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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 1:43 PM
Museum Weddings: I was inspired to write this article based on the fabulous wine and tasting event held at theMorris Museumto benefitSt. Hubert’s Animal Shelteron Wednesday of this past week. J&M did some pieces for the museum including my labor of love, 2 giant birch tree structures with hanging carnation and green mum balls for the modern front entrance of the museum (which of course I forgot to take pictures of and am currently trying to hunt down someone who remembered.) We had such a blast (for once I was able to just relax and be a guest) walking around the exhibits and admiring the beauty of the modern theater area coupled with the classic mansion house. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Wednesday, November 03, 2010 8:56 PM
Gerber Daisys: Over the past couple of years I have really started to notice a strong trend emerging with brides using gerber daisys. And why wouldn’t they? To me gerber daisys are like the hipper trendier cousin to the rose and the less "posh" cousin to the calla lilly. Gerber daisys like roses amd calla lillies come in a wide array of colors but unlike roses have a more modern and graphic look to them. They also are grown all around the world and are available (fairly inexpensively, unlike calla lillies) all year round. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Saturday, September 25, 2010 3:32 PM
The History and Tradition of the Bridal Bouquet and the Boutineer: Since I did that article last week on the incorporation of blue flowers and the tradition of having something blue from that old saying I have been very into this whole wedding traditions idea. I am definitely a history channel addict so I suppose delving into the history of what I do shouldn’t seem so far off for me. I just find it interesting that I have never bothered to find out why these things are part of wedding days and just accepted like a lot of people do, that they were necessary elements. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 20, 2010 10:14 AM
The Incorporation of Blue into Wedding Flowers: We have all heard that age old saying, “Something old, something new, something borrowed,something blue.” And despite its 16 century origins (see bottom for more information) it seems to be one of the only wedding traditions that is still followed today. And a more recent way of incorporating this something blue into a bride’s attire/ general décor of the wedding is in the flowers. And though blue is a beautiful color to use, it can be a very hard to find in nature. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 13, 2010 9:40 AM
This Week's Wedding Spotlight: Allison and Ed: Ok this is actually a little late considering their wedding was actually September 4, 2010 but since I was on vacation and was not posting we are a week behind- but such as life goes, here a little later then normal is this week's wedding spotlight: For Allison she wanted something that was different from what she had seen at other weddings. She wanted to use the bright colors (red, hot pink and orange) of late summer and combine that with her love of peacock feathers and birds of paradise. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 8:20 PM
Top 3 Floral Fusions: Tropical Meets Victorian Garden Style: I know this seems like one of those over the top fusions that no way could ever look good, but in fact this is one of my favorite fusions to do. The way I like to think of it is Tarzan meets Jane, it’s the tropical flowers (orchids, callas, protea etc) mixed with more classic flowers (roses, hydrangeas etc) in either a grouping method (more often associated with tropicals) or in an English garden method (flowers all mixed with greens. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 8:12 PM
Erin's Wedding Show Guide: My Fair Wedding Ok I’ll admit it, ever since that bridal show at I Do… I Do… Bridal Salon where I met David Tutera and he complimented my design work I have been a little biased towards his show. But I truly believe that he does a great job when it comes to putting together a theme that is unique to the featured couple and then carrying that theme through the entire event and I think he is really good at explaining that process and how a person could kind of work through his process for their own day. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 8:10 PM
A Classic Touch in a Modern Way: Here is a bouquet I did last April for an Irish Catholic Bride who wanted to combine classic elements without seeming dated in doing so. This to me was the perfect compromise- the bouquet in the front was the bride's and we used gorgeous antique hydrangeas (if you can believe it there are only 2 in the whole bouquet) with beautiful white akito rose buds (though I typically like to use more open roses for a grander effect in bouquets I do think that the sweetness of rose buds can be really simple and beautiful) and a ring of babies breath to frame it- though most modern minded brides would shudder at the thought of using babies breath in their bouquet the fact is up until the great turn over of the wedding craze boom (circa 1985- preasent day) most brides were given a standard rose bouquet featuring some babies breath mixed in (sigh- I know my mother was one of those brides as well) and in attempt to give a little nostalgic through back to either a grandmother or mother's wedding bouquet it can be a nice touch to add in with yours, and with this grouping or "layering" method it gives this classic flower a modern twist! |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 8:08 PM
How Big Is Too Big? Over my wedding career I have seen bridal parties ranging in size from just one- three people all the way up to forty plus. To me this has always been one of "those issues" a hushed issue that no one really wants to talk about for fear of offending the bride and groom. And honestly I do believe that it is a very personal decision for someone to make, but because I have been asked my opinion on the subject in the past- I will simple share my personal feelings on the subject. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 8:04 PM
Bridal Bouquet Guide: I have notices that a lot of brides have had trouble distinguishing the differences between bridal bouquet styles/ terms to describe how they want their bouquet to look like, so I have compiled a few of my images to give bride's a basic idea of how to describe what they are looking for. Rounded Bouquet: Completely dome shaped bouquet *This is also an example of a monoflora (one type of flower) and monochromatic (one color) bouquet Garden Style Bouquet: Rounded style with a bit of a looser look to give it a more natural look |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 6:36 PM
Whats Wrong with a Rose? I feel I need to comment on the seemingly growing HATRED of roses by today's modern brides. Other then taking slight personal offense (after all Rose is actually my middle name- I know it is quite ironic) I don't really understand it. I mean I suppose I can see where brides are coming from that they may seem old fashion, but what makes hydrangeas or tulips so cutting edge? Besides being so hybridized that they are basically hypoallergenic they are also on the fairly inexpensive side. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 6:33 PM
Top 5 Worst Design Blunders Brides Make on their Wedding Day! 1) Trying to match EVERYTHING. -Don’t drive yourself nuts with obsessing over the specific shade of apple red, you probably won’t ever be able to match the bridesmaid’s dresses to the linens to the flowers to the menu cards. And even if you manage it, it will probably look like the church scene in Steel Magnolias, (when they open the doors for Julia Roberts and there is that explosion of Pepto-Bismol pink everywhere) and just be too matchy matchy. |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 6:22 PM
Top 3 Floral Trends for 2011 Brides: 1) Garden Style Flowers -There have been growing signs of the return of this trend in 2010, but I predict that in 2011 it will become much bigger. This style is indicative of lots of mixed greens and flowers picked in large loose bundle bouquets typically tied with a natural material like raffia or a patterned ribbon with the majority of stems showing. The centerpiece flowers are placed in mason jar or garden container. (Garden flower bunch with raffia tie) |
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Erin Rose Matkowski: Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 6:12 PM
How To Find Inspiration: From a Wedding Designer's Perspective To be honest this week I found it hard to find something to write about- I was feeling very uninspired (I think it is all this gloomy weather we have been having.) And through my lack of inspiration I started to think about where I get inspiration from when I get stuck on a design idea, and how many brides find themselves in that same position. Then viola!- Lack of inspiration was my inspiration! Where do designers go when they need to get a little inspiration? |
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Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 6:04 PM
How To Do a Black and White Wedding: Black and white has been making a comeback in the world of wedding colors, and it is understandable why, almost everything from linens to place cards to menu cards comes in either white or black and gives a sense of cohesion without going crazy with swatches. The problem however always seems to boil down to the flowers. Sure there are plenty of white flowers, but what about the black ones? Though there are some, calla lilies, black berries and of course dyed flowers, the majority of them either seasonal or very expensive to do enough of the flower to make a statement. |
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Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 5:39 PM
Tent Weddings: PROS:  Let me start by saying that I love tent weddings. It truly allows for you to build your own theme (quite literally) from the ground up! It really takes the guess work out of picking a venue to match the style of your wedding. With all the advancements in design, rentals and lighting that come in a nice neat package it really is a design dream come true. Not to mention that you are truly creating an individual event, you have full control from the cake, the bar, the flowers and the catering without creating extra “off premise” expenses for yourself that some venues charge for outside services. |
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