Loretta Stagen Floral Designs

I’ve always loved the spare simplicity of the Sherman Congregational Church, tucked away on a quiet spot that time appears to have passed by.  So I was thrilled to have a chance to do the floral design work there for a wedding at the summer’s end.  A 20-foot garland of thick seeded eucalyptus framed the entrance to the church and gently cascaded to the landing.  Inside, two abundant arrangements of roses, dahlias, zinnias, and Million Bells flanked the Altar.  (They would make star appearances later at the reception.)      The bride’s family had rolled up their collective sleeves on their nearby horse farm -- emptying out the major barn and readying its interiors for an inspired transformation.   From the antique pine farm tables to the cutlery, goblets, linens, and décor, this was a sophisticated, yet marvelously understated affair.   I knew the Bride’s choice of blush-colored roses and white dahlias on the table runn...

South Farms in Morris, Connecticut is a special venue for weddings and no wonder. Its setting and its historic farm buildings are quintessential New England, situated in one of the prettiest regions on the planet. It was perfect, in other words, for the wedding and reception of an American bride and Finnish groom, both outdoorsy types who love to sail and hike. The couple selected a “woodlands theme” for their wedding; they wanted the celebration to reflect their passions. It seemed right to choose flowers that would trumpet their happiness, and moss to conjure the magic of the forest. And so I got to work-- festooning the arch that would serve as the backdrop for their outdoor ceremony with one hundred white and green hydrangea, and assembling centerpieces of hydrangea, ranunculus, double lisianthus, and local dahlias for centerpieces to station along moss runners. Lady’s mantle, galax leaves, seeded eucalyptus and needlepoint ivy for did yeoman work as embellishment. The glas...

A bride’s gown seemingly spun from gossamer thread.   Linen dresses dipped in natural dyes for the attendants in the subtle rainbow of colors one encounters in the forest. A homemade carrot wedding cake and cupcakes and a Ceremony at Lemonade Lake. Talk about a storybook wedding. Because the bride’s favorite flower is ranunculus, I took varieties of them as my starting point, adding lisianthus, eucalyptus, and spring green Western ferns for an understated, but glorious, mix. These were ingredients that could be playfully repeated in the bridal bouquet, the bridesmaids’ bouquets and in the boutonnieres. For the centerpieces, I included an abundance of grey-green eucalyptus and forest green Italian Ruscus.   Using these same materials, I also created a 30-foot garland for the bridge railing that led guests to the Ceremonial area at water’s edge. The couple was married under a rustic arbor that looked as if it had been gathered from the nearby ...