Blooms of Hope was introduced to Garrett Owen at Samaritans last spring through our good friend Hall who volunteers there on their phones.  We were so impressed by Hall’s dedication to this worthy cause and wanted to join forces in any way we could.  We were able to support Samaritans by providing centerpieces to Garrett for their “Lunch for Hope” last May.  Garrett was such a pleasure to work with and this cause clearly makes an amazing impact on so many lives, we are thrilled to share with you more of their story below.

BOH:

What is the mission of your cause?

GO:

Samaritans, Inc. mission is reduce the incidence of suicide in Greater Boston and the communities of  Metrowest. We do this by providing vital services that alleviate despair, isolation, distress and suicidal feelings amongst individuals in our community; by educating the public about suicide prevention; by supporting families impacted by suicide loss; and by working to reduce the stigma associated with suicide. Samaritans is a 501c3 non-profit and all of our services are offered for free to the public.

BOH:

What is your role within your cause?

GO:

My title is Development Manager, Special Events and Marketing. While I assist with a number of fundraising activities at Samaritans, my main focus is planning and promoting our annual events, including our 5K Run/Walk, our spring Hope Events and our terrific Boston Marathon Team.

BOH:

How long have you been participating and how did you get involved?

GO:

I have been involved with Samaritans since 2008 when I started working here as a Development Coordinator. It was my first job out of college and I couldn’t have asked for a better organization to be a part of. While suicide has not touched my life personally, I have seen the devastating effects it can have on families that are not so fortunate. This taboo subject – so often silenced and stigmatized – is an important issue that needs attention in our community, and I feel proud to be part of the efforts to make that happen. I have seen firsthand the amazing work of Samaritans’ life-saving programs, and it is a cause that I now feel very passionately about.

BOH:

How has being involved with your cause effected your own life?

GO:

Working at Samaritans has had many effects on my own life – but I would have to say that first and foremost working here has taught me to be a effective and compassionate listener. We like to say that Samaritans is in the business of “befriending”. Its what our volunteers do on our helplines. Its what our staff does on outreaches. And its what our Grief Support Services Team does when comforting someone after the loss of a loved one to suicide. We are there to provide emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to those in need. Being around the wonderful staff and volunteers, and by going through the Samaritans helpline training, I learned how to be an active listening – truly hearing what people are saying, not offering advice or judgment, and validating their feelings. It’s a skill that I will take with me the rest of my life.

BOH:

What are three ways the community could help your cause achieve your goals?

GO:

BOH:

How can others get involved or participate?

GO:

For more information about volunteering, participating in an event or donating, please visit www.samaritanshope.org or call 617-536-2460.

Happy New Year!

This year we are going to be using our blog to highlight the causes we hold near and dear.  Each submission will share our connection to the cause as well as the inside scoop on the mission of each cause and some of the great people who offer their support.

Mary Ryan came to us from HomeStart and we immediately clicked!  Not only did we fall in love with the mission at HomeStart, but Mary is incredibly genuine and clearly dedicated to helping others.  She had fabulous design ideas for their gala last September and we were really excited to help her.  Mary took some time to chat with us recently about her experience with HomeStart:

BOH:

What is the mission of your cause?

MR:

HomeStart’s mission is to end and prevent homelessness in Greater Boston.  Much like a real estate agency, HomeStart helps homeless men, women, and families move out of a shelter, or out of the streets, and into a permanent home.  HomeStart does this by assessing a person’s background, financial ability, and a variety of other factors.

Once HomeStart puts someone in a home, they keep them there.  HomeStart provides stabilization services; services like money management, life skills training, etc. to make sure that a person can re-integrate into the community and never become homeless again.

That’s how HomeStart ends homelessness.

HomeStart also prevents homelessness before it starts.  If a family is on the verge of losing their home, HomeStart offers emergency assistance that helps them stay there and avoid costly taxpayer shelters.  Usually HomeStart can keep a family in a home for $700, while moving that family into a shelter, could cost taxpayers upwards of $40,000 (never mind the moral cost).

BOH:

What is your role within your cause?  How long have you been participating and how did you get involved?  How has being involved with your cause effected your own life?

MR:

I serve as a Board Member and most of my time is devoted to our Development Committee and the work of fundraising for HomeStart.  I also have been a front-line volunteer.  My husband and I hosted an event for HomeStart early in 2008.  Since then, the organization has become part of daily life and conversation in the Ryan household.  We all recognize and appreciate the value of home in our lives and want that for others

BOH:

What are three ways the community could help your cause achieve your goals?  How can others get involved or participate?

MR:

One way to get involved is to give.  HomeStart is seeing a dramatic increase in the demand for its’ services.  In 2008 HomeStart prevented 254 evictions, in 2009 251, and in 2010, HomeStart prevented a record 568 evictions.  To continue to help others HomeStart needs more financial resources.  You can give online at www.homestart.org and click on ‘donate.’  Imagine if someone today decides to give $700, then tomorrow a family on the verge of eviction will be sleeping in their own home because of it.  Two, spread the word.  Like HomeStart on facebook, follow it on twitter, visit the website, and just let people know.  HomeStart is the best solution to actually ending homelessness.  It takes people from shelters and gives them that helping hand to put them back up on their feet in a home of their own.  Much of the conversation re: homelessness is about shelters or the people you see on the street, (those are only 10% of the homeless population), to change that dialogue people need to be made aware of HomeStart and the work they do.  Three, be compassionate.  As I just mentioned, the people on the streets, the ones everyone thinks of when they think “homelessness,” they are only 10% of the population.  The other 90% are hard working people who fell on hard times and simply need a hand up.

HomeStart is always looking for volunteers to work the front desk, work with clients, and be involved in fundraisers.  If you want to get the entire community involved, HomeStart will work with you to sponsor an event in your town like a WinterWalk, or House Party.  These are easy and fun activities that bring your town together for a good cause.

MANY thanks to Mary for introducing us to HomeStart, we certainly look forward to working together in the future…here is a picture from their gala showing the flowers that we were so happy to create:

As 2011 is winding down, we want to express our gratitude for another unbelievable year of flowers and celebration!  As we look back, we always like to reflect on trends from the year and share them as inspiration.  Here are some of the themes that we enjoyed so much:

Small Vases and Groupings of Mixed Wildflowers

Classic White and Green Hydrangea Combination

An ocean theme was very popular this season

Of course we saw traditional pink roses

and bright orange is still a strong contender

We saw lavish archways

and bold colorful chair flowers

Natural birch vases add an outdoorsy feel

while cranberries in the vase add a fruity festive flare

As wedding season comes to an end, we wish you a peaceful transition to the new year.  We are excited to share with you coming in 2012 our new blog forum which will focus on giving back.

A recent trend in the wedding industry is to spice-up bridal showers and other celebratory events using themes based on popular novels and movies.  Here we showered our bride over the rainbow and had so much fun behind the curtain planning all of the special details:

When Dorothy was whisked away from the farm,

she carried her basket,

and she followed the yellow brick road

through the field of poppies.

She learned courage along the way….

and she realized when she got to the emerald city,

that even though she may have gone over the rainbow,

there truly is no place like home!

Some of our most favorite late spring/early summer flowers (peonies, hydrangea, delphinium, lilac, snapdragon, lisianthus and veronica) help to create this ceremony piece reminiscent of the Dutch Golden Age painting known for the floral still lifes.

The Commander’s Mansion annual Wedding Fair is always such a blast, much thanks to Tammy, Rae and all of their helpers!  This year we enjoyed meeting and reuniting with so many great vendors: Amy and Megan from Click Imagery, Ann from Fireside Catering, Linda from Table Toppers, Greg Hodges from 5 Star Events, Jeff and Amanda from Jeff Brouillet Films, Kristen from Capers Catering, Paula from Marrero Weddings and Events, Demiche Beaute, Adrienne and Elizabeth from Gracie Lou Events, Melissa from De.Lovely Affair, Walter and Nora from Cuisine Chez Vous, Tyra from Tyra Bleek Photography, Don from Harvest Catering, and Helen from Helen Makadia Photography.

Photo Credit:  Jill Person of Person + Killian Photography

Arlene from Invitations & Company hosted the 11th High End Bride seminar, a phenomenal breakfast seminar for wedding professional vendors in the Boston area. Here we are posing with Michele from Dance in Boston just after our first coffee of the morning.  We also met the electric Bo Winiker from the Winiker Wedding Band.  Also at our fabulous table were Larry, Filomena and David from Rentals Unlimited.  Heather Minicucci of Simply Inviting Weddings styled the event with the assistance of the very talented floral designer Orly at Tangerine Creations.

PHOTO BY GLENN COOPER DMPJ PHOTOGRAPHY

The Beantown Bridal Lounge at the Boston Bridal Bash (sponsored by the Boston Event Guide) was also a huge success!  Blooms of Hope enjoyed a fun-filled day of intimate conversation at the Hyatt Boston with six of Boston’s wedding industry pros~ Brittany from Beantown Bride, Greg and Dave from Creative Uplighting, Courtney from Lens Cap Productions, Nanette and Jay from Photobooth Favors, Rachael from Lola Grace, Glen from DMPJ Photography.

Andrea Delucia from Elegance and Grace hosted a lovely evening of fashion and fun at the Doubletree Hotel in Waltham.  Margherita from La Sposa Bridal styled many beautiful models including Miss Massachussetts and Miss Teen Massachusetts in glamorous wedding dresses and gorgeous bridesmaids gowns.  We enjoyed delicious wedding cake from Jessa at Yum Bunnies Cakery and were very impressed with all the stylish fun invitations that Cyndi had at her table from Lady Slipper Stationery.  Amanda and Marc from Groove Entertainment did a fabulous job with all of the lighting, the mood was just perfect!

Adorning the mantlepieces at your ceremony or reception with flowers can instantly create a charming and cozy atmosphere

Blogger: Andrea E. McHugh

Blooms of Hope in Belmont is well known for their generosity—not only does owner Nicole Pirani create chic arrangements alongside assistant floral designer and manager Kerith Grandinetti with artistry, the team donates half of their profits to local charitable organizations. Now they are offering one lucky Beantown Bride who shares their philanthropic philosophy an amazing giveaway.

Leave a comment telling us in 150 words or less how you or a bride you know gives back to their community and they will be eligible to win $1000 of flowers designed by Blooms of Hope for their wedding celebration to be used any way they wish: rehearsal dinner arrangements, bridal bouquets/personal flowers, arrangements for ceremony or reception or any combination thereof.

Entries are accepted until [3/4/11]. BeantownBride.com and Blooms of Hope judges will select the lucky winner on [3/4/11]. One entry/nomination per bride. Winner will be notified by e-mail.

Loving this summer inspired bouquet and boutonniere pair that we created for Barb and Paul’s wedding last July!  The bold orange, blue and yellow popped against the tiny white dutch daisy poms, queen ann’s lace and light purple scabiosa.  Adding wheat as an accent brought a more masculine feel to the boutonniere and complimented the “beer” themed event.  Both bride and groom of German decent decided to highlight their ancestry by incorporating the popular drink throughout the details of their special day.  We used beer mugs and pilsner glasses along with wheat to continue the theme in the floral designs.  Thank you to Emily Delamater for taking such lovely photos!

A more natural style of arranging the flowers was a popular request in 2010.  Clients were looking for wildflowers grouped together so they seemed as if they were just picked from the fields.  Mason jars, milk bottles, baskets, and wooden boxes were natural choices for containers.

Birds seemed to be everywhere last year.  We saw them expressed in many of the day’s details like bird cage veils, nests as accents on tables and in flower girl pieces, birds on invitations, table numbers, cake toppers, and bird cages as card holders.  This allowed us to add little silk birds or feathers to many of our designs.  It also made us look for feathery qualities in the flowers so they could accent these details.

Hydrangea was the most requested flower in 2009 and 2010.  Peonies and calla lily follow close behind and white anemones are on the rise!

Deep purple and navy blue were all the rage for bridesmaid dresses so they were often requested for colors to use in the floral designs.  Another big trend was black and white weddings challenging us to find black elements in the flowers along with the ribbons, vases, pins and other accents.

Using the extra fabric from the bride’s wedding gown as the wrap for her handle was widely requested.  It is a great idea along with incorporating a special piece of jewelry or keepsake from a loved one.  This makes the design that is with you most of the day more special.

We love pretty details at Blooms of Hope.  Here are some of the beautiful christmas accents that surrounded us at home and in the studio this season.  Enjoy the magic that this time of year brings!

Using fruit (cranberries and apples shown above) can be a fun way to add a twist to a holiday arrangement.

Happy 5th Birthday to our good friends at Room To Grow (a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development).  We were so happy to provide the floral arrangements for their gala celebration, a true success on all fronts!  A percentage of profits from our Thanksgiving centerpieces were also donated to this amazing organization.

Room to Grow Gala video

Whether in subdued or bright hues, blue and red create pieces that will stop the show!

Using the extra fabric from the hem of Barbara’s gown we created romantic petite rosettes to accent her updo.

Love peonies but they are out of season at the time of your event? Try pale pink spray roses that are fully opened or mauve carnations. They both add a similar frill and romance!

Incorporating clients’ personal stories into my designs helps to create unique pieces that express each couple’s personality.  Whether it be including some jewelry from a grandmother in the bouquet, showcasing collected vases on the tables, using the special paper from invitations to accent centerpieces, or replicating the flowers mom carried on her wedding day in a corsage, the possibilities are endless.

How does one bring the outdoors inside when the space is open and full of bricks?  Use lots of foliage in zinc tins with orchid leis and smilax garlands.  Here is an example of the 5th floor space at the Liberty Hotel prepped for a garden party fashion show.

Adding something as simple as one leaf or fern (pictured above) under each escort card can be a beautiful, easy and cost effective way to decorate the table and welcome your guests to the reception!

One of our favorite monthly tasks is delivering fresh designs to two very inspiring organizations. Room to Grow enriches the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development. Community Cooks is a group of more than 80 residents of Somerville, Cambridge, and the vicinity that contribute a portion of a meal to a shelter or service program in the community.  Here are  a couple recent summer pieces that clients were able to enjoy!  Blooms of Hope is in awe of the wonderful support that these two organizations provide to people in need.

Add paper to a glass cylinder and spice up a simple piece!

A simple wreath welcomes guests to an event and signifies a celebration!

White anemones are a perfect choice for a black and white wedding but what if your wedding is in the summer when they are out of season?  Here is a bouquet using composite “anemones” that Nicole made from scabiosa and lisianthus petals.

Using a bold color as an accent creates a beautiful visual along the aisle.  I love these turquoise and gray ribbons against the pale pink of the peonies and the white of the chairs!

Rather then selecting a traditional bouquet in a tight mound formation, brides are choosing a more whimsical approach with a cascading bouquet style.

Use the floral arrangements to hold letters so they spell out a name to spotlight your guest of honor!

Consider using one color for the personal flowers but designating one type of bloom for each special guest standing next to you that day!