before and after 2

Before and After; vandella roses, nice white California spray roses, and mini calla lilies. You can see how well the different shapes and shades of the blooms fell together nicely. Now do it 6 more times.

before and after 1

I thought it might be fun to show some before and after pictures of bouquets and other designs. If you have been following this blog you know that hot pink and orange is the color combo of choice this year for girls who want their bouquets to pop. The electric blue delphinium adds even more. Me likey.

phalaenopsis and lilies

A lovely design of a potted phaleonopsis orchid with an arrangement of cut lilies and greenery at the base. Made by Lusti Hall.

contact me fix

It seems my contact me feature has not been forwarding my emails. This is now fixed and my apologies if I have inconvenienced you.

phlox and company

Phlox, monarda, seedeum, hosta and oregano blooms. Backyard beauty.

Preston-Wilcox Reception Pieces

A beautiful closeup of Katherine's bouquet. The centerpieces were a  mix  of cobalt vases she had collected over the years. Hydrangeas, roses, fuji mums and gerbera daisies. Hip and personal. I could do several more posts just to show how beautiful and handsome everybody was.

Katherine and Andrew

The beautiful Katherine Preston and the dashing Andrew Wilcox. I don't care what the critics say, their color films are just as good as their black and white work. Roses, delphinium and mini calla lilies.

cobalt and whites

Katherine Preston's bouquet of; blizzard roses, mini white calla lilies and cobalt blue delphinium. More posts soon on this wedding of a couple, who are also my friends.

pin up

So you make a cymbidium hairpiece for a model and this is the thanks you get. The seriously sexy Laura Jo Fretwell (wonderful as well as beautiful.) Bitchin' photography by Taylor Allen http://www.taylorallenphotography.com/#home check him out.

purple bridal bouquet 2

Since "purple bridal bouquet" is the most popular post on florissimo, here is another one. A very nice bouquet of; lisianthus, stock, blue hydrangea, mokarra orchids, lavender mini carnations and waxflower.

Dana Woodard

Dana Woodard rockin' the calla lilies and mermaid dress. I love it when a bride looks at her bouquet like that.

                                                                                        

Taryn Waint

Here we have wonderful Taryn Waint with blush pink peonies. The bridesmaids also each carried a   different monobotanical bouquet of dahlias, hydrangeas, roses and ranunculus. We carried the theme over into the reception using milk glass vases collected by the girls. This gave us a unique, retro look that was both cohesive and personal. Congrats guys.

classic callas

 Here, calla lilies in clutch and presentation style bouquets. One of the best flower choices for a clean, classic look that will always be stylish.

blush and white

A peek at Taryn Waint's bouquets. Blush pink peonies for the bride and monobotanical bridesmaids bouquets of white dahlias, roses and ranunculus. I didn't get all of the bouquets in this post and the centerpiece ideas are great. If my trend tracking is correct, this June bride is dead on. A sweet girl and a wonderful family from dad to dog. I feel a wedding crash coming on!

florissimo year one

 The florissimo blog is 1 year old today! Thanks to everyone who visits here! Over the past year bridal work and this blog has taken over my life. It is very consuming yet rewarding, and let us not forget that flowers just make you happy. This is an arrangement (and I use the term loosely) of flowers from the garden which I lovingly refer to as yardsidia. Cut or buy yourself some flowers for absolutely no reason at all. Thanks to Lisa Suits http://mycologista.blogspot.com/ who is the best cheerleader and critic a man could ask for and to my partner Jamey Essig whose 8 years of blood, sweat and tears grew everything in this photo. The flowers; monarda, rudbeckia, shasta daisies, yarrow, seedum and lilies. Love and beauty to you all!

your thoughts, please

To my international and U.S. readers: I would love to know what brides are looking for in your part of the world. I want people to get what they are really after (hopefully better.) I've noticed here it's either  hot color combos or Victorian-style romantic, hence all the peonies and hydrangeas you've been seeing. Thank you for visiting me, flowers truly rule! Oh, and subscribe to posts.

pretty maids all in row

 Lindsey Penick's bridesmaids bouquets. I just had to show another image of this one.

Lindsey Penick

 Gardeny combo of queen anne's lace, lisianthus, veronica, roses, stock and billy balls. Lovely girl with some lovely ideas.

red roses a mini calla lilies

You just can't go wrong with red roses and callas.

just picked

A complicated yet casual bouquet of veronica , cream stock queen anne's lace, lisianthus and roses. I love the deconstructed look. I'll try to get some better pics with the bride.

Giant Swallowtail

Giant swallowtails on blanket (or blankieflower.) At The Essig's in Hannibal. I can't vouch for that middle flower.

border lilies

Border lilies from the front. Go yard go, Papa needs free flowers!