Valeria and Angela were registered as domestic partners in San Francisco on May 28, 2009.
To celebrate, they held a reception at their beautiful home in San Leandro. Valeria wanted the flowers to be bright, cheerful, wild and spontaneous and chose galvanized steel containers that would add to the fresh-from-the-field vibe.
I hung a galvanized container on the front door to welcome guests and built a massive mantle piece that incorporated all of the colors and choices the couple had asked for in one huge, vibrant, array. As usual, my daughter, Miranda, was an enormous help! Between filling containers with water and cutting stems, she was helping keep their son Gabriel occupied!
The flowers included coral peonies, chocolate cosmos, Gerbera daisies, heuchera, stock, pompoms, salvia, amaranthus, and ranunculus. I wrapped the mantle piece and the galvanized buckets in burlap garland to give it a more earthy, organic, feel.
We scattered small bouquets in stamped silver cups from India all around the house and filled vintage vases with yellow ranunculus for the bathroom.
When I first put the arrangement on the mantle Valeria said, “I imagined something so different.” With a wide smile she added, “It’s so amazing! You blew me away!” and she proceeded to take a ton of pictures, and then sit on the couch to admire it. I was thrilled. When designing arrangements I want them to be better than the couple could have envisioned.
I am always so excited to be included in special events and it is an honor to provide beauty and warmth through flowers.
Being invited to someone’s home to help add to their day underscores why I do what I do. I have the best clients in the world and I am truly blessed!
Melisa
