2021 Bouquet Subscriptions
Dried Flowers
I have recently rediscovered the world of dried flowers, and wow, am I loving it! After growing many different flowers last year, and having such a big bounty nearing the end of the season, I decided to start drying some of them. This project went really well, so then I decided to look for other varieties that I could forage locally to add to designs. At the time I was most interested in making wreaths, but I soon fell in love with working with dried materials and started creating many different designs. Soon I decided that my dried flower creations needed a whole separate shop to themselves, and Island Flower Girl was born. Let me show you what I’ve been up to!
First I started creating wild wreaths. I wanted to make something really earthy, unique and textural. Something that you don’t typically see around – full of nature’s spirit, yet still well-made. Then I decided to try designs on gold hoops that were softer and more delicate, yet still with a boho feel.
Next, I wanted to bring the feeling of a wild meadow to a table arrangement that could be placed anywhere inside the home. I opted for a minimalist contemporary feel to contrast the dried flowers, by creating wooden stands for the flower stems to sit inside.
I also wanted to experiment with ways to wear dried flowers. First I made a set of hair pins which I thought were so versatile for many hairstyles! Then I decided to order in some jewelry findings and make some necklaces. I really love how these turned out!
Of course I also made some cute bouquets as well! These are the perfect size for budvases, bottles or other small vases.
Dried flowers have certainly made a comeback, and I couldn’t be happier! Once the garden is in bloom again I will be experimenting with some more brand new designs! Until then, I will still have some new Etsy shop updates planned throughout the coming months in some similar designs as above, so be sure you’re following @islandflowergirlpei and @sakurahsflowerstudio on Instagram!
Behind the Scenes – Autumn Romance Editorial
Ever wonder what it’s like behind the scenes of a magazine shoot? Well, this is it! A total of ten vendors contributed to the making of this editorial shoot for the Winter 2018 edition of PEI Living Magazine. Here you will find some quick snaps taken by Kelly from The Perfect Pear Bridal as well as a few other vendors. To view our finished photos taken by Caley Joy Photography, pick up your free copy of PEI Living out now!
“We all gathered at Hazelbrook Homestead on a sunny Autumn day. We soon started prepping and designing before Caley Joy Photography arrived, and then… Magic happened! I think I can speak for all of us when I say we had a blast working together on this project!”
Contributors:
Bounce Hair Studio
Caley Joy Photography
Garnish Jewellery Studio and Boutique
Hazelbrook Homestaed
Of The Island Shop
Open Eats
Perfect Pear Bridal
Pro MUAÂ
Sakurah’s Flower Studio
Swoon Creations
Katrina Kuzminer Photography – Local Weddings
For a while it seemed like I would find Katrina photographing almost every wedding that I was decorating! Needless to say, I soon got to know Katrina very quickly and had the pleasure of creating the bouquets for her own wedding this past summer.
Katrina’s talent and passion for her work stands out in every photo. I just love how she captures such a bright and airy feeling in each shot! Browse below to find more photos by Katrina Kuzminer Photography.
Aimee and Kristopher
Lindsay and Matthew
Blake and Alex
Melanie and Walter
Krystal and Jonathon
Vanessa and Alex
Amy and Ryan
Along with wedding photography, Katrina also loves doing portraits, family photos and other lifestyle photography. To check availability or see more photos by Katrina, visit her on Facebook.
Styled Shoot by Sarah Kierstead at Hazelbrook Homestead
I recently had the pleasure to work with an amazing group of female entrepreneurs on this end of summer styled shoot. It was all planned in a very short time frame (about one week!) and yet everything just fell into place so perfectly.
It all took place at one of my top favourite wedding venues – Hazelbrook Homestead, an intimate venue full of old world class and charm. It also has a small lake of it’s very own, multiple barns and a huge white fountain that makes me dream of the fairytales from my youth.
The photographer, Sarah Kierstead, has such a candid and unique style. Each photo evokes a feeling of both warmth and mystery, drawing you in for a closer look. Not to mention I am so in love with all of these deep, rich and earthy tones!
Katrina Tuttle – who knew at the age of only six that she wanted to be a fashion designer – created this gorgeous dress by hand. All of her bridal gowns are custom designed specifically for each bride, no tailoring or alterations needed!
The gorgeous model, Meredith Langille, was adorned with a beautiful handmade hair comb by one of my favourite Etsy vendors Oh Dina! and make-up by  Savannah Belsher-Maclean. Savannah also happens to be the owner of Hazelbrook Homestead and Swoon Creations where she creates elegant handmade jewellery and accessories.
A big thanks to all of you for letting me take part! Your creativity and passion for what you do is evident in each and every photo! xox
Photographer: Sarah Kierstead  Venue: Hazelbrook Homestead
Gown: Katrina Tuttle Bridal
Makeup: Savannah Belsher-Maclean  Hair comb: Oh Dina!  Model: Meredith Langille
Lauren and Jeremy – The Best is Yet to Come
Lauren chose a pallet of deep blush, ivory and gold for their wedding. Lauren’s favourite flowers right from the beginning were these ‘Romantic Antique’ garden roses, and although I really can’t choose a favourite flower, I think they may also be my favourite flower too. (Shhhh…).
The reception took place at Belvedere Golf Club in the heart of Charlottetown, PEI. The guest tables were dressed with golden plates and foliage accents on each of the napkins. Raw wood slices were used as chargers under two mason jars filled with garden roses and hydrangea. Then large golden table numbers that Lauren made by hand were placed on each table.
A long foliage garland was draped over the head table and spilled to the floor while gold candle holders were placed among the foliage. Golden glass vases were added to hold the bridesmaids bouquets upon their arrival. Miniature lights were then added along the foliage garland which played up the head table even further.
Guests were welcomed with a wooden greeting sign filled with foliage and accent tables were set up around the reception space including a guest welcoming table, gift table and a gorgeous display of mouth watering treats. Lauren and Jeremy’s gold initials were also added as decor while the card box was dressed with a grapevine wreath of eucalyptus.
From the romantic pink, ivory and gold pallet to the long garlands of lush foliage, this gorgeous wedding mixed rustic, romantic and classic themes perfectly. Cheers Lauren and Jeremy, may the best be yet to come!!
Heather and Bob’s Art Gallery Wedding
Photographed by Dustin Hall Photography, Heather and Bob shared their vows in the art gallery at the Confederation Centre of the Arts located in downtown Charlottetown.
Heather’s initial colour for her wedding was a bright hue of mint green, so she chose gorgeous flowing mint green skirts for her bridesmaids and paired them with ivory lace tops. As a pretty compliment to mint green, we decided to use monochromatic purples for her floral bouquets and decor.
Her bridal bouquet used classic ‘Ocean Song’ lavender roses, deep purple lisianthus and hydrangea with accents of seeded eucalyptus, purple trachelium and dried lavender. All of the bouquets were then finished with our hand made silk ribbon, using ‘Latte’ for the bridesmaids and ‘Cool Mint’ for the bride.
The reception took place in Memorial Hall, a romantic sky lit room with tall ceilings at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. The head table was dressed with with a long floral centrepiece in colours of ivory and purple. Heather created the table numbers herself by hand painting floral designs on clam shells that she had collected along the beach.
The boutonnieres and corsages for the wedding party and families were made with dried lavender tied with silk, while the stems were left exposed to match the bouquets. For the groom we used a single ‘Ocean Song’ rose from Heather’s bouquet along with green lisianthus buds and touches of trailing green amaranthus.
From the mint green bridesmaids skirts and the hand-painted shells, to the airy art gallery venue, Heather and Bob’s wedding was the perfect mix of classic beauty and artistic style. Congratulations Heather and Bob!
Vanessa and Ryan – A Summer Beginning
Vanessa and Ryan shared their vows at Shaw’s Hotel in Brackley Beach, PEI. This picturesque heritage hotel is nestled on the shore of a small ocean inlet, just minutes from Brackley Beach National Park.
Photographed by Paynter and Company, the couple start their day getting ready with their friends and family. The bride and her bridesmaids are busy with hair, make up and dresses, while the groom and his men are buttoning sleeves, fixing collars and tying ties.
The bride’s main wedding colours encompassed a pastel pallet that ranged from ivory and blush, to cooler hues of slate, lavender and grey. For her bouquet Vanessa chose a loose garden style with soft nude pink roses, large white peonies and lots of foliage, all hand-tied with handmade ivory silk ribbon.
The outdoor ceremony is framed by large shady trees that over look the gentle ocean waves of the inlet. The couple soon says ‘I Do’ and then with many big smiles and teary eyes, they leave to spend the afternoon on on the bright sandy beaches of the North Shore.
At the reception, a thin garland of mixed foliage and light pink wax flower ran the length of the head table where large white vases were placed to hold the girls bouquets. On the dance floor, round glowing lanterns illuminate a rafter ceiling while a large lighted sign depicting XOXO accented the wall.
With the idyllic ocean view venue, pastel colour pallet and whimsically lit dance floor, this wedding certainly celebrated a story of true love, and marked the beginning of those first days of Summer, beautifully.
Winter Romance – Emily and Andrew
This gorgeous winter wedding was all class and romance.
Emily shared the same variety of ivory roses that her sister Jenny had in her June wedding, but with a romantic warm winter feel. For Emily’s bouquet, arranged in a bed of crimson culrly willow branches, I used a mix of cream roses, champagne roses and and scented ivory roses. Big cranberry red hypericum berries and winter foliage like pine and cedar served as this bouquets accents.
The bridesmaids bouquets blended her cranberry red and champagne colour pallette with the addition of deep red roses, all wrapped with ivory lace ribbon.
For the Grooms boutonniere, a large scented ivory rose was showcased with various winter greens and berries. It was then wrapped with cranberry ribbon and thin copper wire that was reminiscent of the willow branches in the bouquets.
The groomsmen boutonnieres used deep red roses to match the bridesmaids and were slightly smaller versions of the grooms boutonniere.
An ivory white 1950’s vintage car awaited the newly-weds and escorted them to their photo shoot at Province House before heading to their reception.
At their reception, The Haviland Club enhanced the warm romantic feel of this wedding with it’s crackling lit fireplaces, tall ceilings with heritage decorative mouldings and hardwood floors.
As a special gift for Emily and Andrew, I created a floral tapestry with some extra stems from her wedding bouquets to hang on the wall of the dining area.
Don’t forget to check out Brady McCloskey’s website here, or check out his blog for fun ideas for your engagement photo-shoot and some great tips on preparing for a rainy day.
Downtown Farmer’s Market
Yesterday was the first market of the season at the Downtown Farmer’s Market in Charlottetown, PEI. I had so much fun! We will be there each Sunday from 11am – 4pm all Summer, so come on out and see what’s new! A big thanks to Jing Cui for taking these beautiful photos and to my neighbours, Island Lavender Company and Wild Island Cats!
Photo Credit: Jing Cui
