Friday Favorites, inspiration for weddings and events

July 17, 2015February 4, 2017 ~ Château des Rêves ~ 10 Comments

I believe images are powerful and inspiring, if we stop limiting our perceptions to the obvious, a world of possibilities and wonder lays ahead of us. Happy dreaming or happy traveling of the mind and a great weekend everyone. Thank you for stopping by!

Emmanuelle Beart, French Actress. So beautiful, I would get married in that dress in a heart beat! — Emmanuelle Beart. So beautiful! That would make an amazing wedding dress, wouldn’t it?

Baccarat... a million crystals of inspiration! — Baccarat… a million crystals of inspiration!

Colin C. Beyond... — Colin Cowie. Beyond talented!

Colin Cowie, one of the best! — .. He is definetly one of the best!

Cate Blanchett in Giorgio Armani, magnificent!

Little Flower girl — Have you ever seen something more adorable?

Vintage feel with all frames — Vintage feel with old frames

Paris in boom. Cherry blossoms! — Paris in bloom. Cherry blossoms!

When words are absolutely unnecessary and redundant.

Infinite posibilities — Infinite possibilities

Libanese designer Elie Saab presents his Spring/Summer 2011 Haute Couture collection at theTheatre de Chaillot during the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, 26 January 2011. Photo by Nicolas Gouhier/ABACAPRESS.COM — Lebanese designer Elie Saab presents his Spring/Summer 2011 Haute Couture collection at theTheatre de Chaillot during the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris, France, 26 January 2011. Photo by Nicolas Gouhier/ABACAPRESS.COM

Eugenia Silva for Armani, founded at ru_glamour.livejournal.com — Eugenia Silva for Armani, found at ru_glamour.livejournal.com

Cimbrone Gardens, Ravello, Italy... — Cimbrone Gardens, Ravello, Italy…

Carolina Herrera. Such a class act, such a talent..

Ralph ... always and forever... — Ralph … always and forever…

Crystal inspiration from Baccarat, it’s a symphony for the senses!

By Studio B Floral, Burnsville. Founded in mnbride.com

Alberta Ferretti, Pre Fall 2015. What is this doing here? I love the anticipations for things to come… in every single way!

How beautiful is that?!... — How beautiful is that?!…

Ralph Laurent. Now you can pick your color palette and get inspired with the elements and colors of one single dress! — Ralph Lauren. Now you can pick your color palette and get inspired with the elements and colors of one single dress!

Once again, enjoy your weekend and make it count! Intensity can be experienced in many unexpected ways!

Wedding Flowers in The Enchanted Garden !

May 16, 2015September 2, 2016 ~ Château des Rêves ~ 4 Comments

I am officially in Weddingwire since yesterday ! For those who don’t know, WeddingWire is a Website dedicated to all things weddings, conveniently “wired” together for couples to find the best professionals in all areas they could possibly need for their big day and everything around it. They can also read reviews and leave their own
Make-up artists, Hair stylists, Floral Designers, Wedding Venues, Rehearsal dinner Venues, Photographers, Bridal boutiques, Hotels, Wedding planners, Catering, etc. You can find them all there and now you can find ME as well! Here is the link to my weddingwire account: http://www.weddingwire.com/enchantedgardenfl

Ana and Robert’s Wedding

Venue: The White Room St Augustine, Florida

Hair and Makeup: http://weddingwire.com/MariaTeresaHairandMakeUpArtist

Flowers: The Enchanted Garden http://www.weddingwire.com/enchantedgardenfl

Rob & Ana Flowers: http://www.weddingwire.com/enchantedgardenfl

On April 25, I had the pleasure of helping, a gorgeous couple from Florida, with their wedding flowers. I flew to St. Augustine, the 21st and the flowers, arrived the 22nd in the morning.

beauty — It really does look like an Enchanted Garden! It felt like Christmas, opening the boxes full of blooms desperate for water after traveling all the way from Colombia, Ecuador and California.

Ana and Robert were surrounded by 80 of their closest friends and family, including two grandmas and a Great-Grandma! This was the most important for them, to celebrate with the people who love them and whom they love. The only ones who didn’t make it to the wedding, where their beloved pets, Baron and Luna, a couple of adorable British Bulldogs. It would have been too much for them!

This is Luna! Is she something?! Look at Baron at the bottom of the picture! — This is Luna! Isn’t she something?! Look at Baron at the bottom of the picture!

Ana is this young, tiny and delicate girl in appearance, with an inner strength and intelligence beyond her years. Robert, on the other hand, is the perfect counterpart for her, tall, dark and handsome, gorgeous smile, and a great dancer! They are beautiful together. I wish them much joy and I hope they never stop dancing, the way I saw them on their wedding day, glancing into each other’s eyes and smiling with their hearts.

I have patiently waited for the photographer’s pictures to be ready… I can’t wait any longer! When I get them I will definitely shared them, but now, the ones taken with my iphone by a very tired me, will have to suffice.

Glorious only after a few hours of hydration.

gorgeous roses! — Every Rose has its thorns says the song. These ones had many that had to be removed by yours truly… all by myself!

Baby's breath and greenery — Baby’s breath, one of the bride’s favorites, Eucalyptus, Italian Ruscus, Silver Dollar, and white hydrangeas.

love — The Enchanted Garden? The Enchanted Garden Design and Flowers?…… Ayayay! HELP. I really wanted to name it after this Blog. “Château des Rêves” that means “Castle of Dreams” in French, but it is not that easy to remember…. I also really wanted to name it, simply: “Maria Teresa de Bracamonte Design and Flowers” or something of the sorts …. but again I’ve been advised against it, the reason being, because it would be hard to remember! I wonder… People were able to remember the name “Barack Obama” right? What about Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oscar de la Renta?! Is it that difficult to remember my maiden name María Teresa de Bracamonte?, it’s easy to me …

The bride and groom didn’t have a wedding party, nevertheless Ana wanted to give bouquets to a close group of family and friends

Baron decorating this picture — This is Baron flying!

I love the bouquet! — Lovely, isn’t it?! (If I may say so myself!)

At last !

Crazy about Nancy Meyers’ Films!

January 4, 2015March 23, 2015 ~ Château des Rêves ~ Leave a comment

Crazy about Nancy Meyers’ Films!.

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2014January 13, 2018 ~ Château des Rêves ~ Leave a comment

I WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!

MORGAN WEISTLING

GUIDO RENI, ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS

MY NATIVITY

GUIDO RENI

GIOVANNI BATTISTA SALVI

CARLO MARATTA

PICASSO BOUGUEREAU, SONG OF ANGELS

SEBASTIANO CONCA

Entertaining and Tablescapes

September 10, 2014July 13, 2015 ~ Château des Rêves ~ 9 Comments

We all know how important and fun it is to get together with our family and friends as often as we can. Sharing a meal, cocktails or just a glass of wine is always a great time! Gatherings around the table, either indoors or outdoors are where most of our best memories are created! Now that the cozy season is coming, I just wanted to share some ideas for entertaining with you, hoping to inspire someone to give it a try and transform, perhaps a rather boring space, with only a few favorite things, repurposing them to create new memories in a beautiful setting of their own.

This is the perfect time of the year to celebrate being alive! Days are still warm, sunny and last longer than the ones soon to come … some people are squeezing everything they can from the last days of summer, throwing pool parties, barbecues and having fun with any excuse…Others are already preparing for the crisp days of Autumn and all the beauty and cuddling they will bring, when the warmth of summer goes away only to be replaced, with the warmth inside of us and that of our homes… Which one would be you?

A crisp, white, freshly ironed, linen tablecloth — A crisp white, freshly ironed, linen or cotton tablecloth always looks perfect against the colors of nature, just add some fruits, flowers, a bottle of wine or iced tea, and your favorite dishes, prepared using fresh, local, seasonal produce and you’ll be on your way of having a great time, relaxing and enjoying life!

Mismatched chairs, a big part of the charm! — Mismatched chairs, old, old, tables, lots of candles … a big part of the charm!

Magic, all we need is a little bit of magic in our lives…

Sometimes, no tablecloth is even required! Add a few cozy pillows for color and comfort and … Voilà! A party is on it’s way

Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Tea Time, cocktails or dinner, either simple or sophisticated, there is no reason under the sun to deprive yourself of those moments that make life worth living! All it takes is a little imagination and to run with it!

bla — Can you feel the love? If you don’t have flowers in your garden or time to go buy them…what about some lemons?! Limes? Oranges?! Fruits? Vegetables? Fruits and Vegetables? Bunches of Lavender? Rosemary and chamomile? Bowls full of sea shells? Sea shells right on the table, forming an ondulating runner? Pretty river stones? Some grass in a container? Bulbs? Flowering Bulbs? …. A bunch of candles? A bunch of candles in mason jars? A bunch of candles under bottomless bottles of wine?! Ok… I started to sound like Bubba from Forrest Gump! Sorry.

Girasoles à la table! Goooorgeous combination of Girasoles and Succulents resembling in shape the Girasoles!

I rest my case! No excuses. A little corner of paradise, the simpler the prettier! If you don’t have a deck or patio, or the grass is not growing as nicely in some place of your backyard…. put some gravel on it!- It is one of my favorite things- and some pretty potted plants! … If you think you don’t have a big enough tablecloth…even better! Grab that mismatched, almost unused, flat sheet from a long, long, time ago, the one you fell in love with during your honeymoon! You know what I’m talking about! We all have them, those high thread-count, lonely, flat sheets…We used the heck out of their partners, the fitted ones, but for some reason, flat ones always remain intact. (?) But of course! if you are one of the lucky ones who had collected vintage, french linens, while traveling in Provence…. Well, you are all set! Now is the time to use them, take them out of the linen closet where they lay forgotten, so much beauty deserves to shine. You don’t want to die without using them, right? The time is here and now. It is all we have.

Simplicity! what a beautiful thing... I love how organic — Simplicity! what a beautiful thing… I love how organic and back to basics this feels

Never underestimate the power of a few humble candles… nothing like it!

I you could, do hire some waiters, that would aloud you — If you could, depending on the occasion, hire some waiters, that would allow you to have a more relaxing and joyful time. If it’s not in your possibilities, swap services with your friends’ or neighbors’ teenagers!

Exquisite, — Exquisite! – But never allow your centerpieces to interfere with conversation, that is a huge mistake, even some event and flower designers still make, I think perhaps most of them do it only for photoshoot purposes. There is no reason for it, just pay attention to details and you will find a way to avoid being limited to only talk to the people sitting besides you, without sacrificing beauty and design.

If you think about it, you can replicate the same feeling of a tablescape you love without spending a fortune, it doesn’t matter if your special occasion doesn’t require an elegant setting, just a pretty one, you only have to follow the concept and simplify!

This one for instance, you could use tea cups, soup or cereal bowls for your centerpieces and place only a few flowers on them, that would cut your cost and time preparing it greatly and the scale would be more adequate for a simpler, more casual and relaxing event. Don’t forget to introduce more texture and movement to your centerpieces by using different heights, mixing different flowers, foliage, branches, grasses, even vegetables or just using only one type of flower for a very classy, elegant look.

It is OK to mix and match your plates and glasses, it is actually desired to be original and unique…. just be careful to follow a color palette you really like and looks good all together. Finally, always try to use cloth napkins, long, linen or cotton ones. There is nothing like it, no replacements for this one! (What am I saying? I do use paper napkins a lot! – More like paper towels actually… I like to choose my size!- but never when you have guests…. unless you are having pizza, of course… or something messy, or… I better shush it, I know…)