Seattle Floral Design

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR WEDDING FLORAL CONSULTATION

July 23, 2020

wedding flowers questionnaire with pen

Every Seattle Wedding Florist you meet with will have a different of way of guiding you through the world of flowers in order to arrive at the best floral designs for your wedding. The beginning of the wedding floral journey is one of the parts that I actually like most. Imagination, artistry, and creativity are at the forefront in this stage and it always feels so exciting to dream about all the floral possibilities. I often find myself saying that the conceptual design is even more invigorating than when I get my hands on the actual flowers. And I really, really love the flowers themselves (just look at my camera – all the photos are of flowers)! But I could dream about gorgeous, unique floral designs all day. Yes, my head is in the clouds! And the clouds are filled with flowers!

Here at Holly Yee Floral Architecture my PROCESS always starts with an Introductory Floral Consultation. Most couples I talk with have never been through the wedding planning process before, let alone the process of deciding on the perfect floral decor for the biggest party they’ll probably ever host. Needless to say, the experience of talking with a Wedding Floral Designer is often uncharted territory, so coming into the meeting prepared will always produce a better outcome.

In preparation for your Introductory Floral Consultation I want to go through the topics we will cover to get you thinking (and feeling!) about the big picture of your wedding, as well as all the smaller elements. Understanding your vision, your goals, and your heart in depth will enable me to build a floral proposal that embodies an aesthetic that is unique to you as a couple. Collaboration is key, with all of your vendors really, and knowing what to expect during your wedding floral consultation will allow us to make the most of our time together. Let’s get started!

Overall Wedding Ambiance/Feel

One of the first things I want to know about is your desired wedding ambiance. Understanding the big picture of your wedding with regard to the atmosphere you want to create for you and your guests will help guide my floral recommendations and suggestions. Design styles can be romantic, artistic, elegant, whimsical, modern, or rustic. Flowers themselves also sometimes can have a “style” to them. Some are very soft and romantic, both visually and tactically. Some are sleek and elegant while others are fun and whimsical. Florals play a big part in setting the mood of a space, which I go into some detail on my INVESTMENT page. When I was a bride back in 2017 I was able to find the words to describe the goal of my wedding atmosphere by closing my eyes and imagining what it felt like to be there – inviting, beautiful, and warm. Give it a try!

Color Palette

One of the most important elements in any type of design is the use of color. Colors can evoke mood and feelings, and can be a way to curate a specific atmosphere. Flowers are often a large part of a wedding’s decor, so making sure the colors of the flowers work in harmony with the other colors of your wedding is very important. I wrote a blog post a couple months ago on How To Choose Your Wedding Floral Color Palette, which highlights the key elements that determine wedding colors: venue, attire, season, and theme.

Floral Preferences

Understanding what your floral preferences are both with regard to floral style and specific flowers is one of the most important pieces. Are you someone who likes very textural arrangements or do you prefer structured, clean arrangements? Are you draw to symmetry or asymmetry? Do you like a wispy, whimsical look or do you prefer pieces that are full and lush? Pinterest has been a very useful tool for looking at different floral styles, but you can also do a general internet search and see what images come up or you can get some wedding magazines to peruse through. And don’t just keep your eyes on the internet. The natural world has so much to say, too! When you are outside and out and about, do you find yourself taking a long look at your neighbor’s pink peonies, the deep blue hydrangea bush by the park, or are you drawn to the carefree daisies crowding around a fire hydrant?

pink peony

Personal Elements

Finding out more about you as a couple and what personal elements you might be incorporating into your wedding is one my favorite parts of our first conversation. These are the gold nuggets of information that often spark my most creative side. Perhaps you have Irish heritage that you want to include in the feel of your wedding, so we decide to use lots of ferns and moss in your arrangements. Maybe your partner loves to fly fish, so I incorporate fly fishing feathers in his boutonniere. Or maybe the two of you are avid bicyclists, so we create a floral installation built out of old bicycle wheels. One of the most unique bridal bouquets I ever made was for a bride who was going to school for Mycology, the study of fungi. To her field of study into the floral arrangements, I wired in to her bouquet two ceramic mushrooms and one carved wooden mushroom. How fun is that? Can you spot the ceramic mushrooms in the photo below? Don’t be afraid to play with the idea of incorporating elements of your individuality into the florals. The outcome can be incredibly original!
woodland style bridal bouquet with ferns

Quantities and Categories of Floral Arrangements

Getting a little more practical and detailed, another important topic we’ll discuss is quantities. This information is especially useful in determining the overall cost of your wedding flowers, but sometimes I do suggest certain flowers that may lend themselves better to specific arrangements. Smaller flowers work best for small, intricate pieces like boutonnieres, corsages, and crowns. Larger flowers like sunflowers, hydrangea, and large calla lilies or versatile, hardly flowers like roses and carnations can be perfect for installations or large arrangements.

A bridal party with sunflower bouquets on a runway

I hope this helps get you prepared and excited for your wedding floral consultation. You can also watch the video down below. Talking about flowers for your wedding should be fun and the goal in sharing this knowledge with you is to prepare you for the things we will discuss so our partnership can produce the most beautiful arrangements for one of the most beautiful events. Ready to chat about your wedding flowers? Join me in the clouds – there’s lots of fabulous floral arrangements up here!

CEREMONY FLOWERS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY

June 26, 2020

bride and groom at wedding ceremony

If you were to guess that I love weddings, you would be correct. I love weddings. I mean I LOVE them. Both on a professional level, because I get to assist couples in bringing life and beauty to one of the biggest and best parties they will ever host, but also on a personal level, because as a guest (and at my own wedding as the bride) I have always felt the magic in the air – that wedding magic is a certain energy that can’t be felt in the same way anywhere else. And it’s amazing.

Weddings are everything positive, wonderful, and beautiful wrapped up into one epic day of celebration. And while the reception is considered by many to be the most enjoyable part (who doesn’t look forward to indulging in eating fantastic food and partaking in an open bar??), the ceremony is the true heart of a wedding.

As a Floral Architect you might not be surprised that I consider flowers to be one of the most important parts of wedding decor, if not THE most important part. And while a lot of emphasis is generally placed on things like the bridal bouquet and the table centerpieces, the most significant part of your wedding day, your ceremony, deserves intentional thought and design…and flowers.

Let’s take a look at the reasons why your ceremony flowers should really be a priority when thinking about your wedding flowers.

Symbolizes the Importance of the Occasion

The reason for your wedding is to legally and formally marry the love of your life. The reason that all your family and friends are there with you is to witness you marry the love of your life and to celebrate your union. And that’s a big deal. Not giving proper attention to the look and the feel of your ceremony area doesn’t give due credit to how monumental a union between two people is. Guests will travel many thousands of miles, spend lots of money, and whittle away at their vacation time for weddings because of just how very special it is to witness two people get married. Creating arrangements just for that time, place, and space signifies its magnitude.

Defines and Personalizes the Physical Space

Sometimes couples initially won’t feel the need to add any floral decor to their ceremony area because the location already 1) has a beautiful view 2) has some sort of permanent or built-in decor element or 3) their ceremony will only last a short amount of time. Yes, there are a lot of beautiful places to get married with spectacular backdrops, beautiful landscaping, and built in arbors, and the ceremony usually lasts only a fraction of the time as the reception, but when you add your own floral decor to the ceremony area you make that space your own. You might be at a venue that has a wedding every weekend and adding your own unique floral decor transforms that space into your wedding. Having personalized floral arrangement for your ceremony, whether that’s a lush floral arbor, a spray arrangement on an arch, or two floral urns to frame the space you and your partner are joining together in, will set it apart and will put your stamp on it.

Provides Aesthetic Delight

Decorating your ceremony space with personalized floral arrangements can really enhance the mood of a ceremony. Flowers have been proven to enhance well-being and make people happy. When you add flower arrangements to your ceremony space you automatically enhance the mood and lift people’s spirits. And most of this happens unconsciously! Ornamental horticulture can be a calming and soothing influence. And that can do wonders for when it’s time to read your vows!

Elevates the Gorgeousness of Your Photos

During your wedding you will take tons of pictures. And I mean TONS. The ceremony is one of the most photographed moments of a wedding and it is one of the best things to look back on afterwards. Whenever I see pictures from my own wedding ceremony pictures all those feels and emotions come rushing back. And the beautify of the day and of our ceremony setting almost takes my breath away again just as it did the day I became a wife. Pictures of you and your loved ones against a one-of-a-kind floral backdrop are worthy of being framed and displayed.

So hopefully I have convinced you of the value of investing in beautiful flowers for your wedding ceremony. Even if you are getting married on top of a mountain, in front of a waterfall, or in a botanic gardens, there is still reason to add your own personalized floral arrangements to your ceremony space.

You can get more ceremony floral inspiration on my CEREMONY gallery page.

Lastly, I took the lovely ceremony photo from above, taken by the talented Molly Blair Photography, and colored a version of that ceremony without any flowers. While the wooden arbor was lush with summer greens which is definitely pretty is its own right, I hope you agree with me that personalized floral decor makes it transformational.

wedding ceremony no flowers

HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE YOUR BRIDAL BOUQUET FROM YOUR BRIDESMAIDS

May 5, 2020

colorful bridal bouquet drawing

Bridal bouquets are one of my my absolute favorite things to conceptualize and create for weddings. Not only are they one of the most photographed floral arrangements at a wedding, but they are designed for and carried by some of the most important people – the bride(s)!

One of the questions my brides and I talk through when discussing their wedding flowers is whether they want their bridal bouquet to closely match their bridesmaids bouquets or to be significantly different. Some people prefer a very coordinated and matching bridal party look. Others folks are inspired by contrast and love the idea of their bridal bouquet being totally unique. Both schools of thought are correct and each bridal party floral style can look spectacular in its own way. Let’s explore the differences starting from the most cohesive to the ways we can create the most bouquet variation.

Bridal Bouquet vs. Bridesmaids’ Bouquets: SIZE

The most cohesive bridal party floral look is when all the bouquets have the same shape and the same color palette. Clients will ask me if their bridal bouquet should be different from their bridesmaids’ bouquets and I always tell them at a minimum it will be bigger, even if just slightly. The bride is the most important person in her bridal party and her bouquet should be representative of that, as well. Many times we will identify a variety of flower to use only in her bridal bouquet, but still within the palette of flower colors.

Picture courtesy of Stolen Glimpses Photography

bridal party with pink dresses and pink bouquets

bridal party with lush blush wedding bouquets

Bridal Bouquet vs. Bridesmaids’ Bouquets: SIZE + SHAPE

Another way to differentiate the bridal bouquet is in both size and shape. You can still maintain a strong floral cohesiveness by using the same color palette throughout the bridal party bouquets, especially the same proportions of colors, but changing the shape of the bridal bouquet can make it that much more dramatic. This works well for brides, especially, who love cascading bouquets. Cascading bouquets are naturally lush and require a high level of craftsmanship. The amount of detail that goes into cascading bouquets makes them an excellent choice for brides who want that wow factor.

(To find out about the different wedding bouquet styles you can check out my blog post THE FIVE MOST POPULAR BRIDAL BOUQUET SHAPES).

bridal party wearing dusty blue and dusty green dresses with blush flowers

Picture courtesy of Jessica Christie Photography

Photo courtesy of Libbie Holmes Photography

Bridal Bouquet vs. Bridesmaids’ Bouquets: SIZE + COLOR

One of the easiest ways to emphasize the uniqueness of the bridal bouquet is with size and especially with color. Our eyes are naturally drawn to color – the cones within our eyes being physically stimulated when we see colors. And when contrasting colors or analogous colors are used within a bridal party floral palette, we definitely take notice. In the past I have worked with brides who have loved the idea of a bouquet for themselves with an emphasis on white to signify it as the bridal bouquet. Other times my clients have loved the idea of a colorful bouquet that really popped against their wedding gown.

Color is such an important factor when thinking about your flowers. If you are interested in learning more about how to pick your wedding floral color palette you can hop back to my post from the prior week: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING COLOR FLORAL PALETTE

Photo courtesy of Talia Kite Photography

a bride and her bridesmaid holding red and white bouquets

Bridal Bouquet vs. Bridesmaids’ Bouquets: SIZE, SHAPE, + COLOR

If you want your bridal bouquet to command the most attention, then you might choose a design different from your bridesmaids’ bouquets in terms of size, shape, and colors. While I love when things are cohesive, I also love brides who aren’t afraid to make a statement. Your dress is different from your bridesmaids’ dresses, your role is different from your bridesmaids, so why be afraid to make your flowers drastically different? Dare to be different!

Picture courtesy of From the Hip Photo

bridesmaids in blue dresses with colorful bouquets

Picture courtesy of Libbie Holmes Photography

Whether you like a really cohesive bridal party floral style or if you aren’t afraid to have your bouquet stand alone, there are many options and even small, subtle tweaks for how we can make your bridal bouquet one-of-a-kind and truly a reflection of your taste. Want to explore the best floral style for your bridal bouquet and your bridal party? Let’s set up a CONSULTATION! I love making bridal bouquets and I would be honored to design yours!

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING FLORAL COLOR PALETTE

April 30, 2020

rainbow color palette

One of the very first questions I ask during my wedding floral consultation process is about color palette. I have couples to tell me about their overall wedding color palette and then use that to narrow in on the best combination for their floral color palette. Sometimes, however, my clients do not have a defined wedding color palette or their wedding colors are a little bit broader. And that’s totally okay! There are specific components of your wedding that you can look to for guidance when navigating the world of color and deciding on the best palette for your wedding flowers.

First, though, let’s take a look at the basic principles of color theory. These principles are the guidelines often applied when choosing color palettes that ultimately are balanced and aesthetically appealing. Understanding color theory is crucial for great design. The color wheel, which was invented in 1706 by Sir Issac Newton, can be used as a compass for choosing colors that work well together.

color wheel

Three of the most fundamental color combination categories are: monochromatic, analogous, and complimentary. Here’s what each of them refers to and why each category works well in design:

Monochromatic

Monochromatic colors are variations of one color (hue) with different tints, tones, and shades. A monochromatic color palette is simple, yet sophisticated. Monochrome creates harmony and is calming.

Analogous

Analogous colors live next to each other on the color wheel. Color combinations using hues with close proximity on the color wheel can create a sophisticated and pleasing harmony. Analogous colors are guaranteed to work great together.

analogous colors

Complimentary

Complimentary colors that are opposite from each other on the color wheel creating strong contrast. Complimentary colors are especially pleasing as play up each other’s intensity. Complimentary colors are often perceived as soothing as they stimulate different parts of the eye.

yellow and purple complimentary colors

With this basic understanding of color theory, here are things to consider when deciding on a great color palette for your wedding flowers. This list is especially helpful if you don’t have a set wedding color palette, but can be useful even if you do!

Picture courtesy of Pure Lee Photo

Color of Wedding Party Attire

Perhaps the biggest influence of your wedding floral color palette is the color of your wedding party attire, whether that includes just you and your significant other or if you have an abundance of bridesmaids and groomsmen. The wedding party is traditionally adorned with flowers, so making sure your personal floral pieces compliment your attire is key. Your wedding party is one of the main things that gets heavily photographed and we want those images to be beautiful, balanced, and colorfully cohesive!

I like to use a two-step process when helping couples choose colors that will work well with their wedding attire. When clients come to my Woodinville studio to review their floral proposals, I will pull out my stack of paint chips and will physically lay colors on top their wedding attire color(s). This allows them to get a feeling of all those colors together. I also ask my clients to send me pictures of their wedding attire so I can overlay a custom floral digital drawing. This has worked incredibly well in showing how a bouquet will look against a wedding gown or how a boutonniere will appear on a jacket. You can see some of my bouquet sketches for past clients on the ABOUT page.

floral garland along table with lavender napkins

Picture courtesy of Sara Lynn Photography

Linen, Table Runner, & Napkin Colors

Another factor I often take into consideration when advising my clients on their wedding floral color palette, is the color of their table linens, table runners, and dinner napkins. The reception is the second most important part of your wedding and creating a space that is harmonious can positively affect the dining experience. If you are going with a colored napkin or a colorful table runner, including that color or a complimentary color in your table centerpieces can create more dimension and visual interest. Color that is placed intentionally in design is a way to engineer a particular experience. Don’t be afraid to use colors that will delight your guests’ eye receptors!

Picture courtesy of Newell Jones & Jones

Venue Colors & Aesthetic

It can be easy to overlook your wedding venue when deciding on your floral color palette. Wedding venues that are neutral in color are more adaptable to a variety of wedding colors. Some wedding venues, especially hotel ballrooms, can have distinct accents of certain colors, either colors in the carpet or colors in the ceiling fixtures. It always perplexes me when couples choose a reception venue that has colors that clash with their chosen wedding colors. It’s really, really hard to not notice the blue and orange patterned carpet when you’re sitting down for dinner. And while your soft pink floral centerpieces may be quite lovely on the white linen tables, they will look out of place next to that carpet.

Picture courtesy of Teresa Woodhull Photography

Season

Sometimes Mother Nature can be a guiding hand in choosing a great color palette for your wedding flowers. If you are getting married in the fall, for example, it can be advantageous to use a fall color palette – reds, oranges, and yellows. The changing season can often lend itself to certain colors that become abundant in nature that time of year. You have an already established harmonious color palette that just makes sense!

Floral centerpiece next to Christmas tree

Picture courtesy of Chris Loring Photography

Theme

Some of my favorite weddings to be a part of are themed weddings. True themes go beyond the standard wedding style terms of chic, rustic, vintage, modern, boho, etc. Themes are overarching concepts that allow for aesthetic definition, structure, and specific meanings. Many of the annual Holidays can work well as a wedding theme.

Themed events are even more popular in the corporate world. Check out some fun themed arrangements on my CORPORATE page!

Picture courtesy of Talia Kite Photography

Personal Color or Flower Preferences

Sometimes I work with couples that just love a particular flower. While many flowers come in a multitude of colors, some flowers only grow naturally in one or two colors. You can use that flower color as a starting point for your wedding floral color palette. Other times I suggest that my couples use their favorite color to help define their wedding floral color palette. If you especially love pink and we create arrangements that are bursting with vibrant shades of pink, that will have a conscious (and subconscious) positive effect on you.

Floral arrangements are incredibly visual and because of that wedding flowers often can be a significant part of wedding decor. It’s no wonder that nailing your flower color palette is quite important and, rightfully so, commands a lot of thought, attention, and consideration. After-all an occasion that’s as special as a wedding should look and feel as significant as it is.

Do you need help solidifying a fantastic and cohesive floral color palette? Set up a CONSULTATION with me and let’s find your perfect palette!

PRIVATE WEDDING REGISTRY EVENT

April 16, 2020

a lady teaching two people to make flower crowns

Back in February (which seems like a lifetime ago now!) I was part of the Private Registry Event at Crate&Barrel in Seattle at University Village. This event was an invitation-only event for engaged couples to set up their wedding registry at Crate&Barrel. The perks to being invited to this event were being able to register while the store was not open to the public and celebrating with food, activities, and giveaways provided by a select team of local wedding vendors.

The lovely and dynamic Rebecca of New Creations Weddings spearheaded the overall aesthetic and registry experience. The Seattle wedding vendor team she put together for this event included myself and:

Photography: Alante Photography
Paper and Invitations: Sablewood Paper Company
Catering: Navi’s Kitchen Catering
Cake: Blue Box Bakery
Paper Flowers: Pink and Posey

As the fresh flowers Floral Designer, I was tasked with creating a centerpiece display for one of the Crate&Barrel dining tables. I have a wedding this summer with a gorgeous color palette of rich berry colors – pinks, reds, and some purple, so colors were on the brain! Rebecca creatively named it “Summer Sorbet”.

dining table with colorful floral arrangements lush and colorful floral arrangements on a dining table colorfully set dining tabel

I also put together an interactive flower activity station under one of the Crate&Barrel arbors. Couples could choose to learn how to make a partial flower crown or a boutonniere. This mini flower workshop was such a joy to do! I have discovered that teaching others how to work with flowers is (in some ways) even more rewarding than making arrangements myself. After we are on the other side of COVID-19 I hope to start holding private flower arranging workshops at my Woodinville studio.

colorful pergola colorful flower activity display people doing a diy flower crown activity a lady holding up a ribbon bin for another lady

This was the visual design concept that I sketched out for the arbor. I always love looking back at the sketches I do and comparing them to what I create in real life. Often, they are quite similar. It’s fun to see how a design can be almost fully conceptualized before actually putting the pieces together.

inside display of a Crate&Barrel store

A big thank you to the staff of Crate&Barrel. They were foundation for a great event and they were lovely to work with.

group of people standing in front of a colorful arbor

SEATTLE WEDDING PLANNER: IT’S YOUR DAY EVENTS

April 9, 2020

five women at a beautifully set dinner table with colorful florals

Earlier this year I was invited to be part of a promo styled shoot with the fabulous ladies from Seattle-based wedding planning company, It’s Your Day Events. When I saw the design inspiration board filled with deep blues + bright flowers and learned that the Photographer would be Char Beck, I knew I had to create the arrangements for this shoot. It’s not everyday that you get to collaborate with great people and work with a color palette that makes you literally exclaim out loud. I am so excited to feature It’s Your Day Events on my blog with a Q&A down below and to showcase the floral arrangements I created for their promo shoot: gorgeous and lush – just my style!

long dinner table with fancy place settings and colorful flowers dinner table with colorful flowers small table with colorful flowers

It’s Your Day Events is owned by dynamic duo, Ashley Speight and Christina Fesler. These two best friends and colleagues have been planning weddings in Seattle since 2009. I first met them last year through a professional organization, Wedding Network Seattle. Ashley and I serve on the planning committee for Wedding Network Seattle and we worked together on the April 2019 meeting at Trinity Tree Farm. Later last year, Ashley, Christina, and their team came to my studio and did a team-building floral arrangement workshop with me. These ladies really know how to get things done and have fun while doing it!

two ladies smiling for the camera two women moving a table with colorful flowers

The It’s Your Day team has grown over the years to include Sara Haverstraw – Lead Wedding Planner, Katie Rodriguez – Associate Wedding Coordinator, and Mercer Brown – Event Assistant.

Q&A with It’s Your Day Events

Describe your business. What services do you offer?

We provide wedding planning, design, and coordination services, and what we do is at times difficult to picture because the services we offer are intangible. When you are scrolling through beautiful photos, with stunning flowers, and amazing cohesive design; the magic behind that is the planning, design, and coordination.

How did you get your start in this line of work?

We were just two best friends who loved planning events and design, that took a leap of faith and started this business in 2009. We had no idea where it would go but we sure are happy that we hung on for the ride. Countless weddings and events later, here we are. We believe our attention to detail, organization, creativity, friendship and plain awesomeness have really driven us to where we are today. We were so happy to bring on Sara in 2012, Katie in 2016 to join our team, and Mercer in 2019 – we have a fantastic crew!

What is it like working with you? What can a client expect?

If you work with us, you can expect a calm caring group of wedding besties in your corner. We professionally organize, plan, and coordinate the details. We dot the i’s and cross the t’s. We triple check it all once more. Then, when the day comes, we watch the wonderment and happiness on your face as your wedding day unfolds, just as you dreamed it would.

What do you love about your line of work?

We are always honored to be a part of each and every one of our clients lives, especially on such a big day. It’s an amazing feeling to truly contribute to someone’s wedding and see their dreams come true.

What is your special sauce; your unique business magic?

We often hear from other vendors and our couples on their day that we have been a calming presence. We always have 2 or more coordinators on your day and are a team of good friends that have been in the business for many years, we know our stuff!

What are some of your favorite flowers? Styles of arrangements? Favorite floral colors?

We love lush flowers such as peonies and garden roses, but also really unique and fun flowers that add depth and texture. Christina likes more muted palettes with a crisp pop of color while Ashley just loves all the color!

If you are planning a Seattle wedding and need people in your corner who will guide you through all the planning steps, take care of the details, and triple check everything so you can focus on enjoying your event, these are your ladies! You can find them at:
Website: www.ItsYourDayEvents.com
Instagram: @its_your_day_events

Lastly, I want to give kudos to Char Beck. Even though I had not anticipated being photographed (I hadn’t fully brushed my hair that morning and was wearing my least favorite jeans!), Char offered to take a few head shots and a couple candid shots. On his website he grabs your attention right away with the statement, “You say you’re not photogenic. I’ll prove you wrong.” Thank you, Char – you just did.

a lady in a geen top puts a floral arrangement on a table

Other fantastic vendors who participated in this shoot:
Venue: The Trestle Loft
Tables and Chairs: Grand Event Rental
Rentals: Balancing Balloons

DAFFODILS ARE SYMBOLIC OF NEW BEGINNINGS

March 31, 2020

I’ve been taking pictures of daffodils recently. It’s Spring and daffodils are growing everywhere here in the Seattle area. That, combined with my intent on being more diligent in practicing my photography, has produced an entire digital folder of really cool daffodil images that now lives in Dropbox. Fun fact – daffodils are also March’s birthday flower.

I felt compelled to write a blog post about daffodils, not only because they have been in my line of sight, but because of their meaning: daffodils are symbolic of new beginnings. Today is the last day March. Tomorrow I turn another year older. On April 1st I will spend my first day as a 39 year old. I have been thinking about the age of 39 not with the quasi-humorous dread of 40 being right around the corner, but actually from a perspective of wonder. Wow, I am going to be 39 years old! While turning 30 was definitely exciting, I think 39 might be the coolest age in the 30’s decade. It’s the last segment before an even bigger new beginning. And it feels wise, rooted, and calm.

The symbolic meaning of daffodils seems even more fitting right now, despite my upcoming birthday, because we are in the midst of COVID-19. There is a saying that new beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. While endings often go hand in hand with resistance, loss, and pain, they open the door for new ways of thinking, new opportunities, and new ways of life. We are all grieving – grieving the loss of those dying from coronavirus, grieving the loss of our security, and grieving the loss of our lives as they once were. So while it may be hard to envision the possibilities that lie in the future, just know that they are there and they will come. This, too, shall pass. And we will begin. Different. New.

I picked up a bunch of daffodils from the grocery store yesterday during a trip to stock up on another round of food supplies while my husband and I are stuck at home. And I foraged a few spring flowers and some greenery from our yard to make this cheerful daffodil bouquet. Bouquets are one of my absolute favorite things to make, which is a good pairing with my love for weddings. I have not had a March wedding since 2016, since it’s off-season, but for any future couples thinking of getting married in March, you might consider incorporating the daffodil in your floral palette. What a beautiful way to symbolize the start of your life together as a married couple.

green, yellow, and white daffodil bouquet yellow daffodils in a bouquet

Lastly, while we are encouraged to social distance ourselves and self-quarantine, we can still responsibly enjoy a walk outside. This can be reprieve from being cooped up indoors. There are so many daffodils in bloom. Go look for them! They will brighten up your day. And just remember that in this season of change we will grow.

CELEBRATIONS AFTER COVID-19

March 26, 2020

The first case of COVID-19 showed up in Seattle, Washington on January 20, 2020, not far from where I live. It’s been just over three weeks, however, since COVID-19 really started to impact my own sense of normalcy. My spring corporate events were either cancelled or postponed and my husband stopped going to his office and started working from home. And everyday there is more bad news – new cases of people contracting coronavirus, government orders to stay in place and practice social distancing, and stories of local businesses struggling to keep the doors open.

We are living in an unprecedented situation where there is good reason to be fearful. But I want to shift perspective for a moment and shine light on how this may impact our society…for the better. You might have seen articles popping up that discuss the silver lining to the coronavirus. I know this might seem like a far stretch right now, but I actually believe there are several silver linings. To look at the situation from the glass half-full perspective, here are some upsides to our current situation:

Slowing down (our lives have been way too busy!)
More opportunities for simple things, like enjoying an afternoon walk outside, with other obligations falling to the wayside
A collective decrease in f.o.m.o. (fear of missing out)
Reduction in worldwide pollution (the earth is getting a chance to breath for a moment)
Greater possibility for improvements to our healthcare system
More attention brought to lack of affordable housing and hopefully some changes down the road

Another positive outcome, I believe, one that will become more clear when we are on the other side of this pandemic, is that weddings, gatherings, and celebrations that bring people together will become even more important to us than they were before.

While I am grateful that we can interact virtually with one another while we are confined to our homes, no amount of fancy technology, at least right now, can replace the full experience of gathering together in person. I compare remote gatherings vs. in-person gatherings to the basic flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami. Video conferencing allows us to see and hear each other, which, if you were eating a meal would be like tasting something that is both sweet and salty. Physically being together, however, is like adding the umami flavor. Umami creates dimension and adds a full-bodied feeling component. That’s what’s so magical about in-person celebrations – you can feel them. (I also have written about how flowers add to the feeling of an event, which can be found on the INVESTMENT page). Umami is subtle compared to sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, but it is unique and distinct. Umami adds depth. Events that are experienced in person add richness to those occasions that virtual gatherings cannot create.

Though I am sure this list is not comprehensive, here are the benefits of celebratory gatherings:

Celebrations Are Fun and Relieve Stress

Celebrations are times where we can forget about everything else and focus on being in the moment. Planned events are often filled with delicious food and drink, great company, and lively entertainment – all the indulgences and things that make us feel good. They often include the expression of deep emotions, whether that’s laughter or tears, which are both forms of release.

Celebrations Signify Life Milestones

Celebrating milestones in our lives anchors meaning to them. They become rich marks in time and define different stages in our lives. This helps us better understand the narratives of our own lives and creates conceptual structure.

Celebrations Deepen Gratitude

When we take time to stop, reflect on, and celebrate important milestones in our lives our gratitude for these things deepens. In a culture that seems to always be focused on the future, on growth, and on what’s next, pausing to acknowledge things of significance gives more importance to them. When we stop to focus our attention on something it becomes more valuable.

Celebrations Create Memories

It has been somewhat of a recent trend to value experiences more than things. That being said, weddings and other celebrations can be some of the best and most rich experiences of our lives. The richness of a celebration is such a visceral experience that those feelings stay with us forever.

When we are on the other side of coronavirus and we are able to safely gather together again, fresh from isolation and social distancing, we are going to appreciate being close to one another like never before. Reunions, birthday parties, conferences, anniversaries, weddings, and other events will become top priority. After-all, sharing joy with one another is what makes life so sweet.

I want to leave you with a photo that always brings a smile to my face (and usually a laugh!). Last summer my sister and I threw a Surprise 25th Wedding Anniversary celebration for my mom and step-dad at the Kaua’i Marriott Resort. The incredibly talented Photographer that we hired, Penny Dinn, beautifully captured the first moment of surprise. Images like the one below are reason enough to host live events. I hope this image makes you laugh out loud. Enjoy!

two people being surprised

LIVING WREATH INSTALLATION AT PACIFIC PLACE SEATTLE

January 27, 2020

At the end of 2019 I worked on one of my all time favorite floral projects, which I am so excited to share with you! For this project I partnered with Pacific Place in downtown Seattle. Together we collaborated on a Holiday-themed botanical art installation that was amazing, epic, and truly one for the books!

If you aren’t familiar, Pacific Place is a shopping center located in the heart of Downtown Seattle. They are nearing the end of some major renovations by March 2020. This massive redevelopment they embarked on includes opening up areas to let in more light and giving the building an overall fresh, modern, and bright aesthetic. A goal of this project was to create a welcoming environment where people can gather and connect.

With the redevelopment at Pacific Place, several temporary barricade walls divide the construction areas from the parts that are still accessible to shoppers. To minimize the look of construction and to evoke a joyful, festive feeling, so as to give shoppers the best Holiday shopping experience possible, Pacific Place wanted to decorate these walls. This is where Holly Yee Floral Architecture was brought in.

Concept Design and Drafting

The original Holiday design I proposed for Pacific Place was a combination of circular living wreaths and a central installation that journeyed the life of a pine tree from a cone to a full grown tree. While we ultimately decided to hold off on the evolution of a pine tree installation, we collaborated with the Marketing team at Pacific Place and expanded the wreath design to also include a square living wreath. Here are the sketches for both design concepts:

Building and Construction

Since both of these designs had originated from imagination, the next step was figuring out how to actually bring to life and make them real. A living wreath is one thing, but building a 6-foot living wreath is a whole other ball game. With the help of my engineer husband who came up with the brilliant wooden shelf concept, I sketched out the framework of what would be the underlying mechanics:

I then got busy with sourcing all of the necessary supplies. Home Depot became my second home for quite some time! Because this project required the use of power tools, my husband taught me how to use his nail gun and I got a refresher on the saw. We discovered that my quart mason jars made really good plant placeholders, which were crucial to have in figuring out the correct shape and dimensions of the wreath structures. The last steps involved painting the shelves green and gluing on bits of live moss for an enhanced botanical feeling.

Installation

Installation took place the day before Thanksgiving. The goal was to have the wreaths ready by Black Friday in order to elevate the 2019 Holiday shopping experience. Pacific Place was intentionally focused on creating a positive environment and peaking people’s interest in the shopping complex, especially during the busiest time of the year.

My husband graciously agreed to help me install all four wreaths. We started at Level 1 and worked our way up one level at a time until the last wreath was installed on Level 4. The plants I ended up choosing for the wreaths were a combination of pothos and poinsettias. It was an exciting day to see all four wreaths come to life. They looked fantastic!

Wreath Enjoyment

All four living wreaths that were designed and built for Pacific Place stayed up through the entire month of December. They even became a photo backdrop for shoppers documenting their Pacific Place visit. A Seattleite named Charles Koh captured these beautiful images:

And the wreaths definitely served as the perfect photo backdrop for the wreath workshop that I had the honor of facilitating at Pacific Place. That blog post will be coming soon! But for now, a sneak peek with Jenn and Kirsty, captured by the fabulous Saskia Potter.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR FLOWERS AFTER YOUR WEDDING

October 22, 2019

Today I want to chat about something that a lot of people tend to overlook when thinking about flowers for their wedding or special event. After all the time and attention that’s given to deciding on your floral style, your floral color palette, and the placement of all the floral designs, the piece that is often not given much thought to is what to do with all the flowers once the festivities have ended. Whether it’s your wedding, a corporate event, or a celebration, when the food is all gone, when the music stops, and when the guests leave, everything that was brought to your venue to make your wedding beautiful has to find another home. And that includes your flowers.

So, here are some options for your flowers when it’s time for farewell.

Photo courtesy of Ness Thomas Photography

HIRE YOUR FLORIST TO CLEAN-UP

Most Wedding and Event Floral Designers will offer the service of clean-up (also known as strike) at the end of your event. This is a great addition for folks who don’t want take on the task of figuring out what to do with all of their flowers or for folks that don’t have the capacity to take them. Hiring your Florist for strike is an extremely efficient way of checking flowers off the clean-up list. Plus, your Florist will know best how to take everything apart and how to pack it back up. Afterwards, everything gets sorted, cleaned, and organized. Every Floral Designer is different, but I personally compost all the organic materials after a wedding. I strive for Holly Yee Floral Architecture to be as green as possible.

LET GUESTS TAKE THE FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS HOME

Another option for your event florals is to let guests take them home. This works best with all vased arrangements that can easily be carried and transported. I especially like this option and think it’s a beautifully sweet gesture from the couple or host to their guests. People always love the gift of flowers – especially beautifully designed arrangements. Just remember to talk with your Florist about any vases or containers they are providing. If you are renting vases from your Florist you will need to return those, so you might opt to purchase them from your Florist so guests can freely take them. Or you could always ask your Florist if there is a way to incorporate a take-away container that can be hidden inside of the rented one.

DONATE YOUR FLOWERS

This option is hands down the one that you get all the feels from, myself included. If your wedding flowers have still have life in them at the end of your big day, you can take the vased arrangements to local nursing homes to bring a little bot of cheer to the elderly. Just remember you will have to coordinate this yourself or designate someone to be in charge of this, which requires floral clean-up at the end of your event, overnight storage, and delivery the following day. Donating your event flowers to others is a wonderful thing to do, just remember that it requires planning and time.

DRY OR PROFESSIONALLY PRESERVE YOUR FLOWERS

If you want to take your flowers with you at the end of your wedding, even if it’s just your bridal bouquet, a great option for the flowers post-event is to dry or have your bouquet professionally preserved. Drying can be as simple as hanging your flowers upside down in a dark closet. Part of the magic of flowers is that their beauty is fleeting, but with any form of preservation you can prolong the joy of your flowers.

COMPOST YOUR FLOWERS

Sometimes the life of your event flowers is not much longer than the day of your wedding. Floral Designers have to prep and handle the flowers so they are at their peak blossoming state for your event. This often means that they don’t have much life span in them. Instead of throwing them into the trash you can return the flowers to mother earth by composting them.