My Dream Come True!

Last weekend I was able to check something off of my bucket list. Attend a Holly Chapple Design class. The class was held at Koehler and Dramm in Minneapolis, MN and it did not disappoint. 

Kohler and Dramm is a large floral wholesaler based out of Minneapolis. There supplies and fresh product is outstanding. To wander through their coolers and show room floor is a treat. 

Every spring they have a wedding design show and usually a class the following day and this year they brought in Holly Chapple to teach her Hollyish design techniques. It was awesome. 

I have followed Holly on social media for a long time. I admire her work, business philosophy, how she has been a mother of 7 and wife while she has built her business and also how real and transparent she is. 

The trend is for big bouquets that are loose, full and textural. Last season I tried many times to get that look and accomplished it to some degree but when putting the finishing touch on the handle of the bouquet it would pull the top in closer and totally ruin the look I was going for. I love the look and was so frustrated!! 

Then along comes this opportunity to learn from Holly Chapple who has perfected this technique and is a boss at it. 

Holly starting off class giving a little background on her and her business. 

Here Holly is starting to explain the construction of her magic chicken wire egg. 

Ready for class. I have my garden roses wired (this is new for me to wire roses) when Holly explained it I understood it and it worked like a charm

My first ever "chicken wire egg."

Some of the talented florist who have a desire to learn and grow along with some beautiful product from Kohler and Dramm

Sweet Peas!!! Gorgeous, and the smell was intoxicating. Just some of the beautiful product that Koheler and Dramm had for us to use. 

My first Hollyish bouquet. I loved the technique. I really was able to take advantage of the egg and give the bouquet that spread that I was looking for. I could use some more practice to use a little less greens which is the advantage of this style but over all I was pleased for my first attempt. Who am I kidding I felt like a new mom with her first baby! 

The chicken wire egg is also used for centerpieces and urns. Here we used it for a centerpiece. So many things I would change about this centerpiece after studying it in this picture. I decided to put it up with all of its imperfections. After all, this was a class, where you learn and grow. That is why I went. There are advantages to doing this and I am looking forward to giving it a try this wedding season. You lucky 2017 brides. 

The class then helped to make a table scape using the supplies and techniques we had just learned. Holly answered questions and continued to share how she has built her business and her how to's for growth in all areas.
I find these times when we are together as florist and especially wedding and event florist to be so valuable. They add to me and my business in ways that are unexplainable. 

The class proudly showing off their Hollyish bouquets.

The lady herself, Holly Chappel. 

They say if you don't have a picture then it didn't really happen.
It happened!! 

Thank you Kohler and Dramm for putting this together and making these opportunities available.
It was outstanding.

A Day At The Blank Park Zoo

    

    First looks are such a special moment and photographers have the pleasure of capturing  that                         

    Moment. 

    A first look that takes place out in the Blank Park Zoo for a couple that both have their degree in 

    Zoology, perfect.  

   

All of these fantastic photos courtesy of The Berded Studio

Location for this event was The Blank Park Zoo.

To Move or Proceed Away From A Place

To move or to proceed away from a place sure sounds better than to quit.

So I am here to announce that I am moving away from a place and proceeding to another and doing something that I love and giving it my full devotion. 

I cannot believe how amazing the year of 2015 was!  

I flowered for over 40 couples in Des Moines and central Iowa, designed several corporate parties and a few bridal and baby showers along the way. I also helped a couple of friends celebrate the lives of loved ones and honored their memories with flowers. 

Today I am working from my home office. But, Brenda, don't you usually work from your home office? Nope, and here is why. 

For the last 6 years while building As You Wish I have worked a part-time job. And this job was a blessing to me. I was able to work around my schedule for weddings, events and client meetings. In the evenings I researched, wrote proposals and meet with more clients and dreamed of the day I would have a free evening. Well not all the time but I did think about it.  

But now….duntadada! I am full time as a wedding and event florist. Pursuing the dream I have had for the last 6 years. 

I am so excited!! This year has started off with a huge BANG! And it just keeps on getting better and better. Keep checking back to see beautiful pictures and tales of a Des Moines wedding florist.   

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Her Two Favorite Things

This was a Christmas gift that one of my 2015 brides received from her husband. He told her that it had two of her favorite things from their wedding in it, his suit and her bouquet!  

How sweet is that. That is pretty special and I could not have been happier seeing this. Love it!  

Here is where he got that beautiful print made, plakthat.com 

Winter Wedding at The Barnes Place in Adel, IA

Blush Winter Wedding at The Des Moines Botanical Center

Winter wedding

Josh and Ali

When I met with Ali she had a very clear picture of what she wanted her flowers to look like.  Ali's wedding was in October of 2014 and when we met for our first consultation there was still snow on the ground. Ali started planning her wedding flowers early.  

Ali chose purple as her main color for her flowers.  Her bridesmaids wore black and carried purple and white flowers that included white gerbera daisies with black centers, Purple Carnations, White Cushion Mums and Lavender Stock.  

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, this first picture of Ali with her bouquet.  Ali and her sparkly, glitzy necklace and earrings are stunning and a perfect compliment to her dress.  And her bouquet in purple and white is so striking and vivid. Ali's bouquet was made up of Picasso Calla Lilies, White Dahlias, White Button Mums, White Lisianthus and Purple and Lavender Stock.  

They held their ceremony at the Saints Center Saints Center in Stuart, IA.  A beautiful and historic land mark in Stuart.  

The way that this building has been restored and is now used as an event center is amazing.  The lighting, tall ceilings and the mix of the old with the new makes a striking venue for many different occasions.