An Unconventional Affair

Many of you may know a friend of mine, Roy Cerny. Roy has been a part of my family's lives for quite some time. My son worked with Roy when he was 16 years old and now 16 years later the two are still close friends. Jim also has a close friendship with Roy, one that grew over a love for the outdoors and camping in the Boundary Waters. They have a never ending book of stories and if you ask for one you'll walk away twelve stories, three hours, and one sideache (from laughter ) later.

For those of you who have friendships that have lasted a decade or two, or maybe even three, you can agree with me that there is something incredible about them. You live through the good and the bad with one another. You laugh together and cry together. You share joy and you share pain. Roy is one of these friends for us. And so when he approached me to do his wedding I said yes without hesitation and was blessed to be able to share in one of the happy moments.

In true Roy fashion, little about this wedding was conventional. There were no tuxes or formal clothing, in fact Roy and his bride Midge wore camoflauge..... yes you read it right, camoflauge. There couldn't have been a better attire for the two than hunting-inspired clothing with the bright orange as an accent. Your thoughts are probably similar to mine, how does one design flowers and decor for a such a wedding? Well, as in any design job I may come across, I love a good challenge. And this was no exception.




Nature was my inspiration. Both Roy and Midge are lovers of the great outdoors. It seemed to suit both them and their camo ensembles.  Rather than ribbons and silks I turned to birch tree trunks for the stem of the flowers. And instead of flower petals or crystals I filled vases with sand. The result was an unorthodox mix of rugged and feminine. 

It was unlike any wedding I have designed for, and unlike any wedding I have ever attended. But it was fitting for our friends and I couldn't have imagined it any other way. Congratulations Roy and Midge, here's to the decades to come.