Too Pretty to Forget

February 21, 2012

I can't believe I forgot to post these pictures. This was a wedding we did back in the Fall. Lesley usually likes me to bring my camera along to capture a few of our details that may be overlooked by wedding photographers. If you are a vendor of any sort, you know exactly where I am coming from. We spend hours and hours preparing and creating for a wedding, and sometimes we just don't have the photos to show for it. We understand flowers are not THE most important thing going on that day, but we are very proud of what we do, and we love having the photos to show for it. Here are a few shots I took of a wedding that was held at Luckett Lodge in Brandon, MS. We had a lot of fun with textures and modern containers to balance out the rustic venue in which they were placed. I especially love the last photo where we did groupings of different flowers in their individual containers. Enjoy! -Beverly

Flower Market

February 15, 2012

Have you ever wondered how floral designers get their hands on such beautiful flowers?? Well, the answer is actually simple! We go to market. I decided I wanted our readers to have an inside scoop on what a flower market looks like for us in Jackson, MS. This particular day I brought my camera along to capture a few shots. It's actually quite fun, and the employees are super nice. Enjoy! -Beverly

Valentine's Day 2012

January 23, 2012

Believe it or not, the one thing I miss most about my shop in Chicago is Valentine’s Day. Other designers may say I’m crazy, but I’m for real.  It is, hands down, the most exciting holiday of the year! This is the day where there would be a line out the shop, phone ringing off the hook, 14 hour work days, and laughter for hours while cleaning a couple thousand roses. For me, this holiday is always such a rush!  I absolutely love the madness that comes along with being a flower boutique owner and Valentine’s Day.  Even though I no longer have an everyday retail shop (weddings are our focus here at TULIP), I try to do a little bit on Valentine’s Day each year. This year I am excited to say we are launching our brand new ecommerce site! This is a place where Jackson peeps can come to our site, view our Valentine’s Day collection, pick out what they like, place and order online, and we will deliver it to that special someone on Valentine’s Day. Super easy right? These arrangements are not your typical, boring dozen roses with all that crazy, icky greenery and filler.  These arrangements were actually designed to impress and make your lady (or man) swoon over you. These are delicious treats made with love for your love. 

Our shop will be up and running and we will be ready to take orders starting February 1^st. If you are a lady reading this post, do yourself a favor and send your man a little hint, hint.   

Here's a sneak peak of our offerings this year……

Photography was done in-house by Beverly.

Modern Whimsy

January 04, 2012

So…… I’m pretty sure I say this a lot, but I absolutely adored working with this couple! Leslie and Jason are the kind of couple that florists and stylists dream of working with--a laid back bride with style and an architect groom who was willing to let go of visual details and completely trust us. Lesley and Jason basically handed TULIP the wedding and gave us complete creative control. In meeting with the couple it was pretty clear that Jason was drawn towards a more modern aesthetic, but he also wanted some character, and Leslie envisioned a more whimsical, DIY feel to the day. In one of the meetings they mentioned they wanted to incorporate a bike into the wedding somehow, so we did just that. We started with a bike and a color palette, and the wedding evolved from there! I worked with Mary Margaret Harper on designing an invitation that really set the tone for the entire day. To incorporate a modern, graphic element that would satisfy the groom’s style, we chose to bring a modern chevron print through textiles and print work. In the end, I was thrilled with the outcome. All of the elements and different design styles came together perfectly. I like to call it Modern Whimsy! 

Beverly, my partner in crime at TULIP, designed and executed an amazing backdrop for the cake table and groom’s pie table. Here's a little blurb from Bev on her crafty project:

From the get-go Lesley gave me full, creative freedom with the backdrops and made it very clear that this was MY project. Being my first project with TULIP, naturally I was a little hesitant. I kept feeling the urge to run every little detail by Lesley for her approval. After doing a sketch of each backdrop showcasing a very clear idea of what I wanted to build, I was able to move forward quickly. From the sketch process, I went out to purchase and gather materials. The Bride's cake table backdrop was completed in no time. Consisting of the perfect branch, string, ribbon, and dyed coffee filters, the backdrop was a perfect combination of whimsy and crafty. The Groom's pie table backdrop--on the other hand--was a little more difficult to complete. I created a frame of gathered sticks on a fabric-covered piece of plywood. I then printed multiple designs on paper to create the folded starbursts. I know that sounds simple, but THE FOLDING OF PAPER TOOK FOREVER! Lastly, I embellished the final product with lace-sewn pennant flags. Overall, I think we were all happy with the outcome!

Flowers, Styling + some Printwork: TULIP

Photography: b. mo foto

Lighting: Davaine Lighting

Printwork: Mary Margaret Harper

Rentals: Mississippi Tent and Party Rental

Catering: Julep

Cake: Icing on the Cake

Venue: The Cedars

A Wedding with FAN-tastic Details

December 29, 2011

I met Mary Margaret a couple years ago when she inquired about working for TULIP. Although we were not hiring at the time, we stayed in touch and ended up working on some really fun invitation/print work projects together. She is such a talented designer, and I absolutely adore her work. So...When she called to tell me she was engaged and wanted TULIP to do her flowers and collaborate on styling, I was obviously thrilled! I had SO much fun working on this wedding with her. The day was filled with elements of paper, wood, lace, muslin, burlap, succulents, garden roses, and mercury glass. An organic palette of green and ivory was accented with coral for a splash of color. It was the perfect combination of DIY details, organic accents, and a touch of romance. 

Rachel Brooks did such an amazing job capturing the love that day…and the details too!

Floral + Styling: TULIP
Invitations + Styling: Mary Margaret Harper (The Bride)
Venue: Duling Hall
Catering: Julep
Cake: Icing on the Cake
Band: Ferrier

Inspiration Shoot: A Mid-Century, Modern Wedding

December 20, 2011

About a month ago, a few of us creatives in the wedding industry decided we wanted to do an inspiration shoot that was not your "traditional southern wedding." In the South, it can be extremely easy for WEDDING AFTER WEDDING to be the SAME OLE SAME OLE. Here at TULIP, we are always searching to push the envelope in every aspect of event styling--from flowers, to linens, to print work, to dessert tables, to backdrops--you name it! We love when we get that creative bride that just rolls with the punches and gives us total, creative freedom. So here's a shoot we pulled together to show all our southern lovelies what we have up our sleeves! Enjoy our Mid-Century, Modern wedding:

A special thanks to all the vendors that made this fun little shoot possible.

Flowers + Event Styling: TULIP

Wedding Accessories: MOLLYGEEdesigns

Photography: b. mo foto

Dresses: A Southern Affair

Hair + Make-Up: Nathan's Salon

Homespun Southern Wedding: The Dupree House

December 05, 2011

ABC...123...

November 28, 2011

I am so excited to share this baby shower, as it was very near and dear to my heart. My wonderful, gorgeous, incredibly smart sister-in-law is having a baby, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! I am so excited that Frank is going to have a cousin so close in age. We will have so much fun raising our babies together. Bring on the play dates, sleepovers, and all of the craziness that comes along with it!

When Nan told us she was pregnant, my mind immediately went into baby shower brainstorming mode. I wanted her to have the best baby shower! She was so amazing and supportive during my pregnancy and I wanted to do something extra special for her. My inspiration for the shower came from the adorable white ceramic table numbers that I found at BHLDN. The second I saw those I knew I wanted to incorporate the ABC, 123 theme. I was unsure of the color palette at first. I didn’t want to go the traditional pink route, but once Nan showed me some of the items that she picked out for her nursery the pink ended up being perfect! Adding the gray accent made it a more modern palette. The inspiration behind the bird accent was from some amazing nursery wall paper and a throw pillow from Dwell Studio. I worked with a good friend and invitation designer,Mary Margaret Mink, to design the shower invites which incorporated our colors and all of our décor elements. They really set the tone for the party. All of the additional print work and textiles were done in-house by my amazing assistant/designer Beverly. Everything came together so perfect! I couldn’t have been happier with the outcome, and I’m pretty sure Nan dug it too!

I have to say thank you to all of the other hostesses for letting me take the shower and run with it. They gave me complete creative control, and they were there to help with whatever I needed. Thank you ladies for putting up with my craziness!

Flowers + Styling: TULIP
Print Work: TULIP
Invitations: Mary Margaret Mink
Rentals: Eventful
Photography: b. mo foto
Cake: Icing on the Cake
Location: Frascogna House

Dinner for Two

November 04, 2011

Guys…… If you really want to win a gal over, do what this guy did. A few weeks ago, a client called upon us to plan and execute what he called, “the most romantic birthday dinner ever" for his wife of five years. So, we did just that. He had a few requests for us--he did not want it to be in a restaurant, he wanted music, lots of chocolate, and peonies (her favorite flower).

So this is how it all unfolded. We sent the lucky lady a beautiful arrangement with a love letter asking her to be ready at a specific time for a birthday dinner at a secret location. After picking up the couple, the limo pulls up to the Cedars to find the walkway romantically lit consisting of votives and lanterns leading up to the enormous magnolia tree where their dinner awaited them. As they walked into the "room" of the magnolia tree, she is greeted by family photographs of her, her husband, and their two precious little boys hanging on the trunk of the tree and sitting on an antique desk amongst her favorite flowers, dreamy candlelight, and one deliciously beautiful cake. The tears begin to flow. Music is playing. Love is definitely in the air.

As Patrick plays their favorite songs, Andy, with Bravo, serves them the most amazing 4 course meal beneath the candlelight. Reminiscing, dancing, visiting with parents that dropped by to share a couple hugs and "hellos," it is so obvious the night was indeed perfect. Words cannot explain how honored we were to be a part it.

Location: The magnolia tree at The Cedars

Music: Patrick Harkins of Fondren Guitars 

Food: Bravo

Flowers and Styling: TULIP

Rentals:  Eventful

Cake:  Crazy Cat Bakery

Let's Get Personal...

November 02, 2011

Getting personal is not something that typically happens when I blog, but I’m going to go for it to kick off my newly updated blog and website. Our site is not completely ready yet (I have been a little pre-occupied), but I have been SO anxious to get back in the blogging game and I just can’t wait any longer! Plus, Beverly, my new right hand gal, has encouraged me to get a little bit more personal and I totally trust her advice. Don’t worry….. we’ll get to her in another post!

So, without further a due…….

I have had the most amazing 2011! Besides growing my business (almost 25% since last year!), Marty and I have also been growing our family. We welcomed our first born son, Frank Edward Frascogna, to our family on June 10th, 2011. He arrived exactly two weeks after Tulip finished its spring wedding season. I never thought I was going to survive that one! Working in 100 degree heat at 9 months pregnant was no picnic, but I got through it and now we have the most amazing little creature on the planet. I am actually getting choked up as I am writing this. Tears flow pretty easy since becoming a Mom…. I think it’s a hormone thing. Being a Mom and a business owner has been harder than I ever imagined, but I am hanging in there. Besides….. I figure if I can make it through an un-medicated, natural childbirth I can do anything! Now that was definitely the hardest thing I have ever done. I don’t really know how I survived that one, but I will say that the support of Marty and my doula Carol Anne (my angel) had something to do with that. I am pretty sure I asked for drugs several time, but they kept reminding me of our plan and the gift that I would be receiving for all of my hard work. I am so thankful for them. The day Frank was born was truly the most unbelievable day of my life. All of the hard work throughout pregnancy and labor was so worth it!

As I write this post, my little man is snuggled up in his crib with his butt up in the air and his little hands resting on each side of his chubby cheeks. I can’t wait to wake up to his smiley little face in the morning. 

(All photography by: Beth Morgan)

I hope you enjoyed reading this very personal post! Please continue to check our blog often for new weddings and events, current events, studio updates, blurbs from Bev, and of course.....updates on Frank!

Oh, and one more thing….. Thank you to my amazing husband, family, and staff for making it possible to be a mommy and a business owner. I could never do this without your support!

Sneak Peak:

September 18, 2011

 Here's just a sneak peak of the wedding we did last weekend!

Libby Story Photoshoot

September 17, 2011