Styling a Dream Wedding - An Interview with Samantha of Primary Petals

I came across the work of Samantha Santana - floral designer and event stylist,while browsing the pages of Utterly Engaged and I instantly fell in love with her beautiful creations. Samantha's floral designs are breathtakingly beautiful!

I sent her an e-mail, asking if she would care to do an interview for my blog. It is so nice of her to say yes and it has been a pleasure corresponding with her for this article. What I love about interviewing people is that I learn a lot from what they share!

Samantha talks about how she got into this career, and shares her personal thoughts and experiences on being a florist and event stylist. She also gives tips on how to style a dream wedding on a limited budget. If you are planning your wedding, I am sure that you will find this interview an inspiration.

How long have you been in the business?

I have been practicing floral design and event styling with my husband, James, as my business partner for almost 3 years now.

Did you really choose to be a florist and event stylist?

No, it is quite a surprise! I fell into this career after a friend asked me to provide florals for her wedding. I am her "artsy" friend, so she thought I'd be able to pull it off. Apparently I did, because soon after her wedding a flow of request for seasonal wedding flowers came my way!

However, it wasn't until I lost my job in entertainment, due to an injury, that I really was forced to move into event styling and floral design full time. It was a blessing in disguise because I suddenly was getting tons of work without trying due to a few blog features I had on some prominent wedding blogs. The work has not slowed down ever since!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I really, really love that I get to work creatively with my hands all the time. It relives the stress of the office side of my job greatly. Also, I am so lucky that I get to work with my husband and with best friend Blair. We have so much fun blasting music to sing along with while we work on projects.

Is there anything you dislike about it? If yes, what is it?

I really, really hate walking up early to go to the Los Angeles Flower Market to purchase flowers. I mean , I hate it (and usually it snooze a few times). However, once I'm there, I remember how much I like that place, and I get really into discovering whatever flowers are in season that week.

 

What are some the biggest challenges you experienced and how were you able to get over them?

Some of the biggest challenges I face with Primary Petals are keeping home and work life separate and also making sure I am creatively in tune with each of my clients. We work from a loft that is both our studio and our home, so keeping the two separate is almost impossible. It is the cause for many tiffs with me and my husband.

However, we are very honest and transparent with each other, so any problems that arise are spoken of immediately. Likewise, we try not to bring up any problems in front of our coworkers, because for them, our home is their workspace.

Also, it is so so important that I stay on track with my clients creatively because I want them to know that I am customizing my work with them specifically in mind, which can be challenging when I have 50 clients to worry about at a time! It's a good thing that I work well under pressure!

What are your favorite flowers?

This is a tough question! Honestly, it changes from season to season. Right now I've been really into dahlias because they have been so giant this summer, but this past week coral peonies popped up suddenly, so they are my favorite right now.

Overall though, I love to find the bizarre plants people don't normally think of as standard and incorporate them into my work, such as proteas, cactus, and succulents.

What was the most memorable wedding event you've been part of?

One of the most memorable weddings I've ever been a part of was our good friends Mark and Jehoaddan Kulakoff's wedding. They are both amazing graphic designers who intimidate me greatly, so I was so worried my flowers and design would not impress them. They love unusual shapes and wanted their wedding to be more like a party, so I found the most unusual and colorful plants I could for their event.

I even watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as I worked on their bouquets and boutonnieres, hoping it would influence me visually. The end result was better than I could have expected. The flowers looked like nothing any of us had ever seen. Mark & Jehoaddan's style is now the most requested and referenced of any of my work.

Where do you find inspirations for your arrangements?

I find inspiration in film and media for my arrangements and styling. For every event and wedding I work on, I think of a movie, tv show, video game, etc. which would match the style and design.

For example, James and I created a whole wedding concept around flowers which reminded us of Super Mario Brothers. People thought we were crazy for thinking such a tacky idea would work, but it did!

The styled shoot we did on the idea this past summer was published on the wedding blog Green Wedding Shoes and is now internationally known. I have noticed that ever since it's publication, many people are more willing to incorporate unusual themes and elements into their events and weddings.

 

What do you do when you’re not busy styling?

When I'm not busy styling, I like to cook and eat. Food is another passion of mine, and in Downtown LA where we're located there are so many good restaurant and bars to try out.

 If we peek inside your bag, what can we see?

Do you mean my purse? Because if you were to look into it you'd find some standards, like a wallet, iphone, lip gloss, matches, bandaid. However, you'd also find candy!

What is your dream wedding?

This is not even a fair question! I have seen so many amazing weddings, so I could not even decide. I think I could have 20 dream weddings. I guess for me visuals are important, so I'd need lots of saturated colors played against muted tones and gold colors.

The style would need to be pretty organic, so a very natural outdoor location would be perfect, such as the dessert or a pine forest. James and I would definitely created custom installation pieces, such as floating arrangements or lighting scheme, and the flowers would be big and billowing. Also, my dream wedding would need amazing food, good drinks, and lots of friends and family.

What are your favorite wedding shops?

I am not very familiar with wedding shops, but I love to thrift for props, vases, etc. to use in my styling and floral designs. Thrifting is so great because you can find original pieces with lots of character, which will make your event very unique.

Likewise, thrifting is great for a bride on a budget because you are recycling used pieces, as opposed to buying everything new. Plus, you can find some amazing items in thrift stores! For example, I have found tons of vintage decanters which I rent out for events constantly because they are so beautiful and different.

 

Is it possible to put together a beautiful wedding without spending so much?

Yes, it is, but it takes a lot of hard work. I think there are 4 key elements to making your wedding look like a million bucks on a tight budget.

First, find a beautiful location. The more beautiful it is, the less you'll need to do to dress it up. Secondly, hire an amazing photographer. A good photographer can make even a simple wedding look amazing when looked upon later. 

 Thirdly, go with seasonal flowers. They will be the most affordable because of their abundance, and also the most beautiful because they will be at the height of their season. Lastly, keep your guest list and wedding party numbers down. The less people their are, the more funds you'll have to use on aesthetic elements. 

Also, there is nothing wrong with hiring a food truck for your wedding. It tastes better than most event food anyways!

Have you styled a wedding on a limited budget?

Yes, as all my clients are on limited budgets. I take time to sit down and customize each client's event to their individual budget and style. As mentioned before, I encourage my clients to stick with seasonal flowers to keep cost lower, and to focus more on the overall feel and character of a wedding then the size of the centerpieces.

Again you do not need tons and tons of flowers, candles, fabric, etc to make your wedding look formal. You just need your wedding to represent the character of you and your significant other and who you are as a whole.

What tips can you give couples who are planning to tie the knot soon?

Make sure to find vendors that connect with you creatively and that you like on a personal level. You will be working with these people for months, so it is important to make sure you've found a fit that is easy to work with and who really understands your style.

Where can we find you online? (facebook, twitter, etc)

You can find Primary Petals on facebook, twitter, Yelp, and at our website, www.primarypetals.com. We also have been published on Green Wedding Shoes, Utterly Engaged, Grey Likes Weddings, and Style Me Pretty, to name a few.

Any message to your customers and the people who support you?

I have been blessed with clients who trust my skills, and I thank them for letting me assemble unique pieces for their events and weddings.

Also, thank you to all the creative vendors I collaborate with on events and photo shoots. They challenge me constantly to expand myself artistically, which has kept me from ever producing cookie cutter looking products. Thank you all!

~*~*~*~

A Huge Thanks To You, Samantha!

A Thousand More Prettiness to Primary Petals!

Ideas for a Beautiful, Inexpensive Home Wedding

A home wedding is a perfect budget-saver. At the same time, you get to exchange vows in a place that is meaningful for both of you.

If you or your parents live by the lakeside, the beach or in a cottage by the mountains, you can turn your home into a breathtaking destination wedding without going on a trip.

Yet, even a backyard wedding can be beautiful and magical as long as all preparations have been made for the big day. In order to be a success, here are some things to consider:

The space. Face it! Your home isn’t really the place to hold a big wedding unless you live in a mansion. A home wedding is meant to be a celebration shared by the couple's most intimate relatives and friends.

The ideal number of guests would depend on the size of your lawn or backyard. It’s best to allow enough space in between tables and chairs so your guests can freely move around.

Don’t include your indoor space as part of your “available space” for more guests unless you’re 100% sure of the weather. Remember, if the weather turns bad, you should have enough room inside the house to accommodate everyone outside and get on with the celebration.

Yes, you may put up a tent on a very hot weather or just in case it drizzles. However, if it’s a rainy season and heavy rains can pour at any time, a tent may not be enough to keep everyone dry.

Coordinate with your wedding officiant. Some wedding officiants do not perform wedding ceremonies outside a place of worship, so you want to make sure that you can find a licensed officiant who is willing to officiate an outdoor wedding or a home wedding.

Designate tasks. Since it’s going to be a wedding at home, everyone in the family should get involved with the tasks. You want to make sure that there would be people assigned for cleaning up the place, decorating the place, serving food, organizing the ceremony and the reception, etc.

Remember, cleaning up the whole place the day before the wedding is an enormous task and you will need all the help you can get. You may want to consider hiring a clean-up service for this particular job after the wedding when everyone would be too tired to lend a hand.

Who will do the catering? For a home wedding with only a small number of guests, doing your own cooking may be a practical, budget-saving, and sumptuous option. If your mom is a wonderful cook, this is her time to shine.

However, you need to make sure that there will be enough helping hand in the kitchen. Consider serving dishes and desserts that can be prepared a day or even a week in advance, refrigerated and then re-heated on the day of the wedding.

For us, we were lucky enough that my husband’s brother-in-law is an excellent and wonderful cook so we were able to serve our guests with delicious home-cooked dishes. Everyone in our wedding was talking about how they love the food so much even after our wedding day. With a Filipino wedding, the food served on the banquet can really make the occasion even more special than it already is!

If you want to invite more guests, you may want to hire a catering service. Call up different caterers as early as possible so you can compare costs. Never forget the importance of “tasting” to make sure that you’ll get a really good value for your money.

Buffet-style reception. A buffet-style reception is best because you don’t need to designate servers. Make sure that there are at least 2 or 3 buffet tables so guests need not wait in line for food. Set-up 2 or 3 tables for beverages so guests can freely help themselves whenever they need a drink.

Breakfast wedding, brunch or an afternoon snack. You can save a great deal on food budget if it will be an early morning or early afternoon wedding. Don’t forget to add bowls of fruits and vegetables! They’re ideal hunger-busters that would make any buffet table look inviting!

Beautify your lawn a few months before the wedding. It’s easier to turn a home wedding into a beautiful garden wedding if you start planting your seeds early. Ask a horticulturist or florist for the best types of flowers and plants to grow just in time for your wedding month.

For instance, if you are preparing for a summer wedding, you can plant Gerbera daisies, African daisies, geraniums, or sunflowers. Thus, your garden will be in its full bloom on your wedding day. If you want, consider hiring a landscape artist to give your open space the perfect garden wedding look.

Don’t let your home be a transient place for your guests. You may be tempted to offer your home for relatives who just arrived to attend your wedding. But it’s best that they stay in a hotel or at your relative's' (if they’re willing). On the morning of the wedding, your home would be a very busy place and you want to give everyone who lives there the freedom to comfortably get dressed without hassle.

To rent or not to rent. In most cases, renting tables and chairs is really necessary. If you have a large collection of dinnerware, it may be enough to serve your guests or perhaps you can borrow additional pieces from a friend or relative.

If you have to borrow, perhaps it’s still more convenient to just rent everything, including the table linens, chaffing dishes, bar ware, napkins, seat covers etc. Don’t forget to rent a generator in case there’s a power outage in the area.

Legalities and insurance. Check with your local government if you need to secure a permit or license so that the necessary safety inspections can be executed before the event. You’ll also want to apply for a wedding insurance coverage for guests in case of an emergency.

Use inexpensive decorations. Save big by checking out flea markets and garage sales for possible good buys – garden lamps, decorative bottles, jars, clear glasses, fish bowls, vases, etc.

If you have a tree in your lawn, hanging lamps, bottles, or jars with lighted candles will surely make an afternoon wedding glow. Clear glasses and bowls are very cheap and can be used as elegant wedding centerpieces.

Balloons are a cheaper way to make a place more exciting! Try garlands of balloons tied up together where it won’t occupy needed space. If flowers are expensive, keep them minimal and use other decorative pieces like candles, fruits and vegetables.

Buy tulle by the yard. You can add swags of tulle in white or the color of your motif along the buffet table, seats, doorways, aisle, etc.

Is parking space enough? Would there be enough space for your guests' cars? If not, consider asking your neighbors if you can borrow their vacant street-side space on that day. Most often than not, your neighbors would gladly approve.

Do your own nails and make-up! Ask a friend if she can do your hair and make-up for you. You can look for ideas online or from magazines and try out different styles months before your wedding.

Hold practice sessions until your friend can do your hair and make-up perfectly! See if the make-up would also look good in the pictures. Ask your friend to take some shots to see which look is best for you.

Make your own wedding bouquets. Bouquets for you, your maid-of-honor, bridesmaids and flowers girls need not be complicated. Tie up a bunch of flowers or a stalk of flower with a sash and you’re done!

Don’t forget the music. Download your favorite songs and music way in advance and designate a friend to play music for you and your guests on that day.

Are there pets at home? If you have dogs or cats, would you want them included in the reception? If yes, make sure that someone would keep them in close supervision all day. If not, make sure they are safely kept in a room or have them stay over at a friend’s house.

Think theme-wedding! It would be easier to decorate if you have a specific theme in mind. You may use the places you’ve been together as a couple or your honeymoon destination as your inspiration.  For example, you can make it a Hawaiian wedding with lei, Gumamela sprigs and tiki punches, or a beach wedding theme complete with shells, sand, sea foods, sarong, and wicker hats!

Allow plenty of time for preparations. The best way to prepare for a home wedding is to make plans ahead of time and start the preparations as early as possible. Ideally, you want to give it at least 6 months to put together your plans.

Do you have other home wedding tips? 
You're welcome to share it by leaving a comment, thanks!

Photos:

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beach theme wedding

An Interview with Chris and Verity of Sansom Photography

This is the first time I'm interviewing wedding photographers and I am so thrilled that Chris Sansom and Verity Woolf from Sansom Photography agreed to be part of this segment.  This interview is now published on mephotographies.com.