Provence Wedding Inspiration at Woodinville Lavender with Flowers from the Botanique Cutting Garden

Perhaps the most special design service we offer is called From the Garden. This is a really unique offering, as we work entirely out of the Cutting Garden, using the most exquisite flowers of the moment to design something truly unique and beautiful. It is not pre-planned: there are no flowers ordered ahead of time, no specific color palette, no specific flowers agreed upon. It is a spontaneous creative process based on the flowers that are speaking and sparkling at a given moment, and what I understand of the clients I'm working with and what they want and need to be supported, held, and celebrated through flowers. This design process is highly intuitive, based on tuning into both the flowers and the clients, and feeling into what wants to emerge. This way of working requires a lot of trust on the part of the clients, because they are signing on for somewhat of a mystery. But I will say that when given trust and creative freedom, that is when the true magic happens. This process always yields incredibly beautiful and special results. Though it does not work for everyone (and that is 100% ok!), when it is a good match, it is really exciting for all parties involved.

Last summer, Emily from Rose Andrew Events and Jackie from Jacqueline Benet Photography asked me if I would design the flowers for an inspiration shoot they were planning together. I said yes, so long as I can design it entirely from the garden! They gave a resounding "Yes," and these designs are the result. I am so glad to have had this opportunity to showcase what is possible from the garden inside the detailed and intricate frame that they created. So often people equate garden-grown flowers with something that is less designed or refined (think "farmy" or super rustic). Though that is certainly possible, the flowers growing in the Cutting Garden are incredibly special, and can be arranged in any number of combinations and aesthetics to suit any number of design styles- including something highly refined and classy. The look does not need to be "farmy" (nothing against "farmy," it's just that there is so much more that is possible with local, garden grown flowers than this one aesthetic). And you do not need to reach for imported bloom flown in from hundreds of miles away to achieve a really elegant and refined look. I am excited to share one version of what is possible using all flowers from the garden, which means all flowers grown in an urban Cutting Garden in Seattle, WA! I adore the Cutting Garden and pour tons of love (and hard work!) into it every ear, so I truly love the opportunity to work with the flowers in the garden in a way where they really lead the design process.

The inspiration that Emily and Jackie shared with me for this shoot was the idea of bringing the lavender fields of Provence to Woodinville, Washington. Lavender certainly did call to be part of the designs for this shoot, but not in an overpowering way. Some of the other elements that were calling to be in these designs were garden roses, phlox, scabiosa, trailing rosemary, and hydrangea- a neutral palette bringing together warm tones of pinky-peach and butter yellow with cool tones of lavender and sage green, with lots of texture. I love how it all came together. I hope it inspires you to expand your perception of what can be created with all local, seasonal flowers! This inspiration shoot was also recently featured on Style Me Pretty. Enjoy!

About the Designer:

Botanique is a full-service floral and event design company based in Seattle, WA. Led by Creative Director Kelly Sullivan, we design wedding flowers and events with an organic, effortless, seasonal, elegant, and modern aesthetic for couples getting married in Washington state and beyond, including the greater Seattle area, Tacoma, Lakewood, Bellevue, Kirkland, the San Juan Islands, the Eastside, and Eastern Washington. In addition, we offer group floral classes and workshops in our Seattle studio focused on sustainable floral design techniques, as well as private, one-on-one floral design lessons. We also maintain a large cutting garden that acts as muse for our design work, and offer classes to teach you how to grow your own flowers and start your own cutting garden. To learn more about working with Botanique for your wedding or event, please inquire on our contact form. To sign up to be notified of upcoming workshops and learning opportunities, please sign up for our workshops mailing list.