Picture-Perfect Weddings 2018

“Our 20th annual contest showcases the talents of nearly 50 florists across the U.S” 

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” For a bride and groom, those pictures are captured memories of intangible moments from the happiest day of their lives. For the floral designer who has been part of that wonderful journey, bringing that day to fruition, the photos of the bridal bouquets, wearable flowers, floral-covered reception tables and ceremonies under flower arches make those memories picture-perfect.

For 20 years, Florists’ Review has had the opportunity to share the spectacular floral design work of hundreds of florists with you. This year’s 77 entries offered a wide range of interpretations of the design categories, giving you a glimpse into the trends, nuances, and creativity in the wonderful world of weddings. We are proud and pleased to present the amazing work of the entrants in our 2018 “Picture Perfect Weddings Contest.”

Best Wedding

Maryetta Downing
Bartlett’s Greenhouses & Florist
Clifton, N.J.

With the groom being a Philadelphia Flyers hockey fan, Maryetta Downing, third-generation owner of Bartlett’s Greenhouses & Florist in Clifton, N.J., was tasked with creating a picture-perfect wedding by incorporating orange into every aspect of “A New York Minute” theme.

“The venue and the New York skyline, the setting for the ceremony, both have gray undertones. At sunset, Manhattan has an orange hue that emanates from the buildings,” explained Maryetta, who paired orange, green and gray, creating a seemingly effortless flow tying the entire wedding together.

For the ceremony, the couple was framed within an architectural arbor set at the edge of Liberty State Park, providing a breathtaking view the Manhattan skyline. The construction was adorned with gem garlands and orange Mokara orchids, providing transparency and an unobstructed view of the city.

Creating repetition of the architectural elements, parallel floral arrangements, with spiky Eremurus, lined the aisle. To fulfill the bride’s desire for a romantic feeling, Maryetta, and staff designed classic hand-tied bouquets. The bridal bouquet incorporated white ‘Vendela’ roses and Astilbe accented with ‘Babe’ spray roses, Ranunculus and Hypericum in tints and tones of orange.

“For the bridesmaids, the bride wanted to keep it clean and monochromatic, with textural elements. We used pincushions (Leucospermum), tinted Craspedia, roses, and succulents because of their longevity,” explained Maryetta. For the groom and groomsmen, the designers created pocket squares of Ranunculus and succulents to complement the bouquets.

Repeating the architectural elements at the reception venue adjacent to the park, Maryetta designed a floral wreath incorporating tropical and temperate flowers with the couple’s initials. “I wanted to frame the couple again, in the reception setting, with the Manhattan skyline in the background,” Maryetta noted.

The creative staff also created large vase arrangements by marrying two different arrangements together. “We used an 18-inch wreath with an armature on the bottom and another floral arrangement placed on the top. When the guests looked up into the arrangement, they saw flowers and no mechanics. Also, the menus were decorated with small floral pieces. The guests wore them during the reception,” Maryetta chuckled.

“I have never seen two kids so much in love,” reflects Maryetta. “The wedding was about them and not about the event. It was the perfect night.”

Best Bouquets

Jeni Peterson
Westvirjeni
Shepherdstown, W.Va.

Embracing the fall moodiness of an earthy yet romantic rustic vineyard wedding in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Jeni Peterson, owner of Westvirjeni in Shepherdstown, W.Va., created her signature boho-style bouquets for the happy bride. “I have a permaculture farm where I grow an abundance of flowers such as Dahlias, Zinnias, Scabiosa, and Amaranthus,” Jeni explained. “Because this bride booked early, I was able to grow the burgundy Dahlias for her bouquet.”

Being given the freedom to create what feels right for the bride, Jeni incorporated fresh cut florals that blend wonderfully into the matching bride’s and bridesmaid’s bouquets, which she finished off with ribbon.

“I love incorporating beautiful trailing ribbons into my bouquets,” Jeni shared. “The more freedom a bride gives me, the happier she will be. I ask lots of questions about her and the groom, their styles and life-styles, their desires for their wedding, why they chose the venue they did and so on. I am able to give her want she wants even if she doesn’t know that is what she wants!”

Best Ceremony

Gretchen Rogers
Moose Lake Florists
Moose Lake, Minn.

Desiring to have her wedding at a place near and dear to her heart, the bride chose her grandparent’s Novy’s Buckhorn Ranch in Moose Lake, Minn. The ceremony site was tucked away in a wooded area close to the house, allowing guests access to the venue without walking through fields.

“The bride wanted an organic feel to her wedding that was trendy, woodsy and relaxed, with lots of greenery and no birch,” explained Gretchen Rogers, lead designer at Moose Lake Florists in Moose Lake, Minn. “Her wish was that I use a bale ring, which holds hay to feed the cattle, to create an arbor.”

Turning the 8-foot-diameter ring on its side, Gretchen covered it with Virginia creeper and grapevine harvested from her house, along with curly willow and sword fern.

The bride’s grandfather watched in amazement as Gretchen constructed the arbor, adding touches of burgundy Amaranthus, Hydrangeas, kale and pampas grass.

“You could not tell what the structure was when it was finished,” she smiled. “It was so wonderful that the bride trusted me to create something above and beyond the ordinary for her and her groom’s special day.”

Best Wearable Flowers

Shirley Cook
Sugar Snap Events
Kill Devil Hills, N.C.

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Grande Ritz Palm rental home; Duck, N.C.
Date: May 13, 2018
Number in Wedding Party: 14
Number of Guests: 50
Approximate Retail Floral Value: $4,125
Photos: Brooke Mayo Photography

“I bought wood bow-tie forms and glued locally sourced ring bearers, and the bride said yes,” Cook explained. Ornithogalum, succulents and Eucalyptus pods to them.” These florals played wonderfully into the earthy, natural vibe for this waterfront. The flower girls wore headbands adorned with Scabiosa and spray roses. “I have learned that the younger the flower girls, the more unpredictable their behavior,” Cook shared. “That why I always suggest headbands.” Only the fathers of the bride and groom wore boutonnières. “It is becoming more and more common for the grooms to weigh in on what they will and won’t wear for weddings,” Cook commented. “This is one of the reasons, along with the men not wearing jackets, that no boutonnières were worn.”