Loretta Stagen Floral Designs

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 ...

What do palm, banana and monsters leaves, pine tips and pine cones have in common? For me at least, they bespoke of the favorite haunts of the two nature lovers who were about to tie the knot. It was my happy task to work these elements into large and elegant wedding at Manursing Island Club in Rye, NY, drawing upon a palette of white and green. And because the bride’s family splits its year between Rye and Bermuda, I had the mother of the bride’s white coral collection to draw upon as well. For the ceremony at the Church of the Resurrection, I had decorated the pews and altar with a variety of white flowers, lady’s mantle, seeded eucalyptus, grevillea and galax leaves. As the bridal party proceeded down the aisle, the bridesmaids’ deep navy dresses served as brilliant backdrops for the floral confections of white and green I’d made as bouquets. Shortly thereafter, as 285 guests gathered under a glistening tent, centerpieces of roses, lisianthus, freesia, hydrangeas, hyp...

It had the makings of a storybook wedding: childhood sweethearts, and spectacular views of the golf course at The Waramaug Country Club and of Lake Waramaug’s sparkling waters. Photo by Keane Eye Photography at Lake Waramaug Country Club With such ingredients already in place, I turned to glorious, old-fashioned lavender and white flowers to make this bride and groom’s celebration all the more special. The result -- as sweet as the young couple –could have served as inspiration for a succession of Victorian-era valentines. Centerpieces of scabiosa, calla lily, larkspur and white veronica complemented the bride’s bouquet of lavender and baby’s breath and groom’s matching boutonniere. (I repeated the floral mix in the aisle chair décor.) Votive candles brought these lovely wooden tables to life as the sun began to set. Meanwhile the couple supplied joy and exuberance. It was simply a stunning event.

American Gold Cup Equestrian Event Old Salem Farm, North Salem, NY While it was basically a “first world problem,” and not the devastation and heartbreak that was unfolding as Hurricane Irma ripped north from the Caribbean to Florida, a portion of my flower order, the 500 Ecuadorian roses, was stuck in the Miami Airport. With the prestigious American Gold Cup competition at Old Salem Farm in North Salem three days away, I knew I’d have to scramble if I were going to guarantee delivery of 88 centerpieces on time. When snags like this happen, having contacts and experience really helps. My dear vendor, Chris, at Dutch Flower Line in the NYC flower market sprung to my aid -. voilà, this was the result. The roses were a hotter shade of orange than I’d ordered, but sometimes serendipitous outcomes turn out even better. These arrangements, placed in wooden cubes of various sizes, and in custom made grey wooden containers , served up scrumptious mélanges that includ...

August is the ideal time to enjoy life on Candlewood Lake. Last weekend hosts Greg and Laura invited their friends to a very special summer party. Laura had selected periwinkle blue and shades of white as the color palette. She loves hydrangeas, so I ordered periwinkle hydrangeas (imported from Holland) as the favorite flower to be included in all of the designs. Cocktails were enjoyed under the blue skies around the cocktail tables which were decorated with small centerpieces (similar to the ones on the dining tables). The guests then moved under the tent to savor the dishes prepared by Bonni Manning Catering while viewing the lush centerpieces which included hydrangeas, roses, mini calla lilies and scabiosa. The colors were set off by the shimmering pewter tablecloths.  Tall dramatic arrangements with similar flowers (and including periwinkle blue hybrid delpheniums) decorated the buffet table. The guests were very impressed with the location of the private ...

After the wedding at St. Mary Parish, all of the guests met at the Belle Haven Yacht Club to enjoy an evening of celebration. Photo by Mary Alice Fisher The all white Bridal bouquet included Polar Star roses, mini white calla lilies and white hydrangeas, all imported from Holland. The stems were wrapped with the lace matching the Bridal gown. The Bridesmaids’ bouquets featured blue hydrangeas and open white roses. Small Nantucket baskets filled with blue hydrangeas and white Majolica roses were carried by the two flower girls. The soft blue table linens complimented the lush centerpieces which were created in large Nantucket baskets. A beautiful outdoor setting, overlooking the Long Island Sound. A very special evening shared by the friends and relatives of two Greenwich families came to a close when the Bride and Groom stepped aboard the boat which took them to a destination unknown.

A very happy Bride and Groom continued onto The Boulders Inn in New Preston, Connecticut for the reception. Located on a knoll overlooking beautiful Lake Waramaug, The Boulders Inn is a fantasy venue for a wedding reception. Perfect location, excellent cuisine and fabulous flowers made the reception oh so special. The Bridal Bouquet featured Lily of the Valley (imported from Holland) and white sweet peas (flown in from California). The natural stems were wrapped with lace matching the Bridal gown. A very elegant bouquet. The soft colors of the centerpieces included white Majolica roses, scented white freesia and white phlox, light pink sweet peas and sky blue delphinium, created in square glass containers. A combination of round as well as rectangular tables, covered with pure white tablecloths, created a sophisticated look in this country setting. The weather was perfect…. cocktails were enjoyed outside during sunset…and dancing continued “under the stars”… Since all of the guests sta...

Nestled in the Pocantico Hills, New York, the former Rockefeller Barn is now the home of the Blue Hill Restaurant….a fabulous location for a wedding. Guests gathered in the courtyard under blue skies to witness the marriage, held under a dramatic archway covered with white spirea. The Bridal bouquet featured white Dutchess d”Amour peonies….created European- style with half of the peonies (the ones in the center) still in bud form (just about to open). The surrounding peonies were just beginning to open. The Bridesmaids’ Bouquet included green hydrangeas imported from Holland with white ranunculus and blue grape hyacinths (which perfectly matched the color of the dresses). All of the centerpieces were green and white (hydrangeas, freesia, ranunculus and phlox) arranged in very special baskets , handmade from small branches. With a mixture of both round and rectangular tables….the presentation was extraordinary….Very sophisticated country look.