The Table

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

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

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

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

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

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

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