Floral Inspirations: Magenta, Aubergine, Pewter

It's fall. One of my favorite seasons of the year. Fall brings cooler weather. Warm soups. Hot Cocoa. Fall foliage. Fireside Chats. A time of thanksgiving..

When fall comes, I like using deeper tones in my design. This one is from my archive of designs. It's hard to believe that it's probably been 5 or 6 years since Jubilee Lau, Classic Party Rentals, Lisa Leigh and I did this photo shoot at Villa Montalvo.  Today, it is looking rather fresh.

Here's the details: Long rectangular table covered with the deep plum linen with a contrast of a wide magenta runner.  Colorful purple napkins folded across a white square plate are lined perfectly.  Silver chairs, modern tapered glassware, light purple martini stemware, wooden long boxes filled with fall mums, carnations, hydrangea, and dahlias. Hues of plum, aubergine, eggplant mixed with a lighter tone of magenta, fuchsia, and orchid works for me. Pewter which is very popular seems to make this less expected. I like it.  I really like it.

What do you think?

Floral Inspirations: Orange October

On Saturday night, my wonderful San Francisco Giants won the NLCS. In honor of Orange October, I put together some of my favorite orange bouquets - in all hues of orange ranging from pale apricots to deep pumpkins.

Congratulations to the Giants.  Go Giants - Go Go!

Left: Martha Stewart.  Right: Leah Lowery for Sasha Souza.

Left: Martha Stewart. Right: Martha Stewart.

Left: Nancy Liu Chin Designs. Right: Martha Stewart.

Left: Ariella Chezar. Right: Ariella Chezar

Real Wedding: Wedding of the Year Video

We want to thank Abby of Style Me Pretty and the incredibly talented, Lisa Lefkowitz for this wonderful story and real wedding feature.  The original article run over a week ago.

If you want to read the full story, we hope you will click on this link to Style Me Pretty

This Sophisticated Gala wedding features all the things I love about weddings.

I'm a sucker for

Modern Classic design
Grand and Opulent venue
Simple and Clean color palette
Flawless Traditional invitation by our big fan Peculiar Pair Press
Generous and Gracious Couple
Elegant Lighting
Crisp Linens
Glamorous Gowns


To see more details from this wedding, I've attached a High Definition video of the wedding by Kevin Chin Photography + Cinema. 

Lastly, we thank Helen + Hwa for sharing their day for us.






Helen + Hwa's wedding, HD video from Kevin Chin Photography + Cinema on Vimeo.

Best Thing Ever: Dreamy Bouquets

Yup, I can't make up my mind so I choose both of these fabulous bouquets from my lovely and beautiful floral friend, Karen Tran as the Best Thing Ever: Dreamy Bouquets.

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Karen and she does the most beautiful wedding florals but its her eye of detail that struck me with these bouquets.  When it comes to dreamy bouquets, you want soft, romantic blooms.  She really captured it so perfectly.  Besides, if I were to ever renew my vows I would hope that they would have a bit of a wow!  The glamour, detail, elegance and femininity of these two bouquets make me swoon.

Getting into the details the more traditional bouquet on the left has gorgeous gardenias which are one of the hardest floral elements to keep from bruising.  The fact that Karen used it on a bridal bouquet speaks kudos to her expertise.  I'm even a little afraid to use them.  I love the detail of the handle with the jewels. Swoon.


The handbag on the right looks like it could be a bridesmaid, flowergirl hand bag but I think it is so sophisticated that I would carry it down the aisle.  I love the simplicity of the spray roses and the insertioin of jewels and pearls.  What I love about both of these pieces is the details that make them unique.  This isn't your typically DIY bouquet and I like that.

Real Wedding: Wedding of the Year #5

This wedding at the Bentley Reserve aptly called "Sophisticated Gala Wedding" was one of my favorite weddings of the year. I love the color combination of black and white with just the hint of one color: Peony pink.

Every detail had to be sophisticated(and not too girlie as the bride would remind me). When Helen the bride and I were planning the decor, we laughed so much and talked more about NYC and good eats than the wedding. Finally, I had to stir us to the wedding.  Through phone calls and emails, we narrowed the words to describe what she was going for to these: Jazz club moody, Parisian ironwork, old world romance, classic modern.. Elements of style included a chandelier, curvy old fashion glassware, black and white dance floor,  peonies + hydrangeas, Parisian urns, classic, crisp linen, calligraphy.

I love an all peonies bouquet.  We finished with a collar of geranium foliage and wild "sweet peas".  Lovely.

Though the wedding had three colors, I think these charcoal-smoke bridesmaid gowns are beautiful.  All pink flowers for the bridesmaid bouquets including hydrangea, roses, tulips, peonies, geranium foliage.

Hwa the groom is as handsome as can be.  All the boutonnieres and corsages were delivered on these all black frames.  A nice touch.  And of course, Lisa Lefkowitz makes everything looks perfect.

Focus of the ceremony  -  a table scape design with summery flowers in various black vases, sitting pretty on a curvy black table from BluePrint Studios.  I love how BPS are wedding mind readers - they got the perfect floral pattern to complement the wedding decor.

The classic cake from Butterfly Cakes, the linens from Classic Party Rentals.  My favorite piece - the black signature glassware.  "ENJOY" tags on the vases - an added touch.

I can't thank the wonderful vendors involved.
Wedding Planner - Jubilee Lau Events
Cake - Butterfly Cakes
Venue - Bentley Reserve, San Francisco
Photography - Lisa Lefkowitz
Linens and Table Tops - Classic Party Rentals
Place card frame/Ceremony Table - Blueprint Studio Collection
Lighting and Draping - Enhanced Lighting
Catering - Componere Fine Catering
Event + Floral Design - Nancy Liu Chin Designs
Cinematography - Kevin Chin Photography + Cinema

Press: Signature Weddings Asia

Thank you Signature Wedding Asia for featuring this Palace Hotel Classic wedding in your magazine. Being a fan of classic weddings, this is a wonderful editorial spread and really features the love between this couple.

Our thanks.

Behind the Scenes: Ceremony to Reception

Photography by Lisa Lefkowitz, Flowers by Nancy Liu Chin at Hotel Acqua

It's no surprise when clients ask me why I advise against using ceremony flowers for the reception especially when the ceremony is across town or even in different city.  I'm just not a fan.  And for brides and grooms who think I'm trying to make you spend more money, I have to say that it comes from experience and the realities that it's just not a great idea.

There is actually some logic behind my answer.


Designed for One Purpose
For one thing, ceremony arrangements, pew decor, or wreaths on the door of a church are usually designed for a particular space in mind. A pew decor like a kissingball might be something that could be reused but an elaborate pew decor made for a specific pew design might not work as well.

Large arrangements built for a grand altar might not be movable if built for a particular space. And going from an ornate church to a modern reception might have different designs all together. Sometimes an arch of flowers for an outdoor wedding can't be moved because of the way it's designed. Plus, what would you do with a structure of flowers built for a 8 ft arch?

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Courtesy of Martha Stewart

One Use, No Guarantees
Believe it or not, some floral designs for the ceremony don't last after a ceremony is done.  It's not because the flowers weren't beautiful and fresh but because they just get "damaged". For example, a carpet of petals might seen reusable to some but by the time a ceremony finishes, you might not realize how crushed, bruised and damaged they get from guests walking on top of them. 99% of the time, reusing rose petals isn't a great idea. The same goes for outdoor ceremony flowers. If you are planning on tying hydrangeas to folded chairs. There is no guarantee with the flowers will be fair after sitting in the sun for an hour or two.  Counting on ceremony flowers to remain perky and fresh is just not a good idea. Plus in my experience, garlands, arbor designs and flowers placed on the lawn, are hard to reuse for a reception space.

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Photography courtesy of www.Blog.flowerpot.

Time is not on your side
The main reason why I often don't advise that ceremony flowers be reused for the reception especially if it is in another venue has to do with time. Let me explain myself.

When a ceremony is over, a floral team cannot just clean up the church. Usually we have to wait for all guests to leave before we can start cleaning up. After we clean up a church, we are usually one of the last people out. If you order ceremony flowers to be reused for let's say your entry way, reception, or cocktail hour, it might NOT be possible if the timing isn't going to work out. If the ceremony ends at 3:00pm and the reception starts at 3:30, that's a half hour to repurpose, redeliver, and reload flowers.  If there is a 30 minute travel time, it's virtually impossible for a team of florists to get to the reception venue before the guests start their cocktails, right? How is a forist suppose to get flowers from the church to the reception before guests arrive and have them placed in time and hopefully refreshed? If a florist can't even begin teardown until after 3:00, there just isn't any way to get flowers from one place to another.  Plus, if you want a florist to return to your ceremony or wait through a ceremony, you should be charged a "waiting" and tear down fee.  Is it worth it to save a few pew arrangements to have a team of florist wait, reload, redeliver for another fee?

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Photography from Ritz Carlton Philadephia

We Don't use the Front Lobby
Guests go through the lobby. Most vendors(not all) must go through security and loading Post Optionsdocks. If you don't leave enough time for a vendor to get flowers redelivered don't think a florist can use the front lobby or door to a private club to walk through with a large piece. It happens sometimes but it's not preferred for a florist to drive upto the lobby of the hotel and rush a box of flowers right through the lobby to get them on the cocktail tables before other guests arrive. A florist has to follow procedures. I don't know how other florist do it, but we come through the loading dock and it's usually a long haul to the reception area. This is something that brides and grooms don't recognize so if you reuse your ceremony flowers from another venue and have them "redelivered" keep in mind that your deliver person can't go through the front lobby so it's not a simple, jump out of the van and drop it off.

Of course, there are ways around this but before you think about repurposing, think if it's worth it.  Sometimes, it's just cheaper to leave the flowers at the church to concentrate on the reception design.  More stops, more expenses, more costs.  To me, it's been cheaper for our clients and in fact better in the long run to design the reception separate from the church.  Counting on church flowers, it's just not a good thing.

Real Wedding: Wedding of the Year #4

This is just one image from Minh and Reff's wedding in August but one image sometimes says it all.

I'm borrowing this from my buddy, Augie Chang's whose wedding photography website is unbelievable. The images are fantastic, vibrant, bubbly, energetic like the man himself. And I'm so honored that he calls me "sista from another mother!". Thanks Augie for capturing this intimate moment.  Literally, I'm blushing - it that tender.

What a stunning picture that sums up everything about one of my favorite weddings of the year. Poetic.  

Press: Style Me Pretty's Backstage

It's nice being in bed because I get to catch up on all the things in my enormous and very backed up "inbox". One thing I meant to post a while back but forgot was a huge thanks to Tait at Style Me Pretty for this Backstage article.

Thank you, Style Me Pretty. I hope late is still ok?

To read the full article please do visit Style Me Pretty's Backstage. And don't forget that we do have an Iphone App!

Floral Inspirations: Black and White

While I have been in the hospital, my crew has been working hard and having a blast. They just finished this black and white, Old Hollywood wedding, coordinated by Jean  Marks and designed by Gloria Wong..

I can't show you all the photos but the one on top is of the beautiful long head table featuring black antique vases with fluffy white flowers and ostrich feathers and the one at the bottom is of the graceful cake.  The cake is by Perfect Endings and features an art decor design.  Love.

Press: UK Fall 2010 Wedding Magazine

It's an honor to be in any magazine. We are especially fortunate to have this backyard chic spread in the Fall 2010 edition of UK Wedding Magazine. Thanks to Gloria Wong, the event designer, and Lisa Lefkowitz, the amazing photographer.

Lessons: A long season

It's no secret, I'm a huge baseball fan especially a San Francisco Giants fan.  On Sunday they clinched their division and this week they will play the Braves in a short 5 game series.

What does the baseball season have to do with the wedding season?

 
As small business owners, there's quite a bit that we can learn from baseball.


Too Perfect
For one thing, most florists and floral designers that I've met are extremely hard on themselves.  We're a bunch of perfectionists and we scrutinize and worry over the small details.  I'm guilty of being all that. Being hard on my team and myself is nothing new.  Yet when you think about baseball, most players don't even hit .300.  That means they get 3 hits out of 10 at bats.  And a .400 batting average are the things of legends.  Yet why don't we give ourselves a break?  Could being a perfectionist hinder?  And just because you are perfect does that mean that it's the best for your overall goals?  If I recall, a perfect game is a rare thing but even one perfect game doesn't make a perfect team or a guarantee a World Series win.

Adapt and Changes
During a long 6 month baseball season, a baseball team has to change and adapt.  If the pitching is bad, the front office may have to go get another pitcher.  If a player is not performing, they may have to adjust their timing on their swings.  If players get hurt, management may have to bring someone new up from the minor leagues or trade for a replacement.  A success team is not afraid to adapt and change things up.  However, during our wedding season and in our business practices, many of us forget that we too have to adapt and change.  We have to learn to be flexible.  We have to learn that some things take longer than others.  We have to realize that each week a wedding has their own unique circumstances.  And in tough times, we have to adjust and work with our vendors, team members, and clients all the time.  The ability to adapt to change is necessary though not comfortable for many.  I know that this year I've had to adapt to a severe injury.  Letting go and delegating mundane tasks tested my patience but was necessary if I was going to adapt to the new changes in my life. 


Pace

The wedding season is a long season.  Burning out can happen when we least expect it.  Long hours, physical wear and tear, and high demands make for a stressful situation and we all need to learn to pace ourselves.  If we look at the baseball season, I've learned that good managers will mix up their rotation and give their highest performing pitchers 5 days rest.  I also notice that every few days, older veterans or even the star performers will get a day off.  But when it counts the most, you send out your A performers.  With our wedding season being equally demanding, I see the importance of pacing the entire team over a course of several months and when there are larger projects, you delegate tasks to the best performers.  The key is not to burn yourself out or your team.  Take lots of deep breathes and also remember one client can't take all your time.  You have to pace yourself.

Remember: The wedding season is a long season.  Rethink perfectionism. Prepare to pace yourself.  Try not to be too hard when you aren't perfect.  What's important is consistency over a long term.  And change and adapt when you need to.  Never feel bad for letting go of something that doesn't work.


Photograph courtesy of www.foxsports.com

About Nancy: 3rd Time

This is another update on what's happening in my personal life. Sorry for the inconsistent posts but I've been in the hospital again for 3rd surgery in 2 months. This time they are working on my left eye and replacing the cheek.

I'm resting in bed with an eye patch over my eye drinking apple juice and eating soft foods. Catching up on my magazine pile and working on proposals and floral orders.
It's like working but instead of doing things at the office, I'm in a bed(with my pj's).

Inside I didn't have the energy to write any posts and truthfully, didn't think it would matter. A week back(prior to my surgery) I bumped into Kathleen Deery( OMG - floral goddess and one of the my secret crushes)at the floral market. She actually told me that she "stopped by" to read my blog, I turned into mush. To have someone like Kathleen(aka highest taste level, keen eye, impeccable judgment) tell you that she read a blog post is big time(Please visit Kathleen's website, it's to die for!). So, I turned on the laptop and started to blog again. Can't promise that I will be going full force but I'm here.

In times like these, it's hard for me to remain positive and to write. How does one remain upbeat? How am I suppose to be creative in my writing?

My husband, Kevin Chin, is the greatest nurse and supporter. He reminds me every day to say a big "thank you to the world" that I get to do what I do. Another vendor friend, Lesli Mack says that when she wakes up and she thanks God for another day which is a gift, not a burden. And of course, there are my floral buddies who have come to my aid. From Paige from Passiflora, Neil of Hunt Littlefield, Natasha of Waterlily Pond, Mei of Mints Designs, Shawna of Flower Divas, Nicole of Nicole Ha(who loves to give me hugs)and so many others, they have really come to my help. I really have to say that "I get by with a little help from my friends". Each smile, each well wish, keeps me going and tells me that I have to write again. I have to connect again because here in my bed, I do feel that it's just me, alone.

Thank you Brown Bag Fans for not letting me rest in silence!