Bold Winnipeg Wedding at Deer & Almond
Restaurant weddings are some of my very favourites. It’s so much fun to work in a space that already has its own aesthetic and vibe. Deer & Almond is one of Winnipeg’s most treasured eateries, and was the perfect location for Sharyne and Gavin’s bold evening reception.
Sharyne and Gavin are both artistic and creative (he’s a photographer), and would you believe me that they started out wanting a French countryside-inspired, white and green wedding? In her initial inquiry, she said “I've also taken a look through your instagram account and we could probably be swayed to some brighter and funkier colours.” — cue my happy tears :)
So I swayed them! We did originally talk about the whites and greens, but it honestly didn’t feel right in the restaurant. The space has some vibrant, joyful tones and we decided to move that direction.
They were married in a private ceremony the week prior, and this was their celebratory dinner with a small group of friends.
Photos by Michael & Melanie
Restaurant weddings are some of my very favourites. It’s so much fun to work in a space that already has its own aesthetic and vibe. Deer & Almond is one of Winnipeg’s most treasured eateries, and was the perfect location for Sharyne and Gavin’s bold evening reception.
Sharyne and Gavin are both artistic and creative (he’s a photographer), and would you believe me that they started out wanting a French countryside-inspired, white and green wedding? In her initial inquiry, she said “I've also taken a look through your instagram account and we could probably be swayed to some brighter and funkier colours.” — cue my happy tears :)
So I swayed them! We did originally talk about the whites and greens, but it honestly didn’t feel right in the restaurant. The space has some vibrant, joyful tones and we decided to move that direction.
They were married in a private ceremony the week prior, and this was their celebratory dinner with a small group of friends.
Photos by Michael & Melanie
We decided to pull together a few different softer peaches, corals, blues, and lavenders, and punching them up with saturated red and small hints of lime. This came from a combination of inspiration images, and Sharyne wasn’t sure how to tie them together. I could see it right away — the perfect reminder that even if you can’t visualize it, your creative professionals can!
The Flowers
With this as my colour palette, you know I had a lot of fun with the flowers! The wedding was in mid-June, so we didn’t have much in the way of locally grown flowers available to us yet — all I could get my hands on were the pansies. But OH how perfect those little lavender pansies were!!
Of course I had to use my favourite red roses, nina. They’re just the most delicious, vibrant colour. I had ordered lavender anemone to pair with them, but they came in kind of fuschia. Would I have preferred the lavender? Yes. But sometimes, a problem becomes its own solution and the brightness of the fuschia worked really well with the space.
We wanted the centrepieces to be smaller in footprint, but with an architectural feel and a little more vertical in shape.
The Hanging installation
As with most restaurant weddings, we did not have a lot of tabletop space to work with. The focus is on the food and the drink, which is awesome! But Sharyne loved the idea of having some sort of focal feature in the space, and when we realized that we could use the slatted wall at the front entrance, the idea was set: a hanging floral feature moment, with their sweetheart table set in front of it.
I wanted to design something sculptural, with strong lines, and a unique feel to it. I always love using allium in designs — those are the large purple “balls” that really command attention. I also decided to tuck in some strands of threaded gladiola, and we used stems of phalaenopsis orchids to get the right lime green (which is really hard to find in the flower world!).
Even better, this piece was also entirely foam-free. I built it on a chicken wire structure, and some of the flowers were water-tubed and others went right into the chicken wire (and ps, we reuse all the chicken wire and water tubes that come back to us, too!).
Looking for a Wedding Floral Designer in Winnipeg?
Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
How Florals Can Be a Part of Your Corporate Event Strategy
The number 1 mistake businesses make when planning an event? Not thinking strategically.
Event Photos by Danny Shumov
You’re not just hosting an event to host an event. You’ve either got a product to launch, gratitude to share, or a PR splash to make. Adding flowers to your event increases the pretty factor, yes. But let’s get a bit more strategic. The worst thing would be for you to spend a chunk of money on your event, hoping to build some great traction for your company, but you plan a forgettable event.
The number 1 mistake businesses make when planning an event? Not thinking strategically.
Event Photos by Danny Shumov
You’re not just hosting an event to host an event. You’ve either got a product to launch, gratitude to share, or a PR splash to make. Adding flowers to your event increases the pretty factor, yes. But let’s get a bit more strategic. The worst thing would be for you to spend a chunk of money on your event, hoping to build some great traction for your company, but you plan a forgettable event.
“With the right guidance, florals become more than decor — they become storytelling elements, brand touch points, and moments your guests won’t forget. Safe might feel comfortable, but bold leaves an impression.” Quote
My suggestion: shift your view of event florals away from copy/paste decorations, but as essential elements that define atmosphere, emotion, and visual cohesion. Let me show you how.
Brand Activations
For the launch of MPG’s exciting collaboration with Winnipeg-based Indigenous artist Jackie Traverse, they planned an inspiring evening at the Winnipeg Art Gallery to unveil the collection. They reached out, wanting to add a floral installation that would bring the clothing to life.
The result was a meaningful interaction between the brand and their guests, while celebrating Jackie and her work.
I chose a bold colour palette that played off the vibrant tones of the clothing, and we played with the scale of the installation — guests were greeted by the mannequins and floral immediately upon exciting the elevator on the Penthouse level of the WAG.
We worked with playful, unexpected combinations of texture, colour, and scale to tell the story — choosing some Manitoba-grown blooms wherever I could, adding moss to create a floor for the mannequins to stand on, and tucking in a few faux butterflies to reference the butterflies in some of Jackie’s designs.
Brand Launches
Winnipeg is so proud to be Mondetta’s hometown. This fall, they launched a luxury menswear brand, Modern Ambition, with its flagship store located in True North Square. Their creative strategist, Natasha of Studio Giorg, reached out to bring me into the design mix for their kickoff events.
They hosted several events, including this VIP dinner in the polar bear tunnel at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. I was tasked with the event design, from floor planning to rental selections and, of course, floral design.
VIP guests included Scott Gillingham, mayor of Winnipeg, Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, and Jim Moore, Creative Director-at-Large of GQ Magazine. We needed to work within this intimate space, creating opportunities for conversation and celebration.
A few key elements:
-As a menswear brand, they wanted to play into a warm neutral palette with touches of burgundy and red throughout.
-There were a lot of hands involved in the overall planning process, as the Mondetta team were all very excited about the launch. I created a series of digital mockups (a few seen below) to allow them to discuss the aesthetic direction, colour palette, rental options, and so on. This way, we were all on the same page.
-The florals and tablescape transformed the tunnel, creating an elevated, photo-ready dinner (featuring a collaborative meal crafted by 3 of Winnipeg’s top chefs!) that knocked guests’ socks off.
Event Photos by Danny Shumov
CLient Parties
Outside of conferences, client parties are probably the most common corporate events that take place in Winnipeg. Whether as an appreciation event, a holiday shindig, or a retirement party, let’s start thinking outside of the very basic “white floral centrepiece on a table.” That box is NOT checked. If you want to ensure your clients have any memory at all of your event, and want to get them out to next year’s event, then we need to make some impact.
-Add a welcome sign and make it a design moment. Especially if you’re hosting your event in a large facility, this can become both functional and a beautiful way to welcome guests in.
-Don’t skip a statement at the bar. At these events, clients are going to be lining up for a cocktail so this is a must-have.
-Add a lounge. Large sit-down tables can be a social nightmare at these types of client events, but adding in a lounge with soft seating makes a visual statement and creates a more comfortable, casual way for guests to mingle.
Event Photos by Janine Kropla
This event was designed by Soiree Event Planning, with rentals from Collective Event Rentals and Planned Perfectly.
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Stone House Creative is a floral design studio known for transforming inspiration into a unified, expertly considered visual direction. The brand leads clients through a clear, design-driven process that prioritizes palette decisions, spatial cohesion, and intentional detail. Clients choose us for our ability to simplify complex ideas, articulate what will make the greatest impact, and deliver an event that feels cohesive, expression, and uniquely reflective of your brand.
Colourful Prairie Tent Wedding in Neepawa
They have the world at the fingertips, and they chose to come back home to get hitched ❤️
Working with Brooke and Taylor on their wedding was a 2025 highlight for me. They were planning from out of town (NYC), and getting married out of town (in her hometown of Neepawa), so there were a lot of logistics to sort through and plans to make.
A few of the things I love: summer flowers, the colour coral standing as a focal point in a fun palette, and a couple who gives me creative control. AND WHEN THEY ALL ROLL INTO ONE? My literal dream!
Photos by Pretty Burd Portraits
They have the world at the fingertips, and they chose to come back home to get hitched ❤️
Working with Brooke and Taylor on their wedding was a 2025 highlight for me. They were planning from out of town (NYC), and getting married out of town (in her hometown of Neepawa), so there were a lot of logistics to sort through and plans to make.
A few of the things I love: summer flowers, the colour coral standing as a focal point in a fun palette, and a couple who gives me creative control. AND WHEN THEY ALL ROLL INTO ONE? My literal dream!
Photos by Pretty Burd Portraits
The Floral Design
Brooke and Taylor’s wedding was in the middle of August — aka the PERFECT time for flowers in Manitoba. Everything in the local fields is just perfect. The dahlias are ramping up, the lisianthus and zinnias have hit their stride, and there’s so much colour and texture available. With their summer sunset palette in mind, it’s safe to say I had a lot of fun.
Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: Mixed coral roses (dragonfly, pink xpression, coral xpression), dahlias, zinnias, foxglove, cosmos, lisianthus, feverfew, sweet pea, and mixed grasses. This was definitely one of my favourite bridal bouquets of the year!!
As a special addition, we commissioned Kathryn from Golden Age Botanicals in Toronto to create these custom gold bees, as a nod to Brooke and Taylor’s original meet-cute through Bumble! I included 2 in her bridal bouquet to represent the two of them, and another in the bar arrangement.
The Design Inspiration
Since Brooke and Taylor live in NYC, they were feeling a bit anxious about everything coming together in a well-rounded way without them being able to actually see anything. After they fell in love with their floral proposal, they asked me to also provide Event Design services. I was so happy to take it from there!
With that “late summer sunset palette” as our starting point, and knowing that the guest list was going to be substantial, I got to work on floor planning and trying to build a tent plan with interest and flow. The only problem was, the guest list kept going up 😂 We ended up re-jigging the layout a few times, luckily adding on a separate tent for the buffet to be served out of so we could keep the dinner tent clean and functional.
The Reception Details
After we sorted out the floor plan, I got to work on tablescaping. I like to have some symmetry in the tent, and I like to have a mix of table shapes. Visual interest is everything in event design — if everything is a sea of sameness, it falls flat VERY quickly (especially if it’s rows of 20 of the exact same thing!).
From Design Board to Reality
Right off the top, this Toffee Belize linen from Planned Perfectly was a great base for all the tables. A tent has so much white from the tent itself, and so much green from the grass, so I needed to create a warmer layer that the rest of the decor could stem from. Brooke loved the idea of a coloured glassware, and while we had a few choices, I ended up selecting Planned Perfectly’s pink tinted glassware for two reasons: 1) it was visually interesting and 2) it wouldn’t actually stand out. We were gong to have a lot going on, and I didn’t need the glassware to make a huge statement.
Next up, deciding how to layer in greens (her favourite colour) and dark yellows/oranges (his favourite colour). Flowers were obviously an easy place, and we also chose green taper candles, golden vases, and LED table lamps. Why go for white or clear when you can layer in a shade from the palette?!
JUST LOOK AT THESE ROSES!!!! This definitely unlocked a new favourite rose combination for me.
The Hanging Installation
This was a sort of last-minute addition! A few months before the wedding, Brooke asked about the possibility of adding something hanging over the dance floor. The logistics of a hanging piece get me really excited!
I ended up using baskets as a base, strung up on airline cable, adding in chicken wire balls and then all the greenery and florals. Luckily for me, Brooke’s entire family of men were around and willing to help, so they graciously did all the hoisting!
You can see the BTS of this here!
I’m so grateful both for the creative trust and the long distance trust that Taylor and Brooke put in me. It’s a lot to hand over the reigns to your most special day, but when you’re planning from afar, it’s also the way that things work best.
It was also so wonderful to have Brooke’s handy family involved! They built and painted all of the ceremony pedestals, outdoor signage, and the bar back wall. Whenever I made a suggestion, they were on it. Tent weddings on your property are a LOT of work (seriously, don’t underestimate it!!) but if you’ve got the right kind of people involved, then there’s nothing else like celebrating in the place you grew up!
planning a Tent Wedding in Manitoba?
Count me in! Whether it’s an intimate wedding for 30 or a celebration the likes of which have never been seen before, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
White Bridal Bouquets 3 Ways
ALRIGHT. So the Pantone “colour” of the year for 2025 is Cloud Dancer, and I’m sure you’ve all seen just how irritated the creative world is that they chose white as a colour. If you’ve been around here long enough, you’ll know that I’m a die-hard colour lover, BUT I also acknowledge that white has, is, and always will be a popular option for weddings.
So, let’s talk about white flowers a bit! If you’re one of the people who envisions yourself carrying a white bridal bouquet, I’d encourage you to think about / ask your floral designer to think about ways that your flowers can be designed uniquely. White flowers can be white flowers can be white flowers…it’s our job to ensure that we are guided by movement and cohesive palette choices, blending visual interest with refinement to create depth, emotion, and harmony.
Today I’m offering up 3 different white bridal bouquets, each designed with a different perspective in mind.
ALRIGHT. So the Pantone “colour” of the year for 2025 is Cloud Dancer, and I’m sure you’ve all seen just how irritated the creative world is that they chose white as a colour. If you’ve been around here long enough, you’ll know that I’m a die-hard colour lover, BUT I also acknowledge that white has, is, and always will be a popular option for weddings.
So, let’s talk about white flowers a bit! If you’re one of the people who envisions yourself carrying a white bridal bouquet, I’d encourage you to think about / ask your floral designer to think about ways that your flowers can be designed uniquely. White flowers can be white flowers can be white flowers…it’s our job to ensure that we are guided by movement and cohesive palette choices, blending visual interest with refinement to create depth, emotion, and harmony.
Today I’m offering up 3 different white bridal bouquets, each designed with a different perspective in mind.
UniqueLY ShapeD Blooms
Brittany Mahood Photography
One of the first things I consider when I’m planning my floral selections for a white wedding is looking for unique shapes. Unless you’re specifically asking me for a white rose bouquet, it’s very easy to have a white bridal bouquet fall flat because designers use round flowers as a crutch. There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with this, but a bouquet composed entirely of round flowers just gets really boring to look at, even if those flowers are beautiful (like ranunculus, peonies, and lisianthus).
My go-to is to find something with a star shape, something with a longer line, and something floaty/wispy to add in to those round focal flowers. For Kate, that meant tulips for their star shape, mini calla lilies for their lines, and sweet pea and spirea for that floaty delicate feel!
ConSider Texture
Determining the right type of texture is another designer secret that can take your bouquet from basic to bespoke. Historically, I’ve personally had an issue with “texture.” I think this is because in the mid 2010s when I was coming up as a wedding floral designer, boho was the go-to aesthetic and with that came a ton of messy, feathery foliage and fillers that I just did NOT like. Bouquets felt wild and untidy, and while that sometimes really worked well, it just isn’t what I personally prefer.
Boy, was I relieved when my brain finally realized what kind of texture I DO like: floaty, ruffly, dainty.
Take Mollie’s bouquet as an example: we wanted to go dainty, feminine, garden-whimsy. I chose not to use any traditional focal flowers, so instead I went for lisianthus, sweet pea, autumn clematis (this was DIVINE), and larkspur. It felt very floaty, very fluttery.
Bouquet Shape
The shape and style of your bouquet will make a statement. You’ll need to think about the silhouette of your dress, the formality level of your wedding, and the overall vision for your celebration. Big dress? You can get away with a large or a small bouquet. Slim fitting dress? A petite bouquet is likely the way to go. Really dramatic bodice with the girls on display? Go with something more streamlined.
Tori has a very classic personal style, and she wanted a classic cascading shaped bouquet. Originally when I was designing for her, I went WAY too big. We had some absolutely delicious locally grown lisianthus and dahlias, and I just kept on adding and adding and I loved it so much. Then I held it up to my body and it was gigantic! I scaled it back, and added the gorgeous stephanotis vine to emphasize the trailing shape.
LOOKING FOR A WEDDING FLORAL and Event DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG?
I love taking your ideas and making them into anything but ordinary.
Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!
2026 and 2027 Wedding Flower and Design Trend
Every year for the last 12 years, I’ve written an annual trends forecasting blog post. I always enjoy it but to be honest, this year I’m not feeling it. Why? Good question.
It might be that the trend cycle seems less interesting to me than ever before. Rather than obsessing over trends, I would love to see you plan a wedding and celebration that is unique, interesting, and fits your vision instead of just replicating another thing you saw online. I’m feeling this way with my personal style, with the renovation I’m planning for my home, even just feeling super tired of Instagram itself.
The best designs are never going to be replicating what we see someone else has done.
Every year for the last 12 years, I’ve written an annual trends forecasting blog post. I always enjoy it but to be honest, this year I’m not feeling it. Why? Good question.
It might be that the trend cycle seems less interesting to me than ever before. Rather than obsessing over trends, I would love to see you plan a wedding and celebration that is unique, interesting, and fits your vision instead of just replicating another thing you saw online. I’m feeling this way with my personal style, with the renovation I’m planning for my home, even just feeling super tired of Instagram itself.
The best designs are never going to be replicating what we see someone else has done.
Now here’s the thing: Despite my current disillusionment in all things trends, I nevertheless work in an aesthetics-based segment of the wedding industry. And I LOVE making your weddings beautiful. But here’s a good quote for you: “You can’t please everyone, so please yourself. Trying to make every family member and guest happy can lead to a wedding that doesn’t reflect you two as a couple. Focus on what makes you happy.” In other words: You do you. Make your wedding the greatest it can be, for you.
Trending Colour Palettes
Blue
I LOVE blue. Much of my wardrobe is blue. It’s flattering on every skin tone, it can be calming or energizing, and of course, there’s such a huge range of shades. I think we’ll be seeing pastel, baby blues (paired with chrome for a chic feel!) as well as bolder cobalt for couples who aren’t afraid to make a statement.
When it comes to flowers, there really aren’t that many naturally blue flowers, so when blue is a strong component of a colour palette, I often suggest that the planner or couple finds other ways to incorporate it; stationery and linens are excellent places to layer in more blue.
Chartreuse
Wedding pros have been petitioning Pantone to make Chartreuse the colour of the year for a few seasons now, and I think we’ll keep it seeing it play into high end weddings in a major way. It’s a fun way to add a modern flair to a classic white and green palette, but I’d love to do a citrusy palette like Brides and Minted have collaborated on.
Burgundy and Olive
It’s not new, but it’s still going strong. Burgundy and olive green will continue to be a popular choice, and for good reason! It feels very rich and luxurious, and is a natural base for an elevated design. This palette fits really well with velvet textures and over the top drapery, and I think you could easily layer in rich browns, taupes, and magentas to add more depth and visual interest.
Unconventional Seating Layouts
This one’s quite a lot of fun! We’re seeing unique seating layouts all over Pinterest and Instagram, for both ceremonies and receptions. Below are a few images that caught my eye, but one word of caution: pretty much all of these ideas require either a smaller guest count, or a large amount of space — or both!
To tie back to the beginning of this post, these are all excellent examples of having fun and getting creative. Do something unique, because you like unique — and not just because you’ve seen it on IG.
Image Source
An amazing floor plan is like a love language to someone who works in events. A plan that creates visual interest in the room and allows for multiple different design elements, at the same time as allowing for excellent flow, is the absolute dream.
We’re talking differently shaped and sized tables, mixed cocktail and full size tables, introducing interesting seating elements (as long as they’re still comfortable!) and you have got yourself one heck of a good base for your event design. Just also know that you may not be able to count on the standard 8-10 people per table so your numbers will be a bit different!
Major Ceremony Focal Features with Scaled Back Reception Tables
In my books, this is a great combination: amped up florals and decor at the ceremony, and scaling it back on the guest tables at the reception. Here’s what works about this wedding design trend:
-When you go big in one area, it doesn’t look like you chintzed out in the other area. Meanwhile, if you go kind of medium everywhere and try to spread your budget equally without creating any design focal points, then it does feel like you chintzed out (not that other people’s perceptions of your wedding budget should have much bearing on reality…but keep in mind I’m speaking from a designer’s perspective here).
-I would love to see this as multiple pieces grouped around your ceremony altar, whatever that may be: an arch is always good, but I am seeing more interest in multiple sizes and styles of vases and ground-based floral pieces styled together. Then, we’re seeing long reception tables lined with minimalistic bud vases or petite floral frog arrangements, or round tables with 3x petite floral pieces with candles.
-Ideally, the ceremony focal florals are pieces that can be utilized at the reception (*note, you’ll need to talk this through with your floral designer so that she can plan it all out in advance. We design different pieces in different ways, and we want to make sure it looks phenomenal in each location). So, perhaps those ceremony arrangements become ground-based pieces that find their new home at the front base of each long table.
-Note that we still have a beautiful collection of vases on the guest tables, perhaps featuring interesting vessels themselves, or allowing the florals to have a lot of height and interest.
Portraits Are Getting a Glow Up
Paris Hilton’s wedding; show a photo of Michael and Melanie backdrop
Very editorial portrait style
Bonus points if this can also be set up as a grown-up alternative to a photo booth. I know I would be THRILLED as a guest if your photographer (or their second shooter) was taking high quality portraits of guests with a gorgeous setup that didn’t include cheesy props.
Bold Lighting Design
Lighting is taking a major step forward in design priorities this year. "Lighting sets the tone before anything else. Step into a room, and you feel it instantly. It guides the eye, shapes the space, and creates moments that linger. It’s no longer just functional—lighting is part of the décor. Seamless when subtle, bold when dramatic, it elevates the room, the entertainment, and the mood. Every glow and shadow tells a story. We are loving where this has taken our events, and possibilities are endless. The right light doesn’t just illuminate—it transforms. It’s how an event becomes unforgettable.” —Xin Huang of Le Petite Privé
Silver and Chrome Accents
We’ve been seeing silver and chrome accents trickling into fashion and home design, and slowly but surely making its way into weddings as well. As Junebug reports, “Silver is replacing gold, bronze, and warm metals in wedding fashion and décor. Expect to see silver tableware, silver-accented attire, reflective details, and chrome-adjacent finishes. It feels fresh, cool, and timeless.”
One thing to note, it does take a while for some of these types of design trends to become accessible in our market. It’ll take some time and investment on behalf of rental companies to be able to purchase inventory and get it into circulation. I just brought in some SUPER cute chrome vessels that I’m really excited to style at weddings and events this year!
So now that I’ve finished this post, I’m finding myself much more interested in thinking about trends than I was when I started — so that’s a good thing! I think all of these ideas can be highly customizable and be pushed to really create something that’s interesting and personalized to your style, your venue, your vibe.
I also thought I’d share my personal 2026 inspiration board!
I always like to start off with a delicious colour palette, and this is actually the palette that I’m focusing on in a branding refresh this year. You’ll be seeing more of this soon :)
I was thinking about what gets me really excited, what leaves me feeling invigorated and refreshed, and that’s always joyful colour, sweet pea, and pansies. I have had so much fun with dahlias the last couple of seasons and when they’re in season, there’s really nothing that beats them.
So, if you’re unsure of what you want, no worries. I KNOW WHAT I WANT and I can just do that for you! I’ve got ideas for every season that I want to accomplish this year.
All images curated from my Pinterest boards.
looking for a wedding floral designer in winnipeg?
We can design an incredibly beautiful wedding for you, trendy or not.
Flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!