One color and one flower sounds pretty simple, right? Maybe even boring- but take a look at this!

This design concept of one color/one flower comes out feeling abundant and chic.  To make this look work use vases that vary in height and buy flowers that make a statement. Also when buying your blooms try to get ones that don't look exactly the same, get some open and some closed. Peonies are wonderful for this and are classically chic, we used these brilliant fuchsia ones. Lastly we added some candles and whala! Simplicity at its best.

As some of you might know I have an affinity for the color combo of green ( almost any shade) and white. With this combo I sometimes add a tiny hint of color to punch it up a bit. I wanted to show you a selection of my personal photos of some of my favorite green and white moments.

This first one is more of a nontraditional use of the color scheme.  This was a big hit with everyone and kept the doctor away that day!

Here is a neat row of bridal bouquets from a recent wedding. You can see the bride's is just a tad more special than the bridesmaids' but all equally as beautiful.

My team and I created this floating candle/floral centerpiece in my studio. We incorporated a floral wreath around the container using geranium leaves, rosemary, antique blush hydrangea, lithianthus and roses. Not only did it look fantastic it smelled fantastic!

An interesting spin on centerpieces is using groupings of vases instead of a singular arrangement.  We call them "collections".  They add more texture to your table and double as take away gifts. More bang for your buck! 

Note of caution - too many vases becomes confusing.  Also, from a design perspective, collections are much more effective on oblong tables instead of round.

From the classic to the extraordinary, bouquets are statement pieces for every bride.  I love having the bouquet meeting with each of my clients for this very reason. I always learn a little bit more about the bride's personality throughout the design process....

Not to mention I also love personally delivering the personal flowers to the bride on her wedding day! 

The bouquet shown above is the most classic, spring bouquet you can get in my opinion.  The elegant mix of peonies and lily of the valley is so sweet together. The simple satin ribbon with exposed stems is fresh and clean.

This boutonnière of lily of the valley was the perfect compliment to the bridal bouquet.  Just remember, if you use lily of the valley, it is very delicate. Make sure you always have a back up to replace the initial boutonnière after the ceremony.

Above is another beautiful example of a classic, white bouquet but this one has a modern twist.  The lush spray of gardenias was enhanced with a marabou collar and then finished with a monogrammed, satin ribbon.  This bouquet is perfect for the bride with a glamorous edge!

It is not often that you see a bouquet with a riot of color-this red, pink, and purple arrangement was finished with a black, satin, ribbon stem. This bundle of flowers makes a bold statement without being too much.  I think it is young, fresh and avant-garde.

The groom's boutonnière consisted of the most intricate flower from the bride's bouquet.  We also added a guinea fowl feather to reinforce that innovative touch.

For the bride who wants to stand alone... this is her bouquet. This completely hand constructed shell bouquet is not only a work of art but a show stopper.

What's a shell bouquet without a starfish boutonnière?  I think a hint of metallic really gives it the edge!

Signage is not only useful to direct guests and draw attention to certain spaces, but it is a great design element.  I like signs because they can enhance a design with a clever play-on-words, they assist guests, and they personalize a party.

This truck was the father of the bride's most prized possession.  Because of the emotional attachment the family had to truck, we decided to incorporate it in the wedding design.  It was the first thing guests saw when they walked onto the property and the  "getting hitched" sign was a nod to the groom's home state of Texas.

This beautiful handpainted sign was enhanced with flowers of the season and hung at the end of the driveway.  This sign's purpose was to let guests know they had arrived at the reception!

This was another hand painted sign that we posted along the garden paths for a wedding held at a campground in Minnesota.  We chose a simple design that had a younger, ore whimsical approach so it was reminiscent of the age the bride and groom attended camp.

Signs speak directly to guests and make them feel more like an integrated part of the wedding.  I love using signs because they are another way to tie in the theme of wedding and we all know that I love the details!

Whenever we are hired to produce a destination wedding, the details are what really make the difference. During our site inspections we take the time to visit local shops and do the research for what will reinforce a sense of place and tell the story. 

From the beverages, in this case Cisco Brewers founded in 1997 on Nantucket, to the gift bag contents illustrated below, the guests were treated to a very special experience complements of the couple! 

All of the choices for the gift bags were tied to the sea and whaling. We worked with a graphic designer to create a series of images that were then used through out the papery and gifts. This image of the schooner was on the invitations. 

The bags and the hats were embroidered with whale tails and tagged with the nautical phrase "under way". Some other items we included were a knot tying kit and sweet treats from a local Nantucket bakery (of course we changed the ink stamp on the bakery box from green to navy blue to match the theme!).

The welcome letter carried the image of an octopus which we also used for adorable door décor! Instead of the standard "do not disturb sign" stating occupied, we created a clever play on words and printed "Octupied" instead.

I believe it is in details where you can be a bit more whimsical and playful.  Everyone at this one had a whale of a good time!

Anyone who has ever been to Minnesota knows not to attempt ANYTHING without an umbrella....

But despite the stormy skies and wet ground, this destination wedding was a culmination of the wonderful experiences and surroundings the bride and groom grew up with at summer camp in Nisswa.

Pulling from the woodland setting, the ceremony programs were bound with twigs.

The design for the escort card table was a woodland-scape with cut birch logs.  The slits in the log ensured that none of the cards would blow away. 

The caterer required that guests pre-select their dinner with the RSVPs.  To ensure seemless service, we harvested pine cones from the surrounding forest and placed them at each setting to signify their dinner selection.  White for fish, green for beef. 

Even the family Yorkie reflected the day!  We not only gave her a collar of pearls but we attached fern and hydrangea to her harness.

The girls' bouquets were beautifully blended into the design of the day.  The super green roses, green hydrangea, and trichillium created a moderately sized spray which I think is best for a large bridal party. 

And this is just one of my favorite images from the day.  The men on the edge... Of the dock that is! Note: Although the day is dreary, inclemant weather often makes for more dramatic photos.

One of the sweetest aspects of a destination wedding is pulling from not only the environment but local vendors.  Parting can be "sweet" especially when you serve something yummy like warm sugared donuts.  The wax paper bag is probably my favorite part. 

Following old fashioned tradition, this couple chose a formal goodbye with all guests gathered around to wish them well before they headed to the airport for an extended honeymoon.

One of our most memorable parties was a wedding in Nantucket in a tent erected on the beach's edge.  The theme was "Great Gatsby" by the sea.

For the classic ceremony, we embellished the arch leading to the steps of the church with white peonies, hydrangea, majolica spray roses, and variegated garden ivy.   

Two spectacular floral wreaths composed of peonies, lilac, majolica roses, and viburnum decorated the entryway.

Along the outside of the gorgeous wooden pews, we added smaller nosegays with trailing ivy. Just enough.

The bride carried a whimsical mixture of fuchsia phalaenopsis orchids, nerines, lilacs and peonies in a long cascading bouquet.

Two enormous, flower-encrusted trees glowed with white cherry blossoms, hanging votive candles and crystal pendants.  The arrangements created an unexpected and magical focal point in the tent.  To top it off, an oval mirrored dance floor caught the trees' grand reflection.  Truly stunning.

An unexpected nor'easter swept through Nantucket that evening but nothing could diminish the beauty and excitement of the night!

My absolute favorite flower is a summertime stunner...the garden rose.  Its copious colors, plentiful petals, and decadent designs never cease to amaze me. 

We purchase garden roses from growers in California but we also order them from local gardeners in the Tristate area.  I bet some of you have beautiful garden roses in your own backyard!

These intricate flowers are best used in weddings for close-up arrangements because their glory is in their detail. Next time you pass a summer garden, pop your head in and take a closer look at the garden rose.  I think you'll be stunned.

They are perfect for bouquets, cocktail arrangements, low centerpieces, and powder rooms.  This sweet flower can make a big statement and exudes a liveliness that will be passed on to your guests.  Not to mention, their fantastic fragrance will last throughout the night!

A garden rose's inner-petal-design is enough to mesmerize and the colors they can be found in just put me over the top!

All images found on Google Images.

Blooming cherry blossoms and soft metallics were the perfect way to welcome spring love at Cipriani's 42nd Street property. 

Gold origami cranes adorned a central cocktail arrangement to symbolize the patience and trust necessary to sustain a happy marriage... That patience and trust was put to the ultimate test during Sembazuru, the Japanese tradition of the bride and groom hand-folding these one thousand cranes!

Escort cards were decoupaged to skeleton leaves and loosely strung on ribbon which dangled off hundreds of stems of white cherry blossom branches.  The massive arrangement was built from a base of hybrid white delphinium, hydrangea, and white macarena roses.

The ceremony was "in the round" so the bride could be seen from all angles and flanking cherry blossom trees made it seem like the couple was in a fairytale forest. 

The reception tables contained a mix of high and low centerpieces.  White phaleonopsis orchids, hydrangea, and cherry blossom (could you guess?!) dazzled the dinner décor.

Mercury tea lights and bronze pillar candles warmed up the space and the guests danced the night away in whimsical wedding wonderment!

All Photography by Gustavo Campos.

It's safe to say: I don't think wedding reception tents get enough recognition. They are an integral part of so many spectacular parties and yet we never take time out to acknowledge their phenomena.

Meet two of the best people in the industry, Steve and Jane! They may not be the ones placing the poles and tying the ties, but they are the masterminds behind the tri-state areas oldest and largest tent rental company, Stamford Tent. (StamfordTent.com)

After 50 years in the business (not Steve and Jane), Stamford Tent really knows how to take something ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary. I thought it would be useful to share some insider information about tenting incase you are considering a tent for your wedding.

This amazing space is created through a Structure tent. A structure tent is engineered without internal poles so you don't have to worry about anything blocking views and it can withstand winds up to 70mph! You can also rig a lot of weight from the ceiling.

It's lightweight, versatile, and can be assembled remotely... it's a Frame tent! " In New York City, we are frequently using tenting to expand terraces and outdoor gardens, or creating space on a rooftop" says Jane Frost, "The Frame tent is often used to accomplish this." It's a smaller tent, limited to 40' wide, and may still need to be decorated for a more glamorous effect, but it is available in clear top.

Pole tents are convenient for a wedding because they come in large sizes and are available in clear top. Their pitfall is that they contain more internal poles than any other style tent. They also must be anchored securely because they have a limited wind capacity—the normal frame tent-stakes or gravity blocks won't make the cut. And no one wants to risk a wobbly foundation when saying " I do" .

One of the key features of a Century tent is that it has a nicer shape and fewer internal poles than traditional tenting. " If you have a big open area, the Century tent can be constructed to create a magical space to accommodate a large number of people" comments Jane. A few challenges with a Century tent is that it has no flexibility in anchor or pole placement and its larger sizes requires heavy machinery to install (not so great for pretty lawns). It is not available in clear top yet is more expensive than a Pole tent because it is an engineered structure. But Century tents can handle winds up to 70 mph and look gorgeous from a distance.

A Navi-Trac Frame Tent, the smallest of the three previously mentioned, can also handle winds up to 70 mph. It must be anchored more securely than frame-tent stakes and it is more expensive than Pole or Century tents. The Navi-Trac, like the Structure Tent, is engineered without internal poles. The primary difference is its size and the fact it can't take much weight rigged from the ceiling. This one, above, has a fabric ceiling liner.

The Clearspan Tent is a more industrial structure and can go up to the largest width of all. It's engineered without internal poles and has the highest eave height out of every style. Jane informed me that they are great for weddings with a big budget because designers can rig more weight from the structure here than on any other tent. And we love rigging!

-- Michelle Rago