PURPOSE
“Our goal is that infused in every bouquet, each event and all occasions that we are called upon to deliver, you feel our reverence for the use of this earth we are borrowing and our love for life!”
“Our goal is that infused in every bouquet, each event and all occasions that we are called upon to deliver, you feel our reverence for the use of this earth we are borrowing and our love for life!”
Built in 1870, this vintage farmhouse in the Ottawa Valley is not only our nest but also the hub and energy source of our way of life. A homestead, sitting solid and welcoming on an open expanse, observing, breathing, fluid yet stable. Its peaked roof, wood stacked up to the ceiling of the covered entryway, and a screened porch at its rear, serve as both a retreat from the heat and a cozy nook to observe the rain. Tall, narrow windows, like watchful eyes, take in sunrises, moonlight, and storm clouds that gather like mounds of meringue. This is our shelter, our den, our burrow.
The surrounding two acres of lush, pampered grounds are home to a cornucopia of flowers. Spring bestows the heady scent of French Lilac, the cheerful bobbing of daffodils, and the elegant dance of graceful tulips. Summer graces us with fragrant English roses, ruffled peonies, and an assortment of stunning lilies. Fall arrives as a kaleidoscope of color and texture, with dahlias and mums playing leading roles.
Riverwood Gardens, owned and founded by Amber Tiede for more than fifteen years, has been a collaboration of life’s experiences. With mentors like Jane Packer and the opportunity to work abroad in both Denmark and England, she brings her love of textures and movement to each creation. Incorporating foraged finds along with an abundance of naturally and responsibly raised flowers from the gardens, Amber's creative approach is truly unique.
In addition to designing wedding decor locally and worldwide, Amber specializes in corporate spaces in Toronto and Ottawa. She provides restful container garden installations for both indoor and outdoor spaces, along with festive, eye-catching Christmas trees and assorted arrangements designed to spread warmth and good cheer.
While Amber's creative vision is the cornerstone, this endeavor wouldn't be possible without the dedication and assistance of her fantastic employees and, most importantly, her family. Her husband, Ed, is her trusted right-hand man, while daughter Rosie captures moments artistically through the lens. Rosie’s handy husband Alex, Sons Jonathan and Justin tend to tasks diligently, from nurturing the grounds to handling various responsibilities. The youngest, Jeremy, a budding chef, often graces their country kitchen, preparing delectable dishes such as lemon and thyme-stuffed chicken and peach cobbler for dessert. Shiloh, the rough collie and Petunia, the fluffy house cat bring warmth and much fun to the family farm.
It is with immense anticipation that we welcome you to explore the beauty and craftsmanship that emanate from this cherished space, a true embodiment of nature, family, and artistic endeavor.
Riverwood Gardens was truly an A+++++ florist for our wedding day. I remember seeing the bride bouquet and bridal party flowers for the first time, and I was blown away at the details — they were all cohesive but wonderfully unique. The centerpieces also disappeared quickly at the end of the night because our guests loved them as much as we did!
Amber was great, helping us understand our options and needs at the introductory call. And the visual proposal helped us see how it might come together in line with our vision. I can’t thank Amber and her team enough for their incredible additions to our wedding day!!!
-Sinyi
Weddings can take a lot of energy to plan. From the warm and lovely initial consultation, to ongoing communications, and to pivoting to a new wedding date last-minute, Riverwood was always there assuring us they had any and all our flower needs covered. I left all to their creative genius with only "burgundy influenced and I love blue hued foliage" as a guide, and they completely exceeded any expectations!
I had the most incredible floral crown and beautiful, full bouquet combining local and tropical flowers, arch pieces, aisle pieces, floral display on our tent; gosh the list goes on with all the gorgeous details they set up on the day-off. Amber and team blew it out of the park and really made the day feel so special xo
-Heather & Thierry
Riverwood looked after my dads funeral service and celebration of life. They looked after so many details we didn’t think of and arranged everything sooo beautifully. So nice to work with! Thank you so much!
-Ruthanna
Amber did my winter wedding bridal bouquet + boutonniere this past February. They were STUNNING, everyone said so and I can't gush enough about them. With Covid, I only had two weeks lead time to give her, but the process was painless and the result was above-and-beyond. Despite never having met me, one quick phone conversation about my 'vision' boom nailed it! The price was also reasonable. Just look at the photos, results speak for themselves.
-Lauren
Amber and her team did the florals for our wedding as well as the bouquets and boutonnieres for the wedding party. To say she killed this was an understatement. She took my vision and ran with it and went beyond what I could have ever expected. Amber is so professional and you are in the right hands with her and her team. The hanging install took my breath away when I first walked into the venue. The florals were everything I wanted and more for my wedding.
-Laura
Riverwood Gardens was referred to me by my venue as they work closely together for many events. After reviewing their social media accounts, I was able to see all of their beautiful work, and I booked a meeting with Amber immediately to discuss. After meeting Amber, I knew instantly I wanted to work with her and the team. Amber's calming presence was super refreshing and greatly appreciated considering how overwhelming and stressful wedding planning can be. In addition to being great to chat and work with, Amber and the team are incredibly creative and talented. I do not have a lot of "flower" knowledge, so I let Amber take over completely, and it was the best decision I made. I can honestly say that my bouquet and flower arrangements were my favourite part of the day. My bridesmaid who is getting married next year was so impressed by the flowers at my wedding and has just partnered up with Amber recently for her big day! I look forward to seeing Amber and the team again next year! Thanks again for everything!
-Angelika
I booked with Amber pre-pandemic and recently had my postponed wedding in September 2022. Amber was extremely accommodating with moving the dates as well as working within my budget. She was very helpful in planning the flowers with my decor and helped make suggestions that fit my style.
The flowers were a perfect blend of vintage, garden lush with a touch of autumn. Our photographer said that was one of the most beautiful bouquets she's seen in a long time. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to any bride-to-be as her team executed everything flawlessly on the day and I didn't have to worry about a thing.
- Taylor
We hired Amber as our florist for our October 2022 wedding. Having drooled over her beautiful bouquets and arrangements on Instagram for a year and a half before our wedding day, I was beyond excited to see her creations for us, and she did not disappoint! Our bouquets were absolutely STUNNING and our arch was the perfect complement to our fall wedding - she even masterfully improvised on the day-of when she realized that the arch we'd bought wasn't going to be big enough. Thank you Amber for making my flower dreams come true.
If you love whimsical, artful florals, hire Riverwood Gardens right now!
-Allison & Ron
Can't say enough great things about this locally owned company!! After only sharing a few Pinterest photos and colour scheme with Amber, she knew exactly what to do! Everything her and her family prepared for our big day was everything we needed and we couldn't be happier. 10/10!
-Erin