mother's day gift ideas

It's May Day! And you know what that means? Mother's Day is just around the corner (Sunday, May 12, to be exact). We've been asking ourselves... what are we going to get for our lovely mommas this year? Well, after an afternoon spent brainstorming, we've come up with some fun ideas that we couldn't help but share.

1) Custom bouquet of Glassybabies

Glassybaby is a Seattle based company that makes small colored glass cups, candleholders, and vases. These handmade treasures come in hundreds of delicious colors that can be mixed and matched, creating custom sets or "bouquets" to send as gifts. Each color has a different name and story, so you can customize the set to your heart's content. In addition to being absolutely adorable and a totally cute home or table accessory, the proceeds of each glassybaby sold benefit a variety of causes and charities. Glassybaby was founded by a 3-time cancer survivor, with a mission of light and hope. You can read more about their story on their website. $44 each; www.glassybaby.com

2) Eclectic, chic bracelets from Twist

TWIST, a Portland based boutique, offers an ever-changing collection of fashion-forward accessories, fine designs and wearable art. Right now, we are completely obsessed with Twist's cheap chic jewelry collection, featuring tons of trendy and affordable designer accessories. Like the super cute eclectic beaded and wrap bracelets above. From left to right, Chan Luu milky quartz and silver wrap bracelet, $202; Shashi turquoise lilu bracelet, $20; Julie Rofman helsinki mix bead bracelet, $110; and Thai lemon quartz bracelet, $58.

3) Stylish succulentsLong-lasting, low-maintenance and super stylish. Just a few of the reasons we love gifting planters of succulents. Find a cute container, plant a few succulents and voila! Perfect gift for mom...check. If that sounds like a few too many steps, just contact us and we'll help :)

4) Fab flowersOF COURSE an arrangement of stunning flowers makes our list of perfect sentiments for mom. You simply cannot go wrong with a colorful mix of the season's finest flowers. Right now, we're buzzing about with lilac, peonies, tulips, ranunculus, blooming branches, vibernum...we could go on and on. For a uniquely special mother's day arrangement, contact us at info@zestfloral.com.

winter wedding sparkle

There's something about a winter wedding that just does it for us. Especially when it combines sparkle, sequins, glitz and glam. Meuy and Nai's December 15th wedding at the Portland Art Museum is the definition of winter chic. And the bride is the ultimate gem. Aside from her killer style, Meuy is pretty much the sweetest person you'll meet. So it's only fitting that her wedding would sparkle and shine just like her.

Centerpieces and flowers used: hydrangeas, baby's breath, dusty miller, silver brunia, roses, mercury glass.

Credits:

Photography: Erica Ann Photography and Fine Art

Venue/Catering: Vibrant Table Catering and Events

Unforgettable elegance for Laura and Nitin's wedding

When it comes to extraordinary weddings, this one tops the charts. ...and boy have we been dying to share it with you! From an intimate garden ceremony, to a lavish tented reception, an uber-hip after party and outdoor Moroccan-themed lounge, Laura and Nitin Khanna's wedding at The Allison Inn and Spa on September 22, 2012, was truly unforgettable. And we get to devour every last bit of this gorgeous day thanks to stunning images from Ben Pigao.

Laura and Nitin's intimate and romantic wedding ceremony took place in The Allison's meadow garden. We kept the decor simple, given the naturally pretty setting, but lined the aisle with thick borders of lush white rose petals and scattered white dendrobium orchids. Laura carried a classically elegant teardrop-shaped, gently cascading bouquet of white phalaenopsis orchids.After the ceremony, the festivities really began. Cocktail hour took place at the front of the dinner tent, where guests enjoyed drinks and appetizers and were entertained by aerial dancers and live acrobatic performances.

To distinguish the cocktail hour from the dinner area, we designed a custom semi-sheer space divider, combining tall panels of henna-inspired hanging tiles, with lavish floral arrangements on pedestals. The screen served not only as a space divider, but also as a striking focal point for both receptions.Table assignments were uniquely showcased in vintage gold frames, suspended vertically near the entrance to the dinner tent.

The dinner tent was breathtakingly beautiful. Tables were decked in fine champagne, gold, taupe and cream linens; and accessorized with ghost chairs, lavish high and low floral features, tons of glassware, sparkle, and endless candlelight.

Centerpieces featured a lavish mix of white and green hydrangea, cafe au lait dahlias, blush garden roses, white freesia, clematis greens, jasmine vine and white phalaenopsis orchids. Lower arrangements were styled in mirrored vases, for extra sparkle.

After dinner, guests made their way inside to the main ballroom (via a 300ft. candle-lined pathway) for dancing and more celebrating.The ballroom was transformed into a luxe lounge. Laura and Nitin brought in a celebrity Hindi DJ to set the mood and pump the beats for a nonstop late night party.The outdoor balcony was designed in a Moroccan-theme, where guests could lounge, get fresh air and enjoy the late night fire dancing performance.
Laura and Nitin's wedding was truly extraordinay. Every detail was accounted for and nothing went overlooked. The amazing Nora and her Bridal Bliss team knocked it OUT OF THE PARK!! It was the ultimate celebration for an amazing couple. Congrats and thanks to Laura and Nitin, we love you guys!

Credits:

Planning: Bridal Bliss

Photography: Ben Pigao

Venue/Catering: The Allison Inn and Spa

Rentals: The Party Place and West Coast Event Productions

vibrant vineyard wedding

Lisa and Steve’s wedding was one of the most gorgeously colorful weddings we had the pleasure to work on this past summer. The couple held their nuptials at Vista Hills Vineyards with warm and vibrant sunset tones. The venue's lush green setting provided the perfect natural canvas for this loving couple’s stunning wedding.

Lisa carried an eye-catching bouquet with the perfect mix of orange, peach, yellow, coral and pink dahlias, calla lilies and garden roses with subtle touches of green.

The reception featured long rectangular dining tables with striking low, lush and colorful bouquets in rustic wire basket containers. Arrangements contained dahlias, garden roses, and persimmon branches in fiery sunset hues and touches of green. The central tablescapes were complimented with the couple’s favorite books to create a uniquely-Lisa-and-Steve display.

Credits:

Photography: Ben Pigao Photography

Venue: Vista Hills Vineyards

Coordination: Bridal Bliss

pretty in pink and purple

Erin and Ed's summer nuptuals at The Nines were the definition of chic elegance. With a fun and fresh palette (black, white, pink, purple, and touches of green), lavish and striking dahlias and garden roses, and an elegantly modern wedding setting, it's hard not to ooooh and awwww over this wedding--and this gorgeous couple.

Erin carried a stunning bouquet of dahlias and garden roses in eye-catching shades of pink and purple. The handle of her bouquet was wrapped in lace and accented with a sparkling broach. Erin's bridesmaids carried petite, brightly colored bouquets of pink dahlias.

Erin and Ed's ceremony, held at Temple Beth Israel, unveiled a gorgeous birch chuppah structure covered in white dendrobium orchids, phalaenopsis orchids, and dahlias. What a stunner!

Centerpieces featured a lavish scape of smaller arrangements mixed with floating candles at varied heights, low and lush arrangements surrounded by clear glass votive candles, and central groupings of bouquets. The ballroom was vibrant with perfect, warm ambiance! The variation of centerpiece styles were highlighted by purple hydrangea, pink and purple dahlias and garden roses with accents of greenery for texture and dimension.

Credits:

Photography: Ashley Forrette Photography

Venue and Catering: The Nines