Ten years ago, Jesse and I were getting ready for our wedding! I thought it would be fun to celebrate by recreating the bouquet my sisters-in-law made for me. I married into a wonderful family of florists. 

It has eucalyptus, spray roses, sweet peas, lisianthus, garden roses, anemones and lamb's ear.

My real bouquet also had peonies, salvia and other goodies from Mom's garden, our generous neighbor and my high school teacher. The peonies, roses and lamb's ear are blooming in the garden right now and those grouped together take me right back.

Team Flower wedding florists, you do special work.  Yes, you provide a product and a service, but more than this — you help create that memory pathway that takes people back year after year as neighborhood gardens bloom. 

When you are tired, hot and have a zillion mosquito bites, remember this. When you're setting your alarm to strike in the middle of the night, remember this. You're like a fantastic fairy godmother who makes magic happen.  

Here are a few of my favorite photos — all black and white naturally because that's me — an old classy soul. TJ from Walk in Love took them.  I was so happy about making those "LOVE" letters I had seen in an old issue of Martha, and I loved dreaming up a fun cake design. I'm so thankful for our family friend Roula who helped put all those cream puffs together. Jesse's nickname (before I knew his real name) was creampuff. The first time I saw him was at a party with friends. I brought creampuffs and Jesse ate a whole bunch of them. The rest is history!  Thanks for teaching me how to make them, Grandma. Jesse sang to me as a surprise in our wedding and it was very fun and memorable.

Thanks for celebrating with us this week — you guys are amongst my very favorite people! Flower on and thank you so much for the important work you do!

Start low with some white majolika spray and small-leaved foliage. Add sweet pea for height and whispiness, then fill in with lisianthus and more spray roses to create a resting spot for larger-faced roses and ranunculus. Finish with the focal anemone, similar in size and structure to the other flowers, but with that cute little button nose in the center to mix things up! Tie off with ribbon and enjoy. 

Ingredients

Gunni eucalyptus 

White majolica spray roses

Purple Sweet peaPurple lisianthus 

White ranunculusWhite standard roses Lamb’s ear