Take a break before your Wedding day, you will be glad that you did. The Camellia, Thunder Bay

 

There is a lot to get done when you are getting married. If you are both working full-time, and live in a different city from your family and friends, things can quickly become unmanageable. Taking a break before your Wedding day is a good idea Now that travel restrictions have lifted, maybe it's time to take that tropical vacay. It may just be what you both need.

If you can't get away, book a Foot massage at your local Spa. You will feel so much better! Relaxing in a hot Bath will also help. It's amazing how much better you will feel, after practicing some self-care. So often we get caught up with the crisis-of-the-moment, and we neglect ourselves. 

If you cannot sleep, because of all the Have-to-be-done-yet-details, give up trying to sleep, and do a brain dump. Write everything down on some paper, and then try and get back to sleep.  You Tube has some great sleep meditations. 

Laying down for a 30-minute Nap will do wonders. We hand-make these weighted Eye-pillows which you can use hot or cold. You will be able to function much better after a Nap. 

Here at The Camellia, we make Dried & Faux botanical wedding bouquets, boutonnieres and Corsages. If you would like to make your own Dried Flower bouquets, we stock Pampas grass, Bunny tails, fan palms and more. Do try to order ahead to ensure that we have the items that you will need.

  

  

Just in! Real Roses that have been preserved..... no water needed!

Just in! Dried Fan palms. 

We grow some of our own Dried flowers - like these Bunny tails. 

These are Dried and bleached quaking grass. 

Oat grass, that has been dyed Pink. 

Shop instore at The Camellia, 

30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, Ontario

Open Wednesday through Sunday. 

p 807-475-3551

https://www.instagram.com/camelliafromnaturetohome/

Coping with a Flower shortage and what it means for your Wedding, The Camellia, Thunder Bay.

 

There is a shortage of fresh flowers for all occasions, including Weddings. In various parts of Canada , we have had a very dry Summer, with many forest fires. Worldwide, there is a shortage of Flowers, due in part to the cancellation of many events , because of the Covid virus. Growers and Wholesalers have gone bankrupt, and transportation of fresh flowers has been compromised. 

To fully understand the crisis, read this article: 

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-design/article-a-flower-shortage-is-causing-florists-to-scramble-while-prices/

What does this mean for your Wedding? It will be difficult for any Florist to promise you will have those exact coloured Roses that you so want to have in your Bouquet. Scarcity causes price increases, so there is no way to quote a price for your Wedding a year in advance, as prices are changing weekly. 

Then there is the problem of transportation .... getting the flowers to your Florist in minus 21 C. winter weather. Trucks break down in cold temperatures, winter storms happen, and highways are closed. Staff become sick, and shipments don't arrive. And don't forget, Flowers need a heated transport. In Thunder Bay, fresh flowers are shipped from Toronto, or from Winnipeg, Mb. This leads to some nail-biting moments, especially during winter, when icy roads lead to overturned transports and closed highways. The stress faced by Flower shops during the pandemic, has been intense. 

Then there are the restrictions on size of Indoor and outdoor Gatherings ...this will change with 2 days notice. Your Florist has to order your flowers at least 1 month in advance, then Covid rules change, and your Wedding cannot happen, let's say, (worst case scenario). Your Florist still has to pay for your Flowers, unless you cancell two and a half weeks to 3 weeks ahead of the event. It is up to you to ask your Florist about their policies regarding cancellations.

What can you do? Source out flowers and plants from a local Greenhouse, for Table decor, (if your Wedding is in the Summer). Do arrange this with your local Greenhouse, a year ahead. If your Wedding can't take place, you can use the plants in your garden. 

Think about a mix of fresh foilage and silk flowers, with dried accents. Foilage is fairly easy to get, with most greens coming from Florida or California. Faux flowers come in many colours, and look very realistic. Bouquets can be made ahead, and placed in water, which leads to less stress. 

 

Visit us at The Camellia, for your Wedding flowers. 30/32 Hacquoil Rd.  Slate River, Ontariop. 807-475-3551. 

https://www.lakesuperiorweddings.ca/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

IG :camelliafromnaturetohome

Staying together in Marriage for 40 years.

In traditional Wedding vows...there is this phrase....

'.....for Richer or poorer, in sickness and health, till death do us part." Fourty years ago, when I said my wedding vows, I was full of many emotions. Most Brides & Grooms will wonder if they are doing the right thing, if this person is THE right person for them. So many things come into play... attitudes towards money, raising children, her family, his family, jobs, stepchildren and so on. 

Well here we are 40 years later. Every married couple has their joys, triumphs, and their failures and not-so-great moments. No-one is perfect. We are led to believe by the media that the Perfect One exists for us, in reality, staying together requires patience, communication, compromise, and more patience. Marriage is hard work. 

Having a renewal of Wedding vows at 25, 30, 40, or 50 years is a wonderful idea. It's something happy and positive to celebrate! 

Here at The Camellia, we design Wedding flowers and Flowers for Renewal of Vows ceremonies. You can also take one of our Floral Design Classes and make your own creations. 

We also do Weddings for those getting married later on in Life....like this beautiful Bouquet for Miss L. One of the themes for this celebration was Butterflies, and we were able to work this sparkly Butterfly into her Bouquet. Here at the Camellia, we specialize in faux Botanicals. 

If you're getting married, we wish you many years of Happiness! Visit us here at The Camellia for Wedding Flowers, special event flowers, wedding gifts, and much more. 

30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Thunder Bay. Open Wed. through Sunday. p 807-475-3551

www.lakesuperiorweddings.ca

Getting married in the Winter in a Tropical setting in Thunder Bay, Ontario

Northern Ontario in the winter can be very cold....if you are getting married, you may be thinking about a destination wedding in the Caribbean. There is an alternative which doesn't involve getting on a plane. The Botanical conservatory in Thunder Bay. When I first moved here from the warm Caribbean, The Conservatory was one of the places I frequented, inhaling that tropical air reminded me of Home. 

There is an abundance of tropical leafy plants, bamboo, fruit trees, hibiscus, camellia bushes, and more. There are pathways to stroll, benches to sit on, and it's a real pleasure on a cold Winter's day to 

visit The Conservatory in Thunder Bay, Ontario. 

Here is a close-up of a Camellia bush, look at that lovely bloom! 

There are seasonal displays for the Holidays, and while we do have Pointsettias in the Caribbean, they are more of a larger bush planted in the ground with smaller blooms. 

Seeing greenery and lush Tropical foilage in the winter is a real treat, and hats off to all of those who fought to keep the Conservatory in Thunder Bay, and raise funds and volunteer at events.  Here is the link to the Friends of the Conservatory Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/641839145834700/  .

Lush English ivy. 

Now if only there was an attached Banquet Hall where one could hold a Wedding Reception! For more information about the Botanical Conservatory, phone (807) 625-2941. 

For beautiful Wedding flowers, visit us at The Camellia, we specialise in faux botanicals which make sense for Northern Ontario Winter weddings. 

The Bouquet above is one which we designed for a wedding, doesn't it look real? It is made from faux flowers. No chance of these freezing in the cold!

Visit the Camellia, 30/32 Hacquoil Rd. Open Wednesday through Sunday. p (807)475-3551

www.thecamellia.com

www.lakesuperiorweddings.ca

Winter bouquets, Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Camellia

You love Winter, you love cold weather, so why not get married in the Winter? At The Camellia, we design faux botanical Wedding flowers which will not freeze in  our cold temperatures. Fresh wintergreens can be added and these last beautifully. 

We can make you fresh winter wreaths, which smell lovely and can be used to decorate the Church,  Reception or Home. 

Snow makes a beautiful backdrop for Wedding photos. 

Come visit us at The Camellia in Slate River, Thunder Bay, Ontario. 

30/32 Hacquoil Rd. 

www.lakesuperiorweddings.ca

p 807-475-3551

Southern Spring wedding - how Flowers enhance a wedding celebration.

 You're getting married and in an effort to stick to your budget, you may make the decision to axe the Floral budget, after all, how important can Flowers be in a Wedding? Click on this link to see an incredibly beautiful wedding celebration. 

 https://www.zimmermanevents.com/blog/southern-spring-wedding

Ok, so Flowers are an impotant part of a Wedding. How can you afford them? Read on for some ideas. A few blooms in a vase looks lovely.

What about some greenery? This could be a more cost-effective solution. 

Potted Muscari plants are great for a Spring wedding. 

Amaryllis blooms are so showy, one or 2 stems is all that's needed. 

Gerbera daisies come in a wide assortment of colours. Getting married in the Thunder Bay area? Visit us here at The Camellia for faux botanical floral bouquets. We have some of our bouquet packages on 40%off. 

The Camellia, 30 Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, On

Open Wed. through Sunday. 

p (807)475-3551

www.lakesuperiorweddings.ca

Will just doing Greenery at my Reception be cheaper?

You're getting married, and you've come to the sad conclusion that your Floral visions and your Floral budget are far apart. Someone suggested to you..."why not just have Greenery, or just Babies' Breath? They have babies breath at the Grocery!" Florists will shudder when they hear this. Do click on the following link and read this super post on choosing Greenery for your wedding florals. 

 https://www.quillandoak.ca/1045-2/

Photo via Pinterest. Stylemepretty.com

Photo via Pinterest. FloraGrubb.com

   If your wedding is in the Summer, you may think of growing your own Flowers and foilages, which is a big job, time-consuming, and weather-dependent. If you are a Gardener, this is an option. Pinch your plants so that they bush out and you get thinner stems with lots of blooms. Floret Farms is a great resource if you want to grow your own. https://www.facebook.com/floretflowers/

You can DIY you own Wedding bouquets with silk greenery...here at  The Camellia, we hold DIY Wedding Flower classes. 

Of course, you may be tempted to raid the nearest Tree, but, and this is a big BUT... You must do some research on conditioning the stems and proper storage, otherwise your stems will wilt and your Bouquets will be all floppy. 

Stop by our store, The Camellia, and talk to Camille about your Wedding Floral visions. 

Open Wednesday through Sunday at 30, Hacquoil Rd. Slate River, On.

p. 807-475-3551

www.thecamellia.com