Happy Mother's Day

I just wanted to take a minute to say a Happy, Happy Mother's Day to all you mama's out there. For those of you who do not watch Modern Family, you should. The mother of three totally depicts motherhood as it really is and like no one else likes to tell it. Sure, motherhood is great, but man, those kids just suck the life right out of you! So I say a big old kuddos to all you sucked out mothers out there this mother's day...way to be!
On a more serious note, this is a bizarre mother's day for me. My oldest just does not seem so young anymore, and neither does my youngest really. As the oldest starts to read and is discovering herself, I feel like I just do not have any babies anymore. I feel like this mother's day I am kind of starting a new chapter in mommy-hood. I am starting to think that this one might have to deal a lot with my oldest not liking me that much, (which I thought would not be until the teenage years) and my youngest following suit. All the same, I do love my girls...even if they do like their daddy more. Oh well.
Oh and I did happen to get the best present ever for mother's day...yes, I already got my present! A maid for a day. What a great husband! (and great friend to push in the right direction! I love you Alex!) I hope that you all get maid's for a day as well and a huge bouquet of flowers or some lovely plants to enjoy this summer.
Happy, happy!

ECFD on Facebook

...I almost forgot to tell the millions of you who follow, but you can also find ECFD on Facebook! That's right..it only took a few years, but about a week or two ago, after some kind convincing from a friend, we are on. Sign up, friend me or like me...something like that. I will be posting periodically on each so feel free to check both for images over this wedding season.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Emily-Carter-Floral-Designs/102685326486647

Wedding Season is here

Well, between photo shoots and weddings beginning we have been hopping here around ECFD.
Here are some images from an Easter install...
..more images to come of shoots as well as weddings that have recently occurred.

re: May issue of Maine Magazine

It is funny how you hear about these things. It started with an email from someone in the floral industry congratulating me on the beautiful spread in Maine Magazine a few weeks ago. Then a phone call from an amazing photographer in the industry letting me know how beautiful the layout was as well as the images. My mind was swimming with the recent weddings wondering which it could have been and finally, after the suspense had built up enough, I called Maine magazine to see what exactly was in the May edition (as I could not find it on the stands quite yet). After they described the images I pinned it together and figured out just which shoot it was that I had recently done. A week or so later, I got to see the magazine as I picked it up with the rest of the folks at Hannaford. It was an honor to be in Maine magazine as I love their publication and how they present their magazine, but more importantly I respect so many of the writers and photographers that are frequently in that publication. Thank you for selecting this shoot Maine magazine...and for those of you who have not picked it up yet..do!

Style Me Pretty and ECFD

I feel honored as I recently was contacted by Style Me Pretty to be a part of their select group of vendors that they recommend to brides. This afternoon, it is official and ECFD is now a part of a wonderful network of wedding professionals. Thank you Style Me Pretty!!

California Flowers

Well, nothing like a little trip out west to California at the end of winter to get you super excited about wedding season quickly approaching! I went out to San Francisco to the Flower and Garden Show out in San Mateo and to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park as well as hit a few fabric and ribbon dealers out in the area. All of the above were absolutely amazing! The seasons out there are so perfect for flowers that we just can not begin to grow here in Maine, or even New England. White goddess callas are growing on the sides of the sidewalks in downtown SF as well as succulents and jades of every variety how we have mums by our front doors in the fall.
Trumpet plants lining the streets of downtown SF::

Cherry blossoms in full bloom at the Japanese Tea Gardens::

It is crazy! I have been out there before, but it has been over a decade and now that I have my own business and see things from a different light, it was really fun to go back. The Flower and Garden show was amazing, filled with concepts and ideas more from a landscape perspective, but all the same some of which were making my head spin into ways to translate them to table designs. One of the best things that we saw out there was a huge (I would say 10 feel tall) gazebo structure created for some parrots and adorned with succulents and mosses on all sides...it was incredible!

I also made some great connections at the show that I look forward to pursuing in coming months.
I had no expectations really walking into the Conservatory out there...but maybe this was the best as I was practically in tears after walking in. My camera lens kept on fogging up due to the extreme humidity in most of the chambers for the plants, but I did get a few shots...just extremely bad..even for me!
The building is huge...is was built in the 1800's and has huge wings off this main structure that you can not see here...huge.

These fiddleheads are the size of your head...they were sick!




I have never seen anything as lush and amazing as some of the plants within this lovely facility..pitcher plants like you dream about, orchids of every rare variety and stag horn ferns the size of your front door..seriously!
Finally, a four story fabric, button and vintage ribbon facility...what more could you want?? I will leave you guessing as to what amazing details that I picked up here as I am sure that some will be detailing some of the bouquets for 2011..too wonderful!
Needless to say, I took my husband with me and totally bored him I am sure at points with some of the above sites, but the wine country we both enjoyed immensely...for those who are ever out there I highly recommend the little town of Yountville. Wonderful tastings, restaurants, and resorts...


Was ready before my trip, but now, I am extremely happy to see the snow starting to trickle away and to be on the cusp of wedding season...thank you California.

Emily Carter Floral Designs in Seacoast Brides

I recently was notified that a very small wedding that I did personal flowers for was highlighted in the 2011 Seacoast Bride Magazine. It does not show a great image of the bouquet, but I am showing some further details of the flowers for your enjoyment...
an honor all the same to have such a great wedding showcased that ECFD was a part of last year.

It is on page 62-63 Kristyn Reza wedding...
http://www.seacoastbride.com/features/online-print-editions/seacoast-bride-online-2011/book/3.html?page=63


Maid of Honor bouquet..


Halo for flowergirl..