Nick and Julie’s St. Simons Island wedding is where floral dreams were brought to life in a captivating display of colors and elegance. This floral fairytale of a wedding consisted of a beautiful cool-toned color palette that mesmerized guests throughout the celebration. Below we share some highlights of the beautiful blooms that adorned the ceremony and reception spaces, adding an aura of romance and enchantment to this special day.

Simons Island Wedding Floral Design

Nick and Julie had a specific vision in mind for their wedding day and wanted their florals to showcase a beautiful palette of white, blue, and purple blooms. During our consultation, when Julie expressed interest in incorporating some color into her design, we let the creative juices flow and created a captivating symphony of colors and textures. Our team set out to find the most exquisite lilac flowers, which complemented the white and blue blooms splendidly. 

The Ceremony

For the ceremony at Saint Simon’s Presbyterian Church, we had the opportunity to showcase our creativity with big beautiful urns, which we designed on-site. Designing these magnificent displays on-site was so fun, allowing us to customize these pieces for the space and our couple. The result was nothing short of glorious, with the ceremony space brimming with the lush beauty of the white, blue, and purple flowers.

The Reception

To create a seamless transition from the rehearsal dinner to the wedding day, we repurposed the florals from the previous evening. With a different color palette for the rehearsal dinner, we carefully incorporated pops of blue to harmonize the look and feel. 

In the reception space at Forbes Farm, lush long arrangements we displayed on the long guest tables while billowing blooms were displayed in gold vases on the round guest tables. The addition of gold accents in the containers and candle holders elevated the entire design bringing an air of elegance and sophistication to their color scheme. The wedgwood colored taper candles were the perfect finishing touch, adding a warm and romantic glow to the reception space. 

One of the highlights of this wedding was the addition of greenery to all twelve chandeliers in the reception space. The verdant foliage brought a touch of nature’s charm indoors, creating a magical ambiance that left guests in awe.

Bringing Your Floral Dreams To Life

Nick and Julie’s St. Simons Island wedding was a true testament to the power of floral artistry in creating unforgettable moments. It was an honor to bring their vision to life, weaving together the delicate beauty of white, blue, and purple blooms with the elegance of gold accents and lush greenery.

As floral designers, we love working with couples who are not afraid of incorporating color into their designs; it is always so fun to work with the exquisite colors of nature! If you are looking for a floral designer who loves to execute gorgeous events that wow your guests, you are in the right place! Ask us how we can work together to create a one-of-a-kind design for your wedding!

Vendors

Planning: Beth Williams and Company
Ceremony venue: Saint Simons Presbyterian 
Reception Venue: Forbes Farm 
Makeup: Felicia Cammon Beauty 
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals + Eventworks Rentals
Videography: Jeff and Mollie 
Catering: Halyards Catering 
Cake: Serendipity Bakery 
Band: Emerald Empire Band
Transportation: Lighthouse Trolleys 
Invitation: Paper Daisies Stationery 

We are so excited to share with you some of our favorite highlights from this stunning Colleton River Club wedding. The day started with the perfect weather for a classic Southern wedding, with a gentle breeze rustling through the lush greenery of the golf course. Little did we know this wedding would present us with unexpected challenges and delightful surprises that would forever be remembered. 

Colleton River Club Wedding in South Carolina

South Carolina Wedding Floral Design

The bride had envisioned a wedding of timeless elegance with a theme of classic simplicity. The chosen color palette consisted of pristine whites and verdant greens, accentuated by subtle hints of silver and pewter. As the floral designer, it was our job to bring this vision to life, creating an enchanting atmosphere that would leave a lasting impression on the couple and their guests. So, during the planning process, we worked alongside Sincerely Yours Events to ensure every detail matched the bride’s vision in creating her dream wedding.

The selection of flowers for this grand occasion was nothing short of breathtaking. Roses, dahlias, tulips, and campanula added delicate layers of beauty, while stock, carnations, and Spanish moss provided textural depth to the arrangements. Delphinium, ranunculus, hellebore, and smilax effortlessly intertwined throughout.

To ensure longevity and freshness throughout the day, we incorporated preserved Italian ruscus into the design. Mums, astrantia, spray roses, and peonies introduced lush textures and intoxicating fragrances, while the whimsical touches of scabiosa and tweedia added a sense of enchantment to the overall aesthetic.

On The Wedding Day

The morning of this Colleton River Club wedding started out with perfect weather for an outdoor ceremony. So our team worked tirelessly to arrange the beautiful meadow floral arrangements on the ground for the ceremony. However, the wind proved to be stronger than anticipated, adding an element of unpredictability to the proceedings. Undeterred by this challenge, we resourcefully secured the arrangements using bricks from Andrea’s backyard, ensuring that every detail was fastened and would withstand the winds.

The reception held its own set of trials. Despite our best efforts, the tall arrangements in the reception tent repeatedly succumbed to the gusty winds. So, with a quick change of plans, we transformed the tall arrangements into bar arrangements that looked stunning as ever.

One of our favorite details of the reception tent was the floral chandelier that hung above the dance floor. For this, we added long strands of Spanish Moss to the chandelier bringing in a touch of the South and a hint of whimsical romance.

A Dreamy Day

Despite the unexpected challenges presented by the wind, this Colleton River Club wedding was an undeniable success. Our team’s unwavering commitment to bringing the bride’s vision to life, coupled with their creativity and adaptability, resulted in a celebration that surpassed all expectations. 

The experience gained from this wedding reaffirmed our belief that even the most meticulously planned events can surprise us with unforeseen circumstances. It is in these moments that the benefits of working with professional wedding vendors shine, thanks to their true creativity and resourcefulness. 

So, if you are building your team of professional wedding vendors for your South Carolina wedding or beyond, we’d love to help you with your floral design! Check out our portfolio for some examples of recent floral design projects.

Vendors

Photography: Holly Felts
Planning: Sincerely Yours Events 
Cake: Wicked Cakes of Savannah 
Rentals: Ranco Event Rentals 
Venue: Colleton River Club

As a florist, I have been privileged to witness countless love stories come alive through the beauty of flowers. However, Megan and Jacob’s wedding on Jekyll Island at the exquisite Jekyll Island Club Resort was truly something extraordinary. From the Valentine’s Day-inspired color palette to the unexpected thunderstorm, every moment of their special day was etched with a touch of elegance and resilience.

A Valentine’s Day-inspired Wedding Design

With cranberry, mauve, and blush as the primary hues, the Gray Harper team created a romantic ambiance reminiscent of a fairytale. Our goal was to set the tone of the day and create an atmosphere that would capture the essence of Megan and Jacob’s love story. A touch of gold was incorporated into the design through votives and vases, adding the perfect amount of elegance and sophistication. 

Jekyll Island Club Resort Wedding

After meticulously setting up the ceremony floral arrangements, we eagerly awaited the moment when we could transfer the ceremony flowers to the reception space. However, fate had other plans. As we sat down for dinner, the sky opened up, unleashing a storm of thunder and rain. It seemed as if nature itself was putting their love to the test.

Thunder roared, and lightning cracked, resulting in a delay that prevented anyone from entering the tent. But as the rain subsided, the skies cleared, revealing a glimmer of hope for Megan and Jacob’s wedding on Jekyll Island. With newfound determination, everyone rallied together to ensure that the celebration continued on.

With the turmoil of the storm behind us, it was time for the reception to commence. Inside the tent, the head table was a vision of bounty and romance. We achieved this by scattering fruits like grapes, figs, and pomegranates along the table to provide a lush, overflowing look that perfectly complemented the floral arrangements. 

Floral Design

Inside the reception tent, we designed an exquisite medley of cranberry, mauve, and blush blooms. The mixed arrangements included garden roses, tulips, ranunculus, Cala lilies, and freesia. While above the head table was a romantic floral installation intertwined with crystal chandeliers. We used red hanging amaranthus, eucalyptus, eleagnus, chocolate cosmos, and spray roses to create a statement piece dripping in romance. The contrast of the bold floral tones against the neutral palette in the wedding tent made a delightful surprise and was a design to remember! 

Megan and Jacob’s wedding on Jekyll Island will forever be etched in my memory as a testament to the power of love and resilience. Despite the storm’s interruption, their commitment to one another and the strength of an incredible vendor team helped bring this couple’s vision to life. Through the language of love and flowers, we painted a picture of romance and elegance that will test the times to come. If you are planning a wedding on Jekyll Island, we’d love to help you make it the wedding of your dreams! Learn more about our full-service wedding floral design service and if it’s right for you! 

Vendors

Planning + Design: Emily Burton Designs
Photography: Brooke + Paul Roberts
Linens: Nuage Designs
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals
Venue: Jekyll Island Club Resort

We had a blast working with Design Studio South on Olivia and Sean’s garden party wedding at The Ford Field & River Club. Olivia envisioned a retro London Tea Party with lots of color and pattern to fill the space, and Design Studio South did an excellent job bringing this vision to life!

On the wedding day, we were blessed with surprisingly warm weather for the last weekend in March, which led to some additional preparations. To keep as much heat as possible out of the tent, we kept tarps on the clear-top tent, then moved them right before the ceremony. Unfortunately, with the warm weather came a storm warning, so we moved everything from the cocktail hour space under the tent until the storm passed. Luckily it quickly passed, and everything was back to normal just in time for the guests to enjoy.

Garden Party Wedding Floral Details

Olivia’s flowers were a florist’s dream! The design included the best of Spring, and the couple was not afraid of color. 

For her bouquet, we incorporated poppies, sweet peas, allium, ranunculus, spirea, and phlox together to create a light and ethereal design. Olivia’s bouquet was tied with a floral embroidered ribbon, while the bridesmaids carried similar petite bouquets tied with wide lilac-colored silk ribbon. 

Ceremony

For the ceremony, we made a wooden a-frame wedding arch adorned with bursts of pastel-colored blooms. The entrance to the aisle was designed with similar blooms, and it felt like the ceremony was nestled amongst a lush garden. It was the perfect setting for a magical garden party wedding ceremony.

Reception

One of our favorite features of this garden party wedding design was the recessed bar at cocktail hour. For this feature, we placed vibrant Spring blooms inside the recessed window in the bar to create a true focal point for this portion of the reception. We especially loved the dancing purple allium flowers, which made this design element feel so playful.

As the cocktail hour drew to an end, guests were invited inside a magical garden party wedding tent. At the entrance of the tent, guests were greeted by billowing baskets of blooms, lush Spring trees, and the cutest little bistro tables. Inside the tent, the reception bar featured two Dutch Master-style arrangements with tulips and hyacinths overflowing from the vase. Guest tables featured long arrangements with bountiful blooms in blush and pastel tones. Subtle yet delicate details, such as edible florals in the signature cocktails and butterflies on the cake, helped bring this garden party wedding reception to life.
We love working with couples who have a unique vision for their day and love florals as much as we do! We are so thankful to have worked with Olivia and her incredibly kind family to bring her wedding vision to life! If you are planning a tented wedding in Georgia or beyond, we’d love to work with you! We want to help you make your dream wedding design a reality through thoughtfully designed florals! Be sure to reach out to learn more about our full-service floral design experience!

Vendors

​​​​Photography: Justin Leon Brown
Videographer: Ardsley Park Productions
Planning + Design: Design Studio South
Florals: Gray Harper Florals
Venue, Catering, Bar + Baker: Ford Field and River Club
Hair + Makeup: Royal Makeup and Hair
Ceremony + Reception Music: Equinox Orchestra
Baker:  Vanilla and the Bean
Tent + Flooring:  Eventworks Rentals
Custom Rentals: Crush by Eventworks Rentals + Snyder Events + Amazing Event Rentals + Curated Events Charleston
Printed Linens: Stradley Davidson
Solid Linens + Napkins:  Nuage Designs
Restrooms: Royal Restrooms Savannah
Bride’s Dress: Jenny Yoo NYC
Groom’s Attire: The Black Tux
Invitations + Day of Paper Goods: Linden Illustration
Escort +Place Cards: Mela Design Co.
Transportation: Old Savannah Tours
Vinyl Decals: Reids Custom

Meet Andrea, Andrea is our fearless leader and lead floral designer at Gray Harper. Andrea has always shared a love of floral design and can often be seen busy in the studio creating beautiful designs or on site bringing those designs to life. We thought it’d be fun to take this opportunity to get to know Andrea a little better with a fun interview! 

Meet Andrea

Where are you from?

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia but grew up on an island off of Miami, Florida called Key Biscayne. There are parts of Miami that I really miss. Particularly the food, people, and social activities, but I can’t imagine living there now. I much prefer the slower, easier life of this Southern city. If someone could just drive up here with ceviche from Miami for me every day that would be great.

What did you want to be when you grew up? 

As a child I wavered between Artist and Veterinarian, but eventually art took the lead. I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design for one year straight out of high school, but inevitably followed my sole mate (and now husband) to Halifax, Nova Scotia where I attended and graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. I graduated with a Bachelor of Design in Textiles with a minor in Fashion. After graduating I knew I wasn’t done learning, and together we moved back to Savannah where I pursued and obtained a Master’s Degree in Fibers from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Do you have any kids?

Yes, I have a son, Remy, who is seven and a daughter, Beatrice, who is one. I love what I do but providing them with a good life is the core that drives every decision I make in business.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

When is that, haha! Work-life balance has always been a struggle for me. I’m driven and it shows, but on the rare occasion that I am not in my studio designing flowers or running through the logistics of an upcoming event, I enjoy traveling (well, actually my favorite part about traveling is planning the travel) with my family, watching my son surf at our local surf competitions, and dining at restaurants with friends.

How did you get into Floral Design for Events?

I have always loved flowers and would often re-arrange flowers my mother received from friends and family. I started out in the wedding industry as a Planner and Designer for my planning company Gray Harper Event Maker. Offering floral design as a service to my event planning company seemed like an obvious progression for me. Soon the floral design aspect of the business started to take over – in a good way. It brought me a lot of joy and also took me back to my art and design roots, except I was trading in my paints for flowers. Shortly after we dropped “event maker” from the name, and Gray Harper was born. 

Are you a classically trained floral designer?

Nope. My background is in art and design. After graduate school I look a variety of classes from acclaimed floral designers all over the country. The mechanical aspect of floral design can be learned and I continue to learn and perfect my craft each day with each event we create. Having an eye for design, composition and color balancing is something I have always felt was within me.

What is your approach to designing florals for your clients, and what makes it unique? 

I consider a variety of factors. Designing doesn’t start the moment you pick up a flower, it actually starts when pen hits the paper and I begin putting together my flower order for the event. I consider the season, overall event style, color palette, and feeling that I want to flowers to convey. Some designers have specific flowers that they always work with, that they rely on heavily in a design, I’m not saying that I don’t have my favorites, but I do try to make the design for each event unique, just as each of my clients are unique. We won’t copy designs, even our own. 

What do you think is the biggest misconception clients have about what you do?

We don’t “play” with flowers all day. In fact, we maybe do that 5% of the time we are working. So much of what I do takes meticulous planning. I spend many hours on the computer answering emails, filling out an endless amount of spreadsheets and planning the logistics of each event. 

Where do you draw inspiration from when it comes to creating your designs for your clients/ couples? 

It depends, sometimes I am inspired by the venue, space or overall feel for the event. Sometimes I am inspired by a story my clients shared with me, like a garden their grandmother grew or a place they traveled. Sometimes I am inspired by the flowers themselves. 

Share with us some of your greatest achievements/ career highlights as a floral designer? 

Honestly I think my greatest achievement is being able to support my family through a career that I actually like and that I built from the ground up. Career Highlight would be designing flowers for Mindy Weiss and her incredible team last month.

What advice do you have for your clients or couples when it comes to incorporating florals into their celebrations? 

Think about how flowers can enhance a space, not overwhelm it. If you aren’t sure what you want or where to start, start by finding a designer whose work resonates with you and let them lead the way. The best gift my clients can give me is the gift of trust. When I don’t have the full trust of the client, I start to doubt my decisions and it can hinder the creative process.

Photographers: 

Meredith Ryncarz
Dana Cubbage
Justin Leon Brown 
Ian Santiago 
JB Marie Photography

It’s no doubt that we love celebrating love. So, when Susan approached us to help celebrate her 30-year vow renewal, we were smitten with the idea! Susan has been a long-time client of ours. We typically design flowers for her coaching retreats whenever she is in the Savannah area. So we were thrilled and honored when she reached out to us for help with her Savannah wedding vow renewal.

The Design

Susan has such a creative eye and knew exactly what she wanted for her vow renewal. She described the style aesthetic for the event as “Dynasty (the original) meets Beyonce meets “The Great Gatsby”. As part of the design, Susan picked all of her favorite things, including pink and peach ranunculus and roses and white anemones with navy centers. 

The Gray Harper team designed a circular meadow arrangement for Susan and Scott’s Savannah wedding vow renewal ceremony. The low-lying and vibrant blooms were the perfect addition to their ceremony in Monterey Square. During the ceremony, Susan held a delicate bouquet of white and pink pastel blooms while Scott wore a boutonniere made with peach ranunculus. 

After the ceremony, guests were led by a second-line parade and headed to a reception in the Historic Savannah district. As part of the reception, we designed florals to complement Susan’s design, including a stunning floral table runner and beautiful mantle arrangements.

From the custom-designed gown to the bagpipe entrance and dance performance, Susan and Scott’s Savannah wedding vow renewal embodied this couple perfectly! It was such an honor to work with our long-time client to help celebrate this special milestone! If you are planning a wedding vow renewal, engagement party, or milestone celebration, we want to be there with you! We love creating one-of-a-kind designs for our clients that goes beyond just the florals! So, reach out today to learn more about our event design services!

Vendors

Officiant: Reverend Schulte
Cake: Vanilla And The Bean
Ceremony Music: New Arts Ensembles
Planning: LM Event Coordination
Hair+Makeup: Royal Makeup And Hair
Photography: Justin Leon Brown

Abby & Micheal’s wedding on Jekyll Island took place on the most beautiful day in June here in Georgia. Their Jekyll Island club wedding featured an all-white color palette with timeless and elegant details. Follow along as we share some highlights from this timeless and elegant Southern wedding!

Jekyll Island Club Wedding Day Details

The Day

The wedding day began with Abby & Micheal getting ready with their closest friends and family in Crane Cottage. Before heading to the ceremony, the couple exchanged intimate vows during a first look which was then followed by some very dreamy and romantic couple portraits.

The Design

For Abby & Micheal’s Jekyll Island Club wedding, we opted for an all-white color palette with pops of green through lush greenery. In addition, black and gold accents were incorporated into the decor and stationery to add a modern and romantic element to the design.

The bride loved hydrangeas and requested them in her floral design. At first, we were concerned as it can be very challenging to work with hydrangeas outside in the south in 90F weather. But we did it, and they looked great! Other flowers we incorporated into the design included white delphinium, spray roses, spirea, and lisianthus. We had a fun time selecting the white blooms for this design based on their texture and size.

The low-lying arrangements designed for the ceremony were later repurposed and were the perfect addition to the tent entrance and stage. Flowers from the rehearsal dinner were also repurposed into bud vases mixed amongst the guest’s tables.

We believe there is something so elegant about an all-white wedding, from the textures of the lush white blooms to the stylish linens and candles. If you want help with your floral wedding design, we’d love to help you! Whether you are planning an elegant white wedding or a vibrant wedding with pops of color, we want to hear from you! Fill out our inquiry form and tell us all about your dream wedding to see if we are a good fit for you.

Vendors

Photography: Kati Rosado Photography 
Florist: Gray Harper Florals
Venue: Jekyll Island Club
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals

We first met Brittany and Bob when they began planning their fall wedding at Forbes Farm on St. Simons Island. Their Forbes Farm wedding was to be filled with rich fall colors and be set amongst the most beautiful St. Simons Island backdrop. It was truly the perfect southern venue for a one-of-a-kind day. 

Floral Design Details

For their floral design, Brittany wanted to embrace the rich and romantic colors of fall with pops of light blue throughout. With this floral design, we tried to emphasize the flowing movement of the blooms. From the scaling florals on the wedding cake to the various lengths of buds used in the floral arch, it was as if the flowers were meant to be there.

Saint Simons Island Wedding Ceremony

Our favorite part of this wedding was the aisle design. The bride trusted us to work our magic on designing low meadow aisle arrangements using a technique called color blocking. Color blocking is when we use clusters of the same color and contrast them again with an alternate color to create a bold look. By doing so, the flowers feel more natural, and they look as if they would appear in nature in clusters of lovely groupings. We loved how it turned out! 

Forbes Farm Wedding Reception 

Inside the ballroom, wood and white accents were selected to complement the space’s wood beams and white walls. We opted for mixed table designs, which included three different looks that flowed seamlessly together. The tables with rose-colored velvet linens had a sage green taper candle and a singular floral centerpiece in the middle. The tables with the ivory linens had pewter-colored pillar candles and clusters of bud vases. While the long wood table featured low-lying arrangements on each end, groups of blush taper candles and lush long floral arrangements aligned the table. Each table’s design was unique, yet they all tied together beautifully!

We love it when our clients trust us to create a one-of-a-kind floral design, and Brittany and Bob allowed just that! The uniqueness of the color-blocked floral arrangements in their ceremony not only looked breathtaking but was fun to design! If you are looking for a floral designer to work with you and create an exquisite floral display for your wedding, we’d love to chat with you!

Vendors

Venue: Forbes Farm
Planning and Design: Kellie Ryan Designs
Photography: Brooke Roberts Photography
Cinema: Imagine Video Productions
Caterer: Halyards Restaurant
Entertainment: Island Sound Djs
Entertainment: Evolution Party Band
EventRentals: Beachview Event Rentals

When choosing to work with Gray Harper Florals, you not only get a skilled and passionate floral designer, but you also get our knowledge of working in the wedding industry for over ten years as a planner. That’s right! Owner and lead floral designer Andrea used to be a wedding planner! You may recognize her from the Design Studio South team; she is always organized and busy planning the next big thing. 

It is no surprise that there are some crazy talented floral designers in our industry. However, they do not bring the well-rounded knowledge of events and level of organization that Gray Harper does, which sets us apart from others!

Benefits of Working With a Floral Designer Who Use To Be A Planner

With several different wedding florists and floral designers to choose from, we wanted to share with you the benefits of working with a florist who used to be a planner.

1. We are organized

As a past planner, planning and organization run in Andrea’s veins, so there is no doubt that she will be organized. As a result, you can be guaranteed that your experience working with us will be seamless and stress-free! Andrea runs a pretty tight ship in her studio and is always looking for ways to improve her systems to work smarter, not harder. 

2. Planners like working with us 

When you and your planner decide to work with the Gray Harper team, they can rest at ease and know that we are organized and on top of things. They don’t have to micromanage us or worry about the details. We have been in their shoes, and they appreciate how easy we are to work with. We aim to make each of our client’s floral experiences run smoothly during their planning, design, and on-site to help all involved.

3. We understand how to be flexible 

One skill that a planner learns through their experience is how to be flexible and adaptable on site. For example, when the timeline says to set up florals at noon, but the venue still needs to set the linens, that is no problem! We are team players and will gladly lend a helping hand to get those linens set so that your florals are ready in time for your event.

We believe in providing a beautiful and quality product for our clients and working as a team with your fellow vendors. We understand that while we provide a very pretty product, it’s not about us but how all the vendors work together as a team to get the job done for our clients. We absolutely love bringing our client’s visions to life through flowers and working with all the incredibly talented vendors in our industry! Head on over to our Portfolio to check out some of our most recent work! 

Vendors

Planning: Design Studio South
Photographer: Jade + Mattew Take Pictures

Are you newly engaged and trying to navigate all the different wedding terms? At Gray Harper, we get how confusing it can be! That is why we are here to help explain what it means to work with us on a Full-Service Floral Design.

What is Full-Service Floral Design?

When you hire Gray Harper to be your wedding florist, your wedding will be the only wedding we take on that day and usually that week. This is because we want to ensure that our clients get the utmost attention to detail from our team. That is why we limit the number of clients we take on each wedding season.

What You Can Expect With Your Full-Service Floral Design

Months leading up to the wedding, we work with you and your wedding planner to create the floral design of your dreams. About two months before your wedding, and once your design is finalized, we start to gather supplies. From vases and vessels to candles and votives, we will help select the perfect elements for your wedding design! Finally, your floral orders are placed with our suppliers one month before your wedding.

The week of your wedding is when all the magic happens. On Monday and Tuesday, we are busy prepping your containers and processing the flowers as they arrive at our studio. Then on Wednesday and Thursday, our team is starting on your designs and pulling the individual pieces together. By Friday, we will begin working on any installation pieces for your event either in the studio or on-site if the venue allows.

On Your Wedding Day

On your wedding day, our team will bring everything to the venue and install any large-scale installation pieces on-site. We will also bring all the candles and vessels required and set them up along with your flowers. In addition, our team delivers and styles any personal flowers that are part of your design. During this time, I personally walk around to each flower location to ensure everything is set to perfection. 

During set up, we are there to help move any flowers and installations that might need to be moved last minute due to weather. We can also be present during the event to move any florals being re-purposed in two locations. For example, moving your ceremony backdrop or aisle flowers to the reception space. Once everything is done, we return at the end of your event and clean everything up.

Our Full-Service Floral design aims to create not only a one-of-a-kind custom floral design for your wedding but also to provide an elevated and stress-free experience. You can see some examples of our full-service floral designs here. If you have any questions or want to book a consultation, fill out our inquiry form here to start the process.  

Photographer: Jade + Mattew Take Pictures
Planning: Design Studio South

We first met Julia and Chase during a consultation with the fabulous Sarah Lillie Designs. Julia came to us with a specific vision for her Jekyll Island Club tented wedding. She wanted rich textures and lush blue booms. So, we created a blue and white design that was showcased beautifully in her garden ceremony and tented wedding reception.

A Blue & White Floral Design

Julia and Chase’s wedding took place in the sunken gardens of Crane Cottage at the beautiful Jekyll Island Club. This Georgia wedding venue is a dream for anyone wanting to marry in a garden surrounded by romantic architecture. For this wedding, we focused on a blue and white color palette with several varieties of blooms.

Julia’s favorite flower was the blue delphinium, which was such a beautiful bloom to base the design around! During our design consultation, she shared that she wanted dark blue delphinium blooms, which is not a common request. So we were absolutely delighted to be able to design something unique and different to bring Julia’s vision to life.

Jekyll Island Club Tented Wedding Details

Julia and Chase had a large wedding party; Julia alone had 14 bridesmaids! For each bridesmaid, we designed unique bouquets for each of them using completely different blooms. Each bridesmaid carried a bouquet of a single flower type in white. Then Julia’s bridal bouquet had blooms from each of her 14 bridesmaids’ bouquets incorporated into it. It was such a sweet and sentimental way to honor her wedding party.

For the ceremony, we used her favorite flower as the base of the design and then incorporated six different varieties of delphinium flowers into her wedding aisle. The billowing blue blooms that filled the wedding aisle were absolutely stunning! Later in the evening, the ceremony flowers were re-purposed in the tent and placed in front of the stage. I love how the florals truly transformed the dance floor and brought Julia’s blue floral vision to life inside the tent.

We wanted to incorporate other flower varieties into the tented wedding reception as dark blue is not a common color in the flower world. So, we went with the blue cornflower, which was perfect! We designed some bud vases using the blue cornflower and other white blooms that looked stunning in the tented reception space at Jekyll Island Club. 

Working with Julia and Chase on their Jekyll Island Club tented wedding floral design was an absolute pleasure. We loved working with the less common color palette of blue blooms and how the design turned out! 

If you have a unique wedding vision and are looking for a floral designer to help bring that vision to life, we’d love to hear from you! Head on over to our contact us page and fill out an inquiry form to get the process started!

Vendors

Photography: Melissa Toms Photography
Planning + Design: Sarah Lillie Designs
Florals: Gray Harper
Printed Materials: Tiny Shindigs 
Venue: Jekyll Island Club
Cake: Vanilla and the Bean

It was an absolute joy getting to work with Delaney and Mikey for their elegant Forbes Farm wedding on Saint Simons Island. It was one of our first times visiting this new one-of-a-kind wedding venue, and it did not disappoint. 

Forbes Farm

Forbes Farm is the newest wedding venue on Saint Simons Island and is a must-visit. This marshside wedding venue provides a stunning southern backdrop with the perfect Lowcountry atmosphere.

With indoor and outdoor event spaces to choose from, you truly can’t go wrong with this Georgia wedding venue. The outdoor area features immaculate lawns, open-air patios, and classic southern views. While the indoor spaces are truly exquisite. The indoor reception space is an elegant wood frame structure with crisp white walls and exposed wood accents. One of our favorite features in this venue is the breathtaking chandeliers in the ballroom. We can’t wait to bring these ceilings to life with beautiful blooms!

Elegant Fall Wedding Design

For this Forbes Farm wedding, our couple opted for a warm, rich-colored palette with autumn tones. We used lots of burgundy, chocolate, dusty pink, and white blooms in the floral design.

Deep burgundy tones were incorporated throughout the design, from the velvet bridesmaid dresses to the wedding day stationery. Even the groom’s outfit change featured a velvet burgundy jacket.

This autumn-inspired color palette popped in the reception space, where it was paired with white textured linens and natural wood accents.

Forbes Farm Wedding on Saint Simons Island

Delaney and Mikey’s wedding ceremony took place on the Forbes Farm lawn overlooking the marsh. The couple opted for low-lying floral arrangements as the backdrop to their ceremony, which were brought to life with autumn-colored florals.

After the ceremony, guests headed indoors to the reception space for an elegant evening of dinner and dancing. For the guest tables, Emily Burton Designs went with a tasteful neutral design where the floral centerpieces were a focal point and were a warm pop of color. We opted for clean, classic, and crisp ivory tapered candles to not take any attention away from the romantic florals.

No detail was forgotten for Delaney and Mike’s elegant black tie affair on Saint Simons Island. We were so thankful to get to work with one of the newest Saint Simons wedding venues and would love to help bring your Forbes Farm wedding to life! Reach out to see if we are available on your wedding date and to book your consultation call today!

Vendors

Plan + design: Emily Burton Designs
Photo: Esther Griffin 
Venue: Forbes Farm 
Dress: Bridals By Lori 
Shoes: Jimmy Choo 
Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals

Danielle and Tucker’s rose-infused Crane Cottage wedding at Jekyll Island Club turned out beautifully! From the beautiful Georgia wedding venue to romantic wedding design, this couple and their guests were treated to a magical southern summer wedding. 

Crane Cottage Wedding at Jekyll Island Club

Nestled in the private gardens of the Jekyll Island Club lies Crane Cottage. It is an Italian renaissance style building that is a dream wedding venue for a romantic garden-inspired wedding. Crane Cottage is the perfect place for a southern wedding, with indoor and outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy. The Gray Harper team loves any opportunity to design a Crane Cottage wedding at the Jekyll Island Club. We have designed many ceremonies in the sunken gardens in the past but loved how Emily Burton Designs used the space differently. The planning team opted for a tent in the sunken gardens and the ceremony on the lawn under an old Live Oak tree covered in Spanish moss. Thus making this an completely outdoor wedding.

Southern Summer Outdoor Wedding 

It was a challenge pulling off an entirely outdoor wedding in July in the South. However, due to inclement weather, we had several plans to ensure our couple’s vision went off without a hitch.

On the wedding day, it was stormy and rained on and off. So the entire vendor team kicked into full gear to transition from plan A to plan B and set the ceremony up under the tent. Thankfully the skies cleared just before the ceremony, and we could pivot back then to plan A so that our couple could have their dream wedding ceremony on the Crane Cottage lawn.

Southern Floral Design

The floral design for this Crane Cottage wedding was lush and romantic, with lots of roses. Yellow roses were significant to the couple, so we incorporated pops of yellow garden roses throughout the design.

A soft pink, peach, and yellow pastel color palette was incorporated throughout the space, and it looked beautiful in the tent. We included a mixture of tall and short floral arrangements at the guest’s tables. We also accentuated key areas like the bar and stage with lush blooms of Delphiniums, Smilax, blush pink Hydrangeas, peach roses, and lush greenery. The ceiling installation above the dance floor was a favorite feature and a stunning focal point in the tent. Filled with pink and white Delphiniums and lush greenery, this ceiling installation took the guest’s breath away.

Working on Danielle and Tucker’s Crane Cottage wedding was an absolute joy. We love any opportunity to work at beautiful Georgia wedding venues with as much character and personality as the Crane Cottage at Jekyll Island Club. If you are a Southern wedding planner or a newly engaged couple looking for help with your floral design, we’d love to speak with you! Head to our contact us page and fill out an inquiry form today!

Vendors

Photography: Anna Shackleford
Planning & Design: Emily Burton Designs
Catering: Jekyll Island Club Resort
Cake: Cathy Huber Cakes
Hair + Makeup: Paulina Perez
Wedding Dress: Henri’s Cloud Nine
Florals: Gray Harper
DJ: Island Sound
Lighting, Tent & Chairs: Beachview Rentals
Fireworks: Pyrotecnico
PaperGoods: Dogwood Blossoms
Videography: Danielle Shackleford

When Alex and Sarah approached us to design their wedding florals for their San Diego destination wedding, we were over the moon! We love working with our couples to create their dream destination wedding florals, and this wedding was no exception. Alex and Sarah’s wedding took place on the most beautiful sunny Southern California day. We can’t wait to share some details with you!

San Diego Destination Wedding Details

We met Alex and Sarah while they were living in Atlanta, Georgia. The two decided to get married in Sarah’s hometown of San Diego, which was an absolute dream. It was such a treat to be designing flowers in California, especially since most of the flowers we work with are grown in California. 

When working with our couples on their destination wedding floral designs, we work with them to create a unique floral design that will transform their wedding venue. With every destination wedding comes months of planning, sourcing supplies, sourcing working and living spaces, and packaging and transporting wedding day details. For Alex and Sarah’s San Diego destination wedding, we not only designed the florals, but we also brought with us the perfect mauve-colored taper candles.

Destination Wedding Floral Design

The focal point of this floral design was a color palette of romantic mauve blooms with pops of burgundy florals. In addition, we incorporated the bride’s favorite flower, white Delphiniums, into the aisle arrangements, which were later re-purposed in the reception space. 

Sarah’s bridal bouquet was a beautiful collection of white textured flowers with pops of peaches, pinks, and burgundy. We loved how this palette turned out and enjoyed incorporating it into smaller versions for the bridesmaid’s bouquets. For Alex’s groom’s boutonniere, we chose a unique textured flower called the blushing bride, which was very fitting for this wedding design. 

Before the reception, once the ceremony had ended, we moved the ceremony aisle arrangements to their new location at the Westgate Hotel. These arrangements were freshened up and re-purposed for the sweetheart table, DJ table, and cake table. Our team added additional blooms, including garden roses, butterfly ranunculus, and smokebush, to these new arrangements. It was like they were entirely new arrangements in the reception space, they looked so beautiful!

At Gray Harper Florals & Styling, we love the challenge of a destination wedding or event! Whether it be a San Diego destination wedding or a Southeast wedding, we will come to you! We love working with our couples to design their dream destination weddings. So, let us hear from you! Reach out and share your destination wedding location and dream design with us!

Vendors

Rentals: APR Boutique Event Rentals + Enticing Tables
Florals: Gray Harper 
Linens: BBJ
Hair + Makeup: Beauty By Nat
Photography: Carrie McGuire
Entertainment: High Profile Entertainment
Planning: House of Planning
Venue: Westgate Hotel
Cake: VG Donuts

If you are looking for a stunning floral design at your event that captivates your guests and sparks conversations, you are in the right place! Now that you’ve found your dream floral designer and florist, you may wonder what to expect after you inquired with Gray Harper. Below I have outlined what you can expect with the booking process when inquiring about your full-service floral design with me. 

Full-Service Floral Design

As a floral designer, I am passionate about creating custom floral designs that are produced solely for you and your event. I want your personal style to be expressed through your event florals and for your guests to be aww struck.

When working on your full-service floral design, I like to consider the guest experience from start to finish. From a beautiful floral installation in your entryway to the intimate details at each guest place setting. Your floral design will be one of a kind and custom curated for you.

Our Booking Process

Step 1

Fill out the contact form on our website. Once we receive your inquiry, we’ll email back to confirm availability on our calendar and present the steps for booking an initial consultation.

Step 2

During your initial consultation, we will meet together via zoom and discuss your event design and floral design vision. Then, I’ll ask you pertinent questions to be able to provide you with an initial estimate for your event. At this point, you can ask me any questions about the process and what to expect on your event day.

Step 3

Following our initial consultation, you will receive an estimate for your floral event design. Within two weeks of your consultation, I’ll provide you with an initial estimate of the total cost of your design. This estimate will help you have a good idea of what to expect in terms of budget.

Step 4

Once you approve the initial estimate, I’ll send over an invoice for our proposal design fee of $500. This fee reserves your date on our calendar and covers the cost of putting together your full-service floral design proposal. Should you choose to work with Gray Harper on your floral event design, we will use the $500 as credit towards your order.

Step 5

After your invoice balance is paid, I’ll put together your full-service floral design proposal. This process typically takes up to two weeks and potentially a little longer if we are in the middle of our active event season (February – May and September – November).

Step 6

Once you have received your proposal, and have had a chance to fully take everything in, we will sit down (most likely via zoom) for your second consultation. During this meeting, we’ll discuss the proposal and make any necessary changes. The goal of this meeting is to have you leave happy and excited about your floral design.

Step 7

Soon after your second consultation, and once the proposal is in a good place for both of us, I’ll send you a contract and retainer fee invoice. This invoice is typically for half of your total order value (minus the $500 fee you’ve already paid!). When you sign the contract and pay the retainer, we will officially be booked and committed to working together!

To get the process started, head on over to our contact page on our website and complete our contact form! I can’t wait to hear from you and hear all about your dream floral event design!

Vendors

Photography: Apt B Photography
Floral Design & Styling: Gray Harper Florals
Planning: Design Studio South

Celebrity Big Brother stars Memphis Garrett and Christmas Abbott wed during a romantic wedding ceremony at Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah, Georgia. Along with Design Studio South, we worked with Memphis & Christmas to design their opulent southern wedding.

Memphis & Christmas’ Wedding Design

Memphis & Christmas’ wedding design was another stunning and unique design from Design Studio South. The couple wanted their wedding to feel opulent while also grounded and welcoming to their guests. So, a combination of masculine and southern elements was incorporated into their rustic and industrial venue.

Memphis and Christmas wedding ceremony took place inside the Georgia State Railroad Museum with a unique wedding ceremony design. The couple said their vows in the middle of a circular wedding ceremony, surrounded by their loved ones. This unique wedding ceremony layout is a great way to make your guests feel involved in an intimate ceremony.

Wedding Florals

One of our favorite details of Memphis and Christmas’ wedding was their circular wedding ceremony design. Our team crafted a breathtaking floral chandelier that hung above the couple as they said their vows. This floral installation was by far a show-stopping piece. Along with light wood folding chairs and bohemian rugs, smaller floral arrangements were displayed at the entrance to the ceremony and complimented the floral installation above.  

When designing Christmas’ bridal bouquet, we used a subtle ombre technique where the lighter and darker flowers were grouped. Peach ranunculus were incorporated into Christmas’ bridal bouquet, as well as hundreds of mini bud vases throughout the reception space. The peach blooms and peach tapered candles truly popped against the turquoise velvet linens and brightened up the overall darker backdrop of the reception space.

Memphis and Christmas, the Big Brother stars wanted to celebrate their love with close family and friends as they blended their two families together. Their opulent and intimate southern wedding allowed them to do just that! Working with these two on their Big Brother fairytale wedding was an absolute pleasure. We love helping couples plan their happily ever afters. If you are looking for some guidance with your wedding floral design, be sure to reach out! We’d love to chat with you!

Vendors

Photography: Valorie Darling
Videography: Fly Boy Aerial
Design + Planning: Design Studio South 
Florist: Gray Harper Florals
Venue + Bar: Georgia State Railroad Museum 
Catering: Current Catering
Cake: Vanilla and the Bean 
Bridesmaids Hair + Makeup: Royal Makeup and Hair
Sound Equipment: Advanced AV
Rentals: Eventworks Rentals + Ooh! Events
Lighting: JLK Events
Linens: Nuage Designs Inc
Classic Car: Callans Classics 
Invitations + Menus: Minted 
Day of Signs: Lowcountry Paper Co
Welcome Party: Soho South

Earlier this year, we hosted a baby shower at the Gray Harper studio with a feminine floral and pink design for my second baby, baby Beatrice. After spending years having to draw my attention away from the color pink (as my first born was a boy), I wanted to celebrate our baby girl with everything pink!

Upon arrival, we welcomed our guests with a fabulous pink balloon installation by Pop Squad Balloons. We completed the balloon installation with sprigs of pink baby’s breath, making it the perfect baby shower backdrop.

Danielle from Design Studio South and I designed an intimate table setting for baby Beatrice’s baby shower inside the studio. The base of the design was inspired by a soft pink and modern look. We set the table with soft pink velvet linens and bold printed pink floral napkins from Nuage Designs. Each place setting was brought to life with my grandmother’s china, rented flatware, and of course, pink candles and flowers. One of my favorite features was the pink floral installation that I made to hang above the table. Leading up to Beatrice’s baby shower, we hand-painted each baby’s breath in two shades of pink. This pink baby’s breath played a key role in the baby shower design and was incorporated throughout the space. Thanks to Vanilla and The Bean my baby shower cake dreams came true with this stunning pink baby shower cake! 

Given the crazy times we were in at the beginning of the year, it was so wonderful to be able to celebrate baby Beatrice with eight lovely ladies for an in-person baby shower. Being pregnant at the time of covid-19 was a surreal experience, but my heart has been so full of all the love that our little girl has received.

Vendors

Photography: Josh Morehouse
Design:  Design Studio South
Catering: Current Catering
Rentals: Eventworks 
Cake: Vanilla and the Bean 
Linens: Nuage Designs Inc. 
Calligraphy: Lowcountry Paper Co 
Balloons:  Pop Squad Balloons

This past February, we had the pleasure of working with L+E on their Jekyll Island Club wedding at Crane Cottage. The couple wanted a fun and bright spring-inspired color palette, so lots of beautiful blooms were chosen to bring this garden-style wedding to life.

Crane Cottage Sunken Garden Wedding Ceremony

The sunken garden of Crane Cottage was the perfect Georgia wedding venue for our couple and their Jekyll Island Club wedding. Crane Cottage is known for its beautiful lawns and immaculate gardens and was an ideal setting for this spring-inspired wedding.

A pair of vintage doors with greenery intertwined were set up on the lawn as an entrance to the aisle, while two beautiful pillar floral arrangements greeted guests to their seats. At the end of the aisle, a simple yet elegant wood wedding arch with greenery was the backdrop for this Jekyll Island Club wedding ceremony. There was something so magical about seeing the vintage doors open as our bride headed down the aisle.

Garden Style Wedding Reception

After the outdoor wedding ceremony at the sunken gardens, our couple treated their guests to a cocktail hour on the terrace and garden-style reception on the veranda overlooking the courtyard. The floral pillars from the wedding ceremony were re-used in the reception space, while a beautiful floral arrangement was displayed in the courtyard fountain as a focal point.

Elegant long tables were set with crisp white linens, vintage metal bistro chairs, and fun, bright springtime blooms that brought this garden-style wedding reception to life. The floral design included a spring color palette of soft pinks, peach, and white. When possible, we opted for fragrant florals in the centerpieces; the hyacinths and sweet peas smelt amazing!

To end the evening with a bang, our bride and groom enjoyed a private fireworks show for their guests and their Jekyll Island Club wedding.

We are so thankful that we got to work with L+E on their floral design. It was fun to work with bright and beautiful blooms for all of their guests to enjoy! Be sure to check out some of our favorite recent wedding designs for more spring-inspired weddings

Vendors

Photography: Brooke Roberts Photography
Videography: Square City Productions
Planning + Design: Design Studio South
Venue, Catering + Bar: Jekyll Club
Baker:  Vanilla and the Bean
Rentals:  Beachview Event Rentals + Savannah Vintage + Event Rentals 
DJ:  W. Smith Music
Napkins: Nuage Designs Inc.

Kristin and Teddy’s garden-style wedding at the Perry Lane Hotel was inspired by a classic white and green garden-style wedding palette. Their timeless southern wedding design perfectly fits their rooftop wedding ceremony overlooking the Savannah skyline and garden-inspired reception.

Kristin and Teddy’s day started with an emotional first look in Forsyth Park. The two exchanged love notes during their first look and enjoyed some intimate photos.

Rooftop Wedding Ceremony At The Perry Lane Hotel

The rooftop wedding ceremony took place high above the Savannah skyline at the Perry Lane Hotel, where the view was unforgettable. The faux grass rooftop of the hotel provided the perfect setting for this garden-inspired wedding ceremony. 

Our team designed classic floral wedding arrangements with white blooms and lush greenery for the ceremony. The aisle was lined with bountiful white blooms that paired nicely with Kristin’s bridal bouquet. Kristin and Teddy met at the end of the aisle and said their vows under a delicate floral wedding ceremony arch. The floral wedding ceremony arch highlighted white blooms of peonies, roses, tulips, and lily of the valley while simple and elegant greenery intertwined among the florals.

A Garden-Style Wedding Reception 

Rooftop Wedding Cocktail Hour

After the rooftop wedding ceremony, everyone enjoyed a cocktail reception on the roof. Guests mixed and mingled amongst elegant ivory cocktail tables and a modern lounge while bistro lights twinkled above. Before heading down to the ballroom, guests found their names amongst a modern seating chart made of faux boxwood.

Wedding Reception

Inside the hotel, the classic white and green garden-inspired wedding design continued. Our team designed luxurious tall wedding centerpieces that were elevated above the guest’s tables, while we also re-purposed the aisle arrangements in front of the stage where they looked right at home. With a room filled with beautiful blooms, overhead guests were drawn to the beauty of the room and the garden-inspired wedding design that was featured throughout.

Simple accents of gold were incorporated into the wedding reception decorations with the help of the gold centerpiece pillars, gold cutlery, and elegant gold-rimmed charger plates.

The Gray Harper team loved transforming this lavish Savannah wedding venue into the garden-style rooftop wedding that our couple envisioned. There truly is no limit to your dream floral design! Check out more of our fabulous floral designs in our portfolio– we hope they inspire you!

Vendors

Photography: JB Marie Photography
Planning: Sincerely Yours Events 
Venue: Perry Lane Hotel
Band: Legacy Band 
Ceremony Music: New Arts Ensembles
Hair & Makeup: Ash and Co
Rentals: Eventworks 
Officiant: Reverend Joe Wadas
Bride’s Attire: Anne Barge Bridal Atelier

For this wedding welcome party on St. Simons Island, we had the pleasure of working with our couple Kelley and Watts, along with their fantastic planner, Kellie Ryan. After postponing their original St Simons Island wedding due to Covid 19, it was a joy to work with them on their re-imagined wedding welcome party at Village Creek Landing.

A Welcome Party At Village Creek Landing

Village Creek Landing is a gorgeous Georgia wedding venue for a casual Lowcountry event. Guests can enjoy the vast property and beautiful marsh views overlooking Sea Island and Little St Simons Island with both outdoor and indoor space. This Georgia wedding venue was also the perfect setting for a large crowd to gather during the pandemic. With lots of outdoor space and different areas for guests to explore, everyone was able to feel safe at this wedding welcome party.

The Wedding Welcome Party Design

As this was Kelley and Watts’s third time planning their wedding welcome party, the couple entrusted the Gray Harper team with creating a design inspired by their venue’s relaxed atmosphere on St. Simons Island.

For their design, our team took inspiration from Kelley and Watts’s simple yet classic taste and blended it with tropical elements that complemented the surrounding foliage of St. Simons Island. Florals with soft blue tones were paired with peach blooms. Pops of orange and mustard were incorporated into the design to give it a fun and exciting twist on tradition. Tropical greenery was infused throughout with preserved palms and dried florals to provide the floral design with a relaxed feel. 

Classic blue and ivory linens highlighted the venue’s tropical elements and paired perfectly with the floral design. We brought in the most beautiful cashmere-colored candles that glistened amongst the blooms for the guest’s tables.

The Gray Harper team loved being on St. Simons for this wedding welcome party. We are honored when our clients trust us to bring their events to life. We’d love to chat with you more about your wedding vision and help your Georgia wedding dreams come to life!

Vendors

Planning: Kellie Ryan Designs 
Photography: Brooke Roberts Photography
Venue: Village Creek Landing