Courtenay Lambert Florals - Blogus Glorious Maximus

Courtenay Lambert Florals Photo Shoot with Eventurous at Pinecroft

2012-02-10T14:46:00.000-08:00

Courtenay Lambert Florals - bouquet includes Peonies, Roses, Parrot Tulips, Calla Lilies, and Hydrangea.

The lovely and oh so talented Cecilia Rose of Eventurous asked us to do a bouquet for their photo shoot at Pinecroft. Pinecroft is the newest addition of venues to the Eventurous group of venues. We were honored to be a part of the shoot, and the estate is absolutely gorgeous. Pinecroft is the old Crosley mansion...it's like going back in time...a perfect place for a wedding or event. For more information on Pinecroft click here. Thank you Cecilia and Kate for the wonderful shots!

And the Winner of the Courtenay Lambert Florals Bouquet Knowledge Contest is...

2012-02-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

Jessica W!!!!! Jessica did her research, and not only did she get the pricing order correct, her explanation is pretty darn close as well. Thanks to everyone who played. I thought this was a fun way to educate people and get them to really think about flower pricing. We will probably do more "cost" type posts from time to time, and hopefully it will be helpful to our customers and readers when choosing flowers. My explanation below is super lengthy (sorry), but hopefully helpful.

And to my floral designer friends, please feel free to comment! I would love to hear if you concur and any other helpful hints that go into your pricing that I may have missed.

Here are the bouquets in order of price:

Bouquet #1 – $165

· includes Roses and Lisianthus, with ivory satin and pearl stem treatment

Bouquet #4 – $245 (without brooch $195…using an average price of $50 for a vintage brooch)

· includes Hydrangea, Stock, Roses, and Freesia, with a stem treatment of satin edged Bengaline Moiré ribbon and a vintage brooch

Bouquet #3 – $325 (without brooch $275…using an average price of $50 for a vintage brooch)

· Fuji Mums, Roses, Lilac, Scabiosa flower, Kale, Berzelia berries, with stem treatment of celery green dupioni silk, burlap, and a vintage cameo brooch

Bouquet #2 – $495 (without 2 brooches $395…using an average price of $50 for a vintage brooch)

· Football Mums, Fringe Tulips, Hyacinth, Lilac, Calla Lilies, Ranunculus, Berzelia berries, and bouquet jewel embellishments, with a stem treatment of emerald green dupioni silk and vintage brooches

Here are the bouquets in order of price from lowest to highest:

Bouquet #1

Bouquet #4

Bouquet #3

Bouquet #2

Here is Jessica W's response to our contest:

Jessica WJan 12, 2012 06:05 PM

I know next to nothing about flowers so I tried my hand at researching the costs. I looked up wholesale prices--I even made an excel spread sheet--this revealed very little except for how much I don't know! So here's my attempt:

(least to most)
1 ($190) - it's the simplest and the smallest, and the stem embellishments are least expensive.
4 ($225) - it's an average size with a number of filler and in-season flowers. The moire ribbon is less expensive than silk. (I counted all of the brooches as being about the same price, since I think there are a lot of options out there with Etsy and such).
3 ($260) - some filler here, but a pretty large size and the silk... if my research means anything there are some more expensive flowers here as well
2 ($315) - the largest, you can see how many stems there are; calla lilies and ranunculus are expensive and ranunculus are seasonal; plus the little jewels probably cost more because I would guess they're labor intensive.

Great contest! Can't wait to read the follow-up post.

CLF explanation of what factors affect the price of a bouquet?

(These pricing guidelines refer to bridal bouquets only, unless otherwise specified below.)

Size:

Believe it or not, size has little to do with the price of a bouquet unless you’re comparing apples to apples (or in our case, Roses to Roses, Callas to Callas, or Hydrangea to Hydrangea). What affects the price are the types of flowers that go into a design and how many of them you use (see “Amount” section below). For instance, if we did an all Calla Lily bouquet that is the same size as bouquet #1, it would be approximately $400 - $500 (compared to bouquet #1’s price tag of $165). The reason for this is that per stem, Calla Lilies are expensive and it would take many of them to achieve the same size as bouquet #1. Although gorgeous, Callas are small and narrow, and do not add much mass/volume to a bouquet unless you use a lot. On the other hand if you did an all Hydrangea bouquet, your costs would be low because you don’t need as many Hydrangea to achieve a good size…they add a lot of mass/volume to the size of a bouquet. From a size standpoint, you could use 40 – 50 mini Calla Lilies to create a bouquet that has the same circumference as a bouquet that only includes maybe 3 Hydrangea. And Hydrangea per stem can be more expensive than Calla Lilies, but it takes far less of them to get a full, large look.

****Size does come into play more when we’re talking about centerpieces and other floral arrangements and designs. The larger the arrangement/centerpiece typically increases the design and installation time and therefore the price.

Amount:

The amount of flowers in a design affects price, of course. But, bouquets typically fall within a certain size range. So, if you use large, cost effective blooms then you don’t need as many to achieve your size and you can keep your price lower. If you use small blooms (whether they’re cost effective or not), you’re going to need more of them to achieve a certain size…so these types of designs can sometimes end up costing more. The exception would be if you use very inexpensive small blooms like say Alstromeria. But we’ve found that most of our customers don’t want the super inexpensive blooms. They want the more popular wedding blooms that have a tendency to not only add beauty but also add cost. These popular blooms like Ranunculus, Anemones, Freesia, Lilac, etc. add a beautiful textured look, but you need more of them to achieve a decent sized bouquet.

Texture/Types of Flowers:

Another thing that affects pricing is texture (using lots of types of flowers and non-floral fresh elements). Many people think that the little floral and non-floral elements that give lots of texture to a bouquet do not cost much. On the contrary, those little organic elements, like berries and succulents and small flowers like Ranunculus, Lilac, Veronica, Lily of the Valley, etc. can be expensive; and they don’t add a whole lot of mass/volume to the bouquet.

I always explain it like this to my brides…if you purchase a simple but beautiful $200 dress, it looks great on, it’s a beautiful dress, and you don’t need to do anything to it to wear it. But, let’s say you take that same dress and add little accents, embellishments, and accessories…you decide to add sequin palettes or crystal rhinestone banding or even a silk sash with a fabric floral pin. The dress can be worn either way, and is going to look gorgeous; but it’s definitely going to cost more by adding these things to it. Not only that, but the designer of that dress is going to spend more time designing the look and adding those embellishments, it’s a customized and more complex design that takes more thought and creativity to accomplish; hence it will add cost. Have you increased the size of the dress? No. Are you getting two or three dresses for the extra money you spent? No. You have just increased the customization, materials, and design time for the dress; hence the cost. And when we are designing with flowers, we have to purchase these fresh floral and non-floral elements in volume…we typically cannot buy just the quantities we need to accomplish the bouquet (we have to purchase in bunches or a certain volume). And sometimes, we are not using the same exact elements in the centerpieces (if we do, it does help disperse the cost). Hence, a highly textured bouquet is typically going to be more expensive.

Complexity of Design:

I touched on this above, but suffice it to say a complex design takes more thought to concept and more time to complete. If we are wiring a lot of elements into the bouquet, i.e. orchids, stephanotis, succulents, it’s a more difficult design, it takes more thought to coordinate the colors, and takes longer to accomplish; hence adding cost.

Exceptions to Cost Rules:

There are exceptions to all rules. For example, there are changes in market prices, there are extenuating circumstances out or our control…shipping, weather (floods, droughts, and extreme heat), changes in availability…all which affect pricing. Sometimes product that is available locally or domestically is no longer available, and we have to order that product oversees. Extreme shipping costs will increase the price of the end product. Sometimes certain fresh product has a higher decline rate (waste), so we have to order more of it and choose the best blooms from the bunch (and the declined blooms which we paid for go in the trash). So, we have to constantly keep ourselves educated on product quality, types, and availability. And we have to be able to suggest substitute product if the product requested by a customer is cost prohibitive or the quality is not worth the price. So that is the other thing that comes into play…expertise.

Expertise:

When you are dealing with a well educated and experience floral designer, you are also paying for their expertise, style and vision. Just like going to a salon to have your hair cut and styled, you are paying for an expert who has made it their profession, they stay educated on the latest trends and techniques, and they will do a great job and make you look fabulous. Sure, you can take a scissors to your own hair, but unless you're really good it could result in a very home-spun look. Working with an experienced, professional florist is just like working with any experienced professional, and you are paying for their expertise and knowledge. You are paying for their advice so that they can guide you in choosing designs and blooms that are going to work best for you, that are going to work best for the time of year, and that achieve the look you want to achieve.

********Different geographical markets have access to different fresh floral products. Depending on where your floral designer is located could affect your end price because of product availability and shipping charges for fresh product that is further from their location.

So You're Planning Your Wedding? Let's Test Your Knowledge with a Fun Contest!

2012-01-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

Here are the details...these bouquets are from a really fun photo shoot that we did with Kentucky Bride magazine. Jacalyn Mains of JMM Photography and I got together with the ladies of Kentucky Bride on a cold day last February, and put together this fabulous shoot. The KB ladies asked me to design bouquets that went from simple to more complex. And each bouquet has a different look/style to it, as well as a different price tag.

Our shoot ran in the Spring 2011 issue of Kentucky Bride Magazine.

The photo shoot gave me an idea....use it as a learning/informational tool as well as a contest for customers. Everyone always asks why certain arrangements and or bouquets cost what they cost, and I will give a full explanation after the contest is over.
So here's the contest -
1. Go to the CLF Facebook page and "Like" us.
2. In the comments section of this blog posting on Facebook, put these bouquets in order from least expensive to most expensive (use the bouquet numbers below).
3. Guess the price of each bouquet in the same comment section.
4. Give us a short explanation on how you arrived at your pricing and what makes a bouquet more expensive than another.

And here's what you win -
Your bridal bouquet for free!!!! As well as your name and your well informed explanation blogged at the contest's end. The person who guesses correct and gives the most accurate cost explanation wins.

The only restrictions are these, you have to book your entire wedding with us (in other words, another floral designer cannot be providing flowers for your wedding and you cannot be DIY'ing your other flowers). There is no stipulation as to the size of your wedding, but the bouquet you choose cannot exceed $300.00. If you choose a bouquet that does exceed $300.00, then you can apply your prize toward it. You have to be a new customer and have not had a consultation with us already. The contest will end on January 31st.

I chose five to seven shots of each bouquet. Jacalyn's shots were so incredible, I had a hard time narrowing down choices...she has such and artistic eye and does amazing work.

Bouquet #1 - includes Roses and Lisanthus, with ivory satin and pearl stem treatment.

Bouquet #2 - Football Mums, Fringe Tulips, Hyacinth, Lilac, Calla Lilies, Ranunculus, Berzelia berries, and bouquet jewel embellishments, with a stem treatment of emerald green dupioni silk and vintage brooches.

Bouquet #3 - Fuji Mums, Roses, Lilac, Scabiosa flower, Kale, Berzelia berries, with stem treatment of celery green dupioni silk, burlap, and a vintage cameo brooch.

Bouquet #4 - Hydrangea, Stock, Roses, and Freesia, with a stem treatment of satin edged Bengaline Moire ribbon and a vintage brooch.

Pester - Milsap Wedding

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Megan's gorgeous bouquet accented with a family heirloom bracelet.

this was a beautiful wedding we did last Spring. Gorgeous blooms chosen by the bride were complimented by the unique table decorations that the mother of the groom put together. She actually created the table runners, which were fantastic (check them out in the photos below).

Amanda Donaho of Amanda Donoho Photography provided us with these gorgeous shots and shared them with us.

Photos - Amanda Donoho Photography

Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals

Centerpieces - Mother of the Bride

Ceremony - Norman Chapel at Spring Grove

Reception - Westin Downtown Cincinnati, Fountain Room

Campbell - Freson at the Newport Aquarium on New Year's Eve

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

This was another fabulous winter wedding on New Years Eve. The bride wanted different flowers and decor. She didn't want a lot of traditional blooms, and she wanted to incorporate a lot of icy, branchy elements with kind of a festive New Years Eve twist. The Newport Aquarium provides a great back drop for this New Year's themed event, and Goodwin Lighting did a great job of transforming the room (as they always do) with the wintry blue tinged lighting. For all vendors, see below.

The pictures were taken by The Visionary Studio, who did a wonderful job capturing the moments. Thanks for sharing such great shots with us!

Pre-wedding festivities.

The bridal bouquet included Spider Mums, Calla Lilies, Uhule curls, Ostrich drab fringe, and Rhinestone Crystals.

To wrap the bouquet, we used a piece of the strap from her mother's dress and dotted it with black pearl pins.

The Newport Aquarium provided a unique back drop for the wedding.

Beautiful view of Cincinnati from the ballroom at The Newport Aquarium.

I love this pic. It looks like they're watching NYC Time Square at the strike of midnight.

Wedding Professional Team:

Photographer: The Visionary Studio
Floral and Event Design: Courtenay Lambert Florals
Lighting: Goodwin Lighting
Ceremony & Reception: The Newport Aquarium
Cake/Cup Cakes: Patty Cakes

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-02T10:31:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! 2011 was good to us, we were lucky enough to have had some wonderful weddings, and even more wonderful customers. Thank you to everyone who brought us in to be a part of your special day...we were truly honored.

We're going to start off the New Year by posting some of our favorite Winter weddings. It has been awhile since we've posted to our blog, and we've got a lot of gorgeous weddings to share. With the busy Fall season, and the subsequent Holiday season, we've been a little MIA in our blogging duties. But, we're going to post a blog every weekday this month. So, stay tuned, as we have a lot of gorgeous weddings to share.

This first wedding we posted a sneak peak for awhile ago. Since it has just now become cold and snowy outside, I thought it was fitting that we share this one first. We had so much fun working with Tracy and her mom Carol...they were game for just about anything. As long as it was white, icy, and sparkletastic! The setting was gorgeous...downtown Cincinnati's Fountain Square at Christmas time, with ice skaters and shoppers in the background. It really turned out to be a Winter Wonderland wedding in the heart of Cincinnati!

All of these gorgeous shots were taken by the super talented Ted and Kortnee Miller of Kortnee Kate Photography.

The Westin's Fountain room overlooks the Westin's foyer which is adorned with twinkle lights, a large Christmas tree, and other wintry decor.

The head table overlooked Cincinnati's Fountain Square Christmas display

All the centerpieces were draped with crystals and had up lighting in the vases as well as pin spot lighting provided by Goodwin Lighting.

More ice skaters. It really was a Winter Wonderland wedding.

The bouquets were used a decoration on the head table in Blumeboxes decorated with velvet and crystals.

This sparkly, wintry candy buffet looked gorgeous in the room!

Groom's cake in the shape of a guitar...so unique.

Of course we have to include some shots of the reception. I can't resist the shots of everyone having fun...

The cool, hip, and oh so stylish mother of the bride. She played a big part in the decor, and I think wedding design is her second calling.

Vendor Team:
Photographer: Kortnee Kate
Flowers, Linens, Event Design: Courtenay Lambert Florals
Ceremony: Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church
Reception: Westin Hotel, Fountain Room
Lighting: Goodwin Lighting
Makeup: Brideface

Jen Martin & Peter Snow - Cincinnati Club

2011-08-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

Another gorgeous wedding shot by the fabulous Tine of TM Photograpy. Thank you Tine for providing such amazing shots for us to share! It's a small world in Cincy, and this gorgeous couple is related to me (Courtenay) by marriage....crazy. Check out the gorgeous details, and see below for full vendor credits.

Loving how the shoes match the bouquet perfectly. Ant the blumeboxes match as well! In the bouquets, we
included Hydrangea, Roses, Statice, and Scabiosa flowers.

Can't get enough of the purple shoes!

The beautiful Cincinnati Club.

Vendor Team
Photography: TM Photography
Floral and Event Design: Courtenay Lambert Florals
Planning: Tres Chic Event Planning - the fabulous Kristen Kloth :)
Ceremony & Reception: The Cincinnati Club
Make Up: Brideface

Ana & Jack - Hilton Netherland Plaza

2011-08-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Another fabulous wedding shot by the talented Tine of TM Photography whose work is always amazing. Thanks Tine! For more contributing vendors, see below.

These little munchkins are ready to go! They've got a job to do, and they're going to do it. :)

Vendor Team:
Planning - Alison Wenstrup, Aviva Events
Photographer - Tine Hoffman, TM Photography
Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals
Make Up - Brideface
Ceremony - Immanuel Presbyterian, Clifton, OH
Reception - Hilton Netherland Plaza,Cincinnati, OH

Blumeboxes

2011-08-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

As most of you who are familiar with our blog know, we use Blumeboxes to deliver all of our bridal party bouquets. We love them for several reasons, including:

1. They are made of recycled materials.
2. They travel well - with the bottom of the boxes being wider than the top, they don't tip over and the top is fairly snug around the bouquet so it does not move around much in transport.
3. They're super cute and come in a ton of great colors.
4. My customers love them, and they often customize them themselves or have us do it for them.
5. It helps us reduce our carbon footprint!

Anyway, this is from a past wedding and they were designed by one of my favorite brides....Vanessa Mears Kennedy. So, I wanted to show you how beautifully she tied her theme together from her invites, to her flowers, to her cake, and to her Blumeboxes. Enjoy!

All of these gorgeous photos were taken by the uber talented, Geri Ciulla of Geradine Ciulla Wedding Photography.

Amanda & Mark - Drees Pavillion

2011-08-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

Another wedding from the past with photos by Daniel Michael of Images by Daniel Michael. Thank you!!! Amanda was one of my first brides who chose the yellow and gray color pallette, which I have done a few times since and I absolutely love. I just love the ivories and soft yellows with silvery gray. And yes, we're posting some blasts from the past since some of our favorite photogs have been kind enough to send them over to us (and not to mention the fact that our Summer interns have been busy requesting them and blogging away).

For more contributing vendors, see below.

Vendor Team:

Photographer - Images by Daniel Michael
Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals
Cake - Becca, Sweetwater Bakehouse
Ceremony and Reception - Drees Pavilion

Liz Basden & Kurt Kroger - Hilton Netherland Plaza

2011-08-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

The flowers were simple but sweet for this wedding, and the pictures from the super talented Mike Bresnen of Mike Bresnen Photography capture it beautifully. Liz and Kurt were married at St. Francis DeSales and had an intimate reception at the Hilton Netherland Plaza Continental room, which is one of my favorites! For more on the contributing vendors, see below.

I love this shot. It looks so touching, and I love it when a groom wears his military uniform!!!

Vendor Team Includes:

Photographer - Mike Bresnen of Mike Bresnen Photography
Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals
Ceremony - St. Francis DeSales
Reception - Hilton Netherland Plaza, Continental Room
Cake - Patricia's Cakes

Stacy Brown & Jim Rodarte - Verdin Bell Event Center

2011-08-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't like a lush bouquet of hot pink roses with Swarovski crystals...I cannot imagine. These gorgeous shots of Stacy & Jim's wedding were taken by the oh so talented Laura Leppert of Leppert Photography. Thanks Laura, your talent always astounds me. :)

For all of the contributing vendors, see below.

Beautiful Blumeboxes from Blumebox, decorated by Stacy (the bride) with a strand of rhinestones and monogrammed placards. The centerpieces are hot pink Hydrangea wrapped with variegated leaf.

Vendor Team:

Photographer - Laura Leppert of Leppert Photography

Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals

Ceremony & Reception - The Verdin Bell Event Center

Cake - Patricia's Cakes

Lauren Doughty & Chris Tubesing

2011-08-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous, fun, and special couple. Lauren and Chris are both in the military and they live in Montana. So with the exception of a couple in-town visits, we conferred and planned their wedding via Skype!!! If you remember what it was like in April (and May), it rained like crazy and the road up to Drees Pavilion was like a waterfall. We set up the ceremony the rain, praying for the weather to break because Lauren really really wanted to get married outside. And miraculously, it cleared up at 5:00. It was like divine intervention, and the ceremony was outside! It could not have happened better for such a great couple. The fabulous images were provided by the super fabulously talented Kortnee and Ted of Kortnee Kate Photography...thanks so much for sharing!!! For the rest of the fabulous team who contributed to their special day, see below.

Photos - Kortnee Kate Photography

Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals

Make Up: Jasime from Brideface

Ceremony and Reception - Drees Pavilion

Cake: Bonbonerie

Videography - Steve of Studio Z Films - you have to see the same day edit created by Steve...it is fantastic!!! Click here to see it.

3 Easy Steps to Use Pinterest for Your Floral Consultation!

2011-08-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Our newest technology obsession at Courtenay Lambert Florals is the fun and fabulous website Pinterest. Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that allows users to organize photos of their favorite things on the web. We've had so much fun the past month putting together pinboards of beautiful things ranging from floral bouquets to the Cincinnati skyline! This is an example of one of our Pinterest inspiration boards:

It occurred to us that Pinterest is the perfect outlet to help brides prepare for their floral consultation. Through Pinterest, brides can explore thousands of photos and save their favorites to one convenient location. Follow these 3 easy (and fun!) steps to prepare for your consultation with Courtenay Lambert Florals:

Create a Pinterest account. Visit Pinterest to request your invitation and learn how to pin.
Explore the web for your favorite photos. Use your favorite wedding and design websites and blogs to find inspirational photos of floral arrangements and decor that you love. You can also find images directly on Pinterest. A good place to start is Wedfully, a collection of some of the best wedding blogs on the net.
Start pinning! Type in the URL http://www.pinterest.com/clflorals into your browser. This will take you to the Courtenay Lambert Florals home page on Pinterest. Click "Follow." This will enable us to add you as a contributor to your personal board. When you want to pin a photo, click the "Pin It" link on your bookmarks bar (Pinterest includes instructions on how to install this). A board with your name will appear as an option for pinning. Select the board with your first and last name, and pin your photo!
If you are already an experienced Pinterest user: If you have already been using Pinterest to save inspirational photos, send us the URL to your home page. Or, follow Courtenay Lambert Florals and we'll follow you back!

By creating a board just for you, we can view the images and floral trends you love the most. When you come in for your consultation, we'll have a place to start discussing and planning! We promise you'll love Pinterest from the minute you begin pinning. Happy Pinning!

Monica and Mark

2011-07-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some shots from the fabulous Cindy Wagner of Wagner Photographics....thanks so much Cindy!!! This was a smaller, intimate wedding and we thought the photos were so wonderful, that we wanted to share.

Vendor Team:

Photos - Cindy Wagner - thank you Cindy!!!

Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals

Ceremony - St. Mary's, Hyde Park

Reception - The Madison, Covington

Val Edgington & Rob Schwab

2011-07-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

In addition to Garden Roses, Fuji Mums, and Carnations (yes carnations
that looked gorgeous in this design...don't be afraid to use them ladies),
we also used my favorite yellow rose, called Mohana!
The Mohana rose is big, full, and it opens beautifully.

I can't believe I've known Val since she was in middle school! She is one of my cousin's (who is also one of the bridesmaids) best friends. Val has great style with her citrus colored J Crew bridesmaid dresses, and the matching flowers. This was a June wedding and a perfect color combo for a fresh looking Summer wedding. The fabulous photos are from Images by Daniel Michael....thanks so much for sharing!!!

Garden Roses, Roses, Fuji Mums, Buttom Mums, and Hydrangea.

Vendor Team:

Photographer: Images by Daniel Michael

Flowers: Courtenay Lambert Florals

Ceremony: Holy Trinity St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

Reception: Sharonville Convention Center
Cake: Gina's Cakes
Make Up: Cecily Lambert Claytor
Bridesmaid Dresses: JCrew

Kim Brewer & Matt Frient - The Verdin Bell Event Center

2011-07-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Peonies & Ranunculus (in August if you can believe it), Cymbidium orchids, and Garden Roses.

Planning the flowers with Kim was so much fun! She likes everything I like...big, full, fluffy, romantic blooms with a whimsical touch. We used Hydrangea, Peonies, Roses, Garden Roses, Ranunculus, Cymbidium orchids, Manzanita branches, and gorgeous footed silver vases. These gorgeous images are by the always fabulous Tine, of TM Photography. There were so many great shots, we had a hard time deciding which ones we wanted to use...thanks Tine!!!

The details...so gorgeous and so important.

All the junior bridesmaids and flower girl....so cute!

Verdin Bell is the ultimate venue for candle use. It just glows when they light all the candles!

Loving that giant bell in the background at the Verdin Bell Event Centre.

Vendor Team:

Photographer: TM Photography

Flowers: Courtenay Lambert Florals

Ceremony & Reception: Verdin Bell Event Centre

Lighting: Goodwin Lighting

Cake: Maribelle

Heather McAuliffe & Tom Mooney

2011-07-27T05:15:00.000-07:00

More gorgeous shots from Steve Lyons Photography....thank you!!! Although these weddings were months apart, they had almost the same color schemes....gorgeous burgundy, green, and ivory. For more vendor credits, see below.

Photos - Steve Lyons Photography
Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals
Ceremony - St. James of the Valley, Wyoming, OH
Reception - Maketewah Country Club

Sarah Lauffer & Nick Mitrousis - Hilton Netherland Plaza Cincinnati

2011-07-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Sangria, brown, green, teal - gorgeous!

Like many of my customers, Sarah and Nick planned their wedding from out of town. Sometimes, this can seem like a daunting task, but really it's not an issue for us....on the contrary, it has proven to be a lot of fun! They live in San Francisco, and I have to say, I love it when I consult with a couple who lives in a different area of the country and they bring in some different ideas. I loved their color scheme, which was green, sangria, teal and brown...very different! Check out the beautiful choices they made below, and see below for all vendor credits. The gorgeous photos are courtesy of Steve Lyons Photography....thank you!

Gorgeous shot of the Hilton Netherland Plaza's Continental Room.

All of the gorgeous lighting by Goodwin Lighting.

The Vendor Team -

Planning - Heidi Pasqualetti, I Thee Wed

Photos - Steve Lyons

Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals

Lighting - Goodwin Lighting

Cake - Sweetwater Bakehouse

Ceremony and Reception - Hilton Netherland, Continental

Anne Himebaugh & Matt Turner - Courtenay Lambert Florals

2011-07-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

This group is a group after my own heart....they really are having fun and that's what it's all about!!! Anne was one of the most easy going customers, and her taste is right up my ally. And if you've read the blog, you know how I feel about Peonies, which she used throughout! All of the amazing photos were provided by the super talented Nathan Peel of Nathan Peel Photography...thank you Nathan for sharing these amazing photos! For full vendor credits, see below.

Paul Brown Stadium

Gorgeous hot pink Peonies and Topaz Roses

Table flowers by Julie from Cincy Event Planning and Cupcakes by Tres Belle.

The fabulous vendor team includes:

Planner - Julie Schmidt, Cincy Event Planing - Julie did all of the gorgeous table top flowers for the wedding!

Photos - Nathan Peel Photography - thank you again for the great shots Nathan!

Flowers - Courtenay Lambert Florals - that would be us

Cup Cakes - Tracy Bellman, Tres Belle Cakes - delicious!

Ceremony - Anderson Hills United Methodist

Reception - Paul Brown Stadium

Julie and Eric at Alms Park, Cincincinnati - Courtenay Lambert Florals

2011-07-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

Well....better late than never. We are posting some past weddings, and this one was one of my favorites! So many great details, such a gorgeous venue, and last but definitely not least...a gorgeous couple. See below for the vendor credits. Thanks to Mike Bresnen of Mike Bresnen Photography for these incredible shots!!!

A cascading bouquet of Hydrangea, Roses, Fuji Mums, Orchids, and Lilies. Being tall, Julie pulls off this look so well.

Heading up the orchid lined staircase at Alms Park Pavilion as the guest await.

Gorgeous bridesmaids bouquets in ivory and green placed in ivory blumeboxes with satin edged moire ribbon.

Can you tell we loved the cake and the damask linens?

Vendor Team:

Photographer: Mike Bresnen of Mike Bresnen Photography
Flowers: Us!!! - Courtenay Lambert Florals
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Alms Park, Cincinnati, OH
Planning: Julie of Cincy Event Planning
Make Up: Nancy Dawson of Brideface
Video: Steve Zugelter of Studio Z Films

Kristen Shaw & Kyle Gerschutz - The French House - Courtenay Lambert Florals

2011-07-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

This is one of my personal favorite weddings. And the amazing Cindy Wagner of Wagner Photographics was kind enough to supply us with these incredible photos.....thanks Cindy!!! Kristen and Kyle were so relaxed and fun to work with. Check out all of their interesting details. And see below for full vendor credits!

Love this old car! And they are so adorable in it!

Kristen and Kyle were up for almost anything., We did an eclectic mix of flowers in Fall jewel tones in a mix of cut crystal, depression glass, and vintage silver vases. Courtenay Lambert Florals.

Again....love the car!

Kristen, Kyle, and the whole wedding party went down to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati to enjoy the festivities!

Vendor Team:

Photos: The super talented Cindy Wagner of Wagner Photographics!
Planning: The super talented Jen of Your Wedding by Jen!
Flowers: CLF - that's us, Courtenay Lambert Florals
Venue for Ceremony & Reception: The French House at French Park

If we omitted any vendor, please let us know and we will readily add you. Thanks!

The Knot Fall/Winter 2011 Issue - Courtenay Lambert Florals

2011-07-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

We are so proud of our wedding that was featured in the Knot Fall/Winter 2011 Issue, and we wanted to share it. The gorgeous bride and groom are Ryan Howard and Mike Leesman. It was such a pleasure working with them and especially working with Ryan's mom, Pam who has a wonderful eye for style and design. We worked with the ever fabulous Kristen Kloth of Tres Chic Event Planning, and the gorgeous photos were taken by Mark and Jennifer of Mark Garber Photography...thank you so much for sharing!!!

For full credits, see below.

Vendor Team

Photography: Mark Garber Photography

Planning: Tres Chic Event Planning

Flowers: Courtenay Lambert Florals

Event Rentals: Primetime Event Rentals

Lighting: Goodwin Lighting

Cake: Classic Confection Cakes

Make Up: Summer Holmes

Ceremony: Moraine Country Club

Reception: Carillon Park

McElligot - Jones Wedding - Purple Flowers

2011-06-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

This is just a sneak peak of Caitlin and Ethan's gorgeous wedding on the Miami University of Oxford Ohio campus. Of course we will blog more when we get the (what I'm sure will be stunning) photos from Neysa Ruhl. The wedding was expertly coordinated by Alison Wenstrup of Aviva Events, who it is always a pleasure to work with. When we post the full wedding, we will also include the full credits. Stay tuned!

Gorgeous purple Anemones, Stock, Lilac, and Hydrangea, accented with Stephanotis. http://courtenaylambert.com

Courtenay Lambert Florals

Pink Peonies

2011-05-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

These gorgeous beauties are actually from my back yard. I love Peonies...the only way they could be improved upon is if they bloomed all year long. They're large, gorgeous, fluffy and fragrant....what's not to like? I brought them to the shop, and snapped a few shots to share.

Royal Wedding Treatment - part 2

2011-05-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes simplicity is bliss. A simple bouquet of white Peonies with saphire blue ribbon and adorned with sparkling jewels. Bouquet by Courtenay Lambert Florals

Here are just a few more shots from our Royal Wedding photo shoot to get your morning started off well (of course while watching the Royal Wedding). See all credits in previous post.

Beautiful invitations in gold and navy, designed by Poeme

We couldn't resist capturing these stately gentlemen, which we
found on a shelf in the home of our shooting location.

The Royal Wedding Treatment - Cincinnati Wedding Florist Courtenay Lambert Florals

2011-04-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

Well we had a blast putting this together! The creative team included us of course (Courtenay Lambert Florals), Kristen Kloth of Tres Chic Event Planning, and Ileana Saldivia of Sugar Realm! The rest of the fabulous team included Beth Brigger of All Occasion Event Rental (who was kind enough to contribute the table linens, chivari chairs, china, flatware, and glassware), Kristen Folzenlogen of Poeme provided the lovely invitations, Summer Holmes of A Touch of Summer did our make up, and Kortnee Miller of Kortnee Kate Photography captured these amazing photos!

All of this was shot on location at a home listed by my good friend, Amy Rubenstein who is a fabulous designer herself as well as a Sibcy Cline Realtor. The home we shot in is actually for sale and listed here, 1540 Moon Valley Lane.

And lastly, thanks to Janelle Walton of WCPO Channel 9 News for asking us to do this feature. Here is a link to the feature on Channel 9 News, Wedding planners expect royal wedding trends to inspire Cincy brides.

Read below as I highlight some of the other details included!

Gold, Navy, and champagne ivories capture the look.

Gorgeous cake done by Ileana Saldivia of Sugar Realm Fine Bakery + Cake Design.

Napkins accented with navy Swiss satin ribbon and a vintage brooch.

Gold trumpet vases with ivory floral topiaries.

Ileana from Sugar Realm made gorgeous Cameos made out of sugar!
As seen in this picture and the one above where she added Cameos to the cake.

Every table really should have a gorgeous chandelier hanging over it,
if it is at all possible. :)

Krista Ray & Michael Cure Wedding at Krippendorf Lodge

2011-02-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like a gorgeous Fall wedding, and this one is no exception...simply beautiful. The details show the taste of Krista (the bride). And Jen Shorten, our awesome lead designer, pulled together all of the design details which really emulate the look that Krista wanted...gorgeous, understated, and warm. Krippendorf Lodge (the venue) almost looks like a little cottage in the woods. Check out the pictures for all of the gorgeous details, and see the list of fabulous vendors below.

Flowers: Courtenay Lambert Florals

Photographer: Shoes in the Window

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Krippendorf Lodge

Guest Accomodations & Picture Venue: Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

Desserts: Take the Cake

For more gorgeous shots of Krista and Michael, check out the photographer's blog positing at Shoes in the Window - Krista & Michael.

Maccarone - Enzweiler (cont'd)

2011-02-22T18:00:00.000-08:00

More fantastic shots of Gina and David from the uber talented Jacalyn Mains of JMM Photography. Gina's make up was done by the fabulous Chenese Bean of Chenese Bean Makeup Artistry. I couldn't help adding a few more images of all the beautiful red. After all it is the month of Valentine's Day, and red roses are prevalent. In my opinion, nothing compares to the large, velvety black magic roses that Gina used throughout the wedding.

Maccarone - Enzweiler Wedding

2011-01-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

Beautiful shots of a beautiful wedding by the oh so talented Jacalyn Mains of JMM Photography. Jacalyn is an incredible photographer and a blast to work with!

Since I've started in this business, black magic red Roses have been my favorite! You haven't seen a gorgeous red rose until you've seen a black magic rose. They are large, full, and velvelty; and they open quickly and beautifully. Gina, the bride in this wedding, chose well! Check out the lovely pictures below.

More to come on this wedding, and I will list all the fabulous vendors involved as well.

Favorite Things – Brooch Bouquets by Fantasy Floral Design

2011-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! Going forward from time to time, we’re going to list some of our favorite finds. We’ve had some time off, and during that time I actually decided to peruse the many creative and ingenious wedding blogs and other wedding products and services that are available. During the busy wedding season, we don’t have a whole lot of time to peruse these sites. So, it’s kind of fun to scour these sites and discover all the fabulous finds that are out there. I found a number of things that I think are not only creative, but absolutely gorgeous. And I wanted to share it with you all. I’ll be blogging about it over the next couple of weeks.

One of the first vendors I came across was Fantasy Floral Designs out of San Juan Capistrano, south of Los Angeles. I perused her web site and blog, and absolutely fell in love. This past Fall, I actually took a stab (literally as I poked my fingers with brooch pins a zillion times) to create one of these beauties, and they are not the easiest things in the world to assemble. I will post a picture of it eventually...it wasn't bad, but not as good as these. I’ve had several brides ask me if we would do brooch bouquets; and while I would not be opposed to it, I don’t have a ton of brooches sitting around where I could do this…I have enough to do just one! Pretty much, it takes a lot of time and planning to collect the right combination of brooches and they're not exactly inexpensive. The thing I learned is that unless you have a ton of time to search for the perfect brooches and a lot of patience to perfect your skill in creating these, it might be something you want to leave to the professionals. I’ve not seen brooch bouquets that surpass these in quality and creativity. So if you want an exquisite heirloom piece that is also a beautiful keepsake, definitely contact them - Fantasy Floral Designs.

Here are a few more of her beautiful creations below. Honestly, I'm not sure how she parts with them once she is done....they are stunning!

Cincinnati Wedding Magazine Winter 2011 - Bouquet Sneak Peak

2010-11-15T16:52:00.000-08:00

Purple, Gold, and Green! Color Blocking - Mondrian inspired. Bouquet by Jen Shorten of Courtenay Lambert Florals.

This bouquet showcases the amazing work of Jen Shorten, who I'm lucky enough to work with, and who is a lead designer at Courtenay Lambert Florals. She did this amazing bouquet for Cincinnati Wedding Magazine's upcoming issue. The theme was modern spaces and the photo shoot was taken at Pyramid Hill Park in Hamilton. We recently did a wedding there, and it is a truly gorgeous space. The bouquet includes, Bell of Ireland, Stock, Lisianthus, Craspedia, and Lily grass.

Jen used color blocking to put the colors of this bouquet together. She used one of our blumeboxes and did a Mondrian inspired color blocking method (yes, I had to Google that too...think Rubik's cube). Jen has a background in design, and says that color blocking is a great way to develop design inspiration for your wedding. Layering bold block colours makes for a killer statement which screams confidence. Here are a few simple rules:

1. Three is the magic number. Stick to two or three colors, anymore than that and you might end up losing the bold effect. Two’s fine but three makes for a more interesting and effective contrast.

2. Don’t be afraid to clash. The normal rules don’t apply here, don’t be afraid to combine colours you usually wouldn’t.

3. Keep it in the family. It’s also effective to contrast two tonal variations with a more contrasting jarring colour, for example pinks and purples against a vibrant lime green.

4. Be loud and proud. This trend is all about bold bright colours and works best with the most vivid shades.

5. Keep it simple. The look works best with plain neutral accessories; break up the colour blocks with cream, black or grey accessories.

My Cousin's Wedding

2010-10-26T15:03:00.001-07:00

Here are a few shots of my cousin Suzy's wedding bouquet (from September). I have to say it is one of my favorites this year, and when we get the pro shots we will post the whole wedding...which, if the bouquet is any indication, was glorious. It was vintage with lots of organic elements. My Aunt Deb (mother of the bride) actually grew some of the flowers in her garden. My shop is now home to many cute little black spiders who used to live in Celosia from my aunt's garden (I kind of like them, but no one else seems to appreciate them much). I included a bunch of shots from all angles, and the last two shots are of the Mom's bouquets (which they carried during the ceremony). Here are some of the beautiful floral elements used in the bouquets: Celosia, Dahlias, Roses, Craspedia, Stock, Ranunculus, Protea, Delphinium, Zinnias, Succulents, and Peacock feathers. In the mom's bouquets, we included Gardenia as well (one of my personal favorites).

Sparks - Cates Wedding

2010-10-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn & Joe

This is the wedding of the beautiful and talented Jocelyn Sparks Cates and her husband Joe Cates. These pictures are the product of the always fabulous Neysa Ruhl of Neysa Ruhl Photography, and she captured the wedding beautifully! I'm catching up on some blogging....which I always say I'm going to do. But, this time I mean it. I will be posting some fabulous events from this year and last. This wedding really showcases Jocelyn's style, "vintage romantic". I love the vintage car!

Lindsay and Steve Hileman - November 2009

2010-09-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

So, we're trying to be a little more diligent about posting events. So, hopefully, over the next few weeks, we will have several more fabulous events to showcase (from both last year and this year). This was a gorgeous wedding at the Dayton Art Institue. This venue has risen to be one of my top 10 favorite venues! Lindsay and Steve (the bride and groom) are very artsy and their flower choices definitely echoed that...lots of different designs and textures. In addition to the vendors indicated on the design boards, the event was expertly executed by Kristen & Rick Kloth of Tres Chic Events and the cake was designed by Barb Harvey of Incredible Endings!

Yes, there is a time to be Bitter and it's Now!!!!

2010-09-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

Wear your favorite (or least favorite) retired bridesmaid/formal gownfor a pub crawl through Covington’s MainStrasse Village.

Cost of admission is $10 OR the donation of a bridesmaid gown.All proceeds benefit Kenzie’s Closet.{Kenzie’s Closet provides prom dresses and related accessories to high school seniors who cannot otherwise afford them.}

For more information or to see photos from 2007, 2008 & 2009′s Bashes, visitThe Bridal Studio or our Facebook page (become a fan!)

Enjoy gift bags (for the first 100 attendees), raffles prizes, t-shirts, drink specials and of course, lots of fun!For more information or to RSVP please email us at info@the-bridal-studio.com.

The Details…
6-7 PM: Registration Arrive at The Bridal Studio (610 Main St) between 6 and 7 PM, wearing your donation dress (don’t forget to wear something underneath– you’ll be dressless at the end of the night!) By committing to donate your dress at the end of the evening, your $10 admission fee will be waived. 9-10 PM: Prizes.

What if I have more than one dress? You can donate them all at once or give them to friends to donate for a fun girls night or some even hold on to the extras so they’ll have one for next year!

What happens at the end of the night when it’s time to donate my gown? First of all, remember to wear a pair of shorts and/or a tank top under your dress so you’re able to go out in public at the end of the night. When you’re ready to donate your dress, simply go to Pachinko and someone will be there to guide you to a changing area and we’ll have t-shirts on hand for you.

Are boys allowed? Yes!! The more the merrier! If you have an extra dress on hand, you can give it to them to donate or they can pay the $10 donation fee. Heck, if they want to wear a dress, that would be even more fun!

What condition should the dress be in? We ask that you donate gently-used dresses that you think high school girls would like to wear to prom or other formal events. We also accept accessories too, so if you have some shoes, bags and jewelry that you think a girl would like to wear, please donate it also!

Where do I sign up? You can register between 6-7 at The Bridal Studio, or please visit one of our “Registration Hot Spots” at Sara Benjamin’s, Soho Boutique and The Wardrobe. These locations are also available for donations and dress drop-offs!
6-9 PM: Pub Crawl

Your admission will get you drink specials at Cock & Bull, Pachinko, Strasse Haus and Zola’s in Mainstrasse Covington. Have fun wearing your dress for one final night out!

We will all gather at Pachinko to announce raffle winners and give prizes for the “Best-Dressed” “Biggest Bridal Party of Matching Dresses” and many more!! Changing stations will be available where attendees can donate a dress and receive a t-shirt in exchange. The first 100 guests will also receive a bag filled with gifts from our various sponsors.
FAQs about the BBBash!

What if I have a dress to donate but I don’t want to wear it? We encourage everyone to wear their dress since it adds to the fun, but if you’re just not feeling it, you can still donate your dress when you register and your admission fee will be waived!

I want to wear a dress but I’m not ready to give it up yet, what do I do? If you’re not ready to part with the dress yet, but you’d still like to wear it, you can either bring another dress for your admission or simply pay the $10 donation fee and party in your dress all night!

Thank you to our amazing sponsors who will be entertaining you,and providing you with amazing gifts and prizes! Hosted by The Bridal Studio.

Organizing Sponsors:

Aviva Events

Bride and Groom Planner

Mainstrasse Village Association

Soho Boutique

Bluebird Photography

Brideface

Courtenay Lambert Florals

Poeme

Sponsors:

1154 Lill Studio – Custom Handbags

Abbydid

Advanced Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center

All Occasion Event Rental

Bartini's

Cin City Burlesque

Cincinnati Ballet

Cincinnati Landmark Productions

Cincinnati Rollergirls

Dare to Dance

Eventurous

FACEing

Jag’s Steak and Seafood

Keep It Tight Fitness

Koch Sporting Goods

Lifetime Films

Lodge Bar

Maize Music

McFadden Music

Michelle & Co. Salon

Monster Mini Golf

Pampered Pet Boutique

Residence Inn Marriott

Sableux Salon

Shadowbox Cabaret

Sherri Barber Photography

Springhill Suites Marriott

Sweet Libertine Mineral Cosmetics

TBeads

Tarte Advertising

celebrating bridesmaids and Kenzie’s Closet …

Ashley Rosenacker - Eric Kendig

2010-06-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

I had to post these incredible shots taken by April of Bluebird Photography. This wedding was the creative product of Aubrie Welsh (who has done a lot of fantastic work for CLF in the past and whose own wedding is on this blog -Fall 2008). Aubrie actually lended her creative talent for this wedding to her friend Ashley (the bride), and what a fantastic job she did. The bouquets include Peonies, Antique Hydrangea, Vendela and Sahara Roses, and Dusty Miller. Check out the fabulous details below!

Brtko - McGuffey

2010-06-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Steph & Justin

What lovely people, lovely flowers, and just an all around lovely day!!! From the customers to the vendors, I don't think we could have enjoyed this wedding more. This is a sneak peak of the wedding, and if you click on the picture, it will take you to Kortnee Kate's blog site where there are more of the glorious details. I'll post more when we get the rest of the pictures.

Shout out to the vendor team...amazing work!!!

Planner: Kristen Kloth of Tres Chic Event Planning

Photography: Kortnee & Ted of Kortnee Kate Photography

Cupcakes: A Spoon Fulla Sugar

Venue: French House at French Park

Here are a couple more teasers heisted from Kortnee & Ted's blog:

Cincinnati Wedding Magazine Summer 2010 Issue - Bouquet Sneak Peek

2010-06-21T19:07:00.001-07:00

We've been so busy that I'm not actually sure if this is a sneak peak. The magazine might actually be on stands, or it will be very soon. But, no biggie, right? I just wanted to share the fabulous bouquet we did for the photo shoot. The shoot took place in and around the enchanting grounds of Laurel Court, which are absolutely gorgeous. And going there was like traveling back in time. The theme is nostalgic/classic styles, and the setting at Laurel Court was absolutely perfect.

In the bouquet, we included Peonies, Tulips, Roses, and Lily of the Valley. In keeping with the theme we treated the stems with several vintage rhinestone necklaces. Check out below the close up of the stem treatment...and sorry for all the pics....I'm a little obsessed.

Purple Flower Love

2010-05-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd do a really quick posting on a bridal bouquet I did this past March. As the wedding season ramps up, I get busier and busier and have less time for postings. But, I also think it's important that we post things here and there so that our customers can see the latest and greatest. So, I guess what I'm saying is we'll try to do more small and quick posts.

I love this bouquet. I'm more of a pink girl, but I'm more and more becoming a purple girl...especially when you mix it with Fuschias and Magentas....I love it! This bouquet includes Hydrangea, Roses, Hyacinth, and Vanda Orchids.

Here are a couple close ups (you can click on them to blow them up):

Favorite Things Find!!!

2010-05-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

Ok....so I was setting up a wedding in Ft. Thomas this afternoon when I nearly ran off the road because of an incredible yard sale I came across. I screeched on the breaks to get a better view, and decided it was well worth my time to stop back after I was finished with set up. I told the gentlemen that was selling his wares that my customers would Loooooooove (sung in a long, high pitched operatic tone) his stuff. I asked him if he'd mind me giving it a shout out, and he said sure. He didn't seem interested in sharing his name and address on a public site, so if you want to know where you can find these amazing goods, just email me at by clicking here (I have my blackberry, so I can shoot the info back to you quickly). He has containers, vintage jewelry, and other glorious things you could easily incorporate in your wedding. His sale is going on through this Saturday!

I'm headed there now to get the stuff I put on hold. One man's chachka, is another bride's table setting.

Spring Has Sprung at The Bridal Studio

2010-04-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Please join us for "Get Your Spring On". There will be fabulous fashion finds and more! Light refreshments will be served as well as cupcakes from the always fabulous Tres Belle Cakes!

When: Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Where: The Bridal Studio, 610 Main Street, Covington, KY 41011

Erin Whitlock & Kyle Carter

2010-03-31T10:15:00.000-07:00

Check out the fabulous shades of fuschia in this wedding. Erin and Kyle were married at Mt. Echo Pavilion and the Hilton Continental room, which is one of my favorite venues!

The fabulous vendors involved include:
CLF - flowers - that would be us
Alison Wenstrup - Aviva Events
Photographer - Brad of Photosmith
Ceremony: Mt. Echo Pavilion
Reception: Hilton Netherland Plaza, Continental Room

Crate and Barrel

2010-02-10T11:34:00.001-08:00

Crate and Barrel is one of my favorite stores! When I heard they were having these fabulous wedding parties during the month of February, I wanted to get involved. I actually worked there during college as seasonal help on holidays, and I usually blew my paychecks on all of their wonderful things.

Please join in on the fun! We were there with sample bouquets this past weekend, and we will be there with more bouquets for the next three weekends. Not only will you be able to register for all of Crate and Barrel's wonderful items, you will also be able to sip Mimosas, sample cake, and test drive some of our wonderful fresh floral bouquets.

So, join in on the fun by calling Crate and Barrel to RSVP. You can click on the picture for directions and click here for more info, or just call the store to save yourself a spot! Crate and Barrel, located at the Kenwood Towne Place, 513. 984.5555.

Amanda Dault & Brett Duell - Photos by Cindy Wagner

2010-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

I am a color guru, and whether it is soft muted tones or big bold colors...I love putting together color combos! And this fuschia and clover green really made me happy. This was such a fun summery wedding, and Amanda (the bride) really knew what she wanted from the beginning. Check out the rest of the details below. All of the incredible photos were the work of photog supreme, Cindy Wagner of Wagner Photographics. Thank you for these amazing pics Cindy!

The lovely details!

I cannot resist a good shoe shot...love the hot pink heels.

Hmmmm....how do I take this apart, and is anyone watching?

We used hybrid tea roses (the kind of roses that everyone is familiar with) in Amanda's bouquet, as well as a new variety of garden rose in her bouquet. The new variety is called "Ole" (pronounced "olay"), and it is the beautiful pink ruffly rose that you see in her bouquet. The fragrance from the Ole garden rose is amazing, and it is a full petaled, large rose. I highly recommend it....especially for those peony lovers who cannot get peonies out of season. It's more expensive than a regular rose, but seriously worth it!

This shot is from the photo booth that Cindy sets up at her weddings. There were so many hilarious shots from the photobooth. I can only imagine what the shots would have been like if we had something like this at one of my friend's weddings....I'm sure there would be a lot of laughs and a lot of editing ;). I love this shot or Brett and Amanda....it looks like they're having so much fun! Thank you Amanda and Brett for being fun to work with, wonderful customers!!!

Brianne and Kevin - Ault Park

2010-01-23T13:41:00.000-08:00

Brianne Hart and Kevin Erwin are a super fun couple (even if they are Georgia Bulldogs)...see Kevin's boutonniere's in an earlier post. :) And, wow, what a beautiful wedding. Bri chose my absolute favorite rose, Black Magic red. Black Magic roses are in the velvet family of roses, and they are just that....a velvety deep red rose....LOVE them! The fantastic photos were supplied by Heart & Light Photography....gorgeous!

For the bridesmaids' bouquets we used tone on tone reds. I'm really loving tone on tone...the subtle shade differences between color really adds dimension to the bouquet. Tone on tone in any color scheme is a gorgeous look.

Basketball size centerpieces in all Black Magic red roses....GLORIOUS!!!

Vendor Details

Photographer - Heart & Light Photography

Venue - Ault Park - Cincinnati, OH

Florist - Us! Courtenay Lambert Florals

Make Up - Brideface

Cake - Bonbonerie

The Special Event Show - New Orleans

2010-01-21T12:49:00.000-08:00

Event Design and florals by Urban Earth Studios, New Orleans, LA.

To say this show was fantastic is an understatement! The best of the best in the special events world spoke and performed at this show, and it was such a treat to benefit from their wisdom. Here are a few pics of the spectacular tablescapes during the Wedding Luncheon. The luncheon's keynote speaker, was Darcy Miller (the editor of Martha Stewart Weddings). She shared many of the exciting ideas that they feature in the magazine, as well as a few tidbits on the industry as a whole. One of my favorite things about going to this show is coming back with a plethora of new ideas to share with clients. And, hanging out in cool cities like New Orleans is fun too. ;)

Yes, I'm a groupy when it comes to talented people in the Wedding/Event industry. Below is a picture of me and Darcy Miller of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. She is fantastic, and just a guru in the industry.

Merry and Happy to All!!!

2009-12-21T08:26:00.000-08:00

We'd like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday! After a very busy year, we will be taking a break and spending time with family and friends. We will have extremely limited availability throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday. We will be checking email and voice mail for any urgent needs, but most inquiries will be returned starting on Monday, January 4th.

If you would like to obtain information and set up a consultation, you can still do so during this time by emailing us at shop@courtenaylambert.com. We will get back to you via email with available dates and times.

Thanks to all of our customers for making 2009 a wonderful year, and stay tuned to our blog for postings of our beautiful weddings and events from this year.

All Things Sparkly, Glittery, and Good!!!

2009-12-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

Here's a teaser from this past weekend's wedding of Tracy Meldon and John Wright. It was sparkly, glittery goodness, and there will be more to come soon!

A Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne Wedding

2009-11-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

So, about three weeks ago I met up with some of my college friends in Key Biscayne for a weekend of relaxation, quality bonding time, and just all around gloriousness. What did we do? Nothing with a little bit of something, and it was great! But, while we were there, I sniffed out a wedding...of course! The Ritz Carlton hosts some fairly lavish events, and this one is no exception. I walked in (before the guests arrived) and started to take pictures...it was gorgeousness everywhere you looked. To give credit where credit is due, I spoke to the events manager and got the name of the fabulous event design and production company who created this lavish affair. They are Grande Affaires in Miami, and from the looks of it they do some pretty amazing event work.

And, not to rub it in (ok maybe a little), but here is the view from our hotel rooms. The open green space to the right is where they hold outdoor weddings with the ocean as the background...one word, GLORIOUS!

Gator Florist and Dawg Bride and Groom

2009-11-02T12:16:00.001-08:00

What do you get when you put a Gator florist with a Dawg bride and groom?

So, these boutonnieres (one was a back up) belonged to the groom, Kevin. I decorated them extra special just for him. My first plan was an orange rose with a royal blue stem wrap, but I didn't think they would appreciate that too much. And, in honor of the Gators win over the Georgia Bulldogs this weekend, I thought I would post these. Brie and Kevin are a wonderful couple, even if they are Bulldogs. :)

Vanessa Mears & Andy Kennedy

2009-10-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous photos by Geri Ciulla of Ciulla Photography. Thanks Geri!

There are some pictures that just speak to me, and the one above is a perfect example. When I'm posting pics from a particular wedding, I usually post one of my favorites first. And there is just something about this one that I love....Geri Ciulla is an amazing photog! The bride, Vanessa, was fabulous to work with. She knew what she wanted from the get go and pulled all of her details together beautifully. Vanessa picked some of my favorite flowers, including Peonies, Roses, and Ranunculus. Vanessa, if you're reading this, thanks and thank you for being a pleasure to work with!!! Oh, and if you have any pics of your fabulous blumeboxes...shoot one over. You did such a great job with them, I need to post it!

See below for the fabulous vendors involved in the wedding.

Vendors:

Flowers - CLF (that would be us)

Make Up - Fabulous Nancy of Brideface

Photography - Geri Ciulla Photography

Ceremony - St. Paul United Methodist

Reception - The Madison

Sneak Peak - Cincinnati Wedding Magazine!

2009-10-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

So, we don't know if all of these bouquets are going to be used in the next Cincinnati Wedding Magazine. But, at least one of them will be, and we sure did have a good time assembling them. The theme was "Sacred Spaces", and the bouquets are supposed to echo things associated with sacred spaces. One is "Wood and Ivory", one is "Garden of Eden", and one is "Stained Glass". We'll let you guess which is which. The designers on these bouquets were Courtenay Lambert (me), and Jen Shorten. I have not officially introduced Jen yet, but I will be soon. In the meantime, Jen is a fabulous designer who joined CLF about a month ago, and I for one, am so excited and happy to have her on board!

Kim Basista & Chris Hubley at the Phoenix Archway Ballroom

2009-10-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

Photos by Bluebird Photography...thanks April for these amazing shots!!!

I feel so lucky to have such great customers. Kim was a pleasure to work with and so organized. She knew what she wanted and the color palette she chose was gorgeous (plums, deep reds, and black)...so elegant. Kim is having her bouquet preserved, and I will post a picture of it once it's done...I think it will be stunning!

Thanks Kim and Chris for allowing us to be a part of your special day!

The Vendor Team:

Photography: April of Bluebird Photography

Videographer: Matt Pine of Lifetime Video

Ceremony: St. Peter in Chains Cathedral

Reception: The Phoenix Archway Ballroom

Coordinator: Viva Bella Events

Cake: Maribelle

Lighting: Goodwin Lighting

Oberschmidt - Storer

2009-10-02T19:33:00.000-07:00

Jen and Paul

This was such a fun wedding! Mostly, I worked with Jen and her mom on the florals, and they really had a classic style. We used lavendars, mauves, and ivories, and we used gorgeous garden roses in Jen's bouquet. We had the pleasure of working with Kristen and Rick or Tres Chic Events, and Steve Lyons of Steve Lyons Wedding Photography took these amazing shots. Jen and Paul, thanks for letting me be a part of your fabulous day!

Rick of Tres Chic Events, being fabulous as usual.

The fabulous wedding vendors involved in the wedding:

Coordinator - Tres Chic Events - Kristen & Rick Kloth

Ceremony - Guardian Angel Church

Reception - Hilton Hall of Mirrors

Photography - Steve Lyons Wedding Photography

Bitter Bridesmaids Bash

2009-09-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

One week until the Third Annual Bitter Bridesmaid Bash Covington, KY

September 10, 2009 - 6:00 PM

The third annual Bitter Bridesmaid Bash is just one week away (September 10th!) and we have gathered together some wonderful sponsors and donors to bring you a fun night for a great cause.

Wear your favorite (or least favorite) retired bridesmaid/formal gown for a pub crawl through Covington’s MainStrasse Village. The cost of admission ($10) is completely waived when you donate a gown for Kenzie’s Closet, which provides prom dresses and related accessories to high school seniors who cannot otherwise afford them. For more information or to see photos from the past Bashes, visit http://www.the-bridal-studio.com/ or our Facebook page (become a fan!).

There will be gift bags and t-shirts (for the first 100 attendees), raffle prizes, a photo booth, discount drinks at participating bars (when you show your wristband) and loads of fun! For additional information or to RSVP, please feel free to email bbbash@the-bridal-studio.com. Or, check out our event page of Facebook.

The Bash is hosted by The Bridal Studio, which includes Bluebird Photography, Brideface, Courtenay Lambert Florals and Letter Heads, and is produced by Aviva Events.

Matt Pine of the always fabulous Lifetime Video will be documenting the evening, and creating a super fantastic video showcasing not only the generosity of our guests but the wonderful time they will be having. Thanks Matt....can't wait!

Many thanks to this year’s sponsors for their participation!

All Occasions Event Rental
Beat Personal Training
Busken
Cincy Chic
Cucire by Andrea Rae
Dojo Gelato
Europa
Kitsch Cafe
LavishGiving.com
Lifetime Video
1154 LILL Studio
Maize Music
Pinup Couture
Poeme
Sassy Boutique
Say Cheese Photobooth
Strasse Dog
Suki
The Sweet Finale
Michael Sylvester Band
TBeads
Three French Hens
Participating Bars: Chez Nora, Cock and Bull, Cosmo’s Gill Pub, Fat Shannon’s, MainStrasse Village Pub, Pachinko, Strasse House, Up Over and Zazou Grill & Pub.

Huss - Noland Wedding

2009-08-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

Kathy Huss & Josh Noland

Wow....look at these amazing shots by Jacalyn Mains of JMM Photography! Kathy and her bridesmaids look amazing in black and green, and the ivory and pale pink flowers are such a nice accent with their dresses. Nancy of Brideface did an amazing job with the girl's make up...see the close up pictures on Nancy's blog. Thanks so much for sending these photos over Jacalyn...your work is fantastic!

Sokolnicki - Gronbach Wedding

2009-08-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

Lynn and Eli. Is it Blogworthy? Oh Yeah!!!! The only thing that will be better is when I get the fabu photos from Tine!

I have had the pleasure of working with the Sokolnicki family for two of their daughter's weddings now, and I must say it has been a treat. The sisters and Mom have fantastic taste, and the family has been a complete delight to work with. I'll relay more details when I get the professional shots, but here is a sneak peak. I LOVE the vintage glass pieces that we used throughout the entire wedding. Lynn and Eli....you have awesome taste, and I loved everything you chose...it was a pleasure. And to you both.....GO GATORS!

******Oh and, by the way Lynn, I heisted a couple of your pics from Facebook....thanks!

Alicia Colvard - Ashford Hayles

2009-06-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

>

What a beautiful wedding! These are some of my favorite flowers of this past Spring. Alicia picked the citrusy colors, and they look absolutely gorgeous! She and Ashford are a great couple, and they planned their big day from DC. The beautiful shots are from Kim Long of Kim Long Photography. Seriously, are these shots not ridiculously gorgeous! Thanks Kim for sending the photos....I also grabbed a few of my favorites from her blog. For the full wedding details, go to Kim's blog at http://kimlongphotographyclients.com/blog/?m=200904.

All the fabulous Vendors involved:

Photographer - Kim Long of Kim Long Photography
Ceremony - St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Kentucky
Reception - Drees Pavilion in Devou Park
Flowers - that would be us, CLF

Tricia & Adam in the Tulips

2009-06-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

I just had to post these pictures that Tricia shared with me. She is the bride from the previous post below, and as you may have read, they are living in Switzerland. So, on one of their weekend jaunts, they went to Amsterdam and tiptoed through the tulips. I just love these shots, and I thought I would share. I would be in heaven surrounded by all those tulips....love them!