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

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

Wedding Faves - Allan House Reception

In Austin, we absolutely love our outdoor celebrations throughout the year. After all, on many weekends we're looking at temperatures in the 70s, blue skies, and gorgeous breezes; and a recent wedding that we did was no exception. We were fortunate enough to be able to work at one of our favorite venues, The Allan House - an intimate wedding space amidst elegant Victorian surroundings.

Our bride and groom wanted seasonal flowers to set their tone of outdoor garden elegance which was reflected in everything from the personal flowers to the reception flowers.

What began as an intimate ceremony space was transformed into a beautiful dining space, complete with soft peach linen draping, ivory lace overlay, and matching chair sashes. We created an eclectic and elegant centerpiece design that complemented the wedding colors and supported the overall tone of the wedding. Some tables featured a mixed collection of vintage milk glass with seasonal blooms - including garden roses, peonies, and stock - in shades of blush, peach, and ivory.

 

Other tables featured bird cages overflowing with seasonal garden flowers, setting the scene for garden romance.

 

 Finally, taking advantage of the natural beauty of The Allan House, the rock walls around the courtyard were lined with mason jars and assorted sizes of pillar candles, creating an outdoor glow of romance.

 

As always, we loved working at The Allan House - and, of course, with our awesome bride and groom. It was a beautiful weekend and a reception we'll never forget!

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

Let There Be Color!

Weddings have certainly changed dramatically throughout the decades, as have brides themselves. A 1950s bride may bear no resemblance to the modern bride of today. And yet - despite it all - they certainly share the desire to create a day that completely reflects their personality; what they love the most. In short, every bride wants their wedding day to be all about them.

As wedding florists, we love this simple truth because it allows us to creatively paint a picture of every bride and groom. Cookie cutter isn't our thing; it's always interesting to see what couples bring to the table and it's our job to help them express their personalities through the design of their wedding flowers.

Of course, when people think of weddings, they usually think white. Certainly white flowers are the quintessential wedding flowers. But over the years, we've also loved to see the dramatic use of color. Whether it's a color theme that is carried throughout the wedding or just a pop of color used here and there, there's much to said for the use of color in a wedding.

For brides wanting to make a little more of a statement with their bridal bouquet than the traditional white, the color possibilities are endless - maybe just a combo of colorful seasonal flowers and a variety of elements.
 
With this wedding, the bridesmaids wore chocolate brown and carried a smaller version of this vibrant bridal bouquet.

For a more modern look, use a single type of flower. In this case,  the bride carried a collection of these gorgeous gloriosa lilies. Her bridesmaids wore black and carried white cymbidium orchids with raspberry throats.

This bride loved variegated flowers and especially these gorgeous striped amaryllis. And for an extra special touch, we added some bling to her wrap. Her bridesmaids wore red and carried all white bouquets with pops of red.

There's so much that you can do with color. Don't be afraid to incorporate it into your wedding flowers!

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

Texas Wildflowers...Not

Did we mention it is booking season? Lots and lots of inquiries have been headed in our direction and we absolutely love it! Wedding flowers are our thing, but the best part of designing wedding flowers is that we get to tell a story - and that story begins with meeting the bride and groom and getting to know them. This is the creative part of the process and, honestly, a good part of the fun for us. We really enjoy getting to meet so many fun, awesome couples. This is what really gets us excited about making their wedding flowers something truly special!

Unfortunately, however, not everything about this process is picture perfect. We love when brides/grooms have a vision, but hate it when we have to squash their dream. This is especially true when we're talking about expectation to budget ratio. At least in this case, we can work with couples to help them create the wedding of their dreams but in a way that works within their budget. Some things, however, we just can't do anything about and that includes making particular flowers materialize.

We are in Texas and people here love their Texas wildflowers. We totally get it. We love them too. But guess what? Real Texas wildflowers don't exist for commercial use; they are simply not commercially grown. You should see the faces of the brides and grooms who have their hearts set on Texas wildflowers and are forced to hear this sad news.

So here's the deal...Texas wildflowers don't survive for long when they are cut; they are completely dependent upon the weather and they are not meant to be wedding flowers. So when brides and grooms ask us about bluebonnets, we have to say no. But what we can suggest is giving bluebonnet seed packets as favors or incorporating the essence of bluebonnets into the wedding in other ways, such as using a beautiful bluebonnet broach/pin for the handle of the bride's bouquet. One of our bride's mother even handmade gorgeous napkins out of wildlflower printed fabric. We can also mimic the look of wildflowers, by making loosely gathered, casual bouquets with pops of color.

Beyond Texas wildflowers, here are some other flowers that fall into the "no" category...

Magnolia. Most photos of magnolia bouquets are actually silk/artificial. I was lucky enough that my grandmother, like many others in the south, had a gorgeous magnolia tree in her front yard. The blooms were beautiful on the tree, but as many times as I tried I was never able to get a bloom to last for more than a few minutes once it was cut.

Wisteria. Sorry Twilight fans! I know that the use of wisteria in the wedding of Edward and Bella caused quite a stir and we have since been asked many, many times about using wisteria. And we have to say no. Wisteria, like wildflowers and magnolia, is meant to be enjoyed in its natural state and environment. Once it is cut from this natural state, it just doesn't make it.

Luckily, even though these few flowers are not available, we have tons of gorgeous varieties that are available and we're happy to help you make the best selections for you!

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

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

Murphy Mondays: Open Letter Regarding My Bed

Dear Humans,

This is an open appeal to all people in my general area. You may know me - having met me at Bouquets of Austin. Or you may not have met me face-to-fur but you’ve gotten to know me a little through my blog. Either way - whoever you are - this letter is for you. I’ve had no luck getting the proper attention from my in-home partners so I am putting out the word to any humans who may be able to help me rectify this gross injustice. And to what does this very serious issue pertain? Quite simply, it’s about my bed. My bed which, at this moment, is leaving much to be desired.

Let me be blunt. I am not a petite flower. I am a full-figured dog who needs bed support. Not just any bed is going to hold up for the likes of me. I like it big, I like it supportive, and I like it fluffy. Currently, I am most unhappy with my bed’s lack of fluffiness.

And so, as I am known to do in all situations that don’t please me, I made my discontentment clear (at least it was clear to anyone who was listening hard enough)!

I turned this way.

I turned that way.

 I harrumphed.

I whined as audibly as possible.

And when that didn’t work, I took things into my own paws and scrunched the bed up beneath me so that it was as fluffy as it was going to get which still wasn’t nearly fluffy enough.















You would think SOME people could take a hint. But obviously I need to be a bit more aggressive in my tactics. So here it is. I need a fluffier bed. Can someone please pass that along to my people?

I am an executive dog with a lot on my professional plate. I have people to greet, flowers to guard, and overall merriment to spread. I need my rest and a proper fluffy bed is necessary for the best rest that I can get.

Until the word is spread and my (very minor) demands are met, I will continue to voice my unhappiness as loudly as I can muster. I never shy away from a challenge. Bring on the fluffy bed and peace will settle in our lives once again. So while I’m struggling with my situation, I wish you...a great week!

Murphy