Bouquet Inspiration from Ariella Chezar

I am delighted to begin our new season with Ariella Chezar as our first guest! Ariella has astounded clients and admirers around the globe with nature-inspired and seasonal relevant delicious designs. Along with this week's episode is an additonal segment with Ariella as we discuss business changes in the recent months. Ariella shares her inspirations, business tips, sustainability, and more.

Screen Shot 2019-07-17 at 9.43.50 PM.png

Weddings are an intimate celebration shared with family and friends. From the moment guests arrived, they enter the couple’s vision for their special day. From the selection of the venue, the carefully planned and executed decor, to the send off of the newly married couple, there is one moment that usually transcends all other wow moments…

The entrance of the bride is truly an iconic moment for any wedding. Smiles and emotions abounding, the bride captivates us with her joy, the perfectly chosen dress, and of course our floral senses are attracted to beautiful wedding bouquet.

Photograph by Corbin Gurkin

Photograph by Corbin Gurkin

I always love the classic white bridal bouquet. Ariella’s choice of florals for this piece truly give this classic look that something special we all are excited to see. This stunning design has two elements that I especially want to highlight. First, the purple accent from the Auriculas flowers which are actually plants that have been adapted for this bouquet. Not only a beautiful flower, but a great technique incorporating plants in bouquets, root ball and all. Secondly, the use of Eucharis, also known as Amazon Lily, throughout this elegant bouquet is pure white, reminding me of the shape of a daffodil, but has a hollow stem like an amaryllis. Usually they come with several buds that often will continue to open as the older flowers begin to fade. A very special flower, which is very white and unusual.

Photograph by Corbin Gurkin

Photograph by Corbin Gurkin

Gorgeous, Elegant, and I can’t stop gazing at this bouquet. At first glance, this bouquet is a gorgeous collection of white’s, pinks, and greens creating a soft pastel color combination. With the stunning gown as a backdrop to this bouquet, the flower palette echoes the beauty of summer florals. From the Dahlia’s and the Zinnia’s to the blushest of Snowberry and Autumn Clematis, there are so many elements that have been orchestrated in this stunning creation both feminine and graceful. Don’t miss the use of Carnations, Nerines, and Japanese Anemones.

Photograph by Judy Pak

Photograph by Judy Pak

Don’t let the casual manner in which this bouquet is being held fool you. It’s a work of art like all of the bouquets by Ariella. I especially love the use of a couple of varieties of Fritillaria, mixed with the spring bulbs like hyacinth and tulips. It can be difficult to work with branches in a bouquet because of their size and rigidity, however, by using the tips of the crabapple you can see the white of the blossom, along with the blush daintiness in the bud. And that dogwood, is so wonderful too! There are so many things about this bouquet that makes it seem traditional, yet is unlike anything that you would grow to expect in a bridal bouquet.

Photograph by Corbin Gurkin

Photograph by Corbin Gurkin

Why does yellow get such a bad rap? We often find ourselves drawn to these flowers, especially in the spring, but may seldom have the opportunity to work with them because of traditional wedding color stories. This bouquet, I hope, will make us think twice before we ditch the ideas of yellow as a wedding color. I love the use of Yellow Parrot Tulips with the mix of Creamy Fringed Tulips. What makes this bouquet so special is the hidden treasures within the masterpiece, like the Fritillaria, Dicentra(Bleeding Heart), Gloriosa, Daffodils, Clematis, Spirea, and yes, Lily of the Valley.

Photograph by Corin Gurkin

Photograph by Corin Gurkin

I’ve been asked many times over the years about cut Azaleas in design work. I know that it’s great for weddings and events especially, but the vase life depends on the cut stage. I’ve seen it open in the vase and shine with all of it’s glory, but in this bouquet I especially love the use of the White Azalea in the bud form. The flowers are so white and the cluster of buds adds lovely texture. The wispy, thin, flowering branches are Cotoneaster, a wonderful foliage with a very small white flower and silver-grey leaf that’s lighter on the underside. In addition, Sweet Peas, Columbine, Fritillaria, Ranunculus, Anemones, Gloriosa, Leucocoryne, Parrot Tulips, Hellebores, Garden Roses, and Lilac.

Photograph by Corbin Gurkin

Photograph by Corbin Gurkin

From Roses to Ranunculus, this bouquet takes us on a color journey. From the palest of Peach Roses, to the darkest of Coral Ranunculus, this bouquet is the perfect image of the amalgamation of fabulous colors. In several of the bouquets in the post, you’ll see Hellebores, Carnations, and Eleagnus, a foraged greenery. Add the perfect combination of color to bridge the palest of colors to the richest of colors and you have another masterpiece. Mix in the White Muscari and White Fritillaria, with the Salmon Parrots and the eye continues its journey of vibrant colors. This bouquet has the feel of freshly harvested flowers during a morning stroll in the garden.

Photograph by Jose Villa

Photograph by Jose Villa

So many different flowers all working together like each one was made for this moment and this moment alone. There are two flowers in this bouquet that I want to mention…the Orchids and the Ranunculus. Even though you might not have thought they belong together, their similar spotting or markings bring them together perfectly. By adding just the smallest amount of Acacia or Mimosa, the soft yellow texture creates an airiness among the more bold additional elements like the yellow Ranunculus and spray roses. One of the tips that I saw from a designer was to edit the Acasia stems by removing just a few of the yellow blooms. The abundance of yellow can sometime be overpowering and take away from the overall aesthetic, but used in this manner works wonderfully. In addition, this bouquet contains, Paper White Narcissus, Seeded Eucalyptus, and Hellebore.


I love exploring these amazing bouquets by Ariella Chezar! Each bouquet is perfectly unique and invites us to participate in this floral bouquet journey . It’s easy to take a look and say, “Wow!”, but when you start to really examine the sophisticated collection in each of these designs, I encourage you to take a moment and reflect what makes them so magical. I’m often asked how does one stand out in such a strong community of talent. THIS is how you stand out, you dig deeply into floral varieties and explore the wonder of the flowers of the season and find sources that provide brilliant options. Explore, Create, Embrace Challenges, and dare to be adventurous with flowers….this can and will set you apart. Flowers will never disappoint!

All the Best, Scott

Listen to Ariella’s floral journey below or visit our webpage to learn more about Ariella and her amazing designs.

What a pleasure to begin our new season with Ariella Chezar. I love this portion of her bio, "Whether it is collaborating on a spectacular event, teaching a room full of flower lovers, planting thousands of tulips or styling a photo shoot, I consider myself lucky to love every aspect of my color filled world."


Romantic Fritillaria

Design by Sarah Winward, Photograph by Kate Osborne

Design by Sarah Winward, Photograph by Kate Osborne

With the beginning of Spring, there are so many flowers that stir my soul and speak to my heart. I love tulips, lilacs, hyacinths, daffodils, my favorite hellebores, ranunculus; the list goes on and on but Fritillaria has awakened a new interest.

With so many events and weddings being cancelled or postponed, I wanted to highlight a flower that has evoked so much happiness and conversation within the floral community.

Floral designers create that additional touch of magic by tucking these whimisical blooms in their bridal bouquets or wedding designs. I’m not sure there is any flower that can cause goose bumps and chills like the family of Fritillaria among flower enthusiasts.

In this blog post, I want to introduce you to this wonderful bell-shaped flower sure to add personality to any design with its dripping and effortless movement. I hope to brighten your day and encourage you to keep feeding your love of flowers.

Fritillaria meliagris

Fritillaria meliagris

Fritillaria meleagris ‘Alba"‘ Image from Vanengelen

Fritillaria meleagris ‘Alba"‘ Image from Vanengelen

This video was posted about 4 weeks ago. Hilverda De Boer visited Gia Flowers; grower of Fritillaria. More about Hilverda De Boer: - website: www.hilverdadeboer.nl - facebook: www.facebook.com/hilve...

Fritillaria persica

Fritillaria persica

Fritillaria persica growing in the field at GIA Flowers.

Fritillaria persica growing in the field at GIA Flowers.

Fritillaria persica ‘Alba’

Fritillaria persica ‘Alba’

Fritillaria acmopetala

Fritillaria acmopetala

Fritillaria imperial orange

Fritillaria imperial orange

Fritillaria imperial ‘Rubra Star’ in the field from GIA Flowers

Fritillaria imperial ‘Rubra Star’ in the field from GIA Flowers

Fritillaria imperial yellow

Fritillaria imperial yellow

The Imperial Fritillaria are among the largest of the species and to me, the most majestic of them all. This amazing flower exudes elegance and charm as it flourishes in a garden or flaunts its beauty in a floral design.

Harvested Fritillaria imperial ‘Lutea’ at GIA Flowers

Harvested Fritillaria imperial ‘Lutea’ at GIA Flowers

Image by Emily Avenson of Fleuropean

Image by Emily Avenson of Fleuropean

GIA Flowers one of the only growers of this special variety. Fritillaria Radeana

GIA Flowers one of the only growers of this special variety. Fritillaria Radeana

The amazing Fritillaria Radeana may not be as well known, but it is truly beautiful. I love its bright green flower that transitions into white.

The image to the left is from Emily Avenson of Fleuropean. Emily shares a love for this amazing family of flowers. What does this piece speak to you? I feel a sense of calm when I look at this image. My busy thoughts seem to melt away and bring me back to focus with a sense of peace. Thank you Emily, for sharing your gorgeous image. The Fritillaria featured in this image is the F. Radeana.

Fritillaria ‘michailovskyi’ held by Susan Mcleary and grown by @marillafieldandflora

Fritillaria ‘michailovskyi’ held by Susan Mcleary and grown by @marillafieldandflora

Fritillaria ‘Sewerzowii’ from Gia flowers

Fritillaria ‘Sewerzowii’ from Gia flowers

Fritillaria Uva vilpis in the field from GIA Flowers

Fritillaria Uva vilpis in the field from GIA Flowers

Fritillaria elessi is a smaller variety that maintains its darker coloring. Image from Gardenia

Fritillaria elessi is a smaller variety that maintains its darker coloring. Image from Gardenia

Whatever your favorite variety, Fritillaria is an extraordinary family of flowers, and I love the anticipation of its spring arrival. My hope is that I’ve stirred your imagination and nourished your love for the fritillaria family. If you haven’t discovered this charming flower, I encourage you to experiment with its versatility and uniqueness. Some varities are more fragrant than others, and you can expect the larger varieties to have an unusual scent, but this flower as you see below always finds itself as the center of attention.

I have to thank everyone that shared their images for this post. I know you will fall in love with this ballerina of the floral world and look forward to its season for years to come.

Another amazing image by Emily Avenson of Fleuropean. Fritillaria imperialis amazingly partners with Daffodils to welcome the Spring season.

Another amazing image by Emily Avenson of Fleuropean. Fritillaria imperialis amazingly partners with Daffodils to welcome the Spring season.

Wedding Bouquet Inspiration for 2020

Our amazing guests create incredible floral masterpieces and are so kind to share their images and inspirations, we have picked a few to showcase. Trending colors and designs, new trends on the horizon, timeless classics and a wide assortment of materials are perfect inspirations for 2020.

Gabriela Salazar

Image by Christina McNeill Photography

Image by Christina McNeill Photography

Gabriela Salazar has included the beautiful trending colors of pale golds and blushes. This trend seems to be gaining momentum. The use of dried product is the perfect compliment to Gabriela’s use of color.


With the Pantone Color being Classic Blue, there will be requests for blue accents in our weddings. Isha has created a beautiful bouquet with a hint of light blue that blends perfectly with the blue/green color of eucalyptus. As one of our favorite colors, We are looking forward to this latest Pantone inspiration and are eagerly awaiting fabulous floral creations for 2020.


Image by Suzanne Rothmeyer Photography

Image by Suzanne Rothmeyer Photography

I love the elegance of this bouquet showcasing the companionship between pale blushes and assorted pinks. The stars of this bouquet are the fabulous roses from Alexandra Farms. Bridal Piano (Pinker) and Mariatheresia (Blush) blend perfectly with the astilbe, sweet peas, lambs ear, and butterfly ranunculus.


Image by Kristin Sweeting

Image by Kristin Sweeting

Holly has a simple love for nature and bringing unconventional flowers into her floral pieces. The use of grasses, crape myrtle seeded pods, and fuschia blooms blend beautifully with the ruffle look of the peonies, soft roses, and the airiness of the scabiosa. Letting nature speak to you and incorporating these inspirations into your designs truly makes it your own.


The white bridal bouquet is a trend that is rooted in tradition and truly is a classic. Garden Roses are another trend that has gained momentum and with increased availability and variety, we believe this trend is here to stay. In this classic bouquet, Alicia used the white rose, POLO. This is considered a traditional rose that opens with the garden rose shape and is a perfect substitute. It does take some time to open to its full potential to process according to your needs.


Image by Elizabeth Wells Photography

Image by Elizabeth Wells Photography

Deep moody colors continue to inspire us no matter the time of year. It’s fun to play with this color palette and make it your own by taking it in the direction that works for you and your client. So soak in these wonderful rich tones and assorted textures.

We hope you’ve enjoyed these amazing images from our talented guests. With so many possible styles, plethora of colors, and wide variety of flowers your sources of inspiration are endless.