The Flower Cottage has one of those stories that feels a little bit meant-to-be. It sits tucked quietly behind Ziebart and the Leon’s plaza, right off busy Perry Highway in Wexford…but unless you know exactly where to look, you’d never notice it! Honestly, even though Bethany and Julie both grew up in the area, drove these roads daily, and still live nearby, they had no idea this little house existed! It’s right down the street from their high school, yet the cottage stayed hidden all those years like a sweet little secret waiting for the right moment.

The cottage itself dates back to the 1950s, when it was built for our landlord Barry’s grandparents. Barry grew up on this land, and over the years he’s watched the property around the cottage change and evolve. After he married his wife, they lived in the cottage for a time before eventually relocating to another part of his property, where they still reside today. The cottage has always been a meaningful piece of his family’s story.

Sapphire and LaceDecember 12, 2025Comment

Elevated vs. Low Centerpieces: How to Choose for the Venue & Guest Experience

When it comes to designing your wedding reception tables, centerpieces play a huge role in setting the tone for the evening. The choice between elevated (tall) centerpieces and low arrangements isn’t just about style — it’s also about how the space feels, how guests interact, and how the florals work with your venue.

So, how do you know which is right for you? Let’s break it down!

Wedding Tips for Couples, Wedding FlowersSapphire and LaceOctober 7, 2025Comment

How to Design Wedding Flowers Quickly Without Sacrificing Quality

Here’s the thing, designing wedding flowers quickly and beautifully is absolutely possible. The secret? Experience, practice, and training yourself to work within a tight time frame. You might be surprised at how stunning your designs can be when you pick up the pace.

A lot of people imagine florists slowly and thoughtfully placing each stem, sipping tea, and adjusting a single rose until it’s “just so.” And sure, there are moments like that… but for most event florists, the reality looks very different.

Tips for Florists, How-to'sSapphire and LaceSeptember 19, 2025Comment

The Best Flowers for Large-Scale Installations That Hold Up Without Water

Flowers need water! One of the biggest challenges to solve as a florist tackling a large-scale installation is figuring out where your water source will come from.

Sure, you can use water pick tubes, floral foam, plastic vases, and other mechanics to keep stems hydrated. But sometimes, you just need a list of durable flowers in your back pocket for those larger installs where water isn’t an option.

It goes without saying (though we’re saying it anyway) that silk flowers are always an option for installations—especially in tricky spots or extreme temperatures.

Tips for FloristsSapphire and LaceSeptember 10, 2025Comment

Quick Flower Style Guide: Turning Words Into Floral Designs

When couples describe their wedding flowers, they often use words like romantic, organic, or modern. But what do those words actually look like in practice? As florists, we take the words you use to describe the feel of your day and translate them into shapes, textures, and flower choices. Here’s a quick guide to help you connect the language with the look.

Tips for Florists, Wedding Tips for Couples, Wedding FlowersSapphire and LaceSeptember 2, 2025Comment

Masterclass Recap

Back in April, we hosted our very first floral design masterclass—and what a weekend it was! 🌸

At Sapphire & Lace, we regularly offer seasonal beginner-level floral workshops where no experience is necessary. But we knew we wanted to create something special for those ready to advance into a floral design career or deepen their existing skills. This new masterclass was designed to bridge that gap—helping aspiring and established designers take their artistry to the next level.

Flower Tutorials, Tips for Florists, How-to'sSapphire and LaceJuly 30, 2025Comment

Staying Ahead of the Trends: Learning Floral Wearables with Passionflower Sue

We were so excited to travel to the Mayesh Cleveland branch for Passionflower Sue’s wearable workshop. Sue is such an innovative designer in the floral wearables space, and it was inspiring to learn how to create artful, fashion-forward pieces for modern couples who are ready to try something different.

Wedding FlowersSapphire and LaceJuly 30, 2025Comment

Venue Spotlight: Oakmont Country Club

As wedding florists in Pittsburgh, we get to work at a lot of beautiful venues—but Oakmont Country Club is one we always get excited about. We’ve designed weddings there time and time again, and it never gets old!

Michael Will Photography

With its old-world charm and manicured surroundings, Oakmont exudes sophistication. But what we love most as designers is how incredibly versatile the ballroom is. The space has a clean, neutral palette—warm woods, soft tones, and beautiful natural light—that makes it approachable and open to interpretation.

Wedding FlowersSapphire and LaceMay 29, 2025Comment

5 Things You'd Never Know About Wedding Florists

1. Powered by Caffeine and Treats (and a Lot of Heavy Lifting)

We always laugh when people picture us in the well-lit upstairs of The Flower Cottage, sipping tea in sundresses and leisurely designing flowers. The reality is a little more... chaotic. Making one arrangement is one thing, but making 20-30 of the same thing—on top of everything else—in a short time span? That’s a whole different ballgame. We love it, but caffeine and treats are a must to keep us going!

Tips for Florists, Wedding FlowersSapphire and LaceApril 3, 2025Comment

The Flower Cottage Journal

1. Powered by Caffeine and Treats (and a Lot of Heavy Lifting)

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