Napa Valley Wedding – Floral Inspiration Shoot

It’s been said that “Bread feeds the body, but flowers feed also the soul”.  It’s true, isn’t it?  Flowers are an intrinsic part of wedding ceremonies and receptions and with good reason – they’re stinkin’ gorgeous!  Truth is that I’m rather horrible at remembering the names of flowers but that’s where amazing professionals like Jaime Giorgi of The Monkey Flower Group come in extremely handy.  She’s the heart and soul behind today’s amazing floral inspiration shoot set in the Napa Valley and boy, does she know her flowers!  I adored the combination of vintage fashion, English high tea and the vast arrangements of gorgeous (and no doubt fragrant!) flora.  Just divine.

Jaime from The Monkey Flower Group paints the story behind her shoot:

We drew some inspiration from the classy ‘coquettishness’ of the1940’s. We also made a nod to a more modern aesthetic with simple, single-variety table arrangements, but kept things vintage with a few eclectic containers in ceramic and milkglass on the buffet.


The white, dusty blue, and navy color palette was determined by the gorgeous materials the day had to offer – fragrant narcissus, delicate manzanita bells, flowering rosemary, and dramatic, deeply hued privet berries. The lush garland enveloping the entrance to the guesthouse also incorporated native madrone and bay. Needless to say, the day’s scents were spicy, sweet, and heavenly.


In place of cake, sweet and playful lovebird sugar cookies accompanied an old fashioned tea service. A mixed set of blue and white china provided elegance without feeling too formal. Jordon almonds, a classic wedding sweet, added a touch of nostalgic charm to the dessert offerings.


The rings were held on a simple linen pillow embroidered with the couple’s names and the location and year of the celebration. After it serving its purpose, it may be framed as a memento of the day.


The “something old, new, borrowed, and blue” were arranged in a blue and gold vintage pressed-paper jewelry box. The feather hair clip reinforces the subtle lovebird theme suggested by the tea service and sugar cookies.


The guests’ seating cards were hung on a ribbon across a foyer window, backlit by sunlight. Inside each card’s glassine envelope was a favor of nigella seeds, also known as “Love in a Mist”. This beautiful, blue annual re-seeds itself readily, making it a lovely gift to be enjoyed for years to come.

Thank you Jaime!  Gorgeous inspiration!

xoxo Chantale from La Belle Bride

Flowers, Wedding Gown, Embroidery, Photography: Jaime Giorgi for The Monkey Flower Group