Petals by Design

A colorful fiesta!

2012-01-12T12:23:00.001-06:00

I was going through photos for a bit this morning, and came across this sweet colorful wedding we did last summer. Winter can be a bit dreary, so I wanted to share these bright happy images with you! Hope you like them as much as I do. Enjoy!

Venue: Agave Road, Katy TX
Photography: Petals by Design

Succulents make amazing boutonnieres.

I love this comb for the bride's hair!

Loving the colorful fiesta theme!

Going the extra mile

2011-12-02T14:20:00.001-06:00

Weddings can be stressful, and planning them even more so. One of our goals has always been - and continues to be - to take the stress out of the floral component of the planning process for our clients. We received this sweet note in October from one of our September brides, and I finally have a moment to blog so I had to share it with you.

If you ever wondered what sets us apart from the rest, read on. Leigh, it was truly an honor to be part of your wedding plans and work with you. Thank for trusting us. We are humbled.

Laurabeth & Adrian 11-11-11

2011-12-02T13:51:00.001-06:00

We just received photos from Jason over at Reclaimed Moments and I wanted to share a few with you - enjoy! Heather - it was a breeze working with you, hope to see you again soon. Laurabeth, I loved your fun vision, and I'm so glad we were able to help bring it to life. It was our pleasure working with everyone!

Event recipe:
Planning & Coordination - Heather with Simply Jubilee Events
Church - Sugar Land First United Methodist | Sugar Land TX
Reception - Willow Fork Country Club | Katy TX
Photography - Reclaimed Moments Photography & Video

Love this pose!

(I love that the sash changed colors)

A Recent Event in the Life of PBD!

2011-09-23T21:44:00.000-05:00

Here's a few photos from our recent event at Jordan Ranch. Congratulations to the happy couple. It was so much fun being a part of your special day. See the details below and see if you can spot all the details. Photos courtesy of Matthew.

A Snaptacular Shot! [Shannon & Keith 1-15-2011]

2011-09-12T10:21:00.000-05:00

Clearly, blogging isn't my top priority. So today I'm shamelessly linking to another blog post, from some awesome photographers, JD and Jessica of Snaptacular Photos. They just blogged about one of our favorite weddings from this year, and I want to share it with you!

(Oh - and I previously blogged a quick video from the same wedding back in May, go check it out!)

Shannon and Keith: The Wedding (Houston Racquet Club, Houston, TX)

Here's a sneak peak:

Thanks again guys for being so fun, funky, and cool! Its always fun to see the photos you capture, thanks for grabbing some great decor shots too!

Just released... WW Rated 2011

2011-06-30T14:31:00.000-05:00

This just in! We're now Wedding Wire rated, and it's all thanks to our wonderful clients. You are such a blessing to us, and we're thrilled to have worked with each and every one of you! So give yourselves a pat on the back, and a round of applause - you deserve it!

The Time (Dirty Bit) - Joya & Emre's wedding video

2011-06-21T12:11:00.000-05:00

My husband and I have always liked music from the Peas, especially their current hits. My brother is a big fan as well, and he found and shared this blog (and video) with me recently. I *HAD* to share! The details of what went into their wedding were pretty amazing, but this video takes the cake.

The blog is Junebug Weddings, featuring Joya & Emre's wedding story, details & video.

Have a blast watching it, and yeah, go ahead and sing along and dance a little! In fact, I think I'll change my Pandora station now..... ;)

Time to be Courageous

2011-06-14T11:50:00.000-05:00

Photo by Christine Tremoulet

I'm in the business of flowers. Duhh, right? The first thing you might think of is "beauty", while others (like my amazing husband) might think "allergies". ;) Sorry babe!

More specifically, I'm in the business of wedding and special event flowers. While we do other things, the majority of our business involves weddings and related events. Now, what's the first thing you think of? Love? Passion? Princesses? The splendor of that magical moment? Forever after in happily married bliss?

I want to share something from my heart. Too often I'm reminded that the focus of the months leading up to a wedding are on the beauty and painstaking details that go into the one-day event, and not on the lifetime of togetherness that should come afterwards. In other words, we need to prepare for the marriage - not just the wedding.

Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely *love* weddings, receptions, and everything about them! Particularly the flowers and the decor. After all, it's why I'm in this business! But after having dinner with a friend recently, I've been reminded of the extreme importance of the sanctity of marriage. My husband and I hold our own marriage tightly, guarding it close to our hearts, and remembering that keeping God in first place in our lives (and marriage) is crucial. I'm reminded of a song I heard recently, you can see the video below:

I'm renewing my commitment to pray for all the couples, and families that cross paths with us. For the husband- and wife-to-be to pause and think about the covenant they are entering into, and to have the courage to stand and fight for their marriage, long after the wedding. When money gets tight, or a job is lost. When an argument arises that seems without end. When unthinkable difficulties surround you. Praying that your marriage is be a safe place, with your partner as your protector and confidant, like no other. There's a strength found within those safe walls that I can attest to, and I want that for all of our couples as well.

Father's Day is approaching, and I've come across a new song and music video that I believe applies not just to fathers, but to marriage as well. Take a moment and listen:

Your wedding will be beautiful! (especially with Petals by Design involved!) But I also want your marriage to be beautiful as well. So I encourage you - don't be afraid or indifferent - BE COURAGEOUS!!

Megan's Bridals - Bellafotografica

2011-06-13T10:46:00.000-05:00

Megan and Aaron are married now, so it's safe to *finally* share these photos. (I think I audibly squealed when Megan sent a few of these to me a few months ago.) Megan, you look like a model - so stunning! Congratulations you two, so happy for you, we really enjoyed working with you!

I definitely have to give Allen @ Bellafotografica a shout-out - definitely a thumbs up! And I can't wait to share some of the wedding photos from Agave Road.

Y'all enjoy, and stay tuned for more. (see Bellafotografica's actual blog post here)

Wonderful in white

2011-05-19T20:37:00.000-05:00

It's a wonderful thing when we get to work with an equally wonderful family multiple times! We first worked with them a few years ago for her sister's wedding, and I was thrilled to hear from them again asking about helping with Shannon's. Of course, the answer was "yes!" It was beautiful, and they were kind enough to share this video of the wedding highlights with us. Enjoy!

Venue: Houston Racquet Club
Videographer: inlight-10 Productions
Photographer: Snaptacular Photography

Shannon + Keith's Wedding from inlight-10 Productions on Vimeo.

Chosen as a "Woman of the Year" by NAPW

2011-04-04T14:58:00.000-05:00

I received a phone call last week, which in and of itself isn't out of the ordinary. However, the reason for the call was definitely not ordinary. I joined up with the National Association of Professional Women in 2010, and they were calling to let me know I had been chosen as one of their VIP Women of the Year for 2011!

Needless to say, I was elated. I'm a little bashful about things like this, so all I can say is, aww....shucks! (with a slightly embarrassed grin) Here's a link to my NAPW profile if your're curious.

Now for my acceptance speech. (hehe....I've always wanted to say that, but never want to be on stage) Not really, just kidding! But seriously, the bottom line is that without fantastic clients, I wouldn't have a business, and Petals by Design would cease to exist. So thank you to all of our fantastic clients - you know who you are!

So I'm going back to work now, to keep helping more of you fantastic-type people. 'Cause that's what we do.
: )

Cheers!

Maui & Micah - March 26th

2011-03-28T22:18:00.000-05:00

I love weddings! And I love wedding flowers, and wedding photos. What I've discovered recently is my love of wedding video. Our happy couple from this past weekend was kind enough to share a video that was made for them of the wedding, and after watching the engagement videos, I couldn't stop my eyes from tearing up and my face from smiling. It was a privilege to be part of their wedding day, and we loved working on the flowers for them. I saw the love they have for each other in person on the wedding day, and it shows in this video. I can't wait to see the photography from the talented duo that make up Serendipity Photography.

Thank you, Micah & Maui, so much for sharing it with all of us, and congratulations!!!

Here are the links to their engagement story - kudos, Micah! I couldn't stop smiling!
Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpsdUj0O_TU
Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kepUt_6adKw

We hope you enjoy watching!

Church: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Reception: Kim Son - Bellaire
Photography: Serendipity Photography
Video: Ryan Bernardo

Petals by Design to receive Bride's Choice Award 2011

2011-02-18T14:02:00.000-06:00

Katy, TX – February 18, 2011

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Petals by Design has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for wedding flowers!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Petals by Design stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Petals by Design for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Petals by Design is among the very best in Flowers & Decor within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire.com, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

Check your spam folder!

2011-01-20T13:27:00.000-06:00

Normally, you'd see photos of flowerish stuff here, but I thought I would do something a little different today. So if you'll indulge me for just a moment..... :-)

It's a well known fact that many of us use the internet as a primary means of communication these days. Yeah, we still use the phone, but how many of us use our phones more for email/internet/apps than we do for actually making calls? And like you, I've experienced times where I send an email, to receive nary a reply!

Yep, it's frustrating. When planning a wedding (or other large event), chances are good that you've reached out to quite a few different companies via the internet. This could be through a contact form on a company website (like ours), or through emailing them directly. But if you haven't heard back from them, I promise you, most of the time these people are not -- I repeat NOT -- ignoring you!

As a quick side note, my first step when receiving an internet inquiry is to respond the same way - via an email, through the internet. If I don't see a response in a reasonable amount of time, a second email and a phone call are the next steps. Past that, I'll assume you've moved on or are no longer interested. Hard sell is not part of my vocabulary.

Solving this problem could be as simple as checking your email spam folder. While there may be other issues at play, this is by far the easiest to be aware of. Chances are, those companies have already responded to your message but it went straight to your email's spam folder, where it will probably be automatically deleted after so many days. Or, maybe they're having internet/email problems themselves.

Regardless, as beneficial and necessary as they now are, spam filters now seem to be a hiccup for small businesses. In my own experience, Yahoo! is notorious for this. I have no way of tracking the other email providers, but they are definitely a repeat offender. And there's really no way to know unless I call and specifically direct the person to check their spam folder, or resend the email while I have them on the phone.

If this is indeed happening, I believe the easiest fix is to simply add the sender's email address to your address book. There are also ways to "whitelist" the good email addresses, but I won't go into that. (I know just enough to get myself in trouble!) Here's an article that helps back this up:

Why Does My Email Go to Everyone's Spam Folder? | eHow.com

So, the moral of the story - don't give up! We, the small businesses of the world, are listening and responding back to you. Just keep trying. And remember to check those spam folders! I would love to hear feedback on this issue, please feel free to share your experiences and suggestions.

Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Testing...

2010-11-15T09:57:00.001-06:00

From my phone & email!

Jenny & Johnnie.....sittin' in a tree....

2010-10-21T10:10:00.000-05:00

....well, you get the picture!

I know, I know, we haven't blogged in an embarrassingly long time. I received this video link and a few preview photos from one of our September brides, and I couldn't help myself. I knew I had to blog about it!

It was such a busy day for both us as a company, and for Jenny, that we never actually saw each other. Seeing it all come together like this through the photos, and especially while watching the clip for the first time was so exciting!

And the video you MUST watch:

Jenny + Johnnie from Grasshopper Productions on Vimeo.

Go here if you can't get it to work up there: Wedding Day Preview Video

These two were so great to work with, and Jenny's vision for the whole day was a grand one. This is what I love about flowers - they really do help bring life and beauty to any event! It was our pleasure to contribute to your wedding day with our designs. Congratulations you two love birds!

Side note - I really can't wait to share more photos - Tony, I'm eagerly awaiting them.....
And a shout out to the guys at Grasshopper! You graciously provided photos to us for one of our earliest weddings many years ago, we've all come a long way. Keep up the great work!

Wedding Location: Annunciation Catholic Church - downtown Houston
Reception Location: Ocean Palace Restaurant
Videographer: Grasshopper Productions
Photographer: Tony Ku - Ku Photography

Grand Prix Spring Gathering Horse Show

2010-05-22T11:12:00.005-05:00

In early April we had the privilege of being a part of the Grand Prix Spring Gathering Horse Show at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center benefiting New Danville. New Danville is a miniature horse therapy program that provides affordable housing and services to enable adults with intellectual and development disabilities to live independently. It is located on 42 acres north of Willis, Texas in Montgomery County.

The mood was elegant and the arrangements were designed to fit the venue and the nature of the evening. Lots of natural branches and bright yellows and reds brought out the feel of a spring day in the field. It was a lot of fun providing a unique touch of the derby with small arrangements in mint julep cups.

Dawn and Wes

2010-05-22T09:28:00.008-05:00

Dawn and Wes got married at the magnificent Tuscany Villa in Katy. Dawn wanted a fun and festive atmosphere and it was a lot of fun giving her what she wished for. Her easy going spirit allowed us to let our creativity come out. The bright spring colors complimented the decor of the venue nicely. Thank you Dawn and Wes for letting us be a part of your special day and here's a few pics to show off the vibrant spring flowers!

At a newsstand near you....

2010-05-10T23:01:00.004-05:00

We're excited to be featured in the Spring/Summer issue of Brides Houston magazine. Check it out here, and pick up a copy too! : )

New Blog Editor

2010-04-02T23:17:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone - Matthew here (Lisa's husband). I am proud to announce that I am taking over the duties of posting to this blog and updating all of you on what is going on in the world of Petals by Design. So.... stay tuned for more to come.

Bride's Choice Awards 2010

2010-02-03T21:45:00.004-06:00

Katy TX – February 3, 2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Petals by Design has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for florists!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Petals by Design is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Petals by Design is among the very best florists within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at www.weddingwire.com/PetalsbyDesign.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding vendors. WeddingWire enables engaged couples to search, compare and book over 100,000 reviewed wedding vendors nationwide, from wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding vendors, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. In addition, WeddingWire has partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE: MSO) to provide its network of local vendors and online wedding-planning tools in the Weddings section of www.MarthaStewartWeddings.com. For additional information, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Cool Autumn Days

2009-10-11T21:45:00.022-05:00

As the days get shorter and seasons change we all experience a little pep in our step. The fall wedding season is in full swing, and this weekend we had a great time decorating for Kirsten & Alex's wedding.

We were a little nervous about the rainy weather as a cool front pushed through, but (whew!) the rain held off on Saturday. The ceremony was held on the polo field and the outdoor tent reception was classic and elegant during one of the first cool crisp nights of the season. What a great event!

Special thanks to Brad, Jeff, Susan and the whole gang with Two Forks Catering for making sure everything ran smoothly.

Congratulations Kirsten & Alex!

The bride requested that a mare and a colt be placed in the pen next to the ceremony. What a great sight seeing the colt bound around the pen!

Centerpieces at the reception

A creative way to display table assignments

The ceremony took place on the edge of the polo grounds

Leading up to the ceremony

What a magical night

Centerpieces for the lounge area

The bar was created with green apples - what a great concept. Way to go Two Forks Catering!!!

Baby Shower

2009-09-26T13:38:00.006-05:00

In August we had the chance to break away from the wedding scene and provide arrangements with tropical flavor for a baby shower. What a wonderful opportunity to create some fun, modern style arrangements to compliment the couple's contemporary home. A special thank you goes out to Chris with Cafe Natalie - it was great working with you!

Lorena & Manuel - May 30, 2009

2009-06-20T18:21:00.008-05:00

This was a stylish affair! We were tickled to work with soireebliss! and Montage Photographers at a lovely venue - The Gallery. I gotta say though.....what an introduction to summer! Set-up that afternoon was blistering, but the end result was quite lovely. We were very pleased with the results, very modern and clean.

Lorena and Manuel, you make quite a handsome couple - congratulations and best wishes to you both!

Samantha & Trung, it was great working with you - thanks for the opportunity, and the incredible photography!

Rochelle & Sid - March 14, 2009

2009-06-20T17:37:00.005-05:00

What a great couple! These two love life, each other, and their alma mater, University of Texas. There wasn't an area of the wedding where the Texas Longhorn theme and signature burnt orange color wasn't reflected. It was truly "them"!

The cold rainy weather didn't dampen their spirits. Having to move the ceremony inside didn't matter, they were in love, and they were getting married - that's what mattered. What a great example!

Even though this was a few months ago, thanks for letting us work with you two, and help make this special day uniquely yours - Congrats guys!

Enjoy a few pics, courtesy Lee Ray Photography. It was great working with you Lee.

Venue: Lindsay Lakes
Photographer: Lee Ray Photography

Everytime I looked, she was smiling!

What classic taste - white Roses and Stephanotis, a timeless look!

(Notice the little Mickey Mouse heads in icing on the second layer - I love it Rochelle!)

Jessica & Patrick 4/18/09

2009-06-02T11:48:00.009-05:00

I'm a big fan of purple - I always have been, it's one of my favorite colors! Jessica's wedding colors revolved around purple - fun!! It was a small backyard wedding at her parents' home. The house and yard were impeccable, despite the downpour of rain that had been dumped the previous day and most of the wedding day. Miracle of miracles, the sky broke, and the sun began to poke through the clouds just in time for the wedding and reception to proceed - rain free! Here are a few photos of the event, and some of the flowers we provided. Special thanks to Magek Photography for some of the images.

Patrick - the surprise arrangement of Jessica's favorite flowers (red roses & white calla lilies) was such a romantic gesture! I'm so glad you thought of it, I know she loved it!

Congratulations Jessica & Patrick, and thank you for allowing us to be involved!

Photographer: Magek Photography

My own shots - close ups of the above centerpiece. Purple wire twisted around bear grass and orchids, to yield a spiraled effect.

Patrick's surprise for his new bride - gorgeous!

Playing with different boutonniere concepts was fun!

Stop by @ Bridal Extravaganza - July 25-26

2009-05-28T14:45:00.005-05:00

Hi everyone!

If you're in Houston and planning a wedding, we would love to meet you.

We'll be at the next Bridal Extravaganza, July 25-26, at the GRB Convention Center in downtown. Come see us in booth # 3037.

See you there!

Bridget & Ben - Revisited

2009-05-28T11:34:00.015-05:00

I just couldn't resist posting about their wedding again. Now that I have some terrific shots from MH Photography, I couldn't help it! Simple & elegant, yet fun and spring-ish. And of course, using one of our favorite flowers - Gerbera Daisies.

Thanks again Bridget & Ben for letting us help make your wedding day so special!

Venue: House Plantation
Photographer: Mary Henry-Zeek of MH Photography

Bridget & Ben - April 11th

2009-05-19T22:56:00.003-05:00

Bridget - you have a natural beauty that makes me envious! : ) Seriously, you were gorgeous. I can't wait until I get the pics from Mary to post.

These are my own photography - a far cry from the work of a trained professional, but they're not so bad, really? I loved working on this wedding - Gerbera Daisies and Tulips are among my favorites! I just love spring, and the variety it brings. And again, can't wait for the "whole picture" from Mary Henry-Zeek. Thank heaven for talented photographers!

Anyway, Bridget & Ben - Thanks for letting us be part of your fabulous day!

May is National Stroke Awareness Month

2009-05-15T09:59:00.003-05:00

I'd like to take a moment and pause for National Stroke Awareness Month. My brother-in-law recently suffered two strokes without realizing what was going on. Thankfully, he had the sense and ability to still drive himself to the hospital and is recovering amazingly. If we all know, we can act F.A.S.T. and be aware of those around us. Let's do this together!

It’s the second full week of National Stroke Awareness Month. Have you been educating friends and family about how to Act F.A.S.T. to increase recognition of and response to stroke symptoms?

Here’s an easy way! Use the F.A.S.T. method and the tips below to recognize and respond to stroke and to understand the importance of educating everyone about these important facts.

Once you’ve educated yourself, forward this e-mail onto everyone in your contacts list to help spread awareness at a maximum level!

	F = FACE	Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
	A = ARM	Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
	S = SPEECH	Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
	T = TIME	If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1.

A few easy tips for why understanding stroke symptoms and the proper response are important:

Stroke requires emergency treatment.
You only have 3 hours from the onset of stroke symptoms to receive t-PA, a life-saving treatment.
Fewer than 5% of stroke patients currently receive t-PA.
In a National Stroke Association/Gallup poll, 17 percent of the respondents over age 50 couldn’t name a single stroke symptom.
A recent study shows that only 55 percent of patients who have had a stroke were able to identify one stroke symptom.
Only 38 percent of respondents participating in the CDC’s 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (the world’s largest, on-going telephone health survey system) were aware of stroke symptoms and would call 9-1-1 if they thought someone was having a stroke.

Visit http://www.stroke.org/site/R?i=YWLMpqF4vpXdylIxU49UlA.. for more helpful and downloadable educational materials.

Kyle & Katie - 2/28/09

2009-05-12T10:43:00.012-05:00

What a beautiful couple! Ok, well maybe we shouldn't call Kyle "beautiful", but it definitely applies to Katie! And the church seemed to come right out of a page from small town Texas history - fell in love with it at first sight.

Yes, it was the end of February, and quite a chilly day, but Spring had definitely arrived down here in the South. The bridal bouquet was a stunning mix of white Mini Calla Lilies with traditional white Lillies and the bridesmaids carried bouquets of Tulips, Ranunculus & Roses in shades of hot pink with pops of bright green Kermit Mums.

Katie & Kyle - You guys were awesome! Thanks so much for letting us be part of your wedding celebration.

Ashley, you guys captured it all perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing these.

Church: First Presbyterian Church - Tomball, TX
Reception: Savannah's at Augusta Pines - Spring / The Woodlands, TX
Photographer: Ashley K. Photography

Simple Elegance - Angela's Bridals

2009-05-02T09:46:00.005-05:00

I've always loved simple elegance. So when Angela came to me asking for Calla Lilies and wanting simple elegance, I jumped at the chance! Here are a few of her bridal shots. I hope to have more from the wedding soon. Enjoy!

Location: The Tuscany Villa - Katy, TX
Photographer: Troy Schlegel of Schlegel Photography

My favorite - I love the lighting, and rich coloring!

We won 3rd Place - Wedding Flowers!

2009-05-02T09:09:00.006-05:00

Okokok, so I've fallen off the blog-map. March and April have been so busy! This is a wonderful thing, but blogging has definitely suffered. So here's my first attempt to make up for lost time.

Alright, so earlier this year the buzz in the Houston wedding community was about who was voting for whom in the KPRC Click2Houston's Best contest.

So, it is much overdue that we announce that YOU, our wonderful clients and friends, have voted Petals by Design one of the TOP FIVE Best in Houston in Wedding Flowers! We're right up there with other well-known event florists in Houston, and it's such an honor. We actually placed 3rd, and I'm personally thrilled.

You can click here to go to our page and see for yourself!

We clearly couldn't have done it without each and every one of your votes, reviews, and overall support. So blessed! You guys ROCK!

Thanks for all the love!

2009-03-04T13:30:00.004-06:00

I just have to say a really big THANK YOU to everyone who voted for us last month in Click2Houston's "Best in Houston" contest. I'm so thankful for all of you! We really do have incredible clients that we just *love* working with, awesome friends 'n family, and an all-around amazing support group. You're all the best!!!

We should be getting the results soon, I'll post those when they come in. But the bottom line is this: it would be great to win, but the reward has already been seen with everyone's support and reviews. We're so blessed and loved, and we wouldn't be here without ya!

XOXO

What an Honor!

2009-02-03T09:27:00.003-06:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that Petals by Design has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means Petals by Design is one of the very best Wedding Florists.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

Petals by Design would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

A quick look at 2008

2009-01-07T11:42:00.009-06:00

This is just a quick look at some things we did last year. The holidays were definitely enjoyable, but it feels good to get back to a more normal routine again!

A big thanks to all of my fantastic customers - it's been a pleasure! And a shout out is definitely also in order to all the photographers who captured these shots and shared them with me.

Enjoy, and here's to a terrific 2009 for everyone!

Be flexible!

2008-11-29T10:33:00.004-06:00

Greetings all,

I hope you had your fill of wonderful food and time with family! I know I did, and we're still enjoying the leftovers. That's the best part, right?

Well, I recently received some photos of a wedding I did in October, courtesy of Ann Rabbit with Illuminare Photography. I was very pleased!

Some of you are probably familiar with the havoc created by the abrupt closure of both Bella Terazza and Tuscany at Garden Villa right after Hurricane Ike. Well, one of my brides, Tanya, was on schedule to marry there mid-October. When we both found out, it was a mad scramble to change everything.

She was blessed to find another location, and a beautiful one at that - Ashton Gardens. We adjusted all of the decorating from a rustic Italian style to now fit a formal chapel and ballroom with crystal chandelieres. In a blitz of phone calls and text messages, we did it, and got everything finalized just in time. We were so pleased with the results - very beautiful!

Being flexible and staying true to your commitments is critical to a successful business. Sometimes, as in the case I just described, life deals the cards for us and we don't have much choice about which card we're dealt. Naturally, managing those situations can become stressful for all parties involved. However - it is important that no matter what, clients are taken care of, and the service you provide to them is nothing less than the best! The results will still be something you can be proud of.

Tanya, the beautiful blushing bride

The happy couple

Bridesmaid bouquet

At the reception

Reception Table close-up

December Weddings

2008-11-24T11:24:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it?? It's almost December, and Thanksgiving is upon us. I'm so looking forward to this week's festivities - time spent with loved ones, great food, and being so very thankful for all the good things in my life.

I'm also gearing up for December weddings, and the onslaught of Christmas decorations. While I love both, sometimes the two mix well together and other times...well, not so much! When thinking about your colors and theme for your wedding celebration, don't forget that the venue(s) you have selected may already have their own plans for Christmas decorations. To avoid any unexpected surprises, be sure to ask about this while visiting, and before booking with them.

Ask to see photos of the place all decked out in last year's Christmas glory, and whether or not the same look or actual decorations will be used again during your wedding month. The venue may allow movement or temporary removal of certain decorations, but be sure you know the specifics. If your colors are winter blue and silver, you may not be very happy with the venue's choice of artificial pine garland covered with bright red and gold ornaments. But, if they have chosen silver as the primary color, this may work nicely with your vision.

Being sure to consider this in advance can save you a great deal of heartache and last minute adjustments. Life is already pretty busy for most of us, and with the additional craziness of the holidays, make sure your event is well thought out.

Happy Thanksgiving!