wedding - Garden by the Gate Floral Design

November 15, 2020November 15, 2020

Moody, Boho Wedding Shoot at Rivercrest Farm

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I was so lucky to work with this talented team for an amazing styled photoshoot at Rivercrest Farm in Dover, Ohio. Planned and organized by Ashley Anderson of Ash&Oak Planning, I hope you enjoy this video by NB Photography. The shoot featured our model Katherine making her entrance on the grand staircase in the Rivercrest barn. She then joined her “groom”, Russ, at the romantic sweetheart table styled with soft fabric, greenery, and flowers in retro glass bottles. Then on to the charcuterie board! Oh my, this table was literally covered with cheeses, meats, dips, rustic bread, fruit, and hand-decorated cookies. Our group then traveled up to Rivercrest’s iconic hilltop ceremony site. After a stop in the darling photo booth camper, and some shots in front of the beautifully decorated ceremony arch, our couple finished the day with a walk among the magnificent horses pastured nearby.

Being asked to provide the floral decor for this shoot was a huge compliment and I didn’t let them down. The bride’s bouquet was a large, free-form hand-tie featuring a large succulent grown in the Garden by the Gate, along with garden roses, roses, pampas grass, willow eucalyptus, and dahlias, also grown in the Garden. The groom wore a boutonniere of natural materials and a bit of pampas grass. The arch feature foraged materials from around the Garden by the Gate along with eucalyptus and flowers.

If you are planning a 2021 wedding, be sure to include this dream team of vendors:

Planner and Designer: @ashandoakplanning
Photographer: @cassiemwolf
Venue:@rivercrestfarm
Florist: @gardenbythegate
Gowns: @abridesdesign
Hair and makeup:@meghansullen @jenniferandco
Cookies: @cisforcookie_sr
Cakes & cupcakes: @clevelandand.cakes
Photo Booth: @happycamperbarcar
Models: @glimpseofwildflowers @russpitsul
Video: @nbphotographyllc

June 1, 2020

Wedding Season is Back!

A boho wedding in the country features mis-matched bridesmaids bouquets and natural bouquets by Garden by the Gate Floral Design, Photo: Mallory + Justin Photography

I’m so excited that brides can start planning and having wedding celebrations again! Beginning in July, wedding ceremonies and receptions are allowed to host up to 300 people. There are still restrictions designed to minimize the spread of COVID 19, but gatherings will be happening again.

Of the couples that Garden by the Gate Floral Design is working with, the May and June weddings are mostly postponed and rescheduled for later in the year. Some couples are opting for a small ceremony now and a big party when things get back to “normal.” Others have postponed everything, some until 2021.

No one could have known that this pandemic was coming, so we all need to be patient and understanding as we work through this unprecedented event together. I want to do everything I can to give couples one less thing to stress about!

For those of you just starting on your wedding planning, I’m happy to say that while phone consultations have been working quite well, in-person appointments are available starting this month. So it’s up to you and I’ll do what you are comfortable with.

Restarting wedding celebrations is awesome, but mostly we’d like to know that fewer of our fellow Ohioans and Americans are getting sick and even dying from this disease. In our global society, we grieve for all of the world’s people who are going through this.

March 17, 2020March 17, 2020

Will Covid-19 Affect Your Wedding Plans?

WEdding flowers by Garden by the Gate florist.

Garden by the Gate is closely monitoring developments related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our region. As the number of confirmed cases in Ohio continues to rise, including in Stark, Summit, and Cuyahoga Counties, we are taking all necessary steps to help keep our clients, co-workers, suppliers, and the larger community at a low risk level.

With that in mind, we are following the recommendation for social distancing from the Ohio Department of Health and Governor Mike DeWine. As of today, March 17, 2020, all consultations will be held via phone or teleconferencing. If you have an in-person consultation scheduled, we’ll be in touch personally to confirm the phone consultation. If you are already a client of Garden by the Gate, we’ll also be in touch to let you know whether there is any effect at this time on your flower order. Our first priority is the safety of our clients and all those involved in making the magic happen!

We pray that this health emergency will soon abate, that these measures will help save lives, and that we will soon return to celebrating joyous events in the company of family and friends. Stay well and God bless!

Best regards,

Joy Walko

March 29, 2018April 5, 2018

Do you want cheap wedding flowers?

We all want a good deal. That’s why we search for cheap airline tickets and end up on the Cheapo Airlines site (I’m not making that up!). But all the tickets put you on the same flight, so what’s the difference? On my last flight, I paid extra to get a seat in the middle of the plane, on the aisle. I got bumped to a different flight and guess what? Last row. Against the window. Right in front of the bathroom. Yep, not the same at all. But I still got to Chicago on time.

Same thing with wedding flowers. One of the top-ranking searches is “Cheap Wedding Flowers.” You don’t want flowers that LOOK cheap, but you want to know you got a good deal. And why are wedding flowers so expensive anyway? Is there a difference between cheap wedding flowers and expensive wedding flowers? Whatever you choose, you will still be married at the end of the evening (provided you didn’t choose the Cheapo Sort-of-Official Officiant).

I’ll try to give you some answers and explain some of the differences in the flower and florist choices.

Why are flowers so expensive?

Flowers: the Garden by the Gate, Photo: Loren Jackson Photography, Venue: Rivercrest Farm

Even if your flowers are grown locally like ours in the Garden by the Gate, it is a long and arduous road from seed or bulb to perfect bloom for your bouquet. It must be the right color, it must peak the week of your wedding (weather permitting), it must not have even the tiniest little insect nibble or water spot. That requires a lot of hard work, money spent on soil amendments and fertilizers, and plenty of luck. We grow some of our own flowers and when we buy them from local growers, they want to be rewarded for all their labor and investment.
When we purchase flowers from a wholesale broker, the grower in South America, or Canada, or the Netherlands, has gone through all the same work as we do to grow flowers but then the cost of refrigerated transportation has to be added. After the flowers make the long journey, some of them don’t make it. These are a loss to the wholesaler or to us at the Garden by the Gate.
When we get your flowers into the studio, we care for them like our own babies! We have to either gently encourage them to leave the nest and open up or we need to tell them not to be in a hurry to grow up so fast. We want them to be just right for your wedding. Then we custom arrange them with care to your specifications and use techniques and mechanics to preserve them through the end of your wedding day.

So the flowers aren’t cheap.

What is the difference between “cheap” wedding flowers and “expensive” wedding flowers?

This is a huge topic that really could fill several blog posts! I’ll try to cover a few of the main points; send me your comments and questions and I’ll address them in a future post.

The number one factor in the cost of wedding flowers is type and quantity of flowers. When you show us a Pinterest picture and say “That’s what I want,” our first price estimate will be for those flowers and that design. Generally, if you saw it on Pinterest, it’s going to be expensive! If you want that look but need to trim the budget, just tell us! We can make some good substitutions or just change the formula a little to help meet your budget. These substitutions won’t make your flowers look cheap, you probably won’t even miss those other materials.

Something that WILL make your flowers look bad, is outdated design. It might not even be cheaper, but if your florist isn’t following the trends and keeping up with what today’s brides are looking for in wedding flowers, your flowers may be a little boring and just look dated.

At the Garden by the Gate, our design aesthetic is what we call “Garden Glam”. The designs are relaxed and flowing; so that they look like they were just picked from a field of flowers, yet they can be as elegant as you like. Bouquets are getting larger, looser, and have more greenery. Texture is king, so all kinds of berries, pods, or twigs can be used. Unusual flowers such as protea or airplants draw the eye and make your wedding flowers much more interesting.

If you would like wedding flowers that are beautiful, chic, and just what you’ve always dreamed of, please fill out our Wedding Inquiry Form and tell us all your ideas.

Wedding Inquiry Form

March 23, 2018March 23, 2018

Bridal Show at Glenmoor Country Club Weddings

Wedding Flowers at Glenmoor Country Club by the Garden by the Gate Floral Design. Photo: Sabrina Hall Photography

The Unveiled show at Glenmoor Country Club was the best event of this type that I have ever seen. Glenmoor Weddings coordinator Abbey Sampson is a dream to work with and she nailed every detail of this event. The Garden by the Gate floral design was thrilled to present our wedding flowers in the gothic architecture of the Great Hall. Brides attending each received an awesome swag bag and there were fabulous passed hor’s de oeuvres, a magnificent cheese and fruit display, and the bar was open!

In planning our wedding flower display, we tried to come up with something that would draw the eye and showcase some of the newest trends in wedding floral design. We based our table with a champagne-sequined table runner then we ran crystal candle holders with pink tapers down the center. A large centerpiece in a gold compote dominated the center of the table. The compote vase is extremely popular for weddings right now. It has some advantages of a tall arrangement but doesn’t tower over the guests or interrupt sightlines. Flowers used were the White O’Hara garden rose, which has a touch of blush, Pink O’Hara garden roses, white Blizzard roses, white hydrangeas, pink and burgundy ranunculus, blush anemone, and silver dollar eucalyptus.

We showed two bridal bouquets, a large bouquet in blush and pink, using the flowers above and a bouquet that included all the flowers above and hot pink Topaz roses. We also brought a bridesmaid’s bouquet of white Blizzard roses and purple Berry Scoop Scabiosa.

Visitors to our booth each received a flower-shaped lollipop to remind them of us. We had a great time meeting all the brides, moms, aunts, fiances, and friends and learning all about their upcoming weddings. We also enjoyed some valuable networking with the other vendors and picking up a few tips as well. When wedding vendors work together and support each other we all benefit, and so do our clients through better service. Amazing photos of our booth were sent over from Sabrina Hall Photography, thank you so much!

WEdding flowers by the Garden by the Gate wedding florist. PHoto: Sabrina Hall Photography — Sabrina Hall Photography

Let us show you how we can transform your wedding day vision into reality with flowers and event design customized for you. Just fill out our Wedding Inquiry Form to get started or email us at [email protected]

Wedding Inquiry Form

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018

The Barn on Enchanted Acres June Wedding

June Wedding. Wedding bouquets by the Garden by the Gate florist, North Canton Ohio

What would be better on a freezing February day than to look back at one of my favorite summer weddings from 2017? Let’s go back to a warm June day at the Barn on Enchanted Acres through the photos by Liza Kirk Photography. The Barn on Enchanted Acres is such an awesome wedding venue and we loved bringing it to life with abundant blush and white wedding flowers. Beautiful bride Brooke and her family were fantastic to work with and had tons of ideas for the flowers and other decorations. Everything couldn’t have been lovelier.

Guests were welcomed to the wedding by a barn wood sign the read “Happily Ever After Starts Here” above an abundant arrangement of peonies, roses, delphinium, snapdragons, and hydrangeas. For a barn wedding or outdoor wedding, you’ll need something to set off the ceremony area. At the Barn on Enchanted Acres they have a fab arbor that we covered in white hydrangeas, blush roses, and vines along with sheer draping. We added some lanterns and ferns to draw the eye to the focal point of the wedding, where the couple would say their vows.

We agree with brides that the most important item of the wedding flowers is the bridal bouquet. We advise brides that this is not where you want to try to save money on your wedding flowers. The bride’s bouquet should fulfill every one of her wedding day dreams. It was Brooke’s dream to have lots and lots of Peonies in her wedding flowers and we didn’t disappoint. We used peonies grown here in our own garden along with other locally sourced peonies. The scent was divine! The ceremony took place right in a beautiful meadow behind the barn so the addition of Queen Ann’s Lace to the bouquets and centerpieces was just the right touch.

We loved the long, rectangular tables and gold Chiavari chairs provided by the Barn on Enchanted Acres. The centerpieces were arrangements of peonies, hydrangeas, and roses in tall mercury glass vases alternating with low arrangements. In addition, small cups containing a single peony dotted the tables. Don’t underestimate the power of flowers to set the mood and tone of your wedding. As the guests entered you could hear hushed exclamations of how lovely and romantic everything looked.

If you would like to chat with us about your wedding flowers, we would love to hear your ideas. The first step is to fill out our Wedding Inquiry Form and we’ll be glad to make an appointment to talk about your wedding flower ideas.

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the Garden by the Gate wedding florist located in North Canton and Hartville

February 4, 2018February 10, 2018

The Five Hottest Wedding Trends for 2018, part 2

an Ultra Violet wedding at Waters Edge, Louisville, OH. Dahlias, Zinnias, locally grown by florist t"he Garden by the Gate"

Hi again!

I’m ready to continue last week’s post on the hottest wedding trends for 2018! Why should you care? You don’t have to care; if you know exactly how you want your wedding day to look and feel, and you’re not influenced by what everyone else is doing, then you have a strong sense of style and are confident in your choices. Go you! You might be coming up with the newest wedding trends we’ll be talking about in 2019, or you have very classic, traditional taste and you can’t go wrong with that.

For everyone else, here are some new trends you can incorporate into your day, just to give your guests a little surprise, something to talk about. I think it’s rather nice if your guests say, “Sweet, I haven’t seen that before!”

The 5 Latest Wedding Trends

#1 Color

To recap last week’s post, the top wedding trend for 2018 is new ways with color. You can keep your favorite color, but to set your wedding apart from last year’s crowd, don’t be afraid to use bold color. Bright, multi-colored palettes, moody palettes, and adding a pop of the Pantone Color of the Year, Ultra Violet, will wake up your color scheme.

#2 Hanging Flowers

Things are looking up! Up at the gorgeous hanging floral installations, floral chandeliers, and garland draped ceilings. These new trends in wedding flowers make a big splash whether your venue is a traditional white wedding tent, rustic barn, or modern gallery. These can be moderately priced when mostly greenery is used or the sky’s (literally) the limit with lush flowers abounding.

The hanging flower trend also includes hoops and wreaths. Flower accented hoops of brass or wood are used as hanging backdrops, ceremony decor, and even as bridesmaids bouquets. Wreaths are simply hoops that are completely covered with flowers or greenery and can be similarly used or can be hung horizontally to make the base of a fab floral chandelier.

#3 Transparency

You might not have ever been “ghosted” but your wedding can be with “ghost” chairs. That’s what they’re calling the completely see-through plexiglass chairs that will give a light look to your wedding reception. Also popular in transparency are clear hanging signs with white calligraphy for your seating chart, menu, or welcome signs. You can even rent a clear tent so that you can dance the night away under the stars.

Transparency has been popping up more and more for the bride’s attire as well. Gauzy chiffon skirts are layered over pants or a mini for modern style. Sheer, lacy skirts and bodices update a traditional gown. Sheer fabrics are also very popular in bridesmaids dresses on the bodice, as a capelet, or for a long-over-short look.

#4 Industrial Chic

The industrial chic look is the new rustic, and it takes its cue from new venues coming into use. The industrial venue is just what it sounds like, a place that used to be a manufacturing facility, warehouse, or 19th-century office space. You’ll know you’re in an industrial venue by the exposed brick walls, overhead steel beams and heating ducts, metal shaded light fixtures, and Edison bulbs. You can play up the look by using metals in your decor such as geometric flower stands, metal chairs, strands of bistro lights, and a neutral color scheme. Find uses for metal grates, pulleys, factory carts, or wooden pallets to complete the look. Add an industrial vibe to your bridal attire by tossing on a denim jacket in cool of the evening.

#5 Bohemian

The bohemian look began last year but is coming on even stronger. A bohemian wedding is an eclectic mix of styles, a carefree spirit, bright colors, unfussy, and most of all, dedicated to everyone having fun. Flowers are bright, arranged loosely, and used in unconventional ways, in the hair, as a hanging curtain, or even as jewelry. Textiles play a big part in the Boho wedding trend with bright colors, fringe, embroidery, velvet, or macrame showing up as chair covers, backdrops, or bridal party wear. Geometrics, metals, and crystals are often found in centerpieces and decor.

Which new wedding trends do you see for your own wedding?

You don’t have to try every new 2018 trend at once, but some trends really layer well. For example, moody color palettes, woodsy decor (moss!), and caped gowns all work together for a fairy tale theme. The transparent trend in decor calls for a clean and modern gown and florals that are light and bright.

Tell us more about your wedding ideas, be they traditional or trendy, by filling out the Wedding Flowers Inquiry form. We’d love to meet you and hear all about your dream wedding.

October 20, 2017October 21, 2017

Jewel Tones for Fall

As fall brings a nip in the air

nature puts on some of her most vibrant colors. Nicole and Issac’s wedding was on a perfect September day and they chose a perfect fall color palette that included harvest colors of eggplant, wine, maize, apple green, and all the oranges of a maple tree at peak fall color. Nicole carried her grandmother’s rosary down the aisle along with her bouquet of black magic roses, dahlias, mums, hypericum berries, scabiosa pods, and seeded eucalyptus. Since the Garden by the Gate uses locally grown flowers as much as possible, I had told Nicole that I wasn’t sure if the scabiosa pods would be ready in time for her wedding. Luckily my crop of scabiosa pods matured at just the right moment to be included in Nicole’s wedding flowers. Homegrown dahlias used included Hollyhill Black Beauty, Voodoo, Diva, and Summers End. Most of those are new varieties that were chosen with Nicole’s color scheme in mind. See all the gorgeousness captured by EllieJay Photography HERE

When you choose the Garden by the Gate for your wedding flowers, we get right to work making sure that we will have your flowers ready for your wedding. We’ll order dahlia bulbs, seed packets, or plants that coordinate with your color scheme. We also work with local growers like Bloom Hill Farm, a family flower farm in Uniontown, Ohio (just 5 minutes away from the Garden by the Gate).

For Nicole’s wedding, we planted dahlias in shades of eggplant, wine, and orangy-peach. Scabiosa pods were new for me this year, and I have to say they are pretty easy to grow and they are perfect for adding soft texture and unique color to bouquets. For the centerpieces, we planted Benary’s Giants zinnias in purple, wine, gold, and orange.

The most unique thing we grew this year is seen in the ceremony arrangments. Balloon plant milkweed is grown for the balloon-like inflated seed pods that appear in the fall. It is also the food of Monarch Butterflies, an endangered species. I think they added great interest to the arrangements.