I’ve been so looking forward to Ana and Sam’s luxurious, wine-inspired fall wedding at Hawthorn Estates because I have been so excited for the venue! Since seeing the plans for their re-build after the fire they experienced two winters ago, I knew that it was going to be a STUNNING venue for weddings. They made so many good decisions in terms of the structure’s design and finishings, and even better for me, they added in so many features that make it really easy for floral and event designers like me to have a LOT of flower fun :)

Sugar & Soul Photography ~ Amanda Douglas Events ~ Hawthorn Estates ~ Planned Perfectly ~ Bliss Bridal Boutique ~ High Tea Bakery ~ Urban Prairie Cuisine

Okay, flower time! Ana wanted a pretty good sized bouquet with a slight cascading shape, but a modern take on it. I still designed this with a hand-tied method (meaning no floral foam - #yay for the environment!!), and layered in different blooms in shades of deep reds, light pinks, and creams with plenty of greenery.

Bridal Bouquet Ingredients: Secret garden roses, black beauty roses, white majolica spray roses, burgundy cymbidium orchids, burgundy dahlias, white waxflower, burgundy hypericum berries, burgundy astilbe, with several types of foliages.

For the church ceremony, the couple requested some flowers at the front of the church to define the altar space, garland-style aisle arrangements, and something for the back of the two chairs they’d sit in at the front. I chose to feature the cymbidium orchids throughout the ceremony florals.

Given how awesome Hawthorn Estates is and how well-built it is, I decided that we should take full advantage and create multiple floral focal points throughout the room: 1) the head table 2) the fireplace and 3) the entry way/staircase. Thanks to the couple’s planner, Amanda Douglas Events, for letting me do what I do here and just giving me full reign!

The Head Table
Hawthorn thoughtfully included a sturdy set of move-able arms that can extend from the wall behind the head table to allow for a hanging installation over the table. Whoop whoop! Love it. They also have a vintage ladder that typically hangs here, though I don’t believe that you have to use it if you don’t like that vibe. For Ana and Sam, it worked perfectly as a base for the full hanging arrangement that I was planning. I loved adding in the hanging orchid blooms - Ana’s mom had the idea of incorporating orchids, and I ended up with the MOST FULL stems of cymbidium orchids I’ve ever experienced so I had a ton of leftover blooms and was super excited to add them into this design. Pretty good for a last minute addition, eh?

I decided to add in mixed greenery and grapes lining the front of the head table, for colour and texture as well as to emphasize the wine theme. I also really loved the idea of creating a vine-like piece behind the head table, so I “grew up” some viney greenery on the beams on either side of the head table.

The Fireplace
First of all, don’t judge Mel from Sugar & Soul on the above photo. That was taken with my iphone and I just wanted to include it so you could see the full set up :) I know it’s nowhere near as good as what hers would have been!

The fireplace is built of beautiful, neutral stone with a gorgeous driftwood mantle. We kept this design fairly similar to the head table in terms of the elements included - greenery, grapes, and coordinating florals in cut glass stem vases. Since this wasn’t the main focal point in the room, I didn’t want to go over the top with the design - though I can envision some AMAZING things happening with this fireplace and florals if this were to be the backdrop for your head table! I have so many good ideas and will just keep them percolating for the right couple :)

THE ENTRANCE STAIRCASE
This piece came about through me wanting to find a really good way to incorporate both the ceremony aisle garlands, along with adding more vine-like greenery to the space. As you can see, I decided to “grow” greenery up the main post and the staircase, adding a luxurious component that certainly isn’t necessary in this beautiful of a space, but still adds a little something extra special!

For the guest tables, Amanda Douglas Events had helped the couple choose these beautiful, soft metallic table linens that looked really good with the colouring of the venue and with the chairs. We decided on a low centrepiece (truth be told, I’m often hesitant to do tall centrepieces in most spaces - something about them just so often feels off in my opinion), with florals and colours to coordinate with the rest of the wedding. Burgundy and light pink roses, touches of cream, and plenty of green in my bronze urn were perfect on the tables.

You guys can’t imagine how disappointed I was to be pregnant when I saw this unreal charcuterie display from CHEW. Invited guest or not, I would not have been able to resist stealing a few little bites had I been medically allowed! And the incredible dessert display below from High Tea Bakery was so tempting (in fact, I did take a tiny bite of gluten free brownie after helping to set up the whole table and it was DELISH).

Thank you, Ana and Sam, for trusting me with your vision and letting me run with it! I loved being able to work in this new space. It was awesome to not feel restricted to what had been done in the space previously, because it was literally being built while we were planning their wedding! And by the way, if you’re a Hawthorn couple, I have SO many ideas for florals and design in here (including some really sweet ideas for a ceremony in their solarium area!) and I’d love to talk with you about your wedding!

And yes, it did snow on their wedding day. So much for a September wedding!

Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?

My 2020 waitlist has already been started, and couples interested in full event and floral design will be contacted first about their dates. I offer a limited number of dates for event design each year, in order to allow me to work closely with each couple. Combining event and floral design is the perfect option for couples who live out of town, or couples who feel they need a little extra help in creating the visual plan for their wedding day. Click this link to learn more!