the 5 closest people

Place setting detail with calligraphy bride name card. Photographed by Kate Elizabeth. Styled by Shannon Ducker Events.

We have grown up hearing the saying that goes… “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. This might or might not be true in your life, but in mine I have found it to be mostly true.

We are not immune to this concept in business. To have business owners that build you up, exceed more, challenge you to do more, might be the best thing we can do. We also have to edit the people we keep close. Making sure that the people are striving for more and are not settling in their style, aesthetic, customer service, reputation, and kindness.

You have seen people get in a rut in life, but I have also seen that in business. Spending time with women owned businesses that are growing and achieving great things is electrifying. It is necessary for my soul and my sanity. We need each other and this past week has solidified that for me.

I have been surrounded with event planners that challenge me, build me up, cheer me on and keep me going. Hearing their worries and lifting them up has made the struggles we deal with easier and more palpable. We need each other, and to deny that is to deny yourself one of the more essential parts of business ownership… one another. You need your community of like-minded strong willed humans. And for that I am thankful.

Table scape with white and blush garden style arrangement by Maxit Flower Design. Photographed by Kate Elizabeth. Styled by Shannon Ducker

Here are some amazing images from one of those ladies that I hold close. She is rocking it you guys. Nothing is stopping her from achieving her goals and she sets them lofty and big. This year Kate Elizabeth photography started her own photography workshop and I am sincerely cheering her on. This is not a small feet as such projects can feel daunting with our everyday work load.

She mastered it and completely exceeded my expectation on design and aesthetics. Go check out more information on her new formed instagram page HERE.

Tree installation and aisle flowers by Maxit Flower Design. Photographed by Kate Elizabeth. Styled by Shannon Ducker

Bridal bouquet with blush and white flowers in a garden style by Maxit Flower Design. Photographed by Kate Elizabeth. Styled by Shannon Ducker

let's splurge on flowers, but where?

Garden style bridal bouquet with coral, pink, blush and white garden roses. Maxit Flower Design’s work captured by Adam Nyholt

Many times we find that our clients are confused on where to spend their money. We work in a creative industry that allows so much room for flexibility when budget is concerned. But with all budgets, large or small we are convinced that you need to have 3 main area where you should spend your money on your wedding.

ONE - Your bouquet

Sorry gentleman you are being left out of this one, unless you are wanting to cary a bouquet too. This is an important one that I have seen left out. Someone said not too long ago that what’s the point of splurging on a bouquet when they would only be holding it going down the aisle for a couple minutes.

EEK! Where do I begin? Let’s just list off all the monumental shots that your amazing photographer will capture that will have your bouquet. Walking down the aisle with your loved one as you go to meet your partner down the aisle. Your father, uncle, mother, that special person that means the world to you will be walking you down that aisle and that moment will be captured in your memories for a life time.

When you just got done getting married and now walking down the aisle with your life partner. That bouquet is the perfect decor piece. Family, bridal party, your portrait, couple’s portrait, bridesmaids shots, etc all these pics that we so fondly look back on, all have your bouquet. Trust me on this one, you want one and you must hire someone that makes fabulous bouquets.

Head Table with garden style, lush compotes with coral, pink, blush and white garden roses. Maxit Flower Design’s work captured by Adam Nyholt

TWO- Head Table

This is it, once in a life time. (I couldn’t say that with a bouquet as we, in The South, take bridals, so many times our brides does cary a bouquet more than once) But your head table… this is it. The one time that you get to indulge yourself and your immediate family and bridal party with an amazing, over the top experience.

It creates an anchoring spot for the room and it allows you to sit in a moment where all the most abundant florals and decor will be placed.

And let’s face it, the photographer is not capturing every singe table. They will walk into the room and capture the table that has the most decor, where all the details are centrally located.

Band front with greenery to decorate the stage. Created by Maxit Flower design and captured by Adam Nyholt

THREE - Dance Floor

Either creating a hanging installation or a band front. We suggest having this as one of your main focal points. This is where your first dance will be, your father daughter dance and all those fun, gushy speeches will be held. It is the main gathering location for the rest of the evening. Do not leave this are left out.

We have created band fronts, hanging installations and even added 4 pedestals around each side of the dance floor to help create an intimate area where all images are captured. Allow us to be creative and make something that will be captured and remembered for a life time.

is this weird?

Entry arch covered in flowers, with coral charm peonies, garden roses, roses, ranunculus, spirea, black berries and smilax. Keely Thorne Event Planning, River Oaks Country Club, Maxit Flower Design

Something super odd about myself I must confess. I look back at the work we do and love it more once I have had some time to review. I just looked back on a wedding we did a year ago and I absolutely love it. On the day I thought we produced good work, but I could not get out of my head about a couple things I though we could do better.

As a creative entrepreneur I have to say that I am incredibly hard on myself. I love what I do, but there isn’t a time I don’t think we could have done it better. Not that everyone didn’t do an amazing job and that the client wasn’t super happy. (And that is what is most important!) But that I can improve.

One random thing I got hung up on was during set up was that I didn’t plan for the floral chandeliers needing to fit through the door. Sounds so absurd, but you guys…. they wouldn’t fit through ANY of the front doors. We had to truck them through the whole entire back end of the country club, roughly two city blocks. Ok, maybe just one, but when you have 4 floral chandeliers it started to feel like a stinking marathon.

Compote arrangement of lush, premium flowers. White ceramic container with coral charm peonies, garden roses, roses, ranunculus, spirea, black berries and smilax. Keely Thorne Event Planning, River Oaks Country Club, Maxit Flower Design

That happened Friday as we got access a day early. From that moment forward I could not get that out of my head. I began to have a pity party in my head and it would not go away. I lost sleep, and set up on Saturday feeling like I let my team down.

A year later I have perspective, learned lessons, and can totally appreciate the hard work and pieces of flower art we created for our amazing clients.

I never received professional pics, so please excuse the lack of quality. But sometimes we have to still share what we’ve created no matter the quality of images, right? Otherwise how is everyone going to see what we can make happen for you on your special day? Can I get an Amen?!

Hanging floral chandelier with coral charm peonies, garden roses, roses, ranunculus, spirea, black berries and smilax. Keely Thorne Event Planning, River Oaks Country Club, Maxit Flower Design

Small vases with taper candles. With coral charm peonies, garden roses, roses, ranunculus, spirea, black berries and smilax. Keely Thorne Event Planning, River Oaks Country Club, Maxit Flower Design

Garden compote with coral charm peonies, garden roses, roses, ranunculus, spirea, black berries and smilax. Keely Thorne Event Planning, River Oaks Country Club, Maxit Flower Design

Cross alter with coral charm peonies, garden roses, roses, ranunculus, spirea, black berries and smilax. Aisle covered in blooms. Keely Thorne Event Planning, River Oaks Country Club, Maxit Flower Design

Cross alter with coral charm peonies, garden roses, roses, ranunculus, spirea, black berries and smilax. Keely Thorne Event Planning, River Oaks Country Club, Maxit Flower Design

Room shot of Mollie & Alejandro’s wedding. We combined tall arrangements, low garden style compotes, with hanging floral chandeliers. Keely Thorne Event Planning, River Oaks Country Club, Maxit Flower Design

flower bouquets: they are important ya'll

Bride and groom, photographed in Rice University by Josh and Dana Fernandez Photography. Flowers by Maxit Flower Design

While many people might sell you on a simple bouquet. Splurge, this is the only time you will ever cary your dream bouquet. I can promise that it will be completely, totally, worth it!!!

I have heard designers mention that they don’t focus on the bouquet because you only cary it for several minutes down the aisle. Sure, they are correct. But what about the images that get captured that last a life time. Who doesn’t want these dreamy, artistic images of their girls and their new hubby.

There is so much artistic talent goes into creating one of these beauties, ok I am tooting my own horn. But seriously, we were not able to make this year one, two or three of learning design. It is not easy and therefor should have a moment in the spot light.

And for the record, we have had some stunning bridal bouquets that are 1/2 this size. Size does not matter in the bouquet world. Quality flowers, shape and design is where the magic happens. Make sure to allow a healthy budget for those specialty blooms. Our favorites? Garden roses, peonies, spray roses, lisianthus, and ranunculus to name a few.

And let us not forget, the photographer. It is important ya’ll!! These images you see were perfectly captured by Josh & Dana Fernandez. And shall we not forget, the hard work of Mallory at Two Be Wed.

Is it just me, or can we agree that these images would not look the same without these flowers! I might be biased, so you decide…

Bridal bouquet by Maxit Flower Design, captured by Josh & Dana Fernandez Photography

Bride with her bridal bouquet, in Rice university captured by Josh and Dana Fernandez. Bouquet by Maxit Flower Design

Bride and bridesmaids bouquets. Shot by Josh and Dana Fernandez in Rive University.

Bride and her bridesmaids, shot by Josh and Dana Fernandez inside Rice University.

Boutonniere by Maxit Flower Design, captured by Josh and Dana Fernandez Photography

mauve: the come back kid

Deep purple hellebore, single stem. Wedding and Event flower. Maxit Flower Design

We love a good come back, and mauve has exceeded our expectations. She not only came back but has made a huge statement in the wedding world. There are so many directions she can take as both blush and lavender tones are intermixed through out her. This time we focused on the lavender and purple hues that are so striking and timeless.

We wanted to experiment with including all color tones from white to dark plumb. We incorporated all the colors through the color wheel that would bridge these two colors together and mauve was the perfect tone.

Flower farmers have yet to grow too many varieties allowing this elusive color to still be hard to find. It makes this colored flower so exciting to work with as we are still learning how to experiment with it and incorporate it into our arrangements.

Black modern vessel with a garden style arrangement. Mauve, purple, ivory colored flowers. Maxit Flower Design.

Centerpiece with plumb, mauve, blush, white flowers. Including sweet peas, butterfly ranunculus, hellebores, garden roses, roses, and spray roses. Clear glass vase. Maxit Flower Design

Detail shot of flowers. Hellebores, garden roses, sweet pea, and ranunculus. Maxit Flower Design

Garden style, tall arrangement created for a centerpiece at a wedding. Maxit Flower Design