Kelly Shore was the featured designer at the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner in Alaska during 2017. That experience led to a passion for using American Grown Flowers in all her designs. Photo by Joshua Veldstra Photography
She’s edging closer. Shore, owner and lead designer at Petals by the Shore in Maryland, is currently using 85-90 percent American Grown Flowers.
And with her passion still overflowing, she wanted to show other designers that they, too, could successfully source American Grown Flowers for events and weddings – and remain on-trend while doing it.
Photo by Kelly Hornberger Photography
That’s why Shore recently used nearly 750 stems of American Grown Flowers and Greens to create and photograph a mock wedding.
“I want to inspire other wedding and event floral designers to give American Grown Flowers a chance and to challenge them to source their flowers from more American farms,” Shore explains. “I wanted them to look at the photos, feel empowered and know that they can do it.”
She also wanted to give a hand up to a new wedding venue in the Washington, D.C., area that needed some photos to promote its space. So after working with leadership of the Congressional Club at the First Lady’s Luncheon (featuring American Grown Flowers and Shore as the lead designer), she offered to do an all American Grown wedding photo shoot at the Congressional Club building, a historic museum and luxury wedding venue.
Thanks to support from five Certified American Grown farms and by sourcing a few additional varieties from nearby farms, Shore created a floral-bedecked staircase ceremony location, a “sweetheart table” tablescape, bride’s bouquet and a groom’s boutonnière. And she even managed to get a classic Rolls Royce to use in shots of the happy couple.
Photo by Kelly Hornberger Photography
She was sure to use a popular wedding palette (blush!) and to include a vast variety of American Grown Flowers, including delphinium, stock, tulips, snap dragons, larkspur, protea, callas, peonies, spray roses and seven varieties of garden roses.
Shore also made the vibe relatable and recreatable, to inspire other designers to source American Grown Flowers to create beautiful weddings that meet the requests of today’s brides.
“I want designers to see what can be done and know that they can do it, too. Through my designs, I want people to feel empowered to connect with farmers, learn what grows here and become a storyteller through their flowers,” Shore explains.
“It’s about supporting American farmers, supporting our economy and finding new and exciting things that make you, as a designer, feel inspired.”
Source: American Grown Flowers