Our world is shaking over at Margot Blair Floral, and I mean that in the absolute best way possible. Are you feeling excited? Well, we're not releasing a lot of details yet, but let's just say that this about sums it up.

Dreams do come true.  Keep them big.

"Blush and Bashful"

"Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment." - Claude Monet

I think we all feel for Claude. Color has a way of grabbing us and holding us captive, spurring us to make impulsive purchases for no other reason than that "this towel is the absolute perfect shade of coral-y salmon." Maybe that is why the color palette of their wedding is one of the most favored topics amongst brides. It requires no budget nor any permission, merely some nostalgia for one's favorite hues and an affinity for the imagination.

When it comes to choosing the palette for your wedding, my only rule is that it is not allowed to be a color (singular), but, instead, must be made up of an array of colors (plural), and in this case, "colors" means more than two. It is a mistake that I see brides make time and time again. They confine themselves to an imaginary boundary, feeling that everything has to match exactly. Please don't do this to yourself, it's not worth it. A well-balanced design needs variation, otherwise details will begin to look contrived. But how do you design a palette that has enough variety without looking like nothing more than a high-class circus? The process is a lot simpler than you think.

Everyone has a color that speaks to them, perhaps that they've always identified with, one that lights them up inside. That's your color. And it's also the starting point from which you will build the rest of your palette. Now, of course, every color has many different shades within its family. Knowing whether "your" shade falls within the cool or warm spectrum will cue you on the direction you want to head with the rest of your color selections. This rule can be broken, and is, therefore, not a rule. But for the color sheepish, staying within either the cool or warm color fields is a good way to insure that your palette doesn't go too far off into left field. Still worried about that circus? Another option is to stick within the color family all together. If red is the color choice, mixing in shades of wine and blush will keep the look monochromatic without being flat. In other words, the best of both worlds.

For the bold and adventurous, your options are literally endless. If electric yellow gives you your jollies, by all means, go with it. Maybe mix in some softer shades of pink to keep it grounded, a pop of orange for an even bolder accent, and of course a few well chosen neutrals to tie it all together. Yep, we just took it there. And you have my full permission to steal it. I'll even provide you with the color chips below.

Dream big, my friends.

We use this stationary in our rotation of thank you cards that come out of the flower shop and, somehow, I only just realized that they are part of a whole invitation suite... It's a good Sunday.

I'm a little bit excited. Just a bit.

Thank you, Elum Designs. 

One Flower Wonder

There is a saying that we've all heard, all like to ignore, and eventually all have come to realize as true:  Sometimes, simple is better. Leonardo da Vinci is actually quoted as saying, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." You know, according to the internet.

I don't know if Mr. da Vinci dealt much with flowers, but today I feel like he is speaking to my soul. Don't get me wrong, I love the voluptuous, over-flowing flower arrangements that are flooding the wedding market as much as the next person does, but I can't deny that the overwhelming urge to return to something more refined is taking over me. I think of Calvin Klein, who had the fashion bravado to present a collection centered on clean lines and purposed minimalism when everyone else was still marching out models that looked like Madonna.  And in so doing, he managed to present the style that would come to define a decade. Bravo, CK. Bravo.

So let's call this my Pre-Fall fashion show, featuring a collection based solely on one not-so-humble flower. I present to you, The Ranunculus by MB.

Color Story: Fall Preview

So we're working on our fall flower collection over in these here parts, listening to a lot of James Taylor while we do it. And to be perfectly honest, I'm so seriously happy (and inspired) by how it's coming together, I just have to share a little taster.

It's no secret that I have a long standing love affair with the color orange. And I stand by my claim that it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I'm a Texas Longhorns fan (Hook 'em!).  I mean, how can you not love orange? There's just something about it... It's fun and bright, not too girly and not too masculine, and well, it just makes me happy. So it's no surprise that every time I start working up a color palette, orange usually finds its way into the mix. But for a fall collection, you start flirting dangerously close to Halloween shenanigans when orange is involved. Add black and all you see is pumpkins and witches. And while that's not exactly the look that I'm going for, those colors are definitely what comes to mind when I start dreaming of weather that doesn't make you feel like you're dying and the earth seems to suddenly slow down and prepare itself on its journey to a new beginning.

Below you see where this all has landed me, with a color palette that is as luscious and dark as it is light-hearted and cheery. I hope you find it as inspiring as I do, and I can't wait to reveal the full fall collection to you in the coming months. Stay tuned, my dears.

Credits, from top left:

Cest la Vie, Machteld M, UDN1, Vintage LA,

William Valle, Halit Volkan Cengiz, Ruffled, Thirlby, Le Magnifique

Daryl Feril

 

Flower Bombing, Banksy Style.

Fact:  I burn breakfast almost every single morning.  I'm an unapologetic phone call screener.  And, I must admit that the state of my car is an absolute joke.  No really, it's ridiculous. But even with all of these, shall we say, "flaws", people still seem to genuinely enjoy themselves when I'm around. I know, I'm shocked by it too.

So there I was one morning, drinking my coffee as my house was filling up with smoke, wondering if this same perplexing equation can be applied to the bucket of leftover flowers I had sitting in my kitchen. Were they in tiptop shape? No. Could I sell them to people? No. Were they still flowers? You betchya.  And are there any flowers that don't on some level make somebody happy? I mean, seriously, if people can like gerbera daisies, then really there's nothing that's impossible. So there you have it. Fact: Even somewhat haggard, not-so-perfect flowers can still be enjoyed by someone, somewhere.

And so came about my Banksy-esque practice that I like to call "Flower Bombing." While this probably just boils down to the fact that I was raised by a hippy and hate to throw anything away, I'm going to pretend like it was a small stroke of genius on my part. But in reality, the idea is simple: take any and all leftover flowers that find their way into my presence, arrange them in a vase that I don't mind losing, and stealthily leave them in a public place for everyone's enjoyment. I'm still not quite sure whether or not this is illegal, so for the record, I don't claim this. But even if it is illegal, I wouldn't mind having "Giving Flowers To People" come up as a part of my criminal history. So here's a little photo evidence of what you might want to keep your eyes open for as you wander around Austin...

The First "Date"

The scene:  In a little coffee shop somewhere in the vicinity of the socially accepted area of where it's cool to be seen, I sit drinking my grande Americano with two sugars and cold soy. I don't want to come straight out of the gate as my usual, somewhat absurd self, so I've arrived a bit early to collect my thoughts and settle down a bit. I try to stay occupied on my iPhone and blankly look at my day planner in effort to not creep out the strangers sitting around me who I feel obligated to make eye contact with, giving them the opportunity to confess that I'm the person they are there to meet.  Every time the door opens I watch the newcomers walk in.  I'm lost in thought, wondering if those gangly hipster boys meant to look like sisters or if it was just an awkward coincidence, when suddenly I hear my name. I look up to see a fashionably dressed woman, nervously clutching a stack of bridal magazines and looking for some sign of reassurance that she has come to the right place. "Are you Margot?" she asks. "Yes, but you can call me Carly. Please, have a seat! I'm so glad to finally meet you."

And so begins the initial consultation between a bride and their florist.  Each time the scene plays out rather similarly. It's a process that has become like second nature on my end, and yet always seems a bit confronting to my less accustomed guest.  Knowing this, my team took to the task of putting together some helpful pointers on how to simplify the daunting task of planning the absolute best part of your wedding (in my completely unbiased opinion). Have a looksy, and let me know if we missed anything.

"When am I going to see you?"

Typically you want to have your florist booked at least six months before the big day.  But if your wedding is slated for a popular month like June or October, you'll need to change up your game plan a bit. These months have been known to book out well over a year in advance, so you'll want to be on your toes.

"I know that you know that I already know."

1) Your Venue: This will influence the overall feel and style of your wedding more than anything else.  With that picked out, you'll know whether or not you'll need large scale pieces to fill up an empty loft, or low lush centerpieces that better suit the intimate setting of a garden party. You get the idea.

2) The Numbers: Granted, there are a lot of numbers involved in a wedding, but these are the heavy hitters you'll need to know:
- Expected guest count (so you know how many tables you'll need, etc.)
- People in the wedding (How many bouquets? Boutonnieres? Is Grandma gonna let you put a corsage on her?)
- The Budget... (All jokes aside, this is always my least favorite question on a consultation, but it's important that you at least have a ballpark range so you know how far it needs to stretch. We'll talk more about how to set your budget in a later post. Stay tuned.) 

"What would you like me to say?"

Understandably, sometimes words fail us, especially when it gets down to the details. But if you're having trouble finding the words to express what you are looking for, let the pictures do the talking.  Feel free to bring absolutely as many pictures as you can carry, but be prepared to be specific. Is it the color of the bouquet that you like or is it the shape? Do you have a picture of the dress? Bring that. A swatch card for your linens? That's a good one. Your pug named Noodle who will be walking you down the aisle? Go ahead and bring that too.  All in all, the more visuals you can give about what inspires you, the better able your florist will be at giving you exactly what it is that you see in your head. And isn't that what everybody wants?!


{ Obligatory plug:  We at Margot Blair Floral are here to help you plan the flowers of your dreams.  Call us today to set up your complimentary consultation!! *Wink* }

Behind the Scenes: Criers

I stumbled across this picture of the ever so lovely Amanda and myself, as she saw her bouquet for the first time. She was a crier. I love it when they cry.

Photo courtesy of Apryl Ann Photography  (...one of my faves.)

Behind the Scenes: Photo Shoot with Real Magazine

Last week we were able to collaborate with some top-notch vendors on a photo shoot for Real Magazine's February wedding issue (PS:  Our flowers will be on the front cover.)  The shoot was on location at Lustre Pearl on Austin's ever more popular Rainey Street.  It was wet and hazy, and cold as all get out, so we moved the shoot inside... Not the original plan, but it couldn't have been more perfect.

These are just a few photos I took with my beloved iPhone, but trust me, I'll be posting the real pics just as soon as I see them.  Stay tuned...

Emily Leach, one of the most talented women in the Austin wedding scene and owner over at Bird Dog Wedding, working her magic on the windows.  

Flowers and the bar at Lustre Pearl, two of my favorite things.

The Broken Hearted

As a die-hard Facebooker, lately I have watched the ticker on my feed to see all too many of my friends' statuses change from "in a relationship" to "single." And while this is without a doubt the number one reason that you will never see me change my relationship status, it is also the reason that I sit here writing this post.

It's not often that you will see someone in my industry talk about the taboo subject of a broken heart.  After all, my livelihood is dependent upon the climax of a successful match up.  Even with that being the case, I don't feel that any of us would be doing ourselves a favor to ignore the reality that, despite our best efforts, sometimes love simply doesn't work out. I say this with confidence as the self-accepted roadkill of the relationship world.  I have been disappointed by love more times than I care to admit, each time making the solemn swear to myself that I'll never let it happen again. But truth be told, I kind of feel sorry for the poor schmucks out there who have never had their heart broken. 

I could go on about how we shouldn't define ourselves by a relationship, and how you're probably better off now that it's over. But let's be honest, anybody going through a breakup is more than likely in the pits of despair right now, and there's nothing anybody can say to make it better. And from that despair comes long lonely nights spent trying to numb the pain, followed by even worse mornings of realizing that it's still there... And he's still not. And then come the countless hours of crying so hard that you begin to feel nauseous, the phone calls from well meaning friends that only remind you of your loss, and the weeks spent avoiding your old hangout spots for fear that you might see him. Starting to sound familiar?  If so, then you, my dear, have had your poor little heart broken.

We all have the opportunity to take away what we choose from the loves that were not.  For some it is the value of the lessons learned about themselves and the mistakes to avoid in the future. For me, is was the overwhelming reminder that I am in fact human.  And that as painful as it was to have my heart on my sleeve, it was the only way I learned just how much I can love another human being.  And with that comes the hope of knowing that, one day, I will find someone that loves me just as much.

But anybody that has never had their heart broken doesn't understand these things. It's a right of passage of sorts, life lessons that only those that have been drug through the mud are privileged to know.  And for that reason, I feel sorry for them. And for that reason, I feel proud of us!  So if you now find yourself in the pits of despair, just go with it.  You will in fact survive.  And you will one day find yourself on the other side, proud of yourself, and ready to try again.

{ Meet Lindsay }

When the caterer told me that the bride I was about to meet with worked for Anthropologie, I must say, I became a little biased. Considering that I tell people that my flower style is "Anthro meets J. Crew", I had a feeling that this, bound to be well dressed, girl and I were going to get along.  And...well... I was right.

One rainy Wednesday afternoon, we sat in a little cafe in the Houston Heights (That's right ladies, I travel.) and sipped on our coffee as we talked about our families (coincidentally, we both brought our mothers to the appointment...hers sat in on the chat, mine was hiding incognito in the corner), our dogs (we have matching great danes), and eventually we got around to discussing what we came for, her destination wedding in the one and only Austin, TX.  And THAT is the moment that I knew I had found my florist-to-bride soul mate.

Lindsay came to the appointment with a decoupaged board that she made of all the magazine cutouts she had collected. So needless to say, the girl knew what she wanted.  But after telling me her ideas of corals and yellows, and succulents as far as your eye can see, she stopped.  And then she said the three little words that every creative professional would give their left kidney to hear... "I trust you." And from that moment forward, she sat back and let us do our job, that of taking our client's ideas and using our creative mojo to give them a product that far surpasses what they ever dreamed possible. And do our job we did!

The ceremony site was in an old, empty dance hall where we created a backdrop using tissue paper flower balls of all colors and sizes.  The boutonnieres included small clam shells, which is what the groom used to hide the ring in during his underwater proposal. We created brightly colored bouquets using poppies and ranunculus in various shades of pinks, oranges, and yellows, nestled in with Coral Charm peonies for the bridesmaids and Bowl of Cream peonies for the bride.  And of course, there were succulents.  Lots and lots of succulents.  The long banquet tables at the reception were covered with an assortment of vases and bottles holding all of the flowers used in the rest of the wedding and off set by tall tins housing gloriously colored grafted cacti.  I'm not going to lie, I had no idea what a grafted cactus was before this.  But when I saw them, I knew I had to have them, and the end result shocked even me.

All in all, Lindsay and Dirk will go down in history as some of my favorite clients of all time.  And thanks to Karen Theresa's photography, the pictures are one for the books as well.  Enjoy.