Petal Power

Sophisticated Palette

Photo by Liz Banfield

Couple: Brittney Stewart and Justin Benshoof
Wedding Date: September 15, 2007
Photographer: Liz Banfield
Florist: Bastian+Skoog Urban Flower Studio

Inspiration: The goal for this wedding was modern, smart design, and flowers were central—lots of flowers—according to Elizabeth Bastian of Bastian+Skoog Urban Flower Studio. The couple’s color scheme was bold. “Justin and I have always thought outside the box and wanted to go with something less traditional for our wedding colors,” says Brittney Benshoof. “I’ve always thought aqua and red were beautiful complements and really pack a punch when put together. When our guests saw everything come together, they were very impressed.”

Result: “The flowers had a lot of visual weight to them—they were massive, graphic, lush, luxurious,” Bastian notes. “At the same time, they were very simple and modern.”

Photo by Liz Banfield

Details: “The altar flowers were unbelievable,” recalls Brittney. “We replaced the ‘expected’ wedding flowers with the unexpected,” Bastian says. “Brittney wanted lots of flowers for the ceremony, so rather than doing a traditional ceremony arrangement, we suggested an ‘installation piece’ for the altar—scads of white vases in varying shapes, each filled with a different type of red blooms.”

At the reception at the Wayzata County Club, “the traditional space was totally transformed by modern flowers, great draping, aqua linens and red runners, red votive candles, and fabulous lighting cooled down by silver chiavari chairs, silver flatware, and plenty of crystal stemware and chargers,” says Bastian. “The mix of old and new was very effective.”

Autumn Surprise

Photo by Jacki Vaughan

Couple: Kelly Bachman and John Henry
Wedding Date: September 20, 2008
Photographer: Jacki Vaughan
Florist: Bachman’s Floral Home & Garden

Inspiration: Bride Kelly Bachman wanted to be surprised by her wedding-day flowers. She confidently gave Bachman’s designer Scott Ellingboe just a few hints—such as favorite flowers (fresia) and her fall color scheme—and then let him take it from there. With a last name that’s synonymous with flowers, it’s no surprise that this Bachman family wedding made floral magic.

Photo by Jacki Vaughan

Result: The newlyweds were thrilled with the seamless floral scheme—complete with gourds, autumn blooms, and Indian corn. The inventive designs rendered for the natural setting spread from the bamboo arch laced with orchids and sunflowers where the couple exchanged vows to the freshly planted flower beds and croton-filled pots that lined a pathway to the tented reception area. Inside the tent—on the grounds at the Outing Lodge at Pine Point in Stillwater—the natural theme continued in imaginative ways, from the small bird-bath favors that cradled a single orchid and the nest of flowers surrounding the cake display to the river birch “kissing boughs” that dressed up the tent poles.

Details: Throughout the reception area, tables were dressed with bold clusters of autumn blooms. “We asked that table arrangements were made so that they could break down into smaller arrangements and guests could take them home,” says Kelly. This thoughtful gesture was a hit with the guests.

Personal Bouqets

Couple: Molly Ringer and Daniel Hayward
Wedding: September 27, 2008
Photographer: Jacki Vaughan
Florist: Just Bloomed

Photo by Jacki Vaughan

Flower Story: “I wanted my flowers to be bold, colorful, big, and personal,” Molly Hayward says. “I wanted my flowers to make a statement.”
+ She describes one way she accomplished this: “Each bridesmaid carried distinctive single flower bouquets that matched their personalities.”
+ “A different bouquet for each bridesmaid is a way to add an eclectic twist to a traditional wedding,” says Jackie Just of Just Bloomed. “Bridesmaids are chosen because of their special place in the couple’s life. A unique bouquet is a way of saying, ‘We chose this especially for you.’ ”