Some of our clients who are getting married in San Antonio this March are CRAZY about vaudeville.  When we first met Jacob and Katie we were so excited about their enthusiasim and desire for something different.  Katie really wanted to go with a depression era carnival theme for their big day, and we were happy to oblige.  

This is their initial inspiration board.  Throughout the design process we have added lots of other fun elements to incorporate more of the “carnival” theme.  Think sideshow acts and lots of vintage charm in a really cool historic building all put together with a classic style.  I can’t wait for this wedding to get here so we can see our design come to life.

Would you ever consider a carnival/circus/vaudeville theme for your wedding?  Do you think it’s possible to pull it all off while keeping a sophisticated atmosphere?

I have been spending the past few months redecorating and organizing my home studio. The biggest thorn in my side at the moment is all of the “stuff” that I acrue after events, especially vases. In all of the organizing I came across a can of chalkboard paint that was nearly full, and you might recall the resulting blog post. Well, since writing that blog I have been painting pretty much everything my daughter brings to me with it. She just loves writing with chalk, what can I say, she’s three. So last weekend it dawned on me that all of these clear glass vases might not match today’s wedding style, but there is still life in them. So I painted a couple up to see how the paint worked on the smooth glass, and it was perfect!

I love how the chalkboard gray makes the colors of the flowers stand out, and once the flowers are wilted and gone you can still use the containers as labled organizers! All of these arrangements feature my personal favorite flowers that are all free trade certified!

Hydrangea and Billy Balls in our signature recycled chalkboard vase. Price: $30

Medium arrangement: Hydrangea, Garden Roses, Succulents and Billy Balls in our signature recycled chalkboard vase. Price: $45

Medium Arrangement: Hydrangea, Peony, Stargazer Lilly, Italian Heather, Stock and Billy Balls in our signature recycled chalkboard vase. Price: $55

Medium arrangement: Hydrangea, Garden Roses, Peony, Succulents and Billy Balls in our signature recycled chalkboard vase. Price: $50

Large arrangement: Overflowing with White Hydrangea, Pink Peony, Pink and Red Garden roses, billy balls, and succulents displayed in our signature recycled chalkboard vase. Price $100

Aren’t those garden roses just killer?  We are so excited to be gearing up for our busiest Valentine’s Day ever.  And as a special treat for those who decide to order early we are offering a free plantable gift card!

Plantable Seed Paper Cards from Botanical Paperworks. Cards will read: "Happy Valentine's Day, February 14, 2012"

And if that’s not enough we will be offering free delivery for all cash orders placed before 5pm Friday, February 3 within 15 miles of the 76104 zip code.

See something you like, but it is perhaps missing your love’s favorite type of flower or maybe a little out of your budget? Contact us directly to design a custom arrangement that fits your needs.

To place your order please call 817.965.1253.

All images are screen shots of the blog’s banners.  They are linked directly to that blog so you can just click the image and a new window will pop up for you to bookmark the website!

Inspiration Blogs

Ruffled caters to brides who love vintage weddings.  The editor Amanda started the blog after planning her own vintage wedding and not having any resources to turn to.  Today it is one of the best resources for vintage, rustic, eco-friendly weddings that a bride could have!

Green Wedding Shoes features eco-friendly wedding inspiration for all styles.  This is the bride that I personally feel more connected to because they are so relevant to the services that we offer.

Once wed began as a source for brides to sell their wedding gowns online.  Now it is a spetacular collection of some of the best wedding inspiration on the web.  Although there is a ton of content on this site it remains very user friendly.  As you can see from the banner below they categorize inspiration to provide the best user experience as possible.

The Wedding Chicks is a collection of fun, funky, and beautiful wedding images.  My favorite feature of this website is the Printables & DIY section.  They have collaborated with some of the countries best designers to create awesome DIY invitation suites, and accessories for your event.

Junebug Weddings is all about luxury wedding inspiration.  They feature the best of the best when it comes to photographers, planners, and designers.  The details they feature are always stunning with a focus on event design.

Every Last Detail is going to be my segway blog because it is probably one of my favorite daily reads.   There are a few reasons that ELD stands out to me as a constant source of both inspiration and education.

First of all, Lauren Grove the editor of ELD is a real person.  She isn’t afraid to put herself out there and be seen by her readers.  I actively follow her twitter feed as well as admire her instagram stream and of course her blog and she isn’t afraid to give her readers a glimpse of her personal life.  This makes you feel more connected with the advice that she gives and more open to taking it.

Second, this blog has great content that covers real weddings, inspired shoots, and relevant advice.  I’m not calling other blog’s advice irrelevant.  What I’m saying is that this blogger is a tenured event professional in her own right and knows the issues that engaged couples want to know and things that real wedding professionals want to share.  I think that the advice that is offered on this blog is priceless, and if there is any one blog to read daily this is it!

Next, They are broad.  ELD features weddings of all kinds.  You will find farm weddings, ballroom weddings, DIY weddings, and upscale events all featured on this blog.   They are focused on the details and providing their readers inspiration and education for replicating those details in their own wedding.

Last, they are selective.  ELD just doesn’t post any old content that comes through.  Being selective is good because a blog is supposed to provide readers with inspiration and she has done that by making sure that the details in the wedding she posts are flawless and her advice is good.

Educational Blogs

Oh Happy Day is the brain child of Jordan Ferney a San Francisco based party planner who features great DIY projects for events and home.

Eco Beautiful Weddings blog features both real weddings and wedding planning advice that of course focuses on eco-friendly wedding planning.  They also have a beautiful online magazine that they publish quarterly.

Engaged and Inspired is my newest obsession.  This is a great budget bride blog that features advice that is useful across the board

Martha Stewart Weddings is of course king in the wedding industry.  And I couldn’t in good conscience make a list about wedding advice resources without mentioning MSW Bride’s Guide.  No wedding planning experience would be complete without a weekly zone out to MSW!

Now that I’ve shared some of my favorite wedding blogs, what are some of yours?  Do you feel like we left anything off our list?

Foraging between random supplies that I had laying around the studio and plants that I picked up outside produced some exciting results!  So I decided to play with different types of boutonnieres with these fun items.  They all share the theme that they are natural, but mixing and matching different elements can produce very different styles with simple changes.

Heather, dusty miller and an oxalis bloom gives this boutonniere a sweet and delicate feel.  I finished it off with a taupe velveteen ribbon and a jute tie to make it just a tad more masculine.  I would love to see these on groomsmen and perhaps add a billy button or head of ranunculus or gardenia for the groom.

For my next one I wanted to do something a little more glam, so I pulled a deep purple ostrich feather left over from some headpieces that I made for a friend and added some glitter to our little dusty miller. A bloom of cyclamen brought a delicate touch to this piece that was finished off with some metallic gold twine.  This reminds me a little bit of senior prom for whatever reason, but I like it!

Isn’t this flower amazing?  This is the same cyclamen bloom from the image above, only I have brought in the heart shaped leaf of the plant and opened the bloom against it.  This would be a great compliment for a mother corsage or even for a couple to wear in a civil union ceremony.  I love the cyclamen because it is one of the few blooms that stays hearty throughout the winter.  I have several of these plants in my yard that keep the beauty going from the end of summer until fresh colors come alive in the spring!

Here is another variation that is less flashy without the ostrich feather.  But the glittered up dusty miller still brings pizzazz to the table!

This is my personal favorite boutonniere from this project.  I’ve dubbed it my “rockabilly Christmas” piece.  The evergreen was taken from a holiday arrangement that I had in my living room and the holly berries came from the vine growing on my fence.  Of course it’s the bright polka dot ribbon that really stands out on this piece.  What I like about it is that it has elements that are very traditionally related to Christmas, but it doesn’t scream “Santa Clause”.   This could also transition into a springtime event and even complement a woodland themed wedding much like our recent photo shoot you may recall.

One of the events that I’m currently working on is an “upscale steampunk” wedding.  I’m so excited about this one because it allows me to push the boundaries on my creativity with a design style that I’ve never really experimented with.  (Unless you want to count the two weeks in high school that I dated a guy that drove a hearse, but we won’t go there!)  I tinkered with adding blooms and more color to this piece, but when it was all said and done it looked too “pretty” for the feel that I was going for.  I would pair this boutonniere with a bouquet of schwartswald (deep purple) mini callas, dahlia, garden roses, and tons of ostrich feathers (my client loves them) and wrap it in a complementing crushed velvet stem wrap and some mixed metal chains with an antique key.  (The key to his heart, get it?)  The idea is to mix delicate elements with heartier and heavier pieces.  See this Steampunk meets Anthro wedding featured on Green Wedding Shoes that is our inspiration.

How are you incorporating your personal style into your wedding?  How do you think that you can make a natural style work with a theme that isn’t historically related to being natural?

If you have looked at any DIY blog lately you have seen everything and anything covered in chalkboard paint.  I’m a big re-purposer but haven’t really gotten into the whole chalkboard craze, and have almost been downright opposed to it.  So today I found a few objects that have been lying around my office and marked for trash and armed myself with a can of VOC free paint and made the magic happen.  You see, chalkboard paint is nothing more than flat finish paint tinted charcoal gray, which I just happened to have on hand leftover from some succulent gardens that I made for a client a few months ago.  I thought this lamp shade which accompanied a beautiful lamp that a dear friend passed on to me has a great shape, but I’ve never been quite sold on the pattern.  A little paint will take care of that…

I was so happy with the way it looked and had a little time left so I decided that I needed to paint something else.  Bring in these kraft paper tags:

I used these to price some arrangements that had for sale at a recent craft fair, and I just couldn’t part with them because they are so cute and kraft papery.   What a perfect chalkboard paint project!

Now I can reuse them time and time again!  I know, I know  they aren’t expensive and could easily be thrown out.  But seriously, how cute are they now!  Judge me and I’ll send you a gift with these attached.

Now let’s get to the ridiculous  part.  I used an old manila envelope that I pulled out of the recycling to protect my desk from getting paint all over it.  Guess what?  CHALKBOARD!!!!

It’s perfect, it even has a hole ready to hang.  I’m going to do this with all manila envelopes that I get in the mail from now on.  What a great organizing tool this will be!  Judge me and this will be the gift that I send you with the previously mentioned gift tags…

What other ideas can you come up with to repurpose with chalkboard paint?

How do you feel about chalkboards in weddings?  Cheap?  Overdone?  Brilliant?

Photo copyright Arden Prucha Photography

We have been incredibly blessed in the past year with some amazing opportunities.  This means that we are rapidly growing, and looking for some additional talent to add our Vera Green family!

We are currently hiring a floral assistant to help with our operations on an as needed basis.  This is an introductory position, and there is room for rapid upward growth.  If you or someone you know are self motivated and eager to be a part of one of the industry’s most respected design firms please submit your resume ASAP.  This position is likely to fill quickly.

Job functions:

Provide assistance on an as needed basis to create floral arrangements, and setup/break down decor for special events
Meet with potential clients for consultations,
Attend networking events to promote VGP and yourself,
Attend regular staff meetings,
Buying and Merchandising assistance as needed.

Job requirements:

Minimum 4yr degree or 6 years applicable work experience,
Must possess working knowledge of  floral varieties and how to handle specific breeds,
Strong background in social media primarily twitter and WordPress blogs,
Must be able to attend Networking events on occasion to promote yourself and the company,
proficiency in Microsoft office programs,
Must be able to stand for up to 10 hours and lift objects over 50 lbs,
Must have flexibility to meet with clients during the week and be available most weekends for events

DO NOT APPLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE HANDLING FLOWERS IN A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT!

The best candidate for this position will possess the following attributes:

Ability to see other’s vision regardless of your own taste, ability to work with others, a professional demeanor, assertive but not abrasive personality, willing to go the extra mile for clients, passion for conservation, prioritize sustainability and style over what is easier, self-motivated and Driven to move forward professionally, a love for social media, strong writing skills, an eye for design, and a flexible schedule.

To apply please email your resume and links to applicable social media outlets to ashley@veragreenproductions.com

PLEASE correspond VIA email only.  No phone calls, texts, twitter or FB messages.  This is a Fort Worth based position.

Photos copyright Lauren Larsen Photography

Filed under: Green Wedding Tips ]]> http://veragreen.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/featured-vera-green-productions-in-modern-luxury-dallas-magazine/feed/ 0 veragreen Modern Luxury Magazine http://veragreen.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/on-the-third-day-of-christmas-vera-green-gave-to-me/ http://veragreen.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/on-the-third-day-of-christmas-vera-green-gave-to-me/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:16:14 +0000 Vera Green Productions https://veragreen.wordpress.com/?p=499 Keep reading →]]> A Green Bride Guide starter kit!

My favorite resource for Eco-brides in recent years has been this little book. It is a wealth of advice and a must have for every couple planning their big day. That is why I am giving away a FREE autographed copy and all the other goodies that comes along with the Green Bride Guide Starter Kit.

Here are the rules:

Comment on this blog post about why you want to learn more about Eco-friendly weddings

Once you have done this you may submit additional entries by the following opportunities:

Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Share this post on Facebook or Twitter. (you must tag or @ Vera Green Productions to be eligible.)

That’s all!

Contest closes today, Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 11:59:59 pm CST.  At midnight we will compile all entries and choose a winner via random.org. The winner will be announced on the VGP blog on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011.

For a complete list of terms and conditions please click here:  Download Contest Rules

Weddings are always a little bittersweet for a wedding planner.  It’s so rewarding to see months of hard work pay off on the big day, but a little sad that it’s all over and your couple will then go on with their lives.  You pick up your phone to send a text, and stop yourself like “I guess her wedding is over now so she probably won’t appreciate this photo of a paper maiche penguin with a boquet of garden roses anymore.”   Such was the case for this particular wedding.

I worked with Ashley and Jason for sixteen months planning their perfect day.  These sweethearts met at Texas A&M and then whisked each other away to Brooklyn, New York where Jason dabbles in culinary arts and Ashley spends her time curating pieces for Kate Spade.  They were such a cool and stylish couple, and their wedding details definitely reflect that!

I was really excited to hold an event at the venue that they selected.   Barr Mansion is the only certified organic wedding venue in Texas.  Not only are their grounds pesticide free, but the home was renovated according to LEED standards and their catering facilities are zero waste and 100% organic.  The best part about this facility is not just the fact that it’s a green business, but it is also a dramatically beautiful venue to hold a wedding.

I was fortunate enough to work with some amazing vendors on this event.  Loot Vintage Rentals provided all of the antiques dispersed throughout the event, and The Nouveau Romantics provided the lovely florals.  It was so fun collaborating with these ladies, and I definitely feel like we made a power combination!  Finally the tone for the evening was set with musical styling from indie bluegrass band The Lost Pines.

All images are courtesy of Lauren Larsen Photography who as you can tell does fantastic work.  I’m so happy that even though they were wed in Austin they chose a DFW photographer, because I am so excited to work with her again!

Here are just a few more of my favorite images from the wedding:

Filed under: Fashion, Vintage, wedding inspiration, Wedding Planning, Wedding Vendors ]]> http://veragreen.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/ashley-and-jason-an-organic-chic-austin-affair/feed/ 0 veragreen Ashley and Jason Style Bar Mansion Ashley and Jason Details Before (124) Before (151) Ceremony (138) Portraits (222) Ashley&Jason_Reception_1004 http://veragreen.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/grattitude/ http://veragreen.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/grattitude/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:04:42 +0000 Vera Green Productions http://veragreen.wordpress.com/?p=479 Keep reading →]]> We recently had the pleasure of sending a dear friend and colleague down the aisle, and styling her perfect day.  It was such an honor to be such an important part of such an important day for such an important friend.  I received this lovely response from her as soon as she made it back from the honeymoon, and I still break down into tears every time I read it.   I can’t wait for the professional photos from this wedding so I can share them with the world.

An image from Jenine's wedding.

Sweet Ashley,

Where do I begin…

 THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

We so very much enjoyed our special day and I have you to thank for it! Everyone told us “it will go by so fast, you won’t even remember it”. We had the opposite experience. Jeremy (my husband!) and I both felt like we had time to eat the awesome food, enjoy the beautiful scenary, hug our friends/family, dance to the music and love each other. Just knowing that you had everything under control, allowed me the freedom to truly take everything in and be in the moment.

 You are motivating, inspiring, honest and kind. You helped me create the perfect day; with every single (OMG) DIY detail that I wanted. I am grateful for your appreciation to the details that were so important to me. I can look back on this day, this planning experience and check off everything from my dream-wedding list. I can breath easy knowing that we did it right.

Brittney was amazing, as well. She was right there with an answer to any ridiculous question or request. Brittney was complimentary to VGP and I know, a great support for you. The two of you make a perfect team!

Lastly… the peonies! When I looked at my gorgeous bouquet for the first time I had to do a double-take! I was confused at first because I knew we discussed peonies were out of my budget. I asked my bridesmaids for verification and yes, they were peonies. Goodness, what a sweet surprise! There you go again, outdoing even yourself!

I love you and everything that is Vera Green Productions!

Utterly Grateful,

Jenine & Jeremy Christopher