An Oregon Adventure
Laura has spent the better part of a year trying to tell me that as soon as I visited I wouldn't want to leave. To which, I'd promptly say, "Yeah OK, not gonna happen". Well it turns out the stranger sitting next to me on the flight over and Laura were right.
I love traveling but I'm always ready to be back in my own bed and living my Florida life after about 5 days of a trip. This time was a bit different. I met Laura and Eric when I first visited Social House. After casually chatting with Laura, it didn't take long for me to have a real feeling that we'd probably definitely hopefully become friends. Fast forward three years, friends is an understatement, and I'm hopping a plane to visit for her birthday and see this magical place she's been gushing about for as long as I've known her. I was on the other side of the country but I immediately felt at home as I was scooped up and toted about town.
We had spent the past two years sitting in Social House together, with Laura zooming in on Google maps so I could see the location of her various stories- and now I was seeing it in real life. I was seeing every mood board she had shared with me come to life in her perfectly designed homes, I was tasting wine I had been introduced to miles away in the Social House wine bar back in Florida, but now I was on the actual property where it was grown and produced. It felt like a total dream and it still does.
The next day the rest of our crew started arriving and surprising. Desiree and Eric O. landed and waited for Frankie and GA's surprise arrival. After a day of wine-ing we were finally all together, birthday surprise mission accomplished and sitting around a picnic table, drinking at a local brewery, eating the tastiest wood fired pizza.
The rest of the week was full of laughs, grand ideas, road trips, hugs, picnics, cooking, and of course wine. Lots and lots of wine. Our little Social House family was complete and buzzing off the Oregon air. I spent time in the garden trimming blooms for arrangements, Frankie made frittatas, Eric O. assembled furniture, GA attended town hall meetings, Laura menu planned, Desiree and Eric disappeared for hours on end grocery shopping and having their own bestie adventure. It was perfect.
Laura has spent the better part of a year trying to tell me that as soon as I visited I wouldn't want to leave. To which, I'd promptly say, "Yeah OK, not gonna happen". Well it turns out the stranger sitting next to me on the flight over and Laura were right.
Photography | Coviello Photo
Vacation Rental | View and Vine Park
Wineries | L'Angolo, Brooks, Stoller Family Estate
Sarah + Dennis | Private Residence
Sarah and Dennis celebrated their wedding on her parent's south Florida farm and the day couldn't have been more magical. Sarah wanted to incorporate a wild flower aesthetic in her wedding day florals, which allowed us to source a variety of small dainty blooms and vines in an array of colors including marigold, pink and shades of purple.
I could do private residence weddings and parties for the rest of my life. There is something so immediately intimate about a couple tying the knot on a property that is somehow linked to their family. Sarah and Dennis celebrated their wedding on her parent's south Florida farm and the day couldn't have been more magical. Sarah wanted to incorporate a wild flower aesthetic in her wedding day florals, which allowed us to source a variety of small dainty blooms and vines in an array of colors including marigold, pink and shades of purple.
Photography | Alex Wisted Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Nathalia + Josh | Kai Kai Farms
There's just something magical about Kai Kai Farm. Every time I drive out there I can breathe easier and feel immediately refreshed. The expansive farm provided the perfect natural backdrop for Josh and Nathalia's wedding day.
There's just something magical about Kai Kai Farm. Every time I drive out there I can breathe easier and feel immediately refreshed. The expansive farm provided the perfect natural backdrop for Josh and Nathalia's wedding day. For florals we kept everything fresh and neutral with a touch of a romantic blush. Josh and Nathalia are such a hospitable couple, they even sent us coffee beans from their favorite roaster to keep us moving through wedding season. It's those little moments we remember most and cherish for years to come.
Photography | Sal Sued
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Desiree Dawn Events
Catering | Hampton Forks
Venue | Kai Kai Farm
Pastries | Wildflour Baking
Allyson + Justin | The Seagate Beach Club
Allyson + Justin’s generosity and genuine excitement over the entire day, and their love for one another will always be a little moment that I treasure. These photographs feel like a breath of fresh air, just like the love they share for one another and shared with their closest friends and family that day.
When I say I have the best clients I genuinely mean it, and Allyson and Justin are just another example. I'll always fondly remember our phone calls, design meetings, and the creative freedom they both gave me. The night of their wedding, as I was breaking down, Allyson ran over to me and said she really hoped I would be there and she'd be able to see me. She yelled "Justin" from across the room, and ran over to grab him. They both gushed about how perfect their day was, expressing that is really was the best day of their lives. They were thrilled with the flowers and gave me the warmest hugs. I rarely have those moments with the couple after the dancing ends and the guests start to board trolleys. Their generosity and genuine excitement over the entire day, and their love for one another will always be a little moment that I treasure. These pictures feel like a breath of fresh air, just like the love they share for one another and shared with their closest friends and family that day.
Photography | The Harmons
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Hair + Makeup | Marz and Co.
Venue | The Seagate Beach Club
Cake | Chic and Sweet Artisan Cakes
Laura + Dino | Miami Beach Woman's Club
My friendship with Laura started when my family moved back to Florida and I was plopped in a tight knit class of 36 kids who had already known each other for 4 years. I was the new girl and a quiet slightly uncomfortable 7 year old. I'm not entirely sure when Laura and I became inseparable but it happened pretty quickly and I just knew she was going to be my best friend to the end.
Laura and Dino...oh where to begin? My friendship with Laura started when my family moved back to Florida and I was plopped in a tight knit class of 36 kids who had already known each other for 4 years. I was the new girl and a quiet slightly uncomfortable 7 year old. I'm not entirely sure when Laura and I became inseparable but it happened pretty quickly and I just knew she was going to be my best friend to the end. We've spent countless hours together, growing up and learning about life. We've been side-by-side on the stage, on a cheerleading squad, in the music room, on art projects, on the swing set, and now on her wedding day. I treasure our friendship and our memories and couldn't imagine any guy truly deserving of her silly awkward compassionate and loyal self, but then there was Dino. They complete one another in every sense of the word. Each second is genuine, every moment is cherished, and they make each little piece of time spent together a memory that matters.
Creating the florals for Laura and Dino's wedding will always be a surreal moment. Seeing your longest friend marry her better half is priceless enough. But watching her walk down the aisle, holding a bouquet that was just in my hands moments ago, that is something that can never be replicated. I was so lucky to spend my childhood and early adult life with Laura right there next to me all along, and Dino is just about the most perfect person to take it from here.
Photography | Chelsea Erwin Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Engagement Ring | Catbird
Dress | BHLDN
Venue | Miami Beach Woman's Club
Stephanie + Cal | Gulf Stream Bath and Tennis Club Wedding
Cal and Steph's wedding marks the 4th time I've been able to design with and for friends and I'm so in love with how everything came together. Cal and Steph wanted something elegant while also being boldly tropical. Their ocean side reception was a little tropical oasis for the evening and the room was quickly filled with plenty of laughs and an electrifying dance party.
I've hit that time in my life where I'm lucky enough to create for friends and for their families. The first few years of business I mostly worked for clients who happened to find me on a vendor list or an internet search, which was amazing and allowed me to meet new people who I still keep in touch with. Cal and Steph's wedding marks the 4th time I've been able to design with and for friends and I'm so in love with how everything came together. Cal and Steph wanted something elegant while also being boldly tropical. For their ceremony we pulled in tropical leaves and more traditional flowers such as hydrangea and calla lilies to line the aisles and adorn an entry arch. When guests arrived at their reception, they were welcomed into a lush tropical affair with vines intertwined in large chandeliers, birds of paradise brightly popping up on tables, and greenery runners sprinkled with bright pops of color and textural florals. Their ocean side reception was a little tropical oasis for the evening and the room was quickly filled with plenty of laughs and an electrifying dance party.
Photography | Chelsea Erwin Photography
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Sheila Camp Motley Events
Rentals | Atlas Event Rentals
Venue | Gulf Stream Bath and Tennis Club
Dominique Albergo | West Palm Beach
This story starts all the way back in high school. I was a shy Sophomore, not entirely sure what I was doing in TV Production and Dom was a Junior who looked like she had this whole life thing figured out. Somehow I was welcomed into her group and we became instantly inseparable.
This story starts all the way back in high school. I was a shy Sophomore, not entirely sure what I was doing in TV Production and Dom was a Junior who looked like she had this whole life thing figured out. Somehow I was welcomed into her group and we became instantly inseparable. We called ourselves the quadpod because that's just how cool we were, and spent weekend nights eating too much Carrabba's takeout and weekdays looking forward to our lunch period. Our friendship has been full of laughs, two people dance parties to strange songs, real talks about boys and love, cooking, wine, pretzel pizza dough (its a long story), and High School Musical sing alongs in the pool. Most recently that friendship story included a wedding.
Designing and planning for a friend comes with a whole additional set of emotions. At first you're flattered and excited beyond all reason, and then it sinks in that if you somehow let this person down on their wedding day you could lose all of those years of friendship. Weddings are stressful, they conjure up a lot of emotion and things become a bit more heightened and sensitive. But if anything it made our friendship that much stronger and gave me an extra excuse to send texts and life updates to one of my closest friends. I'm forever grateful for my chosen career path and it is made even sweeter and more rewarding when it is all for a friend's big day.
Photography | Lauren Louise Photography
Floral Design + Planning | Port + Palm Co.
Catering | Christafaros
Lighting + Drapery | Celebrations by Kathy
Rentals + Linens | Atlas Event Rental
Venue | West Palm Beach Lake Pavilion
Courtney + Drew | Flagler Museum Wedding
Courtney and Drew wanted to welcome guests into an ethereal waterfront estate wedding. We filled their tables with lush greenery garlands with touches of white blooms incorporated throughout. Courtney's bouquet was a dreamy neutral collection of dainty hellebores, fluffy peonies, plush scabiosa, and champagne roses. Everything felt elegant and delicate, bringing the garden inside and setting the tone for a romantic wedding among the stars.
Courtney and Drew wanted to welcome guests into an ethereal waterfront estate wedding. We filled their tables with lush greenery garlands with touches of white blooms incorporated throughout. Courtney's bouquet was a dreamy neutral collection of dainty hellebores, fluffy peonies, plush scabiosa, and champagne roses. Everything felt elegant and delicate, bringing the garden inside and setting the tone for a romantic wedding among the stars.
Photography | Michelle March
Floral Design | Port + Palm Co.
Planning | Breeze Taylor
Catering | Chez Gourmet
Cake | Earth + Sugar