Budding Brides

Heirloom Brooch Bouquets

01/19/2012 22:48:00

I really thought it was about time I wrote a little something about these heirloom bouquets that I've been making over the past year. I've really enjoyed designing these heirloom bouquets over the past while and love the fact that they're all so original and can be made to suit a bride on any budget. How lovely to have a bouquet to have and hold forever and pass down the generations! I love when a bride sends me personal pieces of jewellery that are of sentimental value which adds a very personal touch to her wedding attire. There are so many different elements to the bouquets....each piece is hand wired onto a stem and Swarovski crystals, pearls and ribbon flowers added to give it texture and shape.

Brides are coming up with ingenious ways of collection pieces from getting the Moms to send out an SOS to friends and family members for 'donations' for the bouquet to having a 'girlie' night where all the friends are invited for a few drinks and asked to bring a piece for the bouquet. Of course though I can design the whole bouquet from pieces I have in my treasure chest! New pieces for bridesmaids, flowergirls and even buttonholes will be revealed in my next blog.

One of my brides mentioned that she didn't get her bouquet back for the whole reception as it was passed from person to person and table to table with guests checking out her bouquet! It certainly is a talking point!

I've been delighted this year to have my bouquets featured on several publications and blogs both here in Ireland and abroad. It's going to take another blog to cover everything and unveil my new collection but for now heres a few of my favourites from this past year! More to follow soon xx

Click on the photos to find out more!

2011 Summer Shoot at Ballygarry House Hotel, Tralee, featured on the US blog The Knotty Bride!

06/13/2011 11:57:00

I've been walking on air and squealing a lot this weekend! Why, you might ask?! Our summer photo shoot in Ballygarry House Hotel has been featured on the HUGE New York blog The Knotty Bride! With 3.8 million readers a month and being one of my favourite blogs because of authors Alisons great sense of humour and imaginative writing (not to mention the amazing photos and products from the best suppliers worldwide!)....I've been following it forever!!!

Once again its an absolute honour to work with amazing suppliers who make it all possible. Extra shout out to the amazing Pauline Dennigan who's amazing talent shines through in each and every photo.

Credit where credit is due to my lovely fellow suppliers who made it all possible and were a pleasure to work with.

www.munstermobilehair.com

www.denniganphotography.ie

http://www.kerrymakeupartist.com/

www.bestofbudsflorists.com

www.petitepaper.ie

www.facebook.com/CloudberryBakery

www.pearlandgodiva.com/

www.finessebridalwear.com

Model Aoife Healy @Upfront Model Management

Ryles Menswear Tralee

Check it all out here!

Aisling and Michael. Prince of Peace Church Fossa and The Brehon Hotel, Killarney

05/31/2011 20:22:00

Aisling and Michael were a great couple to work with. When I met with Aisling and her Mom for her final consultation she just loved every flower I showed her so in the end herself and her Mom left the final decision to me.....as long as it was funky! I wanted to give Aisling a taste of every flower she liked so the order list ended up being very long....but I loved the outcome! The wedding had a lovely youthful and fresh feel to it which Shane O'Sullivan of Sosac Photography captured beautifully.

Wishing Aisling and Michael lots of love, luck and happiness in the future and many thanks for allowing me to share their beautiful photos x

Jamie and Susan, St. Marys Church, Dingle and The Skellig Hotel

05/10/2011 12:04:00

I'm thrilled to share with you some pictures from the lovely wedding of Susan and Jamie in Dingle last year. I'm always delighted when couples 'share' with me

their beautiful professional wedding photos. Susans flowers were the perfect match for her beautiful, sunny personality! Photography by McMahon Studios

Ballintaggart House....the great Irish outdoors!

03/05/2011 20:44:00

Following on from yesterday post, todays pictures from Ballintaggart House feature the great rustic outdoors of the Irish countryside! The day of the shoot was wet and cold ("a soft day thank God" as we say in Ireland!) but that didn't dampen our spirits one bit and some of the braver amongst our party even headed down the fields where Tricia O'Sullivan was even reportedly seen hearding sheep (a woman of many talents!) Very brave gals........but the result was so worth it!

The fires in the house were blazing and created a lovely warm atmosphere where we could defrost and Pauline was able to capture the most amazing images! Included are some of the wonderful tea pots from a fabulous collection by Ballintaggart House.

Having developed a passion for wreath hearts I hung a lovely rustic one on the door made from moss which suited the rustic setting perfectly. Be it made with moss, gypsophilia (babys breath) or fresh flowers the 'Heart Wreath' is fast becoming 'Buds' signature design....!

Sit back put the feet up and enjoy these beautiful shots!

Again credit where credit is due..............

Pauline Dennigan www.denniganphotography.ie

Kathryn O'Neill www.kerrymakeupartist.com

Tricia O'Sullivan www.munstermobilehair.com

Dirty Fabulous-Vintage Dresses www.dirtyfabulous.com

Cloudberry Bakery www.cloudberrybakery.com

Ballintaggart House www.ballintaggarthous.com

For anyone who may have missed yesterdays post and amazing pictures please click here

Two Gorgeous Red heads at Ballintaggart House.....serious eye candy!

03/04/2011 21:35:00

Following on from my post a few days ago I'm delighted to present the fabulous photos from our shoot in the unique Ballintaggart House. There is just so much eye candy in this shoot that I've decided to present them in two parts.....part two tomorrow!

I was delighted to work with such passionate wedding suppliers who are cutting edge in their field!

First of all the wonderful award winning photographer Pauline Dennigan who's eye for detail and amazing talent is revealed in the texture and quality of these amazing shots. I have to admit that I let out a little squeal when I uploaded the photos and got my first glimpse!

Fabulous hair by the weddingsonline.ie award winning hairstylist Tricia O'Sullivan of Munster Mobile Hairdressing.

Seriously stunning make-up by Kathryn O'Neill who is head of make-up artistry (Ireland) for Daniel Sandler Cosmetics.

Fabulously unique dresses and accessories by Dirty Fabulous.....all beautiful vintage dresses with a story!

THE most amazing cupcakes that I've ever tasted by The Cloudberry Bakery....they made a cake for Jamie Oliver!!!

And our beautiful model Sarah Breen whom Pauline discovered and twisted her arm to model for us as she had exactly the look we wanted for this shoot! This was Sarahs first taste of modelling and she was a born natural!

For my part I took the opportunity to use my new line of brooch and gem bouquets and I think they compliment the dresses beautifully! I kept table settings simple using vintage massed carnations with accents of brooches and beautiful tulips who's beauty speaks for itself! And just for fun a little bunting! John in Ballintaggart House was so good as to provide me with beautiful mis-matched china.

Hope you enjoy and more to follow!

And as my Granny used to say give credit where credit is due so if you've missed the above just click on any of the links below to visit the suppliers websites!

Pauline Dennigan: www.denniganphotography.com

Kathryn O'Neill Make-up Artist: www.kerrymakeupartist.com

Tricia O'Sullivan Hairstylist: www.munstermobilehair.com

Dirty Fabulous: www.dirtyfabulous.com

Cloudberry Bakery: www.cloudberrybakery.com

Ballintaggart House: www.ballintaggarthouse.com

Two Gorgeous Red Heads! A Sneak Peak...........

02/23/2011 16:09:00

Just to whet your appetite here is a sneak peak at our stunning photo shoot in Ballintaggart House yesterday!

Photography by the amazing Pauline Dennigan. Hair by the weddingsonline.ie award winning Hairstylist Tricia O'Sullivan. Make-up by the very talented Kathryn O'Neill. Stunning vintage dresses and accessories by Dirty Fabulous and cupcakes to die for from The Cloudberry Bakery.....and of course our models the lovely Sarah and Rory!

Something Old............

01/31/2011 12:51:00

I think its a lovely idea to add a bit of nostalgia to a Wedding bouquet! An old piece of jewellery, a brooch, a piece of lace or just a little something that has special meaning for the Bride. One of my favourites was Annmaries bouquet to which I attached her Grandmothers old pearls. It really added a special touch!

Best of Buds nominated for the 2011 Real Wedding W'Oscars!

01/23/2011 20:30:00

I'm delighted to announce that Best of Buds have been nominated in the Florist category of the www.realweddings.ie 2011 Awards for Irish Wedding Suppliers.

I wish all my fellow suppliers all the very best. Voting closes 24th February and every vote counts! I'm delighted to see other Munster suppliers that I have had the privilage to work with on the list among them the lovely Tricia from Munster Mobile Hair and Singer, Siobhan Oliver and wedding planner Annie Byrne from Aislinn Events.

Just click on the link below to vote

http://www.realweddings.ie/press/2011/01/wedding-supplier-awards-shortlist/

A little Jameson!

01/18/2011 22:41:00

My photo of the day is of the fabulous Collette holding her bouquet before she got dressed for her wedding. A little Jameson to calm the nerves! (Collettes own words!)

More on this beautiful, fun wedding to follow!

Photo by Breda Daly Photography