cake was accented with greenery, touches of pink and ivory and blush roses. 

Our newlyweds ended the night with an exit filled with rose petals floating around them. They took off in a vintage Porsche donned with a garland of greenery and roses. The perfect ending to the perfect night. 

We want to wish Laura and Connor an extremely long and happy marriage. We loved getting to work with y'all and your families. Special shoutout to all of the vendors involved with creating this amazing day:

Hannah Mayson Photography - Photography

Maxit Flower Design- Florals

J. Lowe Events - Planning

Butter Artistry- Hair & Make- Up

BHLDN- Dress

Chandelier Grove- Venue

backyard bbq [private residence]

Let's start by saying : We love Courtney and her company, Little Coterie. Like serious girl-crush status. They create gorgeous, unique and luxurious events for their clients. 

We have gotten the opportunity to work with LC many, many times and each times gets better. This event was a "backyard bbq" like we have never seen before. (I mean, look at this venue.) The classic red & white checkered cloths and corn-on-the cob was transformed into an elegant soiree while keeping touches of tradition.

The flowers we created in tones of peach, green, ivory and pinks featured:

• Spray Roses 
• Ranunculus
• Eucalyptus
• Peonies
• Lilies

Small julep arrangements were placed in vintage cans. The larger arrangements were placed in gold compote containers and grey cement containers. 

Like most events with LC, we only provided the florals...however, here are some of our favorite details from the night. 

We may be tooting our own horn here, but Maxit Flower Design & Little Coterie are a match made in design heaven! We loved getting to create something summery and sweet for this luxe event.

HUGE SHOUTOUT to Awake Photography for the gorgeous detailed photos. (Paige, you always kill the photography game!)

Thank you a hundred times over for trusting us, Courtney. We can't wait until the next one! XOXO

dolly pearl styled sessions | editorial

A few weeks ago we got the opportunity to create super modern, luxe and organic bouquets for an upscale dress designer, Dolly Pearl. Vi, the owner, reached out to us with the most amazing mood board and of course we fell in love. It's so nice to step out of the box and create with people who have unique visions. Oh, and in case being an incredibly fashion forward designer wasn't enough, Vi is also the photographer of this shoot. (You can check out her photography here. )

The sessions were broken down into two parts.

Part one: let's get lost

The bouquet we created to accentuate the gorgeous white off-the-shoulder gown featured:

• Garden Roses in peach and blush 
• Various Eucalyptus species
• White Berries
• Spray Roses
• Seasonal Greenery

Part two: luxe love

The second gown in the style session was a long, sophisticated, sleek fit with an attached cape. We created an organic bouquet that featured:

• Viburnum 
• Seasonal Greenery

These simple shoots are the epitome of beauty and sophistication. We highly recommend that you look into Dolly Pearl's custom gowns for any special event. Bonus- everything she does is made-to-order....talk about fitting like a glove! We can't wait to work with Dolly Pearl again soon on our Maxit Studio Styles session....keep an eye out to see more of her gorgeous work!

windswept by the sea | editorial

It's always a great Wednesday when you receive gorgeous images in your inbox. While it doesn't help our constant craving for some vitamin SEA, this stunning beach shoot really brightens up this gloomy Houston day. 

Alli Bixler of Bixler Events contacted us a few months ago with this coastal palette of tan, pale blue, and ivory. We immediately got on board and created a centerpiece and bouquet. Both arrangements featured:

• Garden Roses
• Tulips
• Scabiosa
• Eucalyptus
• Berries
• Alstroemeria
• Seasonal Greenery

From Alli- "Movement and textures that mimicked the elements of the coast were a focal point for design, like the gauze table runner, raw silk ribbon, and whitewashed wooden chairs. The whole look was tied together with the small details, such as the oyster shell saltcellars and handmade paper goods."

The cake by Edible Designs by Jessie was adorned with the same flowers featured in the centerpiece and bouquet. 

Even though we didn't get to dig our toes in the sand, we were still honored to be a part of this seaside shoot. The vendors included were:

Photography: Koby Brown Photography | Styling and Design: Alli Bixler of Bixler Events | Floral Design: Maxit Flower Design | Hair and Makeup: Blushworthy | Model: Allison Kennedy | Cake: Edible Designs by Jessie | Invitation Suite: Tone & State | Bridal Gown: Charlie Brear | Gown Boutique: Unbridaled Houston | Rentals: EB Inc Events and Swift & Company | Film Scans: Richard Photo Lab

You can check out the full editorial here.  Special thank you to Bajan Wed for featuring us!

design demonstrations [teaching is my passion]

For the last several months I have had the awesome fortune of having my lovely office manager assist me with posting blogs.  She has been rocking it so much that I have been getting a little bit rusty and thought I would have my first attempt in months.  So here we go..

In the last several months we've had the pleasure of being asked to do a couple demonstrations for the local florist community.  And not only was I honored to be asked, the best part was the people I met through it all. Mayesh has been the new kid in town this year and with a large mountain to climb.  But they accomplished something I think many of us didn't think would be possible.  They created a little space for themselves in a highly competitive market.  And even better than making their space, they came in with amazing product and a warehouse full of creative, knowledgeable people.  

And of course, when they called and requested I come to do a little demonstration for their Open House/ Customer Appreciation, I said Yes! But when they told me that I would have my pick of Japanese product, I said HELL YES!! And don't think for a second I was excited to speak in front of a crowd... but I put my big girl pants on and handled business.

Let me tell you that I am fully aware at how ridiculous I look in these images as I am mid sentence, I had to post them non the less.

In this particular demonstration I focused on creating a garden arrangement, one in which could be relatable and yet able to show some tricks that others might find interesting.  Variety and texture is crucial to making this work.  And of course lets not forget to continuing varying heights of the flowers so that depth and structure can be created.

As if that wasn't the highlight of my year, the ladies of Westside Flower Exchange came a calling.  Since I first walked into that warehouse, I knew I would immediately love these ladies.  They are full of personality, and have a love affair with flowers that I immediately related to. The knowledge they hold and the insane variety of premium blooms, always keep me close.  

They were celebrating their 20th year in service, and I had no clue till the day of... I was the one designer in Houston they requested.  WHAT??? Little ol Maria Maxit of Maxit Flower Design was the designer they thought of when thinking of the one designer in 20 years of service they would like to come help celebrate their big day. 

What an honor.  They too gave me my pic at product, as they were some of the first in town to bring in peonies... you know I was immediately dying. You walk in their cooler and your heart just starts racing.  That cooler is jam packed full of the most dream worthy flowers that exist. And with hearts in my eyes, I was given direction to pick out "what ever I wish".  

Let me stop here by saying... THIS. IS. A. DREAM.

I think I fainted and went to heaven.  My go at the cooler, to pick anything I want?!!! Oh holly flowers.  I have to admit that I died of sheer joy and kinda blanked out. When I came to... people were starting to fill the room and the demonstration had to start.  Cue 'go blank again', as it's always nerve wrecking to talk in front of people.  

I went into this demonstration with the idea that I would create  a large scale arrangement.  One that would be placed at the altar or a focal point of a space.  Concentrating on having attendees see the structure of the base and how the beginnings of flower arranging starts.  With details as when to place certain flowers and why particular flowers are used when.   Did you know that the order you place flowers dramatically changes the shape of a flower arrangement?

Special thanks to all the wholesalers in Houston that have supported my journey in the crazy flower industry, I could never do it with out you!