Intimate Autumn Wedding at the Herb Lyceum in Groton

   
      Just today, a bride sent me a couple of images from her October wedding. What a pleasure to see the bright sweet colors of autumn and to remember the lovely flurry that attended her wedding, a small gathering of family and friends, at the beautiful Herb Lyceum in Groton, MA. We had worked together rather intensely for a few short weeks, Becky flying in from Los Angeles for a couple of quick visits, but she knew what she wanted -- bright pinks, oranges, and purples, along with peach tones, whites, and complementary silvery greens in a lush, naturalistic gathering.  Knowing her affinity for smaller flowers, we decided on anemones, ranunculus, spray roses, white lisianthus, and for the soft grey-greens -- dusty miller, and succulents.

Some weddings seem to fall into place without quite so much time and planning -- in part due to size and venue -- Cathy Gilson at the Herb Lyceum helps couples choose fresh, local, seasonal (richly flavored and stunningly presented) dishes, a natural for the Lyceum which serves exquisite dinners every weekend of the year. The garden (with small waterfall, perennial borders, lavender beds, wrought iron furniture, rustic antique statuary, stone terrace, and majestic old trees) -- provides a graceful backdrop. I always think of the modest Tuscan farmhouse we stopped at once, as part of a self-designed agri-tourism excursion, for a beautiful meal.  Perhaps it's that association with the convincing illusion of ease in the air, that makes me think the whole tableau at the Lyceum, including the flower designs we've worked on for the last day or two or three, have simply fallen, full formed from the beneficent sky.   

Love on a hilltop - Subtle, chic, and oh so eloquent

Photos by Michael Charles

       Jennifer and Marcus vowed eternal love at the elegant Harrington Inn on a hilltop in Princeton this autumn. Theirs was a discretely elegant country wedding, and their choice of flowers - limited in variety but lush in abundance, proves the point that masses of a few well-chosen blooms with subtle variation in color and texture carries a bold message.

     For the bouquets, Jennifer chose the Sahara, a sandy colored rose with hints of coffee and cream (The Sahara is one of those rare roses that ages beautifully.). And for the centerpieces, Peegee hydrangea, which comes into its own in autumn in New England, along with off white and green hydrangea, peach hypericum berries, and the vanilla Vendella rose.
     To the raised centerpieces we added green hanging amaranth - with its vintage style drape...



   


     I have to say this was a chic wedding - in a setting that's impossible to rival.  But had these two chosen to marry in downtown Boston, their choice of flowers and designs, subtle and timeless, would have been equally vocal in expressing their enviable sense of style and profound happiness. 

Style: Reinventing the Classical

Photos by Scott Zuehlke

         Last summer ended with a run of weddings that had elegance, ebullience, and a great sense of fun. For instance, Jenny and Patrick's ceremony at the Groton School Chapel. When we brought the bouquets and other flowers to the school, where Jenny and the bridal party were getting ready in a grand room off the dining hall, I was struck by the sense of gaiety and camaraderie between bridesmaids, the bride, and her mother - all possessed a sense of ease and style that seemed to transcend aesthetics.
         

Photo by Joe Ofria

  Aesthetics played a big role in the choice of flowers and designs,however. The bridal bouquet featured ivory and pale Peach Avalanche roses, peach hypericum berries, white callas and curly willow. The bridesmaids carried bouquets of purple mokara orchids and ivory roses.  We kept the theme of curly willow and berries along with the pale peach roses in the centerpieces, but introduced the small Black Beauty roses along with Red Roy cymbidium orchids to pickup on the rich colors of late summer. 
        The reception took place at the classical and lovely Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord.