For a moment, 1-2 weeks, every year burnt caramel football mums and local Seatons J'Adore from LynnVale Studios are available at the same time. I love this moment! Thank you Audra Wrisley for these images!
October 2017 Longview Gallery
planning- Bash, images- The Mallorys, venue- Longview, cake- Buttercream, food- Occasions, dahlias LynnVale Studios
Valentines Day 2018
November, TableScape Talk
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of talking to an accomplished group of gardeners about holiday tablescapes that incorporate foraged materials. The conversation was fluid with lively conversation and lots of questions.
The basic themes we covered:
What is your vision for the event? Is it cozy and small, a moment to impress, fun, old friends and families, new guests? Your tablescape will help set the tone- what do you want?
How will food be served? Is it buffet, family style, plated? Make sure that decor works with the food you are serving and the space available on your table.
It is all about the ingredients- work with best of the moment ingredients- consider the stems that you plan to incorporate and treat them gently, embrace their individuality such as the curly stem of a scabiosa or the drape of privet berries.
Embrace your amateur- Use containers that you have, mismatched is fine, there is no right or wrong, make it personal.
Do you have foliage you can forage? From my alley in Shaw I brought 3 varieties of ivy, bay, vinca, euonymus, 3 types of summer hydrangea that dried on the stem and turned bronze, cypress, rosemary. Many of the attendees have large gardens I can only imagine the foraging potential. Other locally sourced greens included: scented geranium, coned cypress, nandina and privet berry.
Don't shy away from a few special blooms: From LynnVale Studios in Virginia I brought- scabiosa, the last few dahlias of the season and Seaton's J'dore chrysanthemums (my favorite!!) From further away I brought some ranunculus, garden roses and hellebore. The result- heavy foliage with a few blossoms.
Consider lighting and candle light- lots of candles, they change everything.
A hand tied garland with a variety of foliage is always good, let it drape down the side of the table to the floor if you have the space.
Floral Foam- We talked about work arounds for floral foam (which I do not know how to use) such as making a nest like structure with the stems of foliage, floral frogs, chicken wire balls and taping a grid to the top of a container.
Sources: Table Runner from Rose Brand, Candle Holders from CWI, Local Flowers from LynnVale Studios and my alley
October at Dumbarton
Images, Kate Headley with- Anne Book, BD3 Design, Occasions
Happy Birthday GiGi
Detail shots from an epic 1 year old birthday party. This was truly a team effort.
planning Pineapple Production, design and lots of building BD3 Design, images Kate Headley, catering Occasions, tent Sugarplum, lighting Frost, entertainment Elan Cast of Thousands...
Old World Vibe at the Park Hyatt
planning Elizabeth Bailey Weddings, images Love Life Images, stage chuppah and draping BD3 Design
Spring Flowers and Food at the Decatur House April, 2017
Abundance of April- Cherry Blossom, Peony, Ranunculus, Lilac, Tulip, Poppy, Viburnum, Daffodil, Stock, Freesia, Dogwood, Hellebore...
Coordination Arney Walker, images Kate Headley, catering Susan Gage, custom building and furniture BD3 Design
Married at home in Middleburg, July 2017
Coordination Arney Walker, Photos Jen Fariello, Catering Susan Gage
Classic Flowers, Hay Adams in June
Big June blooms- outstanding peonies from Hammelmans, roses Rose Story Farm, foliage LynnVale Studios, coordination A. Dominick Events, images, Bonnie Sen
Commercial Bridal Photo Shoot
images Alex Ashman
August Stone Tower Winery
Local dahlias and tweedia, Alaskan peonies, California field grown roses, South African blushing bride protea, Canadian mums...
Images, Laura Gordon, planning, Anne Book, catering, Occasions
Last Minute Wedding at 1508
This spring friend and colleague Anne Book contacted me on Wednesday asking if I could host a celebration following her vows on Saturday (in three days). Happily I did not have an event and was thrilled to be a part of her special day. On Friday, the day before her ceremony plans became complicated and we decided to shift and have the ceremony as well as the planned celebration at my home/studio. We cooked, made a wedding cake and flowered. Lucky for everyone Kate Headley documented.
Dinner January 17, 2017
A few details from Woodend Sanctuary, Mid-June
Images Vicki Grafton, Planning Wit Weddings, Catering Occasions , Venue Woodend Sanctuary