Summer Wedding Planning

When Kira and Scott reached out to us, they knew they wanted something unique and different for their summer wedding. (All of our clients feel the same way, which is why all of our weddings look so different!) Luckily, they had a stunning family property full of old growth forests, a grand lawn, and multiple getting-ready spaces. Ultimately, they wanted to glam it up while still keeping a fun, easy, and effortless summer camp vibe. We worked with an amazing team of vendors to turn this blank slate into a bespoke celebration! It included all sorts of fantastic touches, like a glamping setup, multiple bars, and a dramatic ceremony backdrop. Plus, some fun moments on the 4x4! 

Summer Wedding Ceremony

Naturally, we loved setting the stage for a truly original wedding ceremony! Kira and Scott each had their own aisles, which they walked down simultaneously. For this reason, we wanted to highlight this unique layout with aisle flowers place down each aisle. We loved seeing them walk down the aisle "together" and meeting at the end! And we love the way the aisle florals framed this special moment.

In addition, we loved the large wooden backdrop for their ceremony. Originally, this was meant to be a much longer wall lined with florals. We also constructed a large, asymmetrical floral arch for the ceremony. Sadly, some of our plans had to change due to a wildfire in the area that was creating its own weather. The arch and backdrop were too unstable in such high winds. Instead, we layered several floral arrangements on the ground in front of the smaller wall. We also repurposed our long floral arrangements to go behind the ceremony seating. In the end, despite the 50+ MPH winds, we were able to rearrange almost all of the florals and create a ceremony that still looked incredible! We loved watching these two celebrate with all their family and friends!

Summer Wedding Reception

After the ceremony, Kira and Scott held a gorgeous tented reception on the lawn. Obviously, we tried to pack every space full of amazing summer wedding flowers - from bud vases to larger pieces. As you can see, we chose compotes for the round reception tables. On the longer farm tables, we repurposed the ceremony florals, and added chic bud vases to create a floral tablescape. We also added botanical sprigs to the napkins, as well as candles everywhere. All in all, we loved how much the floral design brightened and enlivened this space!

In addition, we created multiple floral installations for the bars, restroom trailers, and seating chart. These foam-free floral installations were so imaginative and beautiful! We really love how they brought in more of the natural surroundings to each of these spaces. They also helped to break up the hard planes of surfaces like bars and seating charts. Of course, we loved creating them almost as much as people loved viewing them! 

Summer Wedding Flowers

From the beginning, Kira and Scott cared about incorporating local and seasonal flowers into their wedding. Kira found inspiration in the natural beauty of the forest on the family's property. She also knew she wanted late summer blooms and boho textures like eucalyptus and amaranth. In addition, she envisioned a combination of blushy wedding flowers with more bold and colorful blooms. When we walked the property together, we were also really excited to incorporate some of the same forest botanicals like dried bracken fern into their late summer wedding palette.

Together, we developed a floral palette that was the perfect balance of muted neutrals, boho textures, and bold pops of color. We used a wide variety of late summer beauties like dried bracken fern, eucalyptus, amaranth, dahlias, roses, rudbeckia, chocolate cosmos, nicotiana, and celosia. Almost all of our materials were sourced from local farmers like Sweet Alyssum Farm and the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market. We never use floral foam, but the whole team also considered other environmental impacts. For example, we chose not to light candles due to the fire risk, and Kira chose compostable confetti for their ceremony. We love working with clients who value environmental sustainability like we do!

Here is what Kira and Scott had to say about working together:

"Carolyn was absolutely amazing to work with. Her floral arrangements are gorgeous, the nuts and bolts of planning, payments, budgeting, and communication were easy and straightforward, and most of all, she's a wonderful human and I'm so glad to have gotten to know her."

Summer Wedding Details

In a fun twist, Kira and Scott chose to not have a wedding party at all. Instead, we created wearable floral pieces for them, as well as their family and friends. We loved crafting Kira's wedding hairpiece and seeing how gorgeous everything looked on her, and their friends and family! Additionally, we loved making funky, textured boutonnieres for all the men. And we really enjoyed adding other details like eucalyptus sprigs in place settings, small and brightly-colored cocktail table florals, and loose blooms on tables.

We loved crafting all of these custom pieces for Kira and Scott, which elevated every space they used. Kira's bouquet was also a stunning piece that elevated the wide variety of botanicals we chose to use. We also crafted floral dog collars for their pups! But alas, the dogs were a little too rambunctious for them to stay on. That said, we love it when dogs join the party - even if they're a little wild!

Summer Wedding Tips

Summer weddings can get uncomfortably hot in Seattle - especially since we keep having heat waves and wildfires. As we continue to see the impacts of climate change, you may consider a wedding venue that has an indoor, air-conditioned option depending on the weather. However, one of the biggest benefits of summer weddings is that there are so many flowers to choose from! It's so easy to craft floral and event designs that are completely unique to the time and place of your wedding. Lastly, we can't say enough nice things about the team of vendors for this wedding. It's so important to hire pros for your summer wedding, especially if the weather gets wild!  We can pivot and work together to keep it all running smoothly. As always, we are so grateful we could work with such a fabulous team of vendors to make Kira and Scott's wedding dreams come to life.

Are you thinking about getting married in the summer? Ready to talk about your wedding? We’d love to chat! You can check your date with us below.

Vendor Team

Thank you to this incredible team of wedding vendors!

Floral Design: Bloom Poet | @bloompoet_

Venue: Private Estate

Planner: Jayne Marason | @jaynemarason

Photography: Photo by Seattle Wedding Photographers Jenn Tai & Co. | @jenntai.co

Catering: Duos Catering | @duoscatering

Hair and Makeup: Pacific Brides | @pacific_brides

Signage: Chloe Clarke Paper | @chloeclarkepaper

Lighting: Bellevue Lighting | @bellevuelighting

Rentals: CORT Party Rental | @cortpartyrental; Pedersens Event Rentals | @pedersenseventrentals; Fanciful Rentals | @fanciful_rentals; Balancing Baloons | @balancingbaloons

DJ: Wunderland Events | @wunderlandevents

Photo Booth: Little Photo Bus of Portland | @littlephotobusofportland

Restrooms: Privy Chambers | @privychambers

Glamping: Glamp Box | @glampboxco

Games: Off the Block Games | @offtheblockgames

Valet: Butler Seattle | @butlerseattle

Tierra Retreat Center

Tierra Retreat Center sits in the Cascade Mountains, close to Leavenworth - and lots of great outdoor activities! We love crossing the mountain passes to do destination weddings for our couples in such beautiful locations. Tierra Retreat Center is tucked away in a small valley, next to picturesque farm fields and completely surrounded by verdant woods. On its grounds, you'll find many forest paths, as well as a main area with a beautiful lawn and building. The ceremony site lies a short "hike" from the main lodge, surrounded on all sides by stunning forest views and tall evergreen trees. We love the quiet and natural surroundings, the vibrant lawn, and of course, the onsite lavender fields! In the end, they made for such gorgeous backdrops for Nicole and Adam's wedding day. 

Seasonally Inspired Wedding Flowers

At the start of our work together, Nicole knew she wanted something different for her wedding at Tierra Retreat Center. The florals were a big part of accentuating the natural beauty of the venue itself, so it was really important to get it right. Nicole envisioned a varied but subtle palette of pink and purple flowers, especially lavender. But she worried that those colors, if done poorly, could look tacky.

Together, we developed a palette that incorporated bright lavender, as well as more subtle tones. As a result, the final look was a beautiful, elegant, and relaxed mix of flowers and foliage. We used a wide variety of botanicals inspired by what was blooming in July, including hot-weather loving dahlias, strawflowers, roses, and of course, lavender. We also sourced white peonies - Nicole's favorite - from our friends in Alaska at Scenic Place Peonies. Lastly, I particularly loved using purple-tinged snowberry foliage (a native forest species) to bring all the colors together. 

Here is what Nicole and Adam had to say about working together:

"I knew this would happen, but the florals were the main decor to enhance the venue, and made the wedding feel very 'us.'..[Working together] was so easy, fun, and exciting! You were fantastic. The results were INCREDIBLE, STUNNING, PERFECTION. Exactly what I wanted and more! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You made all of my wedding flower dreams come true...I loved how the colors felt unique and reflected colors that people know I love, but at the same time, they were tasteful, stunning, and really complimented the space. I will gush over them forever!!! THANK YOU!" 

A Forest Ceremony to Remember

Obviously, one of the most spectacular parts of any Tierra Retreat Center wedding is the ceremony space. A quick hike through the forest reveals a stunning amphitheatre built from warm wood. Nicole and Adam chose to utilize the existing structure for their ceremony flowers. Initially, we sketched several ideas, and landed on this one: an asymmetrical, but beautiful frame for their ceremony. They also added a gorgeous vintage rug to accentuate the flooring. And of course, the forest views provided a magical backdrop to this ceremony. As a result, we loved seeing them celebrate with all of their family and friends!

Tierra Retreat Center Wedding Reception

After the ceremony, Nicole and Adam held a vibrant reception back at the main lodge, primarily on the lawn. We love the hanging lights, big space, and forest views! As you can see, the main building has a lovely deck that overlooks the lawn, which Adam and Nicole used for their first dances. On the reception tables, we used a mix of bud vases and long floral runners to decorate the tables. At the front, we also loved repurposing some of their ceremony florals for their sweetheart table.

Of course, since this wedding was a hot one - 106F! - everyone took advantage of the hand fans to stay cool. We are very proud of how well our flowers stayed hydrated and looking good without using floral foam! As Nicole said, "Your work is unique and absolutely beautiful, and knowing your sustainability practices really makes it all worth it." We love that our couples care about sustainability, too!

Tierra Retreat Center Wedding Details

To break tradition, Nicole and Adam chose to not have a wedding party at all. Instead, we created wearable floral pieces for them, as well as their family and friends. We loved crafting Nicole's wedding hair flowers and Adam's boutonniere. Her florals look so incredible with her veil! Furthermore, we also loved seeing details like their wedding rings, their first look, and how beautifully the florals looked in such a scenic setting.

We loved crafting this floral palette in a romantic mix of luxurious flowers, stunning foliage, and meadow-inspired textures. We used the best of the flowers seasonally available in July, including dahlias, zinnias, strawflowers, roses, lavender, and Alaskan peonies. In addition, we used lots of foresty foliages and summer meadow-inspired textures. Naturally, this included interesting ingredients like snowberry foliage, unripe raspberries, laceflowers, and Joe Pye weed. You can also see all of these magical botanicals in Nicole's bouquet below. In all honesty, we really love how all of these ingredients bridged the pink and purple color spectrum while keeping it soft and romantic. 

Tierra Retreat Center Wedding Tips

Tierra Retreat Center is a long way from Seattle, but it is such a beautiful space that no one will mind. Of course, they do have lots of events throughout the year, so make sure you book well in advance! It's also a great idea to visit the venue before booking, ask lots of questions, and explore what your wedding might look like. It does require a bit more walking on uneven ground than a city venue would, so just keep that in mind for your older guests. 

You and your guests can stay at the Tierra Retreat Center, which has plentiful lodging options. The venue is also quite close to Leavenworth, so any of those hotels or lodges would work, too! Unfortunately, there are no real transit options to get out in the mountains, so you and your guests will need cars. Naturally, you should also find vendors who are willing to make the trek across the mountains, and be ready to pay some travel fees. Vendors like your florist, planner, and their teams will all need hotel rooms for at least one night.

Lastly, we can't say enough nice things about the team at Tierra Retreat Center. Jen and her team were lovely to work with and made everything very easy! As always, we are so grateful we could work with such a fabulous team of vendors to make Nicole and Adam's wedding dreams come to life.

Are you thinking about getting married at Tierra Retreat Center? Ready to talk about your wedding? We’d love to chat! You can check your date with us below.

Vendor Team

Thank you to this incredible team of wedding vendors!

Floral & Event Design: Bloom Poet | @bloompoet_

Venue: Tierra Retreat Center | @tierraretreatcenter

Planner: Hummingbird Event Co | @hummingbirdeventco
Photographer: Here Today Photo | @heretodayphoto

Hair & Makeup: Mane by Nono | @manebynono

Catering: Good Mood Food | @goodmoodfood.wa

DJ: Showbiz NW | @showbiznw

Cake & Cupcakes: Sagebrush Sweets | @sagebrush.sweets

Dress: The Dress Theory | @thedresstheoryseattle

Suit: Suit Supply | @suitsupply

Linens: Rent Wenatchee | @rentwenatchee

Votives: Celebrations for Every Season | @celebrations.for.every.season

Kiana Lodge

Kiana Lodge lies about an hour northwest of Seattle on the peninsula, and requires a ferry ride across Bainbridge Island to reach. It always feels magical to hop on the ferry and traverse back roads to arrive at this stunning retreat! (We also love that it's native-owned and operated, and that Twin Peaks was partially filmed there!) Kiana Lodge definitely feels like one of those venues that has it all. On its grounds you can find lush forest trails, a wide manicured lawn, waterfront views, and quintessential PNW log cabin vibes. We loved seeing how the varied landscapes provided the perfect backdrops for photos of Molly and Daniel. Of course, this spring wedding had its fair share of raindrops, but Kiana Lodge has plenty of gorgeous indoor space when needed.

Whimsical Wedding Flowers

From the beginning, Molly and Daniel always knew they wanted their wedding to look truly unique. With so many family members coming from out of town, they wanted to embrace a PNW-inspired look. They are also avid mushroom hunters, and love to forage mushrooms locally in forests. Of course, we knew we had to incorporate mushrooms into their wedding florals! We tested a LOT of options to make sure we could create these unique mushroom pieces that would look gorgeous all day. Ultimately, we went with a bright, whimsical palette that included unique elements like moss, spider roots, and a wide variety of mushrooms. We had so much fun dreaming up and designing their flowers!

Here is what Molly and Daniel had to say about working together:

"We wanted to create unique/natural/seasonal floral arrangements that would make our wedding beautiful and showcase who we are as a couple! Working together throughout the planning process was amazing. You fully embraced our mushroom/foresty vision, guiding us throughout the process, allowing us to be creative and dream big, and came up with incredible ideas. It was such a pleasure getting to work with you. The arrangements you created were unlike anything we've ever seen. They were beautiful, completely unique, and really captured who we are. We got so many compliments on your work - it was breathtaking. You made our day so special."

Classic Jewish Wedding Traditions, with Modern Twists

Naturally, we love celebrating all of our diverse couples and their varied wedding traditions. Molly and Daniel embraced classic Jewish wedding traditions in this Kiana Lodge wedding, while also adding their own modern twists. Per Jewish tradition, both the bride and groom were escorted by their parents. But instead of flower girls, they had some adult family members throw bright orange flower petals down the aisle! We loved how they honored tradition while still bringing their unique sense of playfulness to their ceremony.

They also chose to do a traditional Jewish chuppah for their wedding ceremony. Initially, we had talked about doing mushroom "forests" as floral installations in front of the chuppah. Instead, they settled on doing a "human-powered" chuppah, which was truly lovely. As an alternative to a traditional wedding party, Molly and Daniel chose to adorn their closest friends and family with wearable flowers, too. It was so fun to see new and old traditions combined!

Kiana Lodge Wedding Reception

After the ceremony, Molly and Daniel held a grand reception in the largest indoor space of Kiana Lodge. We love the hanging ferns and star chandelier that grace the ceiling! But we also enjoyed their custom neon sign and the way our bright florals popped against the wood paneling. Of course, we loved making every centerpiece a different mix of flowers, ferns, and mushrooms. Additionally, we placed bud vases and other mushroom vignettes on welcome tables, the bar, and the cake table. We love the way this reception came together!

Dancing the Hora

We loved seeing photos of the traditional hora that awaited Molly and Daniel at their reception! These photos were too good not to share. You can also get a better look at the interior of Kiana Lodge, with its twinkling lights and potted ferns. And we couldn't help but be pleased that Daniel's pocket square looked amazing, even with so much dancing. We love everything about this celebration!

Kiana Lodge Wedding Design Details

We loved crafting this floral palette in a whimsical mix of mushrooms, pods and textures, moss, flowers, and ferns. We used the best of the flowers seasonally available in June, including peonies, poppies, ranunculus, roses, foxglove, and geum. In addition, we used everything forest-inspired that we could get our hands on! This included interesting ingredients like ferns, poppy pods, scabiosa pods, alchemilla, and more obscure botanicals like allium sicilum and cobra lilies. You can also see all of these magical botanicals in Molly's bouquet, below, and Daniel's pocket square. Believe it or not, the cobra lilies - the ones that are veiny pitcher plants you might find in the forest - were an impulse buy! Growers in California and Oregon have mastered growing these in greenhouses. When I saw them, I knew they were the perfect addition!

Kiana Lodge Wedding Tips

Kiana Lodge is a fabulous place to get married any time of year, since it has both indoor and outdoor spaces. As a popular wedding and event venue year-round, it's important to book early! That way, you will have plenty of time to explore all the possibilities the property offers. They only allow in-house catering, so keep that in mind if you have your heart set on a specific catering company.

Since Kiana Lodge is a hike from Seattle, you and your guests can stay nearby at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, which the Suquamish Tribe also owns. The resort is very close to Kiana Lodge, and a shuttle runs between them, so you and your guests won't need to worry about driving. Naturally, you should also find vendors who are willing to make the trek to Kiana, and be ready to pay some travel fees. The ferry ride means earlier starts and later finishes for your vendors, especially if they have to break anything down at the end of your wedding. Your florist and planner will definitely want a hotel room instead of trying to catch the last ferry at 1:30 in the morning!

Lastly, we can't say enough nice things about the team at Kiana. They have all been so lovely and easy to work with!

Are you thinking about getting married at Kiana Lodge? Ready to talk about your wedding? We’d love to chat! You can check your date with us below.

Vendor Team

Thank you to this incredible team of wedding vendors!

Floral & Event Design: Bloom Poet | @bloompoet_

Venue & Catering: Kiana Lodge | @kianalodge
Photographer: Mary Kalhor | @marykalhorweddings

Fall Wedding in the Gardens

Maddie and Alex challenged all of our assumptions about “backyard weddings” with this intimate fall wedding! It helped that we started with a gorgeous stone patio and gardens, surrounded by lush trees and dappled sunlight. You can see what a lovely scene this was for their first look. (And in case you couldn't tell: these two are the sweetest couple!)

For this fall wedding ceremony, the family added a vintage Persian carpet to complement the lush boho florals. We love how the colors and textures of the arrangements complemented this beautiful rug! The carpet mirrored the blue-green tones of the eucalpytus, neutral flowers, and golden vessels. The family also added outdoor furniture to seat their intimate wedding party. Of course, they also placed a laptop in the “audience” so they could stream the wedding over Zoom. As a result, they were able to include the many family and friends who could not travel.  

After the ceremony, the family enjoyed an intimate dinner reception. For the reception, we particularly loved the refined table settings, vintage silver, and beautifully printed menus. These elegant details paired perfectly with our loose and vibrant boho floral arrangements. We love how the centerpieces contrasted with the sleek neutral table settings for this perfect fall wedding.

Boho Wedding Flowers

Some of the botanical elements of these wedding flowers included:

• Cafe au lait dahlias
  
• White dahlias
  
• Olive foliage
  
• Eucalyptus
  
• Dusty miller
  
• Rudbeckia (Black-eyed susans) of many different varieties
  
• White cosmos
  
• Bronze amaranth
  
• Blush scabiosa
  
• Lisianthius
  
• Celosia
  
• Love-in-a-puff vines
  

Incredibly, we sourced all of the flowers and foliage from local PNW and California growers. We even custom grew many of these flowers specifically for this wedding! Additionally, we designed all of these wedding flowers without the use of toxic floral foam. Designing foam-free is a routine part of our commitment to sustainable floristry.

Kind Words from an Amazing Couple

Without a doubt, these two were such a delight every step of the way! We're so thrilled they found a way to wed in 2020, despite the challenges. We love working with couples who are so hopelessly in love with one another. We were so happy we could help them make their day as perfect as it could be, even when plans changed.

Ultimately, they were thrilled with their tiny wedding, even though it wasn’t what they had originally planned. Here is what they had to say about working with us:

“When we had to change course due to COVID, [Carolyn] made sure to support us and offer encouragement as we had to make some hard decisions about what our wedding would look like. She ended up providing us with *the most* beautiful flowers for our tiny backyard ceremony and I could not be more excited!...There is so much more I could say about her enthusiasm, emotional support, and genuine talent as a florist but I'll leave it at this: do yourself a favor and hire Carolyn, she will help make your wedding the special, perfect day it should be!"

Do you feel like you could use some extra support with design as you plan your wedding day? Go ahead - click the button below to start the conversation! We’d love to learn more about what you're thinking, and how we can support you in making YOUR wedding day "the perfect, special day it should be!"

Vendor Team

Floral Design: Bloom Poet | @bloompoet_

Photography: Ariena Photography |  @ariena_photography

Catering: Chef Jason Wilson

Dress: Nordstrom Wedding

Shoes: Nina Shoes | @ninashoesbridal

Groom's Attire: Trillium Tailor | @trilliumtailor

Groom's Shoes: Gucci | @gucci

Bridesmaid's Dress: Anthropologie | @anthropologie

Tropical Wedding Flowers for a Classic PNW Elopement

I am so excited to revisit these incredible images from this fashion-forward beach elopement using tropical wedding flowers! We don't normally think of tropical wedding flowers and palm trees when we think about Washington beaches. However, this combination provided truly stunning imagery for Keri & Michael's intimate beach elopement on the Olympic Peninsula. These two got married in April 2021, but didn't let COVID stop them from having a gorgeous, heartfelt celebration with their close family and friends. Every photo is more beautiful than the last, all beautifully captured by Elissa Deline. And designing for these two with 100% American-grown tropical wedding flowers was so much fun!

Floral Design as Unique as Your Love Story

The vast majority of our couples already have a unique vision for their wedding, aesthetic inspiration, or some kind of dream they want to come true. They have BIG IDEAS to make their day as special and perfect as it can be! But they need some expert help in making it happen. That's where we come in!

Keri and Michael came to me with one such creative, big idea: wedding florals that could be fresh for their elopement, but that could be preserved and dried afterwards. Additionally, they wanted a floral palette that used tropical flowers from Hawaii, which is where Keri's family is from. And of course, Keri asked for an amazing tropical flower crown. Challenge immediately accepted!! I loved all of these ideas, and was all in from our first meeting.

Getting Ready for the Big Day

Keri and Michael started their day just south of Seattle, but drove out to the Olympic Peninsula with their closest family and friends. They set up in a cute boutique hotel to prepare for their ceremony. The moms helped pin the tropical flower crown and boutonniere in a series of heartfelt moments. The whole crew then set out for the beach ceremony.

An Intimate Beach Ceremony

Keri and Michael gathered with their closest family and friends to celebrate their love together. Getting to the ceremony location required a bit of hiking and several assists to preserve the stunning wedding dress! We love how Keri added furs and pearls to complement the ethereal texture of her gown. Officiated by another close friend, Keri and Michael exchanged heartfelt vows at the water's edge. Their love shone through every bit of this ceremony.

After the ceremony, the group returned further inland to sign the marriage certificate. I love how guests could not resist touching the textural tropical wedding florals! Later, everyone shared a champagne toast, wedding macarons, and a socially-distanced meal. 

Making Wedding Dreams Come True

I had to do some homework to make all of this magic happen. First, I chatted with growers in Hawaii to ask about tropical wedding flowers that dry well that I might not have considered. (Being a member of the Slow Flowers Society has a ton of perks, but one is that I now know wonderful flower farmers in every state in our nation!) I also conducted some experiments of my own with drying tropical flowers over the winter. It was mad science floristry, and so much fun!

Once I decided on what botanicals to use, I contacted the Seattle Wholesale Grower's Market, which is my go-to source for local and American-grown blooms. Together, we sourced all sorts of tropical flowers and hardy botanicals that would dry beautifully. Most of these products came from Hawaii and California - although we also snuck in some local dried strawflowers from our friend Sarah at SUOT farm. I also made sure to source some beautiful hand-dyed silk ribbon from local Seattle-based artisans Of the Earth.

Tropical Wedding Flowers + Bouquet Breakdown

I was 100% in love with the results, which were also 100% American-grown! Here is a breakdown of what we used in this amazing bouquet and wearable flowers:

• Protea
• Leucospermum (pincushion protea)
  
• Leucadendron
• Berzillia
• Grevillea
  
• Craspedia
  
• Pussy willow
  
• Strawflower
  
• Eucalyptus
  
• Palm fronds
  
• Dried palm fruits

And a bonus update: Keri tells me that the bouquet is preserving beautifully, months later.

Thank you to Keri and Michael for trusting us with you BIG IDEA and letting us be a part of your wedding day, as well as allowing us to share this beauty. We are so happy for you and so thrilled we could make your wedding the gorgeous, memorable day it should be!! If you are ready to chat about your dream, you can inquire below.

Summer Wedding Flowers

April and Sean gave us so much creative leeway with these florals! We had a few inspiration images that included succulents and peachy tones, but otherwise we were free to capture the magic of summer. We wanted to create a lush, garden-inspired bouquet and personal flowers that felt romantic and vibrant. Additionally, April’s dress was stunning, so we had to make sure the bouquet did it justice!

We also wanted to use only local flowers, since so many beautiful things are blooming this time of year. You can see the best of local summer flowers in these arrangements, including local garden roses, delicate poppies, early dahlias, and fragrant sweet peas. We loved how the colorful arrangements provided a delightful contrast with the moody greens, blues, and whites of the Pacific Northwest scenery.

A Summer Wedding Road Trip

April and Sean started their day with a fun lunch at a brewery with family and friends. Later, they traveled to a positively magical cabin in the woods, where they started to get ready for their ceremony.

I love these touching photos of Sean’s mom helping him pin his boutonniere, and April’s smart choice of duck boots for the hike in her wedding dress!

First Look in the Forest

April and Sean decided to have a first look before their ceremony, which turned out beautifully. The mossy, sun-dappled forest provided the perfect backdrop for this tender moment.

The spectacular peach, mauve, and blush flowers stand out next to all of the ferns and trees. These photos feel so iconic and thoroughly Pacific Northwest!

Mountain Wedding Ceremony

After their first look, April and Sean headed to their mountain wedding ceremony. This stunning overlook had it all: forest, mountains, and even snow fields!

April added a chic fur wrap to withstand the chilly temperature at the summit. She also touched up her lipstick and looked like a movie star doing it!

Their closest friends and family gathered on the mountaintop to celebrate together. It was such a sweet moment with the perfect mountain wedding backdrop. 

They took some gorgeous pictures together at an overlook. Afterwards, they experienced an incredible sunset together, and headed back to the cabin for a fun celebration with their family and friends.

Summer Bridal Bouquet

There are so many beautiful summer flowers in July, when everything suddenly catapults into bloom! And actually, this bouquet could only have been created in July. It’s the only month where the last local spring blooms like poppies and sweet peas are available alongside true summer flowers like dahlias.

We know it can be difficult to know what flowers are in season, or to identify what flowers you like in a photo. (Your florist should definitely be able to help you with this!!) Take a look at the list of blooms we used to create this gorgeous summer bouquet for April and Sean’s mountain wedding:

• Astilbe
• Clary sage
• Dahlias
• Garden roses
• Cosmos
• Spray roses
• Succulents
• Sweet peas
• Raspberry and blueberry foliage

We sourced all of these flowers from local farms or our own gardens, and they were all grown sustainably. We love supporting our local farmers – especially when they give us such incredible materials to work with!

Next Steps

We know it can feel overwhelming to plan a wedding - especially right now. It is our job to make you feel confident, empowered, and excited about your floral and event design! We love worrying about all of the details so that you don't have to, and we'd love to hear what you're dreaming up. You can click below to inquire about your date. We can't wait to meet you!

Vendor Team

Floral Design: Bloom Poet | @bloompoet_

Photography: Between the Pine | @betweenthepine

Dress: BHLDN | @bhldn

Bainbridge Island Weddings

Our team always gets excited when we get to travel for a wedding, no matter the distance! Of course, we love doing Bainbridge Island weddings not only because we get to take a ferry from Seattle, but also because it's such a beautiful place. We appreciate the small town charm, gorgeous landscapes, and water views that Bainbridge Island offers. For this wedding, we loved the intimate and gorgeous surroundings of Raleigh's parents' estate. Filled with lush gardens, manicured lawns, and a forest backdrop, this was as Pacific Northwest as you could get! The couple added a tented reception for an elegant summer soiree. We loved adding so much color to the natural beauty of the landscape, and celebrating the best of summer flowers!

Vibrant Summer Wedding Flowers

We used a wide variety of vibrant summer botanicals for these garden-inspired wedding florals! To begin, we started with a fun palette of dahlias, including the very first Cafe au Laits of the season. Additionally, our bride requested mums since those flowers held a special meaning for her, so we added some taupe mums into our designs. We also used a wide variety of white and blush flowers to soften the bright colors, including strawflower, lisianthius, and phlox. Of course, we had to include our favorite rudbeckia, which come in so many beautiful warm colors, from burgundy to gold. Lastly, we chose our favorite summer foliages and textures like ninebark, eucalyptus, and amaranth. We also draped the tent with greenery, which was a great choice! We loved layering these elements for a more wild, organic look in all of the floral designs. And we loved seeing these pops of color against the stunning backdrops of this private estate.

Floral Details to Remember

This wedding had so many memorable moments! We really enjoyed seeing our couple celebrate with friends and family after a year of waiting. Naturally, we also loved creating lush centerpieces, wearable flowers, and an arch floral installation for this wedding. But we particularly loved all the creativity that we got to use in this wedding! For example, we're still obsessed with Sam's botanical pocket square. We crafted this boutonniere alternative with a variety of little bits and textures, using the same materials we used in the larger designs. In addition, we designed a hairpiece for Raleigh and special floral earrings for her mother, which was so fun!

The couple decided to reduce their wedding guests to only 50 people, so we repurposed their original floral budget to make everyone feel extra special. We laid out a wearable flower bar for their guests, which included boutonnieres, bracelets, rings, and more! This was such a hit, and I absolutely loved seeing a variety of pieces on different guests - including floral earrings on men, boutonnieres on women, and everything in between! It was such a fun and non-traditional way to surprise and delight their guests. We also added gorgeous blooms to everyone's table setting, which added so much warmth and color to their reception setup. The way everything came together was so stunning!

The Wedding Experience

We loved working on these wedding designs with our couple and their parents, who did a lot of the planning. Here is what our couple had to say about working together:

"We LOVED working with Bloom Poet. Our main goal was to create a dreamy, fresh look for our wedding. We were blown away after the first meeting with Carolyn on how creative and thorough her ideas were. Not only was working with her simple and fun, but the floral work was astounding. Everything was breathtaking. The flowers, including the bouquet, tent greenery and wearable flower pieces, were some of the main comments I got about our wedding! If you want a florist who is trustworthy, creative, and deeply invested in every part of the process, Bloom Poet is who you should hire. Carolyn and her team were so patient, kind and cooperative (especially when planning an event during COVID). I have told many other friends getting married about your work and encourage them to use you. We love you! And you became one of my mom's favorite people and business-owners. You were so compassionate and I had complete trust in you the entire time. I think more than any other vendor, we knew we could let you do your thing and knew it was going to be incredible. That was the greatest gift you could ever give us on the wedding day!"

Her mom also had some truly wonderful things to say about our experience of working together:

"You have been such a joy to work with. Once I met you, I trusted you would create a fabulous floral experience! You were open to trying new kinds of flowers to support our ideas. You communicated ideas and updates regularly so we always knew what to expect. It was especially helpful that you created a color/mood board early on for the wedding. The bride and I referred to that resource often. Everything was beautiful! The bridal bouquet, out-of-this-world centerpieces, and ceremony gazebo were stunning! Just what we envisioned with loose, varied, and plentiful arrangements in the bride's color palette. It definitely did not look like anything I've seen before. Of course, I also loved all of the individual flowers you created for our guests. My floral earrings were a hit! I appreciated how well you listened and captured what we, mostly the bride, wanted. You brought a great balance of combining your expertise and experience with flowers and our suggestions and vision to create final products that really worked. Carolyn knows what she is doing. She is an artist. She thinks and makes arrangements like an artist. If you want someone who can make something totally extraordinary and special, not cookie-cutter wedding arrangements like you may see elsewhere, then you want Carolyn."

Honestly? We LOVE our couples, and their families, so the feeling is mutual. We care deeply about the work we do, and it's so rewarding to help our couples create an unforgettable event. If you're ready to chat about your wedding, you can check your date using the button below.

Vendor Team

Thank you to all the folks who made this wedding a dream come true!

Floral Design: Bloom Poet | @bloompoet_
Photographer: Lydia Brewer | @lydiabrewerphotography

Ready to talk about your wedding vision? You can check your date with us by clicking the button below.

The Kelley Farm

Kelley Farm lies about an hour south of Seattle, with gorgeous rural scenery. We loved seeing some of their perennial flowers still blooming in the gardens! The stunning pasture also provided a perfect backdrop for photos of Corinna and Conor during their first look. Kelley Farm weddings can be inside or outside, depending on the weather. We got some breaks in the rain for photos, but also had a mega storm roll in! Ultimately, Corinna and Conor decided to hold the wedding indoors. Definitely the right call! On the inside of Kelley Farm, we love the rustic wood interior, the romantic curtains, and the opulent chandeliers. Additionally, we enjoyed creating a floral installation on the permanent arch at Kelley Farm. It is the perfect size for their space! Our couple also loved having separate cottages to get ready. 

Preparing for the Ceremony

These two both had fabulous squads helping them get ready. The bride's side and the groom's side had separate spaces at Kelley Farm. However, the whole mood of both groups was so jubilant! Everyone was thrilled to be together celebrating these two. To begin, we delivered anenome boutonnieres to Conor and his groomsmen. We also brought cute bridesmaids bouquets to the girls, and flower petals to the flower girl. (Isn't she the cutest!?) We also gave Corinna her stunning cascading bouquet, which added so much glamour and drama to her bridal look. Of course, we made sure to give her lots of anenomes - her favorite - as well as a sophisticated mix of mauve and lavender flowers. We finished all of these pieces with hand-dyed silk ribbons from our local artisans.

First Look

Before the ceremony, Corinna and Conor had a first look on the grounds of Kelley Farm. First looks are a great way to have a private, intimate moment to reconnect with your spouse before the big celebration! First looks are always touching moments, but we can't get over how happy these two make each other. We feel genuinely lucky to work with couples who adore each other!

Kelley Farm Wedding Ceremony

After regrouping with their wedding party, Corinna and Conor made a stunning entrance to their ceremony. We lined the aisle with white rose petals, and added a romantic floral installation to the Kelley Farm wedding arch. We used greenery to soften the shape and mirror the curtain behind it. Additionally, we covered the right corner in a stunning mix of big lavender blooms, anenomes, and grey-green foliage. We love the way this ceremony setup came together!

Romantic Fall Wedding Reception

Throughout the planning process, the one thing that stayed constant was Corinna's desire to have a big dance party! Thankfully, all of their friends and family were on board with that plan. From all accounts, everyone had a great time! We used the floral arch as a backdrop for the reception, setting up Corinna and Conor's sweetheart table in front of it. For their table, we added extra florals, greenery, and candles to make it extra special. We also decorated their cake table with florals and greenery, and worked with the bakers to make sure some flowers made it onto the cake, too!

Kelley Farm Wedding Design Details

We loved crafting this floral palette in a moody mix of mauve, lavender, and white flowers. We used the best of what was seasonally available, including anenomes, carrot flowers, several types of roses, and stock. In addition, we added some interesting textured greenery, like the near-black agonis foliage that almost looks like fringe. You can also see this in Conor's boutonniere and Corinna's bouquet below. I particularly love the little mauve spray roses we included in these pieces! Believe it or not, they were an impulse buy at the flower market. But when I saw them, I knew we had to have them!

Fall Wedding Tips

First, fall is a super popular time to get married here in Seattle, and elsewhere in the country. So if you are planning a fall wedding, make sure you book your vendors early! That way, you will have plenty of time to make decisions, rather than scrambling to find someone.

Of course, you will also want to account for the weather. Sometimes we luck out and have gorgeous sunshine. Other times, it storms and the power goes out! (True story!) So, make sure you have rain plans in place. We always recommend hiring a wedding planner for this reason.

Lastly, we highly recommend being flexible about your flower choices in the fall. Since we prioritize local flowers, we are at the mercy of the last frost. Often, this frost happens in mid-October. We sometimes find ourselves with an abundance of "summer" flowers one week, and almost nothing local the next! So, hire a pro who can roll with the punches and make your wedding flawless no matter what.

Ready to talk about your wedding? We’d love to chat! We still have a few fall dates, too. You can check your date with us below.

Vendor Team

Thank you to this incredible team of wedding vendors!

Floral & Event Design: Bloom Poet | @bloompoet_

Venue: The Kelley Farm | @thekelleyfarm
Photographer: Caitlyn Nikula | @caitlynnikula

Mountain Springs Lodge

Mountain Springs Lodge sits in a valley just outside of Leavenworth, WA in the Cascades. We love the way the landscape transforms across the seasons. In winter, the lodge receives a generous blanket of snow, allowing them to offer sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, and more. (You'll see why this detail matters later!) Naturally, it was a wonderful choice of venue for a destination wedding!

Romantic Winter Wedding Ceremony

To begin, Pacifica and Evan chose to hold their ceremony outside to embrace the incredible views of the mountains. The wedding ceremony took place just outside of Mountain Springs Lodge, next to their large fountain. We installed a lush floral wedding arch for the ceremony, complete with blooms and evergreen foliage. In addition, we lined the aisles with evergreen garland, all framing the view of the mountains perfectly. Amazingly, the lovely couple even got sunshine while reading their vows - perfection!

Of course, one of my favorite parts of this winter wedding was the handfasting ceremony. This ancient tradition is where “tying the knot” comes from! In this instance, we used luxurious hand-dyed silk ribbons from Silk & Willow for this handfasting ceremony. Pacifica and I were both obsessed with the one-of-a-kind blue botanical print ribbon, made with flower petals. You can see this stunning design in the second and third photos, as well as in her bridal bouquet.

After the ceremony, Pacifica and Evan had the perfect "just-married" smiles! Obviously, we love seeing how happy couples look right after their ceremony! Pacifica and Evan also made a particularly glamorous exit on a horse-drawn sleigh. Mountain Springs Lodge offers sleigh rides in the winter, which these two took full advantage of. I don't think we've ever seen a wedding exit quite so glamorous!

Elegant Winter Wedding Reception

Mountain Springs Lodge has a stunning rustic wood interior, which we transformed into an elegant, romantic experience for their guests through floral and event design. With event design, we help couples think through all of the aesthetics of their events. We source linens, place settings, and other rentals to create a cohesive design like this. Of course, for this wedding, no detail went unnoticed! From luxe velvet table linens to gorgeous wedding centerpieces, we ensured that Pacifica and Evan’s destination wedding would have an elegant and refined look throughout.

Destination Wedding Design Details

Pacifica and Evan asked us to do both floral and event design for this destination wedding, which we loved! For this winter wedding, Pacifica knew she wanted to incorporate evergreens and anemones in her designs, with a pop of blue. We used white flowers like anenomes, ranunculus, roses, and stock for all of our florals. Additionally, we incorporated touches of silver brunia, touches of blue delphinium, and lots of Pacific Northwest evergreens. And for her bouquet, we used the same stunning hand-dyed botanical silk ribbon that was used in the handfasting ceremony. Personally, I am obsessed with her hairpiece - I would wear this every day if I could! We also have to note here that both Pacifica and Evan have amazing hair and style!!

In addition, we designed all the details of the wedding reception to create elegant, romantic tablescapes. We used navy velvet linens and gauzy white table runners as a base for these lush floral arrangements. Then, we also added romantic taper candles on antique silver bases. Along with candles, we used several rentals from CORT Party Rentals for the place settings, including silver beaded chargers, silver-rimmed glasses, and chic silverware. Lastly, we added green velvet napkins, floral touches, and the gorgeous menus and customized name cards to every plate. We love the way the overall look came together!

Destination Wedding Tips

First, if you are planning a destination wedding, make sure you visit your venue before booking! You will want to be able to envision your wedding day. Plus, it’s a great excuse for a long weekend away.

Of course, destination weddings are also more logistically challenging for your vendors. Make sure you choose vendors who love to travel, and are willing to do so. It’s also a great idea to have a wedding planner who can help with all the moving pieces.

Lastly, we highly recommend that you stay at your destination for several days before the wedding! You don’t want to worry about jet lag, travel times, or other logistics right before your wedding day. Instead, arrive early enough to enjoy your destination for a few days and unwind before the big day.

Ready to talk about your destination wedding? We’d love to chat! You can check your date with us below.

Vendor Team

Thank you to this incredible team of wedding vendors!

Floral & Event Design: Bloom Poet | @bloompoet_

Venue & Catering: Mountain Springs Lodge | @mountainspringslodge
Photographer: Jamie Buckley | @jamiebuckletphotography

(Check out Jamie's blog post about this wedding here!)
Hair & MUA: Chelan Glam | @chelanglam

Cake: Honey Crumb | @honeycrumbcakes⁣⁣

Rentals: CORT Party Rental | @cortpartyrental⁣⁣

Linens: BBJ La Tavola | @bbjlatavola

Silks: Silk & Willow | @silkandwillow

Ready to talk about your wedding vision? You can check your date with us by clicking the button below.

Seasonal Wedding Flowers

We were inspired to look at the best of what is locally available in November, which includes stunning heirloom mums. Our color palette was a mix of fall colors inspired by these mums, like taupes, burnt oranges, and burgundies, paired with classic neutrals. We kept their whole design very understated and elegant to accentuate the warm wood details and muted, wintery garden backdrop of the Willows Lodge gazebo.

We were so honored to bring seasonal beauty to Cassie and Ali for their gorgeous Willows Lodge wedding day! Scroll below to see all the beautiful photos.

Willows Lodge Garden Gazebo

The ceremony took place in the garden gazebo, which was tented for the winter. There were plenty of heaters that kept all of the guests nice and toasty! The gazebo is surrounded by lush gardens that provide so much beauty throughout the year. We loved bringing such seasonally-inspired blooms to a cozy winter space like this.

November Wedding Flowers

The focal point of this Willows Lodge wedding design was the triangle arch within the Gazebo tent. We loved having the garden in the background, with so many gorgeous fall-inspired wedding flowers in the foreground. Our bride chose a triangle arch to add a little bit of boho flair to this elegant, timeless design.

We enjoyed sourcing local flowers in November, despite the challenges! We used locally grown heirloom mums, roses, and dried elements like lunaria in all of these wedding florals. We also sourced some beautiful white snapdragons, grevillea foliage, and eucalyptus from our friends in California. As a luxurious finishing touch, we added burgundy orchids to all of these designs. We love the final transformation!

No Reception? No Problem!

We encountered a few challenges during this wedding. Most importantly, we had planned for a full reception with centerpieces on round tables. But the week before the wedding, all of the COVID rules changed! Couples were no longer allowed to have any receptions, so we scrapped that plan altogether. However, I love that Cassie and Ali took the opportunity to be photographed with some of the local residents of the gardens at the Willows Lodge. Talk about a one-of-a-kind wedding photo!

Fall Foliage at the Willows Lodge

We also have to mention how stunning the fall foliage looked in Woodinville in November. The Willows Lodge has so many beautiful plants and trees on the grounds, and these images took my breath away. It’s no wonder that fall weddings remain so popular!

We had so much fun creating this intimate, romantic, fall-inspired wedding at the Willows Lodge! The space was perfect for the wedding that Cassie and Ali had imagined, and we loved flowering it. The Willows Lodge wedding and catering staff were also super helpful, easy to work with, and resourceful during all of the challenges of 2020. We can’t wait to work there again!

Vendor Team

Floral Design: Bloom Poet

Venue: Willows Lodge

Photographer: Luna + Lion

Ready to chat about your wedding flowers? You can click the button below to check your date and tell us all about your plans!