Manzanita branches are pretty great.

They are one of my favorite branches to work with. So statuesque with just the right ratio of hardy structure to delicate detail. All of the brides I've worked with prefer the natural, chocolatey shade they come in, but I love the bleached versions as well (hopefully I'll get a bride who feels the same way soon so I can post some pics). Below are some photos of them in three different settings (from three different weddings): free-standing pieces for the ceremony, a creative alternative to a guest book as a Wish Tree, and last but surely not least: the centerpiece.

From Chandra Abel Designs

From Chandra Abel Designs

From Chandra Abel Designs

Reinventing the Wheelbarrow.

From Chandra Abel Designs

These photos are from a wedding last year where the bride wanted to be as sustainable as possible, but not at the expense of an opportunity to be creative. She was SO wonderful and gave me a lot of freedom to come up with decor on site. The wedding was held at the Tourist Club in Muir Woods, a hidden little gem of a place for hikers who like to camp with comfort. The location was an obvious choice for the couple who belonged to the members-only venue, and with the expansive views and brand-new extended deck, I could see why. Anyway... back to my point... when I saw these overturned wheelbarrows lying around (the construction on the deck had literally just finished) I decided to use them as something to be displayed instead of a tool to be hidden. I had brought some succulents with me, so those were an obvious choice... but Muir Woods has so much natural beauty to offer that it was easy to find additions to the carts. Moss grew over everything, so my wonderful assistant Leah helped me gently pull some of it off of the hidden brickwork. We also found lichen-covered branches, bay leaves (a favorite of the bride's -- which I made sure to include in her bouquet), and a couple of fallen wild flowers. We finished them off with some extra gardenias left over from the cocktail pieces, and Voila! The wheelbarrows become something to stop and enjoy instead of something you hope your guests don't notice.

From Chandra Abel Designs

Here's to the little things.

From Chandra Abel Designs

Happy Birthday Sister.

My sister's birthday is on Valentine's Day. Every year, without fail, she gets something heart-themed for her birthday. I am often guilty of participating in this all too common pattern (but not this year Julia!). The arrangement in this photo is from her birthday last February 14th, and the stems were a combination of flowers brought over from our amazingly-talented photographer-friend Melissa Fuller and roses, tulips, and geranium from the garden at our old house in Oakland. I'm not usually a fan of lilies, but the bright colors worked so well together and brought some perkiness to our grey winter day.

From Chandra Abel Designs

Pretty Pretty.

From Chandra Abel Designs

And so begins my foray into color boards.

As wedding season approaches, it seems as though I am spending a lot of my time dreaming up color schemes (partly because its my job, but mostly because I wonder what I would choose for my big day, but I digress). I have to say I'm pretty darn good at this process, and so I thought I'd share. Whenever I ask a bride her color scheme, nine times out of ten, she will limit herself to two colors. Why just two? I LOVE color, so when my wedding day comes, I don't think I'll be able to limit myself to just a pair from the rainbow. How about three? Or even four? Here is my first color board of the season: plum, buttery yellow, and grey. Quite appropriate for an early spring bride; yellows representing the early days of spring, and grey to tie in the winter we are leaving behind. And of course some eggplant purple to add some contrast and a little boldness to your big day.

From Chandra Abel Designs

Bridesmaid's dress by Thread, floral designs by yours truly.