A Burgundy Fall Wedding at Common Goods and Apostrophe Home in Carlsbad, CA

When a couple trusts your artistic vision completely, magic happens. This November wedding at Common Goods and Apostrophe Home in Carlsbad, California, was one of those opportunities where creative freedom met thoughtful collaboration, resulting in a floral design that felt both intentional and effortlessly organic.

The Vision: Burgundy and Trust

The bride and groom came to me with a single color request—burgundy—and a simple Pinterest mood board. As a modern event florist who blends self-taught experimentation with years of learning from diverse floral mentors, I thrive on this kind of creative partnership. Each florist I’ve worked with over the years has had their own unique style, and I’ve been building mine by gravitating toward the alternative, the textural, and the sometimes overlooked.

Site Visit: Choosing the Perfect Vessels

One of my favorite parts of wedding planning is visiting the venue to understand the space intimately. At Common Goods and Apostrophe Home, I was immediately drawn to their collection of beautiful pots. The bride envisioned six large arrangements showcased in the event space’s existing vessels, so I hand-selected each pot, considering how the scale, texture, and patina would complement the overall design.

This is where my approach differs from traditional wedding florists—I see the container as an integral part of the arrangement, not just a vessel to hide. The pots at this Carlsbad venue had character and presence that would anchor the floral designs beautifully.

The Color Story: Texture Over Tradition

With the pots selected, I focused on building a color story centered around that requested burgundy, but expanded through layers of complementary tones and varied textures. My style gravitates toward depth and movement rather than perfectly matched blooms. I source flowers that speak to each other through texture, shape, and the way light plays across petals and leaves.

The Secret Ingredient: Foraged Sugar Gum Branches

Here’s where this wedding became truly special. While driving through my neighborhood, I spotted a row of sugar gum trees with branches in the perfect color—exactly what the design needed but something I would never have found at any flower market.

My early training at a sustainable events company in Massachusetts taught me the art of on-site foraging, and it’s a practice I’ve carried with me. There’s something deeply satisfying about incorporating elements from the local landscape, creating arrangements that feel rooted in place. I consciously foraged only what was appropriate and sustainable, taking care to respect the trees.

Those sugar gum branches transformed the arrangements. They added height, movement, and an organic quality that elevated the entire design in a way purchased materials simply couldn’t replicate. They were the unexpected element that made these arrangements unmistakably unique.

Modern Wedding Florals: Embracing the Unconventional

This Carlsbad wedding exemplifies my philosophy as a modern event florist. While traditional wedding flowers certainly have their place, I’m drawn to creating designs that feel collected rather than contrived, abundant rather than precious, and always, always textural.

My partially self-taught background means I approach floristry with curiosity and experimentation. I’m not bound by “the way things are supposed to be done.” Instead, I look for what’s interesting, what’s overlooked, what brings unexpected beauty to a space.

Planning Your Carlsbad Wedding Florals

If you’re planning a wedding in Carlsbad, Encinitas, or anywhere in North County San Diego, and you’re drawn to a less traditional approach to wedding flowers, I’d love to hear about your vision. Whether you come to me with a detailed plan or simply a color and a feeling, I believe in collaborative partnerships that honor your trust while bringing my artistic perspective to create something uniquely yours.

The best wedding florals tell a story—of the couple, the place, the season, and the intentional choices that make a celebration feel personal. This November wedding at Common Goods and Apostrophe Home was a beautiful reminder that sometimes the most memorable designs come from a combination of creative freedom, local foraging, and the willingness to see beauty in unexpected places.