Exceptional Professional: Zinser Photography

I had the opportunity to work with Evan from Zinser Photography long before I joined The Victorian House when we did a show for the The Own Network called Carson Nation.  Since then, I have had the chance to work with Evan on many occasions.  He is a creative photographer that is great at what he does.  He does location shoots as well as studio portraits.

Exceptional Professional: The Stylish Scribe

Baby Announcement by Jessica at The Stylish Scribe

Creativity manifests in so many ways.  Jessica, the creative mind at The Stylish Scribe, happens to be amazingly creative at paper products.  In a world full of online templates and pre-printed big box store paper, The Stylish Scribe offers something that will grab attention, something that can be cherished, heck, they will also look good on your refrigerator.  Little Baby Charlotte up there will know how important her arrival was just by the look of those adorable announcements! 

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

Hidden Solace in South Lake Tahoe

I get the opportunity to visit some of the event venues we have in this area pretty regularly.  Last week we went to a gorgeous location right on the banks of South Lake Tahoe.  You wouldn't know Lakeland Village was there just by driving by, it has a sign but is surrounded by trees and a fence to help keep the traffic noise to a minimum.  They offer beachside weddings and have an entire condominium complex for guests to stay.  They also have an outdoor patio on top of their clubhouse with phenomenal views of Lake Tahoe.   
I am partial to this little piece of heaven because I have had the luxury of staying here on a few occasions, for a wedding where we got to enjoy the gorgeous reception area overlooking the lake and also during Super Bowl weekend when a bunch of friends get together in #633 to watch the game and ski.  Well they ski, I am not crazy so I stay at the condo and get the food ready.  My buddies at the Victorian House are already planning vacations and even a retreat!  
Prices are reasonable and guest wanting to stay there for a wedding will get special pricing.  As far as the facilities manager told me, they do not have nearly the amount of weddings they should.  They have everything from one bedroom lofts with kitchenettes to 5 bedroom lakefront townhomes that will make you feel like P Diddy (or is it Puff Daddy this week?  I digress)

I just hope the people on charge of Lakeland don't get any crazy ideas and do something crazy, like raise their prices or close the pool in the winter. Oh, I didn't mention that? Yea, they keep the pool open All. YEAR. LONG. You're Welcome!

The Victorian House: Great Concept, Exceptional Professionals

Fate can sometimes throw you a screwball.  While working on my business plan for the upcoming year in December of 2010, one of the avenues of my business I wanted to expand was the wedding business.  I was contemplating joining some local business groups that focus on weddings and thinking of ways to expand our reach from just The Carson Valley to all of Northern Nevada and California.  About 2 weeks before Mother's Day (a horribly busy holiday for all of you non-florists,) I get a call from a great friend that thought of me when a spot opened up at The Victorian House in Reno for a florist.  Mind you, we were already planning a shop move but this was an oppurtunity to great to pass up.

The concept at The Victorian House is to have a place where couples can come and have reliable event professionals all in one place.  There is only one professional per category and we all have space in beautifully decorated space near Downtown Reno.  Now, the idea is not that we only refer to each other, we all work with a variety of vendors from every avenue of an event.  It is just to make a couple feel confident in the professionals they book and to save them some time.  We have all been vetted and not just anyone can become a part of the house.  An added benefit is that we work together well and can coordinate with each other without having to bother our brides and grooms. I for one would have loved a place like this when planning my wedding!  I am in the wedding business and had multiple vendors at my wedding that were not honest and did not produce what they had been contracted to do.  Every facet of your wedding is covered at The Victorian House: cake, catering, photography, event planning, invitations, hair and make up and of course, FLOWERS! 

So, I have been a member for six months and my wedding business has expanded but even better, I have a better understanding of the wedding business as a whole and have gained priceless knowledge and ideas to sustain my entire business.  I am excited to see what the new year brings and ready to jump in with both feet!