Category: Event Decor

NEWS FLASH! Tom is Selected for Vase-Off Challenge… (read all about it!)

The Society of American Florists Vase-Off Challenge is ON!

Tom Sebenius
Creative Director – Starbright Floral Design

Our Creative Director Tom Sebenius has been selected for the 2012 Vase-Off! Challenge.  In Tom’s own words here are some thoughts on the days ahead and the competition…

I’ve been selected!  Several times a year, the Society of American Florists sponsors a nationwide contest that tests the skills of four floral designers as they try to win public votes through social media.  Designers apply to participate and once chosen they are given a prompt which is meant to inspire their creation.  Past assignments have been to design a bridal bouquet fit for a Great Gatsby themed wedding and to create the perfect floral gift for the quintessential beach girl.  The prompt we were given for this holiday themed challenge is as follows:

Sleigh riding, tree decorating, sipping hot cider, and caroling by candlelight in the snow…Many of our favorite Christmas traditions date back to the Victorian times. As families gathered for celebratory holiday feasts, flowers at the center of the table provided delightful decor. To capture the old-fashioned spirit of the season, create a Christmas centerpiece inspired by the elegance of the Victorian Era.

I will be competing against three very talented designers and I can’t wait to see what wonderful things they come up with.  They are: Mandy Majerik from Hothouse Design Studio, Birmingham, Alabama; Suzanne Nemet from All inBloom, Columbus, Ohio; and Bryan Swann from Karin’s Florist, Vienna, Virginia.

Christmas time offers us so much inspiration and a lot of the holiday décor we recognize comes from the Victorian era.  Visions of holly and ivy, sugared fruits, garlands and velveteen ribbons float into my mind.  I’ve started to put together my creation and certainly hope it will ultimately win your vote!  If you have any ideas that you think I should include in my centerpiece, please leave a comment and share your idea.  I’d love to hear it!

Please visit The Flower Factor website to learn all about the finalists of this competition and follow all four participants in this nationwide challenge by clicking here.

Meanwhile, stay tuned and please be sure to vote once voting opens on November 29th!

Starbright Floral Design is a premium florist in New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We offer same day delivery of floral arrangements and gifts of all types in the New York City area and beyond.  You can talk to one of our floral design consultants by calling us at 800-520-8999 or by visiting us online at www.starbrightnyc.com. Starbright Floral Design is dedicated to the floral arts since 1994 by providing exquisite designs, great customer service and by supporting the advancement of our staff through training and internship programs that promote the floral industries.

One of Tom’s Amazing Designs.

Flower Power: Making My Job As A NYC Floral Designer A Labor Of Love

I tell all my wedding floral clients time and again that I am honored to be a part of their big day.  It’s likely that they get sick of hearing me repeat it!  However, I am truly being honest.  I find it to be a privilege to work with people on what is undoubtedly the most important day of their lives.  Customers often tell me how much they envy my job and the fact that I am constantly surrounded by beautiful botanicals.  My standard response usually involves complaining about my sore feet, dirty clothes and dry, cracked hands.  In my heart, I know they are right to be envious…  I am a lucky guy.

                When a bride sees her bridal bouquet for the first time, and all the months of planning and coordinating the flowers comes to fruition, I take pride in my role.  Sometimes tears, usually a hug and always gratitude are the rewards for my labor.  A bridal bouquet is a painstaking creation that often involves wiring and taping individual blooms.  It is the most personal and the most photographed element of the all the wedding flowers.  Each bride chooses the flowers for her bouquet carefully and most have given it a lot of thought.  Many brides tell me that they have dreamed of carrying a specific bloom.  I get to make their dreams come true!  How cool is that! 

                Romance and flowers go hand in hand.  Floral designers constantly get to play cupid.  Last Valentine’s Day, Starbright made over a thousand deliveries throughout the city.  That is a lot of love being distributed!  As a designer, I literally create a manifest and tangible representation of a person’s love for another.  Not only can I help a person with the art of seduction but I can help smooth over a lover’s spat or even aide in the celebration of a new life!  Whether it’s an engagement, birth, graduation, promotion, or retirement, flowers are always welcome.  The truth is, when people are at their happiest, flowers are often on hand. 

 I could go on and on about the joy flowers bring to world.  The colors, the fragrance, the shapes and the textures offer me inspiration and provide our customers with a gift that can help change the course of their days and sometimes lives.  My job is to make people happy using delicate, unique and perishable materials.  The art I am responsible for creating ultimately ends up in the compost heap!  That’s what makes flowers special.  Flowers don’t last forever; they are fleeting.  However, the joy the flowers bring is lasting and the gratitude I receive is palpable.  I truly spend my days doing what I love and that for which I have a passion.  Jealous?  You should be.  

This scribe is brought to you by Tom Sebenius.  Tom is Starbright Floral Design’s Creative Director and has been a part of the Starbright team for most of the modern history of our company. Tom has made countless brides happy with his wedding flower designs in NYC and beyond. Tom is our most published contributor to floral industry publications and probably the most reviewed floral stylist on all the major online review sites.  We consistently earn five-star reviews on the likes of Citysearch mainly through Tom’s insistence on quality and attention to detail.  A proud member of our team and a true artist. 

Starbright Floral Design is located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  Wedding flowers and bridal bouquets in Manhattan and throughout New York City have been creatively designed by Starbright since our inception in 1994.  We are privileged to be the florist of choice for many NYC wedding venues for their wedding flower arrangements and wedding floral décor.

 To learn more about our organization and the work that we do, we would like to invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com or you may call us at 800.520.8999.  Either way, we will be thrilled to hear from you and to be of service.

Wishing you a wonderful  day!

Starbright Floral Design

The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps.

website: starflor.com

to order flowers: starbrightnyc.com

by phone: 800.520.8999

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201, New York City –

The 2012 NYC Hotel Experience Awards-A Time to Stop and Smell the Flowers

Centerpieces by Starbright

NYC Hotels and beautiful NYC hotel flowers, go together like peas and carrots.  Valentine’s Day in NYC is like the Super Bowl for florists, restauranteurs and hoteliers alike. Two weeks before the big day, only an event that is dear to our hearts can drag us away from our preparation.  That event is the Hotel Experience Awards.   Starbright Floral Design, for the eleventh year running, was a major sponsor of the Hotel Experience Awards.  In this annual event, the best of the best in the hospitality industry are awarded and recognized for their efforts.  It is considered “The Oscars” for New York City’s hospitality industry.

In the year that past, New York City had over 50 million visitors.  A goal that was set for 2012 was surpassed in 2011!  Only in New York… The City that Never Sleeps!  Thanks to the amazing efforts of everyone in our great city; from the taxi driver to the bartender and the convention planner… Everyone played a huge part to help keep our city vibrant during challenging economic times and to make sure that all of us had work and played our part.  Congratulations to all.

Entertainment was a preview of Ghost - The Musical

Starbright provided the floral decor for the event which was held at Cipriani’s Wall Street.  There were over 650 in attendance.  We hope to capture the flavor of the event with the attached photos.  It was truly a spectacular evening! Nic Faitos (Senior Partner – Starbright Floral Design) presented the award for the Best Concierge Service (in the less than 500 room category). The Ritz Carlton Central Park won that award!

MVP's Adeline Tafuri

The event was hosted by MVP (Morris Visitor Publications) which publishes IN New York Magazine and WHERE.  The two premier in-guest room resource guides.  Here is the press release that was issued after the event by MVP:

 

 

For immediate release

Hotel Excellence Awards Honor Hospitality Industry Achievements

January 31, 2012 (New York, NY) On Monday evening, January 30, 2012, the 2011 Hotel Excellence Awards (HEA) program was held at the iconic Cipriani Wall Street and hosted by MVP|NY (Morris Visitor Publications), a multi-media travel-publishing company—in cooperation with the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. The HEA program
recognizes the qualities and characteristics that define superior service and achievement in New York City’s hospitality industry. The night saw a record turnout of more than 640 of the hospitality industry’s finest.

Nic Faitos of Starbright presenting the Concierge Desk of the Year Award

Comprised of the Hotel Experience Awards, selected by the readers of IN New York magazine; and the Silver Plume Awards, which honor exemplary customer service of concierges and managers, as chosen by their peers, HEA winners included:

Hotel Experience Award Winners

500 Rooms or More
Best Concierge Service: New York Marriott Marquis
Best Room Amenities: The New York Palace Hotel
Best Hotel Restaurant: The London NYC
Best Family-Friendly Hotel: The Waldorf=Astoria
Best Business Services: InterContinental New York Times Square
Best Overall Hotel Experience: The Waldorf=Astoria

Fewer than 500 Rooms
Best Concierge Service: The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park
Best Room Amenities: W New York – Union Square
Best Hotel Restaurant: The Setai Fifth Avenue
Best Family-Friendly Hotel: The Plaza Hotel
Best Business Services: Mandarin Oriental, New York
Best Overall Hotel Experience: The Setai Fifth Avenue

Silver Plume Winners

Chef Concierge of the Year: Frederick Bigler, The Peninsula New York
Concierge of the Year: McKinley Winston, The St. Regis New York
Best Supporting Manager of the Year: Heiko Kuenstle, The Pierre, a Taj Hotel

The night also saw Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, receive the
prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given each year to an individual who demonstrates exceptional achievement in their field and outstanding contributions to
New York City’s hospitality industry. Actress and humanitarian Whoopi Goldberg received this honor in 2010.

Merrie Davis - Publisher her finest hour!

“One of the very best things about leading the Times Square Alliance is knowing and working with so many amazing people in the travel and tourism industry,” says Tompkins. “So being honored by them is truly a special treat; I in turn tip my hat to all of those who make tourism an incredibly and ever more important part of New York City’s economy.”

The Hotel Excellence Awards’ presenting sponsor, jcpenney, presented the jcpenney’s Hotel Excellence Award for Community Service to James Lamboglia, concierge at The Plaza Hotel.

Entertainment for the evening included selections from Ghost the Musical, which will make its Broadway debut on March 15 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, as well as a charitable Silent Auction—containing hundreds of luxury items—to benefit the Les Clefs d’Or Foundation, the New York City Association of Hotel Concierges’ Charitable Fund, the Hotel Association of New York City Scholarship Fund and the ITM Hospitality Fund.

About MVP/NY:

Presenting all the winners...

Morris Visitor Publications New York (MVP/NY) is a division of Morris
Communications Company. MVP/NY’s market-leading visitor publications include IN New York and Where® New York magazines, QG: New York City’s QuickGuide, Where GuestBook® New York and IN New York Map. Reaching every segment of the visitor market—from leisure and family to business and luxury travel—MVP/NY products appear at more than 300 of New York’s most distinguished hotels, visitor centers and high-traffic
attractions, private clubs, airports, on New York Water Taxi boats, Amtrak trains and Acela VIP lounges and in upscale corporate housing, generating an annual readership in excess of 34 million. For more information, log on to www.mvpny.net

Starbright would like to congratulate all the winners and thank everyone in the industry for a job well done.  NYC is again the destination capital of the world, in no small part, due to your efforts.  Now lets fill all those NYC Hotels with beautiful flowers!

Starbright Floral Design is the “Official Florist of Romance”.  We deliver flowers, love, passion and smiles everywhere in Manhattan and worldwide.  Sometimes we deliver messages of appreciation like the within scribe.

Passionately yours,

Your NYC Valentine’s Day Florist

Starbright Floral Design

Located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201.

T. 800.520. 8999

Web: www. starflor.com

E-commerce portal: www.starbrightnyc.com

Dress You Up In Berries!

Starbright was recently honored to be a part of an upcoming event whereby we were given a design dress style and told to make it a reality out of an assortment of berries.  A female cloth mannequin (we nicknamed the “Material Girl”) was adorned with a rainbow tour of berries (strawberries, blackberries and blueberries).  Our designer given the task, was hesitant of creating a dress form out of fruit. However, once she got into the groove, the progression was at a fever pitch.  I received many accolades for this creation, but I can’t say I deserve it. To our designer: Please take a bow for a job well done.   The final product is worthy of Vogue.  Here’s a pictorial evolution of a beautiful island of fruit that screams “you must love me”.

 

 

I’ve been told that this post might be misleading as many people associate the material girl with Madonna.  I assure you that wasn’t my intention.  Nor was it my intention to include ten of Madonna’s song titles within the body of this post.  Read back and see if you can find all ten hidden song titles.

Seriously folks, the good people at Driscoll’s, producers of the finest berries in the world asked us to produce the dress form for an upcoming food & fashion event show in lower Manhattan.  Driscoll’s provided the berries and the concept.  Starbright provided the talented designers to get it done.

 

Starbright Floral Design is a florist in Manhattan (New York City).  Our design studio is located in Chelsea (a NYC neighborhood) in the heart of the Historic Flower District on 28th Street.  We offer same-day delivery of flowers in Manhattan and everywhere else in the USA.  Gorgeous flowers, masterfully designed by Starbright Floral Design.

We invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com. where you will learn more about our organization and the work that we do.  (or you can call us at 800.520.8999)

Our Creative Director in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl Parade

Our very own Tom Sebenius (Creative Director – Starbright Floral Design) is once again in Pasadena to oversee the production of several floats at the Rose Bowl Parade. Every year at this time we celebrate Tom’s creativity and what he brings to Starbright. You can be sure that every member of the Starbright Team will be glued to their TV sets to see these amazing floats strolling through the parade to the amazement of all.

Here is a pictorial behind the scenes look at Tom’s work on the West Coast. We are all really proud of you Tom!

Starbright is proud to encourage all the members of our team to maximize their creative potential.  Tom has been a part of the Rose Bowl parade since long stemmed roses were taller than he was… A lifetime dedicated to this floral extravaganza.  Tom is one of the most reviewed floral stylists on the web and he always gets five stars!  We are proud to have Tom on our team.

Starbright Floral Design is a florist in Manhattan (New York City).  Our design studio is located in Chelsea (a NYC neighborhood) in the heart of the Historic Flower District on 28th Street.  We offer same-day delivery of flowers in Manhattan and everywhere else in the USA.  Gorgeous flowers, masterfully designed by Starbright Floral Design.

We invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com. where you will learn more about our organization and the work that we do.  (or you can call us at 800.520.8999)

Happy and Healthy New Year to All!

November Birth Flower: Chrysanthemums, flower with an identity crisis…

Chrysanthemums were first cultivated in China as a flowering herb in the 15th Century BC.  The flower was brought to Japan in the 8th Century and the Emperor adopted the flower as his official seal.  The flower was brought to Europe in the 17th Century and named from the Greek for “Gold Flower”, a reflection of its original color.

The Chrysanthemum - November Flower....

These days the flowers come in various forms and can be daisy-like, decorative pompons, or buttons.  In addition to the traditional yellow, other colors are available such as white, purple and red.

In the United States, Chrysanthemums are identified as cheerful holiday flowers.  Fall arrangements and Thanksgiving Day Flowers in NYC and throughout the country incorporate Chrysanthemums in their decor.  However, many European countries (France, Italy, Spain, Hungary and Croatia) have identified Chrysanthemums with death.  Accordingly, their use in floral arrangements is limited to funerals or on graves.

Other Uses:

Be sure to bring Chrysanthemums with you when taking a walk in the jungle.  The flower is considered a natural source as an insect repellent.  The Pyrethins when extracted and applied on the skin in an oil suspension or as a powder can be lethal to insects such as mosquitoes.  The Chinese have used the flower for its antiseptic and antibiotic qualities for centuries.

Starbright Floral Design is located  in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are in a second floor loft space from where our customer’s orders get dispatched.  To learn more about our organization and the work that we do, we would like to invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com or you may call us at 800.520.8999.  Either way, we would be thrilled to hear from you and to be of service.

Starbright deliverers flowers in Manhattan (our home city) as well as world-wide.  In addition to flowers and plants, fruit and gourmet baskets, balloon and the like; we are also the go-to florist for events (both corporate and personal).  Flowers, Festivals & Celebrations…. It is what we do!

Wishing you a wonderful day!

 

Starbright Floral Design

“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”

website: starflor.com

to order flowers: www.starbrightnyc.com

by phone: 800.520.8999

In a Day’s Work

All in a day’s work at our flower emporium… We hope you like the photos!

The shoes were the centerpieces at this event!
Tropical Flowers Galore!
Bouquets of early autumn...

From time to time we keep a camera at our design table to bring you the latest photos of our work.  These are actual pictures of compositions as they come off our design table and we post them to give  you inspiration for the next gift you send, the next event you host or even for your wedding day.

Please feel free to visit our website at www.starflor.com where you will gain a bit of a broader perspective on our work at Starbright Floral Design.

Starbright Floral Design is located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are in a second floor loft space from where our customer’s orders get dispatched.  To learn more about our organization and the work that we do, we would like to invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com or you may call us at 800.520.8999.  Either way, we will be thrilled to hear from you and to be of service.

Starbright delivers flowers in Manhattan (our home city) as well as world-wide.  In addition to flowers, plants, fruit and gourmet baskets, balloons and the like we are also a go-to florist for events both corporate and personal.  Flowers, Festivals & Celebrations…. It is what we do!

Wishing you a wonderful  day!

Starbright Floral Design

The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps.

website: starflor.com

to order flowers: starbrightnyc.com

by phone: 800.520.8999

150 West 28th Street, Studio 201, New York City –

 

Starbright Floral Design: Our Press Kit

Hot off the press this is our updated Press Kit.  It will be distributed to all our friends, corporate clients and to all who consider us as  their florist in the years to come.  To share with our readers and to give everyone an idea of what the Starbright brand stands for, the accomplishments of our team and to let everyone know what we have been up to, we are posting our corporate resume on Blooming Thoughts…. Thank you to everyone for a wonderful seventeen years!

We raise our glass to everyone that helped us get here and contributed so much along the way.  Our clients, the concierges at the hotels we serve, the venues, the event planners, our corporate clients, those who have trusted us with sending flowers to your loved ones… AND of course the entire Starbright Team.  Everyone who has passed through our doors has left their mark.  Thank you for all you  taught us and the footprint you left behind.  Here is to a bright future to everyone we know… Thank you!

Nic Faitos, Senior Partner – Starbright Floral Design

“The Official Florist of the City that Never Sleeps”

“Located in the Heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District”

Flowers, Festivals & Celebrations… It is what we do!

 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF STARBRIGHT FLORAL DESIGN

Starbright was founded in 1994 as a corporate and institutional florist in New York City with a mission to serve the non-walk-in and non-retail trades.  The focus has always been to serve the corporate floral and decorating needs of our clients.

We occupy production and administration space in a loft on 28th street in the center of the wholesale flower market.  Starbright is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.

In the past sixteen plus years we have had the opportunity to develop relationships and execute events at the most known venues throughout Manhattan including most hoteliers and restaurateurs.  In excess of two-hundred of the city’s top concierges at the leading hotels of Manhattan use us as their go-to florist.

Today Starbright is positioned to execute its plans for growth into the future with exemplary customer service and a quality product at a fair price.  Protecting the standard of quality and service that we have set over the years is our priority.  We will always be known as a supplier that offers a customer experience that earns five stars at every level; from the first encounter on the telephone to the execution of our client requests.

‘’When the history books write the Starbright Story, we will be judged kindly if we remembered to always do our best, give everyone we meet a smile and lead our industry with innovation, creativity, quality and service.’’

Statement of Mission, Starbright Floral Design, 14 September 1994.

 

 

 

 

 

CAPABILITIES AND SERVICES

Sending Flowers Anywhere – Through our private network of florists we are able to send exquisite floral gifts (as well as gourmet baskets and plants) anywhere around the world.  From our own store we can deliver anywhere in Manhattan even if the order comes in late in the afternoon.  With about three or four hours notice we can send flowers anywhere in the USA during local business hours.

Weekly Flowers – Seasonal flower varieties in a vase that will alter in style from time to time. The floral varieties will vary with the season and in no two weeks will either the flowers or the design be identical.  The designs will be sculpted to blend seamlessly and complement your décor and replenished weekly.

Event Décor – No event is too big or too small to receive the personalized service and expertise of an experience Starbright representative.  From holiday parties, client hospitality events as well as events at any venue in New York City (or beyond) we can provide consulting services and decorations at any level. Most of the recognized venues in New York City are familiar with Starbright Floral Design as we have decorated at most places on multiple occasions (Ellis Island, Madison Square Garden, The Plaza Hotel, and many others). We welcome you to review a sampling of our work at www.starflor.com

Human Resources and Client Gifting – We are fully capable of delivering a gift of flowers, plant or fruit and gourmet baskets anywhere in the United States on a same day basis and with 48 hours notice worldwide. At any budget that you may have, we will be happy to provide gift flora at anytime and anywhere. As part of our commitment to HR we can either help implement or follow existing flower policies set by our clients.

Plant Maintenance – To many of our clients we provide lush phalaenopsis orchid plants for a pre-set monthly fee and we arrive at the office once weekly to take care of all the orchid plants. When the orchids are fully bloomed and start to drop their flowers we replace the plants with new ones (once about every six weeks) at no additional cost to our client.

Employee Discounts – We offer our services at a discounted rate to the employees of all the companies that we work with. Once our relationship is established, employee who calls upon us and identifies his/her affiliation will receive a discount on any floral (or related) gift that they send at anytime, anywhere to anyone. This is a benefit that they can use repeatedly and has virtually no limitations beyond a low minimum of $35.

We are also involved with many clients and PR firms to create a variety of Co-Branding, Continuity and Cross-Promotional Programs.

 

STORE HOURS

  • We are open and delivering seven days per week.
  • Our Monday to Saturday hours are 8AM to 8PM.
  • Sunday we are open from 9AM to 6PM.

 

CREDENTIALS

Starbright Floral Design is a member of the following professional organizations:

  • NYC & Company – the tourism marketing arm of New York City. We have donated for all their events (including Annual Meetings, Galas, POW WOW, etc) since 1994.
  • Society of American Florists – This is the lobbying body for all florists and cut flower growers in Washington DC. Nic Faitos (our Senior Partner) has been an invited speaker on a variety of subjects with the organization’s conferences, annual meetings, etc.  Additionally, Starbright is regularly quoted in SAF’s industry magazine, Floral Management.
  • HSMAI – The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.
  • Chamber of Commerce – New York City
  • Teleflora – a recognized leader in flower-by-wire services throughout the world. Starbright Floral Design ranks in the top 50 members in an organization of over 20,000 members worldwide.

 

Recognitions and Awards:

  • The highest rated and most reviewed florist based on user reviews online (five stars across the board) on sites such as Citysearch, Google, Yelp and the like.
  • Was awarded “Best of” by Citysearch users.
  • Selected as “best florist” for weddings by The Knot.

 

CLIENT ROSTER SAMPLING

  • The New York Marriott Marquis
  • All W properties in New York City
  • Gramercy Park Hotel
  • British Airways
  • Ernst & Young
  • BBVA
  • NYU Dental School
  • Baruch College of Business
  • Columbia University Teacher’s College
  • The Kitano New York
  • Open Hospitality
  • Axel Johnson
  • Edelman PR
  • Quintessentially
  • NYC & Company
  • Oscar de la Renta
  • The NBA
  • Jimmy Choo
  • Benjamin Steakhouse
  • Spirit Cruises
  • American Eagle Outfitters
  • World Yacht
  • VISA USA

 

NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SUPPORT

  • The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
  • Big Brothers / Big Sisters of New York City
  • Jumpstart
  • Coalition for the Homeless
  • The Ronald McDonald House
  • Fashion Fights Cancer

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION….

Our website:

www.starflor.com

Our e-commerce portal:

www.starbrightnyc.com

Our Web Log:

Starbrightfloral.wordpress.com

Social Media:

www.facebook.com/StarbrightFloralDesign

www.twitter.com/#!/starbrightFD

LinkedIn Profiles:

www.linkedin.com/ (search: Starbright Floral Design and Nic Faitos)

150 West 28th Street – Studio 201 – New York City – 10001

800.520.8999

Spin the color wheel! Dos and Don’ts of Wedding Colors

To be bold or subdued; bright or muted; classic or trendy… should the colors complement the venue or your complexions?  Does my mother have to wear a matching dress?  Invitations, bridesmaid dresses, table linens, vests and neckties and of course the flowers are just a sample of items affected by the color scheme a couple chooses for their wedding.  Since color can set the tone, it is best to choose wisely.  Through my years as a designer, I’ve seen some fun combinations.  Some color schemes have been more successful than others.  Over time, I’ve developed some dos and don’ts that I have shared with countless couples.  Although I contend that there are no rules when planning a wedding, I’m always willing to share my opinion on choosing a winning color combination. 

Don’t Go for Complements:

Most brides and grooms are familiar with the idea of complementary colors.  The three primary colors of red, blue and yellow are placed opposite their corresponding complementary color on the color wheel.  Blue is paired with orange, yellow with purple and red with green.  You will notice that the primary color is paired with the secondary color that is made by mixed the other two primaries.  This creates a bold and loud contrast between the colors.  These color combinations are often used for things like gas-station logos, or sports team uniforms.  The contrast between the colors catches the eye and forces the viewer to take notice.  When trying to use these colors together in floral design, it’s very difficult to fight off thoughts of the Mets or the Lakers.  Red and green together also bring their own unique challenge of constantly conjuring thoughts of Christmas for many of us.  For these reasons, I suggest trying to avoid using complementary colors as the basis for wedding décor. 

Do Go for A Bold Statement:

While complementary colors may be too bold a choice for most, it is a great idea to choose at least one bold color to inform the design.  Purple, fuchsia and orange seem to be the go-to colors these days for couples looking for a pop of color.  Vibrant and rich tones such as these can provide a warmth and personality to the occasion without detracting from the proceedings.  When choosing a bold pop, I suggest limiting the palette to just one bright tone.  This brings me to my next tip.

Do Go Green:

Green is your friend.  I frequently suggest adding lime green to the floral arrangements we make for weddings.  If a bride or groom favors a brilliant tone such as purple or orange, adding a touch of green into the mix tends to heighten and embolden the arrangements.  Green is a neutral color and is found in abundance in nature.  Green “goes” with everything!  (Although it’s good to keep in mind the challenges when pairing red and green, Jingle Bells…)  It’s soothing and calming qualities pair beautifully with the lush colors found in the floral world. 

Don’t Count out the Classic:

A white wedding seems to have become a less popular choice these days.  Perhaps with all the fantastic color options found both in fabrics and flowers, couples would rather have more fun with the color palette.  This is understandable, however white has been the traditional wedding color because it’s clean, pure, and simple and it allows for the couple to be the stars of the day.  There are also so many flowers available in white; it’s easy to make arrangements interesting by using different textures, shapes and scales.  This is another instance when lime green can be helpful.  It’s also a good idea to choose one color to add into the mix of white.  One of my favorite weddings used all white flowers with accents of huge and lush coral colored peonies.  Simple and chic, this color scheme still resonates with me all these years later.  It was unique and yet remains a classic and elegant choice.

Don’t Tempt the Humor Gods:

If you’ve never seen your color combination used at a wedding, there might be a reason.  Sometimes when a couple chooses to be unique, it can backfire.  I’ve had to explain to a bride and groom why yellow and brown is not a great choice for a color scheme.  Without going into the specifics of why, (think about it people, yellow and brown… really?) certain color combinations elicit subconscious responses or connotations.  It’s the same reason why yellow and black can be difficult to use together; taxi cabs and bumble bees!  Yellow and red always makes me think of Ronald McDonald and ketchup and mustard.  These are not thoughts I want to have at your wedding! 

Don’t Over Indulge:

No matter what colors are finally chosen, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that everything has to be covered in these tones.  You don’t have to dye your Maltese puppy to match the bridesmaid’s dresses.  It will be just fine.  Choose key locations and items for the colors to be used.  You don’t want your guests to feel like they just stepped into a Pepto-Bismol bottle if your color happens to be pink.  Touches here and there will suffice.  Also, everything doesn’t have to be the exact same shade or hue.  I have learned to beware of the bride who carries the Pantone chip!  Relax! 

Do Listen to Our Advice but…:

We have seen it all… or close to it anyway.  Your vendors have been involved with hundreds of events and weddings.  Most of the time, our advice is free and is often given weather you ask or not.  We will tell you if your colors won’t work or if they should be rethought.  Although we can offer some sage wisdom, remember that it’s your day and your decision should be the final word.  You write the check so ultimately you must be happy with the colors you chose.  Maybe you are both huge Lakers fans.  So go for it!  Don’t let us get in your way. 

This scribe is brought to you by Tom Sebenius.  Tom is a longtime Starbright employee, team leader and Creative Director.  More brides have written online reviews about Tom’s work after their wedding than anyone in the industry that I know.  We are proud to have Tom on the Starbright team.  He is anal, demands a lot from me (I am his boss) and I put up with as much as a restauranteur puts up with from his Chef.  Truth be told, I know that at  the end of the day, Tom’s work is what built our brand and what has helped maintained our Gold Standard in customer service.  Tom will always do what is right for our client and knows that preserving our reputation is the most important function of all.

Starbright Floral Design is located in  the Heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District in a second floor loft space.  We offer all the services that a traditional florist would except that our home  is not a store  front that you would walk on by.  Our focus has always been on providing the highest quality flowers (we import directly from really exotic places), amazing customer service and really cool designs.  When you have a free moment please visit our website at www.starflor.com where you will be able to gain a clearer perspective on our organization and the work that we do.  You may also call us at 800.520.8999 – we would love to hear from you! 

Warm regards,

The Official Florist

Starbright Floral Design – www.starflor.com

Located at 150 West 28th Street, Studio 201, New York City

(between 6th and 7th Avenues)

1.800.520.8999

Our Work: Our Latest in Floral Compositions

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Check out the photos in this album they are the latest additions to our website in our Event Gallery.  We invite you to visit our site at www.starflor.com where you can click on  the EVENT link to see our entire portfolio of over 2000 photos of our actual work.

By clicking on the GIFTS link you will go to our e-commerce portal where you can select from a wide array of gifts to send to your friends and loved ones.  Some of the flower selections that are in our gift section  are available for delivery on a national level, while others (Starbright Exclusives – Modern and Starbright Exclusives – Traditional) are available in our own delivery area of Manhattan.  Looking for something but cannot decide what flowers to send?  Designer’s Choice is a great alternative!  Here is a link to a past blog entry that talks about why Designer’s Choice is your best selection and why this is where you get the best value in flora.

About Us: Starbright Floral Design is located in the heart of New York City’s Historic Flower District.  We are located at 150 West 28th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues in an amazing loft space – Studio 201).  We have been serving the corporate, special event and hospitality industries since 1994.

To gain a broader perspective on who we are and the work we do, we invite you to visit our website at www.starflor.com.

See you soon!

Nic and the entire Starbright Team…