StyleSchool

Emily Weaver Pinon, Founder and President of Chestnuts in the Tuileries (chestnutsnyc.com) in New York City is sharing her wedding expertise in the world of flowers this week. Fresh off designing the blooms for Renee Zellweger’s birthday party, Pinon followed in her parents’ footsteps when she opened her shop eight years ago.

What is your design philosophy? Our aesthetic is tailored, classic elegance. We believe that you begin by selecting a color palette, then build your design from there.

What inspires your designs, and why? There are so many things that inform our designs: client personalities, the gardens of France, designers like Carolina Herrera and artists like Monet. For us, it's all about texture, style and color. They key is pulling it all together to create a classic, stylized experience.

How can brides make sure they get the most impact for their money when ordering flowers? It is very important for brides to know their budget. Once a budget is stated we can guide clients in the proper direction to achieve gorgeous wedding arrangements.

What is your favorite flower for weddings? I love delicate novelty flowers. It is hard to pick one, but right now I love peonies, lilies of the valley and sweet peas.

What should every bride know about flowers? Each flower has its own opening and developing time, and brides should consider the peak of the flowers they like. Certain roses develop into 3-inch teacup size blooms, while others stay more closed looking. Using more opened flowers helps fill in the compositions really well.

What’s the big trend in wedding flowers? Right now, brides are loving the loose garden style with a lot of interesting elements— no roses, no calla lilies. We are using more sweet pea, hydrangea, lilac, renuncula, delphinium and peonies.

To learn more about Chestnuts in the Tuileries, visit chestnutsnyc.com.