VIVA'S BOOK CLUB - THE ART OF FLORAL ARRANGING

Learn from the masters how to create breathtaking floral arrangements in this book by Eileen W. Johnson of FlowerSchool New York.

Celebrity designer Michael George, whose high-profile clients include Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Prada, Anna Wintour, and Louis Vuitton, joined forces with entrepreneur Eileen W. Johnson to create this famed floral arranging school located in Midtown Manhattan

Discover how to handle and combine flowers and create hand-tied bouquets, seasonal arrangements, flowers for entertaining, and more.

VIVA'S BOOK CLUB - GREEN WEDDING

In honour of upcoming Earth Day on April 22nd, check out Green Wedding by New York Times Style correspondent Mireya Navarro.

Green is the new white for today’s brides — metaphorically speaking.

Environmentally conscious couples are often appalled by the cumulative carbon footprint of traditional weddings and are seeking ways of expressing their earth-friendly values as they express their love.

Green Wedding shows there are smart alternatives — products and services as well as planning decisions — that can reduce environmental harm while ensuring a joyous, memorable and stylish celebration.

VIVA'S BOOK CLUB - MARTHA, MARTHA, MARTHA

Martha Stewart and her team are full of great ideas when it comes to weddings. They provide us with never ending inspiration by creating beautiful floral arrangements, demonstrating step by step fab DIY projects and offering us the best tips and secret tricks of the trade. They're always coming up with something new to 'wow' us.
And who isn't wowed by a Martha Stewart wedding cake? Stay tuned for my next post - a peek at some of the stunning cake creations you can find in this book and on her website. It's a good thing!

Open the pages and you will find:
- How to decide what style and flavours are right for you, taking into account the season, location and theme of the event.
- Buttercream or fondant? Ganache or meringue? Useful charts explain the delicious materials bakers use so you can choose the ones that suit your taste and style.

- Creative ways to display your cake so it takes center stage at the reception.

- How to find and hire a baker, including questions to ask and contract considerations.

- Ideas for cutting costs without sacrificing quality or beauty.

- Everything you need to know about baking a cake yourself, with complete recipes as well as how-to decorating techniques with color photographs and reference charts.