Archive for category: DIY fresh flowers

Maybe you’ve heard us talk about the Party It Forward Event show and wondered… Just what IS that anyway?

Basically… its an event show with a heart.

To understand how the whole thing came about, let’s go back in time to about 3 years ago… to a discussion we two girls from Brides N Blooms, Wholesale & Designs were having about bridal shows in general. We both decided that as much as the big shows are fun, and you get to meet ALOT of potential clients, its really hard to make a connection to anyone who stops to chat. Too much noise and too many people make it really difficult to do that.

With all the high end items and necessary vendors needed when hosting a wedding or party, we wondered if there was a way to make it just a little easier on the pocketbook. If we could connect upcoming hosts of weddings, parties, etc with the items that they will certainly need for their events, and not  just  the vendors they’ll need, but the little things that cost money. Those things that until you start planning, you might not realize you need! Especially for the DIY girls that put everything together and are very hands on.

The last and most important component we wondered about is how to find a way that people can reuse, recycle and give upcoming event hosts and brides who are spending so much money a break. We thought the best way to do that was to get up and coming hosts together with past hosts of celebrations who have beautiful items that they no longer have a use for. The things they no longer need that could become a new host or brides treasure trove.

That is how we came up with our Party It Forward event show concept!!

Now, you may ask… how do we do accomplish that?

We invite girls who have already had their wedding or party and are trying to sell their event items, and we ask our past clients and their friends to sell any of their event items too. They get to make some money back and the new hosts are getting beautiful almost new items that they need for less money.

And just to make it more interesting, we like looking for the smaller or lesser known venues that  people may not know exist in and around the Tampa Bay Area to co host with us! It is just as fun for us to come upon a hidden treasure of a venue as it is for them to co-host what sometimes is their first bridal/event show! Last, but not least, we thought that no event show is complete without vendors. Since we wanted a boutique style show we decided to only allow one vendor of each category and we only ask vendors that we trust to do a good job, and are customer service friendly, to participate in our vendor area. We like to have the traditional vendors, but we also like to have some that are not so traditional as well!

A concept that helps both the brides and hosts of upcoming events and of past events save money. A show that introduces unique and service oriented vendors. A location that may be a hidden jewel in the Tampa Bay Area.

That is how we “Party It Forward“!

Pictures from our 2/23/14 Party It Forward Event – held at 1930 Grande Room, Ybor City. Photo’s provided by Classic Concepts Photo & Film & Brides N Blooms Wholesale & Designs

We hope you enjoyed the show…Now, go out and have yourself a sustainable, wholesale fresh flower day!

So… here we are! It’s 2014 and with the new year comes new color trends and styles!

Here is the color palette for this year!

I do like the Celosia Orange and Radiant Orchid color combination, as well as the Dazzling Blue & Cayenne. Creating florals for these colors can be challenging, but if you’re creative with  color blocking and flower choices it can really be spectacular.

Here are some flowers that I would suggest to a client with the purple and orange color scheme:  Alstroemeria , Mini Callas, Roses or Spray Roses

Purple and Orange Alstromeria, Mini Calla & Roses

For that Dazzling blue & Cayenne color combo, flowers like these would work well:  Gerbera Daisy, Orchids  and Roses

Gerbera Daisy, Orchid & Rose

Flowers go beyond just words as a way of expressing your feelings with those you love. Floral designs are like art, and speak to each of us in a deeply personal fashion. No matter which palette fits your taste, whether its a ‘hot’ color trend or a traditional tried and true color scheme,  there are flowers that will coordinate, enhance and make your event blossom.

Now go out and have yourself a colorful, wholesale fresh flower filled day!

In Florida, and pretty much the whole USA, New Years Eve is celebrated with friends and family, food and drink, a toast to ring in the new year, A kiss to commemorate what will be and watching the countdown at Times Square.

I thought it might be fun to see how the rest of the world celebrates New Years!

• In China, firecrackers were believed to rout the forces of darkness and so they continue the tradition.
• Italians let their church bells peal.
• The Swiss beat drums and drop dollops of whipped cream on the floor (and allowed to remain there), symbolizing the richness of the year to come.
• The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight comes from Spain.
• The Dutch eat fritters called olie bollen, or any ring-shaped treat (such as a donut) to symbolize “coming full circle” and leads to good fortune.
• In England a mulled cider type drink, called Wassail is a holiday tradition. It usually contains fruit juices, cinnamon, cloves and other spices
• The spiced “hot pot” is the Scottish version of Wassail. It’s customary to drink a glass or two at home before sharing with neighbors. They also follow the custom of first-footing which is an important part of the celebration of Hogmanay, or New Year’s Eve Day.

These traditions still carry on:

• Christian churches hold “watch-night” services, a custom that began in 1770 at Old St. Georges Methodist Church in Philadelphia.
• The practice of making New Year’s resolutions, is said to have begun with the Babylonians as early as 2600 B.C. It is another way to reflect on the past and plan ahead.

And what would a blog like this be without uncovering a few rather odd New Years Traditions:

• In downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, locals throw old appliances out the window.
• Columbia, South America, hoping for a travel-filled year, residents tote empty suitcases around the block.
• In Japan the faithful wear a costume of the next year’s zodiac animal to the local temple, where bells chime a sacred 108 times
• In Denmark locals ring in the New Year by hurling old plates and glasses against the doors of friends’ and relatives’ houses. They also stand on chairs and then jump off them together at midnight. Leaping into January is supposed to banish bad spirits and bring good luck.
• In the south american countries of Brazil Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuala it is considered lucky to wear special underwear on New Year’s Eve; in some large city markets, vendors start displaying brightly colored underpants a few days before the holiday. The most popular colors are red and yellow: red is supposed to bring love in the coming year, and yellow is supposed to bring money.

Whichever way you celebrate and whatever your traditions, We girls at Brides N Blooms, Wholesale & Designs will raise a glass and toast to the New Year, wishing everyone a year of joy, happiness, peace, prosperity, good health and good cheer.

Listen to Auld Lang Syne – a beautiful version by Mairi Campbell

 Now go out and have yourself a flower-filled New Year!