Genna and Brayden married last year just as spring arrived. Their wedding day was so hopeful and refreshing. As a floral designer March is a very special time of year for me. It’s when all of my flowers come to life or are reborn. That is how I felt about this glorious Loudoun Wedding. The day was perfectly designed and planned by Laura from Events In The City. Katie Stoops was responsible for the imagery that will always be treasured for years and Chica Chicka Boom Boom did the draping and rentals. The floral designs were created by our studio Holly Heider Chapple Flowers. This amazing wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty and you can see it here. The wedding location was the gorgeous Murray Hill.

Genna carried an all white bridal bouquet of white cabbage roses, white ranunculus, white peony, and white hydrangea.

Maids carried yellow campanella cabbage roses, lavender clematis, silver brunia, dusty miller, white ranunculus, yellow spray roses, and yellow freesia.

The bridal bouquet was wrapped in willow and so were the boutonnieres.

White cherry blossoms were used to create the altar designs, along with white hydrangea, white stock, and white larkspur.

Genna and Brayden were literally framed with white cherry blossom branches as they married.

One of my favorite pieces of the day was our grape wood place card design. This piece was sexy and oh so beautiful.

Laura designed the wedding to have rustic, glam feel. Which meant we blended elements of natural woods and vine, with crystals, rich fabrics. The overall look was fresh and stunning.

Elevated designs were placed on my crystal stands, the flowers included white hydrangea, white roses, and white phalaenopsis orchids.

Low centerpieces and our hanging centerpieces were designed on grape wood. Centerpiece flowers included white roses, white ranunculus, white sweet peas, white clematis, white phalaenopsis orchids, white tulips, and white hydrangea.

The king table was simply magical with the hanging designs and the floral centerpieces that extended down the full length of the table.

Stunning!!! Happy married life Genna and Brayden!!!

Because I have an awesome clan of designer friends called the Chapel Designers I thought it would be really fabulous if I did a “best of 2013 bridal bouquet blog post.” I wanted to showcase the incredible designs my friends are producing all over this country and abroad. Much to my surprise over sixty designers contributed to this post. As I entered each post I became more and more impressed with my friends and more and more impressed with what we are building together. Chapel Designers is now well over 120 designers strong and we are gaining new friends everyday. We are making a difference in the wedding industry. We are helping to set trend, we are providing an amazing product, but mostly we are designing with passion and an honest love of flowers. Get ready this is the longest post I have ever seen and because it took me over 12 hours to create I hope you will share this link and I hope you will please leave some comments!!

Designer Holly Chapple of Holly Heider Chapple Flowers – Leesburg Virignia

Image taken by Anne Robert

Designer Francoise Weeks – Portland, Oregon

Image by photographer Jamie Bosworrth

Designer Kristi Landphere of The Posh Posey – Folsom, CA

Image by Allison Lal Photography.

Designer Laura Cogan of Passion Flowers Design.

Image by Marianne Wilson Photography.

Designer Lisa Sommer of Petals and Promises – Silver Spring, Maryland

Image by Photography Du Jour

Designer Amy Santee from Amy’s Wedding and Event Flowers   – Aurora, Colorado

Designer Blair Roberts of Sweet Blossoms – Germantown, Maryland

Image by Liz Hough.

Designer Madeleine Elmer of Fleur de Vie – Houston, Texas

Image by Alyse French

Designer Susan McLeary owner of Passionflower – Ann Arbor, Michigan

Image by First Comes Love Photography

Designer Sylvia Clavier, Dream Weavers Flowers – Covington, Louisiana

Designer Julia Miller of Julia’s Floral – Edgewood, Washington

Image by Family Affair Photography

Designer Donna Sue Roberts, First Dance Floral – Southern Md.

Image by photographer Anne Robert

Designer Lauren Walloch of Garden Gate Florals – Central Florida

Image by KT Crabb

Designer Shelley Bagdasian of B Floral Event Design – Chevy Chase, Maryland

Image by Audra Wrisely

Designer Maria Limon of Maria Limon Atelier – Mexico City, Mexico

Designer Alicia Jayne Florals – Southern Maryland

Image by Birds of a Feather Photography

Designer Faye Zierer Krause of Flora Organica Designs – California

Image by Muir Adams

Designer Carmel Vandale of Mt. Lebanon Floral – Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

Image by Veronica Varos

Designer Mary Coombs and Dawn Clark from A Garden Party – Elmer, New Jersey

Image by Amy Rae Photography

Designer Jennifer Ederer of Modern Day Floral – Grand Rapids, MI

Designer Christy Hulsey of Colonial House of Flowers – Statesboro, Georgia

Image by Haley Sheffield Photography

Designer Ellen Snyder of Ellen Snyder Design – Vermont

Image by Paige Hiller Photography

Designer Angie Strange of Posh Floral – Dallas, TX

Image by Nine Photography

Designers Peggy and Hunter Sherwood of Sherwood Events – Lexington, Kentucky

Image by Willie Wilson Photography

Designer Dawn Kelly of Soiree Floral – Nantucket, Massachusettes

Image by Zofia & Co

Designer Janet Martineau of Floral Verde – Cincinnati, Ohio

Designer Jeanette Kleitz of True Florette – Orangeburg, New York

Image by Todd France Photography

Designer Amy Dunlap of Amy Lynn Originals – Winston-Salem NC

Image by Anna Routh Photography

Designer Corinne Sebesta Sisti of Sebesta Design LLC – Narbeth, Pennsylvania

Image by Tyler Boye Photography

Designer Isha Foss of Isha Foss Events – Virginia Beach, Virginia

Image by Sarah Street Photography

Designer Holly Rutt of Sweet Pea Floral – Michigan

Designer Stacy Ercan from Stacy K Florals – Rochester, NY

Image taken by Tom Mike Photography

Designer Heather Potter of Cottage Flowers – Malvern, Pennsylvania

Image by Sweet Water Portraits

Designer Janna Avery of Callista Designs – Linville, NC

Image by Kickstand Studio

Designer Anna Stouffer of Urban Petals – Greenville, South Carolina

Image taken by Catskill Mountain Photography

Designer Katie Pollard of Color My World Flowers – Nashville, Tennessee

Image taken by Alex Bee Photo

Designer Amanda Frankewicz of Alluring Blooms – Wisconsin

Designer Sherry Donnelly from Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio – Atlanta, Georgia

Image by Haley Sheffield

Designer Susan Kelly of Three Sisters Custom Flowers and Events – California

Image by Ginny Silver of Retrospect Images

Designer Karen Lipkin from Blossoms and Branches – Chicago, Illinois

Designer Sue Prutting of White Magnolia Designs – Maryland

Image by the Jo(e)s Photos

Designer Nicole Boshard of The Petal Pusher – California

Image by Sara at OneLove Photography

Stylist Mary Bartolucci of Island Style Weddings– St. John United States Virgin Islands

Image by Sage Hammond Photography

Designer Laura Williams of Loda Floral Design – Virginia

Designer Daevid Reed of Daevids Flowers and Decor – Norfolk, Virginia

Image taken by Hayne Photographers

Designer Lesley Frascogna of Tulip Curated Florals – Jackson, Mississippi

Image by Rylee Hitchner

Designer Jessica Jones of Blooms’n Blossoms – Georgetown, KY

Image by Natasha Moses Photography

Designer Lisa Ruf of Goodness Gracious Florals – Maryland

Image taken by Amy Flashenberg

Designer Eatherley Schultz 0f Floressence Flowers – Brevard, North Carolina

Image taken by Nick Breedlove Photography

Designer Trish Van De Merkt – Chicago, Illinois

Designer Cynthia Manchester of Oleander Florals and Events – New Jersey

Image by Shari DeAngelo Photography

Designer Courtenay Lambert of Courtenay Lambert Florals – Cincinnati, Ohio

Image by Braun Photography

Designer Laurie Garza of Fleurie – Reedley, California

Image taken by Robert Kurtz

 

Designers Carol and Peggy of Celebration Florals – Corvallis, Oregon

Image taken by Chris Becerra Photography

Eric Fredricks of Bee’s Wedding and Event Floral Design – New Orleans, Louisiana

Image taken by Greer G. Photography

Designer Lisa Almeida of Blossoms of Hawaii – Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii

Image taken by Aubrey Hord Photography

Designer Ellen Seagraves – Bethesda, Maryland

Image taken by Lucy Merkley

Designer Katie McConnell of Wild Bunch Studio – Chatham, Massachusetts

Image taken by Click Imagery

Designer Melissa Stewart of Primrose Floral and Event Design – Lexington, Massachusetts

Image by Molly Anne Photography

Designer Kim Kalmbach of Bloomers Floral Design – Sacramento, California

Image taken by Lyndsay Undseth Photography

Designer Meredith Young of Au Courant – Jackson, Mississippi

Designer Alexandra Jusino of Exquisite Designs – Chicago, Illinois

Image by Greenhouse Loft.

Designer Olga Beletskaya of the Flower Bazar – Moscow, Russia

Image taken by Yaroslav & Jenny Fine Art Photography

Designer Sharon Duke of Isn’t She Lovely Florals – Florida

Image taken by Hunter Ryan Photography

Designer Andrea Fitzpatrick of Corona Del Mar Florist – Dana Point, California

Designer Susanne Hatwood of The Blue Carrot – Portscatho, Cornwall, United Kingdom

Image taken by Hayley Savage Photography

Designer Victoria Clausen of Victoria Clausen Floral Events – Reisterstown, Maryland

Image taken by Renee Michele Photography

Designer Robyn Rissman of  Bare Root Flora – Colorado

Image taken by Sarah Box Photography

 

I hope you enjoyed this post, it was most certainly a very impressive line up of bridal bouquets. I am certain 2014 holds many exciting adventures for the Chapel Designers. I look forward to the many things we will accomplish together, our inspiration and growth will have no limits!!!

I thought I would spend the next few days introducing our teachers for Santa Barbara. As you can see I have an all star lineup scheduled for the Florabundance Inspirational Design Days/ Chapel Designers event. Today I am introducing designer Francoise Weeks. Francoise is known for her detailed woodland work and her endless passion about floral design.

 

Francoise was born in Belgium in an area romanticized by the flower arrangements of the Dutch and Flemish painters of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Honing her talents through training with the florists of Antwerp, Françoise discovered her signature—a unique lush and textural style, heavily imprinted by her love of nature and art. Since 1996 she has translated her passion into creations of flowers, herbs, fruits, vegetables and foliage in a way that the masters could only paint.

Her portfolio runs the gamut from elegant natural simplicity to the abundant and bountiful; she consistently delivers the unexpected. Françoise’s first priority is to realize the ideas and needs of her clients and bring to the process her attention to detail and unique creativity.

Recently her work has emerged into two distinctive styles: URBAN WOODLANDS—contemporary stylings of mosses, lichens, bark and forest floor gatherings and FLORAL FORWARD—exquisite botanical haute couture creations of purses, headpieces and shoes.

She shares her knowledge of floral design and mechanics with professionals and students from around the world in an intimate studio class and workshop setting. She now teaches frequently nationwide and has workshops scheduled in Europe and Australia also.  Françoise has been the subject of numerous magazine articles throughout the United States and Europe.

Since January is sneaking up on us rather quickly, we need to get our final students registered. If you have been considering this conference and you were waiting for the right time to sign up the time is now. Just jump!!!

Meet me in Santa Barbara!!!

I am happy to announce that designer Joseph Massie will be joining our line up for the Chapel Designers conference in Santa Barbara. I have had the pleasure of designing with Joseph in NYC at the New York Public Library, and also last Christmas at the White House. Joseph is a delightful, jovial, soul with a resume that will make your head spin. Having a designer from Europe teach at our Santa Barbara conference is a really exciting development. I hope to see you in Santa Barbara. This event is also known as the Florabundance Inspirational Design Days. You can sign up here.

The red rose dress, is perhaps one of Joseph’s most recognized designs. The time lapse creation of this dress literally went viral and can be seen here.

More about Jospeh…

At just twenty five, JOSEPH MASSIE is frequently referred to by the media as
‘the floral designer of his generation’, and is one of the UK’s youngest designers
& artists working across several mediums, notably fresh flowers, plants and
botanical materials. Winning over fifteen national floral design competitions
and awards on home soil, including a record five consecutive RHS Chelsea
Flower Show Gold Medals, Joseph has quickly established himself as one of the
UK’s top young floral designers.
On the international stage, Joseph took the Bronze medal at the 40th
WorldSkills World Youth Finals (Calgary, Canada 2009) and the Silver medal at
Eurofleurs European Youth Finals (Manchester, UK, 2010.)
With a clutch of prestigious design awards, Joseph turned his attentions to
artistic and commercial endeavors working internationally, on a wide variety
of creative projects ranging from large scale public installations & events,
educational seminars, workshops and presentations. Joseph’s work has
since been featured in many articles and features including The Times, The
Independent, The Daily Mail and commissioned by international brands
including SKY, Universal Studios, and Value Retail.
In January 2013, after completing a residency in New York City, Joseph founded
Joseph Massie Creative, a unique art, design & lifestyle platform with a focus on
the innovative use of fresh flowers, plants and botanical materials

Meet me in Santa Barbara!!!

Today I am doing a progressive blog post with my friends the Chapel Designers. Please check out these fabulous centerpiece ideas for your Thanksgiving table by visiting the links  below. My Thanksgiving post is from last year and it can be seen here.

Celebration Florals

Isha Foss Events

Liz Rusnac Floral

Soiree Floral

Sebesta Design

Urban Petals

Alicia Jayne Florals

Colonial House

 

 

Because I am normal, (whatever normal is) I have insecurities, fears, and doubts like anyone. The naughty voices inside my head have been allowed to get very loud. In the last week I have had quite a few humbling experiences.  Gifts I have shared with others have been mistreated, and I have seen so many of my ideas and even words used by others in this trade. I have to remember everyone is doing their best to climb to the top. Some people will choose to step on others as they climb up, and their climb will most certainly be faster. I however am taking the route that is a tad bit slower. On my path, I am authentic, original and innovative. I will get where I am going much slower then others, but that is okay. I choose to be good, honest, and kind along they way. My climb to the top is based on years of experience and good business ethics, as well as a whole lot of time in the trenches. My climb to the top will also be slower because I am choosing to take others with me. This may be the slowest route but its the path for me. Janie Medley of the Brides Cafe once told me “What God has in store for you, is for you alone, and no one can take that from you.” I try my best to remember that in times like this. I can choose to make a scene and attempt to defend my creative ideas, or my role on a project or I can just count my blessings. I woke up today with a clear plan. I am going to focus on this studio, our successes and I am keeping my eye on the prizes that were destined for me. What others do or attempt to do, is not my concern. I woke with a clear plan that today I would focus on my endless blessings. I am leaving for Russia on Monday, I have launched two conferences this week, I designed in one of the most prestigious places this week, I mothered, I was a friend, and I have so many more dreams about to come true. I am going to lead by example.  And this is how God works, while I was cleaning up my computer to get ready for my trip to Russia I found this letter written last February …

A Letter Of Thanks

I am on the plane returning home from Portland to VA. and I felt this overwhelming need to write a letter of thanks.

I am feeling so incredibly blessed right now and I wanted to document this feeling. Perhaps I will be able to come back to this and draw strength. I of course am not a Doctor or a lawyer. I don’t get the opportunity to save lives or even greatly impact peoples lives. I am a florist, which really is not that big of a deal. In truth it can often feel very belittling or insignificant. I hate when I feel like that, or even think like that, but in all honestly its often how I feel. Thankfully right now I am feeling incredibly talented, successful, and even needed. I feel grateful!! It’s really nice to be listening to the positive voices in my head. My gratitude right now is coming from this, first I have a career that I love, it has given me and Evan an opportunity to be home with our children, it gives us a roof over our heads, and food on the table. Daily, I get to make a difference in other peoples lives. I do this by providing florals to brides and their families. That is in all truth an honor. I have been a part of countless peoples lives. My work is documented and treasured for years to come in the wedding albums of my clients. I have continuously helped to make many brides wedding days special, memorable, and even magical. To my knowledge I have never let one of my brides or clients down. I am a good memory and that is pretty cool!!! Next I am being offered the opportunity to mentor, teach, and train others in my chosen career. This is a huge honor and its high praise. Impacting my industry is a very good thing, nope its not open heart surgery but I am definitely handling matters of the heart. I am inspiring other designers to keep designing, moms to keep mommying, brides to keep dreaming. My day to day work has a new added value and importance, when I consider all of these accomplishments. I fully believe that whatever our career choice is, we all have the opportunity to change lives, inspire others, and support others.

I want to first thank Evan and the kids because they often get the short end of the stick. I hope they all know how much I love them, and I am grateful they let me continue to design and chase this passion which quite frankly often feels like an addiction. My desire to learn new design styles, find unique elements, and meet new industry friends is an insatiable thirst, one that I hopefully will never be able to quench.

Amy from Botanical Brouhaha, finding you has been one of the greatest highlights in my career. I am so touched, moved, changed, and I am a better person for knowing you. You have introduced me to countless pieces of art, and designers, that I now adore and can call friends. You have helped me to gauge and understand so much of my business and even who I am personally.

Alicia and Chuck, (of Flirty Fleurs) we have had a ton of fun together. The good things that we have accomplished together and the amazing opportunities we have had were unimaginable to us just a few short years ago. We have been in some amazing places together, one of which shall remain nameless.
I will never forget cutting jasmine vine with you both. We were a hysterical site pulling gorgeous strands of pink blossoms from the fence of a private estate. Alicia will forever be imbedded in my mind with jasmine vine wrapped around her neck.  Because of your blog my dream of seeing Holland and designing in Europe became a reality. Because of you I found Laura from Faith Flowers. My European Flower tour would have never happened if I had not seen Laura’s trip on Flirty Fleurs. Laura you gave me the trip and a gift of a life time. You also gave me the chance to teach at your flower school in Atlanta. In Atlanta I became certain of my desire to teach. In Atlanta not only did I teach, I gathered new friends. Friends that are sticking.

To Francoise, Oh boy, I don’t even know what to say about you. All I know is something big is happening and you and I were meant to be together. I owe Amy (from Botanical Brouhaha) for making me connect with you. I will cherish the time I had with you and the impact that you had on me will most certainly be limitless. A million doors and windows opened when I met you. Not only will you take me to new heights as a designer, because of you I will be a better teacher, and because of you, other career ideas are being processed and considered. My mind has done nothing but race since I met you and my heart continues to long to be with you.

Lastly (but most importantly) of the many things I am grateful for is the group I started called, The Chapel Designers. Every day, all day long, I am so thankful for each of you. You all had faith in me, faith in our chosen career path, and together we created something spectacular. For those of us who are designers in this group, we will never have to stand alone in fear and uncertainty in our flower shops. We will never have to wonder what to do next. We can instantly reach out to another member and find the missing element or mechanic we need, we can instantly hear a strong and supportive voice.This gathering of floral designers is most certainly one of the finest things I have done in my career. Together we are becoming better designers, we are setting trend and industry standards. I see a great future on the horizon for us. Nope we won’t be saving lives but we will be making an impact in our field. We are making a difference every day!!

This letter was written 8 months ago. Since then, I hosted an event in NYC for 73 designers, designed two of our largest events ever in the history of this studio, I taught here at my home studio, once with Francoise Weeks and once with Alicia Schwede and I hosted several workshops on my own, I worked on countless photo shoots all of which are now published or being published, we successfully and beautifully designed weddings throughout the year, Chapel Designers is growing by leaps and bounds, I am leaving for Russia to teach, and I now have a workshop planned in Australia. I am in awe!!!

It’s 11:53 p.m. and before I call it a day, I wanted to take the time to welcome the newest Chapel Designers. You have just found the most amazing home. Your days of trying to guess how many carnations it takes to fill a six inch sphere of oasis are now over. You now have a network of designers just like you, and we can help you through any designer crisis. In addition to that, you have also found the most remarkable group of friends in the wedding industry. I am so proud of us, and what happens when we work together. The friendships and opportunities that are a result of this group are quite frankly mind boggling. Thanks to all of the original Chapel Designers for your constant belief in me and in this group. I am so excited to be seeing you all again in either California or in NYC. That’s right, we have two conference choices this year.

Mostly I just wanted to thank you all. I promise to make each of these conferences truly remarkable. For those of you that are lingering, afraid to register, come on, do it!!! I will be there waiting for you with open arms!! So… who wants to meet me in California, or will it be New York City? Just pick one, and jump!!!

Register for California

Register for NYC

Look what’s coming soon!!!!

Elissa and Graham married last fall, in Loudoun County. The wedding was planned and designed by Lisa Schulz the Posh Planner and the photography was captured by Geneveive Leiper. The HCF studio designed the flowers and tablescapes. Because the images from this wedding are so stunning get ready to see a whole lot of Geneveive.

Elissa and Grahams wedding was a beautiful mix of country and elegant, with bright happy flowers. The designs were created with baroness cabbage roses, blue thistle, blue delphinium, hot pink spray roses, blue veronica, blue hydrangea, pink nerines, agapanthus, and dahlias from Don.

 

Happy married life Elissa and Graham. We loved designing your flowers!!

So far this week we have processed over 20,000 stems of flowers. In addition to that we are still expecting several very large deliveries. I didn’t mean to let the blog go this week but it might just have to be put on the back burner, if so, I am hoping you will forgive me. You will right?

For those of you who love and support this studio, thanks for hanging in there with us. We are really excited about this weeks projects and we will share images with you as quickly as we can. A huge thanks as always to the Chapel Designers for their constant encouragement and belief in me. Chapel Designers are arriving by plane, train, and automobile, to lend a helping hand this week. We are gonna kick some floral fanny!!!

Some of you may have been hearing the buzz and seeing the tweets… yes, Shelia Johnson’s much anticipated Salamander Resort has just opened in Middleburg! The project, which has been delayed for a few years because of the economic climate, opened it’s doors last Friday. In Johnson’s opening statement, according to The Chronicle of the Horse, she stated “I am so extraordinarily thankful for everyone’s patience, perseverance, and fortitude, In addition to its courageous traits, the salamander serves as a symbol of renewal, which is especially meaningful to me today.”



This resort will set a new standard for hospitality, cuisine, spas, and getaways. Of Salamander Resort’s 340 acres, 24 are dedicated to an Equestrian Facility, dining that bases it’s menus off of local ingredients and a Chef’s garden, a full service salon, fitness facility, and holistic physical therapies. The owners hope that it will be the newest DC Metro-area hotspot for board meetings and conferences. In fact, Salamander Resort with its horse-happy facilities and multiple meeting spaces will recapture its colorful past. President JFK frequently hosted his press conferences in Middleburg while Jackie, an avid equestrian, would ride across the hills of the now Salamander Property, The Georgetown Dish.

Locals are looking forward to working with the venue, as it is expected to increase tourism and interest in Middleburg: “Middleburg already attracts a lot of people on the weekends. Most of the corporate groups hold their meetings during the week, so being able to bring that caliber group during the week is going to be tremendous for the shop owners and businesses nearby” says Salamander President, Prem Devadas, in an interview with the Washington Business Journal.

 

 

 

Most importantly (to us, that is), Salamander Resort is now the premiere wedding venue in Loudoun County. The Resort has nine on site wedding venues, renowned caterers, and an award winning pastry chef who happens to be one of my mothers upcoming grooms. You can also use the deluxe catering of Salamander Resort at off site venues. This venue will offer beautiful scenery and atmosphere for any wedding or special event. It has adopted the rolling hills landscape into its design, and takes décor inspiration from local history, equestrian lifestyle, and Johnson’s own farm.

 

Holly was asked to provide flowers for the opening ceremony. The day before the opening and the morning of the event Holly (it is so weird calling her that!!!) rushed around the resort, preparing and primping for the opening. HHCF garden flowers were harvested for this event and blended with Don’s Dahlias, and flowers from GreenStone Fields Farm.  The gorgeous local blooms graced the ballroom of the resort, some of the guest bedrooms, and tables placed on the back terrace. The beautiful décor and architecture of the resort lent itself wonderfully to these flowers. Holly/mom also surprised chef Todd Gray with Nasturtiums for his Saturday Epicurience event.

Guest room flowers.

Holly even took my grandfathers crocodile to the resort, this was used as a prop on the Florida station, which featured cuisine from the Floridian Salamander Resort.

The majority of the props including the lobster were provided by Rosanna Smith of Bella Villa Antiques. Rosanna and Holly make an awesome styling team, several of their events have been featured in national magazines.

 

Beautiful flowers for a beautiful celebration, Congratulations Salamander Resort!

Have a great day!! Abby Chapple