Friday, February 27, 2009

Say It Sweetly

Thursday night Ms. Debbie's Sugar Art hosted a "SWEET EVENT". Ms. Debbie filled Plantation Hall with every cake flavor & filling available. I was there to provide flowers & of course to taste a few treats. Thank you for letting me accent your sweets with a few flowers. Here are over 15 flavors of cakes available to try.
Ms. Debbie was working with white & black linens, which left an open pallet for the flowers. I decided to go green. This piece includes Bells of Ireland, Fuji & Button mums, Hanging Amaranthus, Hyperiucm, Curly Willow & assorted greenery. It towers over the table holding the different cake filings and molded candies.
A close up on the cake filings.
Catering for all Occasions was there to provide some other bites to eat. This arrangement sat on the food table.

For our listening pleasure, Eric Redmond serenaded us during the evening. A'vie was there to discuss event planning and Footstone Photography was there to capture photos of the evening. Ms. Debbie, thank you for inviting me to join you for the evening, and Terry thanks you for the goodies you sent home with me.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Yeah Us!!!

In case you didn't know, we offer both formal & informal invitations. One of the companies we work with is Carlson Craft. We recently received a plaque from Carlson Craft, with it was a press release, that is shown below.

The Plant Shoppe of Gainesville, Florida received a Carlson Craft excellence award for 2008.
Each year Carlson Craft, the nation's leading wholesale printing company, presents only a few select businesses with this prestigious award for outstanding performance and exceptional sales achievements.

You can check out our invitation web site at www.theplantshoppe.cceasy.com

A few days off.

I had the honor of serving on a Jury. I always hear everyone complaining about having to serve on a Jury. I went in with a good attitude, and actually excited about going thru the process. I came out with a sense of pride for having preformed my civic duty. I wouldn't want to serve all the time, but every few years would be okay with me.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

A Tribute

Theresa's mother-in-law passed away last weekend. As a tribute to her, Theresa wanted something unique created. We choose to use purples & green,s as these colors were found in her home.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Lelsie & Dave

What a gorgeous day Sunday turned out to be. Not too cold, not too hot, with just the right amount of sun. I feel very lucky to take part in their wedding as a vendor and a friend. It was nice to be able to be the first one at The Thomas Center (to deliver flowers), and one of the last to leave at the end of the night.
Here is Leslie & Tristan taking a break in between photos.
The altar arrangements were done all-around, so that they could later be used on the buffet tables.Leslie & Dave decided to see each other before the ceremony. They had private time, at The Thomas Center, where they were able to see each other for the first time. This frees up time after the ceremony to spend more time with their guests. Here is Susan Powers, directing one of the many shots taken before the ceremony.

Here is Stewart waiting to catch the perfect shot. Some couples start with a theme, and other slowly develop a theme as they begin planning. In addition to their love for each other and for Tristan & Nathan, Leslie & Dave share a love for antique cars (they own 3). This one was the basis of their color theme. The Circus roses are the perfect color.
Ceremony: First United Methodist
Reception: Thomas Center
Photographer: Powers Photography
Florist: Us
Caterer: Omi
Cake: Ms. Debbie
Planner: Masterpiece Weddings (Day of Planning)

Monday, February 23, 2009

Leslie & Dave

Here is a quick preview from the wedding. I will write more, when there is time.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Leslie & Dave, before the wedding

Leslie and Dave are getting married tomorrow. I first meet Leslie and her friend Shonta, back in August, when we sat down for our first flower meeting, and it seems like they just can't get rid of me. We have turned into friends, which is nice for me, as it seems that Terry runs most of my friends out of town.
For this wedding, I decided to document some of the steps I would not normally photograph. Here are the flowers, shortly after they arrived from our supplier (thanks Larry & Enrico). I invite the brides to come and look over their flowers, but many get too busy with final details. It doesn't look like much, but there are over 400 roses in this picture. Here are the flowers once arranged, and ready for delivery. There are 16 centerpieces, 2 altar pieces, cake flowers and 6 bouquets for the bride & bridesmaids to hold. The corsages & bouts are in the cooler, staying chilled, until delivery.
Leslie's bouquet is made of Freedom roses, which is a newer variety of red roses. There are a few crystals placed amongst the roses to match the antique bracelet wrapped around the stems. Shonta & I helped her find the bracelet on her bachelorette weekend when we went to Savannah. Her bouquet is surrounded by her bridesmaids, which are made of Freedom & Circus roses, mixed with brown hypericum and a little Salal leaf. To tease Leslie, I sent her a picture of some of her flowers from my cellphone. Thank you for including Terry & I on your special day. I will try to keep him on his best behaviour (oh who am I kidding? It would be easier to leave him at home.). I has been great getting to know Leslie, Dave and all of their friends. More pictures will be posted, after we are done celebrating.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Bri, going Bananas!!!

Okay, so to totally embarrass Bri, I had to post this picture. Bri is "my other daughter". She is one of our babysitters, a senior in high school and has been hanging out at the shop with us since she was 12. Once we settled down on Saturday and had most of our work done, we thought it would be a good idea to entice a few more customers to stop in and buy some Valentine's gifts. Instead of making a sign, I used some of the posters that FTD provided us, with pictures of Valentines flowers. I think she had a good time getting waved and honked at. Thanks Bri, for helping us out once again.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Dave is a Daddy!!

On the 12th, Dave's wife Erica gave birth to a bouncing baby girl named Jordyn. Here is the proud pappa, with his darling little girl.

Here is Jordyn at about 5 hours old. 9lb 14 oz and 19 1/4" long.
Look at that think black hair.

Congratulations Erica & Dave, yo life will be forever changed. What a bessing.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Abbey's Valentine Flowers

Here is what Abbey created for her teachers.
She has come along way with her "design skills".
She picked out the container and the flowers

Sunday, February 15, 2009

We Survived!!! Barely!

Okay, we made it through another Valentine's Day. With it being on a Saturday, we didn't know what to expect. Instead of one really busy day, I think we were busy the entire week. The wife of our delivery driver was due to give birth on the 11th, and my husband came down with the FLU. To not catch the FLU, I slept with Abbey on her trundle bed. My back decided that was a bad idea. My mom wanted to know why I hadn't slept in the guest room. I told her, because I thought it would only be one night, but there was no way I was going to be able to survive the week, if I got sick. A few early mornings and late nights, plus a month worth of planning payed off.
WE MADE IT!!
Along with the normal valentine wishes, here are some of the card messages we wrote on cards this week:
If these aren't the only flowers you get, I want a refund.
Please got out to dinner with me tonight....PS I am really drunk right now. (Ordered at 3:30 AM Saturday morning).
Will you marry me?
All in all I think it went well. Thanks to Theresa, Dave, Holiday, my mom & dad, Terry & Abbey, and all of our suppliers for helping to make it happen.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Lisa & Mitchell's Reception

For the reception we continued with their theme and colors. With the number of tables at the reception, we used three different centerpiece styles. For a little additional color on the tables, celedon napkins were put in the center of the tables.
Lisa's family was a pleasure to work with, and thanks for the left overs. You don't know what you are missing, until you've had Hill's Bar-B-Que's mashed potatoes.

Monday, February 9, 2009

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Daisies were the theme of Lisa & Mitchell's wedding this weekend. Celedon, white & pale yellow were the colors of the day. Lisa's bouquet was made of daisies, white rose & stephanotis.
For the altar area the rented an arch from United Rental. We provided garland, with daisies tucked in and a large floral focal point at the top.
Here is a close up of the flowers at the top of the arch. I used roses, stock, gerbera daisy, solidago, snapdragons, monticasino, and daises. To pull in some of the celedon, I used seeded eucalyptus.
Ceremony: Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of High Springs
Reception: Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of High Springs
Photographer: Open Show
Florist: Us
Caterer: Hill's Bar-B-Que
Cake: Aunt Mevalee

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Valentine's Day Promotion

I had the opportunity to would a sponsor a Valentines Day give away on The Star Sports Show on 99.5FM. You can enter the contest at http://www.thestar.fm/. I figured lots of guys listed to the show and it would give us a lot of exposure. Shane Matthews (a former Gator Quarterback) & JC host the show. I delivered samples of our roses to the show on Friday. Here they are:

Here is Shane with his:
And here is JC

Friday, February 6, 2009

Thanks Leah!!!!

Here are a few images that Leah at Celebrations Catering sent to me from Rachel & Jason's wedding. Thanks Leah.



Mom & I setting out the flowers for the centerpieces. Mom, thanks for all the help. There are days I don't know how I could do it with out.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Rachel & Jason

Sage, Black & Ivory were the colors Rachel picked for her wedding to Jason this past Saturday. Leah at Celebrations Catering & I help her pick hot pink as an accent, a little punch of color. Rachel wanted a small cascade for her bouquet. Her bouquet was made of roses, spray roses, trachelium, hypericum, plumosa fern & sinesis. A few pearls were added to accent the flowers.
Her maid of honor's bouquet was hand tied, of roses, hypericum & sinenis.
Rachel picked out the cutest topper, one of which I had never seen before. I added a few flowers, including cymbidium orchids, dendrobium orchids, spray roses, & trachelium.
The guest tables had pictures of the happy couple as they were growing up. A vase, with black rocks and dendrobium orchids were added to the tables for a punch of color.

Ceremony: Baughman Center
Reception: Thomas Center
Photographer: Photo 35
Florist: Us
Caterer: Celebrations
Cake: Publix

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Let us Play Cupid for You!

At The Plant Shoppe Florist, we are getting ready up for Valentine's Day. Are you ready?
Here are a few of cuddly Teddy Bears we have to offer this year along with fresh flowers, balloons and chocolates from Thornebrook Chocolates. Check out our web site (http://www.theplantshoppe.com/) of give us a call (352)371-6249. We will be happy to help you anyway we can.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Bryn & Hossein

Bryn & Hossein were recently married at The Bughman Center. Purple was the color of the day (might have something to do with The LSU Tigers). Bryn's bouquet was a mix of Purples, that included: Hydrangea, Carnations, Anemone, Roses, Lisianthus & Statice surrounded by Salal leaves.Here is Abbey modeling the Flower girl's kissing ball.
Ceremony: Baughman Center
Reception: Sweetwater Branch Inn
Photographer: Jimmy Ho
Florist: Us
Caterer: Sweetwater Branch Inn