MSNBC

I received a call today from my daughter to inform me that MSNBC did a short clip on me today. The teaser said, "What do the Republican National Convention and The Sound of Music have in common?" All the while they played a clip from the movie, "So Long, Farewell", then "Raindrop on Roses". They then mentioned that Debbie Turner Larson (me!) had been chosen as one of four preferred flower vendors to do the Republican National Convention 2008.
Very Cool!

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Well, this morning I woke up to a friend, Mary Gilbert, calling me excitedly to tell me there was a lovely article in the paper today. They actually called her to ask her questions about "Debbie Turner Originals".
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/25985284.html?location_refer=$urlTrackSectionName
I have also received emails from long lost friends. What a lovely way to reconnect with folks I haven't heard from in years. The article is named "Grand Old Petals", a take on the Grand Old Party, or GOP. It talks about how my company was chosen to be one of only four "preferred florists" chosen to do the flowers at the Republican National Convention in September. I hope you will check out the article.

Nigerian Cultural Engagement & Wedding Reception

It's Saturday evening, and we just completed setting up the reception for Funke & Jonah. They are a Nigerian couple who gave us the honor of decorating & attending their engagement ceremony as well as their wedding & reception.

A special thanks to Amanda O'Connell, the wedding planner with Premier Planning in Edina, for bringing us the opportunity to design these special events.

The engagement ceremony was such an exciting and unique ceremony. The women and men were dressed in fabrics chosen by the couple, shipped in from Nigeria. They invited me to come, and asked me to design a dress to wear that evening, so I would fit in withe the rest of the women. The women there wore cultural head dress made from Swiss silk. The music and the singing was constant and upbeat.
I was honored to have been part of such an special event.

The following day we set out to decorate the reception. The colors for the day were coral & apple green. The centerpieces were tall, using green & coral colored gladiolas, with green apples at the bottom & Italian ruscus. The Bride's bouquet had antique emerald roses, green hydrangea, white freesia, adorned with green & diamond colored gems. The handle was wrapped in apple green double sided satin ribbon.

Nigerian Clutural Event

Next week we will be working on a two day event. Friday's event is a Nigerian Cultural Engagement Ceremony. Everyone invited wears traditional Nigerian fashion, very colorful! The venue will be decorated with brown & natural colored twigs, grasses and tied with natural raffia to eight aisle markers. Near the front of the aisle will be a seating area for the groom's mother and father on one side, and the bride's mother and father on the other. At the front the bride and groom to be sit in a place of importance in two wicker chairs. Behind them is a wall screen with African patterned painting. There will be dancing, gifts and loads of fun. Even the boss of Debbie Turner Originals (DTO flowers) will be in a traditional batik wardrobe!

Saturday's event is a traditional Christian wedding ceremony. The bride is in white, and the bridesmaid's in coral colored dresses. The brides bouquet is a lovely mix of green and coral roses, green hydrangea and white freesia. The bridesmaid's will carry Green Goddess carnations with babysbreath & coral ribbon. The altar will have a large arrangement made with coral & apple green gladiolas, and the aisle markers will be abundant boughs of babysbreath.
The reception will have tall arrangements of coral & apple green gladiolas, with green fruit at the bottom, and some tables will be decorated with a plethera of votive candles and rose petals.
The cake will be on a raised cake stand, with votive candles underneath.

Crystal & Ice Wedding Reception

We are currently designing a lovely wedding reception that will have the theme of crystals & ice. (not winter and snow!) We are using tall pilsner vases with a large bouquet of white dendrobium orchids spilling out the top on one third of the tables, crystalized sticks on one third of the tables and floating orchids in low bowls on the final third. The theme for this wedding reception is as lovely as it is unique.