Loretta Stagen Floral Designs

Autumn Wedding at Belle Haven Yacht Club, Greenwich, CT

2011-11-21T15:27:00.018-05:00

Marianne and Bob were happily married at the beautiful Belle Haven Yacht Club, overlooking Long Island Sound. Classical music was in the air and colorful floral designs were in clear view.

Photo by feteaccompli www.feteaccompli-photo.com

The Bride selected bright colors: orange, hot pink and lime green. It was a perfect combination.

Photo by feteaccompli www.feteaccompli-photo.com

After the Ceremony the guests enjoyed cocktails on the lawn and were then invited to the Ballroom for the Reception. The spectacular sunset, the amazing music, delicious food, gorgeous flowers all added up to a very very special occasion.

Photo by feteaccompli www.feteaccompli-photo.com

Marianne, carrying white calla lilies as her bouquet, was indeed a happy bride.

Photo by feteaccompli www.feteaccompli-photo.com

Washington Connecticut Antique Show

2011-10-31T09:30:00.010-04:00

Loretta Stagen Floral Designs showcased floral designs, paintings and antiques in the recent 25th Anniversary Washington Connecticut Antiques Show, benefiting the Gunn Memorial Library and Museum.

Rich Pomerantz www. Richportraits.com

In the foreground, custom made metal tuteurs (by Battle Hill Forge www.battlehillforge.com ) were decorated with an abundance of green hydrangeas, magenta phaleonopsis orchids and succulents. In the background: oil paintings created by Dutch Touch www.dutchtouchart.com.

The set of 4 antique metal chairs: early 20th century American, available at R.T. Facts, Kent, CT www.rtfacts.com

Rich Pomerantz www. Richportraits.com

Rich Pomerantz www. Richportraits.com

The centerpiece featured green hydrangeas, burgundy mini calla lilies, deep plum dahlias, fiddle neck ferns, scabiosa pods and succulents which are so popular this year.

Rich Pomerantz www. Richportraits.com

Green crocodile ferns, imported from Japan, and decorated each napkin.

Rich Pomerantz www. Richportraits.com

A tall floral arrangement sat atop a shelf…featuring plum colored dendrobium orchids, deep burgundy dahlias, steel grass and crocodile ferns, created in an antique metal container.

Rich Pomerantz www. Richportraits.com

The exhibit was very popular…both at the preview party and during the two-day show.

Elegant Country Wedding at Reinmaker Farm, New York State

2011-10-11T15:20:00.017-04:00

Jonathan and Meegan enjoyed a dream wedding at Reinmaker Farm. At the top of a long driveway (with signs indicating “wedding this way”) guests were overwhelmed with the beauty of this horse farm which overlooks hilltops covered with acres of trees.

The Ceremonial area featured an antique wagon decorated with saddles, and bridles…. bales of hay for the seating of the guests and a Chuppah created by Jonathan.

The Bridal Bouquet included succulents, white roses, scabiosa pods and chocolate brown cosmos and yellow billy balls:

Photo by Carla Ten Eyck www.carlateneyck.com

The Bridesmaids carried bouquets similar to the Bride:

Photo by Carla Ten Eyck www.carlateneyck.com

Nosegays including billy balls and fresh wheat were carried by the Junior Bridesmaids:

Photo by Carla Ten Eyck www.carlateneyck.com

The boutonnieres featured scarbiosa pod and billy ball, hand wired with a sprig of rosemary

Photo by Carla Ten Eyck www.carlateneyck.com

Cocktails were served in the field…and then guests were invited to the tent for a delicious sit down dinner.

The tables were decorated with centerpieces created in wooden boxes that Meegan had specially ordered. Plant materials included succulents, eucalyptus, wheat, white dahlias, protea and bittersweet vines.

Photo by Carla Ten Eyck www.carlateneyck.com

It was a fabulous wedding! Congratulations Jonathan and Meegan.

Summer Wedding in Greenwich, Connecticut

2011-09-19T10:33:00.005-04:00

Greenwich, Connecticut is the perfect location for an August wedding. After Jocelyn and Jason’s wedding ceremony at Christ Church, all of the guests traveled a short distance to L’Escale, the most sophisticated French restaurant in Greenwich, located adjacent to the harbor.

The Bride carried an all white bouquet of flowers including roses, freesia, mini calla lilies and stephanotis, but all of the other flowers in the bridal party and at the reception were hot raspberry and shades of purple. What a great contract. The Maid of Honor’s bouquet featured roses, gerber daisies, hydrangea, scabiosa and lisianthus.

photo by Kathy Di Giovanna www.photographyforgreenwich.com

photo by Kathy Di Giovanna www.photographyforgreenwich.com

photo by Kathy Di Giovanna www.photographyforgreenwich.com

Cocktails were enjoyed on the terrace, followed by a sumptuous meal, toasts, dancing and an evening of merriment in the grand ballroom.

The centerpieces were lush and colorful. Raspberry colored roses were artistically arranged with purple and white flowers: hydrangeas, lisianthus, phlox and freesia. Three bamboo sticks gave the arrangements an oriental touch.

What a special wedding celebration it was!!!

Destination Wedding...Rehearsal Dinner, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

2011-07-27T15:28:00.009-04:00

Destination weddings are usually a three-day event. Part I of this weekend was at the incredible rehearsal dinner held at Hidden Court, Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Guests were escorted through the courtyard to the room overlooking the Koi pond. There they found the escort table…where they looked for their seating cards which rested atop a bed of wheat grass:

In the living room, this dramatic arrangement of roses and scabiosa pods sat on a sideboard. It was created in a large square glass container, lined with ti leaves. Bright oranges and shocking pinks were featured both in the house and in the tent.

After enjoying cocktails on the back terrace … overlooking the endless meadow and the Atlantic ocean …on a “perfect” weather day….the guests walked to the tent where they were awed by the decorations on the French farm tables and the spectacular buffet table. The long centerpieces, which included an abundance of unique ferns and flowers: crocodile ferns, fiddle neck ferns, mini calla lilies, cock’s comb, pin cushion flowers, poppy pods, gerber daisies, roses, asclepia and kangaroo paws, artistically arranged in rectangular glass containers. On either side of the centerpieces the décor included very long bird nest ferns and votive candles. For a special effect, each centerpiece was “pin spotted”.

The “Barbeque Chic” menu included shelled lobster on a bed of lettuce, pork ribs, corn, baked beans, grilled vegetables, jalapeno corn bread and much more. Churchill Caterers provided the most delicious food and impeccable service.

An arrangement of vegetables and flowers sat atop a small table in front of the buffet table.

What a fabulous evening at this magical estate: happy guests, delicious food, beautiful flowers, perfect weather…and yes, a full moon!!

Danbury News Time: Flower arranger divulges trends for weddings

2011-07-26T23:42:00.004-04:00

"Wedding season is here again, and Loretta Stagen, a transplant from the state's Gold Coast happily acclimated to western Connecticut, is fired up with enthusiasm and ideas.

Yes, the recent royal wedding and the U.S. Color Council's 2011 palette can't help but influence choices in style and color, and the average spending for one family's personal extravaganza could easily buy a mid-size car.

Stagen has overseen flowers at weddings over the top as well as modest, and she believes beautiful bouquets and arrangements can go a very long way to setting a tone.

On a recent Friday at her studio in New Preston, she was working on a wedding for a bride with only $1,400 to spend on flowers.

The solution? A large arrangement that would be mounted on a pedestal for the service and a bouquet of double white freesia, snowy sweet peas, and purple lianthus and anemones.

"This is going to be elegant and gorgeous," she declared, "and well within her budget."

After more than 20 years of enhancing brides and tables in Fairfield County, and now Litchfield County, Stagen has learned to deflect any practical problems that might come her way.

The week leading up to such occasions has been whittled to a science -- whether it's ordering and fetching flowers from her favorite vendors in the New York flower district, to conditioning them and saving the very best to arrange on the wedding day.

Stagen gets her ideas from upscale designers and from shops, from her travels, and sometimes from museum exhibitions. She has done ethnic weddings and theme weddings, weddings with orchids and roses. as well as with sunflowers.

She has done glorious weddings at the ocean and in the country, and weddings for a succession of a client's daughters and cousins.

Receptions these days are a far cry from ones many aging boomers remember -- at the church hall after the service or the potluck celebration in a field.

And the flower budget, once about 10 percent of the total cost of the wedding, must now often compete with spending for lighting. For the average wedding with 150 guests, Stagen said, the flower tab now runs about $5,000.

Tastes are formed not only by British royalty, but by what the stars are decked out in at the Oscars and the Golden Globes.

The colors are already shifting from Sandra Bullock blush to Angelina Jolie's emerald green, and mixes like hot orange and pink (think of Sasha Obama's dress at the presidential inauguration) are gaining popularity.

Stagen was among the 28 vendors displaying their wares recently at the Washington Club, where a modest smattering of brides-to-be strolled from table to table.

The young women seemed cagier --or was it better informed? -- than in previous generations. They were taking samples and looking through portfolios, but not necessarily committing to anyone or anything.

Stagen had set up two tables that showed the sweep of this season's fashion, one a serene and elegant table with modern square plates on a celadon-colored cloth.

A centerpiece of Dutch white hydrangeas in a cube-shaped glass container lined with leaves and sliced limes made a refreshing focal point, while matching celadon napkins and satin ribbons with individual sprays of verbena finished off the look.

At table No. 2, for contrast, she showcased the new melon-color "Free Spirit" rose in an arrangement set in a strikingly tall glass vase. Wire reminiscent of Alexander Calder's circus creations added to a look that was color-popping and contemporary.

Taking in the room of caterers, photographers, travel planners, wedding stationers and booking agents, it was clear it easily can take a village, or an ample assortment of local merchants, to get a wedding day up and running.

During the planning, Stagen said, she makes a point of steering clear of family dynamics.

"Right off the bat I want to find out who is in charge of the decision making," she said, having dealt with some "bridezillas" in her day. Because so many brides and bridegrooms are marrying late, they may want to micromanage, even if the bride's parents are picking up the check, she added.

" I make a point of being kind to the mothers," she said, who are not only giving up a child but paying for it -- big time, in a myriad of ways."

Kristin Nord, Contributing Writer

Published 06:07 p.m., Saturday, July 16, 2011

A Dream Wedding at Winvian, Morris, Connecticut

2011-06-06T14:29:00.015-04:00

Nestled in the Litchfield Hills, Winvian is the perfect location for a sophisticated country wedding! Alicia and Tim were married there in the gardens under a spectacular wooden arch, covered with an abundance of white bridal spirea and white mock orange branches. The cedar arch had a special meaning since it had been custom made by the bride’s father.

All of the aisle chairs were accented with all white posies (white lisianthus, white bridal spirea and curly willow). These posies were enjoyed a second time at the reception, which was held in The Gordon Brown House, a newly renovated barn on the Winvian property.

The beautiful bride wore a short white gown AND peacock blue shoes. Her white and lime green bouquet featured Polar Star roses, lisianthus, ranunculus, freesia, viburnum and Lady’s Mantle. The handle was wrapped with peacock blue ribbon – an exact color match of her shoes.

After the Ceremony guests enjoyed cocktails in view of many special floral arrangements including this tall one with the amazing blue hybrid delphinium.

When the guests arrived at the reception….they were dazzled by the lush low centerpieces with spring green viburnum and an array of white flowers (hydrangeas, lisianthus, sweet peas, freesia and roses).

What a fabulous wedding it was!!!!

Candlelight Farms, New Milford, CT

2011-04-18T11:48:00.030-04:00

An event produced by Elegance in the Country, a special group of talented vendors, on Sunday, April 10, 2011. The newly renovated barn at Candlelight Farms is the perfect party venue for the host/hostess who wants a beautiful country setting… with views of horses, fields, gardens and a lake.

For last Sunday’s party, Sarah Pineault/All Seasons Rentals, selected earthy tones for the tablecloths: terra cotta and lime green. What a perfect palette to work with. To add a little zip, I complemented these colors with bright orange and purple. One of my designs featured orange parrot tulips and purple vanda orchids.

Surprise details… notice the one vanda orchid glued onto the outside of the container.

A second design was created in a “cutting edge” rectangular container and included orange pincushion flowers, fiddle neck ferns and one aubergine mini calla lily.

The polished river stones at the base of the container were an important feature.

Another design incorporated green wire swirls inside the tall clear glass container,

which was used as a base for a dramatic arrangement of yellow arachnea orchids and curly willow.

The food was absolutely amazing!! Event Caterers of CT were tops in both presentation and food quality.

The favorites: the tuna tartare

presented in individual glass cups and procuitto wrapped around a cluster of arugula, topped with crème fraiche and reduced balsamic vinegar. The flavors of the food were so fabulous…. You had to taste Chef Joe Yorio’s food to believe it.

The focal point in the center of the room was Sweet Rewards’ cupcake tower. The pole was covered with birch bark…which matched the trees right outside the windows, and the plates on the tower were a showcase of colorful cupcakes…which were not only a feast for the eyes…but were oh so delicious.

The dessert table featured an abundance of Kelly Linquist’s goodies, including cookies, cake balls and a unique dessert: mini apple pie on a stick.

As you can see, the photos by Valdorama (Val Nanousky) captured the glory of the day….and behind the scenes…playing an important role was make up artist, Kelly Fischer Knisley, Pretty me Artistry.

A great team effort. You can view the websites as follows.

Candlelightfarmsinn.com (contact: Nancy Saggese)

Kellysweetrewards.com (contact: Kelly Linquist)

Eventcaterersct.com (contact: Joe Yorio)

ASRentals.net (contact Sarah Pineault)

Valdorama.com (contact Val Nanousky)

Prettymeartistry.com (contact Kelly Fischer Knisley)

lorettastagen.com (contact Loretta Stagen)

BRIDAL SHOW... at the Washington Club, Washington, CT

2011-03-15T11:00:00.010-04:00

-- photo by Rich Pomerantz www.richportraits.com --
Bright colors are very popular this season. A combination of hot pink, apricot and orange with the textures of tulips and roses is very "cutting edge". Here the flowers are loosely arranged in four 4" glass cubes with swirls of soft stem green wire inside the container... placed .at the base of the tall arrangement (which was created atop a rectangular glass container 4" x 4" x 24". (see next photo)

-- photo by Rich Pomerantz www.richportraits.com --
Using the same color scheme with tall flowers to create a dramatic centerpiece atop the tall glass containers ..flowers .included hot pink peonies, orange "Free Spirit" roses, pink hydrangeas, white French tulips and white dendrobium orchids. The matching spring green wire swirled inside the tall clear glass container. Every bride I talked to at the show was impressed with this color scheme. Note the white damask table cloth (Party Rental Ltd.)

-- photo by Rich Pomerantz www.richportraits.com --
The Bridal bouquet featured the same colors: including hot pink peonies, Free Spirit roses, and deep pink mini calla lilies....The natural stems were hand tied and wrapped with a ribbon matching the rose.

-- photo by Rich Pomerantz www.richportraits.com --
In contrast to my above colorful table, my second table featured quiet colors: spring green and white. The floor length table cloth was a "celery" colored bengaline fabric and the table setting featured square white plates, spring green wine glasses and white linen napkins (Party Rental Ltd) decorated with a wired green ribbon and one stem of green viburnum. The centerpiece was created in a clear glass container 8" in diameter, lined with a wide thai leaf...with lime slices placed between the leaf and the interior of the glass bowl. The white flowers included imported white hydrangeas and mini white calla lilies. It was a very sophisticated look.

-- photo by Rich Pomerantz www.richportraits.com --
A closeup of the above table.

If you have any questions, feel free to e mail me at loretta@lorettastagen.com.

The Perfect Fall Wedding: Sharon, Connecticut

2010-10-18T12:40:00.005-04:00

The wedding was held at a private home located at the top of the Appalachian mountain range in Sharon, Connecticut . From the Ceremonial area, guests were awed by the beautiful view of hundreds of acres of trees…which were beginning to show their bright Fall colors.

Photo: Jen Huang Photography

The Bridal bouquet featured purple hydrangeas, purple lisianthus, aubergine calla lilies with accents of white: Polar Star roses, mini calla lilies and freesia.

Credit: Jen Huang Photography

After the Ceremony, the guests were bused to the wedding reception…also located in Sharon… in farm country. Cocktails were enjoyed outdoors, under the blue skies of this perfect autumn afternoon.

When the guests entered the tent…they were greeted with elegant country décor: tall trees decorated the center poles (which were filled with tiny votive candles)…and lush floral arrangements (matching the colors of the Bridal bouquet) decorated the tables, sitting atop beautiful tablecloths.

It was a very special evening of dining and dancing with family and friends.

Credit: Jen Huang Photography

Destination Wedding: Block Island, Rhode Island

2010-10-11T10:17:00.005-04:00

If you could put all of the perfect ingredients together…. a beautiful beach setting on Block Island, perfect weather, a happy bridal party and guests, delicious food, amazing music and fabulous flowers…you have described “the” September destination wedding.

A large bridal party (Bride and Groom, eight bridesmaids and seven groomsmen, all elegantly dressed…but wearing sandals as they walked the distance from the house to the beach. The Ceremony was held in front of a white trellis, covered with yards of white organiza fabric and decorated with seashells

The Color scheme: sky blue and lime green!! The Bride selected a bouquet featuring blue hydrangeas and white mini calla lilies with a collar of lime green Lady’s Mantle…while the bridesmaids wore blue dresses and carried all lime green flowers: hydrangeas, green tea roses and lime green spider mums.

After the Ceremony , the guests walked to the outdoor cocktail area…for summer drinks and hors d’oeuvres...Everyone happily gathered under the large white tent for a three course dinner and lots of dancing.

The tables were decorated with unique centerpieces, featuring seashells and sky blue hydrangeas with an accent of green cymbidian orchids.

What a special wedding ceremony and reception!! In fact. an entire weekend of festivities!!!

xxx

Beautiful Sherman, CT Wedding

2010-09-21T17:20:00.006-04:00

A spectacular garden wedding was celebrated at a private home in Sherman, CT. The Bride and Groom certainly picked the right place and the right day to exchange their vows.

Photo by Fumie Hope

The Bridal Bouquet featured white and yellow mini calla lilies with accents of fresh rosemary, sage and seeded eucalytus

Photo by Fumie Hoppe

Flowers, flowers, everywhere. The border gardens were a dream come true…with an abundance of white and purple phlox in full bloom that very day. It did not just happen…but was all planned by the owners of the home and gardens who just happened to be professional landscape designers.

Spring Lake Garden Design
www.springlakedesign.com

In keeping with the garden feeling, the centerpieces were created to look like the flowers were just picked out of the garden. Dahlias, chamomile and freesia were arranged with fresh herbs: rosemary, sage, oregano and pepper grass. These elegant country –style centerpieces were sitting atop chocolate brown tablecloths. The combination of colors was striking.

Large blooming plants anchored the corners of the tented are...and one dramatic floral arrangement was the focal point at the escort table.

Everyone will share wonderful memories of this late afternoon wedding and reception.

Greenwich, CT Wedding | Reception at the Fabulous Belle Haven Yacht Club

2010-08-10T10:00:00.003-04:00

After the wedding at St. Mary Parish, all of the guests met at the Belle Haven Yacht Club to enjoy an evening of celebration.

Photo by Mary Alice Fisher

The all white Bridal bouquet included Polar Star roses, mini white calla lilies and white hydrangeas, all imported from Holland. The stems were wrapped with the lace matching the Bridal gown. The Bridesmaids’ bouquets featured blue hydrangeas and open white roses. Small Nantucket baskets filled with blue hydrangeas and white Majolica roses were carried by the two flower girls.

The soft blue table linens complimented the lush centerpieces which were created in large Nantucket baskets.

A beautiful outdoor setting, overlooking the Long Island Sound.

A very special evening shared by the friends and relatives of two Greenwich families came to a close when the Bride and Groom stepped aboard the boat which took them to a destination unknown.

Wedding Reception at the famous Boulders Inn, New Preston, Connecticut

2010-07-22T15:36:00.006-04:00

A very happy Bride and Groom continued onto The Boulders Inn in New Preston, Connecticut for the reception.

Located on a knoll overlooking beautiful Lake Waramaug, The Boulders Inn is a fantasy venue for a wedding reception. Perfect location, excellent cuisine and fabulous flowers made the reception oh so special.

The Bridal Bouquet featured Lily of the Valley (imported from Holland) and white sweet peas (flown in from California). The natural stems were wrapped with lace matching the Bridal gown.
A very elegant bouquet.

The soft colors of the centerpieces included white Majolica roses, scented white freesia and white phlox, light pink sweet peas and sky blue delphinium, created in square glass containers.
A combination of round as well as rectangular tables, covered with pure white tablecloths, created a sophisticated look in this country setting.

The weather was perfect…. cocktails were enjoyed outside during sunset…and dancing continued “under the stars”…

Since all of the guests stayed at the Inn – the party continued into the wee hours of the following morning…What a perfect wedding reception.

Wedding and Reception at Blue Hill at Stone Barns

2010-06-29T15:02:00.008-04:00

Nestled in the Pocantico Hills, New York, the former Rockefeller Barn is now the home of the Blue Hill Restaurant….a fabulous location for a wedding.

Guests gathered in the courtyard under blue skies to witness the marriage, held under a dramatic archway covered with white spirea.

The Bridal bouquet featured white Dutchess d”Amour peonies….created European- style with half of the peonies (the ones in the center) still in bud form (just about to open). The surrounding peonies were just beginning to open. The Bridesmaids’ Bouquet included green hydrangeas imported from Holland with white ranunculus and blue grape hyacinths (which perfectly matched the color of the dresses).

All of the centerpieces were green and white (hydrangeas, freesia, ranunculus and phlox) arranged in very special baskets , handmade from small branches. With a mixture of both round and rectangular tables….the presentation was extraordinary….Very sophisticated country look.

Greenwich Country Club, Greenwich, Connecticut

2010-04-28T12:37:00.005-04:00

Both the Ceremony and the Reception were held at the Greenwich Country Club. A beautiful Arch covered with masses of hydrangeas and roses was the focal point of the Ceremony.

The Bride carried a bouquet of white roses and mini calla lilies as did her Bridesmaids’ who wore magenta dresses.

The flower girl was a happy member of the Bridal Party. She knew just how to please the guests.

When the guests entered the ballroom they stepped into a room of romance featuring dramatic, tall centerpieces with hundreds of roses, Hawaiian dendrobium orchids and hydrangeas, sitting atop classic silver candelabras.

Torrington Country Club, Goshen, Connecticut

2009-11-16T12:08:00.003-05:00

Loretta Stagen Floral Designs recently created special bridal designs for a wedding reception held at the Torrington Country Club. The guests were greeted by a large dramatic arrangement of Casa Blanca lilies, Hawaiian dendrobium orchids, roses and snapdragons. At the base of the classic grey urn were little pink boxes (filled with chocolates) labeled with guest’s names and table numbers. They matched the pink roses and snapdragons in the arrangement.

The Bride’ dream was to carry just white phaleonopsis orchids. She loved her custom created bouquet and to make it extra special the stems of her bouquet were wrapped with a piece of lace from her mother’s veil.

The Bride loves turquoise and so…the Bridesmaids’ dresses and the tablecloths/napkins were all her favorite color. The flowers she selected: green hydranges and shades of pink roses.