Brenda Abbott Floral Design: Brenda Abbott Events

We get so many compliments on the beautiful photo we use on our billboards, we thought we would share the story here.

The photograph is of Ashley Donnell (my daughter and Brenda Abbott Flower Studio's Creative Director), captured by Maria Bernal Photography during Ashley's bridal portrait session. To see more of Maria's work, visit: www.mariabernalphotography.com

(The wedding photographs you see here are by Mr. Bill Ledbetter www.imageeclectic.com, and Mr. Randy Kerr.)

Not only is Ashley our 'poster-child' appearing on our ads and billboards, Josh and Ashley's wedding was announced by save the dates AND their own billboard!

A little background....Ashley um, colors outside the lines, so naturally when she found the gorgeous pink bridal gown at a boutique in Amarillo, she knew it was the one! That bridal gown is Ashley personified....elegant, playful, and....pink.

And of course, the only event planner and floral designer for her wedding was yours truly, Brenda Abbott Events. www.BrendaAbbott.net. Something I would never recommend mother of the bride undertake by the way!! However, planning and executing all the details for months and months ahead of time, and knowing to hire the right help for game day, and then working like mad, we pulled it off...and never was there a cross Bridezilla or Mom of Bridezilla moment!!

Ashley's requirements for a venue: outdoors, centrally located, intimate, and a place for their friends to dance the night away. Knowing her requirements, I suggested the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham...but then we checked out every nice facility in the central Texas area...because even though I have a lot of planning experience knowing exactly what my brides want, I was, in this instance....Mom. Finally, after not finding exactly what she wanted, I suggested to Ashley one more time that she check out the Rose Emporium. When we arrived, Ashley stepped out of the car, and I heard a gasp....20 seconds later...."it's perfect." Music to my ears!!!

With this part out of the way....the planning began in earnest! Naturally for this wedding in a rose garden... roses were in order....a lot of roses.

Many many hours of design work went into the details for this wedding. A custom-designed monogram not only appeared on their 'announcement billboard', it also appeared throughout... on the custom-made programs and custom invitations, on the champagne glasses for every guest (which were a gift from the Groom's 'grand mommy'), and even on votive candles. Vintage style rose patterned paper appeared in the program, in the paper rose petal cones the flower girls carried, in the hand-beaded bouts and corsage holders, and pink touches were everywhere (from the bridal gown...right down to the pink picks used in the hors d'oeuvres, and the pink sugar used to rim the glasses for the strawberry margaritas).

The altar arrangement was an enormous piece we designed to sit atop two existing beautiful stone statues which belonged to the Antique Rose Emporium. After the ceremony, the 6 foot long arrangement was moved (without the statues) to the center of an enormous square buffet table.

Long-time friend, Clayton Adams and his band played for the reception. For Josh and Ashley's first dance, Clayton sang, "Who I Am", while the couple danced under a custom made rose chandelier.

At the end of the evening, the happy couple departed under a shower of fireworks.