Still trying to wrap my thoughts up about the wedding. It's funny how we rush headlong into the flurry of the excitement, hardly feeling the full effect and then afterwards, the emotions continue to swirl, even stronger than before. I'll be washing a vase or putting away another pair of forgotten shoes and it gets me again. That little girl of ours is married. She is so happy and so fully in love with James. True soulmates.
I'm starting the wedding story with the flowers because many of you offered so much help when I was wondering how I would make these bouquets. Maggie is easy to please and gave me the go-ahead to do whatever I wanted, but you know I wanted it to be perfect, beyond her expectations. My friend Suzanne and I went to the flower market and chose the flowers early Wednesday morning. We picked white ranunculus, yellowy green blupernum, white mini-callas, yellow berzelia, ivory stock, white and pinkish waxflower, white lilac, buttery yellow tulips, white roses, pitosporum, aster solidago and that grey to lavender globe thistle. Love! All!
I conditioned the flowers and put them in the cool garage overnight for arranging the next day.
The first thing I made were the boutonnieres. Faced with those big buckets of blooms, I was a little intimidated. Starting with a few tiny sprigs fixed that. How much did I love making them!
That romantic little waxflower was so sweet matched up with the rustic berzelia, solidago and rice flower.
Suzanne arrived and we started pulling Maggie's bouquet together. She has an amazing talent with flowers (and food!!). I'm so glad she was there to do this with me. Who knows what they would have looked like if left on my own.
We made Maggie's first and then the bridesmaids' bouquets. In the end, I changed from the originally planned burlap wrap to a softer, more elegant linen wrap. That night I cut rectangles of linen, frayed the edges and bundled them around the floral tape wraps on the stems. The tacky floral tape helped hold the linen snugly and then I just put in some of the boutonniere pins to hold it in place. Not very Martha, but definitely Us. Erin gave Maggie the wide satin sash from a dress she loved. It made a very pretty "something borrowed" finish to the bouquet.
For the four bridesmaids' bouquets, I used some of my studio seam binding tape to cinch the linen. I love that color green and the way it drapes so softly.
So that was Thursday. Then everything went back to the garage for the wedding on Saturday. Oh, that's such a long wait. I checked on them about every hour. Had to have something to fret over.
Goodness, aren't those ranunculus magnificent?! (Have to tell you that all these photos of the bouquets were taken here at home on Tuesday after the wedding! Almost a full week after our trip to the flower market.)
Saturday morning at 11:10 on the banks of the Hudson River. In spite of the unexpectedly chilly 40 degree spring morning, everyone managed to stay focused on the tremendous warmth of spirit and love.
The flowers were no doubt quite happy with the day exactly as is!
Here's a quick walk down the aisle. Glowing, goosebumps and all.
So elegant and beautiful... and the flowers are gorgeous too! :)
Posted by: Connie Hall | April 26, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Of course everyone looks so beautiful, but Charlotte! WOW! You look amazing! You can see the love and pride beaming out of your face.
Congratulations to all! So glad it was a happy day!!
Posted by: Mary | April 26, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Perfect Post! It was just so beautiful. Love was in the air keeping eveyone warm. xoxo
Posted by: dede | April 26, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Wow, what a wedding! The flowers, the dresses, the setting... gorgeous. Love the combination of elegant, simple, understated beauty. It fits so perfectly.
And way to rock the MOB dress, Charlotte!!
Posted by: Kelly | April 26, 2011 at 01:42 PM
HOLY COW - YOU LOOK FABULOUS!!!!!
Posted by: Jeanelle | April 26, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Gorgeous flowers. Gorgeous bride. Handsome father. And you - you look AMAZING! Love the dress.
Posted by: Lorrie | April 26, 2011 at 03:35 PM
Absolutely perfect in every way. The flowers are beautiful and so are you.
Thank you for sharing this day with us.
Posted by: Harriet Kelly | April 26, 2011 at 04:01 PM
Beautiful wedding. Charlotte, you looked perfect. You made a beautiful Mother-of-the-Bride!Love your dress.
Posted by: Nancy Wethington | April 26, 2011 at 04:03 PM
Oh thank you for this glimpse into your special day! I loved reading about the flowers and how you conditioned them and put them all together...so lovely...perfect choices of blooms. Maggie looks beautiful and radiant and all the girls were so pretty! The fellas were handsome and all look so happy. But YOU Charlotte! You look elegant and sophisticated...really stunning Charlotte! I am so happy for you all! :)
Posted by: Laura @ 52 FLEA | April 26, 2011 at 04:12 PM
Hello Charlotte,
The bouquet is fabulous! Isn't it awesome to make it yourself?
Maggie looks terrific and you very elegant, love your hair!
~ Gabriela ~
Posted by: Gabriela | April 26, 2011 at 04:17 PM
Hi Charlotte,
You did such a beautiful job with all the flowers..I love how they were prefect for "US" Congradulations and thank you for sharing your very special day with us thru these photos!
ox
Dagmar
Posted by: Dagmar Leuenberger-Swift | April 26, 2011 at 04:17 PM
I can't believe the day has come and gone already! Where does the time go? Thanks so much for including me in your e-mail; I love seeing the things you created for the special day and mostly, I love seeing the perfect family. Best wishes for continued happiness to all. . .
xoxo
Posted by: Heidi | April 26, 2011 at 04:43 PM
Gorgeous bride! Love the flowers! And...your dress...it's sooooo spectacular! You found a gem! You look wonderful!
Posted by: Linda Jo | April 26, 2011 at 04:51 PM
oh. my. goodness. what a beautiful beautiful affair!
Posted by: sharon from farm and fru fru | April 26, 2011 at 07:48 PM
What an incredibly beautiful story, Charlotte, told and shown in your uniquely creative way! Thank you for sharing it with all of us. Congratulations to the beautiful bride and groom and their special families. And, yes, you looked spectacular!
Posted by: Anne Myers | April 26, 2011 at 08:14 PM
Thank you so much for sharing the wedding with us, Charlotte. Loved seeing your mother and your children and husband...all so beautifully clothed and coiffed!
The flowers were amazing! Bravo on all your choices.
And, I must add my WoW's to all the others. You looked just incredible. Your dress and shoes....perfection!
Posted by: Suzy McQ | April 26, 2011 at 08:35 PM
A perfect 10 for everything! Bride is stunning, flowers are beautiful, mother of bride is gorgeous!
Posted by: mary k | April 26, 2011 at 09:00 PM
So beautiful!!
I don't know how you managed to do the flowers, and they were just gorgeous.
I am so happy for you all.
Posted by: Laura | April 26, 2011 at 09:50 PM
Fantastic! Bravo and well done. So happy for you :)
Posted by: Melissa | April 27, 2011 at 10:27 AM
So beautiful!
Posted by: Millie | April 27, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Gorgeous! just as lovely as can be. Isn't love grand....
The flowers were amazing and so pretty!
Have a sweet day and hugs, Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth Marchus | April 27, 2011 at 01:11 PM
Just lovely! Amazingly beautiful flowers, attendants, parents & Bride & Groom. Thanks for sharing such a special part of your life.
Posted by: Troy Louise | April 27, 2011 at 01:46 PM
the bouquets are beautiful and the bouttonierres may be my favorites (small things turn me on)
The girls looked beautiful...all three of your daughters!
Maggie looks sooooo happy and YOU look ravishing.
wow.....what a dress and what an MOB....and radiant daddy, too....
those emotions will keep on coming for awhile, I am sure.....just enjoy that happy HAPPY couple....your baby girl!
Posted by: jone | April 27, 2011 at 06:00 PM
Charlotte! You are BEAUTIFUL! Downright HOT!
xo, Cheryl
Posted by: Whosyergurl | April 27, 2011 at 09:34 PM
Of course your daughter is beautiful, but WOW look at you!
Posted by: connie | April 28, 2011 at 12:23 AM
Just everyone, everything, just exquisite! Thank you for sharing this beautiful day with us. xox
Posted by: linda warlyn | April 28, 2011 at 08:34 AM
Dear Charlotte,
Thanks for sharing these radiant photos with us.
Love and congratulations to all!
Pru
Posted by: Pru Montgomery | April 28, 2011 at 11:07 AM
All is beautiful. The bride is beautiful (of course)...but look at the bride's mommy!!! just look at you!! You clean up very nicely, girlfriend :)
Posted by: rebecca | April 29, 2011 at 09:47 PM
Belated well wishes for the new bride and groom. The flowers are beautiful! You have a lovely family ~ you must be very proud. Congratulations to all.
Posted by: Jan Olson | May 04, 2011 at 02:14 PM
Beautiful. A florist could not have done a better job with the flowers.
Posted by: Angie | May 04, 2011 at 10:26 PM
c
holy mother of the bride - you look AMAZING and love love love what you wore! everyone is looking pretty happy. am i seeing you in NY soon?
xo s
Posted by: Sheila | May 05, 2011 at 05:38 PM