How I looked forward to this wedding!  I’m so blessed to work with so many wonderful brides, each with a unique personality and joie de vivre.  Leslie was so much fun to work with from start to finish.  Plus, she chose my favorite color to work with; purple! 

The bride and her maids await their procession.

The six o’clock ceremony was held poolside graced by massive urns of brightly colored florals designed by the Fountainview staff.  They featured a plethora of birds of paradise, pink torch ginger, dendrobium orchids and pink anthrium which had been flown in from Hawaii especially for the wedding combined with a multitude of shocking versilia roses, stargazer lilies, and other lovely seasonal flowers.  The aisle was decorated with custom bows and sprays of orchids and ti leaves, elegant rose covered pomanders at the mother’s seats, and a petal-lined aisle. 

The bride escorted down the aisle by her proud brother wore a stunning couture gown in an elegant ball gown style with a magnificent beaded bodice.  What a perfect gown for her.  Her tiara was the crowning touch for this beautiful bride.  Leslie carried an artistic freeform cascade featureing dendrobium orchids, stargazer lilies, vendella and esperanza roses for the focal flowers.  The classicly elegant shape worked so well with the full and flowy skirt of her gown.  Ceremony music was provided by the always elegant Melaney Jones.

The bridesmaids wore stunning purple gowns off-the-shoulder gowns.  The gowns were knee length which made them perfectly cool and yet dramatically elegant for an August evening wedding.  Their flowers showed the creativity and flexibility of the Fountainview floral design team.  While the original plan had been a free-form hand-tied look, I made up one in the hand-tied style and another in the cascading shape.  The freeform cascade won hands down with squeals of delight by the bride and her maids.  

Focal flowers included nerine lilies (one of my personal favorites that so few people know about), dendrobium orchids, birds of paradise, spray roses, shocking versilia roses, celosia, and loops of bear grass in evoking the shape of a heart.  They were so dramatic and the girls loved them.  The bridesmaids were perfectly coiffed from head to toe complete to the elegant purple shoes and hot pink nail color.  No detail was overlooked.

No detail was overlooked.

The men wore classic black tuxes enhanced by custom boutonnieres specially created for the day incorporating a piece of the bird of paradise and purple dendrobium orchid blossom with the stems wrapped in black ribbon and silver cording.  It was a high style yet very masculine look.

The bride selected dramatic table linens in a purple crinkle taffeta which made each table look like an elegant ball gown.  The gold chiavari chairs were graced with hot pink crinkle taffeta ties which provided dramatic color contrast.  The magnificent table arrangements featured soaring tropical inspired arrangements with birds of paradise, torch ginger, curly willow, and scores of roses, stargazer lilies and other seasonal flowers.  It’s always so much fun when a client is able to do major table arrangements as the end result is so impressive and such a conversation piece for the guests. 

Catering was by Christine’s gourmet and featured a large selection of gourmet fare including carved inside round, a mashed potato martini station, chicken quesadillas, plat bread pizza, and other seasonal favorites.  

Another faboulous cake by Robyn Fowler of Sonshine Cakes completed the picture perfect reception. 

Guests were also treated to an extensive candy station which is always a hit for guests of all ages.

Following the wedding, I was blessed to received the following note from the bride’s mother which meant so much:

Gary,

Wow where do I even begin, the day we met with you and talk about all the plans for the wedding and you told us that you would take care of everything and not to worry about anything just enjoy this special day. Little did I know you meant those words from the heart. You did an amazing job on making this day very special for Leslie and James and of course me as well.  Your entire staff was so nice to everyone in the wedding party and of course all of the guests.  We have had so many compliment on the wedding how everything was so beautiful and went so smoothly.  Your smiles and hugs and telling me you have everything under control meant more to me than anything.
The day Leslie and I came over to bring some things when she was having a moment and the minute you talk to her and gave her sneak peeks of her flowers meant so much to me  that you put the biggest smile on her face and when we left she was in such a better mood.   Gary we enjoyed working with you and thank you so much for making this beautiful day so special.  I keep seeing your smiling face asking me are you okay mom and giving me those everything is fine hugs, when I thought I should be stressing out you were taking care of me and for that I thank you.  Here is a pic of you and Leslie.

Teresa Tittle

Leslie and I (Gary, owner of Fountainview) catch our breath right before heading to the ceremony. What a delightful bride!