Countries

The local Catholic School here in Merced did an annual fundraiser where they host wine and food booths from 10 different countries. I was asked to be a part in designing 10 different arrangements to represent each of the countries. This was a blast! I just looked up the country flags and tried to utilize flowers that represent each of these countries.

Germany - Black, Red and Gold

Nicaragua - Royal Blue and White

Portugal - Deep Red, Green and Gold

Ireland - Green, Orange and White.
I used Bells of Ireland

USA

Mexico - Green, White and Red

Italy - Green, White and Red.
I decided to go more Tuscan and throw in some Rosemary

Scotland - Royal Blue and White
I used the Thistle which represents the country.

Philippines - Red, White, Blue and Gold

Thailand - Red, White and Blue
They grow many of my orchids I design with!

Stephanie and Mitch

Last summer I decided to close my retail store front and get back to the importance of my inspiration which is always weddings. So the first couple that contacted me and wanted to have a consultation was with Stephanie, Mitch and her parents.
We did a full overview of the day because Stephanie already knew exactly what she wants...down to her awesome shoes. Over the course of the following year, everything just fell into place on details. They did all their own linens, centerpieces and set up and the place looked AMAMZING! Loved the style of the over all wedding and when you have a killer photographer like Ryan Jones, it ends up being a magical day!

Photographer - Ryan Jones

Cake - Eddie's Bakery Cafe

Ceremony - First Baptist, Merced

Reception - St. Patricks, Merced

Lisa and Steve Yosemite Wedding Featured on Style Me Pretty

Smell that? It’s the smell of crisp, fresh mountain air. And it’s seeping from these photos along with an immense amount of wedding inspiration. Yosemite National Park is the grandiose setting for today’s forest wedding by Kate Miller Events. The majestic mountain backdrop for Steven and Lisa’s ceremony is complete paradise, isn’t it? And did you see him? The unexpected guest at the wedding? Yes, Mr. Deer! Just adorable. More details I adore from this wedding include the elegant black bridesmaid dresses, the tall luscious centerpieces and…oh my, that ring! More rustic wedding inspiration from this forest wedding can be found here. xoxo Chantale from La Belle Bride

















The story of today’s wedding: When Steven proposed to Lisa at the top of a waterfall in while hiking in Yosemite National Park, they knew they must return to get married amidst some of the most amazing surroundings Northern California has to offer. The regal and historic Ahwahnee Hotel, where even Queen Elizabeth II herself came to visit, became the backdrop to this rustic chic celebration. In fact, the very same waterfall would become the backdrop to their actual wedding ceremony.

Lisa worked closely with Kate Miller Events to design the wedding of her dreams – we anchored the jewel-toned color palette to the rustic aesthetic of the Ahwahnee by utilizing an Ikat pattern throughout many of the details; a testament to Lisa’s love of interior design and it’s current trends. Lisa created DIY hand sewn satin rosettes for each place setting, and Kate custom-designed menus and programs with an Ikat print that mimicked the fabric wrapped vases and escort card table runner.

Lisa also commissioned bespoke walnut stationery Luxecut™ escort cards and table numbers (to later be used for future birthday cake toppers in an eco-friendly way). A calligrapher hand wrote each guests’ name on the cards in white ink, while the table numbers were embedded into the centerpieces. For the tall centerpieces, moss vines were intertwined with moss balls, and fuchsia and purple blooms accented the curle willow branches. The short centerpieces were a cluster of square vases covered in Ikat fabric and filled with fuchsia peonies and purple anemone, surrounded by creamy pillar candles and textural moss balls.


Photography: Sarah Maren Photography / Flowers: Natalie Galasso Designs / Event Planning and Design: Kate Miller Events™ / Ceremony and Reception Location: The Ahwahnee at Yosemite National Park / Invitations: Designed by a friend of the Bride / Escort Cards & Table Numbers: Luxecuts™ / Menus & Programs: KME Paperie by Kate Miller Events™ / Calligraphy: The Calligraphy Girl / Shoes: Cole Haan / Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Hair and Makeup: Article Salon & Spa / Groom’s Suit: Ferragamo / DJ: Exquisite Entertainment / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Videographer: Red Plate Productions

VOW Award

I just received a congratulations email from a friend and vendor of the industry on my nomination for a VOW award. I called her to say thank you but what is that? So she emailed me the link and when I clicked on the voting and looked under florist, I didn't see anything and she told me to keep scanning down to the wedding consultant/coordinator of the year award. Super honored and excited! All your support is greatly appreciated.

Kim and Steve

Kim's mom Sue first contacted me just about Thanksgiving time last year to inquire about my services and experiences. After some back and forth communication, they decided to proceed with securing me for the date. By May, plans are in full swing and ready to be finalized so they made a trip to me in Merced and we explored all her ideas and visions. We began where I typically always do, colors. She had chosen spiced wine for the girls dresses and guys ties with tan suits. Wanting lots of natural elements to reflect her venue, The Evergreen Lodge, we were limited to flower choices when roses aren't very appropriate for her style and she isn't a fan of the calla lily. Now we have the fun and perfect outdoorsy dahlia and scabiosa to utilize as our base. Then during our consultation, yellows and blues were thrown into the mix. I have to be the first to admit this was a first as far as an over all color scheme for me to work with and I did have a slight hesitation with how this would blend mostly being on the verge of fall in the mountains. Geeez was I pleasantly surprised!!! Once I received the flowers and began prepping them, I was already feeling the flow. All the rest fell into place. I can't wait to see her photographers pictures. I didn't get a chance to get any boutonniere/corsage pictures which were actually one of my favorite details of the day.

Kim's bouquet was designed with Scabiosa Pods, Billy Balls, Dahlias, Dark Scabiosa, Salidago, Delphinium, Thistle, Button Mums, Green and Maroon Mini Cymbidium Orchids. Finished in a burlap with a wine satin knot.

This was the ring bearer's box of flowers. One of my favorite things to design for a wedding!
She had 8 bridesmaids. Kim gave me creative design to make all bouquets reflect each other but each be a little different. It is such an amazing feeling when you are given the power to show off my art.



She utilized the Evergreens arch they provide and we threw in some fall Liquid Amber leaves and some curly willow and I was blown away by the warmth of the colors! The blue was such a nice accent.
Chair Flowers were made with thistle, scabiosa, salidago, and pods.
Cool DIY projext, they collected and provided their own Sugar Pine Cones to line the isle with.



The green spider mum on each place setting look amazing on the brown linens with the other colors popping in the centerpieces.
Another DIY project...they made table names from vintage National Park postcards, double sided and attached them to a little cut of wood.
There were two style centerpieces. Both had a cut of wood as a base with pine cones, river rocks, reindeer moss, and votives around the base. One style, like below was with three different vases/jars, each with a solid flower in it. The other centerpiece was a tall cylinder with river pebbles in the base with a submerged mokara orchid stem and a floating candle.
DIY, Double up on the vintage post cards and then they lined each guest place card/rock in front of the table they were assigned to.