Loretta Stagen Floral Designs

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...

What makes a wedding special? Sometimes it’s as simple as using flowers from the mother of the bride’s cutting garden. I thought of this recently as I filled buckets with flowers for a bridal bouquet for a summer wedding at Great Hollow Preserve in New Fairfield. Photo by Anna Beeke As it turned out, zinnias of many varieties and colors, dahlias, phlox, daisies, Queen Anne’s lace and peegee hydrangeas – made for a sumptuous summer mélange that worked wonderfully in many combinations. I loved the way the Queen’s Anne Lace mirrored the lace in the bride’s lovely gown; and that simple birch branches, topped with a spray of delphinium, hydrangeas and snapdragons, was transformed into a ceremonial arch. Photo by Anna Beeke Photo by Anna Beeke Photo by Anna Beeke The bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnières, 108 centerpieces and large stand-alone arrangements drew similarly from this charming floral palette. Antiqued metal containers and long wooden farm tables completed...

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.

Snapdragons, baby mums, phlox, roses and asters are staples in many home gardens. But have you ever considered some ways to build upon these flowers in arrangements that are fresh and contemporary? Recently at The Smithy in New Preston I gave a workshop in which we explored some possibilities. To a bouquet of phlox and dusty miller I added stems of raspberries. For a burst of color how about purple asters. I place them in orange peppers-as-containers. Fresh herbs in a rectangular glass container were lovely all on their own, but adding a bed of river stones to the base of the clear container and several stems of colorful snapdragons upped the ante. Why not mix roses with vegetables, and onions with frilly kale? How about using aspidistra leaves to conceal the oasis in a clear container? Arranging really offers us a chance to tap into our imaginations and to play. As an aside -- I use organic vegetables and herbs in my arrangements. Why? I know I’ll be chopping them up and usin...

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...

Loretta Stagen Floral Designs recently created special bridal designs for a wedding reception held at the Torrington Country Club. The guests were greeted by a large dramatic arrangement of Casa Blanca lilies, Hawaiian dendrobium orchids, roses and snapdragons. At the base of the classic grey urn were little pink boxes (filled with chocolates) labeled with guest’s names and table numbers. They matched the pink roses and snapdragons in the arrangement. The Bride’ dream was to carry just white phaleonopsis orchids. She loved her custom created bouquet and to make it extra special the stems of her bouquet were wrapped with a piece of lace from her mother’s veil. The Bride loves turquoise and so…the Bridesmaids’ dresses and the tablecloths/napkins were all her favorite color. The flowers she selected: green hydranges and shades of pink roses.