I’m constantly on the lookout for flower arrangements wherever I am (my purses must now always have room for my camera), so its a habit that I think my friends have adopted. But I don’t think its that unusual — when I was working, complete strangers constantly took pictures of my work. This friend, who asked not to be named, didn’t take these pictures recently, but at a bridal shower at the Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach in 2006.

I’m not a fan of wedding magazines, since what you see in them seem so far from what real people do, and bridal shows are sort of a step down from wedding magazines. Bridal shows, after all, are where vendors put out their best to attract the most. But I like this arrangement — its pretty, and not too fancy, but still classy. The extra vases of green mums and green cymbidiums add an extra touch to what is essentially a relatively plain arrangement of white roses and white mums. By the way, does that card say “Flowers by LAPD”? Heheh.

This arrangement, obviously, is a lot fancier in its tall silver vase. In addition to the white roses and mums, there’s green cymbidium orchids and lots of dripping green amaranthus. But height adds drama to any arrangement.

Here’s that aisle arrangement I mentioned earlier. However….would you classify it as an arrangement? I’m not sure what kind of vase this is — maybe a vase that encloses another one, but there are pebbles on the bottom, smaller pebbles midlevel with water and what looks like a mum. And on top, sits a ball of green moss also keeping an aisle ribbon in place. And the whole set up is sitting on top of squares of what could be red or teak wood. Its arty…but I’m not sure I’d ever actually see this at anyone’s wedding. It looks kind of unstable.

This cake, by Sweet Lady Jane, is what I would call your typical wedding cake with pretty fondant butterflies and flowers in pastel colors. In reality, I don’t think anyone would actually place tulle around a cake, since that could easily lead to frosting on the tulle. But its OK for display only.

However, if I had to choose between the two, I prefer the cake by NYFC Sweet Exchange. I love the cool color, love the fresh flowers decorating it, and love the leaves placed along the bottom as cake table dressing. It’s just a lot more visual.

If you have pictures you’d like me to comment on, please send them my way! to darleene -at- weddingdecoratorblog.com!