Cindy & Eric | Monterey | September 2011

Meeting Cindy and Eric for the first time was kind of like meeting up with old friends. These two love birds decided to fly up from Southern California to declare their love in a romantic and intimate ceremony including their closest family and friends. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous meeting them for the first time, but after the first five minutes, I was completely at ease thanks to their warmth, love, and laughter.

Getting married at Monterey Sanctuary Resort is a luxury in itself. Who can argue with the sweeping ocean views, warm white sand, and wonderful rooms that look out over the bay? This is one of my favorite venues, not just because I'm a site vendor, but really more because of the type of people who come here to get married. Most of my couples are relaxed, and carefree... pretty much just happy to be there getting married. And how can you not love that??

The best part of being a preferred vendor is that you get to work with the most awesome people, again, and again, and again! When I heard Eric and Cindy selected Paul from Ocean Blue Photography, I was super excited. Why? Because he's totally awesome, and produces pictures like this. I just love the light in this photo! Plus I think it's such a romantic shot; reading the vows.

I LOVED Cindy's vision for Navy Blue, Marigold, and Ivory. The burnt orange and marigold are smashing in how they pop against the navy blue dresses.

Lastly, I have to note this cake...... Yep, that's a cake, not a photo album, (which is what I originally thought when I saw it). This creation was made by the absolute BEST cake designer in the Santa Cruz/Monetery area, Edith Myer. Edith's ability to create anything you can imagine makes me want to get another cake (she also did my wedding), but just because.

Congrats Eric and Cindy. Wishing you your Happily Ever After!!

Cynthia & Nathan | San Francisco | May 2011

It's been awhile since I posted anything, and I'm truly feeling guilty about my neglect right now. But all things are worth the wait right?

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Cynthia and Nathan wed on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of May, at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in SF. When I first starting working with them, I had no idea (and they likely didn't either) that this would turn out to be the day of Bay-To-Breakers 2011... One of the craziest, most out of control races across a city. For this mid-western couple, that could have meant a serious influx of people, sold out hotels, and limited vendor availability. That's enough to drive any soon-to-be newlyweds up the wall with stress, but Nathan and Cynthia handled it the exact opposite way. In my several years of wedding floral design, I don't think I've ever met a more calm and collected couple who knew exactly what they wanted, and who knew exactly what to do.

Cynthia grew up in SF, and these two love birds set out to plan a destination wedding a few thousand miles away. The couple reached out to me after a recommendation from totally rad, and talented photographer Anna Wu, from Anna Wu Photography. Honored, and completely excited, I feverishly began working on ideas for their wedding while traveling through Southern California, and Vegas for a business trip. Cynthia and Nathan presented me with a challenge;

A Chuppah!

I'd never had the opportunity to be part of cultural ceremony (for flowers only), and I was elated that they thought I might be fit for the job. How'd it go? See for yourself below....

Part Floral Designer, part carpenter.... Yes, I built this myself. The door guy had little faith in me, but with a little muscle, and a lot of time, my helper and I got this Chuppah built well before our deadline!

Cynthia. My incredibly elegant, beautiful, and wonderfully amazing bride striking a pose in her bridal suite!

One day when I have a daughter, I imagine an adorable blonde girl like her... She was just SOOO Freakin' CUTE!!

These centerpieces remind me of bubble gum!

Recycling chic at it's best. The Chuppah pieces were taken down and place on the head table. Pst.. Brides. You too can save with this simple trick. Be sure to ask your floral designer!!

Congrats you two love birds! I wish you all the best in your new life together!

Sherri & Rocklin | Monterey, Ca | November 2010

Sherri and Rocklin were one of two holiday weddings I had the pleasure to design for in 2010. The couple could not have had a more magical, and amazing day for a wedding on the Monterey Bay! The weather was sunny and clear as a bell. The temperature stayed in the high 60s all day, and it was amazingly perfect! To couple set out plans to wed at The Sanctuary Resort, Monterey Bay on Thanksgiving Day!

The backdrop for their ceremony. LUCKY!!!

The Blushing Bride, elegantly photographed by beautifully by Paul Martin from Ocean Blue Photography and Design.

Sherri's Bridal Bouquet was designed to reflect the seasonal flowers that make our hearts go pitter patter during the fall season. She specifically requested something that would always remind her of Thanksgiving, and I'd say this bouquet did just that. The cream colored roses, accented with the scabiosa pods, and rose hips set an elegant tone with a magnolia as their backdrop.

Rocklin's Boutineer coordinated with the bouquet, but offered a much more toned down, and simple design, which is what I like to provide for men, as I don't know many that like big showy flowers.

Congrats you two! I hope your day was magical, and I truly adored being there to share it with you.

Photos are courtesy of Ocean Blue Photography and Design, a totally rad, and lucky gentleman who gets to travel all over the place for his weddings!!

Randy and Joy-Sweetest Couple of 2010 | Sanctuary Resort Monterey Bay | January 2011

As January comes to a close, I'm studying the details for my 2011 weddings. With a busy year on the horizon, I'm super excited for what the year will bring for Courtney Marie Floral. All the love stories in 2011 are touching, and I'm thrilled to be part of one of the most important days in each of my couple's lives. I can't wait to amaze each couple with the designs that are unique to them as a couple, their personalities, and their wedding dreams.

But before I go too far into 2011, I want to look back on what I think is one of the most romantic, and exciting weddings that I have have been a part of to date. I truly believe this couple, and their amazing friends deserve wedding of the year. While they were married on the first day of the New Year, I'd like to group them into 2010, as tireless planning, and strategizing all took place in during that year.

The groom Randy is a man of surprises, and he has a couple friends who represent the golden standard friendship. Friends who helped him make this a special day for his bride Joy.

I was contacted by Jean to provide flowers for this surprise, yes I said SURPRISE, wedding taking place on New Years Day 2011. At first I didn't understand the parameters of this surprise, but I was astonished and enchanted when I had the chance to hear the story from Jean, the day before the wedding.

When Randy proposed to his bride, he enlisted the help of his friend Jean to make the wedding an even more dramatic surprise. It all started by Jean and Randy planning the wedding at Sanctuary Resort, Monterey Bay. They worked with the staff and vendors to plan a New Years Day Wedding to sweep his bride Joy, off her feet. Joy had no idea she was coming down for her wedding day. When Randy made the plans, Joy thought they were just coming down for dinner. Little did she know that on New Years Eve, Randy would ask her to marry him on the beach the following day. The dress was there, the flowers were designed, and all the details for this intimate, and incredibly romantic wedding were taken care of by their endearing friend Jean.

While I wish I could have been there to see the look on Joy's face when Randy asked her to marry him the following day, I know the following pictures tell their story in itself.

MARRIED!!!!

Congratulations Randy and Joy! You have a marvelous friend in Jean, and I wish all of you the most wonderful "Happily Ever After". Thank you so much for choosing me to be part of this magnificent day!!

Pacific Oaks Estate | Aptos, Ca | December 2010- A Modern Wedding Photo Shoot

A few weeks back I was honored when I was chosen to be part of an amazing team of wedding professionals, looking to collaborate on a photo shoot unlike any other. We needed something fresh, and unique.... After some serious thinking, we came up with a pool house!! And what better place to shoot than Pacific Oaks Estate in Aptos, Ca.

My partners in crime were as follows:

Venue: Pacific Oaks Estate Aptos, Ca

Photography: Urban Shutter Bug Photography

Wedding Coordination & Design: Twitterpated Weddings

Floral Design: Courtney Marie Floral

Cake: Glass Slipper Gourmet

Jewelry: Alissa B Custom Jewelry

Stationary: The Card Lady

Bow Tie: Intertwined

Bride: Jaqueline Tang

Groom: Conner Quinto

See what our creative minds came up with below.

Every wedding needs directional signage... Lucky brides who book at Pacific Oaks Estate are blessed with permanent signage that is rustic, and romantic.

The awesome interior of the pool house... and yes, that's a real live fish!!

Rachel & Armando | Monterey, Ca | September 2010

Rachel and Armando came to me through a referral, and I couldn't have been more excited at the opportunity to design for them! Right away I could tell that working with them was going to be very special!!! When I met with Rachel for the initial consultation I felt at ease, and Rachel was so understanding of my full time job, that I knew it was a match made in heaven.

Rachel and Mando wanted their wedding to reflect the wine country, using purple and chocolate brown as their wedding colors. She described natural textures, including branches that she wanted to incorporate into her centerpieces. Instantly, I knew exactly what I was going to produce for their wedding, using the non-traditional elements my designs are known for. I used smoke bush (one of my favorites), Chocolate Cosmos, and Fern Shoots, all of which reflected the chocolate brown Rachel wanted. For the main element, Rachel wanted Purple Hydrangea, and Freesia. I thew in some Bella Donna Delphinium just to give it one more shade of purple. See what you think below!!

Sometimes I forget what my weddings actually look like. Then I get to see pictures like these, and I get super excited all over again! Special thanks to Ashley Wexler from Under The Sun Photo, ashleywexlerphotography.com who generously snapped, and provided the pictures below.

The amazing bridal bouquet from another angle (held by her bridesmaid of course!)

I just love the trend of bridesmaids all wearing the same color, but different cuts for the dresses. I also just LOVE the purple bridesmaids bouquets against their royal purple dresses!