Weddings Summer 2009 > Planner

Renny and Reed Design for Entertaining

Landscaping consultant Renny Reynolds is a master of fantasy. Best known for his wild, Midsummer Night’s Dream-ish floral designs, he’ll sometimes use tropical trees brought from his nursery in Pennsylvania. The company also does modern and chic, displaying a minimalist but bold style. Centerpieces start at $225; bridal bouquets at $275.

Robert Isabell, Inc.

Robert Isabell flys under the radar (even his website is less than stellar), but don’t let that fool you. He is renowned for designing spectacular gala events. For his imaginative designs-he has been known to re-create a famous palace or old masters tableau-Isabell prefers not to quote prices, but says he can work with any budget. His team can plan all parts of a wedding except the catering.

Ron Wendt Design

Wendt, who works to craft an event that reflects his client, designed an exotic South African wedding where he mixed orchids and tropical flowers with faux-leopard prints and artifacts for a contemporary look. Bouquets start at $200; centerpieces at $250.

Saipua

The family-owned Saipua got its start making soaps, but with the opening of its Red Hook shop in 2006, branched out into custom floral arrangements. Sarah Ryhanen uses fresh seasonal flowers to create exuberant bouquets. Prices upon request.

Seaport Flowers

A favorite among downtown Manhattanites and Brooklyn yuppies looking for a sweet, low-key aesthetic, Seaport uses seasonal textures mixed in with flowers. A selection for summer might include garden roses, peonies, fiddlehead ferns, raspberries, and blackberries. Centerpieces and bouquets range from $150 to $175, but they’re willing to work with various budgets.

Shelley Bello Designs

It didn’t take Shelley Bello long to move from two small boutiques in Chicago to her own event-design company in New York. Bello and her team like to use local blooms and work with the natural shape of the flowers, creating striking sculptural bouquets and centerpieces (from $275).

Soirée Floral

Florist Dawn Kelly adds unique additions such as fruits (apples, pears, cherries), vegetables (artichokes, Brussels sprouts), beads, ribbons, and feathers to her arrangements. Soirée Floral’s designs are dramatic, which can mean either minimal and modern or lush and full. Individual centerpieces start at $250; bridal bouquets at $200.

Spruce

Gaige Clark’s clean arrangements-like the Spruce Crate, made to look like New England garden flowers actually growing in the vase-have attracted a devoted West Village crowd. Containers range from Champagne buckets to martini glasses. Centerpieces from $85; bouquets from $125.

Stonekelly Events/Florals

Designers Jennifer Stone and Marco Olmi were among the first to remove filler from arrangements. Their vibrant bouquets are packed with seasonal blooms of hydrangea, roses, and berries, and often come anchored in vases of fruit. Centerpieces start at $200; bouquets at $125.

Studio Artiflora

Stephanie Gueldner’s arrangements range from modern to classic with serious attention to color and shape. She uses only seasonal flowers bought daily at the local market (e.g., dahlias and hydrangeas in the summer), and adds textural elements like coconut bark, twigs, fruits, and berries. Centerpieces from $125; bouquets from $100.

From the Winter 2008 New York Wedding Guide