Project Description

The Strehles

Chicago, USA

It was Valentines day and it was cold. A bone numbing -15c cold that feels about -25 with wind chill, insane temperatures I have only ever experienced in Chicago. The bride, Sophia, was remarkably calm and relaxed despite almost not making it over for the wedding from Ireland due to a backlogged immigration office!

Sophia loved frosted greys and silvers, pale blues, mauves and lilacs and wanted it to have a ’wintery’ feel without looking too Christmas. Her dress had a nod to the 50’s and she loved the vintage detail so I kept to a neutral palette for the bouquet but put a lot of emphasis on texture, incorporating pods and berries with open blooms, the black anenome centre lending a crispness and tiny Blue Grape Hyacinths peeking out. Heather was also a favorite so I incorporated this, garlanding down the staircase, and in the arrangements.

Sophia and Ryan were determined to have their first dance outside, despite the arctic temperatures, so the courtyard’s pendant lanterns were decorated with loose garlands to create an intimate feel and carry the theme outside. Incredibly, these garlands were absolutely perfect the following day, preserved and frozen solid. I could snap the petals off in my hands.