Floral Design for Events

People ask me all of the time what I like the most about what I do, and though there are so many amazing things that I have the chance to do, I have to say that without a doubt I LOVE WEDDING FLORAL DESIGN!!! Some time ago, Alexan Events expanded it's event design services to include floral design for all of our clients events and weddings. It has been the most rewarding decision that we have ever made.



When we begin the process of planning the decor and design for someones event, we usually start with colors, what colors are they drawn to, what combinations make the statement that they are looking for, what works and what doesn't. I find that when we start that color conversation, my mind immediately wanders to the flowers that fit into that color pallet. The happy gaze of the orange ranunculus, the sophistication and stature of the white with green veined lady slipper orchid, the depth and elegance of the green and burgundy antique hydrangea. I just love it. The color conversation is such a crucial and fun part of the process. I recommend that when you are considering your color palette, you should remain open to suggestions from the professionals that you surround yourself with. True professionals have the amazing knack for envisioning the elements in their heads as their clients speak, or they have tried many of the combinations that you are talking about already and they know what works best and what may be a bit too much!
So as we go through the process of deciding what the decor plan will be, and more specifically what the floral plan will be, we pay close attention to the things that our clients like. Often I find that clients don't necessarily speak in terms of flower types, but yet styles and textures. My staff and I take those conversations and begin to weave a tapestry of color and style that ultimately will be a large part of the event days decor. Once the basics of the design have been constructed, we show our clients many examples of the flowers that we think will create the effect they are going for. Then, we LOVE to create an actual mock up of one of the elements of the design, say a centerpiece or a bouquet.

To often I have found that clients do not know what they are going to get on their wedding or their event day..As a designer, unexpected surprises are my friend and can create the most amazing design, but as a planner they are not...We prefer that our clients know what is in store for them and that we know that we are on the same page. I do however, hold a few details back....Because, after all, in flower design, event design and in being an Colorado Wedding and Event Planner, I are infatuated with the jaw dropping moment when the client sees the whole picture for the first time!!!!

Fentress Architects Event

28 Years and going!

This past weekend I had the extraordinary honor of planning and attending the 28th year anniversary party of Fentress Architects (formerly know as Fentress Bradburn). You know these guys, they designed Invesco Field where the Broncos play and the Denver International Airport, to name a few of their more recognizable projects.

They had a great vision and together we were able to design an event that was contemporary and elegant.

The Event took place in the Sky Garden at the Watermark Luxury Residence on Acoma Street. The Sky Garden has a beautiful infinity edged pool and a view that will not stop!

Epicurean provided a fantastic live action noodle station and impeccable service (as always) http://www.epicureancatering.com/, while the sushi came from the crowd pleaser Sushi Den and the dim sum from the newly popular Super Star Chinese restaurant.

Curtis Fentress spoke a few words to the crowd acknowledging all of those that have helped Fentress to grow and thrive in this community, across the Nation and Internationally.

The entertainment was provided by A Music Plus and is was a treat to be sure. With fire dancers and contortionists, the crowd was in awe!

Alexan Events provided all of the event floral design and arrangement, as well as all of the rental lounge furniture that turned this amazing roof top pool deck into a contemporary zen type environment.

Julie Harris of Julie Harris raphy //www.julieharrisphotography.com/ took the pictures that you see here. As you can tell, she is so talented and such a great shooter!

Thanks Agatha and Agnes for allowing me to be part of this event.

Kim and Carlos, Hudson Gardens

LET'S DANCE!!!

So last night I got to watch the culmination of 13 months of wedding planning come together. Kim Longo and Carlos Arenas tied the knot. Kim contacted me from her home in the DC area a year ago asking if I would help her plan her wedding that would take place in Denver Colorado. I knew from the start that Kim had great taste and as I listened to her tell me what she envisioned the day to be like; I absolutely had to be a part of it.
Kim and Carlos were so cute and great. The day was filled with spectacular entertainment, from Manuel Molina the Flamenco Guitarist, to the amazing Mariachis Sol de Mi Tierra (Fabulous Mariachi band) and to cap it off the extremely energetic Salsa Band Quemondo. You may have noticed this was a culturally rich event. The groom was a polished professional dancer and the guest list certainly had no shortage of other amazing dancers on it. I was so excited to watch every minute of the night.

The setting, Hudson Gardens, was the perfect place to hold such a colorful event. The Garden Canopy is alive with rich colors and gorgeous blooms. The weddings color palette was a great compliment with the rich Mangos, Raspberries and Oranges that we used.
It was all really spectacular.
Brad Walters of Brad Walters Photography used his skills to capture the night as it unfolded, and as you can see by the pictures here, he was deft at it to say the least. Thanks Brad, you were great! http://www.bradwaltersphoto.com/
Kim and Carlos, best of luck to you and thanks...I really am glad to have worked with you!

Brett and Lacey, Donovan Pavilion

I have been a bit neglectful of my blog lately. This time of year it gets difficult. But I have been part of so many amazing weddings and planned so many great events, I would be remise if I did not take the time to tell you about a few things.

SOOO, I had the honor of planning a wedding for the funniest and most laid back couple the other week. They were so genuine and fun. They, I have to tell you, made me laugh so much over the course of the nine monthes that I worked with them to plan their wedding. They ae so great and I am better off having had the chance to know them.

They were married August 24th in Vail at the Donovan Pavilion. The setting is prefect, of course, it's the Donovan and it's Vail in August. Though Vail (well the mountains altogether) are known for late afternoon showers that come and go during the summer months, mother nature was similing on Brett and Lacey that day, the clouds rolled in and hovered just long enough to cool down the day, and then they rolled right on out just in time for the 5:00 o'clock wedding ceremony. PREFECT!!!

At Alexan Events, we handle all of the decor, we notice trends in wedding colors and themes, but Brett and Lacey had a vision that was clear and not at all trendy; show the beauty of the mountains that we are in and do not make it at all girly!!!! So we designed the wedding flowers to work in that exact vision, a bit rustic, not girly but still beautiful (sorry for bragging!!!). It was refreshing to change it up a bit.

The entertainment was provided by DJ Slim of Slim Event Productions http://www.slimeventproductions.com/home.htm... LOVE HIM!! and the amazing photos shown here are all compliments of the Kent Meireis of Kent Meireis Photography http://www.kentmeireisphotography.com/... He was spectacular and such an asset to the day! Thanks Kent.

Brett and Lacey, thank you both for allowing me to walk through this with you. iI hope you enjoyed your day as much as I did.

Simone and Jess...a great wedding

So I had the pleasure of designing and planning a wedding for Simone and Jess on the 2nd of August.
First let me say, they are a spectacular couple. I have never never seen two people that are more perfect for each other and that seemingly complete each other more then these two. They were both so happy with the idea of marriaging the other that they literally glowed all day the day of their event. Amazing.

They had their wedding ceremony at Maggie Pond in Breckenridge. It is a great location for a small intimate event. The surrounding flowers were in bloom and the guests were a buzz...There was a lot of excitemenet in the air.

We moved from the pond to the Mountain Thunder Lodge for the wedding reception. Since it is a hotel, we worked hard to transform the space into a more chic and fun atmosphere and everyone seemed to think we accomplished it. The lighting was moody and cool and the flowers were so fresh; combnations of orange and fuschia with some more natural textures like birch and Aspen. A really great setting.

Besides the couple, the crowd and the cool space, I would be remiss f I did not mention the amazing families of these two love birds...Simone's Parents were so fun and so induring and Jess' were so great, Toney Jess' Dad made the trellis for the ceremony...he is very talented as I am sure you will see.

Speaking of a great talent: Paige Eden of Paide Eden Photogrphy http://www.paigeeden.com/ and Lamour De Vie http://www.lamourdevie.com/ was the photographer for this event and she is one of my favorites. I love her moody, edgy pictures and the way that she tells the story. I recoomend her to all of my clients and I am always soo excited to know that she will be in the room.

Thanks Paige!

Anyway, I should stop rambling, but if you can tell, I loved working with these two and I think they are deserving of every bid of love that they will surely receive through one another.

Take care and stay close!!

Jess and Greg-Sooo cool!

So, I get a lot of wedding planning clients that have a vision. A lot...But I get very few that have a clear vision. The ones that do, well, those are my favorite clients. They know what they want, they have thought about it, researched it and eventually they are able to describle it without questions. When I worked with Jess and Greg on planning their wedding, from the start I knew they were cool and they were smart and they had great taste. Over the months I realized that they saw things as I did and I was going to love briniging their vison to life. Hip, chic, uptown and modern...that is how I would describe them.
They had their wedding ceremony at the Denver Bontanic Gardens, not that modern and chic you say, well the cockatil hour and the late ceremony made it very uptown. Following their wedding ceremony, the guests moved on to an ultra modern chic space, The Space Gallery.

We transformed the gallery into a great site. We had a dinner area, very clean and modern, turn the corner and we created a night club, dance floor completed by the oober cool DJ Kieran Browner of D.I.S.C.O (you can reach him at email: d.i.s.co@Mac.com). The stairs in the night club reached up into a swank modern lounge complete with sleek white leather couches and great lighting. I loved loved loved working with these guys!!!!
I also loved working with Brad Walters of Brad Walters Photography, he has a great eye for details and captures the feeling of the day. Check him out at http://www.bradwaltersphoto.com/

Good luck in your life together Jess and Greg and you forever have a friend in me!

Aspen, Karin and Chad

This past weekend I had the pleasure of working on an event for a great couple, Karin and Chad Bleiler. They were married in Aspen at the Crossroads Community Church and had their amazingly fun reception at the Maroon Bells Lodge at Lazy 7 Ranch.
These two were so spectacular and such a pleasure to work with. I had one of the better times that I have had in this business with them.

I want to thank then for choosing me to Coordinate their wedding and for giving me the chance to be a part of such a fun day!

Here are some of the pictures that were taken by the fabulous wedding photographer,Jamee Pierzchala of http://www.jameephotography.com/. You will see for yourself, but Jamee is a true talent and I enjoyed working with her!