Wedding Orchids

I have done the flowers and decor and planning for many weddings over the years, but not lately. Everyone once in awhile I get pulled out of "retirement", called upon to do a wedding. I am doing one for a client's son and future daughter-in-law this October at a small, elegant venue right on the Mississippi River in New Orleans.

The Bride has requested white orchids and hydrangea. She especially loves phalaenopsis orchids, sometimes called moth or butterfly orchids.

A Bride's bouquet I did over 20 years ago using white Phael orchids - It's perched on a chair covered with a damask slipcover, so in vogue back in those days - photo by Juris Mardwig - flowers- Valorie Hart Designs

So I pulled together a look-book, that I hope you will enjoy just as much as the bride does.

Lush and simple - Colin Cowie

Floating flowers in glass cylinders is a great way to keep the budget down - Colin Cowie

Floating candles with a single bloom - budget friendly and chic

Using orchid plants is an option, and the guests would love to take them home - Colin Cowie

Not our color, but we could float single white blooms in a pretty vessel  - Colin Cowie

Very Autumnal and a big visual for not so much money - I would use white branches - Colin Cowie

Low, classic, and packed arrangements - Colin Cowie

Love the Lucite tray with single blooms and votives - Colin Cowie

Small vases packed with white orchids - Colin Cowie

More floating orchids - Colin Cowie

Cascading orchids in a tall vase - i would use white hydrangea in shorter vases - Colin Cowie

Single blooms for the cake - Colin Cowie

Love this composition for the Bride and/or the Bridesmaids - Colin Cowie

Great boutonniere - Colin Cowie

This could be a corsage- Colin Cowie

Orchids arranged in a posy style

Orchids and white hydrangea bridal bouquet

I love the looseness of this Brides bouquet

Classic cascade let's the orchids follow their natural form

Going to see the venue on Friday. Will keep you posted on how it all turns out.

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Ding Dong! Here's Your Flower Delivery

Hello everyone!
Here's a virtual flower delivery for you to wish you a Happy Easter.

All flowers and photos by Valorie Hart the Visual Vamp

I arranged the flowers in the photos for a recent photo shoot for a certain house you may recognize.

Silver ice bucket with white hydrangea

I have shopped fabulous wholesale flower markets all over the world: New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam...


But really the "super market" flower shops have changed how everyone can get great flowers very close to wholesale choices and prices.

When I had my event design business in New York, I would visually shop the great displays on the sidewalks of the Korean markets, and say "I could do a high end event using these flowers".



For this shoot I shopped a favorite we all use: Whole Foods. Usually tried and true, there was a glitch. Their flower delivery was out of whack because the delivery truck had an accident enroute. I said a silent prayer for the driver, and then considered the limited choices.



I do not like over the top florals in the home. I like flowers to be natural and simple. And I like to style them this way for photo shoots. The home should be the focus, not the flowers. Lots of stylists like to show off, but really, it's not about the stylist ha ha. I can make towering fabulous arrangements using every flower you can think of. It takes more effort to show restraint.

Perfect orange French tulips in a Newcomb pottery style vase

Simple bouquet of apricot color roses
Studded Lucite tray by Nicole Cohen of Sketch42

Two simple tulips let the furnishings be the star

I hope you are making pretty flower arrangements for your home for Easter and everyday.
Alberto and I send our very best wishes to all of you.

Belles of Ireland

photo by Steven Meisel

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Green beer! The wearin' of the green: Green socks, green bras, green beads and boas (here in NOLA).

And look at the lovely belles of Ireland. Their big beautiful skirts look just like the flowers called Bells of Ireland.

The flower called Bells of Ireland

via Ali Eli Flowers HERE

The Day After

Did everyone have a wonderful Easter?

Sabina sent this post Easter photo to me - I'm sure it is making you smile too!

The weather was perfect across most of the country. Wisteria and azaleas are blooming their heads off in New Orleans, and the tulips and hyacinth and daffodils are up everywhere. It's the grandest Spring floral display.

Here's something to do with your empty egg shells. What a wonderful little vessel for a mini flower arrangement!

I wonder if you could use all those fake eggs out on the market that come in so many pretty colors.


Just snip off the top! Let me know how you make out.

Here's a blast from the past from Easter 2004, the year before Katirna. I'm with my dearest friend Miss Anne. I used to ride with her in the Germaine Wells Easter Parade in the French Quarter.

Valorie Hart and Anne Farmen Easter 2004

We decorated our hats and baskets. There was breakfast at Arnauds, then Mass at St. Louis Cathedral, then parading in the French Quarter in old buggies, giving Easter toys to the children. After that, back to Arnauds for lunch with the husbands. It was grand.

A faded newspaper clipping from The Times Picayune
Valorie Hart riding in the Germaine Wells 2004 Easter Parade

I hope you had a grand Easter with your family, friends, and loved ones!!!