photo by Corbin Gurkin
Spring is finally blooming! Of course, one of the biggest things brides consider (or should consider) when choosing when they would like to marry, and what they would like to carry is the season. Many popular blooms can be available almost year round from various international farms, but some flowers are specific to the season in which they grow. Of course one of the most coveted Spring blooms is the lily of the valley. Carried on their own or as an accent, I can’t think of a Spring flower that says “bridal” more.
photos by Corbin Gurkin and Gayle Brooker
Depending on the weather here in Charleston, we can source some really beautiful gardenias early and hydrangeas in late Spring. Both can be a bit tricky to use in wedding flowers though since they love water. But, if it’s not too hot of a day and you ask your florist to have backups on standby, using them as boutonierres or in bouquets can be a beautiful addition. Be careful with touching the gardenias too much because that can brown them quickly.
photos by Corbin Gurkin
The idea of seeing colors and textures of the season mixed together make for a really lovely design palette. I think of color blends like pale greens, blues, and purples; or pastels with pops of brights. Lilacs, sweet peas, and tulips come together for a colorful and fragrant but not overpowering mix.
photo by Adrienne Page
For a bride wanting to stay all white in the spring- this blend of peonies, sweet peas, and ranunculus is so picture perfect.
photos by Liz Banfield
Bright color blends are totally perfect making their debut at spring weddings. Corals, pinks, peaches, blend for a bright but sophisticated look. Then, there are the branches, of course. Cherry blossom branches, pear blossom branches, azaleas, dogwoods, etc are all glorious blooms that we use whenever we can get! The statement pieces used throughout this wedding included oversized pots full of pink hydrangea and sprouting branches.
photo from Pinterest
I found this chart years ago on Pinterest as to the meaning of specific flowers and even broken down by color in some cases- it’s a great reference tool if you want to compile a bouquet with meaning or to display a certain sentiment.
Next, I’d like to introduce 
Finally, artist 
I was so honored when asked to participate in the 2017 Paris edition of the 
Walking around and exploring doors is one of my most favorite things to do… Last year after exploring doors in Italy, I came home and painting my front door a color that I couldn’t get out of my head. And, we have done a lovely wedding where the bride loved a particular door knocker and we incorporated it throughout the design.
My friend and fellow event professional, Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York, and I wandering the streets together…
Of course, just absorbing all of the surroundings could take up your entire trip. I’m more of a culture buff than architecture, but I couldn’t help being overwhelmed by all there was to see.
The ceiling here of the Palais Garnier is spectacular, just the detail and time it must have taken to go into it… And, you can rent this space for events, I can just see designing a wedding here- add to goal list!
The view from the top was spectacular.. We had lunch at the Jules Verne restaurant, and I even got to witness the cutest couple sitting next to me get engaged! Could not have been more perfect.
There were incredible experiences lined up for us… Some of my favorites were perusing the Picasso Museum, the cooking class at Alain Ducasse’s Le’Ecole de Cuisine , and going to the original Hermes store. It’s always been a dream of mine to live in Paris for the summer to go the Le Cordon Bleu, so a glimpse of this at the Alain Ducasse school reignited that even more. 
This is why Paris is called the City of Lights!
