Wrapped in Wonder: The Art of Giving a Gift

The Gathering

There is something magical about receiving a beautifully wrapped gift. Before the ribbon is untied or the paper carefully peeled away, there is that little moment of anticipation. A glimpse of a favorite flower, a charming pattern, a thoughtful color, or a beautifully tied bow tells the recipient something wonderful: I thought of you.

At Studio Sprig, I believe that the art of giving begins long before the gift is opened.

Muted Slate Daffodils

Muted Yellow Daffodils

Muted Sandy Daffodils

From My Sketchbook to Your Gift Box

Every Studio Sprig wrapping paper design begins with my own original artwork. As an artist and surface pattern designer, I create patterns inspired by the beauty of nature, the charm of everyday moments, and the little things that make life extraordinary. I develop each design with care, transforming my artwork into distinctive patterns that bring personality and imagination to the things we use every day.

From whimsical Snowballs and graceful Leaves to cheerful Daffodils, elegant Lilacs, vibrant Zinnias, and my charming Little Visitor design, each pattern has its own personality. For spring celebrations, Easter bunnies and carrots bring a playful touch of seasonal delight.

These aren't just patterns on paper. They're little expressions of creativity, ready to become part of someone's special moment.

Little Visitor

Why the Presentation Matters

Think about the gifts you remember most. Often, it's not simply the object itself, but the thought behind it. The book chosen because someone knows your favorite author. The hostess gift selected with care. The birthday surprise in a color you adore. The Christmas present tucked beneath the tree in paper so beautiful you almost don't want to open it.

Presentation adds another layer to that thoughtfulness. It builds anticipation, creates a sense of occasion, and makes even a simple gift feel extraordinary.

Imagine a gardening book wrapped in my Daffodils design, a little treasure for a bird lover dressed in cardinal paper, or a hostess gift wrapped in exuberant Zinnias. A present for a new baby, a spring birthday, a wedding, or a holiday gathering becomes even more personal when the wrapping tells its own little story.

And why stop at gifts? These patterns can inspire beautiful packaging, stationery, journals, and other thoughtful accessories, too.

Snowballs Blue

Snowballs Blue, Khaki, Blush

Snowballs Khaki

Let's Create Something Beautiful Together

One of my favorite possibilities is creating something that feels uniquely yours.

Perhaps you have a favorite flower, a special color palette, a family tradition, or an occasion that deserves a design of its own. I'd love to hear your ideas! Because I design my own original patterns, there's an opportunity to explore custom wrapping paper concepts inspired by the things that matter most to you. Reach out to discuss your vision, and let's see what we can create together.

And there's so much more to discover at Studio Sprig than wrapping paper. My original artwork finds its way onto a growing assortment of thoughtfully designed products, from journals and home accessories to gifts that bring a little more beauty to everyday life.

Come explore Studio Sprig, discover the patterns that speak to you, and find something unexpected. Whether you're searching for the perfect finishing touch for a present or a distinctive gift in its own right, you'll find a world of color, creativity, and original design waiting to be explored.

Because the most memorable gifts aren't always the grandest. They're the ones that make someone feel truly thought of.

Wrap it with imagination. Give it with love. Make it a memory.

Explore the collection at StudioSprig.com and discover what a little artistic wonder can do.

Homecoming Flowers: A Beautiful Tradition Then and Now

Football lights. Friday night crowds. A favorite dress hanging on the door. The excitement of the first big dance of the school year—and, of course, flowers.

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about Homecoming.

For generations, flowers have been part of the celebration, whether tucked into a corsage, pinned to a lapel, carried in a bouquet, or worn as part of an elaborate school-spirit tradition. And while the flowers may have changed—and the way young people wear them certainly has—the sentiment behind them hasn't.

Homecoming is still about marking a moment.

And for parents, especially, it can be one of those bittersweet milestones when you realize your child is growing up much faster than you thought.

Baylor Homecoming Queen Ann Davis, 1964. Photo courtesy of https://mumtasticspirit.com/the-history-of-homecoming/

A Little Homecoming History

The Homecoming tradition itself grew out of the football culture of American colleges in the early 20th century. The University of Missouri traces its Homecoming tradition to 1911, when athletic director Chester Brewer invited alumni to “come home” for the Missouri-Kansas football game. More than 9,000 people attended, and the celebration included a football game, pep rally, parade and bonfire.

There is some historical debate over which university can truly claim the first Homecoming—the University of Illinois and other schools have earlier versions of events that resemble it—but Missouri's 1911 celebration is widely recognized as an important early model for the modern tradition.

Eventually, Homecoming made its way into high schools, bringing with it the football game, school spirit, dances, royalty, parades and, naturally, flowers.

And Then There Were the Flowers

The original Homecoming flower tradition was surprisingly simple.

The chrysanthemum, or “mum,” was a natural choice because it is a hardy fall flower and was readily available during Homecoming season. Early Homecoming mums were essentially fresh chrysanthemum corsages, often given by a date for the girl to wear to the football game or dance.

Over time, that simple corsage evolved dramatically in some parts of the country.

Texas, in particular, developed the now-famous Homecoming mum—an elaborate arrangement of ribbons, school colors, charms, names, class years and decorations. What began as a flower eventually became almost a wearable scrapbook of high school life.

And that's one of the fascinating things about Homecoming flowers: the tradition didn't disappear. It evolved.

My aunt, Beth Lawrence, was crowned Homecoming Queen in the early 1970s.

Homecoming Then: A Family Memory

Here is a photo of my aunt, as Homecoming Queen.

There she is, sitting on the back of a convertible, with a giant Mum corsage, surrounded by a packed stadium. Her date is kissing her cheek, the crowd is watching, and for one little moment, you can almost imagine the noise of the football field around them.

Homecoming looked a little different then.

The flowers were pinned. The dresses were suits. The cars were longer. And there were certainly no phones in everyone's hands capturing every moment.

But the excitement?

That part feels remarkably familiar.

Homecoming Flowers Today

Today, there isn't one single definition of a Homecoming flower.

And that's what makes the tradition fun.

The classic wrist corsage and boutonniere are still popular in some areas of the country, but today's students have more choices. Floral designers are creating handheld bouquets, pocket boutonnieres, floral rings, flower crowns, and other small wearable arrangements.

Some recent floral trends have even moved toward small handheld bouquets, offering an alternative to the traditional wrist corsage.

And I think there's something especially beautiful about that change.

Instead of flowers being something prescribed by tradition, they can become an extension of personal style.

A bouquet can coordinate with the dress.

A boutonniere can echo the flowers in a date's corsage.

A few beautiful blooms can feel more natural and garden-inspired than a heavily constructed arrangement or an oversized mum.

And for the student who doesn't want a traditional corsage at all?

That's perfectly fine too.

What About the Flowers Growing Right Here in Bucks County?

Because Homecoming happens at one of the most beautiful times of the year for flowers in Pennsylvania.

September and October are prime months for dahlias, according to Penn State Extension, making them particularly well suited to late-summer and early-fall floral arrangements.

And Bucks County has local flower growers producing seasonal blooms during exactly this window.

That means a Homecoming bouquet doesn't have to look like something ordered from a catalog.

Imagine instead:

Dinner-plate dahlias.
Soft blush blooms.
Deep burgundy.
Creamy whites.
Bright oranges.
Golden autumn tones.
A little greenery.

Flowers that actually look like September in Bucks County.

That's a very different—and very beautiful—way to think about Homecoming flowers.

A New Kind of Homecoming Bouquet

Over the years at Studio Sprig, I've created a handful of Homecoming floral bouquets. Not nearly as many as the prom bouquets I've made, but enough to remind me just how special these little arrangements can be.

Homecoming flowers don't have to be elaborate, but I think they should still be memorable. Personally, and because there is such a gorgeous abundance, I like to create stunning combinations of flowers, herbs and greenery for my homecoming bouquets.

Because They'll Remember the Flowers

Someday, your daughter may not remember exactly what she wore to Homecoming.

She may not remember which song played first at the dance or who won the football game.

But she might remember how it felt to get ready.

Her friends arriving at the door.

The photo op in her best friend’s backyard.

The excitement in the car on the way to the game.

The flowers someone handed her.

And you standing there, taking one more photograph before she went on her way.

That's the beautiful thing about traditions: they don't have to remain the same to remain meaningful.

Sometimes, all they need is a few flowers—and someone who understands how special the moment is.

Choose Wedding Flowers With Meaning: How to Create a Bouquet That Tells Your Love Story

There are so many beautiful flowers in the world that choosing the flowers for your wedding can feel a little overwhelming.

Roses or peonies? Dahlia or ranunculus? Wildflowers or something more formal? Soft and romantic or colorful and unexpected?

But before you start making a list of your favorite blooms, I would encourage you to think about your wedding flowers a little differently.

What if you chose your flowers for more than just how they look?

What if your bouquet could tell a little piece of your story?

Your Wedding Flowers Can Tell Your Story

Long before I opened Studio Sprig in 2016, I owned a freelance design business called Kim Bensing Design, where I created wedding invitations that told sentimental stories about my couples.

I loved learning about how two people met, the places that were important to them, the family traditions they shared, and all of the little details that made their relationship uniquely theirs.

That experience has stayed with me.

Because I believe the most memorable weddings aren't necessarily the ones with the most elaborate flowers. They are the ones where the details feel personal.

Your flowers can be part of that story.

Maybe your grandmother grew peonies in her garden.

Maybe your mother carried roses when she married your father.

Maybe you met your fiancé on vacation surrounded by bougainvillea.

Maybe lavender reminds you of a family trip to France.

Maybe your favorite flower is one your father brought home to your mother every anniversary.

Or maybe there is a flower that simply reminds you of being a little girl in your grandmother's garden.

These are the flowers I find especially interesting.

Not just beautiful flowers.

Meaningful flowers.

Think Beyond Your Wedding Color Palette

Of course, color matters.

You may have a beautiful palette of blush, cream and dusty blue or perhaps you've fallen in love with a more colorful garden-inspired wedding.

But your floral choices don't have to begin with a color wheel.

Instead, start with your story.

Ask yourself:

What flowers remind me of home?

Is there a flower associated with someone I love?

Are there flowers from a place that is meaningful to us?

What was growing where we met, got engaged, or spent an important vacation together?

Are there flowers that remind me of my childhood?

Is there a family garden, wedding, birthday, or celebration I would love to remember?

You may be surprised by how quickly a meaningful floral palette begins to emerge.

The Language of Flowers

There is also a long tradition of assigning meaning to flowers, known as floriography, or the language of flowers.

The tradition became particularly popular in Victorian England, when flowers and small bouquets could be used to communicate feelings that were difficult to say aloud. Flower meanings also appeared in books such as Le Langage des fleurs, published in France in 1819.

I love the romantic idea of this.

Imagine carrying a bouquet on your wedding day where every flower has a little story behind it.

You don't necessarily have to follow traditional flower symbolism literally. Think of these meanings as inspiration—a starting point for creating a bouquet that feels like you.

A few examples:

Rose — love and passion
Peony — love, honor and goodwill
Dahlia — commitment and kindness
Tulip — deep love and passion
Aster — love and faith
Gardenia — trust, hope and peace
Sunflower — loyalty and admiration
Hydrangea — gratitude, grace and beauty
Rosemary — remembrance
Sage — wisdom

And sometimes the meaning you give a flower is even more important than the traditional meaning.

A particular flower might mean Mom to you.

Another might mean France.

Another might simply mean the garden where I grew up.

That is where your wedding flowers become truly personal.

Imagine a Bouquet Made From Memories

One of my favorite examples of choosing flowers with intention actually happened years before I knew I would eventually work in the floral industry.

When my daughter Kate was graduating from sixth grade, I wanted to give her flowers for her ceremony.

But I didn't want to buy just any pre-made bouquet.

I wanted to give her something that felt like her.

So I went to a local florist and asked for a handful of specific flowers and sprigs that represented the things I wanted to say to her. I even made a little card explaining the meaning behind each flower and attached it to the bouquet.

It was a very simple gesture.

But it was personal.

And that little bouquet became one of the experiences that eventually helped inspire Studio Sprig.

I think weddings can work the same way.

Your bouquet doesn't have to be a random collection of beautiful flowers.

It can be a collection of little messages.

Create a Floral Story for Your Wedding

Imagine walking down the aisle carrying flowers that represent:

Your grandmother's garden.

Your mother's wedding bouquet.

The place where you met.

A favorite family tradition.

The season you fell in love.

A place you traveled together.

Something you want to remember forever.

Now imagine those same flowers appearing throughout your wedding—in the ceremony arrangements, reception flowers, cake flowers, table arrangements or even tucked into your stationery.

Suddenly, the flowers aren't simply decorating the room.

They're helping tell the story of your marriage.

And that, to me, is much more interesting.

Let the Season Become Part of the Story

There is another beautiful way to make your wedding flowers meaningful: let the season of your wedding influence what you grow and use.

A spring wedding might naturally bring in tulips, narcissus, sweet peas, peonies and other seasonal treasures.

A summer celebration might become a romantic garden of zinnias, cosmos, dahlias and other flowers at their seasonal peak.

An autumn wedding can embrace warm, earthy tones and the flowers and foliage that make that particular time of year feel special.

Instead of trying to recreate a Pinterest bouquet exactly, consider asking:

What is naturally beautiful right now?

There is something very special about using flowers that are actually growing in the landscape around you when you say your vows.

They belong to that particular place and that particular moment in time.

And you only get that moment once.

Choose Flowers You'll Remember

Years from now, you may not remember every flower that was in your centerpieces.

But you may remember that your bouquet contained the same flowers your grandmother grew.

You may remember the scent of garden roses when you walked down the aisle.

You may remember the wildflowers from the farm where you chose them.

You may remember that your bouquet contained rosemary because you wanted to carry a little remembrance with you.

Those are the floral details that become part of your family history.

And perhaps that's the real reason to choose your wedding flowers with intention.

Flowers are fleeting.

But the memories attached to them don't have to be.

A Very Special Way to Choose Your Wedding Flowers

If you are planning your wedding far enough in advance, there is another possibility that I absolutely love.

Choose your flowers before they're even grown.

If you live in the Eastern part of Pennsylvania and begin planning approximately a year before your wedding, I can take you on a private flower farm tour where we can walk the fields together, talk about the flowers you love, and explore what will be growing during your wedding season.

From there, you can work with the flower farmer to determine which flowers you'd like to have grown specifically with your wedding in mind.

There is something incredibly romantic about that idea.

A year before you walk down the aisle, you could stand in a field and say, "I want those flowers at my wedding."

Then, when your wedding day finally arrives, those blooms aren't just flowers you ordered.

They're flowers you chose.

Flowers that grew through an entire season alongside your own love story.

And I can't think of a more meaningful way to bring a little piece of the garden into your wedding day. Read more about that here.

The Pre-Prom Tradition Every Mom Should Try: Host a Backyard Bouquet Party

There is something about prom that makes time feel like it is moving a little too quickly.

One minute you're helping your daughter choose a dress, and the next you're watching her get ready to walk out the door looking completely grown up. There are pictures to take, hair to fix, flowers to pick up, dinner reservations to remember—and suddenly the evening you've been imagining for years is here.

But what if you created one little moment before all of that?

The night before the dresses go on and the heels come out, invite your daughter and a handful of her friends into your backyard for something simple, pretty, and memorable: a Prom Bouquet Party.

Instead of ordering everyone's flowers from a florist, create a little flower bar where the girls can choose their own blooms and make their own bouquets or posies. It doesn't have to be elaborate. In fact, the beauty is in keeping it relaxed and letting the girls create something that feels like them.

My original {DIY Prom Bouquet Guide} is filled with the practical details for creating the flower bar and making the bouquets. But this post is really for the moms—the ones who want to turn prom day into a memory their daughters will still talk about years from now.

Make the afternoon about more than flowers

The bouquet is almost beside the point.

What you're really creating is a little gathering before everyone heads off to the big event.

Set up a long table in the backyard, on a patio, or even in an open garage. Fill galvanized buckets or simple containers with an abundance of flowers, greens, herbs, and interesting little fillers. Let everything feel abundant and slightly wild.

The girls can wander around the flower table with their friends, choosing what catches their eye.

Maybe one daughter chooses soft pink roses and delicate white flowers. Another gravitates toward bright yellow blooms. Someone else creates a completely unexpected combination of lavender, greenery, and tiny wild-looking flowers.

That's the fun. They don't have to match.

In fact, they shouldn't.

The flowers can become another little expression of each girl's personality—and they can be chosen to complement rather than disappear into her dress.

Start with beautiful, seasonal flowers

If you can, buy your flowers locally.

A local flower grower or flower farm can be a wonderful source for a beautiful assortment of seasonal blooms. Rather than buying a dozen identical bouquets, look for buckets of mixed flowers that give everyone plenty of choices.

This is one of my favorite parts of creating a flower bar. You don't know exactly what the bouquets will look like when you begin—and that's what makes them interesting.

Think focal flowers, smaller blooms, airy fillers, interesting foliage, and plenty of greenery.

And don't overlook herbs.

A few sprigs of lavender, mint, rosemary, or other sturdy herbs can add fragrance and an unexpected little touch to the bouquets. You might even ask another mom to bring herbs from her garden.

It's these little details that make the flower table feel special.

Let the girls make their own choices

As a mom, it can be tempting to want everything to look perfect.

Resist that urge.

Give them the flowers and let them play.

Put out a few examples or inspiration photos if you'd like, but don't make everyone follow the same recipe. Some girls will naturally create a structured, symmetrical bouquet. Others will make something loose, wild, and completely unexpected.

Both are beautiful.

The goal isn't to produce professionally designed bouquets.

The goal is for each girl to look at what she created and think, “This feels like me.”

Create a little backyard setting

This doesn't need to become another event that requires weeks of planning.

Use what you already have.

A long outdoor table, a few simple tablecloths, galvanized buckets, garden clippers, ribbon, and some pretty glasses for lemonade or iced tea can be enough. If you need a few supplies, I’ve curated some items to help you.

If you want to make it feel extra special, add a few simple touches:

• A pretty tablecloth or vintage runner

• Small jars of flowers scattered around the table

• Chiffon or satin ribbon in several colors

• Handwritten place cards

• A pitcher of lemonade or iced tea

• Floral ice cubes

• Pretty cookies or small desserts

• A speaker playing everyone's favorite music

And don't worry about making everything perfectly coordinated.

Flowers are already doing most of the decorating for you.

Don't forget the moms

This is a beautiful opportunity for the moms to be part of the afternoon, too.

Some mothers may want to help with the flowers. Others may simply sit nearby with a drink and watch the girls laugh and create.

And that's okay.

There is something really lovely about watching your daughter surrounded by her friends, knowing that this particular group of girls—and this particular moment in their lives—will never happen quite this way again.

Let them make the bouquets.

Let them take over the table.

Let them laugh.

And take pictures.

Lots of them.

Make the flowers part of the photographs

Before everyone disappears into cars and heads off to dinner and dancing, gather the girls together with their finished bouquets.

Take photographs of them holding their flowers. Take pictures of the dresses. Take pictures of the bouquets lined up on the table. Take pictures of the girls making their flowers, laughing with one another, and helping each other tie their ribbons.

Some of the best photographs may not be the posed ones.

They may be the ones where nobody is looking at the camera.

Years from now, those photographs will probably mean more than you expect.

Give yourself permission to enjoy it, too

As moms, we're often so busy making sure everyone else is ready that we forget to experience the occasion ourselves.

So pour yourself a glass of lemonade—or something a little more celebratory—and enjoy the afternoon.

Prom doesn't have to begin when your daughter walks out the front door in her dress.

Let it begin in your backyard, surrounded by flowers and friends.

Because someday, the dress will be packed away, the shoes will be forgotten, and the flowers will have faded.

But she may remember sitting around your table with her friends, choosing flowers, laughing, and making something beautiful together.

And you may remember it too.

Ready to make your own Prom Flower Bar?

If you'd like the practical step-by-step instructions for choosing flowers and preparing your workspace, visit my {How to Host a Flower Bar} blog.

And if you love the idea of creating a Flower Bar for another celebration, visit the {Studio Sprig Bloom Bar Shop} for supplies and inspiration.

Sometimes the simplest celebrations become the ones we remember most.

Lambertville’s Halloween Magic: A Funky, Creative Rivertown Comes Alive

Photo by John Arehart

A little spooky, a little strange, and wonderfully artistic — why Lambertville is one of my favorite places to visit at Halloween.

If you think Halloween is all plastic skeletons, inflatable pumpkins, and a fog machine or two, you haven't experienced Lambertville, New Jersey in October.

The Whole Town Gets Into the Halloween Spirit

I highly recommend crossing the Delaware from New Hope and exploring this wonderfully funky little river town during Halloween season.

I've lived in this region for years, and somehow I didn't discover Lambertville's elaborate Halloween displays until a few years ago. Once I did, I couldn't believe I had been missing them.

There is something about Lambertville in October. The historic Victorian homes, enormous old trees, winding streets, and artistic community make the perfect backdrop for Halloween. And the displays aren't your typical pumpkins-and-plastic-skeletons variety.

They're imaginative. They're theatrical. They're sometimes downright bizarre.

And I love them.

A Halloween Tour of Union Street

My introduction to Lambertville's Halloween magic came when my husband, Michael, and I were taken on a private little Halloween tour by our friends Stacy and Bill. They had been strolling around Lambertville — particularly Union Street — for years during Halloween season and couldn't wait to show us what we had been missing.

We were so glad they did.

Almost every house along Union Street seemed to have its own wonderfully creepy interpretation of Halloween.

One house was projecting Edward Scissorhands onto its front porch, while other Victorian homes had sinister, red-eyed ghosts and goblins peering from their upper windows.

We found the Friendly Witch House, massive trees filled with flying ghosts, and all sorts of clever, unexpected displays tucked into gardens, porches and windows.

And then there was the upside-down stripper skeleton dangling from a pole.

Yes. You read that correctly.

It was weird. It was hilarious. And somehow it fit perfectly into the wonderfully eccentric Halloween landscape of Lambertville.

Walking from house to house, I kept thinking how unusual it was to see so much creativity concentrated along one street. Every display seemed to have its own personality, and you never quite knew what you were going to discover around the next corner.

Lambertville is definitely spookier-than-average at Halloween — and it's also one of the most artistically inspiring rivertowns I know.

The Halloween House

And then there's Dolores Dragan.

For more than 20 years, visitors flocked to North Union Street to see what became known as The Halloween House, the extraordinary annual display created by Lambertville artist and retired art teacher Dolores Dragan.

Dolores began creating her fantastical figures in 1998 while she was still teaching art at Lambertville School. What began as a theater project for children grew into an elaborate Halloween tradition that attracted visitors from far beyond Lambertville.

Her hand-crafted figures were unlike ordinary Halloween decorations. Ethereal, theatrical, slightly macabre and wonderfully expressive, they felt more like characters from a strange little dream than store-bought decorations.

And when they were illuminated at night, they were absolutely magical.

The original Halloween House became so popular that visitors would line up down the block to see Dolores' sculptures.

Photo by John Arehart

Meet the Memory Maker

What I find most wonderful about Dolores' story is that she wasn't simply decorating her house for Halloween.

She was making memories.

After retiring from teaching, Dolores embraced what she called the role of a “Memory Maker.” Her idea was to create something children would remember for the rest of their lives.

And she certainly did.

She spent her summers and early fall creating new figures and repairing older ones, building a fantastical cast of characters year after year.

Some of her sculptures are reminiscent of the wonderfully strange characters you might find in a Tim Burton film. But Dolores has said that her figures loosely represent people in her own life.

In other words, this wasn't just a Halloween display.

It was her own little world — a collection of characters gathered together once a year to “spook out” Lambertville.

Photo by John Arehart

From One House to a Trail of Magic

The original Halloween House has now evolved into something much bigger.

After decades of the labor-intensive work of creating and installing the display at her home, Dolores invited the Lambertville Creative Arts Fund to help carry her work into a new chapter.

In 2025, her creations became part of the Memory Maker's Trail of Magic, a month-long Halloween celebration that brings Dolores' artwork beyond a single house and into Lambertville's business district.

And in 2026, the tradition continues.

From October 1 through October 31, Dolores' whimsical and eerie creations will be displayed throughout Lambertville's business district, appearing in shopfronts and community spaces. The Trail is free and self-guided, making it easy to wander through town and discover the artwork along the way.

I love that the tradition has grown this way.

Photo by John Arehart

What began with one artist creating an extraordinary Halloween world at her home has become a community-wide celebration of art, imagination and memory.

Instead of visiting just one house, you can now wander through Lambertville and encounter Dolores' characters throughout the town.

It turns Halloween into a treasure hunt.

The Magic Is in the Details

That's what I remember most about my first Halloween tour of Lambertville.

It wasn't just one spectacular display.

It was the accumulation of all the little surprises.

A ghost appearing in an upstairs window.

A movie playing across a porch.

A tree suddenly filled with flying spirits.

A witch waiting outside a house.

A skeleton doing something you absolutely weren't expecting a skeleton to be doing.

Every few steps brought another discovery. And because Lambertville is filled with historic architecture, old trees and wonderfully individualistic homes, the setting itself becomes part of the experience. It's almost as though the entire town becomes a stage.

Make a Night of It

If you're coming from Bucks County or New Hope, Lambertville makes a wonderful fall outing.

Cross the bridge, park downtown, and give yourself plenty of time to wander.

Explore the Memory Maker's Trail of Magic, browse the shops, visit the galleries, stop for a drink or dinner, and simply enjoy the atmosphere.

The Trail of Magic is free and self-guided throughout October, so there's no need to rush.

And bring your camera.

Between the Halloween installations, Lambertville's historic architecture, the eccentric, theatrical costumes that blur the line between costume and art, and all of the autumn color, there is plenty to photograph.

Explore the Memory Maker's Trail of Magic →

Why I Love Lambertville at Halloween

I think what makes Lambertville so special at Halloween is that it doesn't feel manufactured.

It's creative.

It's personal.

It's a little weird.

And it's clearly made by people who enjoy making something memorable for other people.

That's my favorite kind of Halloween.

Not necessarily the scariest.

Not necessarily the biggest.

But imaginative, handmade, unexpected and a little bit magical.

So this October, grab someone you love, cross the Delaware and take a walk through Lambertville.

Look up. Look in the windows. Look into the trees.

And definitely look around the next corner. You never know what you'll find.

🎃 Happy haunting!

— Kim

How to Host a Beautiful Flower Bar: The Ultimate DIY Flower Bar Party Guide

Sweet Occasions, Peddlers Village Flower Bar

A flower bar is one of the most beautiful and memorable ways to entertain guests. Whether you're planning a bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party, Galentine's Day gathering, corporate team-building event, or simply a creative afternoon with friends, a DIY flower bar gives everyone the opportunity to design their own fresh flower arrangement and take home something beautiful.

Also called a bouquet bar, bloom bar, or flower arranging party, this interactive experience transforms a table filled with fresh flowers and greenery into a creative gathering your guests won't soon forget.

I've hosted and designed Flower Bar experiences for everything from intimate gatherings to bridal showers, Mother's Day celebrations, and corporate team-building events. The beauty of a flower bar is that you can make it as simple or elaborate as you wish. You can hire a professional florist to handle every detail, work with a local flower farmer, or create your own DIY flower bar from start to finish.

Here's everything you need to know about how to host a beautiful flower bar party.

What Is a Flower Bar?

A flower bar is an interactive flower-arranging experience where guests choose from a curated selection of fresh flowers, foliage, and greenery to create their own bouquet or floral arrangement.

Typically, flowers are displayed in buckets or vessels and arranged by variety or color. Guests gather around a worktable, select their favorite blooms, and design an arrangement to take home.

A Flower Bar is a wonderful activity for:

• Bridal showers

• Baby showers

• Birthday parties

• Galentine's Day celebrations

• Mother's Day events

• Garden parties and brunches

• Girls' nights

• Family gatherings

• Corporate team-building events

• Wedding events and rehearsal dinners

The best part? Flowers naturally create a beautiful atmosphere. The moment your guests walk into a room filled with buckets of fresh, fragrant blooms, the experience already feels special. Here is a handy list of supplies to make it easy.

Gathering of Flowers

Should You Host a DIY Flower Bar or Hire a Professional?

You can absolutely create a beautiful DIY flower bar, but hiring a professional florist or floral designer can make hosting easier.

A professional can source the flowers, greenery, buckets, vessels, and supplies; prepare and process every stem; set up the flower bar; guide guests through the arranging process; and handle cleanup afterward.

For a more hands-on and budget-conscious event, you can create your own DIY bouquet bar. You'll simply need to plan ahead, source enough flowers, prepare your blooms properly, and create an inviting workspace for your guests.

Either option can result in a beautiful and memorable event.

Send Invitations and Build Excitement

Every special gathering deserves an invitation. For a casual flower-arranging party, a simple digital invitation works perfectly. For a bridal shower, baby shower, or more formal celebration, you might choose printed invitations with a beautiful design and envelope.

You can even decide whether to tell guests about the flower bar in advance.

Mentioning the activity builds anticipation, but keeping it a surprise can be equally fun. There is something magical about watching guests enter a room and suddenly discover a table overflowing with fresh flowers.

How to Set Up the Perfect Flower Bar Space

Choose a space where guests have plenty of room to move around, choose flowers, and create their arrangements comfortably.

A flower bar works beautifully on:

• A patio or deck

• A sunroom

• A dining room

• A garden or outdoor entertaining area

• A large kitchen

• A conference room or office

• A private event venue

• A flower farm

You'll need enough table space for everyone to work comfortably, plus a separate area for displaying buckets of flowers and greenery.

I love creating a flower market feeling by grouping flowers together in beautiful buckets where guests can easily see and reach everything. Think of your setup as a miniature Parisian flower market.

Mother’s Day Flower Bar, Peddlers Village

How to Choose Flowers for a DIY Flower Bar

One of the most important parts of planning a flower bar is choosing the right flowers.

For the best selection and value, consider purchasing flowers from a wholesale flower supplier or, even better, a local flower farmer. Locally grown flowers can be incredibly fresh, seasonal, and distinctive.

Ask your flower farmer what will be blooming around the date of your event. Working with seasonal flowers not only gives your Flower Bar a natural sense of place, but it can also help you discover varieties you may not find at a traditional flower shop.

For the best variety, include a mix of:

Greenery and Foliage

Choose several types of foliage to create structure and texture.

Filler Flowers

These smaller flowers help fill spaces between larger blooms. Baby's breath, small daisies, gomphrena, and flowering herbs can all work beautifully.

Private Bridal Shower Flower Bar

Focal Flowers

These are the stars of the arrangement—the larger, more dramatic flowers guests will naturally be drawn to. Depending on the season, consider tulips, peonies, dahlias, sunflowers, hellebores, ranunculus, or other statement blooms.

A beautiful flower bar should offer enough variety that every guest can create something unique.

How Many Flowers Do You Need for a Flower Bar?

Planning the right number of flowers is essential. I always recommend buying more than you think you'll need.

Start by choosing the vessels your guests will use. Create a sample arrangement using the size and style of container you plan to provide, then count the approximate number of stems you used.

Use that as your starting point, multiply it by the number of guests, and add extra flowers for variety and inevitable breakage.

Having too many flowers is much better than watching your last few guests arrive at a nearly empty flower bar.

Extra flowers also give guests more creative freedom—and you can always find beautiful ways to use the leftovers.

Mother’s Day Flower Bar at Sweet Occasions

Prepare Your Flowers the Day Before

Don't wait until the last minute to prepare your flowers. Ideally, purchase or collect your blooms the day before your event so you have plenty of time to process and hydrate them.

Start with Clean Buckets

Wash every bucket thoroughly with soap and water before filling it with fresh, cool water and flower food. Clean containers help keep your flowers fresher and healthier.

Remove Packaging and Ties

Carefully remove plastic sleeves, paper wrapping, and rubber bands. Handle delicate flowers gently and avoid excessive touching.

Process Each Stem

Remove any leaves that will sit below the waterline. Depending on the variety, you may also need to remove thorns or damaged foliage.

Give Every Stem a Fresh Cut

Using clean floral snips or a sharp floral knife, trim each stem before placing it in fresh water. Make sure no leaves remain submerged, as decaying foliage can make the water dirty and shorten the life of your flowers.

Let the Flowers Hydrate

Store your flowers in a cool, dark location overnight whenever possible. Giving blooms time to drink and hydrate before your event can make a tremendous difference.

Mother’s Day Flower Bar at Sweet Occasions

Set Up Individual Flower-Arranging Stations

Before your guests arrive, prepare a comfortable workspace for everyone.

You can provide matching vessels for a cohesive look, or invite guests to bring a favorite vase or container from home. If guests are bringing their own, give them guidance about the approximate size.

Cover your worktables with tablecloths or placemats to protect them from water and plant debris.

At each flower-arranging area, consider providing:

• A vase or vessel

• Floral snips

• Towels for spills and drips

• Fresh water

• Flower food

• Pre-cut chicken wire for floral structure, if needed

How to Create a Beautiful Flower Arrangement

One of the best things about hosting a flower bar is that there really are no wrong answers. This is an opportunity for your guests to relax, experiment, and create.

For beginners, however, a simple three-step approach can be helpful.

Vanguard team building Flower Bar

Step 1: Start With Greenery

Choose several stems of foliage and cut them to fit the vessel. Arrange them first to create the overall shape and structure.

Step 2: Add Filler Flowers

Use smaller flowers to begin filling the arrangement and adding softness, texture, and movement.

Step 3: Add Focal Flowers

Choose several of the larger, more dramatic blooms and place them throughout the arrangement. Odd numbers often create a natural, pleasing composition, so three, five, or seven focal flowers can work beautifully depending on the size of the vessel.

Then step back, look at the arrangement, and simply enjoy the creative process.

A flower-arranging party isn't about perfection. It's about flowers, creativity, conversation, and having fun together.

Add Refreshments to Your Flower Bar Party

Keep refreshments simple and easy to enjoy away from the flower-arranging tables.

A small cheese board and light refreshments can be perfect for an adult gathering. For children's events or daytime parties, consider cookies, lemonade, fruit, or infused water.

If you're serving a full meal, I recommend doing so before or after the Flower Bar activity. Guests need plenty of space to work, and large plates can quickly take over the table.

In-Home Flower Bar Setup

Create a Beautiful Atmosphere

Flowers are already beautiful, but a few thoughtful details can make your Flower Bar feel even more special.

Welcome guests with something sparkling, play a light playlist, and allow everyone a few moments to admire the flowers before beginning.

You may even want to make notes about the names of your flowers. Guests often become fascinated by unusual varieties and love learning what they're arranging.

The goal is to create an experience that feels relaxed, creative, and just a little magical.

Vanguard team building Flower Bar

Don't Forget to Take Photos

Before your first guest arrives, photograph the entire setup.

This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when hosting a beautiful event—they forget to capture the room before everyone begins.

Take photographs of the flower buckets, the workstations, the refreshments, and all the little details you worked so hard to create.

Then, as your guests begin designing their arrangements, keep taking pictures. The creative process is part of the memory.

For a brief moment, your home or event space may feel like a beautiful European flower market. Don't forget to enjoy it yourself.

Flower Bar at Sweet Occasions, Peddlers Village

What Should You Do With Leftover Flowers?

Having leftover flowers is a wonderful problem to have.

You can use extra blooms to:

• Create one final arrangement and raffle it off

• Tie miscellaneous stems into small "designer's choice" posies for guests

• Make an arrangement for a friend who couldn't attend

• Create a seasonal centerpiece for your home

• Fill small vases with everyday flowers

• Use extra blooms to decorate a cake or special table

• Donate an arrangement to a nursing home or someone who could use a little beauty

Nothing needs to go to waste.

Leftover flowers

Host Your Own Beautiful Flower Bar

Whether you call it a Flower Bar, Bloom Bar, bouquet bar, or DIY flower-arranging party, this is one of my favorite ways to bring people together.

It's creative without being intimidating, beautiful without requiring perfection, and every guest leaves with something they made themselves.

All you really need is a beautiful collection of fresh flowers, a little preparation, and a group of people ready to have fun.

So gather your blooms, set the table, put on some music, and let everyone create their own little floral masterpiece.

After all, there are few things more joyful than spending an afternoon surrounded by flowers.

Vanguard team building Flower Bar

Mother’s Day & Girls Night Out Flower Bar at Sweet Occasions, Peddlers Village

Flower Bar Supplies

Here is a convenient list of supplies that you can browse through when planning your event.

I look forward to getting to know you. Sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, and Pinterest.

Vanguard team building Flower Bar

How to Decorate Cakes with Fresh Flowers: Floral Wreaths, Crowns & More

Buttercream cake with a cake crown of rosemary, lavender and one bright pink anemone.

Buttercream cake with a cake crown of rosemary, micro flowers and blackberries.

What is a cake crown?

A cake crown is a miniature floral wreath designed to decorate the top of a cake, pie, or other dessert. Made with tiny herb cuttings, delicate foliage, and fresh or dried flowers, a cake crown is a beautiful way to bring the natural beauty of the garden to your dessert table.

While cake crowns are often used as fresh flower cake decorations for weddings, birthdays, showers, and other special occasions, don’t feel limited to cakes. These little botanical wreaths are surprisingly versatile. Generally ranging from 4 to 10 inches in diameter, they can be scaled to suit all kinds of celebrations and tablescapes.

Try using smaller cake crowns as floral napkin rings for a dinner party, or place them around individual place settings as a natural alternative to traditional flowers. They can also be used to embellish seasonal centerpieces—a miniature crown around a pumpkin in autumn or nestled around a vase filled with candy canes in winter.

Think of a cake crown as a tiny piece of flower art that can move beyond the cake. With a few fresh flowers, herbs, and bits of greenery, you can create a simple botanical decoration that works throughout your celebration.

Below is a time-lapse of me creating a cake crown from herbs, foliage, and flowers.

Time-lapse video of Kim Bensing creating a cake crown or mini wreath.

what you’ll need

To make a cake crown or mini floral wreath, you’ll need just a few simple floral design tools. Start with green florist wire. I typically use 22-gauge floral wire because it’s flexible enough to shape easily while still providing enough structure to support the flowers, herbs, and greenery. I prefer green wire because it blends naturally into the foliage and is less noticeable in the finished wreath.

If you already have another type of flexible floral wire on hand, you can certainly use it instead. Just make sure the wire is clean, unused, and appropriate for floral arranging.

You’ll also need small wire cutters, floral adhesive, and your favorite pair of flower snips. With these few basic tools, you’ll be ready to create your own fresh flower cake crown, mini floral wreath, or botanical cake decoration.

Supply list

Sturdy Greens & Foliage such as:
-Boxwood
-Rosemary
-Eucalyptus

A few mini fresh or dried flowers buds and pods:
(a few suggestions)
-Begonia
-Lavender
-Ranunculus

Green Florist Wire
Wire Cutters
Floral Snips
Flexible Ruler (is helpful but not required)
Floral Adhesive (Oasis is a reliable brand that I use)

How to make a cake crown topper or mini Floral wreath

Creating a cake crown topper or mini floral wreath is surprisingly simple once you have the right size wire base. For a cake crown that measures approximately 6 inches in diameter, cut about 12½ inches of floral wire from the roll. This gives you enough length to form the circle and wrap approximately ½ inch of wire around the opposite end to securely close the ring.

The amount of wire you’ll need will vary depending on the size and purpose of your wreath. A 6-inch, 8-inch, or 10-inch cake crown will each require a slightly different length of wire.

Because I often create fresh flower cake crowns for cakes of different sizes, I like to use a flexible ruler to measure my wire ring precisely. This makes it easy to create a wreath that fits the top of the cake beautifully—large enough to make an impact, but not so large that it hangs awkwardly over the edges.

Taking a few extra moments to measure your cake crown topper before adding the flowers will give you a much more polished and professional-looking finished design.

Vanilla cake with a cake crown of rosemary, eucalyptus, and mini begonia.

• Prepare your supplies, flowers, and greenery. Gather everything on your work surface and snip your greens and flowers into manageable pieces that will work well with your floral wire frame. I like to create a small work area using a paper towel or, even better, a paper plate. The round shape makes an ideal work surface and helps protect your table or countertop from floral adhesive.

• Attach your first pieces of greenery. Place approximately three small dabs of floral adhesive on the back of two small base greens and allow the adhesive to set for about 30 seconds. Position the pieces on the wire, adhesive side down, facing in the same direction. Hold them gently in place for about one minute, or until they remain secure when you lift your fingers. Because the sprigs are small and lightweight, very little pressure is needed as long as the adhesive makes contact with the wire and has enough time to set.

• Continue layering the greenery. Once your first pieces are firmly attached, work your way around the entire wire frame, adding greens and foliage until the wire is completely covered. As you go, tuck the stem of each new piece underneath the end of the previous piece. This overlapping technique helps create a fuller, more natural-looking mini floral wreath while concealing the wire.

• Add your focal flowers. Wait a few minutes for the greenery to become secure before adding your flowers. This gives you a stable foundation and makes it much easier to create a balanced cake crown topper.

• Choose small flowers, buds, and botanical details. Small, tightly formed flowers, miniature buds, and seed pods work especially well for a cake crown. Look around your garden for interesting little blooms—even flowers growing from hanging plants can provide beautiful details. Dried flowers are also a wonderful option during winter. I especially love using strawflower saved from the fall because it holds its color beautifully. Don’t be afraid to incorporate interesting grasses and pods, too, as long as they are clean and won’t drop seeds, shed petals, or otherwise create debris on the cake.

Choose Flowers That Will Hold Up

When creating a fresh flower cake crown, it’s important to consider how well each flower or herb will hold up out of water. Some varieties are naturally sturdier than others, while delicate flowers and herbs can wilt quickly. Avoid anything that loses its shape easily, especially if your cake crown needs to look beautiful for several hours.

I usually keep my completed cake crowns refrigerated until it’s time to place them on the cake. This helps the flowers stay fresh and maintain their shape. If possible, use a clean refrigerator or a separate refrigerator without food, since food odors, moisture, and bacteria can affect delicate flowers.

Add the Flowers and Botanical Details

Once your greenery is securely in place, begin adding your small flower buds, seed pods, herbs, and colorful botanical accents. Use just a small dab of floral adhesive to attach each piece, working your way around the wreath and placing flowers wherever they create the most pleasing composition.

Try not to overdo it. One of the beautiful things about a mini floral wreath or cake crown is that it doesn’t need to be completely covered with flowers. Leave some of the greenery visible and allow the individual blooms to breathe. Often, the simplest floral cake designs are the most elegant.

Freshly made cake crowns can typically be kept in the refrigerator for a few days, making them easy to prepare ahead of your celebration. I’d love to see what you create, so please leave a comment and share your photos!

If you’re local to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, I’m also available to create a custom fresh flower cake crown for you. Just give me a call or send me a text to get started.

For those who want to make their own, I’ve linked all of the cake crown supplies and floral design tools below for your convenience.

Chocolate cake with a cake crown of boxwood, eucalyptus, lavender, dried pods & micro flowers.

A Note About Flower Safety

Whenever you’re creating fresh flower cake decorations, choose flowers and herbs that are in season and know how they were grown. Avoid flowers that have been treated with pesticides or other chemicals that are not appropriate for use around food. It’s also important to research the flowers and herbs you plan to use, as some varieties can be toxic or poisonous.

Most importantly, remember that a cake crown is a decorative element, not an edible decoration. The flowers, greenery, wire, and adhesive should be removed before the cake is served.

Please clearly tell anyone receiving or serving the cake that the cake crown is NOT TO BE CONSUMED.

Layered naked cake with a cake crown of wax flower and blackberries.

HIRE A DESIGNER OR CREATE YOUR OWN

Whether you’d like to create your own floral cake decorations or have a professional design them for you, there are plenty of beautiful ways to bring fresh flowers and herbs to your celebration.

Explore more floral cake ideas to see examples of fresh flower cake designs, cake crowns, floral wreaths, and botanical cake decorations, along with pricing for custom designs by Studio Sprig.

Layered cake with a cake crown of boxwood, rosemary, lavender, & micro flowers.

I look forward to connecting with you!

I’m always here to inspire and support your creative journey. Sign up for Studio Sprig to receive new post notifications, creative inspiration, and fresh ideas delivered to your inbox. You can also follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more floral design, botanical inspiration, and beautiful ideas for celebrating with flowers.

Cake Crowns designed by: Studio Sprig
Cakes: One Sweet Baking Co.

Buy on Amazon

Wire Cutters

Buy on Amazon

Floral Wire

---

Buy on Amazon

Floral Snips

Buy on Amazon

Flexible Ruler

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate and will sometimes offer affiliate links. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. Thank you.

---

Decorating Cakes with Fresh Flowers

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: Sweet Victory

Elevate your event with a Floral cake

A beautifully decorated cake can become one of the most memorable details of any celebration, and a floral cake decorated with fresh flowers is one of my favorite ways to make a wedding, shower, birthday, or special event feel truly personal. Whether you’re planning an elaborate wedding cake or a simple celebration cake, the right cake flowers and floral design can beautifully complement your overall event décor, color palette, and style. While there are countless ways to decorate a cake, I’m partial to the natural beauty of fresh flowers on cakes. They add an effortless, romantic touch that feels both elegant and organic.

There are several beautiful ways to use fresh flowers to decorate a cake. Below are three of my favorite floral cake decorating ideas, from simple and understated to lush and abundant. Choose the approach that works best for your cake, aesthetic, and timeframe.

• Loose Flowers

• Floral Wreaths

• Floral Swags

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

First, create a beautiful Palette

If you’re designing a cake decorated with fresh flowers, take a little extra time to create a beautiful setting that allows the cake and its floral design to shine. The cake itself is only part of the presentation—the cake stand, serving surface, and surrounding details can all contribute to the overall look.

You don’t necessarily need an elaborate cake pedestal or expensive display. Instead, focus on choosing a beautiful surface and setting that complements your floral cake design, wedding flowers, and event décor. A simple cake can feel instantly more special when it’s thoughtfully presented, allowing the fresh flowers and cake details to become a focal point of the celebration.

Cake Boards

Start with a simple but lovely cake board. A cake board sits underneath the cake, providing support and making it much easier to safely move and display your cake. You can find round, square, and rectangular cake boards in a variety of colors and finishes, from simple cardboard and classic white to elegant silver and gold.

For a floral wedding cake, choose a cake board that complements your cake design rather than competing with it. A beautiful board can provide a polished foundation while keeping the focus on the cake and its fresh flowers.

Pretty Pedestals

I especially love seeing fresh floral cakes displayed on cake pedestals. That little bit of extra elevation can completely transform the presentation, giving the cake more presence and making it feel like an intentional part of the overall event décor.

A pedestal cake stand is particularly beautiful for wedding cakes decorated with fresh flowers, where the added height allows the floral arrangement to be seen from every angle. Whether your style is romantic, elegant, rustic, or garden-inspired, the right cake pedestal can turn a simple cake into a beautiful focal point.

Simplify the Icing

When creating a cake decorated with fresh flowers, keep the frosting and icing design simple. A beautifully textured buttercream cake can provide the perfect backdrop for your floral arrangements without competing with them. The goal is to let the fresh flowers on the cake become the star of the design.

Palette knives are wonderful tools for creating subtle texture and movement in buttercream. You can also experiment with different icing colors to complement your wedding flowers, cake palette, and overall event décor. But when it comes to a floral cake, remember: less is often more.

If you’re ordering your floral wedding cake from a bakery, ask your cake designer to keep the icing relatively simple and understated. A clean buttercream finish, gentle texture, or soft color allows the fresh flowers to really shine and creates an elegant, cohesive cake design.

Pretty Cake Stand

Cake Boards

Cake Palette Knives

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

Cake Design with Loose Flowers

One of my favorite ways to create a fresh flower cake is with loose flowers—simply arranging a few beautiful blooms and touches of greenery on and around the cake. This approach creates an effortlessly elegant floral cake design without making the cake feel overly decorated.

The key is restraint. Rather than covering the entire cake with flowers, choose a few intentional places for your blooms, such as an off-center arrangement on top, a delicate cluster along the side, or a few flowers tucked around the bottom edge. The goal is to create visual balance while allowing the cake itself to remain part of the design.

For a floral wedding cake, I also recommend keeping the icing and lettering simple. Too many decorative elements can compete with the natural beauty of the flowers. Let the fresh flowers on the cake be the focal point.

When it comes to floral cake decorating, simplicity is often the most beautiful choice. A handful of thoughtfully placed blooms can have far more impact than a cake overflowing with flowers.

The Best Loose Flowers for a cake

There are so many beautiful flowers you can use to decorate a cake, so choosing the right blooms can be a little overwhelming. The most important rule when creating a fresh flower cake is to make sure the flowers are appropriate for use around food.

Avoid using flowers that have been treated with pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals that are not intended for use around food. Because commercially grown and grocery-store flowers may be treated with products that aren’t suitable for cake decorating, it’s best to know exactly how your flowers were grown.

For the safest and most beautiful floral wedding cake, consider sourcing blooms from a local flower farm or another grower who can tell you how the flowers were cultivated. You’ll have more confidence in what you’re placing near your cake, while also gaining access to beautiful, seasonal flowers that can make your cake feel completely unique.

When choosing flowers for cake decorating, think beyond color. Consider the season, flower varieties, texture, scale, and how the blooms will complement your cake and overall event design. A thoughtfully chosen selection of fresh flowers can turn even a simple cake into a stunning centerpiece.

Herbs on Cakes

Herbs are another beautiful way to decorate a cake, especially if you love a more natural, garden-inspired look. Their delicate size, beautiful texture, and fragrant foliage make them wonderful additions to floral cakes and fresh flower cake designs. And many culinary herbs can be used in ways that complement the flavors of the cake as well as its appearance.

I especially love using small sprigs of rosemary and lavender on cakes, but don’t overlook lemon verbena and the many varieties of mint. Along with classic peppermint and spearmint, look for unusual varieties such as orange mint, chocolate mint, pineapple mint, and strawberry mint. I grow many different varieties on my farm, and they come in handy when creating beautiful, natural cake designs.

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

How to Create a Floral Wreath

I love creating floral wreaths on cakes because they add such an elegant, garden-inspired touch. A fresh flower wreath can transform a simple cake into a beautiful centerpiece, and although it takes a little extra time to create, the finished result is well worth the effort.

create the Floral wire base

To make a floral wreath for a cake, I use medium-gauge floral wire. Floral wire is ideal because it’s flexible and easy to shape, allowing you to create a wreath in virtually any size or shape.

Start by measuring the diameter of your cake. Then, loosely cut and bend the floral wire into a circle that is slightly smaller than the cake itself. For example, if you’re working with a 9-inch round cake, create a wire circle that is approximately 7 to 8 inches in diameter. This allows the finished floral wreath to sit neatly on top of the cake without extending all the way to the edge.

Twist the ends of the wire together to close the circle. If you have floral tape, wrap the joined ends to cover any sharp or rough edges.

Next, take a longer length of floral wire and begin crisscrossing it back and forth across the original circular wire. Wrap the wire underneath the circle and back up with each pass. This creates a simple, open wire base for arranging greenery and flowers. You can see this technique in the photo below.

There are many ways to create a floral wire wreath base, so don’t worry about following this method exactly. The important thing is to create a sturdy, flexible base that gives you plenty of places to attach your greenery and flowers.

Layer the greens and herbs

Once you’ve gathered, washed, and thoroughly dried the fresh greens and herbs you want to use for your cake wreath, you can begin layering them onto the wire base.

Starting with your largest pieces of greenery, use a small amount of floral adhesive to attach each piece securely to the wire. Work your way around the circle, overlapping the greens slightly to create a full, natural-looking foundation for your floral cake wreath.

Once you have a good base of larger greens and herbs, begin adding smaller pieces on top. Layering different sizes and textures creates depth and gives the wreath a more organic, garden-inspired appearance.

Don’t be afraid to tuck small pieces of greenery into the gaps to conceal the wire and add movement and texture. Thyme is especially useful for this because its delicate stems can fill in small spaces beautifully. Keep layering until the wire base is completely hidden and you have a lush, natural foundation ready for your flowers.

Floral Wire

Floral Snips

Floral Adhesive

Flowers in the wreath

Now comes the fun part—adding the flowers! When creating a floral wreath for a cake, choose small to medium-sized blooms that will keep the wreath in proportion to the size of the cake. Smaller flowers tend to create a more delicate, balanced design without overwhelming the cake.

Some of my favorite flowers for small cake wreaths include Nigella, Bachelor’s Button, small pieces of Hydrangea, and Dianthus. You can also experiment with seasonal flowers from your garden to create a wreath that feels natural and unique.

When choosing flowers for cake decorations, however, be thoughtful about flower safety. Not every flower is appropriate for use around food, and some varieties can be toxic. Avoid flowers such as hellebore and any flowers you know to be toxic or that have been treated with chemicals that are not appropriate for use around food.

Important: A floral cake wreath made with glued flowers is a decoration only and is NOT edible. Make sure everyone serving the cake knows that the wreath should be removed before the cake is served. This simple step can help prevent any confusion and keep your beautiful floral cake display safe for everyone.

Finishing Touches

For the finishing touches on your floral cake wreath, add delicate flowers and herbs to soften the edges and create a more natural, abundant look. If you’re working with flowers that have small stems, such as lavender, place a small dab of floral adhesive on the stem and gently tuck the flowers into the wreath. These delicate sprigs can extend beyond the edge of the wreath, creating a beautiful herbal spillover that adds movement and texture to the cake.

Once your fresh flower cake wreath is complete, take a moment to inspect it from every angle. Look for any visible floral adhesive or exposed wire and cover those areas with additional greenery or flowers. The goal is for the wreath to look lush and natural, with none of the structural elements visible when it’s placed on the cake.

You can also add a layer of leaves underneath the wreath to conceal the wire base. This isn’t always necessary, especially since the wreath is a removable decoration that will be taken off before the cake is cut. What matters most is creating a beautiful, finished floral cake design from the perspective of your guests.

Florals: Studio Sprig Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

What is a Flower Swag?

A flower swag is a little bit of floral art that I made up—and it’s one of my favorite shortcuts for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts with fresh flowers.

Quite simply, a flower swag is a small, wired floral sculpture covered with a bit of floral tape and accented with tiny flowers, herbs, and greenery. Unlike a full floral wreath for a cake, a flower swag is quick to create and can be tucked onto a dessert wherever you want a touch of botanical beauty.

It’s especially useful when you don’t have time to make a wreath but still want to add fresh flower cake decorations or a little flower art to cupcakes, cakes, and other dessert displays. A few strategically placed swags can make even a simple dessert feel special, romantic, and garden-inspired.

Florals: Studio Sprig

Building a Floral Swag

To make a floral swag for a cake or cupcake, start by cutting a piece of floral wire and bending it into a shape that complements your dessert. The wire can be curved, angled, or shaped to create a small botanical sculpture that will sit naturally on the cake or cupcake.

Once you have your shape, cover the ends and any visible or exposed sections of wire with floral tape. The floral tape creates a finished surface that makes it easier to attach your small flowers, herbs, and greenery with floral adhesive.

Think of a flower swag as being similar to a boutonniere, except instead of building your design around a flower stem, you’re creating it around a flexible wire base. This gives you much more freedom to shape the floral decoration exactly as you want.

For the black-eyed Susan shown above, I first taped the flower stem directly to the wire. The wire then acted like a small, rigid spring, allowing the flower to pop up playfully from the cupcake. It’s a simple technique that creates a wonderfully unexpected fresh flower cake decoration.

Florals: Studio Sprig

Swags are just fun!

Floral swags are such a fun and versatile way to add fresh flowers and botanical details to a dessert display. Use them around a cake table as little floral sculptures, or tuck them into cakes, cupcakes, and even pies for an unexpected pop of color, texture, and garden-inspired charm.

Because each flower swag is small and easy to shape, you can experiment with different flowers, herbs, greenery, and forms. There really are no hard and fast rules—play around with placement and scale, and see what works best with your cake and overall event design.

Thank you so much for visiting Studio Sprig! If you’d like more ideas and inspiration for decorating cakes with fresh flowers and herbs, take a look at How to Create Cake Crowns and Mini Wreaths from Herbs and Flowers.

I’m always here to help inspire your creative journey and bring a little more flower art and natural beauty to your celebrations. Stay inspired with Studio Sprig! Sign up to receive new blog post notifications, floral design inspiration, creative ideas, and seasonal projects delivered to your inbox. You can also follow Studio Sprig on Instagram and Pinterest for more floral inspiration, cake decorating ideas, botanical art, and creative projects.

How to Make DIY Bouquets for Prom

All DIY Prom Bouqets

It’s Prom Season and Flower Bars and Do-it-yourself Flower Bouquet Parties are trending right now. There’s no better time to have fun creating a small posy or a larger bouquet for your special night. Parents, it’s also really fun to host a “Posy Party” and let the kids enjoy an impromptu event where they get together the day before prom to make their bouquets and boutonieres. If this sounds like a great idea, here’s what you’ll want to do.

I’ve led many Flower Bars at venues like Peddler’s Village in New Hope, PA, and for Vanguard as corporate team-building events. I’ve also done Flower Bar drop-offs for events like bridal showers and cocktail parties. However you decide to create your Prom Bouquet or Bloom Bar, you can’t go wrong, because everyone loves an invitation to play with flowers.

Simple Prom Posy with Herbs

First, Find A nice Assortment of Flowers

If the season is right, I think it’s best to contact a LOCAL Flower Grower so you’ll have a nice, fresh variety of beautiful blooms for your Bouquet Bar. If you do not have a farm in mind, go to this website to find flower growers in your area.

Reach out to the growers via their websites or call to learn their policies and how you can purchase a bucketful of their flowers. Some growers sell only at farmers’ markets, but many allow pick-ups at the farm.

If you are throwing a Posy or Bloom Party, buying assorted buckets is the best way to ensure you have a nice variety for each person participating. This is important because all the prom dresses will be different, and you don’t want all the bouquets to be identical.

Large Buckets filled with Flowers from a Flower Farm

Forage for some Wildflowers and Foliage

I like to have a nice mix of filler, or smaller flowers on hand, so sometimes I forage one day ahead of time so that my bouquets overflow with pops of unexpected whimsy. But you do need to be careful, because not all roadside and wildflowers hold up when taken out of water. So as soon as the posies and boutonnieres are removed from water for prom photos, they may start to wilt.

Therefore, if you want to forage, experiment ahead of time by removing the flowers from the water and propping them in a vase, and see how long it takes them to wilt. If it’s immediate, they are not a good choice.

An Assortment of White Flowers and Foliage

One Day Before

Prepare by hydrating well. It’s very important to properly hydrate all the flowers you forage and gather at the farm. Give all the flowers and foliage a clean, fresh cut and place them into cold water as soon as you can. Try to give them 24 hours to soak up the water and properly hydrate before you start designing. You can use Large Plastic Buckets and just keep them on the ground, or you can also design your flower bar space with nicer Galvanized Floral Buckets, to create a more formal event.

Galvanized Floral Buckets

Large Plastic Buckets

An Active Prom Posy Prepping Station

How To Prepare Your Space

Choose an appropriate space I always think it’s a good idea to create a Prom Flower Bar on a patio, in a garage, or on a deck, but sometimes weather dictates our choices. If you must be inside the most common space might be your dining room because you probably already have a large table. Find an area that will accommodate your crowd and anticipate other mothers and fathers as part of that. Many parents enjoy helping their kids prepare for prom.

Set up enough tablespace for everyone you invited to work comfortably. You’ll also want room for the flower buckets, creative workstations, and ribbon tying. Portable Folding tables and simple white tablecloths work well for this.

Folding Tables

Tablecloths

DIY Prom Bouquet Workstation in a Garage

Don’t be afraid to use herbs

Sprigs of herbs are a nice addition to any bouquet. They add a fresh scent and pop out in unexpected places. You won’t normally find them in traditional posies; that’s why, whenever possible, I like to include them in my creations. I mention this because many people grow herbs, and perhaps other families can participate by bringing bunches of homegrown herbs to add that special something.

Fresh Lavender

DIY Prom Bouquet Bar in an Open Garage Space

Choose “Dress accentuating” Flowers

Shine, don’t Blend. Consider the Prom Dress when choosing your flower assortment. I think it’s important that the flowers you choose to include in your Prom Flower Bar are not all the same color. Take into consideration the many prom dresses your guests will be designing around. This is where pops of the unexpected in the form of herbs, greens, and interesting filler flowers will help break up the monotony of focal flowers and accent a dress, rather than blend right into it.

Pretty yellow, lilac and green Prom Posy to accent a navy dress

Guests enjoy time with friends and flowers BEFORE prom

Always choose flowers that accentuate but don’t blend in with the dress

Choose Flowers You Love

Invite Creative Energy. Encourage your guests to walk to the flower buckets and choose their favorite greens and focal flowers, and then take them back to their workspace. Then, have them search for interesting items like herbs and filler flowers to really make their posies pop! Make sure they keep all the stems long and begin thinking about the style they want to create. Whether it’s a tight symmetrical bouquet or a whimsical, free-spirited posy, they’ll want something in mind before they begin. Reference photos are always a nice idea to decorate the worktables.

Building the Prom Bouquet or Posy

You can instruct guests verbally or have small printed instructions on your table before guests arrive.

Here is how I build bouquets, large and small. I always start by gathering larger, focal flowers in the center. I then add flowers, piece by piece, around that middle bunch. Sometimes it takes me a few tries to get it just right, so don’t be afraid to put everything back down on the table and begin again. Balance is important, and larger blooms like dahlia sometimes need support, so use other flowers to prop them up or wire the stem so they stay upright.

Tuck and Cuddle Your Flowers

Variety Matters. I prefer to use many varieties of both color and texture in my bouquets. Some flowers are round, others spikey, some are frail and wispy, while others are rigid and strong. You’ll also experience some breakage along the way, but don’t be opposed to using flowers that dropped a single petal or those that look like they have a slight droop. If you “tuck and cuddle” with care, they can still participate in the party.

Unexpected Fun. Tuck herbs and small filler flowers randomly throughout by inserting the delicate stems down through the middle, as you ever-so-slightly loosen your grip. Try to place these at different levels, so they flare out and create surprise.

Often, the last step is forming a nice base with the greens. I like to place the greens around the bottom edges of the posy, creating a textural base for everything. I also like to take tiny “sprigs” of the greens and foliage, loosen my grip, and tuck them inside the bouquet here and there.

Instructions

• Gather a few Focal Flowers in a small bunch, grip with one hand

• Add other Flowers around that bunch, one at a time

• Tuck small Herbs and Filler Flowers whimsically as you go

• Create a base with Greens

• Secure with a Rubber Band

A DIY Posy stuffed with yummy Peony, Ranunculus and Zinnia.

Snip, Wrap, and Go!

When all of the flowers are assembled and looking just the way you want, use a small rubber band to hold them in place. Scrunch the rubber band up close to the base of the flowers to hold them snug.

Then use a sharp flower snip and trim all the stems to the same length. Aim for a stem length of about 6”. You only want enough room to wrap a ribbon and grip the stems, but not so much that the bouquet or posy looks awkward. I use this micro-tip flower snip and I cut a few stems at a time so that they are all the same length before wrapping.

Flower Snips

A Posy with a lot of unexpected surprises.

Choosing Ribbon

There are many different types of ribbon to choose from. I prefer this beautiful White Chiffon because it’s very forgiving and the edges are intentionally frayed, which I think is a fantastic look. for prom. The Chiffon comes in an array of colors too, so having a variety would be a nice touch. You can also use a Double-Faced Satin if that’s the look you're going for.

White Chiffon

Array of Chiffon

Double-Faced Satin Ribbon

Proud Posy Poses.

Refreshments and Photos

And before we go, two things that are important to consider are the refreshments you’ll serve and the photos you’ll take.

Floral Cookies and A Lemonade Bar! Everyone wants to snack at a Prom Flower Bar, so go the extra mile and bake some lavender cookies and create a simple lemonade and iced tea bar with pretty bottles, simple syrup, and mini, floral ice cubes that you can create with a little juice and these cute Floral Molds. If you want to learn how to set up a simple, but pretty mini bar, read my blog How to Create a Pretty Mini Bar with Items You Already Own.

Culinary Lavender

Floral Molds

Mini Rose-shaped Orange Juice Ice Cubes

Once everything is assembled and displayed, take loads of photos. Before, during, and after photos will be valued forevermore. Focusing on these details adds that little touch of memorable elegance that every Prom Bouquet Party needs.

Mission Accomplished. DIY Prom Bouquets.

Thank you so much for visiting. If you want more details or want to learn how to create a personal or corporate Flower or Bouquet Bar for another event, read How to Host a Flower Bar Event. And be sure to visit the Flower Bar Shop at Studio Sprig for a list of supplies. I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

How to Preserve and Use Your Spring Flowers - All Year Long

Enjoying Spring Flowers

There’s nothing like the first blooms of Spring to brighten your day. The only trouble is that many perennials, like lilacs and peonies, don’t last very long. That’s why it’s very important to preserve them quickly if you’d like to use them in the future.

What You Can Do With Preserved Spring Flowers

• Create a Dried Bouquet or Host A Dry Bouquet Bar

• Create a Dried Arrangement or Host A Dry Arrangement Bar

• Create a Dried Wreath or Host A Dry Wreath Bar

• Create a Floral Memento or Host A Floral Memento Event

Fresh Hydrangea

Dry Hydrangea

How to Host A Dry Bouquet or Arrangement Bar

Hosting a Dry Bouquet or Arrangement Bar requires a fairly large room or outdoor space, depending on the size of the event, because you’ll need a table for displaying your flowers, as well as a workstation for each guest.

What You’ll Need

You should have at least one long table to display your dried flowers and greens, and at least one long 6-foot table per 3 guests. Arranging dried flowers does take up a fair amount of space, and it can get quite messy, so prepare with tablecloths. I like to stash big rubber bins under my tables for easy cleanup.

Provide each guest with a vessel or vase, and a flower snip to easily cut the stems.

And just like arranging with fresh, start each arrangement with your greens and work up to focal flowers. It’s much more difficult to design with dried flowers, as they are brittle and stiff. They fall apart easily, so be gentle when handling them. In shallow vessels, it’s a good idea to use a frog for stability. In the colorful arrangement above, I used chicken wire and shoved it into the iron, vintage vessel. It does a great job holding everything in place.

Host A Dry Wreath Bar

Wreath Bars are fun anytime of year, but especially around a seasonal change or holiday. Everyone likes a new wreath to hang on their door or wall.

What You’ll Need

All you have to do to host a wreath bar is display all of your previously made dried flowers and greens in attractive vessels and group items accordingly. Set up a few work tables or stations and invite guests to bring a wreath of their choice and a glue gun.

You can alternatively provide glue, glue guns and wreaths for everyone if you are hosting a bridal shower and want this to be a creative activity. But if this is just a fun event for friends, I recommend the “bring your own” wreath bar to keep things simple. This also enables each guest to choose the size and style of wreath they’d like to make.

Glue Guns

Grapevine Wreaths

Photos of the event are crucial so be sure to take lots.

Host A Dried Flower Framed Momento Bar

Framing a cherished memento is so satisfying. It’s a way to preserve a memory from a wedding, a birth, a precious handwritten card or note, or a photograph you just love with all your heart. Framed mementos make meaningful gifts all year long, so why not use your spring flowers and showcase special memories.

What You’ll Need To Create a Memento Bar

For this each guest will need only pressed, dried flowers, a memento, glue dots, and a frame. To prepare your flowers, you can use the pressing technique outlined below.

Arrange all of the flowers and green options on a big table, and give your guests an area to freely create their masterpiece. Provide each guest with a frame slightly larger than their memento. These floating glass frames work very well and they come in many sizes.

First, clean both pieces of glass. Then, use double-sided, clear tape or glue dots to place the memento wherever you want it on the first layer of glass. Now you can begin adhering the flowers. Be very careful, as dried, pressed flowers can be very delicate. You may want to provide some craft tweezers for precision.

When the design is finished, place the second piece of glass on top and assemble the frame.

Floating Glass Frames

Clear Tape

Craft Tweezers

There are Various Ways to Preserve Flowers

Here are four ways you can preserve your fresh Spring flowers.

• Dry Flowers in Silica

• Hang Flowers Upside Down

• Air Dry Flowers on a Flat Surface

• Flower Pressing

Flower Drying in Silica

To dry fresh flowers in silica, first you must prepare your containers and fill them with Silica Gel Flower Drying Crystals. I prefer using these Rubbermaid Containers with Lids to prevent spills. I normally have five containers going at once. Just line the bottom of each container with silica crystals and lay the flowers so that they are not touching or overlapping. Then pour more silica over the top until the flowers and stems are covered. Place the lid securely on the container and store for about a week in a cool, dark (but not moist) place.

Silica Gel Drying Crystals

Containers with Lids

When you remove the flowers from the silica, be careful not to break the flowers and stems, as they will be dry and brittle, but remarkably in tact. I always use a small spatula.

Hang Flowers upside Down

A very old and simple method of drying fresh flowers is simply hanging them upside down.

Game Changer Hooks

I have bunches hanging all around my home in the springtime, and I find the little, black hooks pictured below are especially helpful. They are typically used to hang utensils, but I’m able to attach flower bundles to almost anything with these little hooks - game changer.

Air Dry Flowers on a Flat Surface

There is nothing wrong with just placing your flowers on a flat surface and waiting for them to dry, but I would only do this if you prefer the crunchy look. Flowers typically shrivel when they dry this way while they retain their shape and texture with the silicon method above. However, with some flowers like lilac, I really like this look. I think it will be pretty when I use it on a wreath.

See the Difference

The lilac above was dried with the flat surface method, while the tulips below were preserved in Silica Gel Crystals. You can clearly see the difference.

Flower Pressing

You can also preserve your flowers by pressing them until they are dry.

For this method, carefully flatten and layer flowers between thick sheets of watercolor paper, then press them between heavy books, or buy a flower press and do many layers at once.

A Flower Press

I use this sweet Flower Press. What I love about it is the small profile. It’s only 11” square and fits nicely on a small table in my workspace and it would be right at home in a greenhouse. It comes with all the tools, papers, cardboard layers, and a travel bag.

Thanks for visiting. When preserving your Spring flowers, choose the method that works best for you and enjoy your flowers for as long as possible. I’d love to hear what you’re doing with your garden. Comment below.

Get Excited for The Flower Show

Rendering by NBC Philadelphia

I am sure it’s no surprise that one of my favorite annual events is The Philadelphia Flower Show. It takes place each year, usually in early March, in the Philadelphia Convention Center at 1101 Arch Street. The Flower Show starts this weekend and I cannot wait to go, so if you are searching for something to do this weekend to alleviate the winter blues, nothing compares to The Flower Show.

General Public Hours 2025

March 1 - 8:  10:00 am – 8:00 pm 
March 9:  10:00 am – 6:00 pm

For tickets go here.
For highlights and events go here.

Our Nation’s History

Did you know it is our nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event? It began in 1829, when the Philadelphia Horticultural Society launched the country’s first public flower show at the Masonic Hall.

creative Themes

I always enjoy the artist’s interpretations of themes and I spend my time there appreciating the extensive planning that goes into the designs. I thought it would be interesting to take a look back in time at the many Flower Show Themes. I’ve included the themes as far back as 2000. Janet Evans compiled this list and it goes back to 1960, if you’re interested in seeing the full list click here.
Year Theme
2024 United by Flowers
2023 The Garden Electric
2022 In Full Bloom
2021 Habitat
2020 Riviera Holiday
2019 Flower Power
2018 Wonders of Water
2017 Holland: Flowering the World
2016 Explore America
2015 Celebrate the Movies
2014 ARTiculture
2013 Brilliant!
2012 Hawaii: Islands of Aloha
2011 Springtime in Paris
2010 Passport to the World
2009 Bella Italia
2008 Jazz It Up!
2007 Legends of Ireland
2006 Enchanted Spring... A Tribute to Mother Nature
2005 America the Beautiful
2004 Destination Paradise
2003 Festival de las Flores
2002 The Pleasures of the Garden
2001 Great Gardeners of the World
2000 Gardens For the New Millennium 

Photo by billypenn.com

If you’re interested in more tips on how to enjoy the show, you can read my blog How to Enjoy The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show. Just be aware that the dates on that blog are from previous years. Refer instead to the 2025 dates above.

Photo by Curbed Philly

Historic Castles. What are they used for?

Fonthill Castle, Doylestown, Pennsylvania

I just came across this contest: Enter to Win a Castle Getaway, so I wanted to send it to all of you, my cherished subscribers. I hope you find time to enter. It’s a cool opportunity to tour two of Doylestown’s unique castles and stay overnight at a nearby Inn.

If you’ve ever wondered what modern-day people do with historic castles, allow me to share how one of my design couples showcased Fonthill in Doylestown, PA.

First, a little history

Fonthill Castle was the home of archaeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer. It was built between 1908 and 1912, and it’s an early example of poured-in-place concrete and features 44 rooms, over 200 windows, 18 fireplaces, 10 bathrooms, and one powder room.

Henry was a proponent of the American Arts and Crafts movement and as part of his philanthropy, he built The Moravian Tile Works on his Fonthill estate. Moravian tiles are handmade ceramic tiles featuring intricate designs inspired by ancient and historical themes. Here is an example of one. If you tour Fonthill you will see that Henry used his Moravian tiles everywhere when building his home. They cover ceilings, floors, and just about every square inch of this castle inside and out.

Castles Today

Special events like fundraisers, beer festivals, and weddings love the modern-day Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, PA. It’s a popular venue choice among those seeking a unique, historical building with a specific artistic flair.

Here is how one engaged couple decided to celebrate this castle.

A castle-inspired wedding invitation

Stephanie & Clayton chose Fonthill for their wedding venue a few years ago and hired me to design their invitation suite. This was a unique opportunity to build a concept around an artistic castle known for its clay tiles and yes, the groom’s name was Clay so the project was lots of fun.

The concept & Design

We hired a watercolor artist to paint a Mercer Tile-like cover depicting Fonthill Castle nestled among the many places Stephanie and Clayton had traveled. I had the opportunity to write some interesting headlines while building the stationery suite. “The Art of Marriage” was the main headline and “Start with a Good Clay” kicked off their story. The mini-book invitation creatively told their love story and culminated by inviting guests to the affair.

Carry it all through

To carry the concept through the entire event, I commissioned time with local tile artist, Katia McGuirk to help us create the wedding favors. The three of us worked side-by-side with Katia and designed, pressed, glazed, and fired an assortment of clay pendants, each depicting one of Stephanie and Clayton’s previous vacations. The clay pendants were used as favors, and each table featured the story of a particular vacation. We created a rubber stamp of each vacation icon and they were used to mark the table cards as well as all the place cards at the entrance.

Italy Pendant and Table Card

Canada Pendant and Table Card

Programs

The wedding programs were also unusual. We designed large, round, double-sided cards, and attached dangling love notes. “The Marriage” side outlined the ceremony details while “The Art” outlined the participants. It was an unexpected design that mimicked the round favor tiles and intrigued guests.

Enter to win

So now you no longer need to wonder what people sometimes do in and around modern-day Castles. If you choose one for your next big event, I recommend going with the castle’s cool vibe and designing your event accordingly. I hope you win this Castle getaway, and if you do please drop me a line. Good Luck!

Creative Ideas For Your Valentine

Valentines Gifts: Not Just Flowers & Candy

Fun fact: According to the National Retail Federation, Valentine's Day spending reached $25.8 billion overall — an average of $185.81 per person in 2024. I think this is because Valentine's gift-giving has evolved to include ALL THE LOVES of our lives: Spouses, Special Friends, Parents, Kids, Co-workers, Teachers, and even Pets. Therefore, it’s only fitting that our gift options evolve as well.

Alternative Valentine Gift Ideas

I like to encourage giving flowers, but as you know, I try to support local growers and not many local Pennsylvania flower growers have blooms in frigid February. So I’ve written a short list of sentimental alternatives that should help you think outside the candy box and express your Valentine LOVE more creatively.

Give A Pressed Flower Frame

Framing a sentimental piece with pressed flowers is a nice way to remember an event. Pressed flower frames can be propped on a small shelf, a mantle, or hung over a photo commemorating the actual experience. Wedding invitations, baby ultrasounds, engagement photos, and small mementos like rings become elevated keepsakes when surrounded by pretty flowers and a simple frame. And it’s even better if the flowers are unique to the event, so consider drying and pressing your own.

Shadow boxes are best for three-dimensional objects but floating frames work well for flat art and pressed flowers. If you are creating a three-dimensional frame and want dried flowers, learn how to dry your own here. And if you’d like to press your own fresh flowers, I recommend this flower press. It’s the one I use and it works nicely and looks even better sitting on the table.

Give A Flower Farm Tour or Photo shoot

Did you ever think about contacting a local farm and arranging a walking tour or photoshoot? This is more of a “for the future” gift and would be perfect for someone who loves gardens or summer strolls, has a special event coming up, or for someone who has everything tangible and needs nothing more.

I’ve teamed up with local flower growers here in Pennsylvania and hosted several pre-wedding flower farm tours. During the tours brides, grooms and their guests see all of the flowers that will be growing on or near the date of their wedding. They can choose a specialty flower to be grown especially for them or just ask questions and speak with the grower about the different varieties available. But this unique type of gift does not need to be reserved for newly engaged couples. Think about taking a friend and a bottle of wine for a tour of a local sunflower field or arranging a family photo shoot at a local lavender farm or vineyard. All of these ideas make wonderful Valentine's gifts that can be enjoyed well past February.

Give Something Evergreen and Unique

Did you ever receive a potted plant and think, this I so wonderful because it will live much longer than a week? That’s the joy an evergreen gift brings. An evergreen gift is a gift that keeps on giving long after its moment in the sun. There are so many evergreen ideas out there but here are a few that involve nature itself. Consider a Terrarium, Moss Wall or Nature Experience as a gift for your Valentine this year.

Terrariums can be assembled using a few small plants, some rocks that you find in your backyard, a little bit of soil, live moss, and some natural embellishments that you hunt for outside. And don’t think that you need to build yours in a glass bowl. Terrariums come in many shapes and sizes these days. I search thrift shops for large gravy boats and interesting pedestal compotes to make mine. Terrariums are great because they will last a really long time, are gender-neutral and they can be custom-built for your special someone. They are perfect for any space in the house, dormitory, or office and require very little care.

A Moss Wall is a popular nature wall hanging that uses preserved moss and requires no care at all. They are easily created with a base tray, some reindeer moss, hot glue, and nature embellishments of your choice. They are fun to make and will certainly make your Valentine smile if you gather supplies and arrange a Moss Wall Creation day just for them.

Another idea is to surprise your Valentine with a custom-designed Nature Experience. A Nature Experience is just as it sounds, an experience created around a nature workshop of some sort. There are so many workshops to consider. There are Bouquet Bars, Terraium or Plant Workshops, Dried Flower Workshops and Wreath Workshops to name just a few. But really, anything you can think up can be used to create a unique gift of a Nature Experience. This gift is fantastic because it allows the recipient to essentially build their own gift by doing something they enjoy with people they like, and it’s perfect for almost any time of year. So don’t rule out giving a practical and special Evergreen Gift. And if you need ideas, see this page.

I hope these ideas inspire you. Happy Valentine’s Day all! - Kim

How An Invitation Can Tell Your Love Story

Should Everyone have A Wedding Theme?

Today it seems most big events have a theme or a distinguishing thread that evokes an emotion or tells a story. However, not everyone wants a theme. Instead, you may have a small vision board, colors, or floral suggestions representing how you see your event unfolding. Here is how adding a touch of creativity to your existing idea can help you tell your love story in an interesting way.

what is your Love Story?

Most couples do not come to me with a theme, instead, they have some sort of special love story that they want to tell. Occasionally these stories are very unique, but more often than not the love stories are pretty typical.

This was the situation with Marisa and Corey. When they asked me to design their wedding invitation, they did not have a theme. They met while at Kutztown University, had dated for a few years, got engaged, and were now planning their wedding. So they hired me to find a way to tell their love story compellingly and creatively.

Designing A Love Story

Right from the start, Marisa and Corey knew they wanted sunflowers to be their wedding flower. These were the perfect choice because they are lovely to work with and very much in season in mid-August. Aside from being big, bold, and beautiful, sunflowers represent adoration and loyalty, so I thought they were a good start for a wedding invitation concept.

Step 1: Develop an interesting concept

I began this design project by writing a short poem about an adoring couple of sunflowers. Sunflowers needed to be the main characters so I broke the poem into three parts and began by designing the bright yellow text pages of this 8-page invitation book. Writing the poem text helped me develop the concept, in this case, the Sunflower.

Sunflower Concept: Although we often fall for surface beauty, it’s what’s underneath that’s important.

Here is the poem:

“A little bloom peeked out today, out of the earth and far away another bloom about the same came up to dance and feel the rain. They sunned and soared but always two, for each, alone, had much to do.”

“And then one day the sun went down, they looked beneath the garden’s ground. Below the tangled leaves they saw, inside the dirt, no light at all.”

“It’s not the beauty we can see, or bright, rich colors calling thee, It’s underneath and deep inside, undying love that’s true and tried.”

Step 2: Capture compelling Images

To capture the proper images to match the poem, I hired a renowned local watercolor illustrator, Jane Ramsey. Jane illustrated each poem’s page perfectly. I then brought her illustrations into my design program and gave each a thin border for definition. This helped define each sunflower illustration on the page opposite its corresponding bright yellow text page in the book.

Step 3: A good title says it all

The title “Intertwined” is centered on a deep soil-like background on the cover of this book. A small paper sunflower tied with a delicate string of raffia dangled over the saddle-stitched spine. All the pages were printed and bound by a professional printer. This book was the first thing guests saw when they slid open the invitation suite. The full suite consists of the love storybook, the loose wedding invitation that slides out of an envelope glued to the back inside of this book, a custom-designed response card, an accommodation card, and an envelope. You can see the full design and other love stories in my portfolio here.

designing your own concept invitation

If you want to tell your love story creatively, choose blooms, colors, or something special that embodies your emotions, and find a designer who can convey your heartfelt message to guests in a creative way.

Kim Bensing is the creative director behind Studio Sprig at Windy Hill. With the help of her 19th-century farmhouse and its vintage gardens, she shares floral styling strategies, custom stationery concepts, home DIY inspiration, and a new line of wallpaper and fabric designs. Join her on her artist's journey, one project at a time! Subscribe here

How to Design a Valentine Tree

Why I Designed a Tree FIlled with Love

As the Christmas season was coming to an end, I decided I wanted to enjoy our pretty tree a little longer. I knew I could get away with keeping our faux Balsam Hill Pine up through January dressed in its wintery guise, but what excuse did February have? That’s why, this year, I created a Valentine's Tree. Read on to see how I did it.

Transitioning a Christmas Tree

We created a pretty simple Christmas tree this year so the transition was easy. I first removed all of the Christmas balls but kept all the white lights and icicles. This step was very quick and with a semi-bare tree, I was able to then plan for February-appropriate decor.

Making a Valentine's Tree Topper

I considered keeping our glowing Moravian Star tree topper but decided that a Valentine's tree needed to better reflect Valentine’s Day. I considered a grapevine heart wreath covered in dried flowers but decided I’d like to just use found materials and make my own. This is how I did it.

Start with a basic shape

I took an old cardboard box and cut two identical free-form hearts. I then hot-glued a 10” doubled-up piece of floral wire about 4” deep inside the two panels and extended it out the bottom, so that I’d have something to wrap around the tree’s top branch. If I do it again, I will also extend the wire from each side so the heart has more stability when topping the tree.

Once the wire is secured, hot glue the hearts together. This step helps the topper to be more ridged and stable.

Designing the front of your heart topper

Start by designing one side of the heart with your dried flowers and moss. I used my professional-grade Ryobi glue gun, some reindeer moss, and the dried flowers I harvested this year. If you want to learn how to dry your own flowers, see my blog: Learn how to dry your own garden flowers. I didn’t have much of a design or plan, but I just kept filling in the cardboard as I went around the heart and eventually, one side of my heart was completely covered.

Designing side 2

When I finished side 1, I realized leaving the second side of the heart blank wouldn’t look very nice from the side view, so I cut up a coloring book, quickly glued it to the surface of the heart, and glued some leftover moss around the edges to finish it off. In retrospect, I would cover this side first with contact paper or something simple to make the job easier. You could also fill the back side with moss if you have it.

The Heart-Shaped Tree Topper

Here is the result. Not bad for a trial run. Later I’ll show you how it looks on the tree.

Hanging hearts on the Tree

Now the rest of the tree needed some LOVE-ly decor. I found these pretty heart ornaments in rose gold online. They are sold in sets of 45 so I only ordered one set. You can also get them in silver, pink, gold, red, and a pink, red & white combo.

Accenting with Vintage Valentine Cards

I also found some vintage Valentine ornaments to add some character to my tree. There are many types of interesting card ornaments to choose from on Amazon, so look around. Some are more childish which would be nice if you are creating this for your children or grandchildren.

The Unveiling

When all the little rose gold hearts and vintage Valentines were hung, I added a few large dried flowers and some colorful felt ball garlands that I had lying around.

I am very pleased with how this turned out and I’m happy I started a new tradition for our home. Don’t worry, if you’ve already removed your Christmas tree this year, you can plan for next February or grab some fallen branches from outside and place them in a garden pot to make a smaller Valentine’s Branch Tree. Anything is possible. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

0 Likes

Share

Host a Fabulous Bouquet Bar for Valentine's Day →

Host a Fabulous Bouquet Bar for Valentine's Day

Winter is the perfect time to host or plan a Bouquet Bar as the highlight of your next special event. Bridal and baby showers seem to be the most popular choices for flower fun, but you can host a Bouquet Bar anytime you want. Girlfriend getaways, book club nights, and birthday and dinner parties lend themselves nicely because no matter the occasion, everyone loves going home with fresh flowers. So since Valentine’s Day is coming up, why not invite some friends over to build pretty bouquets?

Should I D-I-Y My Bouquet Bar?

You can hire a professional to create your bouquet bar or you can D-I-Y it by following these easy steps. If you prefer this option, a professional will bring everything to your site, set up, instruct, and clean up. But if you choose to do it yourself, you only need a few things to pull off a successful bar, the most important being a reliable source of some great focal flowers and foliage.

Here is a list of everything you will need:

• A work table for guests to spread out

• A reliable water source (a sink or hose)

• Tablecloths and towels

• Vases or pretty water-tight pots for assembly

• Sheers for each participant

• Flower Buckets to display your greens & flowers

• Fresh Flowers and Greens

• Flower Food

• Paper goods for refreshments

Prepare the Space

You can create your bouquet bar anywhere that works. Dining rooms, kitchens, patios, decks. Just make sure you have a source of water nearby and that cleanup will not be too difficult. If you’re creating a Bouquet Bar at work, you will probably want to choose a conference room because it will have a lot of space.

Find a good area and set up enough tablespace for everyone to work comfortably. The Bouquet Bar above hosted 11 people and the instructor. This was created in an average-sized dining room. We first placed the tablecloth and each participant received a paper towel. For a more formal party, you can also supply your guests with cloth towels and give them as favors after the event.

Tools and Vessels

It’s important to provide each guest with flower snips or sharp scissors because they will each want to trim their stems and you don’t want everyone reaching around the table sharing snips. You can buy multipacks of scissors or invest in better-quality garden snips that your guests can take home. This will depend on the size of your party and/or occasion.

As for the vessel, I always like to choose a short opaque pot that is water-tight. I think this shape and size above work well for creating an arrangement. But you can always provide tall vases if large and tall arrangements are your preference. I try to avoid clear glass only because I like it when the stems are concealed. The vessels in the photo were purchased at Michaels.

Flower Buckets for Display

Choosing your flower and foliage display buckets is a simple way to “theme up” your event. There are many buckets to choose from including a chippy farmhouse french style, formal basic black, or industrial galvanized metal. Set the buckets up on a covered buffet table or an extra folding table, and be sure to style it according to your theme.

Flowers and Foliage

In the winter months you’ll want to contact a wholesaler if you can so that you can get larger quantities to fill your display buckets. In the spring, summer and fall months I’d find a local flower farm or two and purchase your flowers from them. They will be the best quality and the growers will appreciate your business.

How Many Do I Buy?

Counting stems is a critical part of all of this planning. I always overbuy my flowers because I’d rather have too many than not enough. It’s a good idea to purchase an extra vessel and do a dry run arrangement with some flowers and greens. Then take it apart and count how many foliage and flower stems you used. Triple that and multiply it by the number of guests. You’ll want to have a nice variety to choose from and if you have too few of something, some arrangements may seem sparse. And remember, flowers do break in transit, during processing, and when Bouquet Bar enthusiasts get TOO ENTHUSIASTIC. So be sure to order more than you’ll need. You’ll be happy you did.

Focal flowers, filler flowers (the secondary flowers, not the primary focus) and foliage (the greens) are generally all sold in bunches of 10, so if you want only one type of focal flower, choose only that. But if you want your guests to have choices, then split up your order and buy a variety of flowers. Popular ideas for foliage and filler flowers are eucalyptus, asparagus fern, and wax flower.

Preparing the Flowers

The day before your event, you’ll need to process all the flowers and greenery. This means, taking all the bunches out of the paper or plastic, cleaning and trimming each stem before placing it in fresh cold water with flower food. This is a good time to divide up and organize your buckets so that everything looks well-displayed.

Before trimming the bottom of each stem so that it comfortably fits into its bucket, thoroughly strip each stem of any extra greens or thorns so that leaves do not touch the water. Then store all of your buckets in a cool, dry place overnight. This step is important, as it allows the flowers and foliage to fully hydrate before becoming part of an arrangement and if you are working with tulips, they will stay closed if the space is cool and dark. Proper hydration, allows your arrangements to stay fresher longer.

Day of Event

On the day of the event, style your flower buckets any way you like. You can scatter them around the room or patio, offering different heights for interest but try to keep like things together. For instance, foliage can be in one area, focals in another. Then, set up your guest’s work table and fill each vessel halfway with water.

When the guests arrive, put on some music, explain the bouquet bar, and instruct them to consider what sort of bouquet they’d like to create.

You’ll be creating with your guests so show them how to first choose 5-7 stems of foliage (depending on the size of the vessel) to arrange as a base. Once the foliage is cut and designed in each vessel, point your guests in the direction of the filler flowers. Once the filler and foliage are styled to everyone’s tastes, have your guests choose 3, 5, or 7 focal flowers to round out their bouquet. Do not forget to stage a photo which can serve as a nice thank-you note after the event.

Bouquet Bars are always a big hit so I hope you were inspired by this post and comment about your own experiences. Thank you for visiting.

Thank you, Ileana, for the use of your photos.

Why Choose Seasonal Flowers for Your Special Occasion?

Seasonal Flowers

Did you know there is such a thing as a seasonal flower? Much the way there is seasonal food, there are seasonal flowers and the same principles apply. Tomatoes are much better when they come directly from your garden and are grown in warm weather months. Flowers are no different. Depending on your region, the seasonal timeline may vary slightly, but for the most part, we all follow similar growing guidelines.

Fresh seasonal flowers will last at least one week in a vase of clean water, and if processed correctly, many can last much longer. But a cut flower that spends the majority of its life on hold in a dark cooler at the wholesaler, after having endured long days of travel, just won't last as long or be quite as beautiful. This is just one of the many reasons to choose more local and seasonal flowers whenever possible.

The American Flower Farmer

Florists who prefer to primarily use in-season flowers and foliage are usually located in areas with predictable weather patterns. If the weather is too cold for too long, the growing season is just too short for the local flower farmers to make any headway. Many annual cut flowers used by florists require warmer weather for several months at a time. Predictable warm climates are one of the reasons much of the flower-growing industry migrated to South America and Mexico many years ago. However, changes in recent years, with the introduction of the Slow Flower Movement indicate that The American Flower Farmer is making a comeback. Choosing to support locals the next time you seek a fresh bouquet of flowers is an excellent way to ensure they stay. I have included links at the bottom so you can access books and watch two short videos about the Slow Flower Movement in America. The informative book, Flower Confidential., was recommended to me at the beginning of my flower journey and I recommend reading it if you want to learn more about the flower industry in general.

Choosing A Season For Your Event

Proms begin in early spring so that places them at a good time of year to request seasonal flowers. Spring flowers are usually plentiful in many regions of the United States. Mother's Day is also in spring, making it an easy holiday to give a seasonal flower bouquet. Valentine's Day and Winter Holidays, not so much, however, I happen to know many local eco-conscious growers not afraid of the concept of traditional flower substitutions - for instance, opting for locally-grown tulips when only non-domestic roses are the winter alternative. Or you can always do what I do and search for a flower grower in another part of the United States with longer seasons where you can source flowers. Did you know that Alaska has many peony farms and that they are readily available to us outside of our limited growing season? And California with its mild climate and longer growing season has an abundance of flower growers ready to ship upon request. The prom below was in early spring and I chose pink tulips as the posy accent flower.

Prom Flowers

Seasonal wedding flowers are a little easier to manage. Choosing the season of your wedding day based on season-based availability is something you have total control over and one way to creatively plan the beauty of your bouquet and other accents. Asking your sustainable flower artist to source American Grown Flowers and following color schemes rather than specific flowers are both good practices if you choose to have a more eco-conscious wedding. The wedding below took place in early October and the couple chose to use Dahlia.

Photography by Karma Pants

Growing Zones

Spring flowers seem to pop up just in time here in the Northeast U.S. where I reside. At the end of March, we are all ready to shed the coats and get outside for some much-needed vitamin D and that's just the time these beautiful little lovelies begin emerging from the ground. My zone in Pennsylvania is 7b. You can find your zone here. Zone growing guides will help you understand what types of flowers are growing in your area of the country. This will help you plan for a seasonally sourced event.

Spring

The most popular spring flowers in this area are what are known as perennials. A perennial plant or shrub is a plant that lives for more than two years, however, many flower growers and garden lovers treat common flowers like narcissus and tulips as annuals and plant new bulbs every single fall to ensure they will be viable in the spring. Spring flowers tend to be abundant everywhere you look and they are a nice reminder that the winter is over and the season is changing.

Spring Narcissus at Windy Hill Farm. Photography by Kim Bensing

The Transition

At the very end of spring and the very beginning of summer, there is sometimes a slight lull in the season of flowers. Just as the spring perennials are dying off and the new annuals are just going into the ground, there is a period of time when local flowers are somewhat limited. Ironically, this seems to be the most popular season for brides. The weather is nice but the next season of flowers is not quite ready. So if you are a bride planning a wedding and you definitely want to use eco-friendly seasonals, I recommend choosing a different time of the year so that you have an abundance of seasonals to choose from.

Summer

The summer months are by far the most prolific flower-growing months in the United States. It's true that annual cutting flowers are planted every year by enthusiasts, but a great many of the early summer perennials will repeat perfectly year after year without much tending. Some of the summer perennials may require separation after several years just to thin things out, but I've also gone many years just enjoying the varieties on my farm and leaving them to themselves.

Summer Annual Flowers at Detweiler Homestead Farm

By mid-late summer the many cut flower annuals planted in the northeast in mid-May start to become available for harvest. These annuals are a huge part of the local flower growers' economy. Farmers' markets and roadside stands are bursting with buckets of fresh blooms and it's a much more sustainable way to enjoy a simple weekly bouquet.

Autumn

In early autumn we still have the wonderful late summer flowers going strong, and we are starting to see some blooms from the autumn group. Sunflowers are abundant at this time of year and a very popular flower in autumn is the Dahlia. If you are unfamiliar with the Dahlia, try to find a grower in your area and purchase a few. You will be amazed at the wide range of colors these fall flowers provide. Floral designers just love them because of all their vibrant colors, these colorful blooms create attractive floral arrangements and beautiful bouquets without much assistance.

Dahlia Detail. Photography by Kim Bensing

Winter

While it's true, the cooler months produce fewer flowers this by no means diminishes amazing seasonal possibilities. There is so much out there if you pay close attention and search. Think of all of the forever reliable evergreen shrubs, twigs, berries, and pine cones which are rigid seed vessels but beautiful and useful nevertheless. Winter varieties are vast and can be just as interesting if that is your season of choice.

Below I have provided a few short lists of some seasonal flowers that are pretty universal in the Northeast. Enjoy learning about how flowers, like our food, are seasonal and why it's important to know and appreciate their bloom cycles when planning your special events. Thank you for reading about seasonal flowers. Please share your favorite season of flowers in the comments below.

Winter Wreath design by Amber of Rising Hill Farm

Popular Spring Flowers:

• Narcissus

• Tulips

• Hellebores

• Lily of the Valley

• Hyacinth

• Forsythia

• Cherry Blossoms

• Peonies

Popular Early-Mid Summer Flowers:

• Peonies

• Astilbe

• Clematis

• Oriental Poppies

• Iris

• Lavender

Popular Mid-Late Summer Flowers:

• Echinacea

• Sunflowers

• Rudbeckia

• Phlox

• Shasta Daisies

• All the Annual Cut Flowers

Popular Autumn Flowers:

• Dahlia

• Sunflowers

• Chrysanthemums

• Celosia

• Asters

• Dianthus

Popular Winter Choices:

• Cedar

• White Pine

• Concolor Fir

• Arborvitae

• Boxwood

• Juniper

• Winterberry

• Snowberry

• Cones

• Curly Willow

Learn more about this topic.

Watch these videos:
American Growers: Local Flowers, Local Farmers: A Growing Movement
What Is The Slow Flower Movement?

Enjoy These Books:

View This Product

View This Product

View This Product

10 Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Event or Wedding

Boutonniere design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Karmapants

There is so much that goes into planning any event large or small, and remembering to keep things simple and reduce your carbon footprint may be your most difficult challenge. Did you know that the average wedding produces a massive 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of CO2? It's not surprising to me, having worked in the industry for over 25 years, but it is disappointing.

The good news is that there are many eco-friendly ideas you can implement when planning your next event if you don’t want to contribute to that excessive waste. Whether it's your wedding day, or just a big day celebration, always considering your environment and your carbon footprint is very important.

First, try breaking your event down into manageable bites by making two lists: "must-haves" and "can live without". You'll quickly find that it's not as difficult as you may have thought and sorting now helps to simplify everything later. Here are ten things to closely consider when planning your day.

1. Consider a Micro event

When creating your guest list, remember it's quality, not quantity that matters. Good news, some of the most special events are very intimate affairs. Although the word micro doesn't only have to describe your guest list, there are plenty of ways to "Go Micro" for the environment, and still have a sizable guest list.

2. Hire an event Planner

At first, an event planner, 'day of', or coordinator might seem like an extravagance that you can't afford, but hiring an event or wedding planner may prove to be your best decision overall, and here's why. Planners plan all day, every day. They know the venues, the entertainment, and all of the little idiosyncracies that might trip you up along the way. They can save you a lot of time, wedding waste, aggravation, money, and especially all that running around. So don't rule them out before you begin. Consider your location, time availability, and energy level. Where are your efforts best allocated?

Venue Hotel Du Village. Flower design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Cultivating Joy Flowers. Photography by Elle Studios

3. find A Beautiful Venue

When hunting for a venue, it's a good idea to open your eyes wide and focus on everything, not just capacity and catering options. Look in every corner of the interior, entryways, hallways, bathrooms, and outside in the gardens, parking lots, and all around the grounds where your guests may wander. Take it all in, because this is one area you can really save a bundle.

We all know what it can cost to decorate an empty social hall, school, or ill-styled restaurant. Sure, the price may be fine and they may provide you with tables and chairs, but is that enough? Chances are you'll need to provide all of your own linens, centerpieces, flower embellishments, arches, favors, candles, and sometimes even food. The list can go on forever. But some more inclusive venues provide most of those things and provide you with the proper ambiance that wipes all of the other items off of your list.

Take this gorgeous barn, for instance. It belongs to a good friend of mine and requires minimal embellishment to make it really pop for a small-medium event.

A micro-event at Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm.

Beautiful venues really focus on visual impact. When touring, take a good look around outside because so many venues have beautifully landscaped grounds and gardens that need no embellishment at all. The decore is built-in. In fact, adding decor can actually take away from the natural beauty that is already there. In some cases, you can host your entire event in a garden space and not need to purchase anything to enhance the event. The flowers and greenery are already all around you! And be inquisitive, many venues today offer a room full of rentable decor, candle votives, large flower planters, and other items for your tables Some even offer these items to customers free of charge. Always ask the venue coordinator, you may be surprised by what they already have and are willing to provide. This is always a better option than buying everything new if you are only intending on using it for one day.

---

Flower design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Littlewing Studios

Here is a peek into Cassia & Justin's green wedding on a beautiful farm property in East Greenville, PA. The wedding took place during covid and the couple did a wonderful job creating a micro event that mimicked an old country wedding. After a couple’s photo session next to the barn and in the fields, everyone walked from the outdoor ceremony up the small hill to the reception which was inside a glass-enclosed mini barn. Most guests stayed overnight on the property at the Inn, just a few steps away. The reception decor was simple and consisted of buckets of fresh flowers and herbs which the bride and maids placed onto three unique micro cakes and into small glass bottles. Photography courtesy of Littlewing Studios.

Herbs grown by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Littlewing Studios

---

4. beg, borrow or thrift

If your event is repeated and let's say you host annually, then I'd suggest just purchasing the linens and other necessary items once, and using them as much as possible, but if renting or borrowing is available to you and that makes more sense, then do it.

Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Littlewing Studios

When searching for vases, candle holders, or other tableware, I suggest always starting at consignment or thrift shops. Antiques are always nicer than new and giving these items a second look is commendable and very green.

I also always encourage my clients to borrow. It’s likely a friend or family member has just the thing you are looking for. Over the years I’ve created many centerpiece arrangements using cherished family heirlooms as the vessel. Delicate teacups, a vintage bottle collection, you name it. Added bonus: there’s often a sentimental story attached to these pieces and guests enjoy hearing it.

5. Host an event At Home

Don't underestimate the space you have right under your nose. This idea always scares people, but using your own home is an easy way to reduce your costs tremendously if cost is a concern. You do not need large furniture or vast spaces to entertain at home. Honestly, I've hosted many events here on our farm both outside in the yard, and inside in our four small lower-level rooms. Our home is not big because it's 172 years old and the rooms were designed to keep people warm and close. But because we always knew we loved to entertain, we made a few good renovation choices over the years and they have helped us achieve this goal successfully.

Many of us have incorporated a patio or deck into our outdoor landscapes. These areas are always great choices for hosting a warm-weather event. I've hosted many events on our very small deck with a round iron table that only seats 4! Truth be told I bought that table at a yard sale, 23 years ago. No matter, because it still works great and when I need more seating, I just add smaller cafe tables, benches, and bars made from old barn doors (all purchased on the Facebook marketplace) to accommodate guests. Miscellaneous ensembles can make our deck look like an eclectic cafe and I'm okay with that vibe.

As for the lawn space, I try to use most of that too. If our event is larger and I need lots more seating, I just rent long tables and chairs from our local rental store. They rent for the entire weekend so I can sometimes squeeze two parties out of one rental. It's relatively inexpensive to rent and very easy because I do not have to worry about storing anything.

6. Stay Local

Choose your event space or wedding venue wisely. The environment is always impacted by where you chose to host. If you want your guests to fly to a destination wedding, for instance, this will undoubtedly affect the sustainability of your event. But driving long distances may as well. There are creative ways you can keep everyone local so they almost don't need to travel at all.

Source: The Knot

Take for example the New Orleans Second Line Wedding Parade, a brass band processional tradition that predates the Civil War. Modern couples incorporate this historic custom into their wedding to give homage to their New Orleans roots. In this tradition, the brass band leads guests on foot from the wedding venue to the reception venue. Now, you'd need for your venues to be near enough, but even if you don't hire an escort band, you could incorporate an eco-friendly l between-venue walk, also popular with rural weddings long ago. And if you have a family member with limited mobility, come up with a cherished way to honor them in your foot parade.

7. eco-conscious sourcing

Casual Biodegrading

If your event calls for more casual, disposable serving products like plates, utensils, and napkins it's best to always choose biodegradable materials instead of plastic. Not only will you have less waste, but you won't contribute to the pounds of trash that most events do.

But don't worry going green does not mean you are not limited to paper goods. There are so many sustainable options today. Below I’ve compiled a list of natural sources with links to compostable dinnerware you can order for your next event. I hope you find a sustainable alternative that fits your style.

• Palm Leaves

• Compostable Wheat

• Bamboo

• Sugarcane

Photo courtesy of Maggpie Rentals

Glamorous Renting
Consider renting fancy dishware and glassware instead of buying everything. This opens up the door to an extra level of glam, while still impacting the environment in a positive way.

And did you know you can easily rent almost anything you need? For instance, the seating ensemble above, and many others can be rented from Maggpie in Boyertown, PA. If you have an empty space to fill or just need an interesting backdrop, shop the exact look you want and rent it! Here is a list of other beautiful and off-beat rental options you may not have known about.

• Love and a Truck Co.

• Fox and Finch

• Lovebirds Vintage Rentals

Design by Studio Sprig. Handmade Paper Porridge Papers. Eco-Conscious Printer Bucks Digital. Twig from backyard.

Sustainable Stationery

When considering your event stationery needs, it's best to always use recycled or handmade paper and nontoxic inks - or search for sustainable or eco-friendly graphic designers and printers like Bucks Digital, in your area if you are not the DIY type. And if you love to DIY, a great paper source is Greenfield Paper Co. from California. They have reinvented the age-old tradition of creating fine paper without cutting down trees. Green Field Paper Company offers three lines of recycled papers that integrate post-consumer pulp with non-traditional additives such as seeds, hemp, coffee chaff, denim, junk mail, and garlic skins! All of their products are made in the USA and they do not use any dyes or bleach. Earth pigments are used to color the papers and all of their seed paper contains non-GMO non-invasive seeds. Or Porridge Papers, my source in the design above, whose owner Christopher once produced a single custom sheet that was sent to Martha Stewart and another order of  2.2 million pieces embedded with lettuce seeds for Kraft Foods. Using seeded and plantable paper is really cool, good for the environment, and a way to save the “memory” of your event.

8. Stay in Season

Flowers

If you choose to incorporate beautiful flowers or plants into your event design, always try to stay in season. Seasonal blooms have always been the goal of Studio Sprig for many reasons. First of all, they are much fresher and much more beautiful, in my opinion. Many times they are harvested one or maybe only two days before your event. This means they not only look their best, but they will hold up longer if you want to repurpose them afterward. Staying in season is so good for the environment because you are using what nature is already providing instead of forcing growth in greenhouses far away in climates more suitable. Here is a nice guide for choosing flowers by season.

Food & Drink

Building your menu around the seasons is such a smart idea. Tomatoes always taste better in summer. We all know this. Staying in season and trying to use local farms eliminates the need to transport food long distances at great cost. Most chefs would jump at the chance to create a menu with only seasonal ingredients, and if you are preparing the food and drink yourself, here are two helpful books.

9. Grow Your Own flowers

When it comes to your event or wedding flowers, there are plenty of sustainable flower farmers you can choose from. Some of them have designers on the premises while others contract the service.

Another good option might be to plan ahead and grow your own. This is much easier if you're planning a micro event or a larger event with less need for custom flowers and greens. But if you or someone you know is an avid gardener, this endeavor could be very rewarding. If you do decide to do this, however, I’d recommend a backup plan just in case. Weather and pests are obstacles to be aware of. This book by Floret’s Erin Benzakein is a well-organized guide to growing your own.

Ann Hayes of Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm gives a tour of her dahlia fields.

And did you know you can also hire local farmers to grow flowers for you? I work with several growers willing to do this if they have enough lead time and can grow what the event requires in the correct season. And when local farmers grow your flowers you have the peace of mind that the job will get done right and if they do run into a problem on your special day, they are most likely to have a surplus of other varieties for you to choose from and/or the connections to get what you need.

Cool idea: Hosting a tour of the flower farm growing your event flowers is a unique way to bring a small group from your event together. It’s a fabulous setting for an outdoor bridal shower or with this tour you can create an educational precursor for an eco-friendly fundraising event.

10. Donate whenever possible

Food
One great way to avoid a lot of food waste after your catered event is to donate your leftover food to a local church, animal shelter, food bank, or homeless shelter. You'd need to follow food safety guidelines of course and ask your caterer if they have a process in place for this already, but if they do not here are some links that may help you find what you are looking for.

• Feeding America: Looking for a Food Bank near you

• Great Nonprofits: Looking for a Homeless Shelter near you

• Humane Society: Looking for an Animal Shelter near you

Decor & Flowers
Donations of decor are also appreciated greatly. Perhaps you know you'll never use 200 votive candle holders again or you just don't have space for the 25 vases you accumulated. There's probably a bride out there somewhere who would love to recycle your glass jars for you. Or maybe some local hospitals could use a few fresh floral arrangements for their lobby this week. One of the easiest ways to resell your lightly used decor is on the Facebook marketplace.

---

Flower design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Detweiler Homestead. Photography by Taylor Cotilla

Enjoy this glimpse of Lindsay & Jordan's late summer wedding. Lindsay requested a pure white, sustainable bridal bouquet so I chose to work with one of my local favorites, white lisianthus. These focal flowers were grown on the reputable Detweiler Homestead Farm originally in Telford, PA, and they were accented with greens harvested from Bloom Flower Farm, originally from Hilltown, PA. A bridal, one bridesmaid bouquet, several boutonnieres, and cake flowers were the complete floral order for this beautiful, micro event.

---

Thank you for reading this blog, Please comment below and share your thoughts and suggestions. I’ve included some great resources below. Just click the image for your convenience. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to sign up please join our subscriber list here.

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact  Kim@kimbensingdesign.com. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

A Family Tree Inspired Wedding Invitation

Kelly and Peter Jerrom.

A Family tree & a Twig

Today I’d like to share this hand-crafted invitation that I created for a couple of cute tree huggers that I know.

The invitation suite entitled Love Tree consists of an 8-page book-style invitation which was hand-bound with handmade paper, raffia, and a small twig, a custom logo, a program, escort cards for the calligrapher, response, and directional cards, and a logo-stamped copper foil label to seal the beautiful, yet subtle, fern leaf inner envelope by Envelopments.

Love Tree Wedding Invitation Book and Suite. Concept and Design by Kim Bensing Design

make it “more” special

When Peter and Kelly approached me to design for their wedding, they brought with them an entire Love Story. Kelly and Peter were childhood friends and their parents were friends as well. They expressed how important it was to them that I somehow incorporate their family into their wedding day, but not just in the typical way with photos and a devotional, they wanted more.

You see, Peter Jerrom, my friend, my arborist, my design client, and the groom-to-be owns the boutique landscape business Peter A. Jerrom Landscapes Inc. in Bucks County, PA. Peter’s unique profession and business are the inspiration behind this entire wedding invitation suite.

Logo Designed by Kim Bensing Design

the creative challenge

The concept of a “Family Tree” Inspired Invite came to me pretty quickly as Peter was my arborist and both he and Kelly wanted to include family into the design somehow. But I had to figure out how to incorporate this concept into an entire wedding invitation suite.

So, first I designed the logo that incidentally not only graced their invitation, and envelope enclosure label but lived on to serve as the main design element the entire wedding day. Their last initial “J” for Jerrom lent itself nicely to a very simple solution. I plopped an elegant leaf on top of the elegant J. The logo was embossed onto bronze labels and they were used to enclose the inner envelope which held all the suite pieces together. It was also used in strategic places throughout the suite ensemble, as you can see in the photo above.

Love Tree Wedding Invitation Suite. Photography by Richard Quindry.

How to make an invitation into a mini book

Next, I designed the soft green invitation book cover. The cover features the quote “Life without Love is like a Tree without blossoms or fruit.” and the words Love and Tree are enlarged and carefully stacked to serve as the book’s title.

The pages of the book showcase the family tree-style dates of marriage in Kelly & Peter's families. I decided to use watercolor tree illustrations as the focal art so I commissioned a friend and well-known Bucks County watercolor artist, Jane Ramsey to create the three trees inside the book. As you can see, on the first spread, the tree is small and its four branches sprout only the couple’s four grandparent groups and their wedding dates.

Spread one. Love Tree Custom Invitation Suite.

But on spread 2, as the tree grows, the couple's parents are added to either side of the tree.

Spread two. Love Tree Custom Invitation Suite.

Until finally on spread 3, you see Kelly and Peter-names only, but no date. This detail allowed me to dedicate the last page of the book to the actual wedding invitation, completing the tree.

After all the pages and covers were printed, handmade paper, raffia, and lots of small twigs were gathered, I had the help of 2 moms and several bridesmaids to assemble the 100+ invite books which made their creation a lot of fun.

Spread three. Love Tree Custom Invitation Suite.

Facts about this Wedding Invitation Suite

This Custom Invitation Suite, I’m honored to say, won a PHILLYGOLD at the Art Directors Club of Philadelphia, as well as A GOLD ADDY from the Advertising Club of Philadelphia. The logo and concept lived on throughout the wedding day on the cake, and aisle runner and even showed up again later in a cool birth announcement I created for Kelly & Peter’s first child. This announcement featured a tree with one long branch from which we hung a dangling swing. It’s really nice when creative concepts can travel and incorporate themselves throughout a long and happy life.

Love Tree Wedding Invitation Suite. Invitation book, program, response card, escort cards, label. Photography by Richard Quindry.

Love Tree Wedding Invitation Program Designed by Kim Bensing Design

The hidden life of trees

Below I have included the link to a really interesting book about how trees communicate. It really will make you think about trees, flowers, fungi, and all plants differently. Trust me.

Hand-painted Love Tree Aisle Runner.

Learn more about why trees are so fantastic

Learn: Read this cool book entitled "The Hidden Life of Trees —What They Feel, How They Communicate”
Create: The next time you host an event, be sure to create a concept-centered invitation that inspires creative fun.
Inspire: Please comment and share ways you’ve developed a concept for an event that was original and inspired others.

Simple “J” Logo & Ivy Love Tree Cake Decor.

I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. - Kim
If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

Kim Bensing Design Photography by Jeff Reeder

How to choose flowers that have sentimental meaning

The Meaning of Flowers

Long before I opened Studio Sprig in 2016, I owned a freelance design business called Kim Bensing Design where I told sentimental romance stories through book-like wedding invitations. Because of my background in conceptual advertising, the captivating stories about my engaged couples were what I was after. I interviewed them extensively before I even began the design work. I loved this aspect of my job. I really enjoyed getting to know their backstory, and what message they wanted to relay to their guests with their invitations.

So in 2012, my first daughter Kate was graduating 6th grade and I wanted to buy her some flowers. But I didn’t want them to be just any pre-made, handheld bouquet wrapped in plastic. I wanted them to be especially meaningful to reflect how ultra special she was to me. So I went to a florist near me and asked them to tie up a few specific blooms & sprigs for my daughter to hold at her ceremony. This is four years before I knew anything about the floral industry, local growers, seasonal flowers, or pesticides. I did, however, know about plastic wrap, and I knew I did not want that! When I arrived, I was strictly interested in the meaning of the flowers and I asked for their help. And because I needed a card to explain the flowers, I also designed and attached a simple little one that illustrated the meaning of each flower in the bouquet and why I chose it. I hoped that she’d keep this forever but I am not sure she could actually find that card today, as she’s now 22 and a very busy graduate student. But through that small, ribbon-tied bouquet and a little tiny card, my undying love was conveyed that day, and it was the catalyst that propelled me to launch the Bucks County, boutique floral art studio; Studio Sprig, four years later.

Choosing Sentimental Flowers for Arrangements and Bouquets

Here is a short list of some of the flowers I chose for Kate’s bouquet above, to the best of my limited 2011 knowledge, and again because I can’t find the card!!! I hope you get the idea.

The focal flower is Stock & it is a symbol of a happy life, lasting beauty, and contented existence. It also smells AMAZING!!
The purple Aster symbolizes love, wisdom & faith.
The scattered Baby’s breath symbolizes everlasting love.
I am sure there were a few more sprigs tucked in, but I can’t see them in this photo, so sorry.

This topic of “the meaning behind something” has always fascinated me so here is a little flower history for you.

Floriography: The Language of Flowers

Floriography, the language of flowers, has been practiced in traditional cultures throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa for thousands of years. Strong interest in floriography soared in Victorian England and in the United States during the 19th century. Gifts of blooms, plants, and specific floral arrangements were used to send a coded message to the recipient, allowing the sender to express feelings which - and I love this part - could not be spoken aloud in Victorian society. A popular book entitled Le Langage des fleurs by Charlotte de la Tour was published in France in 1819. Here, Charlotte offered 300 meanings for particular flowers to provide assistance in making bouquets. Victorians often exchanged small "talking bouquets", called nosegays or tussie-mussies, which could be worn or carried as a fashion accessory.* I always love this because I carried a tussie-mussie filled with roses, hydrangea, and herbs for my wedding in 1998, having absolutely no real understanding of why I chose one except that I loved Jane Austen.

If you are unfamiliar with the illustrations of Kate Greenaway, take a look at her gorgeous 19th-century children’s books including the one linked below.

I hope you have enjoyed learning the meaning behind the meaning of flowers. Below please see the short list of some popular blooms and their symbolisms as well as a few current and not-so-current resources I discovered. You can click on the image and it will take you to where you can buy it. Have fun the next time you create a bouquet from your own garden or pop into your local flower shop or farmer’s market, and be sure to request specifics based on what they will mean to your recipient. Remember to always attach a small card to explain!

Helpful Links to learn more about meaningful flowers

I have included a link for the french edition of Le Langage des fleurs if you would like to add it to your collection. There are also more current options which I will include below. Most notably the gorgeous books authored by Shane Connolly. Enjoy.

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Floriography Sources

Shane Connolly of the UK is a renowned designer who designs for England’s royalty. Shane exemplifies the idea of discovering how florals can relate to the concept of your event. His beautiful website is worth browsing. Here are 6 of his published books that would be worth reading.

The Secret Language of Flowers: Rediscovering Traditional Meanings

Language of Flowers

Wedding Flowers

A Year in Flowers

Table Flowers: Over 50 Arrangements for Simple, Special and Spectacular Occasions

Discovering the Meaning of Flowers

Please comment to share some other interesting floral symbolisms or stories you’ve enjoyed or created. Include images!

A short list of popular flowers, herbs and their symbolisms:

~ Zinnia / friendship, & daily remembrance
~ Rose / love & passion
~ Peony / love, honor & goodwill
~ Dahlia / commitment & kindness
~ Tulip / passion & deep love
~ Carnation / love
~ Calla Lily / life & fertility
~ Gerber Daisy / cheerfulness & celebration
~ Orchid / thoughtfulness & charm
~ Gardenia / trust, hope & peace
~ Sunflowers / loyalty & admiration
~ Hydrangea / gratitude, grace & beauty
~ Rosemary / remembrance
~ Sage / wisdom & immortality
~ Thyme / courage & activity

---

Learn: Read a book about the meaning of flowers
Create: Design a handheld tussie-mussie and assemble with a note
Inspire: Share your creation with a friend

I hope you enjoyed this Inspiration. Please leave comments below. I’d love to hear about your cool floral combinations. I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. - Kim

---

*source: Wikpedia
Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate and will sometimes offer affiliate links. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. Thank you very much.