To add more to my plate...

So I've been playing around with the idea of these tissue paper pom poms to hang from either the trees or the strings used for lights above the grassy area (where the tables would be).  I'm not sure if they would still look okay even without the lanterns with them...

The poms are pretty easy to make; I watched a video with Eddie's cousin the other evening.  All I need is different colored tissue paper (anywhere from 8-14 sheets depending on how puffy I want them) and a pipecleaner to bind it together. 

I thought that the poms would be a nice addition of color and flowery shapes to the garden (which I fear pales in comparison to the gardens at the Huntington Library that we saw on Saturday).  I think I'd go with purple, teal (if we can find it) and white pom poms - each pom one color, not multicolored poms.  I'm pretty sure I can go to Kohls and get a few packs of the colorful tissue paper to try it out.  I just need some pipe cleaners from Michael's or Joann's.

Teal candles

Looking for teal candles for the centerpieces...
Need to find 3" x 3" pillar candles.

So far the best price I've found has been:
 http://www.thebestcandles.com

13 - 3" x 3" teal pillar candles @ $3.49 = $45.37 + $20.95 ground shipping = $66.32

Hurricane lanterns

So I was composing the last update on my phone bc I was sending the picture I took of the hurricane lanterns. But then I forgot to add the attachment. So here it is. It's 10 inches tall, and the candle in it it's 2.5 inches in diameter by 3 inches tall.  Michelle suggested a slightly wider candle (3 inches) to sit more securely at the bottom.

I'm thinking to tie a gold ribbon maybe with a peacock feather eye and have a teal candle if the overlay on the table it's purple on an ivory tablecloth or even if it is an ivory overlay on a purple tablecloth. Sprinkled around the lantern would be various for flowers the florist has left from what she cut for the bouquets (her way of using all the flowers and not wasting any)

Shinoda Floral Design

After dropping off Marianne and Candice at John Wayne, Margie ee ee brought us to Shinoda Flora Design , a wholesale floral design warehouse with rows and rows and aisles and aisles of all things floral.  I was mostly interested in pricing more vases, but under the direction of Margie ee ee, quickly found myself steered towards picking flowers that worked and getting something together that we could put together and work with beyond thoughts in my head.  I wish I'd taken more pictures of all the different things we saw here! 

Here is the final product from our travels today:

I think the height is good enough not to block people's views and hopefully there isn't too much stuff to catch the wind to be knocked over.  Or Pris ee ee said we could always use earthquake putty.

I'd rather spend my money on cutlery

Our trip to Moskatels on Friday was semi productive. I was able to look at a prices of a few things like vases, fake flowers, favor stuff, Pris ee ee was a little (lot) appalled at my suggestion to use sandwich baggies with ribbon to hold the favors (at this time, still pineapple tarts and Mexican wedding cookies). I think that's not pretty enough, but for a bag of 25 cellophane wrappers @ $1.99 (approx $20 for 10 sets) vs . $0.28 for those boxes (approx $70 for 250), there's a $50 difference! Maybe we can incorporate the origami box bottom and then the cellophane bags to wrap it up? What color origami paper would we use? And can you buy very specific colors? I eonder if I could find a teal/turquoise and stamp gold swirly designs on it. Buuuuut that might be too much work....

Pris ee ee asked if she didn't spend money on the favors, what would I like her to buy: cutlery? And that became my slogan for the day. I'd rather spend money on something practical like cutlery than on 250 boxes that will be pretty to look at, but thrown away before the night is over. Although, I guess anything that we wrap the cookies in will be tossed.

A centerpiece option that may be reusable, or at least that will make it out of the night without meeting with a dumpster is: Pris ee ee, Joy ee ee, and Mum are pushing for live orchid centerpieces. Wrap them in plant sack material (?) at the bottom or put them in a painted wooden box. Would that be too plain? I guess toss a few votives or such around and you're all set.

I'd be interested in seeing how we could use the hurricane lamps Michelle has, if we have the wedding at TN Gardens.

Top left

Flowers and such

Peacock feathers have to be placed at the center and be the tallest part of the arrangements.

What ARE these flowers?


Purple vanda orchids

On a Quest for a Peacock Centerpiece

Wow, these colors can get kind of overwhelming!


My Real Wedding from The Knot and The Nest.

From The Knot:
(Green theme) Reception tables in the center of the room had tiny, glass cube -- centerpieces that were lined with moss and filled with antiqued hydrangeas, green kale, dusty miller, silver brunia berries, purple trachillium, begonia leaves, green hanging amaranthus, seeded eucalyptus, and peacock feathers.

Peacock feathers added color and texture to the white rose arrangements that topped the cocktail tables.

Mum's idea

Square vase with a thick gold ribbon around the circumference and a peacock feather, purple/blue flowers on top.

More peacock stuff

Purple and white themed save the date - simple

Eddie likes the white background with purple writing more than the purple background and white writing.

Peacock Style Board: Like the blue straws and purple orchids

Cute peacock invitation (but Eddie doesn't want a peacock on the invite)

Am feeling the feathers in a vase more so than feathers with flowers. Maybe a purple ribbon? And a purple table cloth?

Think purple swirls all around, and probably no peacock feathers on the table.

Blue and purple dendrobium!

Peacock feathers!!

I'm totally feeling peacock feathers! And wouldn't it go well with our plum?







Peacock feather with purple.




I like how the feathers go with gold.








The problem with peacock feathers in bouquets is that they kind of stick out all crazy.

•DID YOU KNOW?.
•In China, the Peacock represented divinity, rank, power and beauty. It was also reckoned that a woman could get pregnant if a Peacock glanced at her!.
•Older Christian churches believed that the peacock feather represents immortality, resurrection, and a pure soul.
•Peacocks are claimed to be a guardian at the gates of paradise according to one Muslim religion.
•A peacock was often used as a sign for a tailor in the 18th Century. Generally it was someone who dealt in custom fine clothing.
•Peacocks became a favorite bird on the coats of arms of some of the great houses of Europe. During the days of chivalry, to 'swear on the peacock' was considered a solemn oath.
•The Greek goddess Hera was believed to have a chariot pulled by peacocks.
•Peacocks are the national bird of India..
•Peacocks have been domesticated for over 3,000 years!.
•Myth has the peacock representing fidelity, as it dies of grief, or remains single, if it loses its mate.

Centerpieces to fill my time, and yours...

Because I can't sleep... and I'm trying to fill my time... (what in the world am I going to do when I don't have a wedding to plan???)

Michael's on Steroids...

Next Saturday...maybe a visit to this store that Rachel che che suggested...(as a Michael's on steroids!)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/michaels-moskatels-and-crafts-los-angeles

I love the internet!

Because they have all kinds of discount and buy in bulk stores.

The store I found (www.save-on-crafts.com) has my orchids, vases, floralytes (those things you could submerge in water with the flowers), manzanita trees to my heart's content. All at prices cheaper than Michaels and JoAnns.

I want to buy some sprigs and try my hand at more centerpiece arrangements.

More purple

I like the purple drapery and hanging things (lanterns?...)

More of an example of what I don't want

as far as purple flowers in a bouquet...