Cheeky French Garden-Inspired Wedding Tablescape at Solage Calistoga
Bold, colorful wedding inspiration from Solage Calistoga, featuring a cheeky French garden-inspired summer tablescape with pattern play, seasonal blooms, and layered design.
There’s something super special about a wedding tablescape that feels both bold and inviting — like stepping into a highly curated home full of color, texture, and unexpected details. That was exactly the vision behind this editorial shoot at Solage in Calistoga, in collaboration with a team of creative Bay Area vendors. Our goal with this design was to inspire couples and planners dreaming of a wedding that’s anything but ordinary.
We set out to create a maximalist summer tablescape that blends the romantic charm of an al fresco meal in Provence with cheeky, modern, layered design elements. The result was a bold and playful look that feels as comfortable as it does elevated — perfect for weddings in Napa Valley, Calistoga, or anywhere in the Bay Area where design matters.
The Inspiration
“The world needs more colour right now, doesn’t it?” — The Liberty Book
This sentiment guided the entire creative direction. Everybody loves the relaxed vibe of a garden dinner in Provence, but what if we put a spin on it and pushed it toward something bolder — more modern, more vibrant, and a little cheeky.
My first non-negotiable design detail: stripes. They set the foundation for our pattern play. From there, I centered the design around the handcrafted, hand-painted vessels from Vaiselle, a contemporary homeware label infused with French heritage and Mediterranean flare.
To make the design feel like a highly curated, well-appointed home set within the garden, we envisioned layers:
Soft, inviting seating via cushions and pillows
Detailed bespoke linens with unexpected textures
Functional but playful lighting via portable tabletop lamps
The result was immersive, welcoming, and full of personality.
The Floral Design
Instead of starting with the flowers, I finalized the color palette and tabletop design first, then turned to the floral design. I knew I’d be sourcing hyper-seasonal ingredients from local farms at the peak of Spring, so I trusted that the right blooms would be available to bring it all to life.
Once I had the vessels selected, I built out color-blocked floral moments to complement their patterns without competing with them. Because the tabletop was already maximalist, I leaned into delicate, traditional blooms to balance the look and keep it rooted in the romantic garden setting we were trying to evoke. Every floral moment was intentional, yet simple. All vessels contained one ingredient. Standout blooms included:
The most charming dusty lavender and blue delphinium
Fresh-cut bearded irises from my own garden
A mixed collection of Poppies, garden roses, sweet peas, and hydrangea from local growers
Tabletop Styling
Styling the tabletop was all about mixing, matching, and harmonizing. I wanted the table to feel like a layered, curated interior filled with personal, beautiful, and unexpected choices.
Some of my favorite design highlights:
Linens: Custom embroidered napkins (the hand-stitched tulips, gah!) in alternating tones with contrast rolled hems made from European linen by Vada Goods, alongside the bold Drayton Stripe Oxford table linen from BBJ La Tavola acted as our foundation for pattern play.
Glassware and Dinnerware: We kept the tableware traditional but complementary to our color blocked moments, pulling from Catalog Atelier’s beautiful collection of stoneware plates, colored glassware, and horne flatware.
Candles and holders: One of my favorite details! Bold wax taper candles in blue-on-blue stripes, with beautifully textured holders. These small details made a big impact.
Placemats: Vada Goods’ bespoke round ruffled placemats with contrast stitching were a FUN visual moment, so we kept the plates simple to let these really shine.
Playful Effortless Paper Goods: Studio Lameraner added the ‘perfectly imperfect’ vibe we were looking for with a layered wavy edge soft scallop menu card with white ink calligraphy — the kind of handmade, one-of-a-kind detail that wows guests.
Seating: Cushions on every chair brought in another opportunity for texture and stripes, while maintaining that inviting vibe. The Paris chair from Theoni Collection was the perfect fit.
From Moodboard to Reality
Maximalism presents a real design challenge to balance and harmonize all of the elements in a way that feels intentional, not chaotic. This was a game of trusting my eye, making thoughtful choices, and editing as we went. Lots of trial and error!
As a wedding florist, I always create a digital rendering in Canva to map out a design. This was my north star throughout the sourcing and planning process for this project to make sure we were properly balancing patterns, textures, and tones leading up to shoot day.
Seeing this rendering come to life made the whole creative process feel that much more rewarding.
The Team Behind the Vision
This shoot came together because of a dream team of creatives who all brought their A-game. Solage was such a wonderful host with such beautiful, welcoming grounds. Adriana Klas has such a positive, collaborative approach to everything she does (along with an amazing eye for detail), and was crucial in bringing this to life from inception. Alyssa of All The Deets coordinated all of the moving parts beautifully and seamlessly, with such a warm attitude. Maddy of Vada Goods and Karina of Studio Lameraner were both DREAMS to work with — down for anything, and bringing such fun ideas to the table.
This was a true passion project — a chance to play, to experiment, and to create something we were all genuinely excited about. We all walked away feeling creatively fulfilled and proud of what we made.
Who This Design Is For
We get it! A maximalist tablescape isn’t for everyone — and that’s the point. This vision was designed with the following in mind:
Brides and planners who want to push the envelope
Clients who value curated, artful, memorable designs
Clients who want to surprise and delight their guests
Planners who aren’t afraid to have fun and go bold
If you’re looking for something that feels personal, elevated, and unforgettable, this kind of design can help your wedding stand out — for all the right reasons.
Ready to Create Something Unexpected and Unforgettable?
If you’re planning a luxury wedding or event in the San Francisco Bay Area and seeking a floral designer to bring bold, artful designs to life, let’s chat! We’d love to hear more about your goals, and collaborate together via our high-touch floral design experience to create something extraordinary together.
Inquire here to get the conversation started!
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR VENDOR TEAM
Florals & Design | @anastasiaandenmatten
Venue | @solageauberge
Photo | @adrianaklas
Planner | @allthedeets_
Video | @koryfilms
Content Creator | @thecandidbride_
Hair & Makeup | @bridalbyjasminek
Bespoke Linens | @vadagoods
Rentals | @theonicollection @catalogatelier
Linens | @bbjlatavola
Stationery | @studio_lameraner
Dress | @eleanorsbridal
Ask a Wedding Florist: Frequently Asked Questions Vol. 1
I'm pulling back the curtain! If you’ve ever wondered what a wedding and event florist REALLY does besides playing with beautiful flowers, this series is for you! This post covers questions like "What does a wedding florist actually do?" to “How much do wedding flowers cost?” to “Where do you get your flowers?” and more.
If you’ve ever wondered what a wedding florist REALLY does (besides playing with beautiful flowers all day — because spoiler, there’s more), this series is for you!
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be answering the most common (and surprising) questions I get about my work as a floral designer for weddings and events in the San Francisco Bay Area. From pricing to logistics to design process, I’m pulling back the curtain on the sometimes-illusive career of floral design.
I’m kicking things off with the basics. If you have any burning questions, drop them in the comments and I will answer them in an upcoming post!
1. What does a wedding florist actually do?
A wedding florist conceptualizes, sources, designs, delivers, and installs all floral elements for weddings. This includes everything from bouquets and centerpieces to larger-scale installations like a ceremony arch. While a lot of the hands-on work happens the week of the wedding, 6-12 months of pre-planning involves proposals, design decks, supplier orders, budgeting, logistics and timelines, sourcing other rental items like vases and candles, and staffing.
2. How much do wedding flowers cost?
It varies! A common guideline is to allocate 10-15% of the total wedding budget to florals. My clients typically spend between $20-45K on florals. And if you’re curious what goes into the expense of wedding flowers, check out this blogpost I wrote here.
3. Where do you get your flowers?
I source my flowers from the San Francisco Flower Market (one of the largest wholesale flower markets in the US!), as well as a few local Bay Area flower farms. I prioritize small growers and collectives when possible to source the freshest, most unique seasonal blooms while supporting sustainable floristry.
4. What’s the hardest part about wedding floristry?
I’d say the physical demands (early morning market runs, long hours on your feet, lifting heavy buckets, climbing ladders for installations) paired with the unpredictability of the business (perishable product, time constraints, sourcing surprises, tricky weather). Lots of coffee, flexibility, and problem solving!
5. What’s the best part of wedding floristry?
Of course, being surrounded by beautiful flowers is a dream—but what truly makes it rewarding for me is the ability to take a vision, refine and elevate it, and use color theory and design to transform a space in ways my clients never imagined. I also thrive on the teamwork and collaboration with planners and other vendors, the energy of a fast-paced event day, and delivering a seamless, thoughtful client experience. That’s at the heart of my business and where I shine the most!
6. What are your favorite flowers to work with?
I cannot possibly pick one but here are some favorites by season. All photos via GC Collective.
WINTER & SPRING
SUMMER
FALL
If you have any specific questions, drop them here as a comment :) I will answer in an upcoming post!
Let’s Bring Your Floral Vision to Life!
Wedding flowers aren’t just a line item; they’re a work of art that powerfully sets the tone – transforming your venue and creating lasting impressions for your guests.
Inquire here to schedule a consultation, and we can start a journey together that will elevate your vision beyond the imaginable.
A Moody & Elegant November Wedding at Flood Mansion in San Francisco
This moody November wedding at James Leary Flood Mansion was all about creating a vibey, conversation-starting dinner party with florals at the heart of the design.
This moody November wedding at James Leary Flood Mansion was all about creating a vibey, conversation-starting dinner party with florals at the heart of the design.
Bride Hannah of Hannah Aubrey Hair had a strong vision: no two arrangements or tablescapes should feel the same. She wanted bold florals, unexpected details, and an atmosphere that immersed guests in beauty and intrigue. Working alongside Meag Breanne Events, we eagerly embraced the challenge!
Luxury Tablescapes with Monochromatic Florals & Textural Details
For the reception, we curated distinct tablescapes so that each felt like a one-of-a-kind moment, designed to keep guests engaged, spark conversations, and of course provide an Instagrammable moment :)
Tablescapes were designed with an array of both traditional and modern flower varieties, including red roses, carnations, orchids, peonies, hydrangea, hypericum berry, calla lilies, and butterfly ranunculus.
Some key elements of the tables included:
Mismatched vessels sourced and thrifted from all over the Bay Area
Monochromatic floral arrangements as statement pieces
Miniature mono-bloom arrangements in tiny and delicate vessels
Overflowing fruitscapes for rich color and texture
Scattered rose petals for added romance
Silk and velvet ribbons for texture
Plentiful candlelight for a romantic glow
A Romantic Ceremony with Statement Floral Urns
We wanted to embrace Flood Mansion’s timeless elegance and complement the venue’s architecture. We filled the venue’s gorgeous urns with lush overflowing greenery and deep red blooms including red roses and peonies. The ceremony setting felt dramatic and high-impact, a striking combination of traditional yet modern.
The Process Behind This Bespoke Floral Design
From hand-selecting every vessel across local Bay Area shops over the course of months, to spending a full day curating the perfect fruits, every detail was intentionally designed. We even applied individual bows and pearls into designs for an added layer of depth — loved that detail so much! Giving my talented design team carte blanche to push the envelope made this project that much more rewarding.
Florals that Create Unforgettable Moments
What made this wedding truly special was how each table felt like its own world, full of unexpected elements that delighted guests at every turn. It was more than just floral design—it was about creating an experience that felt intimate, elevated, and unforgettable.
If you’re planning a luxury wedding or event in the San Francisco Bay Area and seeking a floral designer to bring bold, artful designs to life, let’s chat! We’d love to hear more about your goals, and collaborate together via our high-touch floral design experience to create something extraordinary together.
Inquire here to get the conversation started!
VENDOR TEAM
Planning & Design: Meag Breanne Events
Photographer: Chelsea Gee Photography
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Catering: Foxtail Catering
Makeup Artist: Olivia Garvin Makeup
Hair Stylist: Meg Michel Hair
Music: Dart Collective
Content Creator: Cupid Content Co.
Cake: Cake Coquette
Rentals Theoni Collection & Abbey Party Rents
Linens: BBJ La Tavola
Venue: Flood Mansion
Q & A: Lea Stafford of Lea Stafford Events & Ethos West Collective
Today on the blog we have the amazing Lea Stafford of Lea Stafford Events, sharing with us more about the inspiration and mission behind Ethos West Collective, her hopes for the future of weddings and events, some of her favorite Black-owned businesses, and a sneak peek into the future of her business.
Lea Stafford, Lea Stafford Events
Today on the blog we have the amazing Lea Stafford of Lea Stafford Events and Ethos West Collective.
I first met Lea back in May through a mutual connection, and we immediately hit it off and started collaborating. Lea’s commitment to leading a life and business that is authentic and uniquely hers is inspiring. She’s not afraid to break the rules when it comes to experiential design and I can’t wait to see what comes next for her new brand launch.
In today’s post, Lea is sharing with us more about the inspiration and mission behind Ethos West, her hopes for the future of weddings and events, some of her favorite Black-owned businesses, and a sneak peek into the future of her business.
Q: Hey Lea, welcome! Tell us a little about yourself, where you’re located, and the services you offer.
I am a mother, wife, friend, and authentic lifestyle advocate. My business offers special event production and design services focusing on those who are willing to share their unique story. The next phase of business will concentrate on highlighting tips on how to maintain a healthy and sustainable living model. I am located in Oakland, Ca.
Q: Congratulations to you and your co-founders on the launch of Ethos West Collective! Can you tell us more about what inspired you to launch this, and the mission behind it?
Experiencing the lack of diversity and representation within this industry has been heavy on my heart for the past 10 years. Finding a creative and positive way to fill what I consider to be a major void became my mission about a year ago. I yearn for the same level of support and partnership opportunity as our non-Black community, it is crucial and vital to the health and sustainability of the wedding and events world.
When it came time to reach out to other professionals in the same space to support this vision, I knew I had to reach out to my local friends and creatives Chanda Daniels and Erica Estrada. I wanted a multi-talented founding team, uniqueness and truth were also very important to me. We each bring a little something different to the table. Chanda was tapped for her experience in the world of events and hospitality, and for her commitment to supporting equality. Erica was requested to join the founding team as I knew her creativity and passion for change would remain present in the spirit of the collective.
As a free-spirited non-conformist who holds a willingness not to play by the rules, I plan to drive the Collective's mission and tone by constantly encouraging a sense of community amongst the partners, members, and industry colleagues. My hope is that my push for equity will become the standard, and continue to be ever-present in both my storytelling and work.
Q: What are some ways couples can thoughtfully plan a wedding centered around values of inclusivity, diversity, and anti-racism?
It truly begins with self-reflection. In order to successfully plan and execute an authentic and value-driven wedding, you must identify what that means to you as an individual. Once that has been identified, you move forward with the pulling out the essential components, whether this means, people, food, visual stimulation, written content, location, etc. From there, you have created a sound base to move forward with the next steps in your planning process.
Q. What do you wish you saw more of in the wedding and events industry?
An unapologetic approach. I truly see a lack of diversity in not only the skin color represented, but also the design and tone of a wedding within our industry. We have got to do better when it comes to being confident in showcasing concept and design. Having a unique wedding that stands out from the next should be the norm and sadly, it is not.
Q: What are 3 of your favorite, most inspiring Black-owned design/wedding/maker businesses you follow on IG?
@maggisimpkins (engagement/wedding rings)
@joyproctor (event design)
@lynndunston (photography)
Q: Where do you find your inspiration, outside of Pinterest?
I find inspiration in my natural surroundings, food & beverage, and movies/shows.
Q: Can you give us a sneak peek into your design process?
The first step is to get to know the client I am partnering with on a deeper level. I pull out their values and goal for their wedding or event day. From there, I strip it all down to the essential elements, isolating the story or mission. I then identify the appropriate colors, and core texture to be used to share the story. Finally, the experience is introduced. An experience is necessary (in my opinion) to keep folks engaged, and my hope is that it will serve as a gentle reminder for the very reason they are gathering and celebrating.
Q: What does the next chapter of Lea Stafford look like? Where do you see yourself and your business 5 years from now?
I am currently working on the launch of my lifestyle brand. When I began my event planning and design company, I knew the long term goal was to become a lifestyle brand. Home entertaining tips and tricks, bespoke home good products, recipes, as well as event planning and design will all be offered under this brand's umbrella. What makes this particular model a bit different is that its mission is to bring the people a platform that amplifies the voices of a community artists that have been marginalized. I will partner with local farmers and BIPOC creatives highlighting their stories, encouraging the concept of local participation, as well as offering high quality and sustainable goods. This is my way of living in my truth, experiencing my love daily, and giving back to the community that has raised me.
Thanks so much for joining, Lea!
GET IN TOUCH
email: lea@leastafford.com
instagram: @leastaffordevents
website: www.leastafford.com
Q & A: Elise Brannan of Brannan Events & Design
Today on the blog we have a Q & A with Elise Brannan of Brannan Events & Design. In this post she’s sharing ways your wedding planning can be impactful to both your community and the environment.
Elise Brannan, Brannan Events & Design
Today on the blog we have Elise Brannan of Brannan Events & Design, who offers planning services throughout the Bay Area.
I've been so inspired by Elise, not just for her bold and unique wedding designs, but for her steady commitment as an event professional to making conscious, inclusive, and sustainable decisions when producing events. She’s an ethical vegan activist and intersectional environmentalist helping her couples and clients make informed decisions when it comes to their big days.
Since I’ve already learned so much from Elise, I wanted to bring her on here to share with you some of her ideas around conscious spending, inclusive vendor teams, and ways your wedding planning can be impactful to both your community and the environment.
Q: Hey Elise, welcome! Tell us a little about yourself, where you’re located, and the services you offer.
I'm Elise, a vegan event planner based in the East Bay Area where I live with my partner, Michael, and our fur babies! I was born in LA and lived there until I was about 10 (and we go back all the time) so I like to think of myself as a native to both northern and southern California lol!
I offer event services including management, design, and planning. As an ethical vegan and intersectional environmentalist I also try to guide my clients to make more conscious, inclusive, and cruelty-free choices throughout the planning process.
Q: What inspired you to launch your business centered around conscious, inclusive, and sustainable practices?
I started in event management when I was 18. I was involved with various non-profit groups growing up and when I was 18 I was a part of an executive board for Northern California, where we planned large scale events and fundraisers. That's where my passion for event planning began! I loved being able to bring people together with a common purpose in mind and I'm a social butterfly so I loved all the networking opportunities and thought - this would be an amazing job one day!
When I first came into the wedding world in 2014 I was definitely less conscious and sustainable. I became vegan in 2017 and in doing that really began to reevaluate my business, what it stood for and how it can be a force for good. It's still an ever evolving process but in my personal life I try to do as little harm as possible (and our everyday choices do lead to harm if we're not careful - something as simple as food selection can have a real impact) so I wanted to translate that to my business.
Inclusivity is incredibly important to me as well. Whether it's recommending specific vendors or even recommending another planner (as I know I'm not the perfect fit for all couples, and that's totally ok), I want to encourage clients to work with people of color. There is SO MUCH whiteness in the wedding and event space and it's up to planners (as we typically manage any given event) to go out of our way to make sure BIPOC vendors and businesses are included. I don't always get it right but I'm ok being called out on my mistakes and committed to doing better everyday. We have so much work ahead of us as an industry but I'm feeling hopeful.
Q: What’s a common misconception couples have when it comes to ‘eco-friendly’ wedding planning?
I think many couples think it's just about "waste", and they have a narrow vision of what waste actually is. When I look at being eco-conscious, it's not just about not using plastic straws. It's all about thinking how any given item involved with their wedding was cultivated, made, and transported. And it's important to take a look at the workers and their working conditions along the way. Only then can you make a truly informed decision. It definitely requires a couple being willing to think critically and consciously about every aspect of their wedding.
Q. What is the top area couples can look to reduce waste from their wedding day?
FOOD. I know food feels like it's a very personal choice and it is, but if those personal choices aren't thought about critically, you're not seeing all the harm it creates along the way. Removing animal products from the dining experience will make an enormous impact! It will reduce water waste and CO2 emissions drastically. It takes approximately 2,400 gallons of water to create 1lb of steak — now imagine 100 guests ordering said steak. And this is before we even consider appetizers and late night bites.
There's the human side of it too. Think about the marginalized slaughterhouse worker — the emotional, mental, and physical toll of having to slaughter 100s or 1000s of animals a day for the 15-20 minutes of momentary pleasure an individual gets from eating it. Most of the time working conditions for those individuals are horrible, they get paid very little and those slaughter houses pollute the area they're located in (often marginalized communities of color).
Lastly, there's an animal side. Many of my clients are self-proclaimed animal lovers and there is an animal cost to this. Innocent creatures, as friendly and as loving as your pets, end up on the plate. We see this as fine dining but it's really layered cruelty.
Also — vegan food is just delicious, healthier for your body, with a much lower impact!!
Q: You’re known for your beautiful, bold, unique, and conscious designs. Can you give us a sneak peek into your design process?
Thank you so much! My design process always starts with getting to know my couples on a personal level. I really want to infuse parts of who they are and what brought them together as a couple, as a part of their wedding design. We talk about everything from favorite TV shows, to how they would describe their home decor style, to what are their favorite activities to do together, to their personal fashion style. After getting a sense of who they are as a couple and what they want their wedding to represent I dig into creating the design around that!
Q: Let’s talk trends. What are some you’re loving right now?
I LOVE micro weddings! This isn't a new trend but they are some of my favorite weddings to design and execute. As COVID-19 continues to limit group gatherings, I think it's the direction the wedding industry is going to naturally take for the foreseeable future. Micro-weddings also allow for a smaller overall budget, but they give couples room to invest in the things that really matter to them.
Another trend I love is monochromatic color palettes! Where we focus on one bold hue and play around with complimentary shades throughout the design. It's fresh and memorable!
Lastly, I'm loving the eco-wedding trend, which is probably obvious but worth saying again :)
Q: What are some tips for couples when it comes to evaluating vendors?
For particular vendors, I think it's important to look for specific things but overall — I'd suggest getting to know your vendors before booking them — whether that's a FaceTime or a call or a coffee date. Make sure it feels like a great vibe, especially for those vendors that you'll be spending the most face to face time with on the day of the wedding.
I'd also ask them about their sustainability and inclusion practices. If they don't have anything concrete laid out, you may want to pivot. Vote with your dollars and invest in someone who believes in the importance of those principals, like you.
Q: When discussing budget, I love to guide my couples to impactful design decisions, a.k.a. ‘bang for your buck’ pieces. Where do you encourage your couples to invest and prioritize their budget when it comes to design?
Your ceremony decor! Your ceremony is such a short piece of the wedding day celebration, but it's also likely going to be some of your most important and cherished photos. I'd make sure to invest in the ceremony decor and then make sure that those pieces are getting reused throughout the reception space! Get as much mileage out of those pieces as possible.
Q: Name 3 small business owners that inspire you.
Food Empowerment Project (Lauren Ornelas)
Souley Vegan (Tamearra Dyson)
Package Free Shop (Lauren Singer)
Q: I’ve been working hard to lead a low-waste lifestyle both in my business and at home, so I’m curious: what is your favorite low-waste life hack?
Homemade is almost always less wasteful; whether that's homemade meals from whole food/simple ingredients, or homemade cleaners and beauty products
I love Imperfect Foods - our farmer's market is shut down at the moment so Imperfect Foods allows me to save products that wasn't "good enough" for the grocery store, from ending up in the trash
Shopping second-hand! I love shopping second-hand because it means clothing or goods get a longer life and there's typically little to no packaging involved.
Q: What is the difference between Vegan v. Plant Based?
There is a big difference between these two principals and I'll reference an awesome activist (@fulanivegan) and his descriptions:
Plant Based: In a 1980 study by T Colin Campbell Phd, the positive benefits of eating a plant based diet were established. The term plant based originated from this study completely separate from any view on ethics. A plant based diet can consist of 100% or mostly plant based diet.
Veganism: The term was created by Donald Watson in 1955 to describe someone who doesn't eat any animal products and rejects the commodity status of animals. The practice has existed for thousands of years as 'moral vegetarianism'. Vegans also do not wear leather, wool, silks etc. Ethical Veganism is a philosophical belief.
Q: What is Intersectional Environmentalism?
I get this question because it's in my bio and on my website! I'll quote someone who helped coin the term, Leah Thomas: "This is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected. It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities, and the earth, to the forefront and does not minimize or silence social inequality. Intersection environmentalism advocates for justice for people and the planet."
Thanks so much for joining, Elise!
GET IN TOUCH
email: elise@brannanevents.com
instagram: @brannan_events + @elise_thevegan
website: www.brannanevents.com