Who doesn’t love an amazing aisle?  It help set the tone for your wedding because it is one of the first things your guests will see.  And it is the backdrop against which you’ll walk up to your groom (not that either of you will really see it).

Here are some of my favorite elaborate and more simple aisles.  Is one of them your style?

Photo: The Wild Flower Floral Designs

Photo:  Karen Tran Florals

Photo: Lush Floral

Photo: Water Lily Pond Floral Design, Bella Rugose

Photo: Bella Fiori

Photo: Blossoms Atlanta

Pat and Sherry are the mother and daughter team behind Pat’s Floral Designs in Charlottesville, Virginia.  They create a floral signature and a real reflection of the couple’s personality for every wedding they design.

So when a bride came to them last year and wanted something very striking and out of the ordinary for her vineyard wedding, they created a dramatic color scheme of deep purples, reds and plums – and truly stunning displays.

The bridal bouquet started with a base of deep purple hydrangea with deep red dahlias, black mini callas, Picasso mini callas (white with purple throats), deep red coleus foliage, and exquisite purple Vanda orchids throughout.

The bridesmaids bouquets and low centerpieces started with the deep purple hydrangea as well and had the deep red dahlias, deep red Rubicon hydroponic spray roses, and a few black mini callas incorporated.

The tall centerpieces had a mass of purple dendrobium orchids and red James Story orchids.

If these beautiful flowers didn’t give you your flower fix for the whole day, head over to Pat’s Floral Design website. Their wedding flowers are shown by season, so you can drool according to your wedding month!

Event planning by The Event Co., lighting be The AV co., photography by Holland Photo Arts.

San Francisco’s Grandiflora creates floral and botanical works of art are both timeless and modern.  Principal designer Karen Hsu draws inspirations from her training in architecture and ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of floral arrangement that emphasizes sculptural composition in design. The results are spectacular.

Karen was kind enough to share some of her favorite designs.  I love the way they greatly enhance, but don’t overpower, the environment in which they are placed.

Letting the natural strength of the site be our guide, glass vases with flowers adorned the magnificent ceremony tree and framed the couple.

White mitsumata branches and green chestnuts form a strong color contrast against the wooden panel backdrop yet maintain an organic ambiance.

Sculptural tall centerpiece with metallic and warm jewel tones was set against cool blue linen with copper embroidery.

Ring pillows made of floral and botanical materials.

Different interpretations of a bouquet—(1) a different take on a trailing bouquet by using long bear grass in the handle; (2) bridesmaids’ shell bouquets were set in nautilus shells that also serve as keepsakes; (3) a peony bouquet with metallic coral detail and leaf-wrapped handle.

If you want to be inspired by more of Grandiflora’s beautiful work, check out their portfolio pages. You definitely won’t be disappointed!

Photo Credits: Claudia Akers Photography, Erin Beach Photography, Kaarin Svendsen Photography, Lion Photography,  SJ Kim Photography

Want to be truly inspired by some beautiful and unique wedding flowers? Feast your eyes on these creations from San Francisco’s Water Lily Pond Floral Design.  Lead designer Natasha Lisitsa has a passion for unusual, expressive flowers and her result is floral art that can turn a wedding into a visual masterpiece.

Here are some of Natasha’s favorite creations:

What a beautiful and impactful way to welcome guests to your cocktail hour.  This bar arrangement featured horsetail grasses with a ring of roses and dahlias ( and a view of the San Francisco skyline).

This is my favorite of the set…this incredible driftwood sculpture was created with pomegranates and gloriosa lilies and was the background for an outdoor, nature-inspired, wedding ceremony.

As stunning as they are unique, these flowers are the perfect antidote for the traditional wedding bouquet.   Bouquet 1: Tropical bridal bouquet with orchids, gloriosa lilies, roses and anthuriums, embellished with vintage ribbons of different textures.  Bouquet 2: Funky bridesmaid bouquet with pincushion proteas, lipstick flowers, berries and calla lilies. Bouquet 3: Bridal bouquet with feathers and orchids.

And finally, a hip gold and green design for a holiday time candlelight affair.   And a custom-designed cupcake tower brimming with flowers and candles.

Water Lily Pond has had even had works commissioned by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.  Not surprising for designs that are works of art themselves.