Yosemite in Full Bloom

When describing my natural style choice for my designs I would categorize it as "rustic elegance" long before the rustic world took the wedding industry by storm. Shannon and Mark's wedding is the perfect example as to why. When Yosemite is your backdrop but the more formal and elegant touches of the Ahwahnee are to be blended with the nature you can't help but to fit right in between the two worlds by creating anything less. The colors they had decided to showcase for their wedding were periwinkle, creams, navy blue, antique golds and a pop of a spring green. The peonies were the most gorgeous I had ever worked with, practically the size of melons. We went with a few style centerpieces to play in to the narrow crescent shaped room of the Solarium. The tall vases were best displayed by allowing some free stems to flow in the water with river rock at the base. Surrounding was three antique mercury gold sundae cups with florals and clusters of gold mercury votives. The second style was in the rustic wood box and then 3rd was in a gilded antique gold vase.

Pale Elegance - Peach, Pewter, Blush and Lace

Anytime I hear these colors and textures used as describing words for ones wedding, I'm hooked! Jeanette was all about these elements for her July wedding to give a fresh summer elegance for her big day. We finished her bouquet with an ivory lace, mixed up various style centerpieces to complete and fill the room, and the champagne linens help showcase the florals. Flowers used are Juliet Garden Roses, Dusty Miller, Ranunculus, Asitlbe, Cafe Au Lait Dahlias, Cream Hydrangeas and Vendella Roses.

Organic Elegance

What can make a design so striking is not just the floral design but what vessel is chosen to help highlight the arrangement. Even when working with clear glass, the shape being cylinder, square, crystal, trumpet, pedestal or even accenting with ribbons, rhinestones, etc can change the look and feel of the decor. With being in the industry for over 8 years now, I feel things come in cycles with styles and each round is reinvented. Milk glass has been coming around again full circle. There was a few weddings in 2005 and 2006 which were breathtaking because they went with all milk glass and then now again this past July with Emily and Matt. These arrangements were inspired by my wedding for next weekend which is going to be a very soft and romantic floral feel but all designed from the milk glass the bride has provided. A dear customer and friend of mine always contacts me for all holidays to design some arrangements for her home. This Easter she has requested creams and succulents and let me take it away. A couple of the photos are of the same arrangement but from various angles just to take in the textures of the design.

Melissa and Jeremy - Winter Plums

Melissa and Jeremy got married on February 18th locally here in Merced. They had a simple traditional Catholic ceremony with a reception being held at St. Patrick's. The room is always so interesting to see the many transformations and how each couple executes the details. Being winter, they chose a simple elegant route utilizing creams, silvers and black with accents of lavenders and plums. We did three style centerpieces, short floral with the mixtures of purples in a rhinestone wrapped vase. Tall cylinders with double plum/lavender satin bands with all white hydrangeas and silver curly willow tips. The 3rd style was a cluster of three silver mercury glass hurricanes. All the catering was done by the fabulous, Chef Melissa! Here are some other fun purple styled wedding details....

Modern Elopement

The beauty of my job is to change up styles with each event. It keeps my inspiration flowing and allows me moments of tapping into a more natural oragnic flow and also more structured traditional flares. For this month, I've had more mid week weddings than I do weekend but I love the constant flow of work.
This was just a small wedding that is taking place today, Wednesday, in Monterey. I love the brides choice of sticking with the black and white and then choosing to accent with a charcoal and pop of green. The feather gives it a simple artistic touch.

Janae and Jason - Champagne Shades on a Rainy June Day

Janae first met with me less than two weeks after I had my 3rd baby so needless to say, I was a little out of sorts. She gave me the once over on the details she had so far with her gorgeous subtle color schemes of creams, champagne and a pale pistacio. She also described the venue, The Vista Ranch and Cellars, which I had been highly anticipating doing a wedding there and they were my first.

 I had done several events at this venue in the past but under new ownership, they renovated the facility perfectly! The main room for the indoor area has a rustic modern touch so any bride will be able to customize their visions to fit with the surroundings. They also did the most amazing job with the bridal house on the same property for the girls to stay in the night before and the couple to enjoy for their honeymoon night. It is designed perfectly for the ladies to have privacy with tall walls surrounding the perimeter, a salon area for getting ready, a nice open room for the bride to get into her dress and a couple bedrooms and kitchen. The house became a focal point for all wedding party photos since it was a rainy day.

In my experience, I have seen some crazy things happen to the weather on wedding days but never had I experienced such a crazy stormy day in June! Rain brings such romantic cozy feeling but who would think to have a back up plan? Thankfully due to the venue having the capacity to set up dinner inside, the ceremony site was tented and then reception was set for inside.

All worked out to be such a perfect day and Janae looked stunning. I was lucky to have such a gorgeous couple to photograph!

Janaes bouquet was designed with cream peonies, David Austin Garden roses,  vendella roses, cream ranuculus, and cream spray roses. The bouquet handle was inspired by a pair of shoes Janae showed me.








Janae is a hair dresser and having the salon set up right in the bridal suite was a great way to capture her in her own element.



One of my favorites of the day. Her dad walked in moments before the ceremony began and so sweetly to fight back the tears, Janae was trying to distract herself by asking her dad for a knuckle touch.











Simple candlescapes with the champagne dazzle linens were so elegant. Cream roses in rectangle vases were the perfect way to line the head table and creat a beautiful runner effect.




Working with these distressed frames, another favorite of the day for me.



Janae and Jason chose to do years for their tables numbers and gave a story to each year...cute and clever!

Flowers and Photography - Natalie Galasso Designs
Venue and Catering - The Vista Ranch and Cellars
Make Up - Alex Hart
Hair - Becky Drum
DJ - Sounds in Motion
Invitations, Programs and Table Numbers - Jami Gibson
Cupcakes - Sweet Amanda B's