As the Wedding Design Consultant for Greenscape, Norma was one of the most wonderful brides I have had the pleasure of working with. She came to our consultation with a few ideas but mostly with an open mind. The one request Norma had was that she wanted cherry blossoms — and lots of them! As we walked around the warehouse several other items and ideas spoke to her and I worked to incorporate all the elements that she fell in love with into the overall vision of the wedding. The end result was a complete transformation of the ballroom at the Villa Amato.

ENTRANCE

Each and every guest had the opportunity to walk through an enchanting and breath-taking 8′ cherry blossom aisle. This experience set the scene for the additional cherry blossom trees and accents throughout the room.

HEAD TABLE

The head table, flanked with cherry blossoms, had a sheer and crystal curtain backdrop lit with iridescent pearl hued lighting (mixtures of subtle pinks, blues, greens and white).

 

CAKE AND GIFT CARD TABLE

The cake and gift card table was set in a woodsy corner with a birch panel backdrop flanked by weeping willows and oak trees;  lit with shimmer lights that gave the sense that sunlight was shining through the leaves. The cake which we had decorated matched the cherry blossom theme of the wedding as well.

      

BUFFET AREA

Once Norma set her eyes on our First Nations Canoe, she knew she wanted to include it in her wedding décor. I incorporated it into the buffet and fittingly it held seafood. Set against a tropical plant vignette (an inside joke for her family members) glowing with tones of amber, red and hues of green,˚ it truly managed to complete the buffet area.

       

STAGE

The stage was flanked with the majority of the cherry blossom trees and was lit with the same iridescent light. This resulted in a beautiful array of shadows shades on ceiling that could be seen from across the room.

BALCONY

The balcony railing was dressed with cherry blossoms. Real cherry blossom branches were attached to the railing and then adorned with cherry blossom sprays that were horizontally lit to create a slight ombre effect. Lanterns and pink carnation flower balls from the ceremony decorated the exterior tables.

     

If you are looking for some unique décor ideas for your special day, email me for a complimentary consultation at your venue, favorite coffee shop, or our office!

Spring is in full swing, and love is in the air! Warmer weather brings thoughts of sunny beaches, flowing skirts, and of course wedding planning!

We recently partnered with our good friends at Debut Event Design and Chair Décor Etc for an evening at Terminal City Club’s Hush Wedding Show – Vancouver’s best kept wedding secret. This wedding event was unlike any other, with live entertainment, passed canapés, and of course some of the best vendors in Vancouver; it was a Saturday evening not to be soon forgotten.

Our vision was to design an elegant evening garden ceremony set up. With our vibrant emerald green boxwood walls and natural wood accents, Debut’s dazzling chandeliers and draping, as well as Chair Décor’s blinged out chair covers, we created a warm and inviting environment.

Check out some photos below by the very talented Union Photographers, and be sure to call us today to see how we can make your wedding day special!

      

      

Corinne and I recently ventured down to Chicago to represent Vancouver at The Special Event 2013. With hundreds of speakers, 4500 attendees, evenings filled with Showcase Events and a whole tradeshow floor to explore, we were sure to have a good time.

My personal highlight of the trip would have to be the education classes. I was lucky enough to win a scholarship from the Search Foundation, which allowed me the opportunity to get as much learning in as possible. With a focus on design I narrowed down my list, grabbed my books (well, really my iPad, this is 2013 after all) and headed to class. Many of the speakers were fantastic, but a few really stood out. The first was Trends in Design by Diane J. Burner of MGM Resort Events.  The concept was how to take grand ideas and scale them down for individual events.Diane shared with us some fantastic artists to get us inspired:

• http://michaelmcgillis.com/sited-work
• http://www.runeguneriussen.no/index.html
• http://www.emmahackartist.com.au/emma_art/emma_home.html

Our fellow Canadians, Décor & More Inc. put on another one of my favourite classes, The Kaleidoscope Design Process. This particular session focused on the event design process. It spoke to three different lenses, the creative, the logistic, and the collaborative. By using what they dubbed ‘ large pieces of glass’ (ie. staple décor items) and turning the kaleidoscope to reimagine and reinvent them, you are able to create endless possibilities of event design.  I am really looking forward to applying my kaleidoscopic eye to transform some of our décor!  Email me to learn more about top creative event trends for 2013!

Enjoy some pics from our trip!

      

With over a quarter of engagements happening over the holidays, soon to be brides are buzzing with excitement. Members of Greenscape’s design team participated in TSE2013 in Chicago and have been attending wedding shows every weekend this month and we have some really great insights for the hottest wedding trends for 2013.

The Opulent 1920s

With the latest film adaptation of the Great Gatsby being released this year, the extravagant parties of the roaring twenties are back. Think elegant high society, classic long tables, formal settings and the permanent air of elegance. Whether day or night, formal garden tea parties, opulent mansion dining and white tie affairs are all the rage.

Decadent Art Deco vintage décor incorporating silver beading, crystal embellishments, ivory hues and fine detail are key to unifying this look.

 

Read more about this look.

Vintage Chic

It’s clear that vintage is still in. But this time around there’s more of a focus on refinement and elegance. This year it’s less about the burlap and more about the lace.

Picture pale hues of pinks and whites set into traditional rustic backdrops. From paper cups to gilded edge glassware; from mix and match forks and knives to elegant flatware — small touches counter the rustic outdoor or indoor settings. Glassware chandeliers hang over heavy wooden tables dressed with chrome candelabras.

Vintage no longer means DIY and has been elevated to be more formal and less casual.

 

Photo Left – Read More                                                 Photo Right – Read More

Geeked Out Weddings

Let’s face it, the majority of people these days are on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and these people are at weddings snapping photos from their own smartphones. It comes as no surprise that brides and grooms are using this to their advantage to help document their special day.

The popularity of social media photo booths and wedding day specific hashtags are evidence of this growing trend. By choosing specific social media platforms and asking guests participate by adding hashtags eg. #julieplusmike to Instagram photos or checking in on Facebook, couples are capturing and sharing more memories of their own weddings. The photos and comments are instant, live and shared with all those in attendance.

Read More

Check out photos from some of our favourite Greenscape weddings that we were a part of in 2012!

      

      

photo credits:

White Birch wedding - Three Sixty Photography,  Light Chandelier – Anita Alberto Photography, Cherry Blossom Wedding – Shari+Mike Photographers

 

Sci-Fi meets Victorian, with steam-powered gears bringing to life old world machinery.  Steampunk has taken the event design industry by storm.  A sub-culture of speculative fiction literature that the poses the question, what if the future had happened sooner? The answer lies in a darkly romantic and enticing world of vintage industrialization, which creates an extraordinary and inviting environment for an event.

We translated this theme into moveable feast for the eyes, with working gears, flickering Edison bulbs and a fanciful backdrop for the band. We also incorporated antiqued globes, and hanging chains to finish off our mad-scientist aesthetic.

Check out our photos below!

      

 

From fashion to cosmetics to interior design, metallics are hot and they are here to stay!

Chain links, sequins, futuristic sparkles, and metallic surfaces – the Gilded Age is back with a modern twist.  For interior design, metallic finishes add luxury and flair to a room with décor accents, fabrics, carpets and wall or window coverings.  For some great ideas on adding shine to your home, check out this ideabook.

Brass, blackened steel, copper, silver and powder coated structural architectural forms and supports are being highlighted and exposed for their natural beauty rather than being concealed.

      

Greenscape Creative Director, Christine Cox says, “I love the juxtaposition of using hard architectural materials like concrete and steel with the movement of grasses and textured plants like succulents and cacti.”  Some of her recent creations:

      

Event Designer, Christa Hovis, has created a wonderful table setting that integrates the movement of textured greenery with metallic event decor elements:

And finally, as our Greenscape Design & Decor Principal and known non-fashionista, Corinne Kessel, proclaims, “Just get your sparkle on!”

This January, as Christmas decorations everywhere came down and most of the city’s wood chippers were working overtime, Greenscape decided to go with a new Christmas tree recycling plan. We discovered the Critter Care Wildlife Society, which specializes in the treatment, care and release of sick, injured and orphaned Native Mammal species of BC’s Southern and Lower Mainland. They are the only facility in BC that specializes in the care of mammals and one of only four Bear Rehab facilities in the province.

After every Christmas, Critter Care takes old Christmas trees to be repurposed and used for their bear, racoon and otter enclosures. The animals love to sleep, climb and play on the trees. This year we were happy to help them out. Judging by the photos, it looks like our trees found a happy home!

      

We will to continue to donate throughout the year as well. If you’re interested finding out about how you too can Critter Care, contact us or visit their website.

We had the pleasure of giving back last month, and some may say we had a lot of fun doing it!

“Greenscape Grows” was a Movember initiative where we challenged the Greenscape team to grow out their best moustaches. Some were scraggily, some were thick, and all looked uncomfortable and itchy! We raised over $500 dollars for a fantastic cause, but we were all thankful to see some smooth faces on the first of December! Decembeard was simply not allowed!

     

We recently had the pleasure of partnering with some amazing people for a night of food, wine and fun times. Pair It Up is an event hosted by The Vancouver Lookout that challenges caterers from across the city to pair their fantastic hors d’oeuvres with a complimentary local BC wine.

This year’s concept was “Something Old, Is New” – spanning decades past to present: the roaring 20s, 1950s Doris Day, the free-loving 60s and the always rocking 90s.

      

We had the pleasure of working with our good friends at The Butler Did It Catering, to help capture the swinging 20s with their booth.  We helped The Lazy Gourmet create a ‘from the farm, to the table’ theme, and made Culinary Capers pop with vibrant fall colours.

      

For the rest of the décor, Christine designed a 50s inspired display juxtaposed with a 90s rock jam space. Tucked away was a 1960s rumpus room. The food was delicious, the wine was divine, the décor was top notch!

      

This year Greenscape participated in IDSwest 2012 as part of “The One of a Kind District”. As part of the Greenscape production team, I helped to create beautiful centrepieces using several varieties of succulents arranged on birch or cedar logs and driftwood pieces.

Beautifully displayed in our booth constructed from natural birch, our one-of-a-kind centrepieces and magnets were a huge hit with passersby; with most barely realizing until closer inspection that our hand-painted succulents were actually artificial. I’m sure our “Sometimes Fake is Better” and “Touch Me, I’m Not Real” signs might have helped lure people in!

It was a great experience to have personally made the centrepieces and then also experience selling them. We educated people about the many benefits of artificial plants, my favourites being:

• they can be kept in dark spaces without having to worry about lack of sunlight or even watering

• for those without a green thumb, like myself, our centrepieces are ones ‘you’ll never be able to kill’

• the design possibilities are endless!

Our centrepieces flew off the shelves to new homes as take-aways or gift-aways. With each piece being so unique, it proved to make decisions difficult and there was a lot humming and hawing over which piece to purchase and there were even some silent battles between buyers.

      

It was great to meet some new faces, as well as see some familiar ones on the tradeshow floor. Walking around IDSwest and checking out the exhibitors was inspiring and refreshing. The Valley Countertops booth looked particularly beautiful, but of course, we might have had a little helping hand with that! I had a great time this year and am looking forward to creating new one-of-a-kind designs throughout the next year!