My LA Flower District Experience

Hi y'all!

Sorry that it's been awhile since I my last post, but I thought this experience would be the perfect one to start a post for y'all. I was asked to create 15 centerpieces for a Bridal Shower for about 100 guests. Well...side note...I've done floral arrangements for myself and small events for friends and family, but not to this extent because as you know I mainly coordinate events, but I was up to taking on this challenge. So then I asked my client to send over her inspiration ideas so that I could build off of that. Sketching and pinning the ideas I had were the easiest part, but then I had to physically create the vision I had.

So here comes the second part of my story...my trip to the Flower District in downtown LA. I've only been to the flower market a hand full of times, and every time I went I was NEVER disappointed. Everywhere are beautiful and vibrant flowers, I just wanted to buy them all! The only thing I always dreaded was getting up early to get there because on most days the latest they close is 2PM and if you want to get the most selection you go early in the morning.

When you get there it's $2 entrance fee to the warehouse, but when you walk you'll be bombarded with all these selections of flowers you might just get overwhelmed. It's been awhile since I've been there so I circled the warehouse probably about 10 times trying to find the exact ones I wanted, and my poor husband was with me being patient as I was pointing out different flowers I wanted for these centerpieces. There are some stands that only carry a specific flower and some stands that carry a huge selection, but I walked around multiple times so I could find the best deal. About 20 stands and 2 hours later I got everything I needed hahah! The experience at the flower market good, but have a game plan so you don't spend hours there trying to find the exact ones you need unless you just like to walk around and look at all the pretty flowers which in my case I probably would.

From my overall experience here are a few tips for you guys!

1. The flower market opens at 6AM getting there early is always better, more selection.

2. Have a game plan.

3. If you're looking for a specific flower know the exact name of it and it'll be easier to find, trust me.

4. If you're planning to get a lot especially for a wedding or big event find a vendor you like and order in advance.

5. The more popular flowers or flowers that are out of season will be more expensive so think f your budget. For example, peonies are $20 for only 5 stems. Imagine if you use about 2-3 flowers per centerpiece!

6. Bring cash!

7. Bring buckets and fill it with a good amount of water so when you get back to the car after picking all your flowers you can place in there.

The pictures throughout my post are the centerpieces I made for that Bridal Shower! Comment below on what you think? Also, if you have any questions about the names of the flowers I used or where I got my supplies. Let me know! :)

DESSERT TABLES & DISPLAYS

This is the dessert table from my wedding. 

Hey loves! So, let's talk about why dessert tables and displays are such a hit!? 

So, why I'm asking is because I want to share how I designed my dessert table/display. I was going to a rustic theme for my wedding. So, of course every bride's best friend is Pinterest and as I was scrolling through I saw these LOVE balloons as a display. I told myself I need these balloons. I found the balloons on Etsyfor $8.50 each. After, I rented 2 wine barrels for the table legs, and vintage barn door as the tabletop. Simple yet beautiful display it turned out to be, but what is a dessert table without dessert!

My "Naked" Wedding Cake by CAKEgoodness located in Newhall, CA. 

OMG you guys let me tell you about the desserts! My cake was delicious! Oh, if you were wondering the name of my cake to look up on Pinterest, it's called "Naked Cake". My husband loves banana cake which ended up being the flavor or our wedding cake, but it was mixed with a cinnamon cake too which made it delicious. I had cookies for dessert too, which were chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and white chocolate macadamia. Simple cookies, but it added a little dimension to my dessert table. Lastly, this dessert I LOVED the most and wished I got one that night were the Ube Truffles! All our guests couldn't resist taking 3 or 4 at a time. I only had 3 items, but everyone loved it! So, you don't have to fill your table with so many different desserts. You can have 3 times, but just make sure you have enough to last the night.  

You've never believe I got these cookies from...Costco! 

Lastly, the dessert hit of the night were the Ube Truffles from Cafe 86 in Pasadena, CA. 

For me, the best thing about dessert tables/displays there are the fact you can have more than just 1 dessert in your display and second, the creativity put into the displays. For example, this first photo below has a balloon garland that make a simple display into a unique one. Also, the third picture, which I think is the new trend right now is the doughnut displays. Dessert tables and displays are being used in many different occasions now, weddings, birthdays, themed parties, baby showers, etc. It's limit less! These pictures above are just a few of my favs that I've seen recently. 

OUR STORY

Hi Everyone! So, in honor of this being my first blog, I wanted to share a little something about of how the story of my husband, Byron and I began. We first met in high school, but in the beginning Byron NEVER notice me because he was the popular jock and I was just an average joe. So, we enjoyed our high school experience without each other especially since he transferred to a different school the following year. During the end of our Senior year was when we actually became close friends because we ran in the same circle of friends. Oddly enough, I was the one he ran to with his relationship problems. How ironic, right? A year after we graduated high school, Byron and I started working together as tutors, and then we eventually started to see each other everyday. Soon enough our friendship slowly became a relationship. 

Flash forward through the fun, love, drama, break up, regret, then back to love again. We went through a lot of serious SH** to get to where we are now. We dated 6 years before Byron proposed. He proposed at a restaurant in Burbank, CA called Castaway where he first said, "I love you" from then on everything was history. We've been together 8 years now, and almost a year into our marriage. I couldn't be happier to be with him for the rest of my life.

Well folks, that was my story. What's your love story like?

November 3, 2014: Photo taken by one of my friends. Although the quality isn't great, this pictured on of the most incredible moments of my life.  

“Take my hand, take my whole life too, but I can’t help falling in love with you.”

— Elvis Presley