I am having a mini anxiety attack as I start to write this post!!!!!!!!!!! When I write regularly it’s hard enough to keep my words to a minimum. It has been two weeks since I seriously stopped to share with you. Thinking about everything that has happened here in the last two weeks and trying to compress it into one blog post is nauseating. I have so much to share, so much to catch up on. I actually would rather crawl underneath a rock then try to determine where to pick up.

Firstly and most importantly, I have to thank all of the Chapel Designers and all of the presenters at our conference in NYC. There are no words to describe how amazing our conference was. Really, honestly, the event was remarkable. It will take me months or even years to comprehend what is happening with this group. One thing is for certain this group is good!!!! We now have 49 new designers on a wait list for 2014. Perhaps we will have to do a fall version in 2013? I will try to post more from this trip as I receive the images.

Upon our return from NYC we designed a huge event in Middleburg VA.  The event was held in an indoor riding arena. We designed 52 arrangements for this very important party and we landscaped several areas in the barn as well. The event went on for several days and the final delivery was last Monday.

Monday was also the day Elijah broke his arm. Next we spent a few days in the hospital, boy that was fun.

Over the weekend we brought contemporary glam designs, into a rustic setting. We have been on a serious roll!!!

The brides bouquet was created of white peony, white hydrangea, white ranunculus, and white cabbage roses.

After we completed the wedding on Saturday I dashed to JMU to get our daughter Abby. This ensured that all the Chapple children would be together on Easter Sunday. This also meant that we went to church looking like the motley crew. I had intended to go get everyone new Easter Sunday clothes but a trip to JMU seemed way more important.

I had four precious hours on Sunday with my entire family. That was worth the world to me.

What a week it has been, you guys! The designers had the morning to shop at the flower market and stock up on all their favorite ribbons. Some of us who hadn’t been before got the very special treat from Naomi de Manana to tour Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and we cannot thank her enough for her time!! In the afternoon, we were able to learn from and work with the talented Ariella Chezar. She walked through how she designs her lush bouquets and together we made a tablescape.

As Holly gave her closing notes, we were all brought to tears of both joy and sadness – joy for all the friendships fostered and sadness for having to go our separate ways. We have been spoiled silly by the love and efforts of Holly and Evan Chapple. None of this would have been possible without them and all of us are so, so thankful. Peggy and Carol of Celebration Florals went above and beyond to create a book of memories and notes from all the Chapel Designers for Holly as a keepsake.

What has been done here in New York City is greater than any one of us, and as I reflect upon the week I am still in awe of how amazing it is to have been a part of this community. From a non-florist perspective, I can personally guarantee you this is worth more than every penny. For florists everywhere [and I mean everywhere], this conference is more than a flower party – this is a support group deeply rooted in the beliefs that we are all human, sharing is caring, and that our love for our work is what drives us to stay in this business.

This last video is dedicated to Holly Chapple – for inspiring us in the midst of our foolishness and hunger for growth to strive for more, to take leaps of faith, and to just make the phone call [or email, if we’re not feeling so bold]. It is always and will always be an honor to work with you, and I think everyone who knows you would agree.

Here’s to the 22 states, 4 countries and 1 territory in 2013!

Cheers,
Megan

P.S. Stay tuned for lots of images to recap!

Yesterday was an absolutely mind-blowing day at the Chapel Designers Conference in NYC. Wehad a very busy day learning from designers David Beahm, Holly Chapple, and Karen Tran, and we got our hands dirty making bouquets and tablescapes. It was also a very emotional day as the designers shared with one another a little about their past and how they got to where they are now. As she promised, Holly shed some tears, but she surely wasn’t alone. The bond formed between all the Chapel Designers is clearly one that cannot be severed.

David Beahm graciously hosted us at his production warehouse, demonstrated how to create a large-scale design, and gave us so much encouragement to funnel our emotions into our work. Karen Tran brilliantly taught us inside tips and tricks on how to design elevated pieces and incorporate them in a tablescape. Holly Chapple and Francoise Weeks oversaw all the designers who got an opportunity to create bouquets of their own, using a variety of flowers from Florabundance, Alexandra Farms, and Roseveille Farms. We cannot thank them enough for their generosity, especially to Joost Bongaerts of Florabundance. Many thanks also to Michael Gonzalez and Vanessa Polanco of Verde Flowers for providing food and snacks and sharing their amazing flower shop with us. The day’s supplies were provided by Milton Adler, along with European bouquet holders by Smithers Oasis.

See all the Chapel Designers videos here if you’d like to see them all on one site. Vicki Grafton and I hope you’ve been enjoying our amateur attempts at creating and editing these videos – it has been such an exciting adventure! Pictures from the day will be coming to you soon!

Off to another fun-filled day!
– Megan

Over the last few months graphic designer Rachel Merkle and I have been working diligently to re-brand Holly Heider Chapple Flowers. Because Rachel also happens to be one of my past brides she understands our business, and my philosophies. Rachel developed the tag line “Gathered & Styled” which completely embodies who I am, and who this studio is. When she came up with that phrase, I knew she understood me far more than I had realized. After that I pretty much just let her steer the boat. In addition to the new logo and tag line. Our studio has a fabulous new website which can be seen here.  Rachel pushed me to create a site that shows all of the many things our studio is offering and accomplishing. I saw a flower website, she saw a flower powerhouse website. The site Rachel created for our studio, will help clients and industry peers easily understand what our studio does and offers.  More importantly, Rachel showed me just exactly who Holly Heider Chapple Flowers is. Rachel’s belief in me and our studio, has taken our business to a new height!!! Thank you Miss Merkle, for seeing in me, what I simply could not see. Now our website features a place for our brides and or grooms, a place about the services Evan and I provide, we have a spot about the gardens, design training classes, mentor ships,  and upcoming events, and now my dear friends and colleagues the Chapel Designers have a website also.

 

Rachel was also the artist that created the Full Bouquet logo and the logo for the Chapel Designers.

A million thank you’s to Rachel!!! I now see our studio in a completely different light!! Please be sure to let us know what you think about our new site.

I am so excited and pleased to announce that Senior Style Editor Naomi deManana of Martha Stewart Weddings will speak to the Chapel Designers next week at our annual conference. This is beyond exciting and thrilling and I am happily imagining all of my Chapel Designers falling off of their chairs right now. Naomi is the flower and registry expert at Martha Stewart, she has styled and or designed many of the floral pages the prestigious magazine. I have been following Naomi’s work for years and I am so grateful for this opportunity. The Chapel Designers are one lucky clan of floral designers. You can read about Naomi here, or see some of her past articles or work here, and here.

As I push send on this post, I am imagining all of your smiling faces and I know this gift has made you very happy. I have one last surprise for you but I am saving that for next week!!! Do your happy dance!!

Megan and Todd married last fall at the Marriott Ranch. Designing their organic white wedding flowers was super inspiring, and it gave us a chance to be rustically creative. Many thanks to their incredible photographer Eli Turner, we are always so grateful when photographers share their work here on The Full Bouquet. Working with Eli was absolutely wonderful and we adore his work. I just spent a good half an hour strolling through the images on his blog and I am fully in love with Eli. The images from Megan and Todd’s wedding can be seen on Eli’s post here. The event was perfectly planned by Donna Cramsey of Pizazz LTD., I loved the place card display and ring bearer pillow she personally created. I am so thankful we got to be a part of this wedding at the ranch. We love the Marriott Ranch.

Megan’s bouquet was created with white ranunculus, white dahlias, succulents, air ferns, lotus pods, ornamental grasses, magnolia leaves, green seeded euc, and berry.

It’s so very “hollyish”

Look closely, do you see the baby succulents in our grooms bout.

Love these gowns, and I love the look of these flowers.

The Marriott Ranch boasts amazing scenic views, a manor house, and this rustic outdoor dinning space. This venue is awesome!!

Our centerpieces featured birch containers, mosses, natural elements, lovely flowers, and the mercury glass was added for a bit of pretty and formality.

The gorgeous lighting was done by my Mr. Wonderful, Evan. We are so thankful to have Evan on the Holly Heider Chapple Flowers team.

Last spring I participated in an inspirational photo shoot at The Inn At Perry Cabin. This little shoot was like the shot that was fired around the wedding world. The bridal bouquet was featured in Southern Weddings Magazine. The table scape was featured in the Knot Magazine and the entire shoot was just published on Style Me Pretty. You can bet all of the vendors involved are mighty happy with the success of this perfectly styled shoot.  Many thanks to photographer Cyn Kain and designer Amber Housley.  The shoot also featured hair and makeup by Amie Decker, a cake from Charm City Cakes, dresses from Hitched Bridal, and of course flowers from our studio Holly Heider Chapple Flowers. Many thanks also to our model Heather.

Love this!!

When I work on a styled shoot I am allowed to try new things and experiment with the flowers on my land. I have lived on this property for 25 years and I had never designed with the flowers from my tulip poplar tree. On the day I created this bouquet I went to my poplar tree and pulled down its branches. Sugar water honestly fell from the flowers and the gift of the bloom had me doing a happy dance right in the yard. I will forever be in love with this bouquet, this bouquet is the reason I fell in love with my tulip poplar tree. This bouquet also features white dainty mock orange blossoms from my garden.

The tulip poplar flower is the unique green bloom in the center of the bouquet, it has a lovely orange center. I also loved the green leaves from the tree.

The centerpieces were created in my vintage pink limoge china and my little etched glass cordial cups that I bought in Bruge. I also provided crystal candlesticks and lots of vintage gold mirrors. I loved the way this table turned out and I was so happy to see my pretty things photographed by Cyn.

LOVE THIS!!! I am obsessed with the ribbon treatment around the centerpieces. I am ready for a bride who wants to do this!!

My mothers big vintage gold mirror went on this trip. I often wonder what she would think if she saw her pretty things all over my blog.

This sweet little bouquet was created as a toss bouquet.

Again, I just love that ribbon.

I forgot my pretty pink china bowl made the trip also. I love photo shoots!!!!

Here is our feature in the Knot.

It was awesome to finally share this with you today. Keeping my pretties under lock and key is painful!!!

Heidi and Eric married in the fall of 2011. I can hardly believe it has been a year and half since their wedding. Their gorgeous wedding was just featured on Style Me Pretty and can be seen here.  Many thanks to Megan from Events In The City for her amazing design and planning of this event. Gabe Acevas was responsible for the stunning photography. Our studio handled the flowers and my truly incredible husband Evan, did the lighting, drapes, and the installation of flowers into a boat. Yes I did give him that job!!!

Perhaps one of our most slippery installations!!! Glad this was Evans job.

Heidi’s bouquet was created in a cascading style with blue delphinium, blue aggies, blue anemone, purple dahlias, purple clematis, purple stock, purple viburnum berry, lavender roses, purple astrantia, and green seeded euc.

Maids bouquets featured more of the smokey lavender tones, a pop of burg, and less of the vibrant blues and purples.

Gorgeous!!!

Evan sewed all of the curtains for this barn with his very own sewing machine. Awesome!!! If you look closely you can see the twinkle lights in the rafters and around the posts. Evan also installed lighting in the trees to light up the outside of the barn. This was a beautiful project.

Evan’s new chandelier.

Centerpieces were created in vases wrapped in lace or in vintage silver bowls, and creamers.

This was a beautiful Loudoun Wedding and we were so honored to see it featured on Style Me Pretty!!!

Last fall I provided the wedding flowers for Helen and Andrew. You all know I love working at Whitehall. It is absolutely one of my favorite Loudoun wedding venues. Bringing these awesome peach, orange, and red flowers to our lovely couple was quite the thrill. I love this color combination!! Of course the wedding was loaded with amazing dahlias from my good friend Don and the wedding was photographed by the remarkable local talent Genevieve Leiper. Gen is incredible, Whitehall is incredible, Loudoun is incredible, and of course our (Holly Chapple) flowers were pretty darn rocking as well. Enjoy these beautiful images.

In addition to the manor house Whitehall also features some really unique spots for portraits, the old barns at Whitehall are one of my favorite places.

Our couple married under a chuppah that was created with the grooms family tallit.

Elevated designs featured golden jester, free spirit roses, peach stock, red spray roses, red amaranthus, white hydrangea, and green seeded euc.

Low centerpieces were created in compote bowls of roses, spray roses, coxcomb, dahlias, stock and hydrangea. These designs were so lovely!!!

This Loudoun wedding ended with a beautiful cake!!!

Each year our studio reaches new heights and I personally achieve successes beyond anything I dared to imagine 20 years ago. 2012 was no exception, as a designer I studied in Europe and California. I led the Chapel Designers to NYC to study, I taught in Atlanta, and I designed in the White House. Our studio became an agricultural business, and we completed one full year with Evan as our lead designer for lighting and drape installations. We had the pleasure of completely designing several events, one of which was for our own son. This meant that we completely styled the event, choosing all decor, linens, rentals, managed vendors, and worked to create a theme for the event. Our work was featured in print or on line in over 25 different publications and our studio is definitely taking on a role as a trend setter in the wedding industry. This last statement is a bold proclamation, but I can clearly see our design ideas, and concepts, influencing the work of other designers, and the wedding industry. This makes me very proud!!! We start out today with the honor of having some of our latest work featured on Style Me Pretty. What an amazing way to start out 2013. We are always so proud and honored to see our work featured. Please know that each feature came from a whole lot of love, a whole lot of work, and a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears. Be sure to visit the SMP post here. For now I will leave you with the amazing images from a photo shoot designed and styled by Anne Robert Photography, and Dawn from Something Vintage Rentals. The three of us working together is a magic that is unstoppable. You will be seeing a lot from us very soon. I enter into 2013 with so much hope and excitement. I love where our studio is headed, I love the work we are creating, and I love the goals I have for 2013!!!

A bouquet of amaryllis, evergreens, pepper berry, banksia painted gold, and dusty miller. The bouquet was bound with cream cashmere ribbon, the ribbon was purchased in San Francisco 4 years ago. Yes, I stock pile trims, ribbons and accents!! I must also share that this shoot was very impromptu and everything I used was either being re-purposed from another design or straight from the scrap pile in our shop. The banskia were actually dried and leftover from another bouquet that was featured on the Wedding Chicks blog.  Challenging myself to make these designs without buying flowers was so much fun!!! I was supposed to provide one bouquet and one centerpiece but I spent the evening alone in the flower shop pushing myself and my pile of leftovers to create these designs.

Joy

The beauty of these images, and the art that was created for this shoot, simply has me raring to go for 2013. Look how pretty we are!!!!

I am obsessed with the hair and makeup on this shoot!!! Thanks to makeup artist Amie Decker, and Hair By Jewels.

This bouquet was totally a treat and a pleasure, it was created with leftover flowers from my cooler, flowers from the garden, and evergreens. I literally used scraps to create this bouquet, the roses were so old I glued them together so that I could be certain they would hold during the shoot. I am often in awe of what can be created here just for fun!!!

A gorgeous cake designed by my friend Kendall.

This bouquet was created by inserting pine cones, berries, and pods into a small Styrofoam ball. This bouquet took more time and glue than I care to mention!!! I sure do love how unique and special this piece is.

Amazing invites by Sugar Taylor of Diyva Designs.

What an inspiring way to start off 2013!!! Thank you Dawn for your amazing vintage rentals and thank you Anne for being the incredible artist I knew you would be!!!

Photography: Anne Robert Photography— www.annerobertphotography.com

Design and Props: Something Vintage Rentals–www.somethingvintagerentals.com

Makeup artist: www.amiedeckerbeauty.com

Hair: Julie Jackson www.hairbyjewels.com

Florals: www.hollychappleflowers.com/

Gowns: Claire Pettibone and Rivini from Hannelores of Olde Town–www.hannelores.com

Cake: Kendall’s Cakes–http://www.kendallscakes.com/

Invitations: Sugar Taylor of Diyva Designs http://www.diyvadesigns.com

Instruments: House of Musical Traditions–http://www.hmtrad.com/