Wedding Events-

This weekend, The Woods were invited to design floral decor for a room at the Hotel Maya's Joie of Weddings event. They have these amazing fushia windows and touches of deep, hot pink everywhere- from vines of bougainvilla to gorgeous accent walls framing giant mirrors. Event planner, Michael Willms, from Entertainment Design Events collaborated with The Woods to find a look that would compliment the Maya's strong color theme and fit the wedding setting as well as the tones of the room representing the Hotel Angeleno.

The Woods decided to pick up on the deep, rich pink roses and bright lemon yellows of Michael Willm's linens on a backdrop of gentle pink lilies and yellow acacia using tall cherry blossom branches to add height and a flare of dramatic elegance to the centerpiece. Most brides were pleasantly surprised to learn that an arrangement of that size (approximately 4 feet high) would usually cost $500-600, but because we substituted a few of the more costly stems with larger, opened lilies that take up more real estate within the arrangement, we were able to use fewer. While the look was a stunning, grand centerpiece, the cost was closer to $350 because of the substitutions.

Because flowers allow for so much variety in substitutions, size and cost, it really is possible to create a dream wedding environment you've envisioned! Just speak with your designer about what you want, and we'll love to make it happen! To speak to a designer at The Woods, call 310.559.6711

More photos of the Joie of Weddings event to come!

Flowers for Anyone

Working in a flower shop is like being the bridesmaid, never a bride. You're super happy for all the cute couples and all these sweet boys doing thoughtful things for their girlfriends, but no matter how nice the arrangement or how sweet the guy, it's always for someone else.

One Valentine's Day during college, I was working in our local flower shop. The place was slammed with college boys crammed in, wall-to-wall, out the door and around the corner, clamouring for roses and gerbera daisies. Harried and disheveled, I made my way one-by-one through the line, taking orders like a shorthand cook in a hot, sweaty diner. One sandy-haired boy stood aside, quietly.
"Can I help you choose some flowers?" I asked.
"No," he said, "I don't have anyone to give any flowers to. I'm just here to help my buddy."
This boy was so adorable.
"Aw, come on! I'm sure that anyone would love to get flowers from you!" I insisted. He shook his head, "no, no...I wouldn't know who to give them to."
I started listing opportunities for him, "A neighbour? A friend? Your study partner? A crush? Anybody?..."
He smiled and said, "I could get some for you."
I laughed. "No, no. You don't have to do that. You don't even know me!"
He sighed. "Well," he said, "What's YOUR favourite flower? What would be something YOU'd like to get?"
I didn't even need to think. "Lillies," I said. "Everyone gets roses, but I think lilies are so much more exotic and pretty- they're way cheaper and they last FOREVER. And look-" I said, taking a stem out of the cooler, "See how great they smell?!?"
He smiled. "I'll take one of those."
I handed him the stem and directed him to our designer so it could be wrapped, "Happy Valentine's Day!" I shouted, "Good luck!"
Hours later, when the hustle slowed down, I saw the most beautiful casablanca lillies arranged on the counter. "Wow," I breathed, "Who's that for? That's amazing!"
"O!" My coworker said, "That's for you. Some guy said to give them to you."

I still remember you, blonde Stephen. Thanks for the flowers.