Weddings Summer 2009 > Planner

Antony Todd

Event and flower designer Antony Todd makes elaborate but modern arrangements. His résumé-which includes Martha Stewart Weddings editor Darcy Miller’s nuptials and the Byzantine Ball for Save Venice-should give a sense of the league he’s in. Prices upon request.

Ariella Chezar Floral Design

A veteran of California wine-country weddings, Chezar eschews tight arrangements for ones that look happened-upon, studded with citrus fruit and rare vines. Many of her materials are grown locally, in the Berkshires and upstate, though she supplements such finds with unique plants from her own garden and will dig into her collection of antique silver vases too. From $350.

Ariston Florist

Since owner Thomas Barbagianis opened his shop in 1977, he’s been re-creating the memories of his childhood garden near Delphi, Greece. Think big, fat bouquets with attention to seasonal palettes, such as bright peony and lilac arrangements for spring, with a contrasting bridal bouquet of mango-colored calla lilies, berries, and chocolate-brown roses. From $75 to $300.

Artfool

With Matthew Robbins handling the floral arrangements and general décor, and Jack Myers doing graphic design (anything from table cards to websites), this duo and their team cover all the bases. Expect bold colors and contrasts (hot-pink anemone with orange poppy), often with textural elements like berries, seed pods, and olive branches as central components. Prices upon request.

Avidov Adler Studio

The famed avant-garde designer has engineered everything from intimate, 50-guest affairs to massive blowouts for 500. The common link: an obsession for detail and an artist’s talent for making tiny aspects of an event rise above the mundane. Prices upon request.

Banchet Flowers

This shop buys directly from designer Banchet Jaigla’s sister in Holland. Contemporary and architectural, the designs never lose the natural quality of simply being flowers. They use organic, seasonal, and wild flowers when possible. Bouquets from $275 to $325; centerpieces from $265.

Barbara's Flowers

This mother-daughter team has designed arrangements for MoMA and the Studio Museum. Owner TaraSimone Powell fondly recalls crafting envelope clutch bags with floral buckles at one wedding because the bridesmaid’s dresses were "just too fabulous for an ordinary bouquet." From $125.

Bardin Palomo

Robert Bardin and Robert Palomo started their visual-events-planning company sixteen years ago; today they do complete interiors for high-end parties. Their impressive creative portfolio, filled with lush, colorful arrangements, features classic designs with a modern twist. Bouquets from $295; centerpieces from $285.

Belle Fleur

Couples flock to this shop for eye-catching upscale designs. The monochromatic, lush arrangements here have a contemporary feel. These days, Belle Fleur mixes Eastern and Western styles by juxtaposing orchids with peonies or adding tropical leaves to traditional bouquets. Centerpieces are $150 to $500; bouquets start at $175.

Bill Kocis Important Flowers

This Garden City Park florist focuses on whimsical and playful details like faux-gem accents and glittered rose tips. For a recent wedding, Kocis created a fresh, dewy environment by suspending green orchids and wheatgrass spheres from a clear-acrylic overhead platform that supported 1,000 candles. Bridal bouquets start at $200.

Bloom

Couples are bowled over by owner Kimberly Perrone’s modern yet elegant combinations of traditional and exotic flowers. Bloom’s arrangements are in demand all around town (the W Hotel is a regular client). Bridal bouquets start at $200; centerpieces start at $275.

Bowman Dahl

With clients like the New York Botanical Garden and Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Brian Bowman and Dan Dahl know how to create classic arrangements with a twist. A spring wedding might include black parrot tulips, sweet peas, masses of lush branches, and seasonal fruits (quince, crab apples, and cherries). The duo draw inspiration from the bride and groom’s story, so expect personalized floral design. From $200.

From the Winter 2008 New York Wedding Guide