When Samantha emailed me her wedding photos, I died. But when I read her words, I was reborn with all the gut-punch passion that led me to launch Flower Moxie in the first place. (Remember I was a forensic scientist. Femurs and beakers. Let's just say Buzzfeed does NOT offer gift lists for the bone collector in your life.) 

Like every bride before her wedding, SAMANTHA WAS KIND OF BUSY. She had family in from out of town, a zillion errands to run and a place to be every night that wasn't her couch watching Olivia Pope. Poor doll was too anxious to eat and was convinced her bridesmaids linked her shaky handwritten Thank You cards with too much drank. 

After the rehearsal dinner, everyone offered to stop by the house and help arrange the flowers. But Samantha had one squad in mind: Destiny's Child on Pandora. 

"All I wanted was to be alone with the beautiful blooms that had been sitting in my apartment all week and go to town...I finally felt an overwhelming sense of calm and I wouldn't have felt that had it not been for this therapeutic project!"

Yes. Yes! MOTHER-LOVING YES. There's such a "Not Today Satan" stigma attached to DIY but Samantha proves that it is absolutely what you make it. She got out of her head in a way that truly primed her to enjoy her wedding day. And all it took was buckets of white roses, ranunculus, baby eucalyptus and seeded eucalyptus. And "Say My Name." 

Learn how Samantha met Max and basically gave him an ulcer here. 

Photography: George Street Photo & Video
Ceremony Venue: Meadow Brook Hall & Gardens in Rochester, MI 
Reception Venue/Caterer: Andiamo Banquet Center in Warren, MI 
Cake and Cupcakes: Homemade by a dear friend, @sarita.pauline
Hair: Angela Kiryakos, @angelakiryakos
Makeup: Sharlen Danial, @la_facciabella