Before Whitney ever talked to me about her wedding, I got to watch her walk into her own bridal shower. Her mom had hired us to bring a flower wall and our bloom bar flower cart to Naxos, a beautiful Mediterranean restaurant in Totowa, and when Whitney stepped into the room, she told me it was the most beautiful bridal shower she had ever seen. Her guests spent the afternoon at the cart, picking stems and building little bouquets to take home. From that day on, she trusted us with her wedding too.

Whitney and Tom, thank you for letting us be part of both celebrations. Here is how we created their all-white Park Château wedding flowers in East Brunswick, and why this day is still one of my favorites.

Her vision: all white, roses and baby’s breath

Whitney knew exactly what she loved from our first conversation. All white. Roses. Plenty of baby’s breath. No orchids, which I honestly appreciated, because knowing what you don’t want helps a florist just as much as knowing what you do. She also loved candles and an asymmetrical look, where the flowers gather more heavily on one side instead of mirroring perfectly. That one preference shaped almost every piece we made.

We designed her florals with roses, baby’s breath and hydrangea, using a mix of premium silk and fresh flowers. Blending the two let us build big, full installations that held their shape through a long day, while still keeping that natural, airy softness she wanted.

A staircase as elegant as she is

Whitney first came to me for two things: her staircase and her sweetheart table. Park Château has one of the most beautiful staircases in New Jersey, and I wanted it to feel as majestic and elegant as Whitney herself. We wrapped the banister in white roses, hydrangea and baby’s breath so it looked like it was blooming from top to bottom, with an asymmetrical sweep that matched the rest of her day.

The moment I was proudest of was watching guests walk through the front doors and see that staircase for the first time. Some of them told us they had never seen anything like it. If you’re curious what a staircase like this involves, our floral stair wraps page has the details and pricing.

Ceremony arches with an asymmetrical sweep

For the ceremony, we created floral arches in her all-white palette, with the flowers gathered more heavily on one side the way Whitney loves, and lined the aisle with white florals and candelabras. Keeping everything in one color let the architecture and the light carry the room and kept every eye on the two of them. You can see more of our ceremony arches and floral columns here.

Candlelight in the ballroom

Candles were a must for Whitney, so in the ballroom we used tall candle centerpieces to lift the light above every table. As the evening went on and the lights came down, the whole room turned gold. Our candle design and candelabras are a big part of how we create that warmth.

The sweetheart table, and her face when she saw it

Two tall columns of white roses framed the fireplace, candles lined the mantel, and a soft cloud of roses and baby’s breath spread across the floor in front of their table. It is where they sat during the toasts, surrounded by the people who raised them.

When Whitney saw it, her jaw dropped. She hugged us and could not stop thanking us. Later, in her review, she wrote: “By far my favorite sweetheart table I have ever seen. It was way better than anything I had ever saved on Pinterest!” I still smile every time I read it.

Six hours at a venue that does it right

Setup took about six hours, and it was truly a breeze. Park Château is a dream to work in. Everyone on their team was kind, helpful and on top of every detail, not only for us but most of all for the bride. If a venue ever gave lessons on how to treat its vendors, Park Château should be the one teaching the class. Working somewhere like that shows in the final result, and in how relaxed the couple feels on the day.

Planning an all-white wedding? Think about mixing silk and fresh

If you love a big, lush look and you are also keeping an eye on your budget, ask your florist about blending premium silk with fresh flowers. Silk is a smart choice for large pieces like stair wraps and arches, because it holds its shape through hours of setup and celebration and costs less than the same design in all fresh blooms. Fresh roses and baby’s breath then bring natural texture to the pieces your guests see up close. Our silk floral and candle packages are a lovely place to start, and if a flower cart like the one at Whitney’s shower sounds fun, here is more about bloom bars.

Thank you, Whitney and Tom

Whitney, you are one of the sweetest and happiest brides I have ever worked with, and I am so grateful we are still friends today. Your taste is beautiful, and so is your heart. Tom, thank you for sharing her with us. And to Whitney’s mom, thank you for bringing us into your family’s celebrations in the first place. None of this would have happened without that shower.

If you are planning a wedding at Park Château, or a shower that might one day lead to a wedding, I would love to hear what you are dreaming of. Start with our client intake form and we will take it from there. Still have questions? Our wedding flower FAQs cover budgets, timing and what is included.

All my love,

Lily