Designing Life’s Celebrations

Should you be on a restricted budget, this beautiful book will likely remain on your coffee table with no practical use in your home. DeJuan Stroud’s spectacular large-format book on flower arrangement and event designs, Designing Life’s Celebrations, is designed for parties of the filthy rich. Stroud restricted his designs here in private homes and gardens though similar party planning also applies to wealthy company events. The full-page or double-spread photos are also spectacular but as you leaf through the pages, they become repetitive, same old same old—most readers quickly get bored. Each chapter is accompanied by text. No matter where you are in the book, overflowing flowers, carefully coordinated with the color of the home décor, are everywhere, and it’s a bit overwhelming. Wealth is displayed ubiquitously—heavy linen, gleaming crystal glassware, rich china and cutlery, furniture and décor to match—money is not spared. And, of course, bouquets and arrangements of flowers always dominating the scene. Stroud divides events into such categories as holidays, garden luncheons, celebrations, and special occasions. At the end of the book he devotes a chapter called Workbook to selection of vases (colored vases, silver, metal, pottery and glass), and resources.