The Flower Blog

"There are 364 days when 
you might get un-birthday presents 
and only one for birthday 
presents you know"

-Lewis Carroll

 Lewis Carroll has a good point...but, so do I. Birthdays are fun. Getting gifts is a lot of fun and giving them? The most fun of all of course! We all know it's better to give than receive...unless your love language is gifts, like mine (hint hint) but I digress. There is a high probability if you are reading this you are looking for ways to take your gift to the next level for a special someone on the day which is just for them! When you think of it that way, why wouldn't you want to celebrate and/or make the day a bit more extraordinary? 

Upgrade, level up, super size, all these terms shout "spend more money!!"; but do you have to? It's up to you! The beauty of creativity is it involves just a bit more brain power, and some found objects around the house...and chocolate, don't forget the chocolate! Now before we get started keep in mind these gift ideas don't need to be limited to just birthdays, they will work for almost any occasion!

Let's start with something popular, the gift card. This is by far the most popular gift and much appreciated by the recipient. Not that fancy? Not impressed? I wasn't finished. Add flair to the gift card by including an item related to the gift. Manicure/Pedicure gift certificate? Include nail polish or small manicure kit! Got a Starbucks fiend? Ask for an extra cup, fill with coffee beans or candy treats with the card in the center! There are many ways to dress up a gift card without breaking the bank. With alittle extra time, thought, and great ideas here, your next gift card will have extra "Wow" or rather "WOW!!" factor. 

Next up is the fantastic gift of food! Dinner out, lunch in, cookbooks, fancy kitchen aids, there is no end to the ingenious ways you can present this gift! Let's just look at a couple of quick and easy options which go beyond the average "wine and dine". Is your special someone a foodie? Do they like playing in the kitchen? Don't take them to any old restaurant, get adventurous and visit a deli shop such as Goose the Market in Indianapolis! Fresh meats, cheese, wine; it has everything under the sun and perfect for trying new foods while relaxing with a glass of wine or tasty beer!

Restaurants sound too blasé? Stock a basket full of delight with gourmet food and hit a local winery! Do a wine tasting and purchase your favorite and enjoy it outdoors (or at home on the floor as indoor candle-lit picnic)! Don't forget to add a decadent slice of cake for your birthday girl!

Some of you may be thinking, "Ok, that sounds great but been there, done that". All right then, I challenge you to the next level of creativity: time to get crafty! You don't need to be an arts and crafts extraordinaire to make the perfect gift, in fact, this is the time to get the kids involved if you wish! A fabulous gift which will not only capture a moment in time but also have a functional AND decorative element in the home is a vase. This vase can be purchased and decorated at your local pottery painting facility. If this is a gift from the kids, plan for it by surprising mom with a "time-out" for a few hours while you take the kids to select the perfect container, paint it, and wait on pins and needles for the 4-6 day firing period before taking it home to be filled with flowers purchased from your favorite local florist...That would be Gillespie Florists for you, Indianapolis!  If the kids are not old enough to be set free in a pottery studio, have no fear, there are online kits you can purchase and do at home. Key ingrediant to doing either version is getting mom out of the house for a few hours...it shouldn't be a problem. Best thing about this gift is filling it with flowers for occasions such as Mother's Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, and just because...

There are many OTHER crafty options I have not mentioned but may revisit in another post for great ideas for Mother's Day and/or "Girls Night Out" but that is for another day!

Now it is time for the ultimate gift. One which will work your brain muscles like an Olympic champion and test your planning abilities to the extreme! It is the one and only Seven Day Birthday Extravaganza! 

Having a seven day birthday extravaganza doesn't have to be expensive; instead of emptying the wallet try expanding the brain cells and do something small each day with a theme! A few examples are: 

• Mega-Hug Monday - Hug her every time you see her and then some

• Totally Awesome Task Tuesday - It could be a simple chore like doing the dishes, filling up her car's gas tank, or running a special errand! 

• What's for Dinner Wednesday - If she's the head chef at Chez Vous, give her the night off       and make dinner or take her out!

These are just a few examples for making the entire week special. Side note, I tried the birthday week out on my husband and he LOVED it. I had also purchased a couple of presents and dispensed them throughout his "birthday journey". He said he felt super appreciated all week long, and isn't that the greatest gift of all?  

So, how is your noggin holding up? Excited? Motivated? Overwhelmed? Not quite ready to enter into the realm of crafty awesomeness and mental body-building?  It's ok, we have you covered. Yes, there are limitless possibilities for gifts which take extra time, energy, creativity, etc; however, it's good to know if something goes awry in the clever planning department that there is always something you know your special someone is going to love. A fresh, vibrant, lovely and cheerful arrangement full of flowers expressing "Happy Birthday to you!"

Needing fresh ideas for birthday or just want to send a sweet something to mark a special occasion? Check out our website or stop by to fill the kid-painted, mother approved vase with what we have in stock!

Oh yes, my friends you guessed it! You know where this gal is going today. Outdoors to spin around Julie Andrews style whilst belting out how the hills are alive with the sound of music; completely ignorant of the fact I'll be soon meeting my captain so we can sing Edelweiss and climb every mountain together.

If that was indeed your guess, it's a fantastic idea but I don't have any Sound of Music outfits on hand so we'll have to settle for a magnificent monologue of a few of my favorite things: flowers, music, and more flowers.  Hard rock, easy listening, broadway, instrumental; just about any genre you're into there is certain to be a floral title. Take "Edelweiss"  from Sound of Music, for example. How often have I heard this song but haven't "listened" to the lyrics or get a good visual on the flower. Symbolizing nobility and courage; this small and white sponge-looking bloom is the national flower of Austria. After researching a bit and listening to the song again, I find the already lovely and graceful music has taken on new meaning and beauty. Interesting how a little knowledge can transform a song.

Another popular song with a floral title comes to mind is Tiny Tim's rendition of "Tiptoe thru the Tulips with Me". Although released before I was born; the charming lyrics surrounded by a trilling voice and friendly ukelele accompanies my thoughts whenever I think of the bright and cheerful symbol of perfect love, the tulip. The original version of the song by Nick Lucas isn't as familiar but just as delightful to hear! Have you noticed how a flower's meaning emerge through the music? Thanks to Nick and Tiny Tim's interpretation of the tulip, I cannot think of a better way to musically describe these sweet and simple blooms.

There are so many songs to choose from and most flowers are represented in music but I must tack on "My Little Buttercup" from The Three Amigos because:

1. It's a favorite childhood movie of mine.

2. It has esteemed members of SNL in it.

3. It's entertaining as all get out!

Representing cheerfulness and charm, these golden yellow cup-shaped blooms spread lavishly and also symbolize richness. Again, the flower's meaning is conveyed perfectly through the music! 

What list of songs with flowers in the title would be complete without one of the most popular blooms of them all? You know where I'm going with this, yes? "Everything's Coming up Roses" at the top of this list and it would be grand to receive a "Kiss from a Rose" but watch out because "Every Rose has its Thorn" , Yet we still pay "Tribute to a Rose" because "Love is a Rose" and don't forget the longstanding symbol for love, appreciation, devotion, remembrance, and friendship is "The Rose" 

I could go on like this for awhile but don't want to distract you from the rest of your day. These songs are just a very select few from lists of hundreds. There is even a link for music about flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables on one list!  

A great way to express love is through the gift of music, like a mixed tape, cd, ipod, etc..but if you are short on time of sifting through thousands of songs about flowers, just stop on by or give us a call to send some while you are compiling music!  Vased or through an instrument, flowers have the ability to create lyrics for the message you want to send.

It's your wedding day! Throw on your wedding gear and avoid glancing at your beloved while adding something old, new, borrowed, and blue; give a hefty throw of the garter and/or bouquet to warm up your muscles for crossing the threshold as a married couple for the first time while holding the top of the wedding cake to be enjoyed sans freezer burn in a years time...Did I forget anything? 

If the above didn't clue you in; we are embarking on a journey of five well-known superstitions throughout wedding history! Some are not practiced as much but I bet you a sixpence, ladies, you will and/or have been asked which ones have made the cut into your wedding celebration. Without further "I do", let's take our seats, relax for a spell, and enjoy reminiscing a few of these matrimonial notions.

1. Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue and a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe.

This is undoubtedly the most popular wedding tradition yet in the U.S. we oftentimes drop the "Silver Sixpence"; or at least I did as my shoes didn't allow for anything being tucked in them. Common good luck charms with deeper significance meant to be given by family, friends, and attendants in the "eleventh hour" before the wedding. Something old is for continuity while something new offers optimism for the future. Something borrowed symbolizes family and friends being there for you in the future and something blue represents faithfulness, love, and purity. What of the sixpence? It's primarily a British custom which is a wish for prosperity.

2. It's Bad Luck to See the  Bride Before the Wedding!

We're not sure where this notion originated; possibly from the tradition of arranged marriages but it's difficult to pinpoint. My interpretation of this tradition was that this was the most important day of our lives (at this point), we worked very hard to put everything together. The idea of the final moment, the anticipation, and the fact I spent a great deal of time selecting a dress, getting dolled up, wearing uncomfortable shoes...I wanted to take my future husband's breath away. Mission Accomplished.

This superstition is one which has fallen by the wayside for better things such as stunning photographs of the entire wedding party before makeup melts, shirts getting untucked, and the maximum hold hairspray giving out. Other reasons include spending a moment of quiet time together and getting the party started ASAP. It's time to celebrate! 

3. Bouquets Tossing and Garters Flinging!

This tradition has less to do with good luck and well-wishing for the newlyweds and more about spreading their bliss to other people in the future. More fun and/or embarassing than anything else; this practice is good for laughs, smiles, and great pictures.

I must to admit to really enjoying this one from both angles of the bouquet toss. As a single lady, yes it's a ridiculous tradition because how often does the lucky lady get married after catching the bouquet? The answer depends on if it's rigged or not. Is it still fun? Sure it is! As a bride I enjoyed tossing the bouquet and witnessing the aftermath. 

Ah the garter toss. The single guys aren't as easy to corral together for this one but eventually they gather for the fun of it. How often do you see to see your best friend get creative with removal of the token prize which might lead to someone's ineveitable walk down the aisle? 

4. Carrying the Bride Over the Threshhold

If you're worried about the bride tripping to bring bad luck upon the marriage or need to ward off evil spirits; the best way to remedy both situations is carrying her over the threshold! 
The Romans believed the bride should be reluctant to leave the home of her father therefore the groom acted as the villainous scapegoat and stole the bride, carrying her away to their new future together. There is also the belief that evil spirits hovered at the threshold of the newlywed's new home. The bride had to be lifted to ensure that the spirits couldn't enter her body through the soles of her feet. Sounds kind of creepy and definitely not the reason my husband carried me across the threshold. He did for the fun and tradition of it...and perhaps the fear I would actually trip over the doorway as it is well within my clutzy nature.

5. Save the top layer of the Wedding Cake

The superstition to saving the cake is to bring you good fortune. I think it's a trap. It is a way to see if you know your way around the kitchen and can make something that's been stuck in the freezer for a year taste delicious. Back in days of yore, in 2002, when the internet was young and we had no idea the vast resources available, I wrapped my cake in foil, then put it in a plastic bag. A year later it had a cardboard texture and the icing was more like playdoh; but I digress. 

Wedding cake has been around forever but the tradition of saving it is from 19th century England when cakes were exquisite to taste, elaborate to view, and laced with liquor to help it keep till either your first anniversary or the christening of your first child. Back then the three layers served a functional purpose. First layer for reception, second layer for distribution, and the third for the christening because more often than not children came right away after the wedding!  Times have changed quite a bit since this idea was put into practice. Now we save it for fortune. If you can successfully store your top layer and enjoy it a year later, that indeed, is good fortune.

There you have it; a few of the top common wedding superstitions and where they may have originated. I enjoyed the traditions we incorporated into our wedding. Some of them were time-honored and elegant, others were fortunately captured on film lest we "forget", and all made the day one of the best days ever. 

Are you in the process of planning your special day?

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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!

With Wedding Season of 2014 well underway, I have seen a gradual shift of trends from Wedding Season 2013 at Gillespie Florists. Color schemes that feature tints, tones and shades of the primary wedding color, limited use of foliage and a return of a popular accent flower have all made Wedding Season 2014 something to “blog” about!

I had mentioned in a blog post last year that I was noticing a trend towards “nude” colors. I meet with many brides well in advance of their wedding which prompted me to take notice of this up and coming color trend. So far, the nude color trend is the most prominent color scheme of this year’s wedding season. So what are nude tones? Nude tones are very subtle colors and when combined, they seamlessly blend together. Examples of nude colors are pale peach, pale pink, cream, tan and taupe. Next weekend, every single wedding I have (which is more than I can count on one hand) features this color scheme. In recent memory, I cannot recall a single weekend where every color scheme was the same.

Fashion is not my forte, but while interacting with brides, I have picked up on a few trends that are quite “fashionable” this year! Many brides are choosing “mismatched” dresses (both in style and color) for their bridal parties. For example, a bride may choose a smoky lavender color as the primary color theme for their wedding party. The bridesmaids can then choose a style and color of dress in a complimentary hue of the primary color, such as eggplant, iris, lavender or even a patterned fabric which incorporates several of the colors.

Groomsmen are expressing their diversity with various colors of ties, vests and even dumping the traditional black tux for a stunning charcoal or silver tux or suit. Flowers can be designed to unify the bridal party by designing similar personal flowers (i.e. small clusters of babies breath for all the groomsmen boutonnieres and clutch bouquets of babies breath for the bridesmaids). Or, to reflect the diversified theme, each attendant receives their own style and color combination of flowers.

Shabby Chic and Vintage style décor for weddings is still a popular theme carried over from last season. However, I have noticed a slight change in the flower varieties that are featured in this season’s weddings. Babies breath has made a huge comeback in the last year; to the point that babies breath, which is generally readily available, has been in short supply in the last couple of months! A couple of weeks ago, I contacted my local vendors to beef up my babies breath inventory because we were running low. Every single vendor was sold out of all varieties of babies breath. I’ve been the primary flower buyer for almost 10 years and this has not happened before!

In wedding designs, I have featured babies breath in bouquets for brides and bridesmaids, boutonnieres, corsages, ceremony arrangements, centerpieces and even a wreath designed of babies breath! 

Finally, I am seeing the growth of a trend against including foliage in wedding flowers, especially personal flowers. From my interaction with brides, the perception is that the foliage adds another (unwanted) color to the arrangements. I can understand this point of view and have successfully designed dozens of weddings without any foliage. However, with traditional design, I feel that foliage adds subtle depth and texture to an arrangement, as well as hide the mechanics of the design. A small amount of foliage nestled within an arrangement or collared on the outside of a clutch bouquet hides unsightly wires, floral tape, stems, glue and oasis that should remain unseen. No matter what style the bride prefers, a trained and talented floral designer can adapt to the specific needs of each wedding.

As Wedding Season 2014 continues, I am sure that I will be introduced to up and coming trends that will shape the next wedding season. For now, I am enjoying the current trends, learning and growing with each wedding that I am so honored to be a part of!

Ready to start planning your wedding? Click below to  contact our Wedding Specialist! 

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!

Is that a new ring on your finger?! Did you just celebrate Valentine's Day with your significant other and end up a fiancé by the end of the evening? If so, congratulations! So now what?

If you've been planning your big day since childhood it's possible you've already got your ducks in a row: the venue selected, the dress has been narrowed down, invitations on order...but what about the rest of us? If you're anything like me, perhaps you're still in shock or not even sure where to begin the process of planning your wedding!  

Planning a wedding is a spectacular feat and not to be taken lightly. Therefore we did some research on some of the more popular and convenient ways to get organized and on schedule as the countdown begins.  It definitely helps to have a day in mind when you get started but if you don't have the exact date, that's ok, even a month or season is a great start.

When I was planning my wedding in the days of yore the first thing I did was go to the store and pick up a couple of copies of bridal magazines. Of course, we had internet back then but this was before pinterest and the best way to gather your ideas was cutting them out of magazines and visiting the bridal stores to pick up free info.

We also visited the Bridal Show at in Indiana Roof Ballroom to visit many local vendors at one location. There are more shows available nowadays, and you can find more information about them and other local wedding related events at Indiana Bride Magazine.

Have you seen the movie "The Wedding Planner" with Jennifer Lopez?  I did. As a very indecisive person, I loved the idea of having someone else take care of the arrangements. Someone to say "we need this done by this date, you should have your dress by this date, the venue should be selected by..."  Sounds awesome, just tell me what to do when and I will do it. Unfortunately a wedding planner was not in my budget so I settled with the helpful lists the bridal magazines supplied and went online to gather more info.

Thanks to technology, all the wedding resources we could possibly imagine are just a couple of clicks and/or finger taps away. Here are a few of the best wedding resources out there to help you make your day a big success.

Weddings, there's an app for that. Actually there are quite a few!  We are spending less time in front of a computer and more time on the go! We've got places to go, cakes to sample, dresses to try on, this is no time to be sitting unless its in a vehicle to take you to another possible venue for the big day!

The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner app

This free app is available through itunes and truly is the ultimate wedding planner and syncs with one of the best wedding planning websites theknot.com

Get your budget and track payments, find your dress and the bridesmaids dresses too, 1000+ IDEAS for cakes, decor, hairstyles and more, see top gifts for your registry, Find and save the best wedding vendors in your area, AND save, store and send all your clippings and photos 

Weddinghappy:Wedding Planner, free wedding planning app. Just put in your big day and it schedules task list calendar to keep you on track. The beauty of this app is you don't need the web to use it.

MyRegistry.com this app is available for both iphone and android. No more standing in front of registry box filling out info and carrying around awkward price gun!

Scan any product barcode to add items to your registry/wishlist, manage your registry/wishlist on the go, send eCards to invite your friends to check out your gift list

Postable.com, another free online service, brides send out one email to friends and family, sharing a link to an address book. They fill out a form and suddenly everyone's information is organized in a neat file for sending invitations, thank you notes and more. 

Tabletop planner This ingenius piece of software and app is remarkable. Import guest list,
drag/drop names in table diagram as guests rsvp, can adjust table size and indicate meal preference. It reduces the headache of guest musical chairs and it's free!

Vyclone This app lets everyone upload videos which are then mashed up into seamless videos. Feeling super creative? You can edit and add soundtracks from your phone!

Wedding Party kind of like facebook for weddings! Invite friends, family, bridal party, etc and upload images, posts, and messages to single site viewable on mywedding.com, you choose privacy settings!

Don't these apps sound super handy and convenient? Have you downloaded them yet? These are just a few of many great apps and websites you can find online to help plan for your big day...it seems we might be forgetting one more website though...oh here it is

www.gillespieflorists.com

Sure we don't have a wedding app but we are ready to make bouquets and beautiful arrangements perfect for your wedding day!

For your every day floral needs, however, we DO have a floralapp! Check it out here!

Don't forget to click below to schedule a free consultation with our wedding specialist!

January 2014 kicks off a new year of award ceremonies. Some of them I watch; others, I just google the winners the day after. Regardless of watching in real time or checking stats later, one area I find intrigueing about these ceremonies are the glamorous outfits. Yes, Sandra Bullock didn't win best actress for Gravity at the Golden Globes but did you see her gorgeous black dress with pink and blue accents? Stunning! Taylor Swift was full of glitz and glimmer at the Grammy's!  Oh such a vast display of fashion do's, don'ts, and "What the heck was that?!" to be seen on the Red Carpet. It reminds me of prom...and corsages.  

Instead of designer jewelry and clutches, this year I decided to pick a few people from the Red Carpet and match a winning corsage to their look. It was difficult to choose a few; there are a plethera of amazing dresses AND corsages from Gillespie Florists with which to match them.  It's like playing digital barbie, lots of fun, so let's get started!

One of the most interesting dresses was the Rani Zakhem which "The Big Bang Theory" Kaley Cuoco was wearing. A corseted floral ball gown on millefueille tulle with watercolor floral patterns.

The Venetian corsage reflects a similar style with its peach roses, mini lotus pods with glitter, bead sprays, cream and gold ribbon, cream and pink accent flowers and a keepsake crystal beaded bracelet with rhinestones! Sure it has a bit of bling in it but it works with the dress as the pieces are small, flowing, and dainty.

Next up we have songstress Taylor Swift in a striking Carolina Herrera strapless gown with a black bust with bustling red gown.  The dress is simple yet elegant so I chose Glamazon to add a bit more attitude to the ensemble.

The beauty of this spray rose & rhinestone corsage that everything on it is interchangeable! Whether it is the color of the roses, ribbon, even the wristlet can be switched out or upgraded. A fantastic and versatile corsage!

BBC's "Orphan Black" Tatiana Maslany shimmered in an Old Hollywood styled Jenny Packham gown. The Bauble Bath corsage complements the style with posey callas, clear jewel accents, a butterfly, an adjustable bracelet and other jewel and silver accents!  

Now lets not forget about the guys! The ever so smooth and southern accent dripping Matthew Mccounaghey accepted his Golden Globe award in style with his Dolce & Gabbana and Cartier cufflinks. This guy has so much style I decided he needed a single rose in a silver boutinniere to complete his sophisticated look.  

There seems to be definite themes this year with color block dresses, metallics, and bold colored gowns. In other words, there are many exciting options to work with!

What ever style you choose, we have a corsage to match it!

Click below to see a few of our corsage selections online and stop by our shop to create the perfect accent to your winning prom ensemble.