THE POWER OF A DESIGN DEMO

BRINGING WEDDING DESIGN TO LIFE

Planning a wedding is an extraordinary experience—one that is deeply personal, visually stunning, and meticulously curated. My approach to wedding planning has always centered around storytelling, ensuring that every wedding is a sensory-rich reflection of my clients’ world. Every element, from the color palette to the textures, lighting, and floral arrangements, must speak to their identity, their history, and the future they are building together.

While mood boards, renderings, and floor plans are essential tools in the design process, there is no substitute for physically bringing the elements together in a live demonstration. A floral demo allows my couples to step into their wedding vision before the big day, offering them the opportunity to see, touch, and experience the details that will define their celebration.

Recently, I had the privilege of designing Mikayla and Brandon’s wedding at the breathtaking Stanly Ranch in Napa Valley. As part of their planning process, we conducted a floral demo in collaboration with Flowers by Edgar, beautifully captured on video by M Place Pro. This process was not just about ensuring that the flowers were beautiful—it was about making sure that we were telling the right story to the right people at the right time.

Let’s dive into the significance of floral demos (complete with TWO videos from the process) to understand why they are an essential part of the luxury wedding planning experience and how they ensure that every design choice is intentional, meaningful, and perfectly executed.

The Process: From Vision to Reality

Step 1: Understanding the Couple’s Story

Every wedding I design is deeply rooted in who my clients are, how they see the world, and the kind of experience they want to create for themselves and their guests. This is not about picking flowers off a list or choosing from pre-existing packages—it’s about creating a once-in-a-lifetime event that embodies their love story.

For Mikayla and Brandon, their wedding was about timeless romance, effortless elegance, and a touch of modern luxury. They envisioned a setting where lush floral arrangements, delicate textures, and a refined yet inviting atmosphere would come together seamlessly. But before any selections were made, my first priority was to listen—to observe how they spoke about their life together, what excited them, what moved them.

I spend hours with my couples, getting to know them in a way that allows me to filter their love story through my lens and bring it to life in a tangible way. This process involves deep conversations, meticulous note-taking, and extensive research into their personal style, their travels, and the moments that define their relationship.

Step 2: Curating the Design Concept

Once I understand my clients on a deeper level, I begin curating their wedding aesthetic. This stage includes:

• Mood Boards – A collection of visual inspirations, color palettes, and textures that establish the foundation for the event’s design.

• Renderings & Sketches – Artistic interpretations of how the ceremony and reception spaces will look, bringing conceptual ideas into focus.

• Floor Plans & Layouts – Ensuring the event flows seamlessly and that every detail—from guest seating to the placement of floral arrangements—is accounted for.

At this point, my couples begin to see their wedding come together in a theoretical sense. But while digital renderings and mood boards are helpful, they lack the tactile, emotional resonance of physically experiencing the space.

That’s where the floral demo comes in.

The Demo: Where the Magic Happens

The floral demo is the moment when we transform ideas into reality. It’s the first time my couples get to step into the wedding design and experience it with all their senses.

For Mikayla and Brandon, we set up their reception tablescape, complete with linens, chargers, and, most importantly, floral centerpieces by Flowers by Edgar. This step allowed us to evaluate everything in real time:

1. Seeing the Big Picture

The demo allows my couples to see how their floral arrangements will interact with other elements like candlelight, tableware, and linens. It ensures that the vision aligns with their expectations and enhances their overall experience.

2. Fine-Tuning the Details

No matter how perfectly something is planned on paper, there are always subtle adjustments that need to be made once we see everything together. The demo provides an opportunity to refine floral heights, adjust color tones, and confirm floral densities to ensure balance and harmony.

3. Testing the Atmosphere

Luxury weddings are not just about how things look—they’re about how things feel. When Mikayla and Brandon walked into their demo setup, they weren’t just observing centerpieces; they were stepping into their wedding day for the first time. The emotional impact of this moment is profound, giving them confidence in the choices we made together.

Why the Pretty Is Nothing Without the Process

So many wedding professionals focus solely on the “pretty.” They think that if they can create a gorgeous design, the couple will be happy. But true luxury is never just about aesthetics—it’s about the process behind it.

The most beautiful floral arrangement in the world is meaningless if it doesn’t reflect the couple’s story. A high-end wedding isn’t about throwing together expensive elements—it’s about crafting an experience so tailored, so immersive, that it couldn’t belong to anyone else.

The floral demo is a crucial part of that process. It allows for intentional decision-making, storytelling, and personalization. It ensures that every flower, every table setting, and every candle feels right.

This is why my design philosophy is so meticulous. I don’t just want my couples to have a beautiful wedding. I want them to walk into their reception space and feel like they’ve stepped into a world that was designed just for them.

Lessons from Mikayla & Brandon’s Demo

As we completed the floral demo for Mikayla and Brandon, a few key takeaways stood out:

1. The Importance of Scale & Proportion

Seeing the floral arrangements in real life allowed us to adjust proportions to ensure they weren’t too overpowering—or too minimal—for the space.

2. Color Nuance Matters

While the mood board captured the general color palette, seeing the flowers in person allowed us to tweak shades to achieve the perfect balance between softness and vibrancy.

3. The Emotional Connection Is Everything

Mikayla and Brandon’s reaction to the demo was one of pure joy. They weren’t just approving a design—they were stepping into their love story, experiencing their wedding vision come to life.

Why Every Couple Deserves a Floral Demo

The floral demo is not an extra step—it’s an essential part of ensuring that a wedding is more than just beautiful. It’s a moment of clarity, confidence, and creativity.

It allows my couples to see, touch, and feel their wedding before the big day. It ensures that every element—from the grandeur of the floral arrangements to the softness of candlelight—works in harmony to create a breathtaking experience.

At the end of the day, the pretty is nothing without the process. And when that process is done with intention, expertise, and heart, the results are nothing short of magic.

For Mikayla and Brandon, their floral demo wasn’t just about choosing flowers—it was about crafting a love story that could be seen, felt, and remembered forever. And that is what luxury wedding planning is truly about.

Are you planning a luxury wedding and want to experience the magic of a live floral demo? Let’s connect. Together, we’ll create a wedding that is not just stunning—but deeply personal, immersive, and unforgettable.

Contact me to start designing your dream wedding today.

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