Murphy Mondays: Bowls, and Bottles, Vases, and More!

Hi y'all! I hope you're enjoying your summer as much as I am! I can tell by the humans who come in to visit us that they are definitely enjoying their summer planning their weddings. How fun!

One of the things that couples discuss when they come in to talk to my people is rental pieces. Yes, we make gorgeous wedding flowers (and by we, I mean them) but the flowers have to go in something, right? That's where our vases and other pieces come in - we have a huge supply of vases of all shapes and sizes, bottles, jars, bowls, and everything else you can imagine to make your wedding beautiful. In fact, those pieces really help people to set the tone for the kind of wedding that they want whether it's rustic, vintage, classic, or modern.

Here are some things to consider:

*Don't underestimate how much these rentals pieces can really add to your wedding. They are the "frame" for beautiful wedding flowers. My bowls just hold my food and water - those bowls make your wedding come to life! My people will talk about these pieces when they talk about your flowers.

*The rental pieces are typically folded in to the price of your wedding flowers. Can you bring your own pieces for us to fill with wedding flowers? Definitely! Just know that this won't really save you much when it comes to pricing because our rental fees are so nominal. If you do decide that you want to use your special pieces, make sure they come to us completely clean, sticker-free and ready to use.

*If you decide that you want us to deliver your wedding flowers, we will also pick up the rental pieces at the end of your reception. So you don't have to worry about where all those bowls and vases go or making sure you get them back to us. We take care of everything!

Here, you can see that a very creative guy at one of our weddings found something else to do with our vases (don't try this at home)!!

So make sure you consider vases and all the rest when you come in to talk to us! Have a great week!

Murphy

Wedding Faves: A Splash of Orange

Winter can truly be a spectacular season for weddings here in Austin and this one was no exception. I absolutely loved this winter bridal bouquet (January, 2012) which featured a combination of seasonal winter flowers with a collar of dusty miller. This particular foliage has become a favorite for its soft gray/green color and its velvety texture. And because it's become so well loved, we have found ways to incorporate it into every season this year.

Sweet navy blue bridemaids dresses served as great backdrops for cream flowers with splashes of blue and orange. I love the texture that the thistles bring to the composition.

Orange ranunucla for the groom - I love how the gray shirt and peach tie coordinate with the flower selections. Sometimes this is well planned and other times it just happens :)

The color theme continued all the way through the event down to the last layer of cake.

Ceremony: The Smith Family Chapel at Riverbend Church
Reception: Mansion at Judges' Hill
Photographer: Photography By Shea

Murphy Mondays: Beating The Heat

It's hot. Like hot, hot. You think you're hot? Trying wearing a fur coat in this weather. They don't call these the "dog days of summer" for nothing; and Texas summers are no joke. Still, there are plenty of brides and grooms who come to Bouquets of Austin to plan their summer wedding. And some of those weddings are...outside. Now, I don't get that but, hey, whatever floats your wedding boat.

Truth be told, summer outdoor weddings can still be gorgeous - and so are the wedding flowers - but brides and grooms sometimes need to get creative to help beat the heat at their summer weddings. Luckily, there are a lot of awesome ideas out there for humans (certainly not for us dogs, short of shaving us bald - and the answer to that is no) to keep cool at summer weddings. Here are some of the things that brides and grooms have done:

*Tent the ceremony/reception areas - Temperatures are one thing - the sun beating down on you is another (I should know). If you're going to have an outdoor wedding ceremony or daytime reception, think about tenting the areas or at least offering some sort of coverage to protect guests from the sun. That can increase comfort levels considerably. At the very least, provide pretty umbrellas that guests can use to keep out of the sun. Or consider hosting your ceremony at sunset and your reception when the sun has gone down.

*Offer fans for guests during the wedding ceremony - There are some adorable fan options to offer your wedding guests - paper, bamboo, and everything in between. Consider making your wedding programs into fans so that guests can keep cool and have a memento to take home at the end of the evening.

*Have bottled waters available for guests at the entrance to your ceremony - You can even think about making personalized labels for the water bottles and displaying them in fun, decorated coolers or have attendants pass them out to guests.

*Keep cocktails and appetizers cool and refreshing - Create a cool signature cocktail or refreshing appetizers that can be shared with your guests immediately following your ceremony. Keep it light, keep it simple, and keep it delicious.

*Limit the participation of your furry friends - This is a shout out for all my animal peers. It's totally cool to include pets in your ceremony (we love that; make sure you give us some pretty wedding flowers) but once that ceremony is over, get us inside with a responsible party, air conditioning, and a treat for our good work.

Summer weddings can be wonderful. Do what you can to make it as comfortable as possible for you and your guests and get ready to party!

Have a great week!

Murphy

Wedding Faves: Oh Juliette!

At Bouquets of Austin, we sure do love our pretty pictures. This is one of our favorites - a beautiful moment captured against a sweeping background. The lawn at the Mansion at Judges' hill is always a stunning backdrop for some equally spectacular wedding photos.

I absolutely loved this monochromatic color palette of cream and peach - featuring another one of the up and coming favorite garden roses, Juliette. Thanks to the grower, David Austin, garden roses are rapidly rising in popularity and - thankfully - availability!

What's wrong with this picture?  The bride provided these candles and the planner (from out of town) displayed these on the table without glass covers - not a good idea. This was a Spring wedding a few years ago before our recent string of fires. However, whether there's a burn ban or not, it is never a good idea to put candles on tables without covers. In this case, the linens were all but ruined from the running wax. The flowers looked awesome but these candles make me grimace every time I see this photo! Moral of the story? Cover those candles!

Photography: Jeff Loftin Photography

Murphy Mondays: Rainy Days and Mondays

It's a rainy Monday here in Austin and while that may not be news in other parts of the country, that's BIG news here! We are, after all, in the middle of summer and that means it's hot, hot, hot. It also means it's dry, dry, dry. We need rain in a big way. But, for Austin weddings (and dogs), rain can make things much more complicated. For dogs like myself rain means having to go outside and step in...wetness. Think about it. You wouldn't like it so much either. For brides and grooms planning on having their ceremony and/or reception outside, rain can throw a real dog bone into the event. So what can you do to make sure that your wedding runs without a hitch - even in the face of bad weather? Here are some tips:

*Have a backup plan. That may seem like a given, but you wouldn't believe how many people fail to plan for rain - even when they are having an outdoor wedding! Especially here in Austin where rain isn't the norm. Work with your venue - and your vendors - to make sure that there is a plan in place for rain.

*Make sure your venue can accommodate your guests inside as well as outside. Yes, you can certainly fit more people in an outdoor space than an indoor space. So brides and grooms will plan for a certain number of people outside even if those same number of people won't comfortably fit inside the venue. Bad idea. It's like trying to fit three dogs in a dog house.  You don't want to compromise your guests' experience by having them squeeze inside an uncomfortable space if rain does happen. Choose your venue - both the outside and the inside - based on the number of guests that you are inviting - NOT how many you think will come. It's Austin...they will come.

*Hire a planner. Nothing will help you navigate a rainy wedding day like having a professional planner in your corner. A wedding planner will help you put together a contingency plan and, best of all, they will manage your vendors accordingly.

For us here at Bouquets of Austin, we've had to manage many rainy day weddings. My people are used to it. They know how to turn a beautiful outdoor ceremony into a beautiful indoor ceremony at the drop of a hat. And, luckily, wedding flowers look great no matter what the weather!

Enjoy the rain and have a great week!

Murphy

Friday Photo Spotlight: Rustic Elegance

There are some wedding gowns that we just can't get out of our heads and this is one of them. Could this gown be any more spectacular? Or this bride any more gorgeous? This is one of our favorite weddings - a rustic, yet elegant, affair at Vista West Ranch (with bouquets to match!).

Wedding Planner: Barbara's Brides

Murphy Mondays: Quality Control at Your Service!

Hey there people - long time, no talk! Sorry I've been quiet for awhile but boy have I been busy! First of all, I've still been swimming every Thursday and I am pooped! Second, it's summer and I have lots of things to do around the shop and at home. Let's face it, my work is never done. Recently, I added a new job to my list of many, many responsibilities. I think it's a good one and for sure something that will help me a lot at Bouquets of Austin. What's the job? Quality Control Specialist!

My humans at Bouquets of Austin definitely know a LOT about quality control. After all, they make sure that all the wedding flowers that leave our shop are perfect for our brides and grooms. So I've gotten to see real quality control at work every day. But I can't say that I've had to worry too much about it in my job at the shop. I'm mostly responsible for greeting clients and, of course, picking up any loose food crumbs if they find their way to the floor.

But recently, my cousin Jennifer took me to PetSmart. You know PetSmart, right? It's a store just for us pets. Anyway, I don't know if you know this or not but they have an entire aisle for treats. AN ENTIRE AISLE!! FOR TREATS!! I didn't know which way to turn first. But I did my duty as the executive Labrador that I am and I did my best to INSPECT each of the treats. QUALITY CONTROL PEOPLE!!! Consider it an internship. And I rocked it hard.

Here are the things that I learned in my time as a Quality Control Specialist:

1. There are WAY more treats than I ever knew existed. Apparently, my people have been holding out on me. I'll have to address that.

2. Not every treat is the same as the other. There are many varieties of treats - just like flowers - and some are awesome and some not so awesome (I would never say "bad" because NO treat could ever be bad).

3. I realize how important quality control is now. My people sure do have their work cut out for them and now I know they are even more awesome than I thought because they really do care that all the flowers that come out of Bouquets of Austin are just perfect.

Now I also know that I can be much more helpful around the shop. Now that I can sniff out the good stuff I can certainly help with sniffing around the flowers. Maybe there will even be some more treats in it for me. It's the least I deserve, right??

Have a good week!

Murphy

Friday Photo Spotlight: Gorgeous Gloriosa Lilies

A stunning bouquet from last fall - something for a bride looking to make a statement!
It features gloriosa lilies and hot pink coxcomb finished with a collar of scented geranium foliage and a lush pink velvet ribbon.
Photographer: Anthology

Fall Flashback

It's May already! And as the summer heat makes its speedy approach, we're turning back the clock to show you some of our favorite pictures from our Fall, 2012 wedding season. Here are just a few that made the cut...


This is one of my favorite events of the season which included an absolutely spectacular 9' cross from Mancino Iron that we completely covered with flowers. Talk about a WOW ceremony piece!
We completed the look with two large, luscious arrangements - in the softest tones of whites, creams, and blush - at the entrance of the aisle. Finally, we lined the aisle with petals and candles for the ultimate romantic space.
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The bridesmaids bouquets were crafted with soft, romantic flowers - sweet and simple to complement the bridal party's rich, indigo blue dresses.

The gorgeous reception - held in the Darrell Royal Ballroom at Barton Creek Resort & Spa - featured gold chiavari chairs, champagne linens, and a combination of gorgeous tall and low centerpieces. Best of all, it featured an adorable bride and groom who were full of smiles - and that's always the best part for us!

Murphy Mondays: Keep Swimming

Last week I did something brand new. Something unexpected but completely awesome. I took a swimming class!! An ALL day swimming class!! My people found out about this amazing place not far from us where dogs like me hang out for the day and swim, play on the agility track, eat, relax, and do some overall socializing. Sounds great, right? I have to admit though...I had a couple of concerns. For one, how would they manage without me for a whole day at Bouquets of Austin? Secondly, I am not currently at what they call my "fighting weight."

Turns out, it was fantastic and I loved it!! Of course, the next day I was pretty beat and, therefore, not as much help with the wedding flowers as I am normally. When I got to the shop, first I did this...

 

Then I changed it up and did this...

 Then I thought Stephanie needed some help, so I did this...

Which, immediately after, caused me to do this...

Yes, I'm tired but I can't wait to go back and I'll get stronger every time. It's good advice for couples planning their weddings too...even when it gets crazy, keep swimming - something great is on the other side!

Have a great week!

Murphy

Murphy Mondays: Sharing the Love

As an Executive Labrador Retriever, I am called upon to manage many tasks at Bouquets of Austin. Of course, one of my most important roles is to protect the shop; I am, after all, a large dog and so I suspect my humans look to me for a certain level of protection. As I am more likely to lick someone to death than to pose any sort of canine threat, I really only act as "protector" in name only; but I keep that to myself. If, however, you need some food protected, I'm your dog.

As we've also discussed before, my role also includes greeter. That's my favorite part because I get to meet new people and show them what a great guy I am. I call this sharing the love; and when you work in a wedding flower shop, sharing the love is what it's all about. The people who come to meet us are happy and in love; they are there to plan the biggest day of their life and we're all happy to be a part of it! But sometimes even the happiest of occasions can cause strife between families and we see even the smallest piece of that in the consultation room at Bouquets of Austin. As an easygoing dog, I like to keep the peace; so here is my easy-to-follow tips on spreading the love when it comes to your flower meeting with us:

*Be respectful. It seems like a simple thing but boy can this get out of hand sometimes. I may really run Bouquets of Austin, but I still have to respect my humans and they are always respectful of me. So we like to make sure that everyone who comes to a meeting with us is respectful of each other. A lot of times brides and grooms bring along several members of their family to their meetings. That's always fun because it is, after all, a happy celebration. But fighting in that meeting...not so happy. Keep it loving and respectful.

*On that note, spread the love by keeping the bride and groom as the focus of the meeting. It is their wedding and, therefore, it should be their voices that are heard when it comes to the wedding flowers. Yes, everyone involved in the meeting will certainly have their opinions, but during the meeting may not be the best time to express those opinions if it causes conflict or derails the purpose of the meeting.

*Be open. The role of my humans at Bouquets of Austin is to make sure that our couples get gorgeous flowers on their wedding day. They are really good at what they do. So they always appreciate when couples - and their families - allow them to make suggestions based on their experience. When you're open to ideas, you may be pleasantly surprised by something you may not have thought of when it comes to your wedding flowers.

*Finally, spread the love by spreading the food. Please don't forget your host at Bouquets of Austin - ME. Gratuities are appreciated and I'll take whatever you've got (although bones are best).

Have a great week!

Murphy

Murphy Mondays: Good Behavior Gets You Treats

Hi humans! Today I'm on my soapbox (or whatever the dog equivalent of a soapbox is). I want to talk about good behavior. For me, it's pretty easy. Well, it's not easy to follow but it is pretty simple to understand. I can't go in the consultation room because I'm not supposed to interrupt the appointments and also because some people are allergic to dogs. I'm not supposed to leave the shop without permission. I'm not supposed to eat things out of Dara's trashcan. And I'm not supposed to eat the flowers (bummer). When I'm well-behaved - which is, let's face it, most of the time - I expect treats. I don't think that's unreasonable. Do you?

Me. Without treats. Just sayin'.

 For you humans, the expectations for good behavior are a lot different. And for my humans, in particular, the good behavior they need from the brides and grooms that they meet with is pretty specific. I've been around long enough to know what counts for good behavior in a meeting...and here it is!

1. Share the details of your flower budget. My people don't need to know how much your overall wedding will cost. But they DO need to know how much your wedding flower budget is; so don't keep it to yourself. If you have a number in mind then, by all means, share it please! It only helps my people to help YOU.

2. Understand that sometimes a price is what it is. My humans will always do their best to give you the best that they can within your budget. But you wouldn't believe how many people are offended because they can't get everything they want for the money they have to spend. Flowers cost what they cost - and the time of year affects that a lot. Everyone here will do their best to make your wedding dreams come true but sometimes a compromise is in order.

3. A crowd is fine but too many chefs in the kitchen...not so much. My people love meeting with brides and grooms and their families. The more the merrier they always say! Sometimes couples bring everyone from their parents to their wedding parties to their meetings. That's totally cool with us; as long as we don't have to face the dreaded "decision by committee." If every single person in the room has to weigh in on each and every flower, then it's going to be a loooooong meeting and probably a frustrating one for the bride and groom. Bring your peeps! But give them limited veto power!

These are just a couple of my good behavior tips for you humans. Make sure you follow them and maybe you'll get a treat. And, if you do, maybe you could share??

Have a good week!

Murphy

Murphy Mondays: The Art of the Compromise

At Bouquets of Austin, we work in a business of compromise. I see it all the time when my people meet with brides and grooms who want a certain look for their wedding but don't have the budget to match. The humans here at Bouquets are great at helping couples find a compromise so that they can get a version of what they want and still work within their budget. It's one of things they do really, really well. Pretty wedding flowers and intact budget.

I am also quite fantastic at compromise. I have learned to be that way by watching everyone around me.

I know THEY would probably say that I'm not that great at compromising but let me tell you what has recently happened and you can decide for yourselves. I know that I've said before that I enjoy sneaking out when no one is looking. This is for several reasons...1. I can roam around at will and take my time doing it; and 2. I usually find myself at the vet down the street where they give me treats and wait for my humans to find me. Which they always do. And when they do, they are MAD. Totally worth it.

My humans know how much I love to sunbathe. It's one of my favorite things to do. But they don't want to open the door and let me enjoy the sun too much because they know that eventually I'll take off. Totally right.

So this is the compromise that we figured out. They open the door and let me sunbathe to my heart's content. In return, I am on a very, very long leash that allows me to roam but won't let me get away completely. Not bad, right? I didn't think so either. So now we both get what we want. Totally awesome.

Me with my Leash of Compromise

Long enough I suppose.

 See? I am not an unreasonable dog. I am able to compromise with the best of them. Except, if I'm being honest, when it comes to food. As far as I'm concerned there is no compromise when it comes to food. All bets are off and if I have to steal it out of the trashcan then steal it out of the trashcan I will. Totally worth it.

Have a great week!

MURPHY

Murphy Mondays: Musings & Messes

It’s wedding season people. That means that there are tons of flowers in the shop, happy brides jumping up and down on one foot, dropping off mason jars and heirloom lace for bouquet handles and candles and who-knows-what-else and stressing out in general. My humans are super excited because they love wedding season. This IS, after all, what they do for a living so, yeah, I get it. They love the flowers and the designing of the arrangements, and seeing their brides with their bouquets and the grooms with their boutonnieres. They love the running around and the fun and the energy that goes hand in hand with this time of year. I’m happy for them. Really I am. But wedding season means something very different for me. Mainly that there is less time in the day to pay attention to me and attention, ladies and gentlemen, is what I need the most (next to treats and other food related products). Since this space is supposed to be for me to vent my canine thoughts, today I would like to share with everyone my top five reasons why wedding season stinks like wet dog.

1. There’s a lot of stuff in the shop right now. Lots of flowers, lots of knick-knacks, lots of pieces and parts. This significantly decreases the square footage available for me and my bed. Thumbs down.

2. Like I said before, my people are busy. And busy means less attention paid to me and my many, many needs.

3. Because there are more weddings, there are less appointments; my people don’t have has much time to meet with brides and grooms. Less appointments means less people. Less people means less petting and attention for me (refer back to #2).

4. Normally wedding season means that the back door of the shop is open quite a bit because we do some painting and building and need the fresh air. In the past, I could easily sneak out during these times. But now that I’ve been caught sneaking over to the nearby vet’s office for some treats, they have me on lockdown. Now wedding season means that the door is open but everyone is keeping a close eye on me. No more vet for me.

5. Wedding deliveries sometimes means that I have to stay at the shop (why no one has figured out that I would be VERY helpful on deliveries, I’ll never know). I hate being left behind. Which is why, when I was recently left alone, I very clearly demonstrated my displeasure by emptying Dara’s trashcan in the way that I saw most fitting.

 

I am annoyed people. Hear me roar.

Yes, it’s a beautiful time of year in Austin. Yes, weddings are wonderful and romantic and blah, blah, blah. Just don’t forget us canine companions back home, holding down the fort. Okay?

Have a great week!

Murphy

Murphy Mondays: Including Man’s Best Friend in Your Wedding

We get a lot of visitors to Bouquets of Austin every week and I love being able to greet them with a friendly tail wag. It’s always nice to see people who appreciate the presence of an executive dog in a creative environment such as our shop. But what I really, really love is meeting the humans who love their own dogs so much that they just can’t imagine not having them in their weddings. That’s the most fun because, as you may or may not know, we dogs love a fancy event and the only thing we love more is being a part of it. It flat out stinks to be left behind when there’s something exciting going on in the lives of our humans and so we’re always happy to be included. Of course, there are some very important things to remember when planning for your dog friends to be a part of your wedding celebrations. Whether you want them as a flower dog, a ring bearer or just a companion down the aisle or at the altar, you’ll want to keep these important tips in mind:

 Be mindful of the type of dog that we are and how much we can really handle. I’m a social dog which means that I love any and all social situations and I’m not easily overwhelmed by crowds. But not every dog is like me. Some dogs are anxious in crowds, loud noises are too much for them, or children freak them out. Whatever the case with your particular dog, make sure that you respect their comfort level and plan accordingly. You can always have your dog sitting in the audience if you want him/her in attendance but off the aisle if the number of people staring at him will cause a meltdown. Remember, this day is about you and while you certainly want to make sure your dog is acknowledged, you don’t want him to overshadow you with canine chaos.

Behavior counts. Some dogs are well-trained and will happily listen to their owners or handlers. I, for one, mostly listen but then I’ll just as easily go off and do my own thing when no one is looking. Only well-behaved dogs should be allowed at a wedding. Or at least those dogs that can be easily controlled under these circumstances.

Get a dog handler. Someone should be completely and totally responsible for your dog/s during your wedding and it should not be you. Find someone who you totally trust to be entirely in charge of your dog that day. That means making sure your dog has food and water throughout the day and is taken for potty breaks (you SO don’t want a poop incident on your aisle). That same person should escort your canine pal down the aisle and wherever else he/she needs to be throughout the wedding activities.

Make sure your dog wears something special for the occasion. Wedding flowers are the perfect accompaniment for your special dog. Luckily, my people are pros at putting together something for those furry friends who are included in our weddings. Just think how great we’ll look in your wedding photos!

If you want to include your dog in your wedding, you should! Trust me, we’ll love to be with you and share in that special day. Just be sure to follow my tips and the day will have our paw prints all over it!

Have a great week!

Murphy

Pieces, Parts & Priorities

Those of us in the wedding business are in the business of details. No matter what part we play in helping a bride and groom realize their wedding day dream - in the end - we take a certain amount of responsibility in helping to manage the details and pull it all together so that things go off without a hitch. The end result is a seamless wedding day; one in which the guests - and even the bride and groom themselves - are unaware of how much truly went on behind the scenes. It's all any of us - as wedding vendors - want at the end of the day.

As wedding florists, we are entrusted by our couples to manage the details that go into creating the most beautiful floral design - and to work in tandem with other vendors to make sure that our part complements and supports the overall theme and tone of the wedding itself. And when it comes to floral design, there is more to it than just the flowers.

We're talking vases, cylinders, mason jars, bubble bowls, arches, crosses, chuppahs, pedestals, urns, candles, and the endless variety of pieces and parts that go into pulling together the overall floral design; the details that can't be overlooked.


InTandem Photography

After all, these pieces and parts really speak to the personality of the wedding - the ghost candelabras for a sleek contemporary feel, hanging mason jars for rustic elegance, milkglass for vintage chic - and the list goes on and on.
What we've come to find over the years of working with many brides and grooms - with all manner of budget - is that these details are often their first focus when it comes to saving money. We're often asked by couples if they can supply their own vases, candles, jars, and more. The short answer is always, yes. We always welcome couples providing us with their own pieces and parts - especially if they wish to use something that is particularly special to them or something specific that we don't currently have in our stock. We only ask that our brides and grooms bring these pieces to us - completely clean and ready to be used - the week before the wedding so that we can design accordingly.


Tara Welch Photography

Geoff Duncan Photography

The long answer is that - while we're happy to do this - it doesn't save couples any significant amount of money; maybe a couple of dollars per table at best. The truth is that once these pieces are in our stock, they are ours to rent. We don't choose to ask for extraordinary rental fees. The money spent with us is largely based on the flowers themselves, our design capabilities and labor, and our delivery and setup.

Additionally, many brides and grooms find that while they may, at first, want to provide these pieces and parts, when it comes down to the final days before their wedding, they would have been happier to let us manage those details. After all, enjoying your day - from start to finish - should be the priority of all couples.

AJH Photography

Our priority as a wedding florist is to help couples achieve their wedding dreams within their budget and to manage the details for them so that they can relax and enjoy their day!

Murphy Mondays: Wedding Season, Cousins, and Sunbathing

Hi everyone! So you may have noticed that I took last week off from my blog. Hey! It was President’s Day. I’m not allowed to take off on President’s Day? You took off! And they’re my presidents too. I spent the day enjoying my NEW, FLUFFY BED!! Thank you to everyone who took the time to listen to my very serious complaints about my completely inadequate, un-fluffy old bed.

As you can see from this picture, my concerns were addressed and I now have the bed that I so utterly deserve. Also, I look super cute on it.

Other things that have been going on in my life include the official start of wedding season. This is the time of year when things really start to kick off in the shop and we’re back into the full swing of weddings, weddings, weddings after the holiday/winter season. It’s great to see the wedding flowers again and I love being in the middle of the excitement. It also means that more people are in and out of the shop to meet my people and plan their weddings. Which means more people for me to meet (and my potential for treats multiplies). I love wedding season because of the people and also because the back door of the shop is open on a more regular basis.

What does this mean for me? Well, let me tell you. We have a big door in the back of the shop that rolls up like a garage door; and when we’re doing a lot of building and designing, we will roll up the door. This means more sunlight for me and there’s nothing - I mean nothing - that I love more than sunbathing. It is truly what I was born to do. This is the best time of year because the weather is perfect and I am able to lounge around and get my Vitamin D. Check me out in these awesome pictures.

Ahhhhhhhh, is there anything better than this?

In other news, my cousin Whiskey has come to visit for a while, which means that I have an awesome playmate. He came rocking his awesome sweater (which, by the way, totally matched his mom’s outfit. I’m not judging.). Here’s me greeting Whiskey when he arrived (and not judging his sweater).

It’s going to be a great few weeks and I’m totally excited to share it with you. Get out there and enjoy the sun! I know I will!

Have a great week,

Murphy