Best Thing Ever: Unusual Floral Pieces

I've been addicted to a Food Network show called The Best Thing I Ever Ate for a while now. I can't even explain why I love the show but I love how foodies, chefs, and food personalities feature their favorite foods. Well, I'm turning the tables this time and writing about the best "Unexpected Floral Pieces".

A week or so ago we did this wonderful wedding.  As guests arrived they were greeted by these two life size elephants, a golden lotus pond with rocks and a cascade of orchids.  THIS has got to be one of my favorite things.

Much thanks to my partner  - Shawna F. of Flower Divas and her wonderful team for the elephants.

About Nancy: Starting Out Right

This certainly will be a difficult post to write because it will offend and put off some of you. It's about ethics.

Lord knows I don't even know where to begin when it comes to ethics. All of us have probably done things in our misguided youth or possibly during these difficult financial times that we might not be genuinely proud of. I'm far from blameless and have done many things that were plain stupid. Getting ahead in life seems to be a driving motivator for some. Trying to get an edge seems to be what business school encourages. Making a living has never seemed more important. Striving to get a business off the ground or staying in business should not have to be so hard, but darn it - it is.

There is no short cuts and yet many people try to find the easy way. It's human and if you are trying to take that short cut, let me say, I hope you are extremely lucky because in the business world, you've got to put in the time and effort.

A week or so ago, a new vendor emailed me because she took images of real weddings by NLCD from the internet without our permission. I am positive her intentions were real, genuine and lacking in malice. I don't think she meant to hurt my business in any way. She was honest about giving credit and she wanted my ok. Why should I even care and why didn't I just let her use my work? 

Foremost, I've never met this vendor and I've certainly not worked with this vendor. So I should care where my images are being "used" to promote another business even if it is not in conflict with my own.

If you think this is unusual, it's not. During the past few years, I have seen our work show up on other wedding vendors' websites without our permission. And frankly, I don't think they had the permission of the photographer either. Usually, I just send them an email and ask them to "remove" and of course, many do take down the images. Of course, I'm not talking about a "wedding related website" or a design blog that is doing an editorial feature. No No No. I'm talking strictly about a competing business' web based portfolio.

Many new and competing business owners can easily "save" images via the internet to use on their websites to promote themselves and sell themselves. We all know that. For the most part, I think all of them who do it aren't malicious. They may have the capability of "using" images but do they have the right to do it?

If it were a blog post with a photo credit and design credit, that's a completely different matter and the credit should be given whenever possible with a link back. It is sometimes hard to find the original source and I know that I often have trouble with this as well but it's key to note in the post that the work you show on your blog might be from another source. However, to take an image and to mislead your potential clients to think that you've designed the event, worked on the event or planned the event is wrong!

 Simply, unethical.

If you are doing this or thinking of doing this, I assume it's because you don't have many images from real weddings to create your new business.

To that I say, do a trade with a photographer.
Exchange your service with another vendor.
Create a photoshoot not for editorial purposes but for your portfolio.
Create something that you would be proud of and that you could actually execute because your clients are smart and you have to show your creativity.


Bottom line:  You might fool a few but you can't fool them all. Take a small piece of advice: Start out right!

Industry News: Paula Le Duc Catering

If anyone ever asks what my hopes are for my business, I often say that I would aspire to build a business as strong as Paula LeDuc's. To me Paula LeDuc Fine Catering(PLD as insider's call them) sets the standards for service, quality, and professionalism. Over the past few years, whenever I've worked with PLD's extraordinary team, I find myself learning on the project. How do they set themselves apart? Well, they serve the most delicious Minted Ice Tea (ever), cater meals for those who want restaurant quality food, create the most magnificent food presentation(sushi in a cone over a bed of black sesame - yum!)

So this week when Paula sent me news about a new opening at PLD, I was thrilled and honored to share it on the Brown Bag. Keep in mind that PLD not only represents the best but they also hire the best. Paula writes - "It is my pleasure to announce to you that Paula LeDuc Fine Catering has a new opportunity available in our design department. This talented individual will be responsible for developing and creating innovative buffets and food stations. "


Qualified candidates should have:

-Exceptional organizational skills paired with a talent to create visually compelling designs.
-Exceptional demonstrated understanding of upscale food and wine with a focus on how food is prepared and presented with experience integrating food and design.
-Professional culinary experience preferred.
-Have exceptional knowledge and field experience with floral design and visual merchandising.
-Be highly organized and able to coordinate a number of activities with multiple components requiring independent follow through and attention to detail.

Resumes of interested applicants should be forwarded to Arin Adolph, Human Resources Generalist, at arin@paulaleduc.com.

This is truly a wonderful, fantastic opportunity. To end, if there is one thing I admire about a company, I admire those that stand by their tag lines. And Paula Le Duc Fine Catering does because "perfect will be just fine"!

Photography courtesy of Gertrude & Mabel.

Floral Inspirations: Ceremony Space

Ceremony spaces are often defined by the location or an ornate altar design.  But every now and then, I am challenged when the space has nothing to "define" it.

For this Sonoma wedding, instead of doing the typical floral sprays or canopies to mark the "ceremony" spot, the client helped me design something that was completely them.

Our lovely couple, Kari + James, had a particular style in mind for their summer wedding.  They wanted their day to be informal, cheerful and celebratory.  Inspired by the hand painted red poppy from their invitation design and their desire to incorporate their initials into their day, I knew we had to combine the idea.  So what does one do....

I looked in my library of books for some inspiration.

I remember that Martha Stewart had a beautiful image in one of her books and featured a pink banner so I thought, why not do a banner for Kari + James in their style?  With the help from Cherin of  Customized Wedding Creations who hand painted the banner, we were able to create this flower/banner design.   So, it's not the most formal of designs, but it truly set the tone for the day to come.

The great colors of poppy red, bursting oranges, and golden rod in contrast to the green lawn, white chairs, and bright lime ribbon was exactly the right blend of fun and whimsy.

Thanks to Michelle Walker, my fabulous photographer friend for letting me post this image.  And of course, we can't thank Julie Briggs Dunn enough for being the most awesome of wedding planners who really made the day smooth sailing for us.


Photography by Michelle Walker

Behind the Scenes: Two Bright Lights

Those ladies at Two Bright Lights are amazing. I haven't really explored their wedding media website tools yet but one thing that I did try was the inspiration board tool.  With the help of the beautiful images by Kate Harrison I was able to create my first inspiration board(by myself). Now why is this a behind the scenes post? It's rather easy. Many of you probably think I work on proposals, design flowers, order flowers, and deliver flowers. I wish that was all a vendor does behind the scenes but it's not.

I'm also the janitor, marketing person, bookkeeper, human resource executive, stylist, and counselor to my clients. So how is a business to grow if it doesn't market and show it's finished product? How can you share with new clients  your capabilities are if you don't pursue a bit of publicity. Any savvy business owner knows that to network and partner with editorial vehicle is a must. Today, it's no longer the icing on the cake but a necessity.

By the way, if I haven't made it clear, Two Bright Lights is a publishing and imaging management service that's primary focus is to help wedding vendors with their marketing and pr. TBL has created a simple and streamlined way for photographers to share their image with other vendors and the blog/editorial world.

Two Bright Lights offers a way for small wedding business owners to get that help they need to publish their work. And I appreciate that. I'm certainly not saying that everyone needs to do it especially if you already have a PR person or you have strong marketing skills and brand strength. But for those that don't know where to start, this is a great way to do it especially if many of the photographers you work with are on TBL.

Beyond the marketing, Two Bright Lights have created fun tools for vendors like myself to create stories through an inspiration board or a slide show to feature of past work. Now, brides and grooms can get behind that....right?

Now, back to the board....

This board features a beautiful, traditional out door wedding designed and planned by the hardworking, talented, and patient Kathryn Kalabokes of Dream a Little Dream.  KK of Dream a Little Dream is on my buddy list of vendors who I enjoy working with.  After this summer wedding, I left admiring Kathryn for being more than just a wedding planner.  She was fabulous and even did the calligraphy on the place cards.  And she designed the dessert bar which was filled with deliciousness.  What a great wedding with lots of simple, refined details, never stuffy. 


What do you think of this? Is this something helpful to you as a vendor?