Wedding bells, Lovebirds, Flowers for miles.... May 18 2017, 0 Comments

Happy two-week anniversary to Mattea and Mike, and to Jaclyn and Thomas, 'my' first weddings of the 2017 season. 

Both couples chose to host intimate, family-focused events at the University Club and Fete Events, respectively. 

Close friends and family joined each pair to celebrate on a rainy but  beautiful Saturday downtown. Love, fun, music and food (and a bit of the bubbly) took centre stage as the couples said 'I do'. 

Mattea carried roses, rancunculus, and lisianthus in blush, ivory and white

Mike wore some of the same blooms as a boutonniere

And we went a little bit more 'wild' and varied with the table centrepieces and ceremony flowers. 

Jaclyn and her maid of honour carried white and ivory bouquets of peony, lisianthus, and rose, with trailing ribbon streamers. Ontario rancunculus were at their peak, so I had to pop in a few!  

The groom and best man wore ranunculus with a simple ribbon knot

The flower girls wore crowns of greenery

A couple of vases and some garland in the windows were all it took to set off the beautiful loft space at Fete events (Jaclyn's friends carried the garland from ceremony to reception at Olivea and decorated the family style dinner table. Gold stars to the 'garland wranglers'- those things can be beasts!) 

The newlyweds were kind enough to leave lovely google reviews- spread the word to anyone who needs some romantic wedding flowers for their big day. 

https://goo.gl/maps/JaKWZqxcoUk

https://goo.gl/maps/nmC9NvVuw652

Wishing many happy years and awesome adventures to the newlyweds! Thank you for letting me take part in your wedding day! 

Special thanks to Nina at Queen's University Club, and Leanne at  LSP designs for the inspiration on column and vase setup- when Mattea and Mike had to move their ceremony indoors, we had to do some fancy footwork to replace the University club garden setting! (and keep the exit sign from photobombing the couples' vows)  And sincere personal thanks to Claire, who very graciously helped me navigate my first trip to Fete. 

Back to (flower) school! March 02 2017, 0 Comments

Does anyone else do this? I seem to make more real, lasting new years' resolutions in the spring and fall than on the actual new year date. Solstice? Laziness? The light at the end of the tunnel as we potentially don't live in a frozen wasteland forever and ever? Who knows!

One of my resolutions for this year is to step up my game and update my techniques and style. This is tricky to do as a one-woman businessperson whose learning preference is the classroom environment. I think I might be part eternal-student at heart; there's only so much I can absorb from videos and tutorials!  

So I am beyond thrilled to have found a lovely teacher-mentor and flower school in the big city of Toronto. I'm off to flower bootcamp on Monday March 6 and can't wait to come back with new ideas and gifts for you and yours.

PS. Will I figure out my new non-1990s smartphone and instagram in time to bring you along for the ride? Stay tuned! 

PPS. special delivery will be unavailable on Mon March 6, and the flower counter will be opening at noon on Tues March 7. I'll be able to check emails and online orders the whole time, so don't be shy! 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

RESIST disappointment! (Order your flowers online like a pro) February 08 2017, 0 Comments

Valentine’s day is coming, and if Tuesday the 14^th finds you away from your sweetheart (or finds your sweetheart trapped at the office) you might order flowers online.

If you don’t know much about sending flowers, or about flowers at all, this can be intimidating. We’ve all seen those social media posts on February 15: a photo of a lush bouquet on the left, with the caption ‘What I ordered,’ and a sad, wilting bouquet on the right, with the caption ‘what I got’. 

You don’t want this to happen to you. And neither do I! As a florist, I spend way more time than you researching flowers and florists online. Check out my tips to help you send the best possible flowers!

1. RECON. Find out your recipient's favourite flowers or colours, or find out if there’s a flower they hate, and add a note to your order at checkout. Are they the ‘two dozen long stemmed red roses’ type, or would they love a bunch that looks like field-picked wildflowers? Do strong scents irritate them? A little observation goes a long way! (Mothers, housemates, and friends can usually give you good advice.)

You don't need to know the names of flowers to place your order. Notes at checkout like 'no sticks', 'no yellow', or 'no weird dangly leaves, please' are great! 

If you don’t see anything that matches your personality or budget online, call the florist directly to find out about order minimums and custom orders. You can always request ‘designers choice’ - you name your price, we create something lovely that suits your budget. We’re here to make you look good.

2. RESIST THE ORDER GATHERERS Basically, skip the paid google ads. I just googled ‘florists in Kingston ON’ and checked out the paid ads. Half were for actual florists in town, but I only know this because I am a florist in town. The rest of the links were for order gatherers. Order gatherers are the worst thing about the floral industry, and most customers don’t even know they exist!

Order gatherers advertise online and have websites and toll free lines where you can order flowers. But they are NOT florists. They are call centres. And most of them aren’t even in Canada. 1-800-flowers? JustFlowers? Flowershopping.com? IT’S A TRAP!

Order gatherers take your order and your money, take a cut off the top (typically 20%) and then shop your order around to florists in your destination town.

Say you’re in Winnipeg and want to send some flowers to your fiancee in Kingston. You google ‘send flowers in Kingston’ and find an ad for $10 off with flowershopping.com.  A discount on Valentine's Day? CHA CHING! SOLD. 

You order something valued at $100, but pay $90 with the special. They subtract their fee. You’re now really working with $72. The order gatherer starts calling florists in Kingston, trying to place their lowball order worth $100 retail for $70. We have to subtract local taxes and delivery fees from this already reduced amount. Less bang for your buck. ZERO chance of your order looking anything like the picture.

Most of us will hang up on flowershopping.com and your order will bounce around from shop to shop being rejected  all day. Because it's Feb 14 and we are losing our minds filling actual orders for actual value for actual customers. Order gatherers suck! RESIST!

3. USE THE MAP. I love google maps, as I can find the closest flower shops to my destination address. Spend more money on flowers, less money on delivery! If I’m not 100% sure an online florist is legit, I use google maps street view to see if there’s a brick and mortar shop (Once I chose a florist in Quebec because there was a street view photo of a customer leaving her shop with a beautiful bouquet!)

4. ONLINE CREEPING. Er, RESEARCH. Many florists who are members of FTD or Teleflora will have identical websites, as a standard catalogue of photos and a hosted website is included with your membership. The standard catalogues are often used by order gatherers, but that doesn’t mean every florist who uses one IS an order gatherer. Confusing?

You may need to dig a little deeper on these to ensure they’re legit and see their actual work. Do they have a street address prominently featured on the site? Do they have a blog or facebook page where you can check out their shop and style and photos of their arrangements? Do their reviews seem realistic vs. cranked out for pay (are they written by different people on different dates? Are there anecdotes about customer service at the shop?)

4. Order away! Call in if you have questions, have a specific budget, or need a specific flower. Order online if you’re less particular. AND FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY PLEASE DO IT BEFORE 7PM ON THE 14TH, OR WE WILL BE CRANKY.

Obviously, as a small independent florist I’m biased in favour of contacting florists directly instead of using FTD or Teleflora apps etc. But there are also benefits for you as a customer:

-You’re paying for your order at realistic local prices

-All of your money is going towards your order

-All of your money is staying in your recipient’s local economy

-And most importantly, in the event you have a question or problem with your order, you can contact someone in the same building as your flowers, who genuinely cares about your flowers, and who cares about their business reputation and customer satisfaction year round.

Bonus- they won’t be on a headset in San Viejo California, fielding irate phone calls and wishing to be anywhere else on Feb 15.

Happy Valentine’s and happy flower ordering, lovebirds!

FAMILY EMERGENCY JAN 27 January 27 2017, 0 Comments

Weddings and Valentines- hope y'all are in the mood for romance! January 19 2017, 0 Comments

It's the smoochiest time of year- wedding show season meets Valentine's Day. Don't be a cynic! Treat your favourite person or yourSELF to a bit of midwinter floral cheer. 

We'll be joining the wonderful Jane of Safari Cake Boutique at the  Kingston Wedding Show, Sun Jan 22 at the 1000 Islands Sportsplex. Grassy green astroturf underfoot and a bright dome overhead... it's a great day to enjoy catering samples and beautiful wedding wares. Plus, you go through an airlock. Scifi fun even if you're not a real wedding enthusiast, haha.  Info and tickets on the Kingston Wedding Show site. 

And get your phones out- 

Tuesday Feb 14 is VALENTINE'S DAY. Set two alarms! Cancel the snooze. Do not forget! 

CHANGES to Holiday hours (blame it on the nog!) December 24 2016, 0 Comments

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and all the best for the New Year from everyone at Sage Flowers!

Sat Dec 24 10am-12pm

Sun Dec 25 CLOSED

Mon Dec 26 CLOSED

Tues Dec 27 CLOSED

Wed Dec 28-Friday Dec 30 10am-4pm

Dec 31 10am-12pm

Jan 1- CLOSED

Ho-ho-holiday hours for Sage Flowers December 17 2016, 0 Comments

Our elves and reindeer available for deliveries on Sun Dec 18 and Mon Dec 19 th. We have an early evening route as well as 'business hours' to accomodate your loved ones during this busy season. Please call or email to confirm orders or pickups, as we don't have official shop hours Sunday and Monday and we don't want to miss you!

Flower counter Holiday hours:

Tues-Friday 10am-6pm

Sat Dec 24 10am-2pm

Sun Dec 25 CLOSED

Mon Dec 26 CLOSED

Tues Dec 27 CLOSED

Wed Dec 28-Friday Dec 30 10am-6pm

Sat Dec 31- 10am-noon 

Sun Jan 1 CLOSED

Your florist is away Oct 23-Nov 8 October 22 2016, 0 Comments

I am leaving on a jet plane to stomp in puddles with my littlest niece and catch up with much-loved family and friends. Sage Flowers will be closed Oct 23-Nov 8. I'll be checking email regularly, but unable to return phone calls or send flowers until Nov 8.

Need flowers now?

Try 

Chartreuse Flower Works for downtown and East Side,

LSP designs for mid town

and Loyalist Flowers for Amherstview and points west.

These are all lovely folk who do lovely work and will take care of any flower orders for you in my absence. 

See you soon!

-Jen

Upcoming events at Sage Flowers September 27 2016, 0 Comments

Sun Oct 2- come say hello at the Kingston Wedding show. New location in the west side!  http://kingstonweddingshow.kxomedia.ca/

Mon Oct 3- Jen gives a talk on wedding flowers/ arranging techniques at the Collins Bay Horticultural Society meeting. Meet my new secret weapon! http://www.collinsbayhorticulturalclub.com/

Sat Oct 7- Thanksgiving! (Sunday a.m. delivery may be available by appointment- order now to avoid disappointment)   

Today on 'Totally Dignified Moments in Floristry' September 22 2016, 0 Comments

An open letter to publicly thank Mr. Douglas Wark at the Glen Lawrence Golf Club for being so gracious when a certain florist busted right into his office while he was in the middle of a meeting .

Imagine, if you will, those koolaid commercials from the 1980s. Everyone is having a nice and normal day, until suddenly, a man dressed as a big red jug of koolaid kicks through the wall and yells ‘Oh YEAH!’

Except it’s a frazzled looking short lady who says ‘OH NO!’  … and possibly has some leaves in her hair at this point in proceedings.

Of course on my way OUT of the parking lot, I found the sign with the arrow, clearly pointing to the entrance I was supposed to have used in the first place.

Thanks to Doug, the couple he was meeting with, and the friendly bar and restaurant staff at the Glen Lawrence for being so understanding, getting the  florist to the right door at the right time… and even helping her unload the van!

PS. The bride emailed me on Monday, and she was delighted.

OH YEAH!

*Screenshot of 1978 'Castles and Knights' kool aid commercial courtesy Wikipedia- under fair use license https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool-Aid_Man

Civic Holiday bouquet giveaway draw July 28 2016, 0 Comments

Who's got two thumbs and has to work on the holiday weekend?

This guy!

You too?

Turn that frown upside down- you could win a free bouquet this Sat. July 30th!

How to enter/ rules rules rules:

1. Leave a comment here on the blog, or post on our facebook wall- 'I love flowers' 'I'm stuck at home all weekend and I wish I had some flowers' 'Sage Flowers, I think I love you' etc. Be as creative or boring as you like. Just keep it clean- my mom is on my facebook!
2. Entries close at 3pm on Friday July 29th
3. At 4pm Friday July 29th, I will draw a name from our 'pool of commenters' and  announce the winner on the blog and facebook.
4. Winner (or 'representative') must collect their bouquet at the shop (inside Safari Cake Boutique 842 Gardiners Rd.) between 10am and 3pm on Sat July 30th. (we've got a wedding underway and won't be able to deliver)
5. Bouquet is approx value $40, ' as-is', based on availability, and cannot be converted to cash. No rain checks, this is just a one time thing for pickup on Saturday July 30th. If you aren't available to collect, you CAN give your bouquet to a friend who is able to pick up during the above times.
6. We're running this contest on the blog becasue facebook has strict rules for business page contests- especially when asking for likes or shares.  You didn't hear it from me, but if we get 5 more page likes and/or 25 shares on the post about this contest... we'll probably do a draw for a 2nd prize bouquet worth approx $30 ;) Not sayin'. Just sayin'.

Whether you spend it under the sun by the lake, or under the flickering glow of fluorescent lights at work... wishing you an awesome Aug 1st long weekend!

Closing 3pm Thursday July 14 July 14 2016, 0 Comments

HALF DAY FRIDAY JULY 8 July 08 2016, 0 Comments

Existential Crisis Garden Tour June 03 2016, 0 Comments

My garden is a hot mess.

I apparently  only do adult life in the form of weekly ordeals, so the garden has been on red ordeal alert for approximately 104 weeks.   I busted up my hand in fall 2014 and didn't get any fall cleanup done.Then I spent the spring and summer venturing onto the deck, looking at the jungle for a couple of seconds, and running back inside.

I didn't get much gardening done, but I stayed up late and partied a lot  with my old friends shame, guilt, regret, and 'remember that time when HORTICULTURE SCHOOL? Remember every decision ever? Why the hell do you do any of the things you do?' Good times.

This year? Honestly, I  don't want to jinx it by overthinking things... but I am remembering to water things. And add  compost. I put in an appearance at the landscape supplies lot. I am machete-ing weeds,cutting  edges and banging down truckloads of soil. I'm using super lazy cheats, like cardboard garden beds. There are still pockets and corners of burdock and thistle. But it's fun again.

I have killed a lot of plants. Legit, spent-money- on -them, adult homeowner career lady plants.  (Beautiful white garden rose bush, I let you down, and I am so so sorry.)

But others? My oddball collection of salvaged, traded, and 'founds'? The ones who have been in my life through work, projects, a move, all that life stuff? They have been there waiting for me at the end of the sad grey tunnel. (Behind a lot of really tall weeds.)

Want a tour?

I know, I know, I should mow my damn driveway. You would not believe the temptation to crop the weeds out of these photos. Not today! Meet Hoppy the hops plant. He will try to take over your entire yard. He's great for gates... and for hops if you're doing a brewer-couple's wedding flowers. He is, however, bred for looks, not beer.

Porch onion. I love him. I grew allium and garlic chives from seed back in the early 2000s. They are now everywhere. Spencer says I can keep this guy. He reminds me of the radish growing through the concrete in Japan. (the allium. Not Spencer)  Allium come in so many shapes and sizes- plant bulbs in the fall for spring/summer blooms. Those big tall Dr Seuss looking poofballs on a stick? Allium. Also available in tiny and yellow.

I had to cut back some over-enthusiastic geranium from a client's walkway a couple years ago. I took the cuttings home and planted them beside our steps. The lady who owned these has since passed away- I didn't know her very well, but I'm friends with her son, and I like thinking that I'm carrying something forward in her memory. I should see if her son would like some...

Another survivor of my 'let's grow local wildflowers from seed like a real horticulturist' days. Columbines. (aquilegia) from one or two plants to whole clumps. Growing perennials from seed is a real exercise in patience. Gardening in general, I guess. "It is only to the gardener that time is a friend" *

These frigging poppies. I love these. They were in bloom for my birthday this year and it felt like a sign. They spend the whole year as raggedy ass thistle looking leaves... except for one glorious week where they put on a show. Big, silky, the brightest orange red you'll ever see. These came to me as three strays from my gardening boss' garden. And now I have billions. They're my crowning glory.

Also a surprise that felt like a sign as I figure out the next few steps of the rest of my life- my sage plant. It survived the winter. And now it's growing Sage Flowers.

PS. *That quote back there? Turns out I'd only ever heard half of it.

"It is only to the gardener that time is a friend, giving each year more than he steals. "

-Beverley Nichols

Well how about that.

Enjoy your weekend, and happy June! I hope it brings you  more friends than thieves, and that you get to play in the dirt :)

New Hours on Mondays April 18 2016, 0 Comments

Switching up the schedule a bit here at Sage Flowers:

Mondays *NEW HOURS* 10am-2pm

Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm

Saturday 10am-2pm

Remember Admin Professionals' Day April 23rd and Mother's Day May 8 (we will be open Sunday May 8th) 

Monday bleurgs- Spring Therapy Edition April 11 2016, 0 Comments

*Disclaimer disclaimer, not my garden!* In my wildest dreams!

For anyone else with the Monday blues… a wonderful garden timelapse from You Grow Girl to remind us of that time when the snow went away and the plants grew. Maybe it will happen again.

Garden timelapse video from yougrowgirl.com- instant spring therapy

If you are interested in growing anything– whether you have a patch of ground to call your own, or a little plastic bucket on a fire escape, I cannot recommendYou Grow Girl (and owner/author Gayla Traill) highly enough. Under the tagline ‘Gardening for the People’, Gayla will show you how to get your own plants going from scratch. She emphasizes affordable, environmentally-friendly techniques for the low budget and/or definitely not Martha Stewart types among us. I loved this site when I was an absolute beginner, and I still love it  now with a few years of horticulture under my belt. Not that you’d guess from looking at my sad, neglected garden. Maybe 2016 is the year I get my act together!

Cover art for You Grow Girl by Gayla Trail.

PS. Whoever has my beloved , tattered copy of her first book, please give it back. Or I shall haunt you for all time.

I pity the Fool April 02 2016, 0 Comments

Happy April 1st!

Jane (at at Safari Cakes ) and I spent a pleasant last day of March experimenting with some different wedding cake-and-flower techniques. One of my contributions was this composite rose.

Check it out on our wee rustic cake,

and side by side with a Monsieur Michel’s faux peony.

Composites aren’t silk flowers, but they’re definitely not as nature intended: you build these roses by taking apart 4 real roses and reassembling the petals into a monster bloom. Back in the day, this was done by wiring and taping each fragile petal (gives me stress hives just thinking about it) In 2016, it is all about the glue. Or ‘floral adhesive’, as I guess I should say.

Of course I’ve got fakes on my mind as it is April Fool’s Day! Anyone fall for any good ones? I was pretty tickled by the The National Library and Archive Canada’s  release of Wolverine’s WWII journals and photos. You can  check it out here- OUTSTANDING prankstership, ladies and gentlemen!

Photo via The National Post

Taking the cake for me this April Fool’s, though, would have to be this new hipster airline connecting Shoreditch in London with al the scenesters worldwide.  They let you into the VIP lounge based on your tats and beard, and bookings are via Instagram.

Photo via hipsterair.com

Oh and in late breaking news, expedia announces new competing airline Ginge-air, for redheads only, and Queen’s University right here in the Limestone City has successfully launched its first suborbital rocket from the new Belle Island Space Flight Facility. Until next year, jokers!

Serious about sending flowers? Give us a shout at 613-545-9229 or order online at http://sageflowers.ca

PS. I’m still a little upset at how many people called/messaged me to ask if I had really opened a yoga studio for cats 2 years ago.

Easter Holiday Hours March 22 2016, 0 Comments

Easter hours:

Good Friday March 25th: CLOSED

Saturday March 26th: OPEN 10AM-2PM

Sunday March 27th: CLOSED

Monday March 28th: OPEN 1PM-6PM

We hope you have an excellent*, peaceful holiday weekend with family and friends. 

(*EGGSELLENT) 

And Wild Horses March 20 2016, 0 Comments

Took a 5 day trip to Chincoteague Island VA with Mr. S.

Wild ponies. The Lighthouse. The forest. The Atlantic.

We arrived waaay later than expected on Friday night, but this meant we got to discover where we'd ended up as the sun rose on Saturday morning. Magic.

We had  the whole place virtually to ourselves since Chincoteague doesn't open for the season until US Spring break. Many shops and restaurants are still closed, or only open Thurs-Sun, and you can't book tours. Honestly? We LOVED it.

Things to do on Chincoteague in March:

Proceed directly to Assateague Island and look for wild ponies, obviously.

You may also enjoy the Island Museum if it's open for 'history weekend'

Famous Pizza and Subs- PICKLE FRIES.

Ray's Shanty for seafood about 20 min off the island (weekends only in early spring- closed for the winter)

The Village restaurant on the island for seafood closer to home. If you are so inclined, eat the scallops.

The NASA visitor centre for Wallops Flight Facility on nearby Wallops Island, (we missed a rocket launch by a WEEK. Booooo)

A one hour road trip to the Evolution craft brewery in Salisbury. We missed the tours, but consoled ourselves with amazing local food, a flight and a pint. It was Spence's birthday, and the birthday kid may or may not have left the premises with a couple growlers of his favourite. He was chauffeured by station wagon for a nap on the beach, haha.

Island Creamery for ice cream. SEA SALT CARAMEL I WANT TO LIVE IN YOU.

If you can't find wild ponies, don't be sad - there are tame ponies at the McDonald'sparking lot near the bridge to the wildlife refuge, and they will be your friends if you buy them 50 cents worth of corn feed.

Things we did not do, but looked or sounded rad:

Bring binoculars. Bring a proper beach blanket for picnics and or naps.

Rent a bike.

Go check out Crisfield on the Chesapeake side, take a ferry to Smith Island, and eat an entire Smith Island cake.

Saigon Village restaurant, apparently the place to eat on Chincoteague if you have overdone it on the seafood. Or the pickle fries.

Random things to know as you head south: the Penn Turnpike is the worst and it costs $15. Ordering tea is weird. Tea is "hot tea" and iced tea is "sweet tea" or "unsweetened" tea. Anything sweet is super sweet. People will call you honey and baby but it's not creepy at all and is genuinely friendly. Ordering food will always result in too much food. But sometimes you're your own worst influence.  Like if you go for ice cream twice in one day.

And Misty of Chincoteague was not wild, but she was real.

Happy weekend, friends!

SAGE FLOWERS CLOSED FEB 16-MAR 2 February 16 2016, 0 Comments

* Please note we will be closed Feb 16- March 2. We will be monitoring/replying to emails and able to provide wedding estimates while we are away, but we will not be available by phone or for flower orders until Wed. Mar 2nd. Sorry for any inconvenience!  

My favourite 2016 trend January 06 2016, 0 Comments

Well, my dears, once again we did it! We trimmed the tree with our perfect collection of new and family heirloom ornaments that all somehow match,  mailed our beautiful handmade cards by the end of November, and by Dec 18 we had all wrapped our  handmade locally-sourced gifts in hand stamped paper (GIFT BAGS? nuh-uhh!) 

So all we had to do was put on a beautiful but casual outfit and relax by the beautiful fireside with our perfect families, as you can see from all our perfect instagrams. 

You too, right? OBVIOUSLY.

Of course, then we all spent that weird Boxing Day -New Year- Back-to-school  lull resolving to better ourselves, plotting the measurable steps we can take to achieve our goals. Definitely not while wearing pyjamas in the afternoon... or between mouthfuls of leftover holiday chocolates...

One of my resolutions, as always, is to be a smart and wonderful social media user and enrich all your lives by sharing my articulate thoughts on all kinds of stylish things. So without further ado... go google Martha Stewart, haha

But seriously, if you're gonna make that kind of resolution in the flower world, and if you're going to update your blog for the first time in MONTHS in January, then you have to start with weddings. 

Yes ma'am and yes sir,  this is what is known as engagement and planning season. And we must talk wedding trends. 

But seriously-seriously? Whenever I read an article on wedding trends, even by my favourite famous people who inspire my work every day, there is a part of my mind that just rebels. 

JUST DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. 

JUST DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! 

WHY CAN'T THE TREND JUST BE 'DO WHATEVER THE HECK YOU WANT'??

Wah. 

Mason jars seem to come up a lot in this battle. Ok, the exclusively-in-my-mind battle. But I think they are a symbol for this pinterest pressure-trends vs what do we actually want conflict. I have adopted them as my 'do what you want' poster child. 

Yes, the California florists who invented the "Ball jars and burlap in a Napa valley vineyard" trend are ready to let it go. But why should I expect a couple getting married this year, who have been collecting photos and dreaming their daydreams about a beautiful burlap and jar wedding celebration of their own, perhaps for years, have to ditch their idea because a trend article said so? I'm not kidding, I've had brides APOLOGIZE for wanting to use mason jars. TELL ME THEY ARE SORRY FOR LIKING AND WANTING A THING TO PUT THEIR FLOWERS IN ON THEIR FRIGGING WEDDING DAY. And I don't think that should be how they feel they are obliged to feel! 

So I guess my top trend for 2016 is to check out  all the trends, take your pinterest with a grain of salt,  and then just go ahead and do what you want.

Which, in my experience, is what the couples I work with all tend to do anyway. So I'm probably worrying over nothing.

And of course I'm going to obsess and research and scour the web for what all the wedding flower people around the world are doing, because obviously we aren't all gonna carry carnation cascades like my Mom did in the 70s because I have decided to throw an imaginary hissy fit at twitter. (Although if you WANT your Mom's 70s carnation cascade,let`s do it!!)  

Part of my job IS obsessive research - I need to have a well of methods and examples ready for our wild and wonderful task of  turning your ideas into real bouquets. This is, after all,  the most rollercoaster day and amazing party you're going to throw for a good long while, and we gotta get these perishable, temporary, colourful little pieces of nature to look the way you want them to look for the day you want to have. 

But I think more importantly than it being so very shared on Instagram, or pinterest perfect, or a trend, we need to do this because I want your day to genuinely be about you and the things you like. 

I was out for brekkie with a good friend last month, and we were talking about a mutual friends' wedding, and he gave me the best quote/idea/distillation of a bunch of ideas I've heard in a good long while myself: 

"The thing I loved about their wedding was that it was just how they would spend every day if they could. The food, the flowers, the dancing, the pocket watches, the shoes. If real life wasn't a limiting factor, that's just what they would do every day' 

And I thought that was just grand. 

So let's read up on horizontal branching bouquets and compote containers and King's tables and blush and those long streamer ribbons... let's pin our fool heads off and skype about peonies.

Then let's plan the party you would throw every day if you could. 

Happy engagement rollercoaster to all those who have put a ring on it... and a very HAPPY 2016 to one and all!

NEW! Peanut and nut-free sweets. Perfect for Movember November 04 2015, 0 Comments

We moustache you a question: do you love chocolate?*

Our in-store customers have been enjoying the perks of our location at Safari Cake Boutique for almost a year now, but we realised our online customers have been missing out.

Basically we haven't been sharing our candy! Not only bad cookie-karma, but absolute murder on the old waistline, too.

Chocolate moustaches, fresh baked cookies and cupcakes, pretzels, fudge and more have been added to our online shop. Balloons and handmade greeting cards from a local artist are on their way.

Call 1-855-585-9229 or email info(AT)sageflowers.ca to order, or for a list of ingredients. 

(*you like that one? Just wait until our upcoming XMoose extravaganza for the holidays, haha)

Wedding bells- wedding flowers in sunny Kingston ON August 27 2015, 0 Comments

We are taking a tiny breather before autumn weddings kick into gear. What a fantastic bunch of brides, grooms, and their friends and families we have worked with this summer. They have kept us hoppin' with styles from vintage to wildflower to glamourous, and with colour schemes from chocolate mint to coral to classic red and white,  graphic yellow/white/grey and elegant black, white and gold.

Thanks so much to all 'our' couples for letting us contribute to your big day- you have no idea how fun it is to be along for part of the ride and enjoy everyone's personalities and design ideas as they get ready for such a special celebration.

Congratulations and best wishes for married life!

Anyway, enough talk-- let's see some pictures!

If you're not chomping at the bit to hire Sage Flowers as your photographer (Why not? Why don't you just want a photo of your bouquet on a bench, or possibly an arm?) then you should definitely check out these extremely talented Kingston wedding photographers: 

Sarah Rouleau photography -  her amazing photos of Scott and Ashley's July wedding look like they were taken somewhere Caribbean/oceanside.

Janelle at Beauty Light Love-  not only did she capture gorgeous images of Corin and Matt on their wedding in August, but check out the variety of colour and different eras of Kingston itself in the background.

And Randy Dekleine-Stimpson of Feed the Bear Design will literally go the extra mile, or 500 miles, to capture dramatic big sweep AND detailed photojournalistic  images of your big day. He travelled all the way to Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands to photograph the wedding of Amie and Wally in May.

Have a great weekend, lovebirds!

Sage Flowers review on weddingwire.com August 06 2015, 0 Comments

One of our recently-married wedding couples was kind enough to leave us a great review on weddingwire.com

Thank you so much for taking the time to give us feedback - and for spreading the word about our wedding flowers. Oh... and congratulations on getting hitched! :)

Now back to work- it's a three wedding weekend over here! Best wishes to all the lovebirds out there, and a happy weekend to all.

Click here to read our weddingwire.com review