The Denver Post davidson
DENVER, CO October 12, 2007 --
On Thursday morning, Bouquets owners BJ Dyer and Guenther Vogt received the
payoff on their successful wager against the owners of Philadelphia's Kremp
Florist. Both florists bet a box of locally-grown posies on the outcome of the
Rockies' series with the Phillies.
"The sweep by our home team put a permanent grin on my face," said
Dyer "And now it's time to pass on my joy to those in need." Bouquets
incorporated the payoff flowers, fresh from the City of Brotherly Love, into
special bouquets to accompany meals delivered by Project Angel Heart this week.
Dyer is the president of the non-profit agency that annually delivers over
350,000 nutritious "meals with love" for people living with HIV/AIDS,
cancer and other life-threatening illnesses in Denver and Colorado
Springs.
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As Colorado prepares to take on Arizona for the National League Championship,
Dyer and Vogt are negotiating the details for their next wager, this time with
Ken Young of Phoenix Flower Shops, located a few miles from Chase Field. Young
anticipates receiving a similar payoff this week of Wrigley's Field Ivy plants
from a Chicago florist located blocks from the Cubs' ballpark. "Ken's a
confident Diamondbacks fan, so we're pushing him for a maximum ante to back-up
his team," attests Vogt. "We've proposed a myriad of possibilities.
Free flowers for Rockies fans living in Phoenix is a strong possibility,"
Vogt said .
Eight florists, members of Society of American Florists, from the cities with
playoff teams all agreed to a wager on the outcome of the World Series. Should
their team take a final spot, the loser of the series has agreed to work for a
weekend in the winner's flower shop, including the creation of a grand floral
arrangement to congratulate the 2007 World Series Championship team.
"We're setting up a design table in our store window so Denver fans can
watch Rick Canale of Boston's Exotic Flowers design that flower bouquet for the
Rockies," taunts Dyer, still smiling.
Bouquets, established in 1985, is an award-winning florist with locations in
Denver, Belmar and Beaver Creek. Their LoDo store at 15th and Wazee Streets is
just blocks from Coors Field.
# # #
Ken Young - PHOENIX FLOWER SHOPS, Scottsdale, kyoung@phxemail.net 602-469-7800
Rick Canale - EXOTIC FLOWERS Boston, rick@exoticflowers.com
800-706-1200
Chad Kremp - KREMP FLORIST, Philadelphia, chk@kremp.com
800-345-7367
Rick Fracci - FRACCI FLORIST, Cleveland, fracciflorist@sbcglobal.net
440-255-7673
REFERENCE PREVIOUS STORIES:
October 4, 2007 - Denver Post Blogs - Joanne Davidson - Rox n'
roses
October 5, 2007 - The Rocky Mountain News - Penny Parker - Pennsylvania
Guv balks at Ritter's offer of wager
October 4, 2007 - FOX 10 News at 5:30 - Phoenix, Arizona - MP4 file available
on request.
October 11, 2007 – MMD Newswire - Boston http://www.mmdnewswire.com/exotic-flowers-bets-red-sox-cll-lilies-ginst-clevelnd-florist-2371.html
October 11, 2007 - KTAR News Phoenix
October 12, 2007 – Denver Post Blogs – Joanne Davidson
– It’s
Payoff Time
October 121, 2007 - Rocky Mountain News Day in Pictures
SAF eBrief 10/3/07
SAF eBrief 10/10/07
Denver Post Society Editor includes SAF Florists' bets in her blog.
Check out: Rox 'n Roses
Just for fun, while you're there, also check out the blog entry "A Fine Kettle of Fish "
I can hardly wait to see the payoff from Kremp Florist arrive at Bouquets.
The florists involved are:
Colorado Rockies -
Bouquets / BJ Dyer 800-825-6768
vs
Philadelphia Phillies -
Kremp Florist / Chad Kremp 800-345-7367
Arizona Diamondbacks -
Phoenix Flower Shops / Ken Young 602-840-2604
vs
Chicago Cubs -
Ashland Addison Florist Co. / Bill Sheffield
312-432-1800
NY Yankees -
Irene Hayes Wadley & Smithe LeMoult Florists / Dean
Georges 212-247-0051
vs
Cleveland Indians -
Fracci Florist / Rick Fracci 440-255-7673
Boston Red Sox -
Exotic Flowers / Rick Canale 800-706-1200
vs
Los Angeles Angels -
Jacob Maarse Florist / Hank Maarse 626-449-0246
Dendrobium orchids are the current Featured Flower for Florist Blogs.
I wanted to share how Bouquets used Dendrobium blossoms to enhance a wedding Chuppa:
The blossoms were dipped in Crowning Glory, an anti-transpirant, to help them survive the sun and dry Colorado air. Each blossom was glued to the white tulle with Oasis brand Floral Adhesive. It was simple, ethereal, and very pretty:
Note the "Chuppa-cam" in the back corner:
Behind the ceremony site, we installed a hand-painted backdrop of clouds against a blue sky. You can see that the sky color is actually pretty close to the color of the real Colorado sky just above it. The synagogue courtyard where the wedding took place was less than an ideal setting, visually, so reflecting the bride's "clouds in a Colorado sky" wedding theme, this worked out as a great solution:
For the reception inside, we constructed umbrellas with cloud fabric and suspended them above the guest tables:
Centerpieces interpreted the Colorado sandstone plateau of Four Corners National Monument near Mesa Verde National Park:
There's our sandstone AND our blue skies with clouds
The bride's bouquet played with the same Indian wildflower theme:
Even,a miniature Canyonlands to present escort cards:
Filed under: weddings, Bouquets, Wedding flowers, Weddings and special events, protea, Denver, Wedding Bouquets and Arrangements, Special Events and Arrangements for Entertaining, clouds, orchids, Dendrobium
So the bride's big request was a wall of flowers behind her ceremony. Here's the result. How did we do?
It seemed a shame to leave the flowers behind when the guests went to dinner, so, knowing that the bandstand was 24' wide, I designed the wall in three 8' wide segments. The first 4' tall segment sitting on the ground, the second just behind it elevated 18" taller, and the third behind that, raised 36" above the ground. The whole wall stood 7' tall.
After the ceremony, during cocktails, we transferred all the pieces to the ballroom, placing the segments horizontally now, rather than stacking vertically. This created a 24' wide hedge in front of the bandstand. The composition appeared so different, most guests didn't even realize they were seeing the same flowers:
We try to create as much value for our clients as possible. Re-using flowers effectively adds value because we get twice the decor for the same cost.
Click on any photo to see a larger view.
The Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch is such a gorgeous venue in the Vail Valley. Alisa, the Ritz's wedding coordinator was wonderful to work with.
This Vail Valley resort is perfect for a summer or autumn outdoor wedding. This was on the hotel's "Mountain Terrace" situated between the slope side of the building and the ski lift:
The simple chair decor added that little extra touch:
The mothers carried nosegays rather than wearing corsages. Isn't Debbie the most gorgeous mother-of-the-groom?
Here is Lauren's "wall of bridesmaids" to go with our floral wall.
Ten beauties in espresso. The classic "little brown dress":
Do you, Christopher, take Lauren to be your lawfully wedded wife?....
(he did)
Cocktail table flowers with the ski lift in the background:
The bride and her family:
The newlyweds:
On to the reception. Wedding cake in front of the dance floor:
Centerpieces were 36" diameter on oversized tables, very low for great conversation. The amber ambiance came from peach lighting we added to the room. The whole place had a warm glow:
Bouquets provided mocha shimmer crush tablecloths and top-qualilty ivory damask napkins in three different patterns. Here is the satin stripe napkin in a cummerbund fold:
Guests procured their table assignments from an escort card table, 6foot diameter. The bubble bowl is 16" diameter and takes two people to carry. The bridesmaids enhanced the setting with their 10 bouquets:
We tied silk bands on every chair, finished with a gorgeous knot:
These columns towered almost 12' tall:
The last view as guests exited a magical night.
At Bouquets, we LOVE weddings. Can you see how we express our love though floral artistry?