Posts Tagged ‘fun photos’

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Wedding Planning Tips: Your Vermont Wedding

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Whether you’re planning a destination wedding in Vermont or you’re a local couple getting hitched close to home there are many details to address and I think a few short-cuts through the process wouldn’t hurt anybody!  Today I’ve put together a collection of some of my personal planning tips to help you cross your t’s, dot the i’s and hopefully avoid a few faux pas along the way. 

No matter how far along you are in the planning process you’re bound to find a tip or two (and hopefully more!) that can help you personalize your big day and introduce your guests to the beauty of Vermont.  You may want to bookmark this page so you can revisit these tips later!  

♥ Here are 7 tips to keep in mind when meeting with floral designers.

♥ Advice for choosing your personal bouquet style.

♥ I suggest you order boutonnieres and corsages for these VIPs.

♥ Some things to consider when hosting out-of-town guests.

♥ …And here’s how I think you should introduce your guests to Vermont.

♥ Want to really add a few special touches to your big day?  Gild the Lily!

♥ The mother of the bride may need a few tips as well.

♥ Last, but not least, add a touch of green with eco-friendly inspired tips.

Would you like some advice on planning your wedding?  Leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail.

Spillane-0641-Orchard-Cove-Photography

Photo:  Orchard Cove Photography, Location:  The Inn At The Round Barn

groom holding bouquet- Photo ©Daria Bishop

Photo:  Daria Bishop Photographers, Location:  Stowe Mountain Lodge

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Have The Best Valentine’s Day Ever!

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

My feelings on Valentine’s Day have changed dramatically over the years.  It’s been many years since I’ve worked at a flower shop on one of the busiest floral holidays of the year and that’s allowed me to gain a fresh perspective and appreciation for the ooey-gooey sweetness that Valentine’s Day can be about.

This year I’ve got a new man in my life to celebrate the sweetness of this day and my husband and I can both agree that we heart him immensely.

2013-2-6-Ellis-0052

Today I’ll be trying this recipe for Chubby Hubby Truffles to surprise my husband.

I hope you’ll do something sweet for your sweet…or for yourself!  xoxo

Many thanks to Amanda of Orchard Cove Photography for the photo of me and my lil’ man!

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Wedding Planning Mantra Of The Day

Thursday, January 10th, 2013

I am inspired by clients and potential clients to post these Wedding Planning Mantras and this one is SO important to keep in mind in a world where bigger, better and “more” wedding inspiration can potentially make you feel inferior.  Mediate on this one for a moment.  Be at peace with your budget.  Zen, baby.

orchid photo on moss

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Wedding Bouquets For All Seasons

Monday, December 31st, 2012

We officially wrapped up our 2012 wedding season yesterday with a beautiful snowy white winter wedding at The Round Barn.  It was an exciting year with our new little addition to our floral team, our son, John, and it was a fantastic season full of beautiful couples.

Here is a collection of the bridal bouquets I made this year.  Purple tones were very popular with my brides this season, but classic white wedding blooms remain a perennial favorite (only two brides opted to have not a single white bloom!).  Which is your favorite?

 2012 bouquet collection

As we prepare to ring in a new year I wish you a very happy new year to come and I hope your days will be merry and bright far after the holiday season has ended.

Whether you are a current client looking forward to your 2013 nuptials, a past client who likes to keep tabs on me (I love that by the way!), a fellow florist or wedding professional or simply a flower enthusiast I appreciate you dropping by and I hope to see more of you next year!

Alison Ellis, floralartvt.com

Even though he looks sleepy in this shot I’m sure John wishes you a happy 2013, too!

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Fresh Flower Shoes By Alison Ellis

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

My busy wedding season is winding up next week and I’d been looking forward to stepping out of the normal bouquet box to design something fun and unique for The Vermont Wedding Affair last Saturday.  I was inspired to use fresh flowers and greens to create “floral artistry” that you won’t normally see at a wedding.

Here’s a look at my floral fashion collection on display at Shelburne Farms.

Israeli ruscus, berzelia and purple trachellium with a lily grass wrapped heel.

A peek-a-boo pump covered in pink protea petals and foliage.

Billy buttons and trachellium adorn this Israeli ruscus heel with aspidistra leaf insole.

The purse was my favorite piece!  I wove a pattern with lily grass and added a pink button with pearl pin accents.

Over the weekend Vermont wedding vendors and engaged couples alike enjoyed a day at the Vermont Wedding Affair.  As always the event was filled with inspiring details, top rate vendors, complimentary spa treatments, savory bites and endless sweet treats.  I conducted a seminar with tips on personalizing your wedding day and I’ll pass along some tips to help you plan your upcoming wedding on my blog as well!

Were you at The Vermont Wedding Affair?  What did you think of the experience?

 

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Perfect Arranger: The New Floral Frog

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

I took a trip down to Hildene in the spring for a site visit for a wedding {by the way you can see Beth & Danny’s Wedding here} and whilst I was in their super fun gift shop I could not resist buying this “Perfect Arranger” which is what I’d describe as a newer version of a floral frog.  The weave of the stainless steel coils allows for stem to easily be maneuvered inside of a bowl or low dish and submerged in water.  I think they’re pretty cool.  They’re rust proof and dishwasher safe so ✔check and ✔check!

I know what you’re probably thinking…I’m such an experienced designer that flowers must bow in submission at the mere sound of my clippers…what would I need with a floral frog?!  This is the kind of tool that can help transform a silver candy dish or gravy boat into the perfect flower vessel.  I look forward to using it in many different ways!

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Selling My Soul and Starting A Fire

Monday, May 9th, 2011

I’m Selling My Soul this week and I am soooo looking forward to it.  Don’t worry, I haven’t gone off the deep end right before my busy wedding season kicks into high gear–I’m going to meet some sexy, sassy, business savvy-to-the-max women in NYC this week for Selling Your Soul.  Danielle LaPorte + Marie Forleo have me all psyched up about being authentic in my business + the inherent value in bringing all of me to the table.  ‘Cuz as Danielle would say, “Self Realization Rocks.”  To sum up…It’s gonna be awe-wait for it-some.

I recently finished Danielle’s Fire Starter Sessions and if you’re an entrepreneur (or Solopreneur much like myself!) you are guaranteed to find several gems of insight that you could quite possibly turn into pure gold.  If you already rock, you can learn to rock harder.  If you’re doubting the direction of your venture, you’re bound to find a compass.

I’m excited to hear what Danielle and Marie have to share and I’m stoked to hear what the other 139 soul sellers in the room want to know, too–their burning questions are sure to be interesting to me–BUT in truth, I am probably equally pumped to wear my fave pair of heels.  This may sound shallow, but in Vermont the opportunity to wear fabulous heels is few and far between and besides, when the weather is nice enough for open-toed shoes I’m either setting up a wedding or wearing my cowboy (or girl?) boots.

You can get your very own copy of The Fire Starter Sessions HERE!  Light your fire, baby.  It may very well be the best $150 you’ll spend.  Seriously.

And…here are those fab heels I told you about.

Check out Marie Forleo’s site (Where Women Entrepreneurs Live Rich, Happy & Hot) and Danielle LaPorte’s (White Hot Truth:  because self realization rocks) for sagacity and do-it-today, do-it-now biz tips that will get your mojo risin’!

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Funky Flower Friday

Friday, March 25th, 2011

I love walking into my wholesaler’s cooler and seeing green ranunculus, but when I find a flower I’ve never seen before I get a little spark of excitment.  This is Telopea, pronounced te-LO-pee-uh, (in a honeysuckle tone!) and I think it is an out-of-this-world funky flower.

This is an Australian native bloom and a member of the Protea family.

I love the way it looks from different angles.

I’ve been in the floral industry for almost 17 years so when I see something new I get pretty jazzed about it.  What do you think about this Telopea?

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Vermont Welcomes Spring

Monday, March 21st, 2011

It’s officially springtime in Vermont and after a beautiful weekend of solid vest-weather {and our first wedding of 2011!} it’s seriously snowing right now.  Vermonters should know that we cannot get ahead of ourselves when spring teases us with her first appearance.

While I was out and about checking on things in my garden yesterday I snapped a few signs of spring.  When I showed my husband my photos he said, “You know it’s going to snow, right?”

Crocus mark the change of the season.  An emblem of youthful gladness.

Daffodils break through the surface of the soil and leaf debris. 

You can almost see the flowers eager to bloom.

The branches of the Japanese pussy willow are curly and wild.  One of my favorites for sure.

Also called ‘fantail pussy willow’ these willows are taller than I am.

These are lilac buds.  Lilacs are one of our most highly anticipated blooms in Vermont. 

What signs of spring have you noticed?  I’ll have some pics from our first wedding of 2011 for you tomorrow!

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The Vermont Flower Show: A Sampling of Spring

Monday, March 7th, 2011

We attended The 2011 Vermont Flower Show on Saturday at the Essex Fairgrounds to get a sampling of spring.  I was particularly looking forward to attending the seminar on organic gardening taught by one of my former UVM professors, Wendy Sue Harper.  She was a truly inspiring mentor to me in college and now her gig is at NOFA.  I consider her my personal compost & soil-health guru.  After hearing about Wendy Sue throughout the years my husband was happy to have finally met her in person and I was happy that he got to hear her talk about soil health!  {That’s what I call winning!}

Whether you attended the flower show for the educational seminars or purely for a dose of springtime blooms there was no shortage of happenings.  Ned Davis demonstrated the art of tablescaping and I heard it was standing room only due to a great interest in his workshop.  I know of at least one bride-to-be who got inspired by his designs!  (Ned helped design the flowers for my wedding and he guided me though my first bridal bouquet back in 2001!)  

Here are some signs of spring from the Vermont Flower Show…

A pansy from Sam Mazza’s Farm.

Gotta love this little begonia, too.

Jericho farm, Arcana, had purple primrose on display.

How cute are these little porcelain vases by S Designs of Maine?

A floral frog.  Frogs date back to the 16th century and today they’re most often used in Japanese Ikebana designs.  Simply fill the vessel with water and place freshly cut flowers on the spikes.

We were happy to get a little taste of spring this weekend.  What do you look forward to in the springtime?

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