jomygoodness: Proudly featuring... JL Designs

If you're a reader of this blog, you should know by now how much I adore the work of JL Designs! Carissa Jones is the fabulous eyes, hands, and brain behind JL Designs, and I seriuosly have been dying to feature them on here! If you don't recognize her name YET, check out my color palette inspiration boards, because I don't know how many of them showcase just a smigen of what she can do... check out her website & blog as well. I promise... you will be impressed, amazed, and definitely wanting her to create the perfect environment for your big day!

{"flirty summer femme" photographed by Amelia Lyon Photography at The Cottage in San Clemente, CA}

Sweet and talented Carissa was kind enough to answer my questions.

When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An Author and illustrator of children's books! But then I realized I hate writing and I am not a very good artist... needless to say, I re-considered. :)

If you weren't a floral & event designer, what would you be?
I always wanted to be a teacher and really think if I had not sort of stumbled into the event industry, I would have been an elementary school teacher... probably 1st or 2nd grade...

I have also always been a huge magazine junkie and in college, I started off thinking I watned to work for a magzine someday. I still play around with that idea... Anyone at InStyle Weddings hiring a floral stylist? :)

{"persian luxe" photographed by John and Joseph Photography at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina Del Rey}

How long have you been in the wedding/floral industry?
Just about 9 years now. I actually got my start in the wedding industry in the summer of 2000, working under Mary Dann, who is a wedding coordinator in the Los Angeles area. In 2004, Mary introduced me to a friend of hers at Fred Segal, who ran their floral department. Thus my obsession with flowers was born! It wasn't long after I started there that I began taking on my own small jobs, weekly accounts, and wedding clientele... 1 year later, in 2005, I took JL Designs full time and things have just taken off from there!

What do you love most about what you do?
The fact that I get to be part f one of the most important days of someone's life is such a blessing! Truly, it is... and the best part is just stepping back and seeing it all come together and knowing I have created a day that truly reflects the couple... nothing beats that feeling!

Any horror story experience?
When I first started, I installed an event in Orange County and it was about 100 degrees. So, I went to store the bouquets in the venue's refrigerator, and I accidentally put them in the freezer! When I took them out, they started to thaw and droop, so I had to take them all apart and re-do them onsite. It was pretty stressful, but the bride never knew and loved the re-made versions... so that's what matters!

{"gothic glam" photographed by VCS Photo with bouquet shots by Ryel J at the Oviatt Penthouse, in Downtown Los Angeles}

How would you describe your floral & event design style?
Clean. Fresh. Chic. I really try hard to keep the color palette to no more than 3 colors (slight variations of the shade is fine), but when you start mixing too many colors, you lose the overall impact of the design.

I guess just like many things that make an impact, and for me, I would rather see a low, lush monochromatic piece or even a large grouping of small vases, each holding a few blooms, rather than a big "poof" of flowers, dripping and overflowing onto the table. I definitely feel like my designs are understated and simple, but at the same time, they make a big impact.

What inspires your design process? How/where do you find your inspiration?
I look for inspiration EVERYWHERE! trends tend to be dictated by fashion first, then interior design and then finally things trickle down into the event industry...as a designer, it is super important for me to keep up with what's going on in the fashion and interior design worlds in order to stay ahead of the trends... Here is a small sampling of what inspires me:

Anthropologie Stores
Kelly Wearstler
Old issues of Domino Magazine
Pottery Barn catalogs
WWWD (Who What Wear Daily) email blasts
Cooking shows
Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and Peter Som
Luxury boutique hotels
Floral genius, Jeffrey Leatham

If you were a ____________, you would be a ______________:

flower : coral peony! Or green succulent... or white phalenopsis orchid... or pale yellow garden rose... Come one, you should know better than to ask a floral designer that question! Impossible to choose! :)
signature drink : Mojito... hands down...
font / typography : "Fling" because it reminds me of the short lived, but much loved Blueprint magazine [sigh]

color palette: white, caramel, beige, taupe - sounds boring, I know, but I am all about a clean, crisp, fresh, simple look...

Any advice you would like to send to the readers?
Never under-estimate the importance of good chairs, even if you stick with a basic poly linen and super simple flowers on your table, the chair can make or break the look... Keep in mind there are 8-10 at a table, and if they don't fit the look/color scheme, they can really detract from your overall design.

Also, people never remember to budget for speciality lighting, and it is hands-down one of the most important elements in creating an atmosphere and ambiance for your day. Even if you have to scale back on your floral budget, your designer and your photographer will thank you!

Lastly, gone are the days of cookie-cutter weddings! It is so refreshing to see that people are taking chances with their wedding design... Don't forget that this day is all about you! It should be a reflection of your lives and personalities, so don't be afraid to think outside the box!

{"modern lakeside" photographed by Kim Fox Photography at the Malibu Lake Mountain Club in Malibu, CA}