Villa Catalana Cellars - Italian Fine Art Inspired Wedding Shoot in Portland

I can’t believe I am just now getting around to blogging this amazing shoot with Dima Karpenko Photography.

It was a beautiful collaboration that got published by Adorn Magazine.

So many elegantly curated details to showcase the absolutely breathtaking Villa Catalana Cellars which is a gorgeous stone villa that perfectly embodies the look and feel of Italy.

Bridal Bouquet consisted of 100% American Grown Flowers {Oregon + California} Olive, Peonies, blueberries, plums, martagon lilies, nandina, garden roses and scabiosa. Accented with luxurious champagne colored silk ribbon.

It was a pleasure bringing this Italian inspiration to life, and we could not have done it without the amazing team of wedding pros.

Photography + Concept: Dima Karpenko Photography

Floral Design + Styling: Sophisticated Floral

Venue: Villa Catalana Cellars

Rentals: Bridgewood Event Rentals

Stationary + Calligraphy: Pop Calligraphy

Hair + Make Up: Klover Studio

Cake: Simply Beautiful Cakes

Vespa Scooter: Vespa Milwaukie

Dress: Basix Black Label

Suit: Nordstrom

2019 Pantone Color of the Year -Living Coral

Pantone announces “Living Coral” as their 2019 Color of the Year and I cannot more excited.

I do not shy away from this color. I find that shades of coral, peach and orange work so well with various color palettes. From blush tones to bold colors, it works well paired with blues, lavenders, purples, yellows or in a monochromatic designs featured in this blog.

I love that coral colors is readily available in spring, summer and fall. Some of my favorite coral blooms include: Coral Charm Peonies, regular, spray and garden roses, ranunculus, hypericum berries, tulips, zinnias, coxcomb, dahlias and more.

This gorgeous bridal session was photographed by Spotted Stills Photography. Tania looked absolutely elegant and flawless after Whitney was done pampering her. 

The bold coral charm peonies in Tania’s bouquet, absolutely popped against her gown.

While the hair flowers were more muted with blush pink/peach tones and foliage, looking quite elegant on her classic hair updo. 

Bridal bouquet included coral charm peonies, roses, blueberries, scented geranium, huckleberry, seeded and willow eucalyptus.

Photography: Spotted Stills

Floral Design: Sophisticated Floral

Hair and Make Up: Make up with Whit

Dress/Veil : Brides for a Cause

Kristen and Michael Mt. Hood SkiBowl Wedding by Powers Photography

Peter Chee with Powers Photography did a phenomenal job capturing the wedding photos. Dark color palettes are some of my favorites to work with. However, they tend to be difficult to properly photograph to get the true sense of color and dimension.

Bridal bouquet featured some of my favorite dark blooms, including: dahlias, roses, cymbidium orchids, scabiosa, peonies, ranunculus, carnations and plenty and texture.

Kristen and Michael were truly an adventurous couple and choose to get married at the top of Mt. Hood at Mt. Hood Skibowl.

Can you imagine taking a ski lift and having your first look with a mountain in the background?

Yep! That’s exactly what they did.

Spring Bridal Editorial Shoot with Spotted Stills Photogrpahy- Portland, Oregon

Spring is here and I am eager to design with all the fabulous spring flowers and blooming branches that this season has to offer.

Blooming branches create a beautiful backdrop for the couple or any photo session {be it maternity, bridal, family or other}

Bridal bouquet included some of my favorite spring blooms {most of them are locally grown right here in Oregon}. Ranunculus, freesia, pieris, vibernum, spray roses, heirloom carnations, eriostomen, plumosa and a hint of silver dollar eucalyptus.

A beautiful floral accent piece for the hair completed the look.

Photography: Spotted Stills

Floral Design + Styling: Sophisticated Floral

Dress : Brides for a Cause

Model: Ali Plyushchev

Laura and Jacob -A Portland Oregon Engagement session with Sweetlife Photography

Laura and Jacob had a gorgeous summer engagement session with Sweetlife Photography.

I was honored to create beautiful hair flowers for Laura to wear.

If you are looking for a wedding photographer check out their portfolio-you wont be disappointed!

Enjoy!

Photography: Sweetlife Photography

Floral Design: Sophisticated Floral

Taylor and Kevin's Oregon Coast Intimate Wedding/Elopement

Taylor and Kevin came here from Oklahoma to get married at the Oregon Coast. This was a special location to both of them, since this is where they got engaged.

Taylor wanted a lush, organic, free form bridal bouquet featuring white flowers and lots of foliage and textures.

I created her bouquet to include peonies, spray roses, ferns, seeded eucalyptus, blushing bride protea, lysimachia, olive branches, ruscus, camelia foliage, calycina and oregon grown blackberries for that added texture.

What Taylor had to say:

"Lora is incredible. I could not have dreamed of more beautiful flowers to make my wedding day feel so incredibly magical. I had a destination wedding on the Oregon coast, and many of my details about where I needed the flowers and what time I needed them changed several times throughout the planning process. Lora was always so quick to respond and to accommodate whatever changes I needed to make. She was so helpful, so sweet, and seriously could not be more talented. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone! "

Photography: Sam Landreth Photography

Floral Design: Sophisticated Floral

Bridal Gown: The Bridal Boutique of Oklahoma

Hair and Make up: Katy Melton

Photos below were taken by me. I always love doing the detail shots before the flowers leave my studio.

I loved creating this all green boutonniere consisting of ferns, seeded eucalyptus, ruscus, blackberries and olive branch.

I love the tiny olives that made their way into this all foliage floral crown.

Snowy Maternity Shoot at Mt Hood with Spotted Stills Photography

Nadja was a stunning mamma to be at her snowy maternity photo session with Spotted Stills Photography.

Her red dress and floral crown absolutely popped against the all white snow backdrop at Mt Hood.

Photography: Spotted Stills

Floral Crown: Sophisticated Floral

Hair and Make up: Blush n Bride

Below are a few close up images I took.

Katie + Torsten November Wedding at McMenamins -Kennedy School

This beautiful November wedding at McMenamins Kennedy School has got to be one of my absolute favorites from 2016 wedding season.

I love it when the bride chooses a bold color palette and lets me design the rest. I enjoyed selecting the dark moody tones with a lot of textural elements.

To me floral design is like painting, the various flowers and textures that I choose are perfectly blended together to create a beautiful masterpieces or in this case Katie's stunning bridal bouquet.

A cold November wedding outside in Portland, Oregon cannot be done without the cozy blankets the couple has provided for the guest during ceremony.  So glad the rain held off and we got some beautiful outdoor photos by Elissa Deline Photography.

What Katie had to say:

" The flowers were amazing and we could not have been happier. I would use you again in a heartbeat and will tell everyone I know...We got so many compliments on the flowers. "

Venue: McMenamins Kennedy School

Floral Design + Styling: Sophisticated Floral

Photography: Elissa Deline Photography

Hair and Make up: Cassandra Kennedy Beauty

Dress: Ania Bridal / Wtoo

Wooden Backdrop: Something Borrowed PDX

Cake: Dream Cakes

The photos below were taken by Sophisticated Floral. I love taking detail shots before the flowers go out the door.

Celebrating 10 Years of Marriage and Flowers

Its not often that I get out of my comfort zone and get in front of the camera, especially featuring my own floral designs. But to commemorate 10 years in the business as well as 10 years of being married to my wonderful husband; who is my rock and I could not do what I do with out his full support and encouragement. We decided to do a photo shoot with one of my favorite photographers Jenn from Spotted Stills Photography.

This was a perfect way to celebrate our marriage and floral design together in one. We are lucky to live right down the road from this nature park, a perfect spot for a mini photo shoot. This being Oregon, it started to sprinkle during our shoot; but we did not let the rain stop us.

A huge shout out to Janelle from The Prettiest You/Contoured Salon for fitting me in at the last minute for make up. Its always a pleasure to work with you.

I loved my dress by LC Lauren Conrad for Kohls, it was very stylish and comfy.

My bouquet and floral crown featured some of my favorite blooms in mauve, blush pink, peach and gray tones. Blushing Bride Protea, Astrantia, Pieris, Spray Roses, Carnations and Dusty Miller from my own yard.

Thank you Spotted Stills Photography for the fabulous photos and here's to another 10 years!

Flowers for your hair-Bridal flowers to wear

I absolutely love creating flowers for the hair. Fresh floral combs are especially exciting to design since they are usually worn by the Bride herself.  

This garden style floral comb features ranunculus, jasmine vine, privet berry, string of pearls, eucalyptus, eryngium and gray brunia berries. 

Thank you Erica Ann Photography for capturing this stunning piece and all its intricate details. 

Simple dendrobium blossoms. Photo by Alicia Dickerson Photography. {Above}

All photos below are by Sophisticated Floral

A modern approach to a floral comb includes air plants {tillandsia}, brunia berries, berzelia, succulents and eucalyptus. Photo by Sophisticated Floral

Fun bright colored floral comb with pink and coral/orange ranunculus 

Fresh flowers on bobby pins; dendrobium orchids, clover and lavender 

Floral comb featuring dendrobium and phalaenopsis orchids, seeded eucalyptus and lavender

White floral comb with ranunculus and sedum 

Lovely hot pink floral comb for the bride. Designed with lisianthus, roses, dendrobium orchids, seeded eucalyptus and gladiolus

Bridesmaids blue floral comb with eryngium, gentian, orchids and cornflower {bachelor button} 

Bright pink/fuschia floral comb with orchids and white statice