Petite bridal bouquets are having their moment in these last few years. 

If you are the type of person who appreciates less is more, simplicity, and not over-stuffing, a petite bouquet might be exactly what you've been looking for. Rather than disappearing into a sea of greenery and filler, each stem gets to be seen, appreciated, and celebrated for what it brings to the bouquet! I cannot help but think of a good Margherita pizza which accomplishes the same thing - few quality ingredients that can make you want to eat the whole pizza. You can see where my head is at after a wedding :) 

If you are having a wedding in Toronto, I also want to be clear and transparent about the pricing in this region. Petite bouquet does not necessarily mean cheaper bouquet. You are choosing artistry and quality over an abundance of cheaper blooms. It may result in a roughly cheaper price than a standard garden bouquet but depending on your choice of flowers it could be about the same. I say this not to deter you away from choosing this but to help you realize and appreciate the individual cost of more unique flowers. 

In my opinion, a petite bouquet actually requires more artistry from your florist. Your florist has to be deeply thoughtful about which varieties to pair, how the textures play off one another, and how the whole composition will sit in your hands as you walk down the aisle. It's a different kind of skill than building something lush and abundant. Both have their place, but the petite bouquet asks for precision and intention. 

These are all good thoughts to be thinking when considering your vendors and your overall vision. Being open and talking to your florist are always good ideas :) 

Mother's Day is one of those rare days that asks something quiet of us — to pause, to notice, to thank the woman who's been doing the noticing for everyone else all year. And while a card is lovely and a brunch reservation is appreciated, there's a reason flowers have been the language of this day for generations. They say what words sometimes can't.

This year, Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 10, 2026, and we're now taking orders for delivery and local pickup in Toronto. But before you click "order," we wanted to share something we've been thinking about lately: not all moms are the same — so why should every bouquet be?

When I used to think of jewel toned wedding flowers, my mind would go to emerald green, ruby red, purple and blue. I remember seeing it in wedding aesthetics that were more moody, dark, and saturated. 

When my bride asked me to use this colour palette for her Fall wedding, I wanted to make it lighter, delicate but still bold and awesome. 

For Jeannie's bridal bouquet, I kept the hot pink and deep purple undertones but softened it with light pink, nude, and periwinkle. Since her bridesmaids already had green and blue dresses, I didn't need to use heavy greens. I let the hot pink ranunculus and rose be the predominant colour paired with airy flowers like delphinium to give it movement and lightness. Everybody could not stop talking about her bouquet and despite the overcast day, she shone like a beauty. I think this palette would still work beautifully for a summer jewel toned wedding if your wedding was not in the Fall.  

When you live in a city like Toronto, Boston, New York, there are so many restaurants that are also available as a wedding venue. This can be a great option because you can leverage off a few big things - delicious food, top notch interior decor, and intimacy. Some restaurants in Toronto I would want to have my wedding include Canoe, SARA, Archeo! If your guests having a good time and good food are important to you on your wedding day, you will want to check out these restaurant wedding venues! 

Jeannie and AJ originally planned for their ceremony on the patio outside the restaurant but due to rain, we moved it inside on this velvet wine red couch that matched perfectly with the jewel-tone palette. Then for the reception, we did an easy flip and repurposed it by the bar stool. 

Happy wedding day Jeannie and AJ!

I recently had the honor of being the florist for K&R at the Lyman Estate in Waltham, MA. This was my first estate wedding and I immediately fell in love. For starters, it is nestled in my hometown, Waltham, MA and second, the architecture and grounds speak for itself (if you don't believe me, Little Women was filmed here!). 

If architecture is important to you, it is a National Historic Landmark and one of the finest U.S. examples of a country estate following 18th century English naturalistic design. It was built in 1793 commissioned by Theodore Lyman to design and build a federal style house for his family.

​Even if you don't care that much about architecture, anyone can appreciate the detailing and style of the staircase and Palladian window (bottom right image) as well as the library (bottom left image). 

If you are getting married in the Summer, you can really benefit from the natural beauty at the Lyman Estate. The Peach Wall Garden is this 400ft wall that separates the formal garden from the woods outside the property and makes for an awesome backdrop! 

Something that makes the Lyman Estate so fun are the greenhouses! I loved the photos here and how it adds something different and special to your typical wedding venue.

K&R wanted flowers that were light, airy, white, cream white a pop of peach and toffee. Cannot describe how much I love K's bouquet. I used Juliet Garden Rose, Icelandic Poppy, Lisianthus, and Butterfly Ranunculus as the main features of her bouquet. 

K&R wanted a combination of different centerpieces using a traditional compote vase as well as bud vases. I've noticed this trend becoming more popular and it's a great way to be more cost effective and had variation while keeping things cohesive. 

Happy wedding day to the beautiful K&R! 

Vendors:

Flowers: Grace Flora Studio
Venue: Lyman Estate
Photographer: Nicole Joy Fandel Photography

I had the honor of designing flowers at The Groton Inn in Groton, MA. For me, it was a hidden gem with 3 top qualities a wedding venue should possess - historic, charming, and intimate. 

Once "America's oldest inn," the Groton Inn was destroyed by a fire in 2011 and only reopened in 2018. It's quite hard to believe that has happened, considering the way they still kept the historic charm, have maintained its world-class amenities and incredible customer service.

The outdoor fireplace in the courtyard was such a unique and captivating backdrop. I love how it was part of the exterior wall of the Inn and provided such a great contrast to the white wall. It fit Kayla and David's theme of "Summer meets Fall" quite perfectly with the color palette: mauve, gold, deep purple and peach tones. 

Let's talk about the bridal bouquet. The colors, textures and deep richness of the privett berry came so naturally and blended so easily -- and it wasn't all whites and creams. The pop of the golden ranunculus tied really well with the fireplace. Using mauve in such an elegant, romantic, soft arrangement was such a joy. I would make this bouquet over and over if I could!   

I love the charming detailing of this Inn to make it really feel like a home. The porch helped bring that intimate, romantic feeling to life and was a great spot for first looks!  

All I can say is cue Taylor Swift's Getaway Car.

The reception was clean, bright, elegant and made you feel at home. Perfect for any wedding day! 

Congratulations to the beautiful Kayla and David! 

Stephanie and Roderick had a vision for their wedding - Boho chic meets Crazy Rich Asians in the most perfect venue, Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence, RI (if you've seen the movie, you will get why!). 

The inspiration for a neutral color palette without using all white, came down to combining fresh and dried flowers with zero greenery.
My recommendation on how to add pops of color to a neutral color palette: use muted pink or dusty rose, toffee or terracotta, and light sandy colors against your whites and creams.  

Without overkilling "boho," we used a healthy, moderate amount of dried pampas grass, dried sun palm, dried bunny tail with some of my favorites - quicksand roses, toffee roses, cremons, and white strawflower. 

If you can believe it, this arch was built by the bride's father and designed exactly to my requests so that the flowers could be secured and placed exactly where I want them. Couples ... this is how you use your close resources! 

Inside the greenhouse was where the reception took place. Let me tell you, the tropical flowers, ivy and beautiful greenery that surrounded the place made everything truly magical. 

We got to repurpose the ceremony arch as the backdrop for the sweetheart table and it was perfect! 

Congratulations to Stephanie and Roderick for bringing their vision, entrusting me, and ending up with an incredible and beautiful wedding I will never forget. 

Vendors:

Flowers: Grace Flora Studio
Venue: Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
Catering: Pranzi Catering
Photographer: Indigo & Ivory
Videographer: Earth + Sun Co
Entertainment: MadLove LLC

Danielle and Jason wanted an intimate, backyard wedding with the theme, "simple, but elevated." 

We focused on a bright, vibrant color palette with a sophisticated, clean look to take this wedding to the next level. 

​Here's how we did it. 

If you want a memorable backdrop for your ceremony, you emphasize contrast.

• Contrast bright colors with soft pastel colors. We showcased these insanely beautiful coral charm peonies with pops of peach, yellow, and lavender flowers. This makes the colors pop out more to achieve the vibrant look.
• Contrast size. Again, the peonies are a big headed flowers so we complimented them with smaller headed flowers, which offers more interest to the eye.
  
• Contrast texture. Fluffy petals (i.e., peonies and carnations) against smooth round petals (yellow ranunculus, lavender lisianthus) is a simple way to make an arrangement more sophisticated. 
  
• Contrast greenery. Solomon's seal has a traditional shaped leaf that is green throughout. We paired this with Euonymus, which is a common plant you may see in residential/retail landscaping, that has yellow and green leaves. This is was a great way to tie on the yellow flowers for a complete look. 
  

Would you believe me if you looked at the two photos above and I said that was in someone's backyard? 

It's true! 

Even though everything was in the backyard, it certainly didn't feel like it once the tent, goblet style vases, lighting, candles, loose greenery and centerpieces filled the long tables. It may seem obvious, but all the little tiny details matter if you want to elevate your space and make a statement. 

This is where you Event Coordinator really comes into play and Jodi Raphael Events did not disappoint! A hired planner has the expertise to know how to set up a space properly so everything could fit even if it's in a tiny space like a backyard! More than that, they know what type of silverware, linens, cups/goblets to pick for the most romantic tablescape. 

For the centerpieces, we used the same contrasting principles from the chuppah in these garden style arrangements. The end result? Vibrant colors in a lush, garden style arrangement to to give the space a pop while tying everything together. ​

I've been noticing that smaller bouquets are becoming more of a thing and believe it or not, they're actually a lot harder to make! 

Danielle did not want a giant bouquet but one that followed the theme of, "simple, but elevated." 

Small does not mean cheap or plain! We focused on ​simplicity. This means, going back to foundational flower principles: color, shape, size.

 You don't have to be a florist to be able to spot a bouquet that has all 3 foundations:

• Do the colors blend and work together to achieve your overall feel?
• Are there flowers with a round shape, star shape, linear shape so that there's more visual interest and movement?
• Is there variation in size with large, medium, small flowers so that the bouquet is balanced? 

These are simple foundations but without them, you could get a very different style of bouquet that may not be what you want. 

Talk to your florist so that both of you have a very clear understanding on the overall vision, size, and feel. This is so important! 

Biggest perk with having a backyard wedding: 
Dancing on the street with your new spouse outside your childhood home after your wedding.
That sounds lovely to me. 

Vendors:

Florist: Grace Flora Studio
Coordinator: Jodi Raphael Events 
Photographer: Jemima Richards
Catering: Max Ultimate Food
Beauty: Beauty Boston Artistry
Rentals: Peak Event Services
Bridal Gown: Vows
Grooms Suit: Indocinno
Brass trio: Occasional Brass and Strings

When I first stepped foot at Misselwood Events at Endicott College, I knew this was going to my favorite Boston venue and I wasn't even the one getting married! 

To me, it was the best of both worlds - the ocean and historical architecture. 

Allow me to take you through a little walk through of Melissa and Mark's dream wedding. ​

The Misselwood estate is the perfect backdrop for photos, including a balcony (Aladdin vibes anyone?), a gorgeous library with classic black and white checkered tiles (Beauty and the Beast!), and a sunroom filled with ceiling to floor windows. It's definitely got the Disney magical touch. 

Talk about plenty of photo ops just around this charming estate! 

If you're having a New England wedding, it doesn't get much better than having the Atlantic Ocean right behind you as you say your vows. It's truly an unforgettable experience for guests and all to enjoy. 

For all those rose haters out there, Melissa's bouquet is for you! The inspiration for her bridal bouquet was bright, fun garden party with zero roses. Her bouquet featured pink and fuchsia peonies, freesia, delphinium, campanula and Queen Anne's lace.

Seasonal, fragrant, and definitely fun summer garden party. 

If you love the outdoors but don't want your guests to freeze or worry about bugs at night, Misselwood Events has it all. Their climate controlled tent is adorned with chandeliers and wall sconces and can seat 200 people. There are also French doors that open to a courtyard for cocktail hour and mingling to still enjoy the Oceanview. 

For Melissa and Mark's reception flowers, they thrifted all their vases and we filled it with seasonal, wild garden flowers like feverfew, Veronica, asters, blushing bride, Queen Anne's lace and peonies. 

Reminiscing about this day makes me want to come back here! If you're curious about planning a wedding here, let's talk! 

Don't forget to check out the all star vendor team below.

Vendors
​Photography: Lensy Michelle Photo
Venue: Misselwood Events at Endicott College
Wedding Planner: M+E Forever Events
Flowers: Grace Flora Studio
Bakery/Cake: The Whoopie Wagon
Ice Cream Truck: Cool Cow Ice Cream 
Ceremony Music: Lily Belknap Honigberg
Dress/Tux Designers: Anomalie 
Rings: Boston Ring And Gem
Invitations: Bubbly Designs
Band/DJ: Elevated Pulse Productions
Hair & Makeup: The Artists Hair and Makeup 
Transportation: Salter Transportation Inc.

It seems like one of the popular wedding and décor trends for 2021 and 2022 is boho chic. Typically, boho chic describes an earthy, ethereal, effortless vibe that incorporates dried flowers. It often involves a neutral color palette with accents of terracotta, burnt orange, blush, peach, or darker tones. 

While this is becoming super popular, it is also pricy because dried flowers typically cost more than fresh flowers.

How do you create a boho chic look without breaking the bank? 
The key to a budget-friendly, boho chic look, is curating the perfect balance of dried and fresh flowers that has variation in shape, texture, and dimension. You do not have to get loads of pampas grass (which is expensive) to make your arrangement look full. Using something like dried sun palms, which has a large width and is less expensive than the large pampas grass can help you cut costs. Nailing down your focal flower is also important. This is the flower your eye is first drawn to. I like my focal flower to either have an accent color and/or be largest and most unique flower. 

To create this arrangement, I focused on an earthy and elegant aesthetic, with a pop of terracotta as my accent color. 

Focal Flower
I was super excited to use toffee roses as the star of this arrangement. Especially with a neutral color palette, your eye is immediately drawn to the toffee rose. Quite literally, the color is a toffee, caramel, terracotta color which pairs really well with dried flowers. 

Secondary Flowers
For a soft, romantic touch, I used quicksand roses, white ranunculus, and white freesia. For texture, I used white astilbe, chocolate queen anne's lace, dried sun palm, and dried bunny tail. For height, I used white snapdragon.

​Foliage 
Dusty miller was a perfect compliment to this arrangement. Its velvet texture and silver blue/green color was a great way to tie in everything! 

To add to this compote vase arrangement, you can pair it with an assortment of bud vases filled with a dried and fresh flower. 

For more ideas on how to make a seasonal wreath, check out How to Make a Modern Christmas Wreath - Two Ways. This is a great DIY project to make with your kids, for a bridal shower, or birthday!  ​