The Flower Blog

Since September of 2011, I have seen a huge increase in the number of weddings featuring dark purple (often referred to as Lapis or Regency purple). In the world of flowers, there are not as many natural choices in this shade as compared to other colors (yellow, pink, white).

However, with a little creativity, we have come up with some beautiful options for all of our “purple” brides to be!

Flowers that grow naturally in shades of deep purple include: Calla lily, carnations, stock, larkspur, gladiolus, statice, limonium, safora, liatris, dendrobium orchid, iris, hybrid delphinium and tulips. Not all of these options are cost effective or appropriate for all types of wedding styles. Therefore, it is necessary to get creative with how we design with the color palette to make a beautiful presentation.

Consider Designs using purple as the focal point.

Since purple is a dark color, it is often more balanced to use a lighter, contrasting color to supplement the deeper, more focal color. I would suggest using deep purple with softer shades of ivory/white, pale green, pale pink or lavender to create a design that highlights your thematic color choice, but does not overbear the design.

Add in purple embellishments.

Using jeweled pins in the center of contrasting colored flower blooms is a fun way to sprinkle your themed color throughout your bouquet. Another option is to use ribbon accents in your bouquet. This can be in the form of ribbon loops, bows or streaming ribbons. For the more adventurous bride, consider using feathers or tufts of tulle to create a little flair within your bouquet.

Incorporate artificial flowers into your fresh flower design.

This may seem a little odd at first, but if Mother Nature does not provide what your heart desires, skillful hands probably can! Last year, one of our brides wanted to incorporate purple anemone into her bridal bouquet during a season in which the anemone is off-crop. Her wish was our command! Beautiful artificial anemone is shown here in this stunning bouquet of fresh cut blooms!

 Ready to design your dream wedding flowers? Click Below to contact our Wedding Specialist!

Need some more ideas? Check out our website with wedding flowers priced and ready to go!

Wedding Season

It seems funny to think that weddings have a season, but just like everything else in life, there is a constant ebb and flow.

It has been fairly quiet on the wedding front since Thanksgiving, which is typical. That’s not to say that we didn’t have beautiful weddings taking place, because we did!

This stunning bridal bouquet was carried for a New Year’s Eve wedding ceremony (how romantic)!

However, since Christmas, I have talked to more brides in less than two weeks than I have in nearly two months! What causes this sudden upswing in wedding flower shopping? Engagements, of course! Many couples get engaged during the holiday season and Valentine’s Day. For the next several months, I will be meeting with brides to start the initial planning and budgeting for their wedding flowers.

As we turn our calendars past February, brides will be finalizing their wedding plans for summer weddings. We service weddings year round, however our most popular months are March through October. This is what I have dubbed “wedding season” at our shop!

My schedule changes to reflect the needs of our brides, insuring that I am here when they need me! 

Planning a wedding? Email me for more information or to set up a consultation at:

weddings@gillespieflorists.com

Check out our wedding flowers on our website, complete with prices!

It’s Christmas Eve and you just remembered you forgot to get a gift for your favorite Uncle Joe and it’s too late to have something shipped. You call your local florist who is crazy busy with Christmas orders for all the other customers who forgot someone and need a last minute delivery.  As soon as your florist hears that you want to send flowers out of state, they tell you “Sorry, we won’t be able to find anyone to fill your order.” Then promptly get off the phone, leaving you to wonder what to do.

As a proud member of the Teleflora network, I can tell you most of the year we have no problem sending orders all over the country, even the world! But a few days out of the year, it can be very difficult.  On Christmas Eve, Valentines Day, Mother’s Day and July 4^th, we find that to be true. Here at Gillespie’s we will take your order at no obligation to you and attempt to get your order filled. If we cannot find someone to fill your order then we will cancel the order and call to let you know.

Most florists want to make sure their customers are taken care of first then accept orders from other florists. So, if you find that your local florist can not send flowers out of town for you, call the out of state florist directly! You can do this in 5 easy steps.

1. Get access to the Internet and do a Google search. In the search field enter the word “florist” and the zip code your recipient lives in. 
2. Make sure to skip over the advertisements. Usually shaded in light pink or yellow. Then pick out a listing and click to go to the website.
3. Once you are at the website, check out a few things to make sure they are a Real Florist. Click on the “About Us” page and see if there are any pictures of the shop or personal videos. On the same page check the address and phone number to make sure they are actually located near the area you want to send to. If those check out, you’ve got a local florist!
4. Now, check out the selection of flowers on the website. Find at least two bouquets you like. It’s always best two have a backup in case the florist is out of a certain product.
5. Call the florist. Place the order. Some florists restrict their website during a busy holiday like Christmas Eve to not except orders. But if you call, they are more likely to accept the order. Also, you will be able to discuss what product they will be sending and making sure on when your delivery will be made.  Make sure when you call to mention you are sending to your Uncle, wife, ect. This clears up for the florist that you are NOT another florist but a Real customer!

Christmas is almost here! Have you checked everyone off of your list? If your answer is “No” then avoid the lines and crowd! Order flowers for the rest of your list and be done! We will specially design a beautiful Christmas bouquet for your loved one.

With bouquets starting at just $29.95, you can have convenience and value! Melt their hearts with the Christmas Flurries bouquet! This bouquet is filled with evergreens, red carnations, babies breath, and pine cones. This bouquet will be perfect for the Christmas party dining room table!

Want to send something that will be cherished year after year? The magic of Christmas is reflected in this beautiful keepsake resin reindeer detailed in a lovely ivory with green and gold motiff. Prancer is surrounded by sparkling gold pine cones, carnations and mixed seasonal green to create a memorable setting for your table this year.

Need a gift that will really “Wow” them? Bring a little heaven to your holiday celebration this year with this stunning, one of a kind design. It features a stately resin reindeer, dusted in gold, standing atop a sculptured snowy cliff. Dazzling white Asiatic Lilies are set amid unique Lotus pods, fragrant white roses, carnations, pine cones, yoko ono poms and mixed winter greens. The finishing touch is created with stylish curly willow.

Don’t fret about the little stuff this Christmas! Let us help you with your last minute gifts by delivering flowers for you through Christmas Eve! Want to pick up flowers? Stop in the store where we have ready made bouquets just for you!

Our hours Christmas week:

Monday - Friday 7am - 7pm

Saturday 9am - 4pm

Christmas Day Closed

Shop our large Christmas selection by clicking below!

Want a gorgeous Christmas centerpiece this year for your Christmas party but think you cannot afford one? What if I tell you that you can have one for as little as $9.95? If you are a “Do it Yourself” type of person, then you will love this!

For $9.95, we will provide you with kit filled with a tapered candle, design bowl, floral foam and assorted evergreens! You can take this kit home to make on your own or make in the store and our expert designers can give you tips along the way!

Want to add a little color to your bouquet? We suggest adding two red carnations, a stem of white snowflake daisies and two pinecones! Each is just a $1.00 so your additional cost is only $5.00 for a total cost of $14.95!  A centerpiece designed by one of our expert designers like this one would be $29.95! You save 50% by going DIY!

This is also a great gift idea that won’t break the bank! Evergreens can last up to a month so this is a long lasting gift too! To make your gift even more special, go through our wide selection of keepsake containers here in the store to design your centerpiece in and your loved one can enjoy it year after year!

Ready to get started? Stop in at 10^th & Raceway!

Have any questions? Click below to ask!

Don’t have time to make your own centerpiece? Our expert designers will be happy to do it for you! Click below to start shopping!

You are on a Funeral Home or Newspaper website reading the obituaries.  You notice a tab that reads: Send Flowers, Send flowers from a local florist or similar wording.  Click, and within seconds, you are looking at an online catalog of beautiful floral tributes.

Now might be the time to stop and consider the price of convenience. 

On those sites, there is most likely a third party involved who created and maintains that site on behalf of the funeral home.  Generally, the funeral home will recommend one or two florists to the web developer.  The florists enter into a contract with the third party and agree to pay a commission on the sales made on the website.  The florist will receive payment of about 70% of the dollar amount you paid.  To compensate for that 30% commission the florist will generally price the product offered on these websites about 30% more then what the same product would cost on the florists’ own website or physically at their own store.

A few months ago, a funeral director told me about an article in an industry magazine announcing that FTD and Batesville Casket Company were partnering to provide a website to assist funeral homes in selling flowers to their clients.  Recently, 1-800-Flowers and Tributes.com also created an E-Commerce Program for Funeral Homes.

There are countless other commission based relationships that some funeral homes and florists have maintained throughout the decades. 

Please consider that a $500.00 floral purchase as part of a funeral package offered by the funeral home or from a website linked to their website, could cost you up to $150.00 more than shopping directly with a local florist.  The money you could have saved buying from a traditional florist could have purchased another large tribute for the service!

Gillespie Florists works closely with funeral homes to provide superior products and services, but not on a commission basis.  In the present business climate, I predict that margins could shrink even more dramatically. I understand the need for funeral homes and other businesses to consider new income streams.

While there is nothing wrong with industries having partnerships with other industries, or businesses with other businesses to create efficiencies, income streams and conveniences, I feel that in these times especially, a penny saved is a penny earned.  It pays to go directly to the source.

Shop with Your Real Local Florist, Gillespie Florist!