Asters and “Mums”

Not the “core” choice of wedding flowers, for sure – but these flowers have a LOT going for them. They are first and foremost Fall flowers, and I would recommend using them in season as that is when they are the freshest, you have the largest selection and the lowest price for them.

Both asters and chrysanthemum varietals (“mums” for short) are great team players in wedding arrangements and bouquets, going well with roses, calla lilies and even with orchids, as a textural contrast. Their colors run the gamut from light yellow and peach, pink, coral red to wine red and from lavender hues to darkest purple.

Let me show you what we have!

Spider Chrysanthemum

Exotic, thread-like sculptural petals creating a dramatic, airy and elegant bloom —great for dramatic bouquets or as standout florals for a “fireworks” effect.

Decorative chrysanthemum

Full, rounded blooms (pom-poms) that add fullness and texture or intricate blooms (quill variey) ideal for detailed floral arrangements.

New England Aster

Tall, late-season asters in shades of purple—perfect for garden bouquets

Michaelmas Daisy (an aster varietal)

Compact asters with delicate lavender petals with golden centers, ideal for elegant accents, symbolizing late-season charm.

These images showcase the richness and variety you can work with in floral design—ranging from sculptural impact to textural softness. Use them individually or layered together in a mood board to convey bloom diversity, textures, and color palette.

And here are examples of these beautiful flowers used in bridal bouquets and wedding arrangements:

I hope you are inspired now! Go create!!

… at Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside! The two had been together a full seven years, were parents to three cats (the youngest kitten having been adopted two weeks before their wedding!) – so all their friends agreed: it was about time! Stacey and Michael are super busy young professionals, so when they decided in Spring to “make it official” in October of 2018, they were looking for help. A lot of help! My company, A Day Like No Other, was entrusted with all the preparations, and off we went…

The two had chosen their venue, a spectacular winery overlooking all of Silicon Valley with endless views, and a day that turned out to be proverbial “Bay Area Golden October:” sunny, with blue skies, and warm. Just perfect.

The bride arrived at the venue in full hair and makeup (by A-List Makeup) and all she needed to do was get into her gorgeous wedding dress with the help of her bridesmaids…

… pick up her vibrant, Fall-colored, richly textured bridal bouquet (from Laurel & Vine)…

… and here she is, ready for her First Look:

Groom Michael and his groomsmen were meanwhile also getting ready…

… donned their boutonnieres, and the Best Man took care of the rings.

With that, Bride and Groom were ready for their official First Look:

Time for many, many photos with bridesmaids and groomsmen (by Sandra Fazzino Photography) and video (by Sway Media) while the teams of Thomas Fogarty Winery, Laurel & Vine Florals, and Toast Catering were busy with preparations. DJ Justin of JustIntertainment set up their sound systems while my assistant Trisha and I set up decorations and made sure that all went smoothly and on time.

Very soon, the first guests were arriving – they were greeted by a vintage baby-blue typewriter to leave their messages and well-wishes for the couple.

In addition to the (already quirky) typewriter in lieu of a conventional guestbook, we had provided a map for all guests to mark from where they had traveled to be with Stacey and Michael on their special day…

… and here they see the first of many kittens that would pop up throughout that whole wedding celebration in honor of the couple’s beloved felines!

Time for the ceremony which was officiated by a longtime friend of the couple, aided by more friends who read passages from Antoine de St. Exupery’s “Le Petit Prince” during the ceremony.

You may now kiss the bride! And here they are, just married… and so happy!

For the couple, it meant… more photos! And for their guests, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the open deck, with gorgeous views.

For “escort cards,” the couple had come up with yet another quirky and unexpected idea: custom cookies decorated in the “College colors” of each particular guest! A smart idea as most of their guests were their friends from college…

Dining tables in the beautiful open “Pavilion” were adorned with centerpieces matching the bride’s bouquet, and the table numbers were another loving nod to the couple’s cat babies.

The couple’s Sweetheart Table got, of course, a little extra-special treatment!

Time for the Grand Entrance of the newlyweds!

… and for speeches…

… and then, for dessert! Another quirky choice: delicious, fragrant mini donuts (by Harvey’s Donuts) – everyone decided to “re-start the diet tomorrow!”