Rachel and Tim March 22nd  2014

Rachel and Tim Tompkins are one good looking couple! It was so fun to be apart of their wedding, even though the groom gave me some trouble (more about that later). There wedding was at the Old Laurelhurst Church, which is a cute old Spanish style church in east Portland. Rachel wanted a beautiful garden romantic look to the flowers with purple, greens and accent colors.  

This a shot of one of centerpieces photo by Heather Hurt

Rachel is a stunner one of the most radiant brides.

These chalk boards were a true team effort the frames painted by the bride, the inner chalkboard made by my husband, and the lettering done by our good friend Liesl Palmer of Plant Joy! Liesl is great at all things artsy, I think she needs to start a calligraphy business!

Ok! Here is the infamous boutonniere that the groom refused to wear! I was getting all the flowers sorted out to the grooms men and I find out that Tim is down at  park already taking pictures! So I take off running like a crazy person to the park with his boutonniere.  I finally catch up with them and he says he is not going to wear it! Well fine, but I am going to make you take a picture with it, Tim relented.  At least it looks good in these two pictures.

 Oh men why are so stubborn and why won't you let us put flowers on you?!   



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Better late than never, Styled Shoot Part 1

So way back in November of last year, I got together with a dress maker, a photographer, a stylist and some lovely models at Leach Botanical Gardens (which is a lovely place and wedding venue).  The idea was to showcase some of our recent work and create some lovely and inspirational images.

 Nice Owl Designs provided this lovely menu and name cards.

So this was my first official stylize shoot. I had so much fun and was so inspired to do more. The flowers came from Sauvie's Island, Peterkort Roses, and from some various secret spots of mine. Seasonal local flowers are ALWAYS the best!  I compare these flowers to gourmet food just as you would want the freshest and best ingredients that didn't come from a freezer the same goes for your flowers and greenery.

Dresses and Adornments by Isa Designs, Photos by Shannon Hannon, Flowers by Woodlawn Floral Studio, Food Styling by Kristin Normansen

The birth of an artist

Flowers that will blow your mind!

After working with flowers for weddings for the last 7 years I have gained a huge appreciation for the great artist of the floral world. It really takes a great talent to make this art-form look amazing. 

Like a beautiful painting of a naked body, flowers have long been immortalized in paintings. This painting below is magical to me.



 Floral Still Life, 1700

 I have a grandmother and a great-grandmother that are oil painters. Growing up I always admired their work and would be so excited to be at my grandma's house and see what she was working on at her easel.  They both had a great talent for landscape and floral still life paintings. So in carrying on this family tradition I have been dabbling in painting and various other arts like photography and collage over the years. Not until this last year did I realize and gain a huge respect for the art of flowers, it is a beautiful medium that is similar to a beautiful temporary art instillation. This new found respect began when I ran across The Green Dandelion and this photo or her work.

The Green Dandelion

This blew my mind! 

I had never seen flowers used this way before; the texture, contrast, color, asymmetry was like a perfect painting. Effortless yet so skilled. I have been hooked and obsessed with this style ever since. 

Of course like anything this is a work in progress and clients (brides) are not always in line with this nontraditional look. I predict this style which is more popular in New York and San Francisco will slowly make it's way into the minds of future brides here in Portland. 

Portland I am coming for you and I want to be a part of this style revolution!

Woodlawn Floral Designs Styled Shoot
Photo By Shannon Hannon

Late Autumn Shoot

Excited to start this whole blog thing!



So back in October Shannon Hannon , and Allison Johansen's dresses from her label Isa Designs did a stylized shoot. It was a magical evening and so fun to collaborate with these ladies.

I did several flowers for the table and four different bouquets for the bridal dresses. Pastel yellows and browns and greens with garden roses and the last dahlias of the season. Real pictures coming soon!