Kelly and Paul, Plumpjack Squaw Valley

Dahlias and lisianthus headline this rustic bouquet

I have to take credit as more than just the florist for this beautiful mountain wedding.  Some co-conspirators and myself introduced Paul and Kelly at a Christmas party and before we knew it, we could add matchmaker to our list of talents.
When Paul and Kelly announced their engagement, all of their friends were so excited for the Canadian bachelor and his sweet spunky architect fiance.  I was not expecting to be asked to do their flowers just because I was their friend but was happy to oblige when Kelly asked if she could come by the shop for a consultation.
At first I thought it would be easy to be the florist for a friend's wedding.  I had known the groom for over 10 years and Kelly and I had become friends in the years Paul and her were dating.  Then it hit me.  All of a sudden, I doubted every aspect of my design capabilities.  When making her sample bouquet about a month before the wedding, I fiddled with it, looked at it from every angle and made sure it was perfect.  Once she saw it, loved it and didn't completely rip it apart, my doubts were squashed.  I had this huge burden lifted and I had to remind myself this is what I do for a living.  With the wedding being someone I know I worked myself up and doubted my capabilities for nothing.
Fast forward to the day of the wedding.  It was at Plumpjack Inn in Squaw Vally, a quaint little inn at the foot of the ski slopes.  The couple is  not originally from this area so family and friends came in from all over the continent, from Canada to Connecticut.  I arrived early to allow ample time to set up and then go to my room to get ready to enjoy the party.  The flowers were fantastic, in my humble opinion, but the entire wedding was magical.  The setting was by itself gorgeous.  They got married in a little alcove next to a babbling creek with the Sierras as a backdrop.  Besides the venue, Paul and Kelly paid special attention to entertaining their guests from far and wide.  They set up an entire weekend of activities, rafting one day, a relaxing beach day another.  Once the party started, I was just a guest at one of the most beautiful weddings I have been to.  It could be I am a little biased because it was the wedding of two very special people to me but I think I would stand in my opinion even if I was just the florist.

All Photography by Bret Cole, bretcole.com