The Flower Blog

Trends are kind of like seasons; they come and go and come back again. When they return there may be a little (or ALOT) of variation but still the base idea, concept, weather, colors, they are still there. A fabulous difference between a season and a trend is you have more control over a trend and how much it affects your personal style, if at all! As fall kicks into full gear we will take a look at some of the trends for weddings this season. Who knows, maybe you'll see a rerun revisited in whole new way as you're enjoying the heralding colors of fall whilst sipping warm cider and secretly hoping the bride and groom will invite guests to take home that shabby chic table centerpiece burlapped vintage jar with wildflowers; because are they going to take them to Santorini? Hey, a girl can dream...or she can get on Pinterest and DIY it.

Since the weddings for fall season have recently begun it will be interesting to see what our autumn brides have in store for us this year! First off, let's take a peek at the color palette.

Pantone's color of the year is Radiant Orchid. At first glance I'm thinking this color isn't very radiant; it is more of a muted dark pink with splash of purple. However after perusing the tints and shades we can find a variety of ways to make this color pop front and center from sleek metallic to shabby chic fabulousness! Case in point, I absolutely adore this bouquet! The accent of lavender ties together the entire look right down to the shimmering opalascent ribbon.

Royal Blue is a strong competitor along with Alumninum for smooth sophistication while Mauve Mist and Cognac speak the softer yet refined language of nude fashion. Clean cut Cobalt and subtle natured Cypress although next to each other will set complementary tones when it comes to decoration. 

My personal style leans towards the Aurora Red, Misted Yellow, and Sangria. Nicely saturated earth tones with a twist which mimic the traditional season of changing leaves, brisk days, and nights alive with bonfires, roasting marshmallows, and ghost stories abound in wooded hallows. 

Speaking of wooded hallows; Outdoor, indoor, in a barn, under a tree, where are these fall weddings going to be? The fall season is the optimal time of year to be outside and most couples take advantage of the fair weather and celebrate the nuptials outdoors using venues such as farms, vineyards, parks, or even their own backyard!

Will the decorations be a glistening glittertown of glory? Roaming woodland creatures with tabletops displying tree trunks, lace, and burlap? Magnificent metallic and fabulous fabric fusion? The possibilities are endless and the starting point is a texture mashup and what better way to convey this than beginning on the path of Shabby chic?

A wonderland of repurposed woods and goods are perfect for a rustic fall setting especially if the nuptials are going to be held outdoors. Simplifying with burlap & twine accents or dressing it up with mismatched antique bottles and/or mason jars filled with mixed flowers for a countryside flair is a popular choice!

Burlap, lace, antique glass, seems like there is something missing. Something which with sparkle and shine besides candles and twinkling lights. Of course! Glitter and Metallics!

These frontrunners of fashion can transform a simple bottle into an elegant centerpiece element! As a DIY society we can create the look of antique silver and copper containers without breaking the bank and still have swanky decor. Have some leftover vases from beautiful arrangements? Perhaps metallic gold or silver spray paint and a bit of time? Oh Pinterest...or rather, internet, where we would we be without you. Still creating fabulous weddings, but having millions of ideas to inspire one of the most important days of our life? It makes it easier doesn't it?

You know what else will make your wedding day easier? An amazing florist *cough*Gillespie Florists*cough*.

Friendly, knowledgeable, talented, and ready to take your wedding trend ideas and inspirations to the next level. Keeping up with trends and working outside the box, we're always on the lookout for exciting and/or fashionably revived ways to help you celebrate your special day.

Click below to schedule a free consultation with our wedding specialist!

I dreamed of a wedding of elaborate elegance,

A church filled with family and friends.

I asked him what kind of a wedding he wished for,

He said one that would make me his wife.

~Author Unknown

Beautiful quote about weddings; it's a shame the author is unknown! What kind of wedding do you wish for? We all want something magical, memorable, breathtaking and completely unique! It goes without saying, EVERY wedding is unique. There is none alike. Certainly you could use the same location, theme, and colors as someone else but it will still be yours.

How does one go about having the wedding of their dreams? Get on Pinterest? Polyvore? Bride? Most ideas can be found online instead of just a short decade ago being predominantly in magazines.  When I hear about weddings I often wonder how different mine would have been now, a short twelve years later! 

Before we go any further I want to mention image to the right with the gorgeous carriage and couple looking lovingly at each other isn't us; I'd never do sleeveless. The carriage is one of the best looking Cinderella ones I've seen but not so much the Snyder style. "Then why is it in this blog? I thought this was a fairy tale." says the reader. Hold your horses, I'm getting there! Grab your coffee and let's get started!

Once upon a time, around 2001, the internet was still very young and Pinterest was non-existent, perhaps a twinkle in someone's eye or an electric pulse in their brain. After receiving a coffee pot and bag of coffee beans for Christmas I received an envelope with a ring inside and my love on bended knee asking in front of my family to be his wife. Ick! Too sweet, let's fast forward to 2002! 

I bought a wedding planner book in hopes of filling the pages with my wishes and dreams about our wedding. Samples of napkins, invitation paper, a multitude of business cards, ribbons, swatches; everything a proper wedding planner book should contain. Twelve years later finds this book with many empty pages, a few scribbles, and carefully written first page which states who is getting married to whom, when it will be, and that's about it.! I am not sad about this discovery; it was a reminder of what I "thought" I needed to do as opposed to what I did based on my personality.

It's amazing how wrapped up we get into things we think we should do. Example: being the daughter of a florist. I should have all the flowers memorized, categorized, know what blooms when, and exactly what is going to be in my wedding bouquet! The truth is I had NO idea what I was doing and the thought of having my floral arrangements down to the last minute detail was terrifying! Fortunately, Gillespie Florists had my back and up front and center was the floral fairy godmother, Mary Alice.

I'm sure her eyes rolled back into her head during our consultation as my description was something along the lines of "I don't like Martha Stewart clumps and my bridesmaid dresses are wine and ivory..or peach..I think". Pulling teeth would certainly be easier than putting together bouquets for this indecisive gal however Mary Alice forged ahead and came up with a plan after playing 20+ questions.

My mother was also available to give more accurate descriptions such as style of dress, color swatches and the fact I didn't consider arrangements outside of the bridal party like tablepieces, swags, flower girls, etc...oh stop gasping, I told you I was the odd daughter. My dad not only ran the flower shop, but also built a staircase and a concrete sidewalk path leading down the tree covered ravine at the Gillespie Ranch (my parents home) where the wedding took place.

Looking back I realize just how much of a dream come true this wedding was. My fiancé and I worked on guest lists, coordinating tents, photographers, food, gifts, etc. I designed invitations, programs, creating and embroidering our monogram on napkins, getting dresses and fittings and anything related to flowers, the "Gillespie Florists" family handled.  It was a beautiful collaboration of families, both work and home, to make our special day the most unique and meaningful experience. I am thankful for my floral fairy godmother who interpreted my vision and created a theme which complemented the style and nature of the bride and groom to-be. We're also very thankful for the creative vision from my parents and the transformation of the ravine which has hosted countless family gatherings and two weddings. What else makes a wedding a fairy tale besides enchanting transformations, fairy godmothers, beautiful bouquets, and fancy dresses?

Perfect weather and timing.

Whether you have your wedding details down to the last dotted "i" or need some help in solidifying your theme or direction with flowers the fine and caring staff of Gillespie Florists is here to help make your special day a dream come true.

Browse a few of our favorite designs in our wedding collection and click below to schedule a consultation!

Want to know more about my floral fairy godmother? We have a special interview right here!

The season of hats has arrived and we have been busy at Gillespie Florists designing some of the best!  Whether you're off to the Kentucky Derby, Indy 500, or a backyard garden party, hats are always a welcome change from the ordinary.  It's lovely to see the old fashioned traditions mixed with contemporary flair while designing the flowers that will adorn the many different styles of the season.

It doesn’t have to be expensive either. Make your hat DIY style! Go and purchase a simple hat that suits your individual taste at your local Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, ect.  Next at Hobby Lobby or Michaels; pick custom colors of silk blooms to compliment the colors of your outfit. The number of blooms is up to you. Do like lots of flowers and colors or something more simple? You may already have both of these items in your home tucked away in a closet or storage bin! Last use hot glue or fabric glue to glue on the blooms of your flowers. You don’t have to stop there! Think about adding feathers, ribbons, charms or anything you like!

Don’t have time for DIY? Bring your hat into one of our talented designers and tell them about the outfit you are wanting to match your hat to or better yet bring your outfit in for them to see! After asking you a few questions, our designers will be able to select silks and create the perfect Derby hat by matching your personalized color palette perfectly.

A few years ago, we at Gillespie Florists thought it would be fun to have a Prom King & Queen Contest and have been having it every year since! Prom customers only needed to post their picture on our Facebook Fan Page or use #GFPROM2014 on Instagram or twitter wearing our flowers! We then asked our Facebook fans to "Like" their favorite picture or make a positive comment about it to determine the winner. We had several people enter but there can be only one winner!

And the winner is...

As we come to a close on the 2014 prom season here at Gillespie Florists, my second prom season with the shop, I have lost track of how many times I have been asked what my favorite corsages are. The shop has several very creative floral designers that create our amazing corsages so it makes it very hard to pick just one favorite. I have spent a lot of time dealing with our prom items this year and I finally have it narrowed down to my top five favorite corsages for this season.

Pink Curls

This corsage is great for someone looking for something different. Black glitter leaves, pink beads, pink wired swirl sprays, black and silver wire, topped with aspidistra leaf ribbon and hot pink sweetheart roses make this a very uniquely designed corsage. To make it even better we could put this on any one of our keepsake bracelets!

 

 

 

Dreaming Blue

This mixture of creams and blues makes for a very elegant but fun corsage. The beautiful cream and blue lace ribbon on top of black leaves and beads, topped with cream colored sweetheart roses and then accented with blue delphinium and blue faux rhinestone daisies is perfect for a classy but fun look.

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Island 

Decided to go with a brighter colored dress and now you are worried about matching orange flowers to the color of your dress? Don’t you worry, we have you covered. This corsage is unique with the use of the orange flex wrap covered wires which gives a new texture and look on top of black leaves. Add a few stunning orange sweetheart roses and there you have it, a perfect match for your bright orange dress!

 

 

Purple Pixie

Another new style for the 2014 Prom season! These lavender sweetheart roses are so pretty nestled in the purple flash ribbon with a splash of white wax flower filler. Add some purple faux rhinestone daisies and the versatile aspidistra leaf ribbon and you have the perfect mixture to accent that beautiful purple dress for your prom night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glimmer

Want your corsage to be noticed by all on the dance floor as you dance the night away? Glimmer would be the way to go! This knock out corsage comes on a custom designed Glassia florescence wristlet that is battery powered and ready to go with its very own ultraviolet lights. White sweetheart roses, bright pink and brilliant white sheer ribbons, silver beads and silver dot tulle sprayed with the Glassia florescence formula are designed onto the custom wristlet. Flip the switch, hit the dance floor and amaze everyone with your out of this world corsage! Afraid that the glow won’t last all night, don’t you worry because we send you home with your very own, compact spray bottle of the Glassia florescence formula that will fit perfectly into your purse or date’s pocket! Give your corsage a quick spray and glow your night away!

If you like the style of one of our corsages but the colors won’t match your dress, don’t you worry we have you covered, all you have to do is ask about our color options!

Want to fancy up any corsage you see on our website??? Check out of huge selection of keepsake bracelets that will leave you with something special to remember your night!

 

Alright kids! Mother's Day is coming up faster than a mom wiping the excess chocolate from her kids' outstretched hands as they are reaching for the freshly cleaned couch cushions for this weekends company!  In other words, the day dedicated to honoring moms everywhere is less than a week away...are you ready?  Got your gift or are you going to wait to the last minute and bribe your own kids into making a pretty card so you are off the hook? Oh my where on earth do these preposterous ideas come from? Of course you are ready! ...But if you're not, might I suggest checking out our Mother's Day Specials? We've got quite a few but if none of these catch your fancy, then be sure to stop by or shop online for a plethera of mom inspired bouquets!

 What's not to love on a spring night? Warm nights, fireflies dancing, freshly mown lawn, and the aromas of spring floating around the neighborhood.  Southern Evening encapsulates the mood with golden alstroemeria lilies, dark pink daisies, red mini-carnations, berries, and fresh greenery!

Another delightful arrangement dedicated to the arrival of the warmer seasons is heralded by the bold Song of Summer!

The red cube vase radiates warmth with beaming yellow solidago, graceful pale blue delphinium, pussy willow, vibrant carnations, lush variegated pittosporum and an adorable little blue bird that sits in a sparkling nest made of red wire! A perfect reminder of a warm summer day!

Of course, what is the promise of summer without the brilliant and bold sunflower?

Sapphire Shower is brimming with vibrant yellow sunflowers, delphinium as blue as sapphire, bright alstromeria lilies, yellow solidego, green hypericum berry, purple statice and soft green carnations! I would love to walk into my kitchen and see this sitting atop my island so I could enjoy it as I'm preparing dinner or sipping coffee before leaving for work in the morning.

Such a lovely collection of bouquets for Mother's Day it is difficult to choose just one! However for the sake of my husband I will narrow it down to this one (hint, hint ;) ).

Mother of Spring is graceful and elegant with soft pink carnations, delicate lavender larkspur, vibrant purple statice, feathery lavender fuji chrysanthemums, and intricate waxflower!  Surrounded by the beauty of this arrangement is a gorgeous, sparkling keepsake glitter angel...perhaps as a permanent reminder for the kids that mom is indeed an angel, even when she insists on the rooms getting cleaned and chores done before bedtime. Yes, I think a glittery angel will do the trick...no more complaints for sure!

Once again, these are a few of our many marvelous bouquets designed especially for Mother's Day to celebrate the ladies in our lives we look up to, admire, and love.

Short on time to stop by our shop? Just click below to view our full collection!

With prom season in full swing at Gillespie Florists, we are enjoying the challenge of making captivating corsages to match individual taste and style.   This year has seen a dramatic shift to wonderful frothy colors of champagne and shrimp with overlays of lace.  This particular design appeals to the hopeless romantic wanting to capture the updated vintage look featuring a myriad of pastel and the ever popular nude palette.

On trend right now also is the large chunky style bracelets.  We have an exciting selection of styles and colors featuring silver metallic, crystals, pearls, and even full rhinestone cuffs.  Each a wonderful keepsake to wear again and again.

Another exciting trend this year is the addition of sheer illusion.  Normally used in costuming, this wonderful beige stretchy fabric allows you to have cut out detailing without showing actual skin.  If you are the dramatic Fashionista, you can make a statement and still be demure.  If you are more the Goddess type, then consider something very unique as this "Goddess Tiara".

This beautiful head piece features a rhinestone tiara as the base with dainty wax flowers woven in. It's natural soft greenery gives an ethereal effect and is finished with iridescent green leaves.

Not quite like you? Then how about Legendary "Elfin".  You can define your look by wearing your flowers in unexpected places such as a necklace or flower ring.  Here we have the newest trend for prom in a hand tooled wire necklace called "Frozen".  It features unexpected blooms of Larkspur woven into 6 and 24 gage silver tone wire with iridescent strands and faux crystal stones. Each necklace is a one of a kind work of art!

Nothing quite like having magic at your fingertips with this beautiful flower ring called "Sugar Sugar".  Here we have a delicate pink spray rose with an adjustable ring band and adorned with wax flowers and a rhinestone spray.

Everyone loves the natural Bohemian-Island girl look so why not wear a stunning headband that balances perfectly with a strapless gown.  This beautiful piece is called "Bohemian Head Band” features a stunning green Dendrobium Orchid with a purple crystal dragonfly pin atop a silver braided headband.  It is finished with blue accents and iridescent hanging bead strands.
Ok, still not you?  Then how about all the Prom Rebels out there!  Push the fluff and bling aside and lets get creative.  
Here we have designed something perfectly different for you called "Grim".  It features chains, raw zipper edges, skulls, feathers and black ribbons. Blood red roses sets it aflame with individuality.  We have many different types of fabric ribbons, lace, plaid, cording, buttons and charms to create that personalized, exclusively unique design.  Steampunk?  Rebel?  Alternative?  We’ve got you covered!  

 
We have expert designers and staff on hand to help you create whatever you're dreaming of and possibly something you haven’t thought of yet!  So whatever style you are, whatever color of the rainbow you need, whatever design of wristlets, body or accessory flowers you have in mind, come on in and let us show you how it's done!

Gillespie Florists Prom King & Queen Contest 2014!

Post a snapshot of you and another person wearing flowers from Gillespie Florists on our Facebook Page, Twitter or Instagram and get the chance to be crowned the Gillespie Florists Prom King & Queen!

Here's how it Works:

·   Take a snapshot of you and your date wearing Gillespie's Flowers.

·   Post it on our Wall or use #GFPROM2014 - make sure it’s a public post!

·   Tag your self in the photo as well as anyone else in the picture.

·   We'll put it in our "Prom King & Queen Contest Album 2014".

·   Ask your friends/family to "Like" your photo or post positive comments on your photo once it has been added to the Prom King & Queen album.

·   One week after the end of Prom Season, we will tally up the "Likes" and Comments and whoever has the most wins!

What do you get if you win?

The Queen will be crowned with a tiara and flowers and

both King and Queen will be awarded a $25.00 Gift Card to Gillespie Florists!

And don't forget, Bragging Rights!

Contest ends May 27th, 2014. Winners will be announced on Facebook May 30th!

Here's the Link to our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gillespie-Florists/196410082316

Twitter:    @gillespiefloris

Instagram:    gillespieflorists

“A leprechaun, a cluricaun, and a far darrig…”

Sounds like the beginning of a great joke!

The joke is really on us in the states as we’ve condensed these three completely separate creatures into the Leprechaun. Here in the US the leprechaun is recognized on cereal boxes, plastered on t-shirts, posters, buttons, etc for St. Patricks day. I’ve often wondered what does this guy have to do with St. Patrick's day...he isn’t St. Patrick.  In fact, St. Patrick wasn’t even Patrick to begin with; he was Maewyn Succat and hailed from Great Britain. Kidnapped by pirates; sold into slavery in Ireland; and herded sheep on a mountain. One day God spoke to him in a dream to become a priest and his journey to sainthood began. But I digress, let’s get back to leprechaun and his pals.

The Leprechaun, sometimes called “wee folk”, inhabited Ireland before the arrival of the Celts. They are small enough to sit on your shoulder and are quite intelligent and a bit mischievous. Leprechaun translates from Irish leith brog into "One-shoemaker." He is often seen working on a single shoe.

Legend has it the Leprachaun makes shoes constantly and dresses in smart little suits with waistcoats, hats, and gold buckles on his shoe.  He has grown very rich from making shoes therefore dresses most proper!  Ah, so that is where the pot of gold comes in, isn’t it, to store all his riches? Hardly. Old treasure crocks were buried during war-time by soldiers whom never returned from the battlefield.  The Leprechaun discovered the buried treasure and claimed them for his own.

Irish fairies the gave him magical powers in case he was ever captured by humans who may be lurking near the pots of gold. The leprechaun could then use his magic to either vanish into thin air or grant three wishes!

Dodging humans and animals all day is hard work so the leprechauns are well known for playing hard too with musical instruments such as fiddles, tin whistles and even the irish harp! They get together and have crazy music gatherings at night called “Ceili’s, where hundreds of leprechauns join together to dance sing and drink.  Their favorite drinks are Poteen and Moonshine. You’d think they would cause some chaos, but it is not the case, his fine cousin, the Cluricaun, is the real trouble maker with his drink.

The Cluricaun is considered the night “form” of the leprechaun. Surly, rough, and mischievous he makes himself drunk in gentlemen's cellars after finishing his daily chores. Folklore concludes clurichauns enjoy riding sheep and dogs at night. If they are treated well they will protect your wine cellar, but mistreated, they will wreak havoc on your home and spoil your wine stock. Sometimes they act as liquor stockroom spirits, plaguing drunkards or dishonest servants who steal wine; if the victim attempts to move away from their tormentor, the clurichaun will hop into a cask to accompany them. Once plagued by the Cluricaun, it is difficult to get rid of him. If one happens to invade your wine cellar, I’d suggest staying on his good side. The Far Darrig is a different story; at first glance he looks like trouble!

The Far Darrig, meaning the Red Man, occupies his time with practical if not gruesome joking. He is closely related to the leprechaun, with similar features and a short stocky body. His face is splotchy yellow and dresses in red from his hat down to his socks. This is the reason he is called the far darrig or red man.

Ever the practical joker he can manipulate his voice, emitting sounds like the thudding waves on the rocks or the cooing of pigeons. His favorite sound  to make is the dull, hollow laugh of a dead man coming from the grave. It is advisable to say 'Na dean maggadh fum'-- do not mock me', when you come into contact with a far darrig so you will not be used in one of his macabre games. Unfortunately, he plans his tricks so well that mortals are snared long before they realize what is happening. 

With all this being said, the far darrig does not actually desire to do harm! He is good natured and will bring luck to those whom he approves; but cannot resist an initial prank or two. We can surmise the far darrig does have a good side although his appearance suggests otherwise.

The small, magical, mischievous and well dressed Leprechaun seems to be the spokesperson for his relatives here in the states, and I think we now know why! What does he have to do with St. Patricks day? Absolutely nothing until Walt Disney released a film "Darby O'Gill & the Little People" which changed the face of the Leprechaun to Americans everywhere. He is now a happy, joyful, and lucky symbol for St. Patrick's Day.  

I have checked around the shop a few times to see if there were any of the 3 creatures living among the plants in the showroom or maybe hiding out in the back cooler waiting to suprise a customer or designer but haven't seen any yet.  

We may not have these mischievous creatures lurking about to pull pranks but should you come visit in search of something green for St. Patrick's Day; you will be able to find quite a few fun, happy, and charming bouquets available!

Click below to see what Irish inspired delight our designers have created this year!

Tomorrow is the big day! Have you ordered something for your sweetheart yet? No? Don't worry, it's not too late! Stop by our shop and see what we have available. We have plenty of beautiful flowers for you to peruse; our cooler is packed full of gorgeous bouquets, loose stem flowers, sunshine bouquets and our shelves have countless cute things to attach to your selection.

We have many great take-out specials for our walk-in customers so stop on by and have a fantastic Valentine's Day!

Dozen Wrapped Roses $29.95

Dozen Wrapped Roses with Baby's Breath $34.95

Sunshine Bouquets $3.95

Dozen Wrapped Carnations with bb $16.95

Gerbera Stems $3.00

Tulips $9.95 a bunch (while supplies last)

European Style Wrapped Bouquet  Starting at $11.95

South Bend Chocolates $12.95 & up

Hydrangea fresh cut stems $3.95