My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

The oh no factor

My article and Floral Monogram Seating Plan designs featured in
DIY Weddings Magazine


If only planning a wedding can be as easy as a wave of the fairy godmother’s wand, and “bippity boppity boo,” everything is perfectly planned. Realistically there will be a few “oh no” moments where you need to be resilient to get done what you want to do.

Here are a few of my own coping strategies that I use when things are not going exactly as planned:

The oh no factor floral art design.

Take a moment for the moment: Remember what you are planning. Sit back and look around you, this moment is your precious memory. Make a conscious effort to remember the connections you made and the love you felt. Put the “oh no” into perspective.

Spanish Moss monogram.

Over prepare, then go with the flow: Do your work. Prepare what you need to prepare. And then when all is said and done let things go. Being too stuck on an outcome can actually make things go wrong. Unexpected things may happen and it is so much better than anything you could have planned, just go with it.

Grape vine tendrils

It is not over until it is well and truly over: While it is wise to make alternative arrangements if you notice something is not going to plan keep your eye open for things actually falling into place at the last moment. It happens.

Lichen details

Make decisions once: It is exhausting to revisit the same decision over and over and over. While it is important to keep an open mind it is also important to make a decision quickly when you are at a crossroad.

Spider Orchids

Don’t sacrifice what you don’t have to: Do you know for sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that that design element or venue is not going to be available? You might think your friend would not enjoy being part of the wedding party even though you desperately want to include her, but do you know, for sure? Don’t assume an outcome before exhausting all the possibilities.

Orchid and Spanish moss monogram

Use your resources: When things are not going as planned fall back on things that are familiar to you. What (or who) do you already have access to that can help out? Someone with a pretty flower garden? Driftwood from a beach close by? Someone with an eye for design who can transform a handful of wildflowers into a bouquet?

Spider Orchid and Spanish moss monogram

Perfect never makes for a good story to tell years to come. While you most certainly don’t want drama to follow you every step of the way, overcoming small obstacles together as a couple add to the adventure of planning your wedding.

DIY weddings magazine the oh no factor article.

Thank you DIY Weddings Magazine for inviting me to contribute.

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

6 July 2016 Floral Monogram Seating Plan

Wrap Spanish moss around a monogram wire frame to create a creative seating plan

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

23 November 2011 Assembling a Mobile on a twig top bar

Here are the two secrets to assembling a well balanced hanging sculpture: First: Let gravity do the work. Do not fight it. And Secondly: Start from the bottom of your design...

23 October 2013 Hanging leaves from a Hazel twig top bar

Create a free moving autumn leaf screen

Related Designs

11 October 2017 giving a thanks

A wire and acorn thanks

23 November 2011 Earthly Angel

Christmas Flower Trends 2011 starts with a Floral Craft Assignment from the Floral Trends Design Group to make an Earthly Angel garden decoration.

11 May 2016 Pour

Glue a twig vase and melt some plastic to create a tumbling design

16 December 2015 Christmas Waves

Twist a Kalanchoe and Ivy vine Christmas tree mobile

28 December 2011 Bubbly New Year’s Sparklers

Delicate glass bubbles filled with the midnight blue African violet flowers, purple ornamental capsicum and spilling down the design are a few stems of rosary vine

8 August 2012 Stringing in the rain

A veil of green wool, Spanish moss and dried hydrangeas hang over white lilies

4 December 2012 'Tis the Season

My article looking at contrasts and 6 winter lantern designs featured in the DIY Wedding Magazine

24 April 2013 Hanging Space

Suspend small bud vases with Macramé-like knotted wool. This design is featured on The Fusion Flowers Magazine... Fusion Links page.

23 October 2013 Their work well done

String Autumn leaves to fall down in a design

23 July 2014 Chain of Thought

Knot small stems into decorative chain garlands

6 August 2014 A sprinkling of magic fairy dust

Hard to believe but designers are already busy preparing for the Christmas Season. This is my article and design featured in the Inspired Florist, Christmas Edition

23 September 2015 Pretty Spicy!

Hang fruity wire garlands to display Gerbera daisies

23 March 2016 Celebrate!

A closer look at my design at the 20th anniversary of Canada Blooms and The Toronto Flower Show