Summer is here, and what better way to cool down than with a fresh summer cocktail? Before you can entertain your guests with a refreshing pineapple margarita or a strawberry mint Moscow mule, you’ll need the right tools to make them. Be prepared this summer by checking out these 7 must have tools to make the perfect summer cocktail!
Introduced by a mutual friend when the groom moved to Houston for work in 2009, Leanne and West “instantly clicked,” the bride says. Lots more clicking came one fateful eve when the two arrived at their fave Tex-Mex spot for what the bride thought was a regular ol’ Saturday-night date. We’ll let her tell the tale in her own words: “When I reached the top of the stairs, on the way to our seat, I saw a table on the landing with flowers, candles and a frame that said, ‘Leanne and West, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, June 16, 2012?’ When I turned around, West was on one knee with the whole restaurant cheering him on as he proposed. Before he even put the ring on my finger, the curtains to the upstairs flew open and all of our family and friends were there waiting to celebrate with us. It was fantastic!” Nice work, Mr. Gotcher. The pair’s June wedding, with its “crisp, clean, summery” feel and Who Made The Cake creations—including a surprise groom’s cake in the shape of West’s favorite boots—treated more than 500 guests to an evening of dining (chicken-fried steak and green-tomato sliders, anyone?), dancing and general merriment. Big thanks to Chris Bailey for images of this fresh and fabulous Houston wedding, and big congrats to Leanne and West!
Photos: Chris Bailey Photography ~ Bride’s Dress: Christos from Mia Bridal Couture ~ Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik ~ Jewelry: Past Era Fine Antique Jewelry (her); Zadok Jewelers (him) ~ Cake: Who Made The Cake ~ Flowers: Bergner & Johnson Design ~ Lighting: Bright Star Productions ~ Coordinator: Keely Thorne Events ~ Venue & Catering: Houston Country Club
Herbs, blossoms, delicate spices—sounds like the recipe for a delicious spring treat. And it is!!
Photos: Aveda
We’re engaged in a major love affair with watercolor at the moment. The dreamy, soft-edged, ombré effect of this art form (think Paul Cezanne’s landscapes, Paul Klee’s abstracts, Georgia O’Keeffe’s magnificent flowers) is just so perfect for spring and summer weddings, we can’t get enough. Look for it in custom save the dates and wedding invitations, billowy chiffon destination-wedding dresses, table linens and plates—even shoes! And don’t forget to talk to your florist about creating a WOW watercolor effect with flowers like parrot tulips, peonies and hydrangeas. Lovely stuff!
Credits (Photos top to bottom, left to right): Ever After Papery, Anthropologie, Ovadia & Sons, Delia’s, ALDO, Printerette Press, Becky Hill Photography, Jen Aitchison
Photo courtesy Blooming Gallery
Doesn’t matter what the calendar says—summer is officially here. With today’s temperature looking to top 90 degrees, and the rest of the week, month and entire season likely to bring more of the same, it’s time to think about wedding flowers that can endure Houston’s notorious heat without a petal out of place.
If you’re planning a Houston wedding in the next few months, you’ll want to make sure you choose heat- and humidity-resistant blooms, particularly if any part of your wedding is scheduled to take place outdoors.
Among the heartiest, and loveliest, hot-weather floral picks, the intricate orchid is an enduring favorite. Despite their delicate, exotic appearance, orchids are extraordinarily well suited to maintaining their dewy appearance in even the steamiest weather conditions. Whether you choose clusters of six-petal dendrobiums or showy, dewy cymbidiums, you can’t go wrong with these sturdy plants in your bouquet or centerpieces. And for grooms and groomsmen, a single cymbidium makes a dashing boutonniere!
Photo by D. Jones Photography, courtesy Events in Bloom
The elegant, attenuated calla lily is another great summer wedding bloom. Choose mini callas in intense, vibrant shades—choices typically include gold, hot pink, scarlet and purplish-black—and have your floral provider create a simple, unadorned, hand-tied nosegay, or an ornate, jewel-accented bouquet.
Photo courtesy alovelymorning.blogspot.com
For centerpieces, you might try forgoing cut floral altogether. Succulent arrangements can be a stunning modern alternative to traditional tabletop floral. Succulents come in almost as many shapes and colors as cut flowers, but unlike conventional wedding flowers, they retain moisture in their leaves and stems, and can stand up to intense summer heat. Your floral vendor can create arrangements using floral foam and/or colored stones, bits of glass or other textured pieces for anchoring and additional color. Or use potted succulents that can double as guest favors when your celebration comes to a close.
