Rocky Mountain Bride Inspirational Shoot

I’ve always been a fan of Rocky Mountain Bride and the gorgeous content they publish - both online and in print. Our simple mountain wedding was featured in the 2016 Wyoming edition and my first big wedding here in Sheridan was published on their blog!

In 2018 I joined with some of the best vendors in Sheridan to create a styled shoot for the 2018 Wyoming edition of Rocky Mountain Bride. It was a different type of challenge acting as my own client and getting to choose colors and theme in addition to planning the flowers and decor.

So thankful for the team that made this day happen and proud of what we accomplished. You can find these magazines on news stands now - go get a copy!

Photography: Alissa Ferullo Photography

Planning & Invitations: Weddings and Events by Ashley Marie

Venue: Born in a Barn

Attire: Once Upon a Story

Rings: Legacy Jewelers

Jewelry: Joy in the Morning

Hair: Paula Pacheco at Tangles Salon

Makeup: Makeup by Natalie

Cake: Red Velvet Bakery and Tapas/Twisted Hearts

I had the honor of also creating wedding florals for our gorgeous models, Molly and Andre`, for their romantic October wedding here in Sheridan. Stay tuned for more pictures!

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I wanted to create an unexpected ceremony spot while making the flowers approachable and relevant to Wyoming. My talented Husband helped me create a unique copper arch for the ceremony (now available to rent!). Copper bowls full of flowers, hand rolled beeswax candles and wild roses foraged for this shoot brought it all together.

A Dayton Wedding in Blush

Ashley is a flower lover like me and a friend of Anastasia - a 2017 bride. She planned a simple family wedding in Dayton, WY and wanted lush greenery with a touch of blush which I was more than happy to oblige! You’d never guess from these pictures but it was one of the hottest days of the summer and well over 100*’s at ceremony time.

Thankful for these photos captured by Braidyn Looper Photography.

Flowers for a florist

When I met my husband he lived in Wyoming and I lived in Massachusetts. It was 6 weeks before Valentine’s day. Weeks went by, hours were logged on the phone and as things progressed I told him he wasn’t allowed under any circumstances to send me flowers. You see, I was going to be buried in gorgeous blooms ordered by some discerning men for their lady loves in Boston and I knew anything he might be able order online would’t make my heart flutter. He’s a smart guy and sent me a box of the most incredible hand crafted chocolates from the very best little sweet shop in Sheridan, WY - The Chocolate Tree.

But sometimes a girl just needs flowers for her own table that aren’t leftovers or the stems that didn’t make the cut for a wedding. There are days I want to try a new product, or visit with an old favorite. A few times a year I add a bunch or two of beauties to an order to enjoy - just for me.

Poppies are a family favorite and we’ve got a big wild patch of deep orange oriental poppies in our front yard. For two glorious weeks they are a riot of color and people stop while driving/walking by to admire.

I don’t often use them in design work but sometimes they are irresistible.

Gold Buckle Club!

I was excited when Antonia from Bonafide called to talk flowers and one of the biggest events of the summer in Sheridan - The WYO Rodeo and Gold Buckle Club family dinner. They were planning to showcase local food and vendors and knock the socks of the first night of Rodeo.

We planned simple centerpieces for the guests to enjoy and take home with lots of green textures and pops of yellow. Stemless wineglasses provided the perfect vessel and are multipurpose once you get home!

I used feathery grasses to create height without blocking the view, full spirea greenery (with a little baby bump sneaking in) as my base and cute succulents for cocktail tables.

These simple arrangements provided a pop of color, tied into the gold decor already present in the building and were undeniably Wyoming!

Team Flower & Flower Friends

When I relaunched Whirly Girl Flowers in Sheridan, WY last year, I started looking for resources on growing my business and a community of fellow flower professions. Along the way I found Team Flower - a group of likeminded souls who encourage one another and provide numerous resources - professional training, workshops, free videos and an extensive blog.

Over the last year I’ve learned from the delightful Kelly Perry, participated in their growing online community and attended the first ever Team Flower Conference in Orlando, Florida last Spring.

During the conference we learned from industry professionals like the funny and talented ladies at Sweetroot Village in Washington D.C., watched demonstrations and I even got to meet a flower hero. One morning I sat down across from a face that seemed familiar but couldn’t place. When we introduced ourselves I just about jumped across to smother Susanne with a hug. We’ve been following each other on Instagram for years and it was a lovely surprise to meet her in person. Her little garden studio, called The Blue Carrot, is an inspiration and style instantly recognizable.

So much happiness meeting Susanne!

I made several new flowers friends from around the country during those few short days. Women who are funny and brilliant and doing amazing things with flowers in their community.

Katie from Posh Petals in Tuscon, AZ. We met before the conference even started when a group of us decided to hit the local grocery store for supplies and she was the only one with wheels. We were pretty much inseparable for the rest of the conference and even had a chance for a quick visit this summer.

The conference ended with a cocktail party under the palm trees and dinner surrounded by flowers. We laughed and learned more about our new friends and celebrated the thing that brought all of us together - FLOWERS! (Captured by Laura Foote Photography below! You can see more here.)

Following my time in Florida I connected online with a few other flower friends that I met but didn’t get to know very well at the conference. Kalin lives in Northern Michigan with her husband and two giant dogs on a lavender farm and rocks an incredible wedding season every summer on the lake. She’s become a favorite on my daily Instagram check for her wit and honesty.

This year I’ve invested more in my flower community by participating in a Team Flower Podcast and writting a few guest blog posts which you can find here. While most of these dear women are spread across the country we take advantage of modern technology and the occasional old fashioned card to encourage one another and learn new techniques.