Hyacinth Events

Perfect Day, Perfect Wedding

2011-10-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

Enjoy these home-made images of Lydia (Livingston) and Sean Mailen's beautiful wedding at Gale Woods Farm in Minnestrista on Sunday afternoon, September 25th. When Lydia and I first visited the farm a year ago, it was a cold, miserable day and it took lots of imagination to see what it could be. God gave us a perfect day! Warm and breezy--one of those perfect fall days we Minnesotans wait for all year. Their theme verse from the Bible uses the symbol of a tree planted firmly so that storms and draught have no affect on it and it continually bears fruit. We illustrated this biblical idea with trees and apples, lots of color and texture--and the day God provided was the most beautiful of all decorations!

I created trees from birch and added hundreds of ribbons in the wedding colors (a bow to a favorite music video of Lydia's) to frame rather than hide the lovely view at the hilltop wedding site. The breeze did the rest!

I have had the honor of planning all four of the Livingston girls' weddings. Lydia is the last of that legacy, which is bittersweet for me. She is a lovely woman, inside and out and precious to many, many people. It was hard to limit the guest list to 300 friends.

The colors were purple and red with fall color accents. Lydia wanted full, wild flower textured bouquets. I created bouquets of dahlias, ranunculus, seed pods, freesia, mums, zinnias--pretty much a garden mix of "you name it, it was in there!" This is a look I love more than any other...although I have lots of favorites!

After the touching ceremony and their "I do's" guests wandered the grounds, greeted friends and made their way to the barn for a pig roast. We dressed the tables with an eclectic mix of vintage and thrift store plates (all with a touch of red in them), red pocket-fold napkins held a menu card and program for the evening. I made centerpieces in fall colors with generous wire bowls filled with Lydia's favorite apple: Honeycrisp! Apples also served as place cards and favors.

The second centerpiece was up high in my copper cones. Thanks to a whole team of helpers, we were able to put up lights and fun "bag lights" I create by putting plain paper bags over old-fashioned Christmas lights (the big C9 kind) and tying them with ribbons.

Thanks to the Livingston family for the honor of serving them in this way!

Lydia wrote before the day: "Over and over again you bless me, Sean and our family. Thank you for sharing the gifts the Lord has given you so generously. You have put so many hours in to make Sean and my wedding beautiful and special as it can be. It is a calming relief to know that you will be present and taking on the tasks that will make the day go smoothly for us."

My dentist, who happened to be at this wedding, said "I am a guy and I NEVER notice flowers at weddings, but really, your flowers were amazing! I have never seen anything like it before--really beautiful!"

Thanksgiving (and a little English teacher joke)

2011-10-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

It was a very busy summer and fall, but I am taking a moment to stop and say thanks to God :
For the blessing of being able to serve lovely brides and their families.
For wonderful friends who help me and encourage me.
For flowers and colors and textures that inspire me.
For beauty and the creative process that feed my soul.
For Kari Wassink, my sweet new friend, who will be joining me in 2012.
For health and strength to keep up the pace.
"He who cares for the lilies of the field that are here today and gone tomorrow, how will he not also care for you?"

Good Advice: Welcoming your guests for your ceremony

2011-04-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

Over 30-some years of working with brides to plan their weddings, I have noticed that greeting and seating guests for the wedding ceremony is something few think about. With so many details to attend to, who can blame them?

But I'd like to suggest that your guests' first experience of your wedding day is worth a few moments of thought and planning.

First, plan to have at least one couple act as hosts. Their job is to greet guests as they arrive, direct them to the coat room, restrooms, water fountain and guestbook. Select someone who is outgoing and/or well-known to the majority of your guests. Selecting hosts also relieves your parents of the responsibility of greeting people and allows them to relax (if they choose) before the ceremony begins.

Hosts can also help "herd" guests into the church to be seated so your ceremony can begin on time. I find that many guests stand around and talk until the last moment and then the ushers find it challenging to get everyone seated because they come in a bunch just before the procession is supposed to start.

Ushering is another neglected part of most wedding plans. Most people asked to be ushers have no idea what to do! Ushering is a "lost art." Let me give you a few practical tips: First, usher your guests down the 2 side aisles of your church, rather than the center aisle. Why? Guests will always move to the center because they want to see you, the beautiful blushing bride and the procession. Ushering down the side allows them to fill in each pew. If you usher down the center, guests will plop down in the first few feet of the pew, causing everyone else to have to climb over them to get to the open seats. Second, select 2 ushers for each aisle. That way, one usher can be taking people to their seat while another is lining up with the next group of guests ready to go.

Ushers offer an arm to the female guest and walk her to the first open pew or row; her spouse (or male companion) and children follow. The usher stops just before the pew and guides her into the row; her companion/family follow her into the row. If there is a program, the usher hands the program to the spouse. Single women are ushered individually. Single men walk next to the usher to their row.

Why bother? A church wedding is probably the most formal occasion most people ever attend. Ushering enhances that experience for guests and helps create the quiet, elegant, orderly atmosphere you want to surround you at this moment-of-a-lifetime. You have chosen a church wedding because you want God to be present and to bless your marriage...and that is a deeply significant hour, worthy of the effort.

Have a wonderful wedding!
That's my two pennies.

A Light Shining in Darkness

2011-03-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

When Hannah and Mickey met in a Bible study at Stanford University, they knew they had some fundamental priorities in common. Their relationship grew as they returned to Minneapolis, and at last lead them to set a wedding date in early February, 2010.

Neither of them had any experience planning or even participating in a wedding, so the initial questions was a panicked "what do we do?" Their premarital counselor sent them to me to help them plan a low-cost simple, yet meaningful, wedding ceremony and reception.

Hannah's family is from Great Britain, Mickey, from across the world in China. How do we bring together two vastly different families and cultures? Only God could do that, so we prayed for wisdom and sensitivity toward both families.

For a cold Minnesota winter wedding, we decided on the theme of "Light" for the ceremony and tried to incorporate the theme into all our planning. Hannah was able to reserve Bethany International Church in Bloomington. The large, sunny church foyer fit perfectly with our theme and would serve as the reception space as well.

Hannah was able to borrow her gown from a friend but it looked like it was made for her! Her bridesmaids got to wear a black dress they already owned and the men all selected black suits. Bright spring flowers brought together red from Mickey's heritage and fragrant English garden roses and tulips from Hannah's. I selected "ming fern" as the foliage.

Their ceremony took place in candlelight: in keeping with our theme, I brought my candle screens holding 160 tea lights and we used the church's spiral candelabra and aisle candles. Bible passages and songs referring to Light enriched the ceremony.

The new Mr. and Mrs. greeted their guests as they left the sanctuary and entered the reception space. Nice not to have to go outside on a cold winter day! Yummy desserts were served buffet style and guests mingled or sat at little bistro tables.

Mickey's mom prepared some special Chinese peanut desserts for everyone to sample.

The guest tables carried out the theme with a black candle ring with bright spring floral in the center.

I was able to help Hannah and Mickey achieve the wedding they desired on a budget and with little stress. The key was that were very willing to adjust their vision to fit the budget and were realistic about it. A church reception is not for everyone, but it fit this couple and was a major cost-savings. Being surrounded by loved ones from around the world and honoring their faith and heritage was the central focus. It was beautiful.

That's my two pennies.

Let Your Roots Go Down Deep

2011-02-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

Katie and Michael are a couple who love life. each other and their vast network of equally creative family and friends. Unconventional and tenderly in love, they were able to find ways to make their wedding reflect who they are and all they believe. It was my honor to help them fulfill their dream for a meaningful, yet outside-the -box wedding day.

Katie's colors were purple and black. Her dress (Nordstrom) was perfect: white and ivory organza wrapped across the bodice, falling into a shredded organza skirt, divided by a black satin ribbon tied at the waist. For her outdoor wedding photos she wore a fitted black velvet jacket with ruffles at the neck, lovingly made by her mom.

Her flowers were Picasso calla lilies, woven together with black twigs and feathers and tied with black satin. She wore a huge ivory organdy bloom in her hair, black lace-up boots on her feet and black lace tights.

Her bridesmaids were given the opportunity to select any black dress they liked and Katie personalized their looks with different lace stocking designs and hand-made purple jewelry and hair flowers. Each maid chose her own favorite purple shoes. I created variagated purple and white carnation pommander bouquets for them--very simple designs because there was so much detail in their outfits!

Mike wore a suit from H&M and his guys selected their own charcoal vest and pants with black shirts and plaid ties. The guys liked this less formal and less expensive option rather than renting tuxes or buying suits.

Ephesians 3 is a perfect biblical passage on love and not as commonly heard as 1 Corinthinans 13: "I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love...may grasp how wide and long, high and deep is the love of Christ...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge." Mike and Katie chose this Bible passage as the theme for their wedding. Katie created a pen-and-ink logo of a bare tree, its roots intertwined with a heart. This design was printed behind the vellum on the invitations and on the cover of the wedding program....then Katie took it a step further and painted it on canvas.

Guests were encouraged to sign the painting rather than having a conventional guestbook to sign.

These wonderful images were captured by Spencer Combs, a friend of the bride and groom, but no less than "Top of the Tiara" photographer in Minnesota Bride magazine last year. More of his images to come as I show you how we brought together the theme of the wedding in the altar decorations and after-party.

Who says winter weddings aren't hot! This one broke the ice!

Love, Liane

Fire and Ice Winter Wedding

2011-02-01T10:44:00.000-08:00

It is about time to update my blog, since I have not done an entry since last summer! Life is wonderful but busy. Susanna (my new baby granddaughter) occupies my Tuesdays and while she is napping, I plan to post to my blog. We will see if that lasts more than a month or two!

January 21st was the coldest day so far this winter. "Chilly" even for Minnesotans at 20 below windchill. My bride was one of the most organized planners I've encountered and she couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate a winter wedding! Jill and Scott were married at St. Elizabeth Seaton in Hastings and celebrated at Hasting Country Club.

Our theme was "fire and ice" and the colors Jill chose were elegant and classic: pewter grey and white with light blue and sparkling silvery accents.

Her gown was a fitted A-line white silk with a long train and rhinestone embroidered embellishments at the waist. I fashioned her bouquet to compliment the sparkle of her dress and bring in the color of her bridesmaids' gowns and the ties of the groomsmen:

Jill's flowers were light blue hydrangeas (for color), white double freesia (for fragrance), white roses and tulips, white miniature calla lilies--all accented with a liberal "dusting" of dusty miller, a velvety grey foliage. You can see a bit of sparkle from the rhinestone sprays and silvery skeleton leaves I added. Her bouquet was finished with braided double faced satin and a vintage bow-shaped rhinestone pin.

The bridesmaids loved their bouquets, which were much like Jill's, but with more blue and a wonderful springtime flower that reminds me of snow on a branch: genestra.

The groom's boutonierre traditionally is a flower from the bridal bouquet, and I like that tradition. Scott wore a miniature calla lily to match Jill and a miniature dendrobium orchid to match his guys. I curled wire to mimic fiddleheads so that he would have a masculine version of the "bling" in Jill's bouquet.

One of my favorite things about this wedding (besides the sweet couple I was working with) was the wonderful contemporary setting of St. Elizabeth Church. It inspired something new I had not done before--aisle markers made from bare white branches underlit with pin-lights. They were dramatic!

Bonus: they could be safely moved to the reception (no flowers to freeze!) and used again as centerpieces. Other centerpieces were equally fun: big bowls of ice with floating candles and flowers, "ice cube" vases and votives with white flowers and silver leaves, silver orbs and rented "ice trees" from Linen Effects (lineneffects.com) with hanging candles. With the black linens on the tables, the lighting effect of the decor was simply magical!

I will have to wait until I get pictures from my favorite photographer, Noelle at Fishtale Photography because she has the expertise (unlike me) to show off a the effect in a dark room.

Last, I engaged Trevor at Metro Ice Sculptures to create a grand entrance for the guests arriving at the club. He created 8 10x10 pillars of ice, underlit with blue and arranged on either side of the entryway. I sprinkled some fresh snow around the base of these simple shapes and voila! guests were so impressed, they came out into the sub-zero cold to take pictures.

Love, love, love my job!!

Liane

Hyacinth Events

Sculpture Garden Wedding

2010-02-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

I am having so much fun tackling this July wedding for a beautiful couple, Laura and Rob--the bride is the daughter of one of my Bethel classmates.

At last we have come up with a "look" for them: elegant preppy --with a healthy dose of Minnesota-chic. Bridesmaids will wear lapis blue J.Crew dresses and the guys will be decked out with tuxes and Sperry Topsiders.

Laura found these place cards (in kit form) she loved at Archivers. Could I find matching paper products for her? To use a Minnesota expression: "You betcha!" I found the matching paper and ribbon and I was thrilled to find invitations from the "unique frugal" collection at Green Kangaroo. They look like the were custom made for Laura and Rob's look.

We are on our way to creating a wedding that looks and feels like it was custom made for this couple, without paying the custom-design prices!

My New Website!

2010-02-06T20:41:00.001-08:00

I am back to my blog at last. I spent the day organizing my materials and files from 2009. There are plenty of things to keep me busy, even in the winter!

I have a new website! Still hyacinthevents.com, but all new with new layout, information and photos. Check out the Real Weddings tab. I wrote stories of each wedding (like in The Knot) and illustrated with photography from my 3 favorite photographers.

Also, my calendar is there and shows most of my events--so far 12 weddings this year--already!

Lastly, here are some wonderful pictures (Barb Pickens Photography) to remind us of summertime. Apple green dresses for the bridesmaids, an outdoor wedding after a thunderstorm. Granny Smith apples adorned the tables. I used yellow peonies combined with roses, hydrangeas, orchids, hypericum and ribbon-like foliages--one of my all-time favorites!

LOVE these colors!

2009-10-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad to show you these wonderful fall color bouquets--with eggplant bridesmaids' dresses--stunning! Really enjoyed pulling these flowers together for Shelly and Ryan. They were voted "Cutest Couple" and "Most Likely to Get Married" back in high school! And they were!

October 4th--a Sabbath

2009-10-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

I did a beautiful fall wedding yesterday, colors: gold, wine, rust and purple--trust me, it was a rich and gorgeous color combo! I also made liberal use of "free" hydrangeas harvested from 4 bushes behind the Office Depot in Roseville. I went out in the pouring rain and cut them at 9 pm Thursday night. Fall leaves from Mora roadsides and cattails from behind the office too--you have to be inventive when you do a wedding with 8 bridesmaids and 30 tables to decorate with 1/2 the budget necessary to do it!

The camera went to the Twins game, so the photos are not available this morning and I am still in recovery mode. Now it's on to the Twins--go guys! If you pull this off, it will make up for the lackluster season (never in first place since May) you muddled through. Next year, outdoor baseball. If you make rain suits & snowmobile suits with the Twins logo, you are going to make a lot of money!

Too Busy to Blog

2009-09-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

The bridal luncheon table tops--

I just completed a marathon...verily, a triathalon! Last week we finished all the little details Monday through Wednesday, picked up $800 worth of flowers and began working on creating designs with them...Thursday, Katie's bridal luncheon, the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner at Spill the Wine, Friday the wedding at Mill City Museum (more about that later). Alannis Morissette sang "like rain on your wedding day"--but still a beautiful wedding. Saturday, creating bouquets for a photo shoot and in the evening, flowers for Dave's Bethel reunion. Sunday, a brunch and gift opening with the new Mr. and Mrs. Whew! No wonder I am tired.

Programs and gift baskets

2009-09-18T20:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Katie and her entourage worked hard and finished up 100 programs and 60 gift basket inserts, decorated baskets, had a few glasses of wine and lots of conversation. A modern day quilting bee! I think we should do this more often. One week from tonight we will be dancing at Katie and Adam's wedding...

EventsRUs

2009-09-16T03:54:00.000-07:00

Working on Liz Logelin Foundation Gala (embossed 200 programs last night) Thanks creeps! And simultaneously trying to stay ahead on my wedding next week and the one I am just starting to plan in December. Starfighter lilies and pink snowberries will play a prominent role this weekend--and I am using these wonderful "coffee break" roses that are brown and blush--in keeping with the pink and brown logo for LLF. Rachel is on TV this am! And later in the week I think a couple more channels are featuring LLF --the 5 K this Saturday and Gala on Sunday night at Calhoun Beach Club. Rachel and me--EventsRUs.

Good ideas come at 3 am....

2009-09-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

It is no doubt my age, but I often find that I am wide awake at 3 am. My mother-in-law is exemplary: she prays and writes letters during her wakeful hours. Usually I read, but my light burned out so starting a book of Pablo Neruda poetry would have to wait.

So I jump on the Internet and start hunting for things...

I found out that "tying the knot" comes from the medieval Irish custom of "handfasting" where the newlyweds join all 4 hands and someone ties a cord around them. It was a substitute sort of marriage vow when a clergyman was not available to perform the ceremony.

I found out that "honeymoon" comes from the Irish custom of drinking honeyed mead from the same cup for the first month of married life. (And if the couple was not expecting already by the end of that time, there was definitely something amiss-)

And I got a custom stamp made for my next event: The Liz Logelin Foundation Gala on Sept. 20th.

So, I start today with a sleep defecit...still, I have a something to show for it.

One more thing...

2009-08-31T18:40:00.000-07:00

I thought folks might like to see the program and reception card from the polka dot wedding...they turned out SO cute! I don't have a photo of it, but the invitation also was polka-dotted, with an engagement photo of the couple.

How we did it: Anchor Paper will custom-cut paper from a "parent sheet" for $10, so both the cover stock and the text paper were cut 11 x 5 1/2. Office Max (cheaper than Kinkos) printed the programs and punched the tie holes for us after Emily did the layout in MS Publisher. We had a coffee party one morning and assembled and tied the programs and reception cards. A circle punch was used for the "peek-a-boo" on the cover of the programs.

The reception cards were punched with the same circle at the top. They were tucked into a pocket-folded napkin and a Dove chocolate was placed in the hole. So--we were able to carry out the theme down to the last detail! Very fun.

Monday--3 weeks until my next wedding...

2009-08-31T07:43:00.000-07:00

I am so happy and relieved to have some time to catch my breath while working with Katie and Adam toward the final details of their September 25th wedding at Mill City Museum, which promises to be spectacular. We have been working together for nearly a year. Both the bride and groom are from other parts of the country and are here for Adam to attend grad school at the U of M. I have helped them plan a destination wedding--here in the Twin Cities! Almost all their guests will be coming from out of state and we want to introduce them to the history and culture of Minneapolis (with a little party thrown in for good measure!)

Emily and Stephen's wedding went beautifully yesterday--even the perfect weather for which we all prayed. God's goodness and grace overflowed and the theme of JOY was expressed in every aspect of the day. My favorite thing: the bride selected the greatest hymns for the music: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Praise to the Lord the Almighty, Be Thou My Vision, In Christ Alone, Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee--Oh! what a feast for the soul weary of thin Christian music.

How could you not love a bride with a smile like this:

Sunflowers

2009-08-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

This Sunday afternoon promises to be cool enough that the not-air-conditioned chapel at Northwestern College should be blessedly comfortable for the wedding. The wrought iron candle screens we used first for Rachel and Adam's wedding there nearly 4 years ago will be reprised, but this time the theme is sunflowers. They symbolize adoration and worship and also joy, so a very fitting flower for this young couple about to begin a life of ministry together. I have 100 of them chillin' in my workshop this afternoon!

Polka Dots

2009-08-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

This morning I spent with family and friends of Emily and Stephen, who are being married on Sunday. We had a blast, tying polka dot ribbons on the programs and reception cards, preparing and assembling gift bags for all the out-of-town guests. Helping out was Emily's aunt Carolyn whose wedding flowers I had the honor of creating back in 1990!

What is it about polka dots? Everyone loves them--and for this wedding it's polka dots and sunflowers because both of them are so happy and the theme of Emily and Stephen's wedding is JOY in Christ.

Here's what I do for brides

2009-08-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

This morning I opened my emails and got to do the following:
1. help a bride choose between 4 pairs of shoes to wear on her wedding day (we both like the Kate Spade peek toe pumps)
2. order more polka dot ribbon for the programs for another wedding
3. look at the photos taken last weekend by Fishtales (Seth and Noelle Nielson) of my beautiful outdoor wedding at Harriet Island
4. find a 1 1/2" circle punch and a compass stamp online
5. line up a horse and buggy ride
6. send a mailing list to a printing company for the MC2 Conference (next February)--our initial postcard mailing goes right after Labor Day

I LOVE my job!

Harriet Island Wedding

2009-08-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

For their end-of-summer wedding celebration on Harriet Island Stephanie and Justin wanted a colorful, happy array of flowers with the look of a Minnesota garden. I suggested using the architecture of the terrace where their wedding took place to create a focal point for the ceremony. These designs were very large and included curly willow, delphinium, native Minnesota flowers and even wheat and millet, to represent the coming harvest.

Creative ideas: Stephanie designed these fans for her guests. Sitting out in the warm sunshine, they were much appreciated! The reverse side was the wedding ceremony program. A cost saver: the aisle markers shown were moved to the reception and became centerpieces.

All the designs featured extra-long hybrid blue delphinium and larkspur to pick up on the royal blue bridesmaid's dresses. The women carried mixed bouquets of gerbera daisies, zinnias, lilies, hydrangea, Kermits with bachelor buttons (for the blue)--and the guys wore bachelor buttons on their khaki suits. Steph carried the same flowers with the addition of orange mini calla lilies.

The reception was in the beautiful limestone pavillion next to the terrace. A big, empty space, it was completely transformed by ceiling draping and floor-length white table cloths. For our "wow factor" tall, colorful designs on top of my largest vases.

August 8, 2009

2009-08-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

Lauren wanted a contemporary look for her wedding flowers accenting her Victorian lilac and silver color scheme. We chose accent colors of peach and cobalt blue; the bouquets and bouts all had silver boullion wraps. Silvery dusty miller foliage gave an unusual texture.

Her church altar features a floor-to-ceiling contemporary wood sculpture, so an asymetrical design over 6' high with curly willow branches on a glass cylinder was a fitting focal point for the ceremony. Aisle flowers were taken to the reception and became centerpieces.