Marsala Fall Wedding at The Marriot- Pollen and Pastry Bloomington-Normal Wedding

We are suckers for any wedding that features deep, rich hues of burgundy and marsala and our bride, Hilary, absolutely hit the color combo jackpot! With pops of gold and blush mixed in, this event was one for the books.

Hilary wanted her flowers to be “fun, personal, and unique” and we think that bouquet says it all!

And as if we weren’t already swooning, these delicate detail shots of the groom’s boutonniere and the flower girl’s crown definitely did us in. I mean… look at how precious those escort card scrolls are!

If you’re going to do an altar piece, it better make a statement! We had so much fun playing with branches and handfuls of different textures to make those blush garden roses and marsala carnations pop even more. These arrangements were set on top of our gold vase rentals to make this ceremony backdrop instantly picture-perfect!

Don’t forget dessert! What is a wedding without a delicious, gold-dusted cake to match each table’s compote centerpieces?

Hilary’s bridesmaids were decked out in the most beautiful marsala dresses, each holding their own simplified version of the bride’s bouquet.

What a joy it was to create some floral specialties for Hilary and Grant’s wedding day. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Wahlheim!

Phenomenal photos, by the one and only Tiffaney Childs Photography!

Forest Elopement- Pollen and Pastry Destination Wedding

WARNING: This private, forrest elopement will have you instantly rethinking your 200+ guest wedding.

By forgoing the traditional “I do’s”, Inga and Gary chose to focus on the things that mattered most to them and forget about all the rest. Their wedding was small, with only the bride, the groom, and the photographer in attendance. But by looking at the love captured here, it turns out you really don’t need much else.

Well, except maybe one incredibly beautiful bouquet ;)

And this is where we cried for the second time…

Inga and Gary, we are ever so thankful that you chose us to be the florist for your elopement. May marriage be the greatest blessing to you!

Photos captured and shared by the talented and incredible, Pam Cooley Photography!

Intimate and Elegant Wedding - Pollen and Pastry Washington D.C. Wedding

Richard and Jenny’s wedding was the epitome of class and simplicity, done the right way. Keep scrolling and you’ll see exactly what we mean.

Richard proposed to Jenny in the exact spot where they first met- right outside the Petworth metro station in Washington DC. So it was only fitting that their wedding would likewise be full of sentimental details.

The pair described their wedding vision as being “unique, classy, and elegant” and if these two are anything other than classy, we don’t know what is!

As requested, Jenny and her bridesmaid’s bouquets were full of forest green textures and just the right amount of color: a simple splash of deep cabernet, accompanied by some burgundy and the lighter hues of seeded eucalyptus. We love how well the greens paired with those lovely burgundy dresses!

Richard and Jenny’s reception was equally lovely and simple in every way. We arranged a statement garland to be displayed over the mantle, serving doubly as the ceremony altar and reception backdrop.

Check out these hand-lettered table numbers by the bride’s sister, surrounded by our very own hand-tied garland and bud vase centerpieces. This type of table arrangement is so ideal for the bride or groom who wants something elegant, yet simple.

This greenery-filled staircase is one of our favorite pieces we have ever had the pleasure of styling. The old, natural beauty of this venue simply took our breath away!

Richard and Jenny, thank you for inviting us to be a part of your wedding day. Best wishes to you both!

Huge thanks to Shawnee Custalow for such striking photography!

Venue: Josephine Butler Parks Center- Washington, DC

Motorcycle Chic Wedding- Pollen and Pastry Chicago Weddings

Molly described the vision for her wedding using the words romance, party and motorcycles. When you scroll down you'll see that she absolutely achieved that vision! Her venue, Warehouse 109 is one of my favorites and Molly and her family were the absolute sweetest to work with.

Molly’s dark red/merlot and navy blue color scheme went perfectly with the venue and her pink hair! Cascading bouquets are some of my favorite to make and Molly’s bouquet featured red hanging amaranthus, Quicksand roses, burgundy scabiosa, lisianthus, and several foliages to give that draping effect. Lace from the mother of the bride’s dress was used to wrap the bouquet handle for the perfect finishing detail.

We created compote centerpieces for the head table and surrounded the couple’s Sailor Jerry rum bottles with greenery on each table. 

And the dessert table was filled with a variety of cupcake flavors, from red velvet, raspberry lemonade, nutella, chocolate chip cookie, to rice crispy.

Congratulations Molly and Tyler! We absolutely loved playing a part in your wedding!

Venue: Warehouse 109 in Plainfield, IL

Photographer: Stephanie Schmidt of Laree Photo

Gold and Blush Spring Wedding at the Ihotel: Pollen and Pastry Champaign Weddings

Brittany and Matt's April wedding at the Ihotel was a stunner! Brittany described her wedding vision as light, airy and clean, and her color scheme of white, blush and gold fulfilled that vision perfectly. Pair that with gorgeous photos from Rachael Schirano Photography, and this is definitely one of my favorite spring weddings! 

Brittany's classic white bouquet was chock full of peonies, roses, ranunulus, stock, tweedia, veronica and plenty of greens. Spring bouquets are some of my absolute favorite! 

We brought in those touches of blush to the bridesmaid's bouquets with accents of blush lisianthus, stock and carnations. 

The reception was brimming with more greenery and touches of blush. Each table was accented with a garden style compote arrangement and the head table was finished with a lush garland and plenty of candlelight.

One of my favorite pieces of the day was the seating chart. Brittany had the great idea to display her seating chart on an arch and we added a garland to complete the look. 

And of course we had to rock out the dessert table with a variety of different desserts. Macarons, brownies, bundt cakes, mini cheesecakes and cupcakes!

Photography: Rachael Schirano Photography

Venue: Ihotel

Florals and Desserts: Pollen and Pastry

Marsala and Blush Fall Wedding at Pear Tree Estate: Pollen and Pastry Champaign Weddings

Jonathan and Victoria were an absolute pleasure to plan a wedding with! Victoria planned the entire wedding while juggling Vet Med School and a busy life and she did it all with grace! So glad we could work with this sweet couple. 

This simple arbor from Spruce Wedding Rentals was the perfect base to attach our lush florals to. 

Victoria's cascade bouquet was full of gorgeous fall tones. Pepperberry and hanging amaranthus gave the perfect cascading effect. 

The reception, held at Pear Tree Estate (one of our favorite venues!), was decorated with lush garlands and candlelight down each table. So much drama! 

Extra greenery and flowers take this hanging dessert table up another notch. As if it wasn't awesome enough already! 

Many thanks to Meredith Washburn Photography for sharing these gorgeous photos! 

Lavender Summer Wedding at Oak Hill- Pollen and Pastry Chicago Weddings

I'm sitting here writing this post on the most dreary of winter days and I can only just imagine the warm summer days that were captured in these photos! Laura and Donovan's summer wedding at Oak Hill was simply gorgeous. We did the personal flowers for the couple and I just loved Laura's color scheme of dusty shades of purple and blush.

One of my favorite details from this wedding were the Stephanotis flowers tucked into the Mother of the Bride's wrist corsage and into the bridal bouquet. Laura's mom had Stephanotis in her bouquet 35 years earlier and she surprised her by adding that in. How sweet is that!

 Rachael Osborn Photography captured these little details so beautifully!

Some of Laura's favorite flowers and foliages were garden roses, eucalyptus, and lavender so we made sure to feature those in her garden style bouquet. Other flowers in the bouquet included ranunculus, stock, several varieties of roses and spray roses, a few of those special Stephanotis flowers and plenty of greenery varieties. The smell was intoxicating!

Thanks again Laura and Donovan for choosing us to help make your day special! 

Photography: Rachael Osborn Photography

Venue: Oak Hill Weddings

Personal Flowers: Pollen and Pastry

Jewel Tones for Fall: Pollen and Pastry Chicago Weddings

I was in love with Jenna's jewel tone color scheme from the second she filled out her questionnaire! Those shades of blues, purples and reds were really the perfect color scheme for an October wedding. And let's be honest, I was dying to use my collection of vintage jewel toned pieces to complement this wedding. Flea market hunting is one of my favorite past times!

The colors popped so well against the gorgeous marsala dresses the bridesmaids wore!

Jenna's bouquet was full of purple hydrangeas, stock and lisianthus, blue eryngium, and burgundy ranunculus, carnations and cymbidiums. Several types of greenery added some fun texture to the bouquets!

The centerpieces were a combination of tall vases with branches, our small jewel toned glassware filled with flowers and emerald compote vases filled with similar flowers. 

The couple's cake was one of my favorites of 2017. We started with a simple buttercream covered cake and added florals and greenery to bring it to life. 

Couldn't have asked for a sweeter couple to work with! 

Photography: Kara Kamienski Photography

Venue: Tuscany Falls Banquets

Flowers and Cake: Pollen and Pastry

Colorful, Outdoor Fall Wedding: Galesburg, IL- Pollen and Pastry

Alexandra's September wedding was certainly one of our favorites in 2017! From the moment I saw her vision board, I was in love with Alex's vision for the wedding. Her chosen shades of purple, berry, burgundy with hints of blush brought this non-traditional fall color scheme to life. 

The wedding took place at the bride's beautiful childhood home in Galesburg and it turned out to be a gorgeous fall day, albeit just a bit warm to start the day. The girls at So Chic Events made sure every last detail was taken care of!

Alex chose our modern gold cuff bracelets for the mothers and grandmothers to wear. Rotarski Photography captured them beautifully!

The bouquet was a large, garden style bouquet filled with several varieties of garden roses, deep berry ranunculus, scabiosa, purple clematis and several colors of gorgeous lisianthus. Sprawling jasmine vine, several other types of greenery, and the bride's chosen silk ribbon gave the bouquet lovely movement in the fall breeze.

I just loved the mismatched bridesmaid's dresses!

The rustic wooden arbor for the ceremony was built by the family and we adorned it with lush smilax greenery and roses. 

The gorgeous farmhouse tables filled the tent and were topped with sprawling compote style centerpieces. My absolute favorite to make! Our vintage candlesticks with gray candles added a great ambiance to the evening. 

Thank you again Alex and all the amazing vendors who were involved in this special day!

Photography: Rotarski Photography

Planning/Coordination: So Chic Events

Florals: Pollen and Pastry

Blue and White Spring Wedding Florals: Campus, IL

The three words Erin used to describe the vision for her wedding were rustic, romantic, and bright. I think the flowers we chose for her May wedding certainly achieved that! Paired with Dani Lang's gorgeous photography, this simple spring wedding was a treat last year! Dusty blues were a popular choice in 2017 and I think that will continue for 2018.

Erin's bouquet was made up of bright white roses, stock, and ranunculus with light blue delphinium for that pop of color. Silver dollar eucalyptus and Italian ruscus help soften the look. 

Photography: Dani Lang Photography

Venue: Sacred Heart Church- Campus, IL

Florals: Pollen and Pastry

Announcing Our Holiday Dessert Menu!

2017 has been a busy year for Pollen and Pastry with more desserts baked than ever. And we finished our brand new commercial kitchen earlier this year! That was no easy task! 

Since I started this business 7 years ago, it's just been myself doing all the baking for our orders, so I was definitely excited to bring on a part-time baker to help this year. Our Head Baker, Brooke, has been amazing and I can't wait to share our holiday dessert menu with you!

Click on any of the photos to put in your pre-order!

Cookies are a holiday must have! Our holiday cookie tray contains a variety of delicious homemade cookies to make everyone happy. Wrapped in a bow, it makes the perfect gift to bring to any holiday party!

Six flavors of holiday cupcakes will make any holiday party a hit! Our six or twelve pack of cupcakes is beautifully wrapped with a bow for gift giving or saving for yourself ;) 

Red Velvet Rudolph: Classic red velvet cake topped with cream cheese icing and Rudolph’s fondant red nose

Gingerbread Man: Spiced gingerbread cake topped with cinnamon buttercream icing and a fondant gingerbread man

Caramel Eggnog: Chocolate eggnog cake topped with caramel eggnog buttercream and toffee bits

Chocolate Peppermint Mocha: Dark chocolate mocha flavored cake topped with peppermint buttercream, fudge drizzle and peppermint bits

Chocolate Hazelnut: Chocolate cake filled with a Ferrero Rocher candy and topped with a hazelnut chocolate buttercream

Holiday Funfetti: Vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream topped with holiday sprinkles

Naturally gluten free, these petite and delicate cookies are perfect the holidays! Our macaron boxes are beautifully wrapped and ready for gifting! The dozen box contains two each of our six holiday flavors. Four packs can be customized with your four chosen flavors. 

Candy Cane

Lemon Raspberry

Pistachio

Caramel Eggnog

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate Hazelnut

Homemade caramels can't be beat! These hand-wrapped caramels simply melt in your mouth. Each 1/2 pound box contains approximately 24 candies and is wrapped with a bow. The perfect fit for a stocking stuffer! 

Creamy and rich, our holiday chocolate fudge is simply delicious! Each 1/2 pound wrapped box contains approximately 12 pieces of fudge. Perfect for any chocolate lover!  

What Flowers to Get Your Flower Girl

Stumped on what flowers to order for your flower girls? We've got you covered! For many years, a basket full of rose petals, either fresh or fake, has been the standard for flower girls. Nowadays, more and more venues don't allow petals any longer because of the mess and cleanup involved. A sign of the times to switch things up? I think so!

Two of the other great options for your flower girls are flowers crowns (totally cute!) or pomander balls (equally as cute!).  Flower crowns are meant to be worn on the girl's head of course and pomander balls are adorned with ribbons making them easy to carry down the aisle. I'm dreaming of making small, individual wreaths for girls to carry down the aisle too. Someone please indulge me! 

Our bride Rachel, chose classic white spray roses and greenery for her daughters to wear on their heads and carry down the aisle.

Photo by Susan Stripling

Photo by Susan Stripling

This is a great way to add in your wedding colors too! 

Photo by Rachael Osborn Photography

Photo by Rachael Osborn Photography

Many of our pomander balls are created in a foam sphere which gives them a water source, helping them to stay fresh longer. This water can also make the ball a little on the heavy side though, so for Kelly's wedding, we chose willow spheres to attach florals too, making for a lighter pomander that coordinated well with this wedding scheme! 

Photo by Jenna Marie Photography

Photo by Jenna Marie Photography

Whichever you decide to order from your wedding florist, consider thinking outside the box with that your girls will wear down the aisle! 

Greenery Filled Summer Wedding at Oak Hill

David and Katie were one of the absolute sweetest couples to work with for their June wedding last month and I was so happy when Katie share these gorgeous images from Allison Williams Photography!

Katie had my heart right away when she suggested the idea of individual cakes for her centerpieces, and incorporating greenery on each table too. A girl after my own heart! I had done the idea of individual table cakes for a wedding several years ago, but I was excited to bring it back again! 

So brides, please continue to make my florist and baker dreams come true by continuing this trend. We could do this with cupcakes, cookies, other desserts too! ;)

Katie wanted her bouquet to be full of textural greenery with some pops of white flowers. Peonies and ranunculus were the perfect addition! 

Italian Ruscus, Silver Doller Eucalyptus, Plumosa Fern. Umbrella Fern, Seeded Eucalyptus, Leather Leaf Fern, and Lemon Leaf all came together to create a ton of texture and movement in Allison's bouquet! 

We continued the greenery into the totally cute schoolhouse at the venue, Oak Hill Weddings, which made for a great backdrop and place to clip the place cards too. 

The tent at Oak Hill is surrounded by the most gorgeous setting! On each table, the guests had their own vanilla cake to share which was surrounded by greenery to continue our green and white color scheme throughout the wedding.

The bride surprised the groom with a Spiderman themed carrot cake just for them to enjoy, too!

Overall, it was a perfect June wedding filled with so much happiness. Thanks again for choosing us to implement your vision, Katie and David! 

Venue: Oak Hill Weddings

Photographer: Allison Williams Photography

Are Cascade Bouquets Making a Comeback?

Heck yes, cascade bouquets are making a comeback! And I love it! Melissa's bridal bouquet below was one of the very few cascades I made for the 2016 wedding season, but I already have several booked for 2017. Some just made of greenery! Hello #pantonecoloroftheyear. I love that brides are asking for something that makes a bigger statement than the usual rounded bouquet. 

You know what else is great about a cascade bouquet? It's more flattering for your figure! Think about it. An elongated bouquet helps draw the eye up and down,  creating that long and lean illusion. And who doesn't want that on their wedding day! 

Melissa's cascade bouquet, shot by Melissa Mata Photography, was a stunner. She stuck with the marsala color scheme that was so popular in 2016 and continues to be for 2017. 

To bring in those Marsala/Burgundy colors, we chose garden roses, astible, cymbidium orchids, dahlias, hanging amaranthus, chocolate cosmos, and scabiosa all in those gorgeous shades. Then we added in ivory spray roses to accent her dress and plenty of eucalyptus foliage to add to the cascade effect. 

For Melissa's bridesmaids, we chose a more neutral bouquet with pops of marsala to accent the deep colored dresses.

So brides, don't be afraid to go with a different shape for your bridal bouquet! As a designer, I love the challenge! 

All photo by Melissa Mata Photography!

Three Sisters, One Broach

I still remember to this day meeting the lovely Becker ladies at Atlanta Bread Company in Champaign to talk about Jessa's wedding flowers. It was either late 2010 or early 2011 and I was in grad school dreaming about the idea of a wedding business. You see what happened is that Jessa and I shared a mutual friend who asked if I was doing weddings. To which I quickly responded, heck yeah I am! Soon after, Jessa became one of the first weddings I booked. Flash forward almost 6 years later and I've had the pleasure of doing all three of the super sweet Becker sister's weddings! 

One of the things I loved the most about Jessa's bouquet way back in 2011 was the broach that she added on the handle. It was also chock full of amazing fragrant garden roses which didn't hurt!

Shannon Anderson Photography

Stephanie Bartman Photography

Forward to Mary's colorful bouquet from this August and I notice the same broach. Ok there's a pattern forming here...

Rachel Schirano Photography

Once I see Cassie's bouquet in October with the same broach, I have to ask! What's the story behind the broach? 

Turns out, the pin belonged to the lady's great grandmother! Cassie said it best herself, "One of the most beautiful "something old and borrowed," and even more special that all of us Becker girls have carried it in our weddings." I couldn't agree more! 

Jessa's gorgeous fall wedding shot by Shannon Anderson Photography.

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Mary's colorful summer wedding shot by Stephanie Bartman Photography.

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And finally, Cassie's fall wedding shot by Rachel Schirano Photography.

Thank you again ladies for letting me be a part of it all! 

Why Does My Bridal Bouquet Cost So Much?!

It's a common look I see on a bride's face when we go over their wedding proposals. That look of eye widening, nose flaring shock when they see the cost of their dream Pinterest worthy bouquet on paper. It can definitely be a shock to some, especially when one is unfamiliar with what flowers cost! Not to mention the sometimes unattainable expectations that a Pinterest worthy bouquet can bring. But I promise, there is a reason for that price.  

Why in particular does your bouquet cost more than any other flower arrangement you've ever bought? Once Wed shared a post this week from a florist that I thought explained it rather nicely, so I'm sharing that below! Don't forget that your bouquet will be in a TON of photos, so if you're going to put your floral budget anywhere, do it here!

Photo by Rachael Osborn Photography

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From Once Wed: Ever wondered why a bridal bouquet costs so much more than any other flowers you’ve ever bought? It’s not because you’re being taken advantage of, we promise! Firstly, a bridal bouquet will typically have at least 2-3 times more flowers in it than you might find in a bunch you order a friend for her birthday. Your florist will have spent several hours meeting with you, answering your emails and specifically sourcing and ordering the correct specialty blooms to fulfill your vision (as opposed to using whatever is available that week). It then takes up to two hours to make the bouquet (compared to the 15 minutes it might take a florist to make a daily bouquet order). And then there's the experience of your floral designer who has spent years honing their craft and perfecting their methods. The same goes for your caterer, stationery designer, photographer, dress designer, cake maker, stylist, planner and any number of other professionals you will hire to support you on your wedding day.

When you next receive a quote from a vendor, you're going to want to jump straight to the bottom line to look at the total price (because budget!). But we encourage you to stop for just a minute and think about the value and experience they are bringing to your wedding day. Their creative talent is their livelihood and they're fiercely passionate about helping you create the wedding you dream of!

Check out the full post here.

Blush and Marsala Fall Wedding- Bloomington, IL Florist and Baker

Today I am pleased to introduce you to the third and final Becker sister to get married! Luckily for me, they still have a younger brother to get married, because this family is so sweet and I absolutely love working with them! Being able to play a small part in these special family moments is one of the many reasons I absolutely love my job. 

Cassie and Cory's October wedding was a beautiful day full of special details and plenty of greenery to go around. Rachael Schirano Photography got some gorgeous shots that I couldn't wait to share! 

Cassie's bouquet was full of gorgeous shades of white and ivory garden roses, hydrangeas, spray roses, scabiosa, and stock with pops of silver from silver brunia and several types of eucalyptus foliages. The burgundy dahlias, which were grown in our garden, added depth to the bouquet while bringing in the marsala accent color. 

And I love the different shades that the bridesmaid's chose for their dresses that go with the neutral bridesmaid's dresses so nicely! 

Cassie loved the look of simple greenery at her reception space so we accented most of the tables with simple greenery garlands and a ton of candlelight. Such a romantic setting! 

Can't go wrong with a naked cake! 

And S'mores cupcakes, perfect for a fall wedding!

Stay tuned for a flashback blog post featuring all three of the lovely Becker sisters and the special piece of jewelry that the all donned on their big day! 

How Much Should I Budget for Florals and Desserts?

It's a common question I get from bride's. How much should I expect to budget for my flowers and cake? And it's a totally valid question, especially for flowers! It's not common knowledge what the price differences or even the names of common flowers are, but that's why your florist is here to help!

Photo by Pam Cooley Photography

The 2016 Knot Real Weddings Survey was recently released and the results may offer some insight. More than 13,000 couples who had planned a wedding and got married in 2016 completed the Knot's survey and they found that the average cost of a wedding is at an all-time high at $35,329. Woah, baby! Now of course, that's the national average. It may not cost you that much to have an amazing wedding here in Central Illinois. Hello, $60, 035 average in Chicago, though! 

So how much should you budget for flowers?

   10% of your overall budget is what I recommend.

When I look back at what my bride's typically end up spending on flowers, it usually is about 10% of their overall wedding budget that is necessary to achieve a look that fits the overall feel of their wedding. So if your overall wedding budget is $35,000 then budget at least $3,500 for your flowers. Overall budget of $15,000? Plan for $1,500 which would be enough to cover your personal flowers and possibly some small designs for your ceremony or reception.

What about desserts?

   Average of $4 per guest

Desserts are a little different to budget for since they are based more on your guest count. In the Knot's survey they found the average spend to be $582 on wedding cake and the average wedding guest count at 141. That averages out to about $4 per serving. Exactly what our pricing for tiered cakes starts at. Looking to keep the costs lower? Think about cupcakes or other desserts which have a lower price per serving. 

Photo by Pam Cooley Photography

Check out more of what 2016 brides spent: 

See the full cost breakdown from The Knot.

If you really want to find out if your set budget is realistic for your vision, meet with your vendor! We offer a free consultation where we go over the details of your day to be able to offer you a custom price quote. 

Colorful Summer Wedding at Eastland Suites- Bloomington, IL Florist

When Mary told me her bright wedding color scheme during our consultation, I couldn't have been happier! You see, 2016 was unofficially the year of the blush for many of our brides. Now blush is absolutely beautiful and romantic and lovely, but I was dying for some color! Hence the gorgeousness that ensued for Mary and Brian's August wedding at Eastland Suites here in Bloomington.

To top it all off Stephanie Bartman captured it beautifully! Go check her out!

Mary's bouquet was made up of brightly colored stock, pincushion protea, roses, dahlias, ranunculus, amaranth, hypericum, and succulents! All excellent summer bouquet options.

The boutonnieres were made of mini succulents and yellow billy balls with eucalyptus foliage and wrapped in twine. 

The oh so wonderful Becker sisters. Stay tuned for Cassie's wedding on the blog soon and a special post featuring all three of their weddings! 

Mary's centerpieces were simple blue mason jars filled with more colorful florals. 

Here's to more colorful weddings in 2017!