Submerging Flowers

The following tips and pictures are from Nancy Liu Chin Designs.  I think this is very helpful for a beautiful do it yourself flower arrangement.   The key to submerging flowers in a vase is to begin with a great vase. 24 to 30 inches tall  and unusual tapered vases work well. Of course, it’s important to put your own spin on it, so try different variations until you get it right. For this arrangement she  chose a tapered vase.

The other key element is selecting a flower that would look great submerged. Orchids work well for this look.

Believe it or not, some flowers don’t really work submerged. And others just look plain silly like hydrangea or carnations . There are many techniques for submerging.

For this project you will need:

• 1 27 inch tapered or pilsner vase
• 3 Stems of white phaleanopsis orchids (available in several colors) (shorter vase would require less flowers)
• Water
• Water crystals (optional)
• Shears
• Windex (or other glass cleaner)
• Towel

1) Make sure your vase is super clean. Remove any stickers and rinse out the inside of the glass. This really makes a difference.

2) Remove one or two blooms from each orchid stem so that you have a total of 5 blooms. Note, don’t remove them all from one stem.

3) Pour 3 inches of water into the tapered vase.

4) Line the 5 white orchid florets from small to large. Take the smallest orchid bloom and place delicately into the vase that has 3 inches of water.

5) Take the shortest stem of orchid. If they are about the same size, then just take any one stem. Remove and cut off excess stem. Place this stem into the vase. Fill with water so that it covers the entire stem.

6) Add in loose white florets to fill spaces when necessary. Add another stem of orchid. Continue to fill the vase with water. Make sure to leave 2 to 3 inches at the top.

Designer tip: Make sure that orchids face both sides of the container. Also, make sure when you insert the orchid stems that you put the bottom side in first. Don’t dunk the head of the flowers into the vase.

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DIY Wedding Reception Basics

Okay,  you can’t afford a reception in a lavish hotel,  that doesn’t  mean you can’t have a gorgeous party or wedding that you can do yourself with the help of family and friends.  Remember to plan the time of your event in such a way that your helpers can have time in the morning to set it up.  If this is not up your alley I’m sure you have a friend or relative who just loves doing this kind of thing and would be happy to step up to the plate.  The basics of this kind of affair can be done the day before (such as setting up tables, making decorations, getting the candles and flowers done, etc.) so just the last minute touches can be done the morning of.

First step:  Don’t be intimidated!  You (or Aunt Sue) can do this!  It does take some organization to help things go smoothly, this is where lists and pictures are very important.  Cutting out pictures from magazines gives you inspiration and helps you to picture what you are trying to accomplish.  Remember, your guests won’t have the picture of what you are trying to do and compare it to what you’ve done, so relax, they’ll just see a beautiful event and you (or Aunt Sue and her helpers) can have all the bragging rights.  Keep in mind this is not something you will be doing yourself, you want to enjoy the day before and the day of by pampering yourself and enjoying every moment of being the bride.   Aunt Sue and  your friends  will take over when it’s time to carry out your plans (or her plans).

Little white lights and votive candles,  if it’s an evening event,  will give it a very romantic look.

1) Group your “worker bees” into different categories.  One group sets up the tables and then sets them  (you might need some guys to help set up the tables and chairs, then they’ll be happy to leave so the fun stuff can begin), another  helps with decorating the tables another can work on the buffet, etc.  If you have at least a team of two for each task, that will work very well (you know what they say about “two heads being better than one”).  You’ll find those who love you are anxious to help if they can and would really enjoy it, and many just need some direction and they’re great assistants.

2)    Make up a list for each of your helper teams.

3)  The Buffet:

When your wedding reception guests enter the reception hall and see the buffet table you want to hear “Ohhhhs, and Ahhhhs!”

The appearance of your buffet is just as important as how good the food tastes.

So here’s what you need to do.

1. You need to go for the “eye appeal.” Colorful foods, fill in between the dishes colorful flowers, greenery, ribbons, streamers, or pyramids of fresh fruits and candles.

2. Have a special centerpiece ready. Ice sculpture, water fountain, fresh flowers, a heart, candelabra, etc.

3. Mirror every dish. In other words, have two dishes of the same food, one at each end of the table.

4. Elevate the food. Don’t put dishes of food all flat on the table. Use books to elevate the food under the tablecloth or napkins. Make a staircase of books for example.

5. Garnish the food trays. You don’t need to spend hours making wedding bells out of radishes but you must add something. Try these ideas.

Frame each dish with a lettuce leaf
Add parsley
Add huge fresh strawberries
Add melon slices, especially watermelon if possible
Add fresh pineapple chunks
Add fresh flowers.

Sample setup on an eight foot table

Plates, forks, and napkins are laid out nicely on the left front corner.
Next to it, a fruit  display
Center goes the finger sandwiches
Then another fruit  display
Then on the right of the table, goes the punch bowl and cups.
Next to the centerpiece, on each side, put a candelabra
On the right, behind the candelabra, put the pickles and olives etc.
On the left behind the other candelabra, put 2 trays of cheeses and vegetables

To sum up: The important thing to remember when creating an attractive buffet is to do different levels on the table.  You want high and low displays for flowers, the food, etc.  Once you cover the table with a cloth, you can turn pots upside down, large cans of food, empty boxes, etc. and cover them all with a matching tablecloth (scrunch them up so they drape over your props) and  they create different levels accross the table.

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Weddings by Color

From the time we are little girls, we usually have figured out what our favorite color is.  Often we keep that as our favorite color our whole lives.  Sometimes we change  according to what is in style at the time, or an image creates exciting expectations of what that color can do for us in dress, decor and a party or wedding.  Take for example these exquisite flower arrangements and colorful decor.  How perfect for an outdoor wedding, bridal shower, or rehearsal dinner.  Be inspired by color, not afraid of it.  Choose the colors of your event based on what makes you feel good.

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Wedding Makeup: Tammy Faye Baker – Not the look you’re going for

Pictures are the most important part of your wedding day. Memories that will last a lifetime. As a bride you  and your  bridal party should  look “picture perfect” for your most important day.  Soft and natural.  If you are doing your own makeup try these tips… foundation should hide imperfections yet be sheer enough to see your skin. Match your neck color.  You want to look like yourself but more polished. Keep it soft – this is not the day to try wild colors. Stay in the taupe’s and peaches and soft browns. Or try a soft coral pink with chocolate. Rim your eyes with a deeper color pencil in a waterproof formula . Follow with 3 coats of waterproof mascara (waterproof mascara is a must for those “tears of joy”), that will pop your eyes.

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DIY Flowers, Gorgeous and Inexpensive

You don’t need to be an expert to do a beautiful flower arrangement yourself.    When you bring your flowers home, fill a bucket with water and cut the bottom of the stems at a slant so they can soak up lots of water.  Place all your flowers in the bucket until you’re ready to arrange them.  Start with a bowl or vase that has a narrow opening (this helps you  because it holds them in place) Find flowers at our local market or Costco (along with your 55 gallon can of baked beans)  that have large heads. Today I found some gorgeous Peonies at Ralph’s (5 stems for $6.99 and I bought 2 bunches).  Tear off all the leaves , keeping them on their stems, and save them.  The trick for a novice flower arranger is to make a bouquet in your hand. The more bunches you use, the fuller the bouquet.  Keep all the heads of the flowers even.  Wrap a rubber band around the stems to hold what you’ve created in place.  You want the flowers to mound at the top of the bowl or vase so cut your stems evenly.   Fill in the base of the flowers with the leaves you saved to give it a finished look.  Here’s an example of how it should look (use more flowers than pictured)

This look can be accomplished with any flower, hydrangeas, daisies, roses, mums, lillies, etc.  It depends on the style of your wedding and, of course, your color scheme.  A beautiful bouquet can be made exactly the same way.  Cover the rubber band with satin ribbon wound around the stems and held in place with corsage pins (found at any craft store).

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