DebraFlower - A florists life

Calla lily

2011-12-13T03:05:00.000-08:00

Calla
Every time I meet with a lady who is planning her wedding and we go through photos of my designs of bridal bouquets questions are proposed when they see the group of Calla lily bouquets. Almost all of them never knew that Calla Lily are available in various sizes and colors.

Yellow Calla
Mango CallaLarge White Calla

Fuscia Calla Black Calla

Small White Call

Bridal Party Mix
Mixed color Calla

Calla Lily bouquets are long lasting and very light weight. They can range from the size of your thumb to larger than your fist. The smaller Calla fit nicely into a mixed bouquet while the larger Calla are wonderful in an over the arm design.

Why not consider a Calla bridal bouquet.

It’s designing season and I am getting a ton of new ideas.

Debra

Artists Collaborate

2011-10-25T08:52:00.001-07:00

Costa Rei, Sardinia
For the past 15 years each August I spend all or part of my summer vacation in Sardinia, an Island that is part of Italy. Sardinia is best known for its beautiful beaches and sea. The colors of the Sardinian sea range from light blue to turquoise to dark blue. I spend literally hours on the beach relaxing and allowing my creative juices to regenerate.

This summer my good friend Sergio insisted that we do something cultural. So one morning he woke me up early, we got dressed and had breakfast at a wonderful place right on the beach.

Nuraghe Afterwards he said he had a surprise for me. Twenty minutes later I let out a shout as Sergio drove up to a Nuraghe, an ancient Sardinian dwelling. The Nuraghi were constructed between the 18th and 15th centuries BC. I had often heard about them but had never seen one let alone find myself at the foot of the immense structure.

In my girly sandals (not appropriate for the task) I climbed up to the structure and was filled with awe.

Almost immediately after we went to an outdoor market where I often go to chat with a Sardinian artisan who hand weaves baskets. Antonello is one of the most friendly and talented artists that I have ever met. We spent time discussing ideas for new designs and a few days later he has use those ideas to create a new basket design.

Nuraghe Basket

So you can just imagine what happened when I enthusiastically described the Nuraghe which he knows so much better than I do. When we met the following weekend Antonello had created a basket version of the Nuraghe.

Exchanging ideas with other artists is just another way my life is enriched by the work that I do.

Enjoy,

Debra

American Floral Designer

2011-09-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

Table
As their international business expands it might be helpful for you to know more about Debra Biagini, head designer and owner of DebraFlower and her team.

Wrist corsage Debra is an American, english speaking, internationally trained floral designer. Professional, Creative and available are the best adjectives to describe Debra. After years of working in corporate settings in New York, Bermuda, Chicago and Milan she transferred to Rome to follow her passion for art in the world of flowers. Debra unites her skills as artist and seamstress to create one of a kind designs using flowers and other materials. Her attention to detail can be seen in her creation of Bridal bouquets for some of the most important fashion designers in Rome.

Ring holder

DebraFlower as a team uses their creativity to assist you in realizing your dream event. Their objective is to constantly expand their creative thinking to include not only flowers but all types of materials. Basically any material that is needed to create emotionally provocative designs for your special event- They give special attention to the quality of the materials they use and to the quality of service they give to you.

Table

Debra and her staff will listen carefully to your requests in order to assure that what you have envisioned is realized through their creative skills.

Table

Make sure to share your ideas and needs with Debra in order to assure a memorable event.

Renewal

2011-09-14T03:17:00.000-07:00

Bridal Bouquet As a Floral Designer/Artist/Florist, the most exciting moments are when I have the opportunity to create something very special, something memorable. When Caroline came into my studio with a bag in hand, I instinctively knew that something special was about to be requested of me.

In the bag, Caroline had the remains of her bridal bouquet from 25 years ago. Examining the “bouquet” I was amazed at the changes that have occurred over the past 25 years but also the similarities. The bouquet remnants were mostly “Bling” of tiny pearls which is very current in Bridal bouquet design. There was also leaves in satin with sequin trim, totally out of date. Caroline’s special request was that I use these remnants of her Bridal bouquet from 25 years ago to create a beautiful bouquet for her 25th wedding anniversary celebration. I was more than excited to design this very special bouquet.

Separating all of the components was my first task. What amazed me most was the technique that was used 25 years ago to assemble a bridal bouquet. Techniques that are now considered counterproductive when trying to keep a bridal bouquet fresh looking for an entire day without water. Afterwards I whitened all of the pieces, rewired every piece with clean floral tape and began wiring flowers in order to reassemble everything into a new bouquet.

The results were very beautiful . It excited me that a bouquet style from 25 years ago would look so beautiful today….true beauty is timeless. It also inspired me to use different materials in the future for a special touch in my designs of bridal bouquets.

If you have some heirloom or special goodluck piece, remember to present it to the florist to see if if can be integrated into your bridal bouquet. Your wedding day should be personal and very special from every aspect. Like Caroline, when you celebrate your 25th wedding anniversary you should have something unique from your bouquet to remember that special day.

Contact me if you need more inspiration.

All the best,

Debra

The Table

2011-07-27T02:28:00.001-07:00

Seashells

Home, ceremony and reception….. I've been very busy over the past few months. I am lucky that so many married couples have booked me to design their wedding decorations.This year I have had many more requests for reception decorations than from previous years. I use the word "decoration" because many of my ideas include floral material as well as branches, stones, candles, textiles, statues, fruit, etc..

When the bride asked me for a theme that included the sea, we decided together to eliminate (or nearly) flowers. The couple's favorite colors were hot pink and orange. The theme of "Sea" was made with pink stones, water and goldfish (orange).

The theme of classic Mediterranean Sea was created with turquoise organza, including a touch of fun with diamonds, pearl and shells ... .. "Diamonds and Pearls, on the beach".

The Italian couple who have a strong relationship with China asked for a theme that included items from a true wedding reception in China. We chose to use red Chinese lanterns, Italian red roses, candles and Chinese red menu cards to create an elegant atmosphere.

The marriage with the theme "Fairy" was a real challenge. I decided to design something different, using flowers but in a somewhat 'magical way. Here is a green sphere with diamonds and calle surrounded with candles.

Creating an interesting theme is fun for guests who are seated at the table for at least two hours. A beautiful centerpiece is useful to create atmosphere and the inspiration to begin conversation between everyone at the table. Do not underestimate the importance of a beautiful table centerpiece.

Congratulations to newlyweds.

Call me if you need a help in creating your wedding theme.

Debra

A Garden Wedding - Borgo di Tragliata

2011-04-13T04:12:00.000-07:00

Pink florals As I mentioned in my last report about the Borgo, it is exceptionally beautiful. Last weekend I was there to design a wedding in the garden. I love the churches of Rome but as a designer the churches dictate how I begin the design process. Designing a wedding in the outdoors allows me to work with nature and what better place than the natural beauty surrounding the Borgo to create an outdoor wedding. This couple had many requests. The bride had a vision of what she wanted her garden wedding to look like and I had to turn her dreams into reality. Not always are dreams easy to realize. Actually what the bride wanted would have been very costly. In addition her ideas conflicted with the surroundings of the Borgo and specifically in the garden where her ceremony was to take place. The Bride wanted a constructed floral arch. She also wanted it to somehow be used to decorate the tables at the reception. Now that is a very tall order.

First I suggested that we do something more natural, using the elements of the garden to create the arch and not construct an arch. This also allowed one to see all of the surrounding greenery without obstructions. For this couple I added to large urns on columns filled with flowers. Normally I love to use lots of interesting greenery but on this occasion I did not use greenery at all. There was more than enough greenery already in the garden so I only added flowers. The final affect was elegant and beautiful. I encourage couples to reuse their ceremony flowers in some way to decorate the reception and this time it was a specific request from the couple. We used the flowers from the urns to fill vases to create the centerpieces for the reception. This allowed us to give a sense of Theme while saving money and above all respect for nature. For me and my staff this was a wonderful occasion. The designs were lovely, the bride radiant and the day was beautiful. Special thanks to the staff at the Borgo for their kindness and laughter.

So pleased,

Debra

Borgo di Tragliata

2011-03-04T02:15:00.000-08:00

Borgo Di Tragliata During 2009 a customer called me to ask if I would design her wedding at the Borgo di Tragliata. The Borgo was not new to me but I hadn’t designed decorations for it. A few years before I was there as a tourist. Yes, the Borgo is that beautiful that you would want to see it even if you are not planning a wedding or party there. In addition it is close to the Fiumicino Airport yet a very short ride into the center of Rome.

Since my first visit I have designed many weddings at the Borgo for Irish as well as Italian brides. The beauty of the location is that the church and the reception are within walking distance from one another. The bride and groom can wake up at the Borgo, get dressed and walk to the church for their wedding…..all so very romantic.

It’s my personal opinion that flowers should not be wasted. Usually I suggest that the flowers from the church be reworked so that they can be used for the reception. Sometimes I add more flowers for the reception to create the effect that they are completely different yet maintaining a theme between the wedding and the reception decorations. It is my goal to create something original and special for each bride. I do not create the same thing for each wedding. Church decorations start at 50euro.

I will be designing a number of weddings at the Borgo this wedding season and I hope you come back to see the work that I have completed. You will notice that I never do the same decorations twice. I sincerely believe that each couple should have something designed especially for them that reflects their tastes and budget. For this reason I do not have a "package". When I design especially for your wedding , you will pay for the items you choose. Be very careful that a package deal with a very low price are not flowers that are not good quality and arrangements constructed properly. Your wedding photos are what will remain for the rest of your lives together. If the photos have been ruined by ugly wilted flowers there will be nothing you can do to change it.

Florally yours,

Debra

90th Birthday Celebration

2010-11-30T03:45:00.001-08:00

The Centerpiece When I am asked to decorate a party I always get so excited and when the request is to create decorations for the 90th birthday celebration someone’s Grandma…..well that’s really special. It was a real pleasure for me when my customer with a lilac paper plate in her hand came in to ask me to create centerpieces for grandmas birthday party. The budget wasn’t a big one but I always find a way to create something beautiful with almost any budget.

As usual customers don’t fully understand floral materials. Often they don’t really know what they want in a design. It’s my job to draw them out. To carefully listen to their comments and interpret them into a floral arrangement or decoration using other types of materials. So it was with the lilac paper plate and a few questions that I designed these decorations.

The best part of all was the phone call that I received from the customer saying that we received numerous compliments for our work. Compliments that we deliver more than a customer ever expects and we do it on time. I suppose all this is the result of having a job that I really do love and get excited about each time a customer comes in to decorate a party or wedding.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed doing the work.

Happy 90th birthday to “Grandma”.

Debra

Bridal Fair - A Garden Wedding

2010-11-04T03:14:00.000-07:00

Sposa2011Wedding planning season has begun in Italy and with it many cities host one or more Bridal Fairs. Organizing for a fair is such a challenge. Not only does it require that I find some creative idea that will capture the attention of thousands of tired fair goers but also to create something that will last the five days of the show but will showcase my skills as a designer and florist. Then comes the managerial and marketing work. Even though I have specialists who handle these responsibilities, I believe it’s important that I am involved in the process.

This year I designed a garden wedding. As always I try to create a stand that allows me to explain to couples in an instant my style of designing for church weddings and reception decorations. My garden wedding is made up of items that can be used in a number of different ways.

Since my goal is to design for my clients, I included both modern and classical arrangements in the stand. There was something there for every request.

The big news??? I included feathers in my designs which is an item normally not seen in Italian weddings. It was interesting to see the reaction of the younger brides to this “NEW” idea. I was personally surprised to learn that many couples have planned to get married during 2011 in the garden.

Creativity and surprise, this is why I love my work.

Debra

The Calla Lily

2010-10-18T09:04:00.001-07:00

The Bride When I receive an email from a lady who is planning a destination wedding here in Rome, the first thing I do is create a file. From experience I know that working with a client long distance requires special attention. Normally I rely on my sixth sense during meetings to help me understand the expectations of a client but when you are receiving emails and that’s all you have to rely on, it’s important to file each and every email that tell you something about the future bride.

Bridesmaid Reviewing the emails that Elaine sent to me along with photos of designs that she liked I found a theme emerging before my eyes and brought it to her attention. She loves calla lilies!!! I suggested that she use the calla lily as her theme. We used 4 colors of Calla lily in the bouquets, buttonholes and the church decorations. We reused the flowers from the church to decorate the reception in order to maximize on the flower budget and reinforce the Calla Lily theme.

Church Entrance

Pew decorations

Alter Reception
Point of information, I have been able to count more than 30 different colors of Calla Lily. They come in sizes ranging from no bigger than your thumb to bigger than your fist. The options are limitless.

Special thanks to Elaine, Ian and their family for allowing me to publish these photos. I had a wonderful time working for them.

All the happiness in the world to them.

Debra

Gattinoni Couture

2010-07-14T03:06:00.000-07:00

Entrance to the Palace

Reflecting on our lives, it’s those rare spectacular moments that become imprinted in our memories for the rest of our lives. Just this Monday, July 12th 2010 was one of those spectacular moments for me.

It was my birthday which is already a very special event for me. I usually celebrate my birthday by giving to others in some way. Guillermo Mariotto, Director of fashion design at Gattinoni gave me the responsibility of designing the decorations for his Fall/Winter 2010 Show, an honor that many floral designers would pay for but he offered to pay me. The Show was held at a royal palace constructed in the 1600’s. Decorating a venue of this type not only requires special attention to design but also of handling tools and mounting methods as not to damage any part of the incredible works of art of this historical monument. It was such an emotional experience to see my work in such regal surroundings.

The icing on my birthday cake that evening was the attendance of American Ambassador Ertharin Cousin. To have such an outstanding American woman present in Rome to admire my work was an honor that I will remember the rest of my life.

Full of emotion,

Debra

Floral Materials

2010-05-27T03:01:00.000-07:00

Gerber (inverted)
Taking classes, visiting floral demonstrations or just playing in my store with various materials are various ways that I get inspiration and keep my creativity alive. When a customer comes in to plan an event I want them to see creativity in motion in my work environment.

Aspidistra
The rich color and long lasting character make this a very interesting greenery to work with. It can be cut or twisted of rolled and will still last for weeks….yes, weeks.

Lemons (fruit)

Fruit doesn’t have to be in the middle of an arrangement in order to be part of it. I try to create new ways to use common items.

Bells of Ireland

Bells of Ireland (Molucella) This “flower” is normally used in its long upright position. Knowing it lasts longer when cut short I decided to see how long it would last when cut really short.

Recently various customers after looking around were shocked to learn that a type of flower existed or that I use a common flower in a very uncommon way. These customers are the catalyst for sharing some of my recent designs with you.

Just sharing,

Debra

Floral Art - Nemi

2010-03-24T03:28:00.000-07:00

Floral Art outdoorsFor the past few years the tiny town of Nemi has invited me along with a very few other floral designers to participate in their annual celebration of wild strawberries and flowers. This little town just outside the center of Rome is famous for these two items.

Since there are many flower growers in Nemi, they each donate all kinds of floral related materials for this event. Upon arrival we are guided to a warehouse full of all types of flowers, greenery, branches and assorted other items. This warehouse is a floral designers dream come true. We are each permitted to chose whatever we want to create our designs. Many of us have brought along other items to add to the vast assortment.

It doesn’t take long before we are each immersed in our design projects. I have chosen types of flowers that I usually don’t use in my work as a way to force myself to create new forms and to experiment. What a wonderful experience to design literally whatever you want using flowers.

Although I am always thrilled with this very special opportunity to create outdoors for the sheer joy of doing it and not bound by customer needs, the best part of all is eating all those strawberries at the end of the night.

How blessed I am to be doing something I love.

Debra

Circolo Della Caccia

2010-02-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

Ambassador Cousin and Debra Biagini

Ambassador Cousin and Debra The Bouquet

Recently the American International Club of Rome (AICR) was invited by our club Vice President to the Circolo della Caccia.

The Circolo della Caccia, also considered an exclusive private museum, was founded 140 years ago in 1869, and is a true privilege for those who are able to gain access to its noble doors.
Stepping back in time, guests marveled at the 17th century frescos adorning the walls; at the traditionally-clad wait staff in livery catering to their every culinary need; at the secret staircase hidden within the internal wall structure of the palazzo; and so much more. Guests were welcomed with a cocktail and treated to a refined dining experience amongst an international group of friends and two american ambassadors.

The club asked me to design a bouquet for Ambassador Cousin. Since I did not know her I decided to just create something that I truely loved and hope that she would love it too. The above bouquet was created with roses and ipericum. It was turely exciting to find out that the ambassador not only loved my bouquet but really does love flowers....just as I do.

It really was an honor to create something beautiful for this intelligent and beautiful ambassador.

Debra

Floral Art/Design

2009-12-06T04:09:00.000-08:00

The Bridal GownWhen most people think of their local florist a simple bouquet of flowers are first to come to mind. Then if there is a holiday party on the schedule maybe a nice centerpiece is the item that encourages you to call or better yet visit your florist. What many people do not know is that today the world of floristry has grown and developed into a very professional industry. Most people choosing to become florist today will first attend a trade school. Florists who have been in the industry for years or generations return to the classroom for extensive training or better yet a college degree program in floral art and design. Today it is not enough to just prepare simple bouquets and nice centerpieces.

Handcrafted netting

Recently Condè Nast asked me and 3 other professional florists to create floral sculptures for their stand at a bridal fair. Yes, floral sculpture is part of our talents and becoming more often requested from our clients. Floral art and design is fast becoming a must in our industry.
I decided to create a bridal gown constructed of hand crafted wire netting. The support structure alone took 42 hours to construct. Then the entire structure was covered with sisal making sure to maintain transparency. The finishing touch included pearls, diamonte, crystals and finally flowers and greenery. This is truly floral art and design. Many thanks to master Gundensen from Norway for sharing this technique with me.

The bridal gown

Vase

Buffet table

My Stand

This technique can be used in various ways to create decorations for events and gift items. I have used it from creating lamps to decorating the brides home. Even my own stand at the bridal fair was decorated with hearts in his same technique.
Next time you have a decorating need be sure to check first with your florist….you might be in for a nice surprise.

Debra

The Bridal Fair - IoSposa

2009-11-04T03:47:00.000-08:00

My stand at "IoSposa"

The ceiling design was all hand strung beads.

Organizing for a fair is so much work. Not only does it require that I find some creative idea that will capture the attention of thousands of tired fair goers but also to create something that will show my skills as a designer and florist. Then comes the managerial and marketing work. Even though I have people who handle these responsibilities, I believe it’s important that I am involved in the process.

This year I concentrated on WHITE and LIGHTS. All of the arrangements on the stand were white and had LED lights in and around everything. The overall effect was interesting.

The big news this year was that the national television channel asked me to do a brief interview on the trends in bridal bouquets. How odd that something I created just for my own pleasure was spotted by the reporter for the interview. This is exactly why I love my work.

That's it!!! Now it's time to wait for the results of so much hard work.....which will mean more hard work during the wedding season.

Maybe I'll rest for a moment.

Debra

Irish brides in Rome

2009-09-30T06:55:00.001-07:00

Although only 15% of my bridal business comes from Irish couples getting married in Rome I must admit that designing for the Irish women who contact me about their wedding is one of the most enjoyable parts of my work.

Just this September I was asked to design for an Irish couple. The lovely bride was kind enough to send me a photo of the bouquets that I designed for her and her bridesmaid. I absolutely love these bouquets. I hope you do too.

Many thanks to the bride for sending me the photo.

Debra

"The colors of Baroque"

2009-07-20T22:17:00.000-07:00

Professional florists make a point of fueling their inspiration. They make an effort to update themselves on new techniques and trends. This is one of the main reasons why I always suggest to my clients and friends too, to chose a professional florist just as you would any other professional for your needs. Honestly, would you chose a hairdresser or chef who hasn’t had any training in their field? Chose a professional florist.

Here I am in a city 85 km from home taking a course. The theme of this course is the “Colors of Baroque”. This may seem unnecessary to Americans but here in Rome I often find myself in churches or Villas that are decorated in this period style. Understanding the period assures that my designs will successfully enhance their surroundings.

Learning has been made especially inviting since the course is being held in one of Fiuggi’s five star hotels. Just take a look at what we are seeing while we are listening to the instructor and designing our works of Baroque floral art.

Ahhh!! It’s great to be a professional florist.

Gotta go. Class is about to begin.
Debra

Hearts and Flowers

2009-07-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

Invitation

My last visit of the day at the October 2008 Bridal Fair was a mature and very friendly couple. After only a few minutes of conversation and I knew this was going to be a meeting that I would remember for a long time. Maria Grazia and I hit it off straight away. She loved my work and I loved her enthusiasm for planning her upcoming wedding.

Maria Grazia and her fiancé came to my shop where we talked for literally hours about her dreams for her wedding day. Even Walter had many questions and special requests for the designs and types of flowers. Their enthusiasm was contagious and I began to make simple drawings of the designs to make sure that we were all imagining the same concepts. Once we agreed it was time to take pencil and paper (still use those) and my calculator (yes, I still use that too). I put together my proposal and then printed the contract.

The months prior to the wedding passed very quickly. Maria Grazia and I met at intervals to discuss adding items to the church decorations. We even met at the reception location in order to verify that all our ideas were correct logistically as well as artistically.

Well, I underestimated my own creativity. The overall effect was stunning. I decided to call in a favor from my good friend Fabrizio who is a freelance photographer, to take photos of our work. These are the results of our hard work and Fabrizio’s photographic talent.

I hope you have enjoyed these as much as I have. Each time I look at the photos a smile comes to my face. First for realizing my designs so accurately and second for the wonderful friendship that developed between me and Maria Grazia during the process.

Enjoy!!

Debra

Passion

2009-06-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Bridal Bouquet

Passion is like a fireplace. It requires care to maintain a roaring fire.
Floral Design is my Passion but in order to maintain this very passionate relationship I know that I need to literally do something to keep it going. This past weekend I attended a Floral Design demonstration about 90 miles away. It was wonderful to sit in a garden atmosphere and listen to our dutch Floral design master, Pieter Landman talk about the new tends in wedding design and then bring these concepts to life with fresh flowers and plants….Yes! I did say plants. He showed us such beautiful ways to use plants in our floral designs for weddings and other grand events. He taught us new techniques in using plants that will really create awe for event guests.

Driving home was a challenge . I was so excited about all that I had seen and just couldn’t get to my shop fast enough to try out these new techniques and offer them on a smaller scale to my customers and better yet, to some very fashion forward bride.

The life of a florist is so very exciting.

with tons of passion,

Debra

Professional Florist

2009-04-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

Decorated Rice Holder

In these times of economic challenges it is even more important than ever to carefully select the suppliers you need for your special events. How much something costs should be reviewed based on what you will receive from the floristin terms of product but also customer service. As a professional florist I’m often asked about my pricing. I carefully explain to the client the importance of evaluating more than the price. Dedicated service is also a part of the price that cannot always be measured.

Recently I was booked for a wedding in the center of Rome. During our designing session we decided that the trees outside the church looked fine as they were. On the actual day of the wedding I noticed that the tree vases were damaged. In a case like this there is no time to consult the client. It is the responsibility of the professional florist to make an intelligent decision without worrying about payment. We were prepared with the materials necessary to decorate the unsightly vase.

Choose a prfessional you can trust. Your special day can't be repeated.

all the best,

Debra

Flowers for the Mother's

2009-03-17T02:37:00.001-07:00

A very specail gift idea!

Often I receive requests for bouquets to be delivered to the reception to be given as a gift to the mothers, to thank them for their support and love. Flowers are really one of the best ways to say thank you. But one of the problems that I have with making this delivery is that there isn’t any place for the mother’s to keep their flowers for the rest of the event. Also there isn’t a way to make a long lasting impression.

For this reason I designed a floral arrangement in a box with the added touch of an inscription on and inside the box that will last forever. The box itself is a nice item. In addition there is no need to look for any type of vase because the flowers in the box are inserted into wet floral foam. The other wonderful aspect is that it can easily be taken back home if your mom has flown to attend your wedding. Just think of the presentation of the lovely personalized box with long lasting floral arrangement inside that can easily be transported. It’s great!!

Just this past weekend I donated an arrangement to the Celtic Ball that I attended in honor of St. Patrick’s day. The lucky winner had flown into Rome for the event and was pleased to be able to take a floral arrangement home to show all her friends.

So for those brides getting married in Rome, be sure to consider this lovely option as a gift for the Mother's.

Cheers, Debra Maireann croi éadrom i bhfad! Happy St. Patrick's Day

P.S. On Saturday 14 March I attended the Celtic Ball, early celebration of St. Patricks Day. It was an absolutely lovely event. Learn more about the Ball and see who attended from Ireland on http://www.irishclubofrome.it/

Here is a picture of me with the ambassador and his lovely wife. Another picture is of me and my date for the evening. Very special company indeed!!

Floral Designer

2009-03-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

Abiti "Gattinoni Couture"

When I first received the telephone call that the high fashion house of “Gattinoni” wanted me to design bridal bouquets for their fashion show and their customers I was elated. After a few hours the reality that I would be working for Guillermo Mariotto set in and I was terrified. Terrified that I would not be able to create for such a demanding artist. Fortunately, those feelings lasted long enough to motivate me to grow professionally and create some of my best work. Guillermo was so encouraging. He reminded me to design from heart and use my skill as a floral designer to execute my designs. These are the words that repeat like a mantra in my head whenever I am designing whether it be for an email customer or a client in my shop. What a wonderful opportunity it has been to work with Guillermo Mariotto at “Gattinoni”.

Working in this profession continues to give me many rewards. I'm so blessed.

Debra

Irish Brides

2009-02-24T01:52:00.000-08:00

The Bride and groom The bridesmaids
Over the past two years I have been contacted by a number of irish ladies who are planning their destination wedding in Rome, home of the Pope. Although this is a very romantic idea for any catholic, planning at a distance with people who don't necessarily speak your language is not easy. I've learned recently that so many irish ladies come to me not only because I am a trained florist but also because of my attention to the needs of a bride trying to design and plan from a distance. When a bride sends me a request I immediately begin to create a file that contains photos of the bride, her bridal gown and the style and color of bouquets that she likes. I make an effort to ask questions that I know will help in chosing the florals that reflect her style. The brides that chose to work with me are usually interested in doing most of the planning themselves as opposed to using a formal wedding planner but may need a local person to assist with certain wedding details or language barriers. I always offer to assist in any way necessary to ladies who have chosen to have me design their wedding flowers. Some brides send their wedding favors directly to me and I make sure that they are delivered on time to the reception or contact a local vendor for information. Other brides have asked me to assist with the coordination of the reception activities.

Questions brides usually ask me:

Can you (DebraFlower)do a particular design?The answer is always "YES". I am a trained florist. I have been trained in all of the basic as well as advanced techniques in floral design.

When do you (DebraFlower) deliver the bridal flowers? Always 3 hours prior to the ceremony. I believe that a bride should have her flowers for the first picture she takes. I do not ever deliver flowers in front of the church. My flowers will easily last for days so there is no need to worry about them wilting.

How much does a bridal bouquet cost? Normally the cost of a basic handtied bridal bouquet starts at about 80euro.

Why does a bridal bouquet cost more than an ordinary bouquet? A regular bouquet is normally constructed from whatever flowers the florist has in the shop. The flowers for my bridal bouquets are purchased specifically for each bridal bouquet and carefully selected for perfection. Normal bouquets don't require matching ribbons or "Bling" treatments.

Which flowers are in season at the time of my wedding? I make a point of suggesting flowers that are in season at the time of the wedding. My reason is because I know that the flowers in season last longer and look nicer throughout the wedding day.

If you have any question at all about planning your wedding in Rome, please feel free to contact me. I'm always available to help my irish brides.....

Cheers, Debra

P.S. Come back on March 15th to see photos of the Celtic Ball here in Rome.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-08T00:11:00.000-08:00

The celebration of lovers is just a few days away. Like so many other parts of the world, Italy is no exception in the celebration of “San Valentino”. My most important role for this event is to find the highest quality Red Roses at the very best price. Believe me this is no easy task especially since I love rich red roses whether they be long or short stem. I so agree with Preston Baileys view on flowers, “you never have enough flowers….” And I so totally agree on his view on sending flowers, “if you’re going to send flowers, send six dozen and not two”. Recently a celebrity customer of mine did just that, he sent 123 long stem roses to his girlfriend. She wasn’t the only one emotional by this extraordinary gesture of love.

I wish you deep love and six doezen red roses.

Debra

Boutonniere /Buttonhole

2009-01-28T03:42:00.000-08:00

Everyone forgets the groom. Fortunately at DebraFlower the groom gets a lot of attention. I believe that the groom should be involved in the designing process of the wedding decorations. It’s his wedding too. Some of my best ideas have come when a groom has expressed his likes and dislikes while designing the wedding decorations.
The Boutonniere or Buttonhole as some call it is the floral decoration for the groom. I make a point of creating with great care this small group of flowers that will be placed in the grooms lapel hole or even in his pocket. The design is always something that looks as if it had been picked from the bridal bouquet. Many years ago the groom would in fact pick a flower from the brides bouquet and place it in his lapel, now I design it that way so we don’t have to ruin the bridal bouquet that took so long to prepare. It’s actually an art to design such tiny and beautiful bouquets for the groom.

Debra

Flower Purchasing

2009-01-23T01:43:00.001-08:00

Rome Flower Market

Where do florists get their flowers? This is one of the questions that people ask me the most about my work. I enjoy answering this type of question because it quickly reminds me of one of the most exciting activities that require me to get out of bed at 4am two mornings each week. Then again it also reminds me why my work is NOT as glamorous as people think.
There are basically three ways I buy flowers for my business here in Rome, the Floral Market, Importers and direct purchasing from producers. I personally believe the most important is the Floral Market. Here in Rome it is a large building where producers from all parts of the Lazio region come to sell their products. Unfortunately for florists here in Rome this operation is not at all modern or efficient but I still love going there. It’s loud and colorful and how business was done in Italy for hundreds of years. Producers bring all kinds of things including flowers that they grow in their hot houses or fields. At the market you can find every type of tree limb, bark or foliage. You can buy all types of flowers grown locally. You can also buy odd things like grasses or small fruits. All of these items look lovely when inserted into a floral arrangement. I personally arrive at the Floral market at least two times each week at 5am. This allows me to have the widest selection to choose from amongst the many producers. The best part of going to the market is establishing personal relationships with people who have been working with flowers for generations. They are willing to share their knowledge of flowers and the floral industry in general. What a wonderful group of people.

I feel blessed to have entered this business.

May you also realize your dream, Debra

Enchanted Evening

2009-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last night I had dinner at the "Circolo della Caccia". The Circolo della Caccia, also considered an exclusive private museum, was founded 140 years ago in 1869, and is a true privilege for those who are able to gain access to its noble doors. Stepping back in time, guests marveled at the 17th century frescos adorning the walls; at the traditionally-clad wait staff in livery catering to their every culinary need; at the secret staircase hidden within the internal wall structure of the palazzo; and so much more. Guests were welcomed with a cocktail and treated to a refined dining experience amongst an international group of friends, including the U.S. Ambassador and his wife, Georgia Beth Spogli. I was asked to design a bouquet for Mrs. Spogli and then to personally present it to her at the beginning of the dinner. Seated at her table during dinner we were able to chat and get to know each other better.

Needless to say it was an honor!!

Debra

Hand tied Bridal Bouquet

2009-01-14T07:11:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in one of my first posts, the Bridal Bouquet is one of the most important floral items that I create. Normally I suggest the traditional bridal bouquet because I can use many flowers, foliage and accessories while creating a light and easy to carry bouquet. Personally I do not like hand tied bouquets since they leave the stems exposed which can damage the bridal gown. Recently many bridal magazines feature hand tied bouquets so I feel the need to show how this bouquet is constructed. The price of this type of bouquet starts at 80 euro. The price will go up based on the type of flowers, time of year and the “Bling” that is added to the bouquet. Many ladies ask why this bouquet costs more than a normal bouquet that you can buy in any florist shop. There is far more care taken for this bouquet that will be photographed all day than an everyday hand tied bouquet you purchase to give away or decorate your home.
Note I always start with double the amount of flowers that I expect to use for my bouquet. I carefully select each flower by examining the condition of each bud. Knowing that each flower will be photographed close up and needs to last all day I want to make sure that I start with the best possible. I then condition all my flower s in a solution of floral preservative and water for a few hours. This will further ensure that the bouquet will look it’s best all through the day.

Materials
For this type of bouquet you will need wide floral tape and decorating ribbon or fabric from the bridal gown.
To assemble use a wide floral tape to hold all the stems together as you assemble the bouquet. The bouquet is assembled as you would a normal bouquet using the spiral technique and taping as you go so the flowers do not move around.
Although floral tape is very useful it is not pretty to look at. Many people who have not learned to create a bridal bouquet will deliver the bouquet to the bride with this floral tape in view. Do not accept a bouquet in this manner. During the day this tape will become sticky from the heat of your hand and that’s just not fun. I always ask the bride for a piece of the bridal gown to cover the handle but any beautiful ribbon will be fine. It’s the finishing touch that separates the designer from the novice.

My personal secret; I often construct my bouquets in the traditional way and then add dry stems around the handle in order that the bouquet looks hand tied yet is really traditional.

If you have any questions at all about your wedding flowers, please send me an email and I'll be happy to respond.

Enjoy your wedding day.

Debra

Designing Wedding/Event Decorations

2009-01-10T07:12:00.000-08:00

Meeting with a bride who really wants something different and takes the time to work through the steps necessary to create her wedding decorations is a real blessing. The bride and her mom came in this morning prepared to dedicate time. This allowed me to ask a lot of questions, listen carefully to the answers and then put it all together in a design concept for the wedding and reception. I actually draw and label my designs for each bride. This exercise helps her to formulate the first images of her wedding day. It helps me to calculate the cost of each item, number and types of flowers, greenery and other materials. About a month or so before the wedding I usually create a sample and photograph it so that everyone on my staff knows what the bride is expecting on her wedding day.

How I love the creativity of my job!!!

Offering unlimited ideas,

Debra

In Memory of...

2009-01-08T04:06:00.000-08:00

Floral designers have one of the oddest jobs around. In any given day our work lives touch both life and death. Flowers are part of almost every type of ceremony all around the world. Ceremonies include welcoming a new birth, birthdays, parties, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and even funerals. There have been a few days in my career when I prepared a wedding, funeral and graduation party all in the same time. Although they were three separate events, the one thing connected the three events was the quality of the arrangements. When people came into the shop they complimented us on the nice arrangements and never knew which were for the wedding or graduation and which was for the funeral. As trained florists we learned that the only real difference from funeral arrangements and others is the ribbon that is added at the very end. At DebraFlower we believe that funeral arrangements should honor the person lost and so it should be our most beautiful creation.

Florally yours,

Debra

Three Kings Day - "Befana"

2009-01-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Over the years I’ve changed my view about holidays. Instead of analyzing and questioning “Why?”, I just accept them as something different to break the boredom of our normal daily lives. We already know that Jesus was not born in the month of December so it’s logical that The Three Kings did not arrive on t January 6th but having this holiday allows Catholics to have an extra holiday……and for the everyone else? La Befana!! Here in Italy the Befana is a witch like person who travels around on a broomstick smiling and filling the stockings of the good children with candies and toys. The bad kids get Coal. I suppose in the old days when people really had coal stoves the bad kids received real coal but today the coal is made from sugar (not bad huh?).

Happy Befana!!

Debra

Venue Visit

2009-01-05T02:33:00.000-08:00

At DebraFlower like any other professional floral designer, we visit all venues before designing and calculating our estimates. Why are we so strict about this rule? Let me share a story with you. On Saturday a couple came to enquire about floral decorations for their wedding in June….by the way it’s perfect timing to talk to a florist in January especially if you are planning to marry or have any other event in June. The month of June is the busiest for people who design events since there are graduations, weddings, anniversaries and end of the year business events. Back to the Venue Visit, the couple described the church to me since they had visited it a number of times and booked the church for their wedding. Like most couples they were unable to answer most of my specific questions about the characteristics of the church. We talked about the kind of decorations that they dreamed of for their wedding. Which reminds me, the “groom” should always be included in the planning of floral decorations. On the wedding day, he is the only one who can check to make sure that the decorations are what the couple wanted. Someone from the DebraFlower team is always present to make sure that the “groom” likes the final affect of the decorations. As is our practice, on Sunday I went to personally visit the church with both of my cameras, paper and pen in hand. I should be accustomed to this but I just never get used to how little a couple knows of the church they have chosen for the most important day of their lives. There were at least 5 errors in their description. If I had followed what they shared with me, the decorations would have been wrong for their church and totally against the requirements of the church. Yes, many churches have very specific requirements for floral decorations. It's the designers responsability to make sure these requirements are respected.

If the florist that you would like to use for your very special day, has not personally visited your church, temple, location or wherever you plan to marry, make sure they do. Do not allow someone to design your florals if they haven’t seen the venue.

From the DebraFlower team,

Debra

Traditional Bridal Bouquet

2009-01-03T10:28:00.001-08:00

The traditional bridal bouquet is the most photographed item of the entire wedding. Remember that the bridal bouquet should coordinate with the bridal gown and reflect the brides personality in some way. Just so everyone knows, I personally do not like to design a bridal bouquet without meeting the bride first hand. The modern version of the traditional bridal bouquet is often decorated with fabric from the wedding gown, pearls, beads or diamonte but it’s always wise to ask the bride about her personal tastes before adding any of these items. Note that many people in Italy believe that pearls bring tears. You don’t want to be the one to provoke tears on the brides wedding day.
Ever wonder why traditional bridal bouquets cost so much. The answer is really very simple. A traditional bouquet requires high quality flowers, materials, time, know-how and skill. The price of a simple bridal bouquet begins at about 125 euro. The price will go up based on the type of flowers, time of year and the “Bling” that is added to the bouquet.

Note I always start with double the amount of flowers that I expect to use for my bouquet. I carefully select each flower by examining the condition of each bud. Knowing that each flower will be photographed close up and needs to last all day I want to make sure that I start with the best possible. I then condition all my flower s in a solution of floral preservative and water for a few hours. This will further ensure that the bouquet will look it’s best all through the day.
Next I assemble my wire and floral tape for the type of flowers I plan to use.

Wiring
Traditional bouquets are wired in order to create a bouquet with many flowers yet keep the handle small and light. The trickiest part of a bridal bouquet is the wiring. You must wire each flower, greenery and accessory that will be included in the finished product. The technique for wiring is slightly different based on the type of flower. The bouquet I created today it was fairly simple because I used small cream and white roses, gypsophilla and pidosforo. After inserting the wire, floral tape is used to cover the length of the wire stem. Floral tape is tricky to learn to use. It must be pulled lightly as you wind it around the wire stem. Within the floral tape is a glue that is released in this pulling. This glue helps to keep all the wires together when you begin to assemble.

Assembling
Use a wide floral tape to hold all the stems together as you assemble the bouquet. The bouquet is assembled as you would a normal bouquet using the spiral technique and taping as you go so the flowers donot move around.

Finishing
Although floral tape is very useful it is not pretty to look at. Many people who have not learned to create a bridal bouquet will deliver the bouquet to the bride with this floral tape in view. Do not accept a bouquet in this manner. During the day this tape will become sticky from the heat of your hand and that’s just not fun. I always ask the bride for a piece of the bridal gown to cover the handle but any beautiful ribbon will be fine. It’s the finishing touch that separates the designer from the novice.

Let me know if you want to give it a try. I'll help you out.

Debra

New Years in Rome

2009-01-02T00:57:00.000-08:00

As an American floral designer working in Rome, Italy you would be amazed to learn that the most important item that I have to incorporate in my New Years Eve centerpieces is a SPIDER with a spider web and a bit of mistletoe if possible. Spiders on New Years Eve are expected to increase the amount of earnings in the new year.

May 2009 bring you tons of earnings!!!

Happy New Year

Debra