These lovely long stem flowers are beautiful in their magnificent array of color from the deepest shade of blue to the most soothing shade of lavender.

Delphiniums are from the same family of Larkspur which is much similar looking. Delphiniums are a classic English cottage flower - they add vibrancy and life to any garden and are also a popular choice for weddings in the west.

Their tall stem (approx 3ft and more) makes them a good choice for adding height to any floral arrangement - be it in a clear vase or in an urn.

Delphiniums denote well being and sweetness and can be found year round but are at their peak from summer to early fall. The blooms are fuller and the colors are richer.

Delphiniums paired in arrangements with Roses and Hydrangeas look striking and add the necessary drama as floral décor.

Delphiniums are not commonly available in Karachi and need to be ordered in advance.

A fairly straight forward, inexpensive and yet smart centerpiece for one of our recent party was a pyramid of glasses with floating tea lights… albeit the champagne was missing! But the overall effect was glam!

Such centerpieces are ideal when you want to go flower-free and want a clean, contemporary look for your overall ambiance. Smaller versions of this centerpiece would go perfectly near the bar or even on cocktail tables.

Should you want to try this for one of your events be sure to have plenty of glasses at your disposal. On the outside it doesn’t seem like a lot of glasses are needed but contrary to truth! What will also be extremely handy is a lighter especially with a long nozzle!

1.       I still have time: [...]]]> With the wedding frenzy and typically a house full of friends and family the wedding planning process could take its toll on anyone! There are a few things that you can avoid to streamline your arrangements while making the most of your very special day.   

1.       I still have time: Never make this mistake! Always plan ahead. Leaving things last minute is a big blunder. Be it in finalizing a venue, the caterer or the guest list. Moreover, last minute bookings are always more expensive and you never get time to see samples or negotiate.

2.       Venue permissions: Usually people think private venues may not require permissions. This is incorrect. Check with local regulatory authority for any NOC (No objection certificates) or any other regulation that may apply. Currently, we have a time cap on wedding events as they must wrap up by midnight. Find out about any such regulations before getting an unpleasant surprise.

3.       Looking for the cheapest vendors: Cheapest does not always mean the best buy. Look around for options and price quotes. Try and see the vendors’ final product where ever possible. Acquiring references is also a good way of making your final choice. Ask for any possible discounts – you never know.

4.       I want something completely different: Many people have no concrete idea for their wedding day but this –“I want something completely different” – now what does this mean? It is best to quantify & visualize your ideas. Ambiguous & vague statements could get you a very different event from your expectations.    

5.       We don’t need Air-conditioning or it won’t rain: a lot of people assume the weather conditions. Forecast is available on the news, internet even your mobile phone! – Please use it and plan accordingly.

6.       Wasting money – Getting Excessive: It’s all very natural to get excited about your wedding but always keep your budget in mind. Allocate your budget according to category i.e. jewelry, wardrobe, caterer, décor, make-up & stylist etc.   

7.       Exhausting Yourself: With the late nights, lack of sleep and running around you can drain yourself completely by the wedding day. The exhaustion can only spoil things so get good rest, plenty of sleep and eat well.   

8.       Choosing the menu: The menu needs to be versatile without becoming overly elaborate. You don’t want to order something that your guests don’t eat.  If possible request your caterer for a food tasting.

9.       The wardrobe: This area takes a considerable chunk of your budget. Your wedding dress is a very important element. Hence identify your designer well in advance and agree on a budget. While buying the rest of your wardrobe consider how elaborate and heavily embroidered clothes you can practically wear. You don’t want to wear them just once.

10.   Don’t let it bother you: No matter what is said or done don’t let it spoil the day for you. Just remember to have fun and have great memories from your wedding day!

Colors can be hot, warm, cold, pale, light, cool, dark, and bright and [...]]]> Determining the colors for an event is usually a good starting point for how you would like to design your event(s).  Colors combinations evoke certain emotions and combining the right colors and hues can help create the right mood and effect for you.

Colors can be hot, warm, cold, pale, light, cool, dark, and bright and so on – it is important to consider the content of your event before choosing on your colors for instance Mehndi colors are usually kept bright and energetic and weddings are usually dark in winters and pale and/or cool in summers.

Colors have a strong association with the look and feel and hence when it comes to luxury you will have the color gold as a dominate color likewise greens for organic, steel grays for corporate and pinks for affability and innocence. For powerful and stark affects the use of black and white can make a bold statement.

- Open it up: Entrances should always give a feel of being grand and [...]]]> Entrances are the most important area of an event – after all this is the starting point of your event arena and the point from where you welcome your guests. It is a prelude and a showcase for what is to come

- Open it up: Entrances should always give a feel of being grand and not claustrophobic in anyway. Mirrors help open up the space and people always love looking into a mirror to check themselves out – their hair or makeup. Use colors which are not overwhelming and clearly define your entrance area. Keeping a 2 fold entrance could be very interesting.

- Dramatic Lighting – Lighting is one of the most crucial elements of décor and designing. Lighting up your event space be it with high powered beam lights or delicate fairy lights remains your creative prerogative but certainly a dingy entrance does not cut it out for your event. Also practically speaking people should be able to see where they are stepping and appreciate the décor.

- Bold Statement- Be it with flowers, fabrication or otherwise make one bold statement at the event. It would be best to connect it with the theme that follows inside the main event arena. One bold statement is all you need to make that impact.

- Candles & Flowers: the flicker of the candle along with the beauty and fragility of the flower helps achieve the dreamy and fantasy like feel for an event. The softness which is so essential can only be achieved with these 2 elements. Make sure to have candles, tea lights, lanterns etc along with flowers at your entrance. Remember they don’t have to be expensive. You could pick something from your garden!

- Fragrance: aroma always does wonders on a subliminal level. Having some sort of fragrance or incense is a good idea. Some wonderful incense is available at the Body shop – Forum Clifton.