The faces of today’s couples are changing. No longer exclusively reserved for super-young, first-time brides and grooms, weddings feature a more diverse group of intended nowadays. Some are older and marrying for the first or second (or more!) time. Some are financially established and even well-traveled! Many are rejecting long-held traditions to allow their celebration to best reflect their story. One of these traditions that is evolving is the bachelor (or bachelorette) party. Tawdry, explicit, and blush-worthy entertainment is no longer the gold standard for all such fetes. Instead, brides and grooms are finding ways to enjoy their last days... Continue reading

We're catching up on some awesome publicity today and are remiss for not sharing this before! Lindsey and Jason, a couple we love dearly, celebrated their wedding at the Powhatan Resort in Williamsburg this February. The day was captured by phenom photographer Laura Gordon, and published on the popular bridal blog, Style Me Pretty. We were so honored to work on the planning and design of this absolutely gorgeous wedding, and wish Lindsey and Jason congratulations on their new marriage! See Lindsey and Jason as featured on Style Me Pretty here. Thank you so much to Laura Gordon for her... Continue reading

Our colleagues at Milestone Cinema recently shared highlights of yet another of our favorite recent planning and design couples, and we couldn't wait to share them with you. Kathy and Brian were married at the Sir Christopher Wren Chapel of the College of William & Mary, and celebrated with a reception, dinner, and dancing at Colonial Williamsburg's Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum and Fountain Garden. We enjoyed working with Kathy and Brian so much, and are happy to wish them congratulations on their new lives together! You can see Kathy & Brian's highlight video here. Many thanks to Eric Pesola of... Continue reading

We recently planned and designed a wedding for an absolutely delightful couple, Rachel and Derek. Their ceremony and reception were held at Colonial Williamsburg's Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum and Fountain Garden in April. It was our great pleasure and honor to work with Rachel and Derek, and we were delighted to see their wedding featured on the blog of their videographer, Milestone Cinema. We know you will enjoy their wedding highlights as much as we did! Congratulations Rachel and Derek! To see their highlight video, click here. Thank you to Eric Pesola of Milestone Cinema for the awesome video! Continue reading

It is far easier to deal with the unforeseeable issues when all of the possible predictable ones have been addressed before the wedding day. Learn to communicate effectively with your day-of coordinator to ensure the best possible wedding day. Continue reading

One of the hottest trends in weddings for 2014 is the use of "Metallics". From fashion to florals, this year's brides will be adding a glam dose of shimmer to just about everything. Fashion experts expect that we will see both bridesmaids dresses in metallic hues and accents on bridal gowns incorporating the style. But it won't end there! We've assembled some of our favorite ideas from blogs and boards around the internet to offer you some metallic inspiration of your own. All photo sources are listed just under this board, so click away! We can't wait to see your... Continue reading

It's a new year and we are catching up on some of our favorite press from the last several months. We are tickled by the stunning photos of Jen & Michael's wedding that recently appeared on the blog of photographer Brad Howe. The colors are positively stunning, and happy couple is even more so. Congratulations Jen & Michael, and thank you Brad for sharing the images. You can click through here to see the entire article. The Flower Cupboard Continue reading

Alright, we realize this dates back to this summer, but we're making some serious progress these snowy winter days on sharing some of the incredible press, and even more incredible weddings that we enjoyed in 2013. This gorgeous wedding is no exception. Trey & Amanda's Williamsburg Winery wedding was as gorgeous as the bride and groom themselves, and we are so honored to have been part of their day. Do your eyes a favor and click to see all the photos. Special thanks to Jillian Michelle Photography for sharing such beautiful images. The Flower Cupboard Continue reading

One of our lovely 2013 clients was featured in this touching story about her gown recently. We are so happy for Gail, and her new husband Kyle, and were honored to be part of her wedding day. Thank you to Erik of E. Leise Photo Design for capturing their day in such stunning images. Click here to read the full article! Congratulations Gail and Kyle. The Flower Cupboard Continue reading

We love great weddings, and appreciate great press. We were honored to have one of our weddings recently featured on the blog Tidewater and Tulle, with photos by fabulous photographer Rebecca Keeling. Click through to the full article and enjoy! Continue reading

Engagement season is upon us again, and many newly engaged couples are finding themselves elbow-deep in contracts for everything from venues, to DJs, to bakers and musicians. We often find that our clients get intimidated or overwhelmed during the contract phase of booking their wedding professionals, and sometimes, important details are overlooked. Here are some quick tips from our own wedding planners to help you avoid some common contract mistakes: Check the basics: you would be surprised the number of times couples look for the big stuff in contracts, then miss the fine details like, say, the date and location... Continue reading

A recent research project turned up literally hundreds of ways brides are using bunting and pennants in their weddings. From invitations to props, these fun accents can be made of any material, in any color palette and in practically any size. While they can be do-it-yourself projects, they are available in several custom formats from your favorite Etsy suppliers and other sources online, and can be installed by professional design teams (including our own) when used in more complicated setups. Here are some great ideas offered by several Etsy vendors (one of our favorite sources for wedding details!) that you... Continue reading

The phenomenon from “Across the Pond” is making huge waves in the US, and its impact on weddings is no exception. 2013 and 2014 brides are whipping up British-inspired designs and seeking out all things aristocratic and Anglo-phile to accent their nuptials. Wondering how Mary and Matthew will fit in to your guest list, or how you can incorporate your own bit of the English countryside into your plans? Here are some of our favorite Downton-inspired trends for the New Year: Image Sources (clockwise from top left): Mary & Matthew from Pinterest | Vintage Ring from Etsy | Cake from... Continue reading

The Flower Cupboard has the opportunity to travel to points near and far when we design and plan weddings. One recent event took us to the New Kent Winery, between Williamsburg and Richmond. The Winery has only been open for a couple of years, and is a relatively new event space. It is located in beautiful country and makes a stunning backdrop for an outside wedding. Here are some of the highlights of Kate and Jeremy's big day: Kate carried a lovely bouquet of hydrangea, sweetheart roses and orchids. The ceremony was held under a tent outside the main room... Continue reading

Every region has its popular and traditional wedding sites: local historical landmarks, hotels and conference centers, civic buildings, church halls and catering facilities. However, many brides want a unique experience for their guests, or an atmosphere specific to their dreams. When you are searching for a venue for your wedding, each of the decision makers involved in your day should make a list of their criteria for a perfect event space. These lists can be compared and combined (sometimes negotiated) into a master "must-have" list that you can then use to launch your search. We were presented with a site-search... Continue reading

Floral Design clients, Elizabeth & Jay, held a lovely Williamsburg Winery wedding recently, and we loved their flower choices. Elizabeth's unique bouquet was made of baby's breath and stephanotis, while her bridesmaids carried clutches of freesia, lisanthus, delphinium and more. Their adorable flower girl wore a halo of delicate baby's breath. The personal flowers were set against the dramatic backdrop of the historic Williamsburg Winery. We are grateful to Brad Howe Photography for the Images. Continue reading

At The Flower Cupboard, we love a challenge. One of our wedding planner's (Shayna's) favorites is to plan the perfect day with a short lead time. As a logistical expert, she loves the quick pace, intense relationship with our clients and the feeling of accomplishment when the happy couple says I do in the wedding of their dreams. A dynamic college and military community, Williamsburg is a popular destination for weddings. We are presented with several of these short-term planning opportunities each year. We recently were honored to plan the wedding of Kati and Ramsey at Wren Chapel and the... Continue reading

Wow! It has been many months since our last blog post - and not for lack of weddings or hard work. In fact, we've been so busy that we simply let our blogging slip. We are setting new goals, however, and are looking forward to communicating with the world again regularly! (This photo is actually an oldie - "way back" to 2011 - and courtesy of awesome Richmond-based photographer, Eva Russo. Congratulations Rachel & Chase!). If you'd like to see some of what we've been up to, check out our Facebook page where just yesterday Cathy posted a bunch of... Continue reading

Photos courtesy of Brad Howe Photography Continue reading

Not everyone likes change. There is a level of serious discomfort that comes with new things, and a lot of us just can't take it. I don't mind change. I like the excitement, the new possibilities and the momentum. Today I will change my FB profile and it will generate a little buzz. Some have suggested that I'll change my relationship status, and alas, that will have to remain a goal for 2012. Rather, I'll be changing my employer (whose approval I wanted to get before posting, thus the anticipation). "Wait", you may be saying to yourself. You own your... Continue reading

Since I'm finally getting caught up with photos and posts this week, I wanted to share this display from earlier this year. I was called in at the last-minute to help with the setup and construction of this immense two-part buffet. The person hosting had done a wonderful job picking out the elements that she thought she'd like included - it just came down to a time thing on the wedding day and I was more than happy to help. It's always fun working with so much candy in such perfect colors! So, here's one of my favorite candy displays... Continue reading

I could gush about Kate and Jerry for hours – and in previous drafts of this post, I did. However, their photos, courtesy of photographic superhero Erik Leise, give an accurate portrayal of how special these two are, how much in love they are, and exactly why I adore them so. Enjoy. Congratulations Kate & Jerry! Planning: Williamsburg Wedding Design Flowers: The Flower Cupboard Cake: Cindy’s Cakery Venue: The Alumni House of William & Mary Catering: Green Leafe Catering Photo Booth: Boardwalk Photo Booth Co. Ceremony Music: Tim Olbrych, Classical Guitarist Reception Entertainment: Smith-Wade Band Rentals: Williamsburg Event Rentals Hair... Continue reading

One of the most iconic images of the Williamsburg wedding scene is the Crim Dell Bridge on the campus of the College of William & Mary. Every freshmen learns the legend on the first day of orientation: kiss your sweetheart on the Crim Dell and someday the two of you will marry. The bridge dates back to 1966 when it was opened on the first-ever "Parent's Day". It is nestled in a private little dell at the end of the Sunken Gardens and is the result of damming College Creek. Evidently before becoming a romantic destination students used to use... Continue reading

It occurred to me that it's been awhile since I've reviewed the main reasons that people cite when they first call for holding their weddings in Williamsburg. This region is a unique mixture of accessible, convenient and appealing. These were first featured on our World According to Weddlady blog back in 1997...but they are absolutely timeless Is your reason listed? 1. They visited Williamsburg many moons ago and fell in love - with the 'burg! It took them a little longer to find Mr. or Ms. Right, but now they're on their way back for the perfect destination wedding. 2.... Continue reading