January 15, 2026

A Final Ride

This celebration of life was created for the husband of Janene, owner of Janene’s Bridal in Alameda, California.

The family chose to hold the gathering inside the bridal shop because it was one of the places that carried so much of him. He had poured countless hours into transforming the building for his wife and creating a beautiful home for her business. From the lighting and paint to the two matching fireplace mantels, his hands and craftsmanship could be seen throughout the space.

It was more than a meaningful place to host his celebration. It was part of the legacy he left behind.

The Floral Bicycle

He was a devoted mountain biker who rode with a team whose colors were orange, white, and navy blue. I was asked to incorporate those colors and create a bicycle made of flowers—but I wanted the finished piece to feel sophisticated, sculptural, and worthy of the man it represented.

I sat with the idea for a while before deciding how to approach it. The design needed to celebrate his love of riding without feeling overly literal or theatrical.

Painting the bicycle navy blue immediately gave it a more elegant presence. Rather than displaying it flat on the ground, I elevated and angled it as though it were climbing a hill. This brought the installation to eye level, created visual movement, and made the bicycle feel as if it were still in motion.

I selected tropical, architectural flowers in rich orange, crisp white, and touches of blue. The flowers moved naturally through the bicycle, allowing the mechanics and floral design to become one seamless composition.

The navy bicycle also happened to perfectly match the blue accent walls inside the bridal shop. It connected the installation to the room so beautifully that the piece felt as though it had always belonged there.

Florals Throughout the Celebration

The other floral moments were designed to carry the same color palette and sculptural movement throughout the space.

We created floral installations across both fireplace mantels using orange and white calla lilies and cascading phalaenopsis orchids. The flowers draped from the mantels with an elegant, natural movement, framing the rows of guest chairs placed between them.

At the front of the bridal shop, two coordinating floral arrangements were positioned on either side of the entrance to welcome friends and family into the celebration.

Every installation was designed to feel connected—to the bicycle, to the colors of the shop, and most importantly, to the man whose work and presence could still be felt throughout the building.

The final result was strong, personal, and deeply connected to the life being honored: a celebration held inside a space he lovingly built for his bride, centered around a floral tribute to one final ride.