The Flower Blog

Succulents: Low maintenance; available in variety of colors, shapes, sizes; versatile; garden friendly; wedding friendly; plays well with fashion trends; and inexpensive?  Where do I sign up?

The possibilities are endless with these hardy little "fat plants" as they are sometimes referred. Desirable for their ornamental looks and hardy nature there is no telling what our creative brains will come up with next in terms of how to use these versatile flowers. Succulents are in high fashion for weddings and it's no wonder. Dress them up with sophisticated ohara roses and ranunculous or go loose leafed and airy with caspia and cabbage, there's no stopping these plants from being a bridal favorite all over the country and with our brides at Gillespie Florists! All of our wedding flowers are gorgeous and the ones which incorporate succelents are no exception! We've put together a collage of just a few of our stunning designs including these popular plants!

From soft and subtle to outstanding bold and vibrant, succelents are a lovely addition to all manner of themes and styles.
Let's not stop there, the exotic look and low maintenance appeal of succulents go further than your average wedding flowers. Go to your neighborhood dollar store, value store, favorite found object shop and pick up containers matching your theme and decorate the reception tables with these take home favors for guests. Create a long lasting impression which will add flair and interest to any home and/or garden! This is just one of hundreds of ideas on succelent incorporation into weddings. Just check your favorite idea collecting website (you know which one I'm talking about...i bet you have hundreds of pins to prove it too!).

There are many pros to utilizing succelents in weddings! Low maintenance; variety of sizes, shapes and colors; year round availability; low cost and versatile. Thinking of incorporating them into your wedding? Give us a call today and schedule a free consultation with our wedding specialist!

Peak wedding season is well underway and we are a few short weeks from the temperature going from delightfully mild to hot and steamy. Don't let the heat keep you from planning the wedding of your dreams. Here are some tips to keep the flowers (and yourself!) cool and collected for a successful summer wedding! 

1. Select Flowers with Staying Power

What flowers hold up under high temperatures? One option is checking what's in season locally. Purchasing local blooms will not only help your budget but also better the chances of flowers holding up all day.

If local floral isn't fitting the bill we always have our hardy classics such as roses, garden roses, sunflowers, lisianthus and daisies. Another great option is going tropical with Bird of Paradise, calla lilies, tiger lilies, ginger and many varieties of orchids. Tropical flowers tend to have a glossy, waxy texture which ensures staying power for summer weddings. 

2. Bloom Maintenance Required

We are an organized people who feel assured when everything is in sight for our big day the night before. But the best thing you can do for your flowers is have them delivered the day of the wedding and have them refridgerated until just prior to the ceremony, pictures, or both (depending on the schedule for the day).

Have you ever noticed water droplets on up close photos of floral designs, especially wedding ones? It is so important to keep flowers hydrated and cool during the summer heat. If you aren't holding your bouquet, have someone place it in the shade or in a vase with alittle water in it. Centerpieces and arrangements can be lightly misted every couple of hours to help keep them fresh till after the guest depart from your amazing reception.

3. Go Bold with a Colorful Palette

"Go bold or go home!" as I always say...not true, not all the time. It's your wedding day therefore if the wedding palette of your dreams is basic black; nothing but neon; or purely pastel, then go for it! Based on research and industry opinion we have found bold colors are a popular selection for the summer. What bold is appropriate for your wedding theme? Use rich red, lux purple, and deep wine for a more formal event. Outdoors and semi-formal will be a festive occasion with flavorul colors such as mango, hot fuschia, violet, magenta and green. Lastly, let's get casual with bright and golden sunflowers and call it day. Sunflowers are so vibrant, you woudn't require many to create brilliant color.

4. Choosing the Right Centerpiece

There are so many options for centerpieces! Formal receptions call for tall vases overflowing with hydrangea, roses, etc while semi-formal and casual often use mason jars, wooden box planters, and found containers in their decor. Another fabulous option especially for bold colors is modern shaped clear containers utilizing wires or even fruit to give more pop to the table!

We've discussed flowers with staying power, bright colors, and also touched upon maintaining your blooms. At this point I'm going to mention hydrangea. It is one of the most popular flowers for weddings and also has a high risk wilting factor. Does that stop our brides from using it? Absolutely not! They are gorgeous and we encourage using these soft, lovely petals. Just keep them hydrated and misted every once in awhile and they will do just fine, and that is why I used this particular centerpiece as an example. Something to consider when planning reception flowers is venue location and table placement.

5. Call Us!

There are many things to consider when planning your wedding. Location, reception, food, guests; the list is endless and we haven't even begun to address questions such as "What's in season? What's local? Which flowers keep best in a certain temperature? What colors are available for these blooms?" all these questions and more can be answered with the help of your trusty, local florist...like us! So don't forget to call and enlist help in making the wedding of your dreams come true whether it be on the chilliest day, hottest night, or somewhere in that perfect 68-72° range in between.

Planning a wedding?
Contact us for a free wedding consultation & browse our wedding collection online below!

Knights, Maidens, Ewoks, Batman, Minions, Whovians, Darth Vader, X-Wing Fighter pilots, Guardians of the Galaxy: What do these characters all have in common? A cosplay wedding at Indiana Comic Con!

Put cosplay and wedding together and you have one of the most exciting themes I can think of...besides perhaps a cosplay prom. How geektastic would that be? 

Hi, my name is Kelly, and I'm a fan and Star Wars cosplay novice. In honor of May the Fourth and all pop culture cons coming through Indy, it's my honor to write this article about wedding flowers Gillespie Florists provided for an official Cosplay matrimony at Indiana Comic Con 2015. Special Thanks to Gabe Duval Media, for providing photos from this MARVEL-ous occasion.

What does it take to develop wedding flowers for a Cosplay themed wedding? Especially a super colorful one involving popular characters from top shows, movies and comics from geek culture? After reviewing costume designs and colors for the bride and groom and locking in the the top two themes represented (Dr. Who and Star Wars); our wedding specialist, Sarah, streamlined the flower colors to white, red, and a variety of blues. The end result was gorgeous!

The bride, Kaley carried a Clutch style bridal bouquet which complemented her dress with white hydrangea, red spray roses, Kilimanjaro mini gerbera, silver brunia, white waxflower and dusty miller, hand-tied with charcoal gray ribbon with cornflower blue (tardis) treatment on the handle. The bridesmaids glided down the aisle with Clutch style bouquets with red gerbera with dark eyes, silver brunia, blue hydrangea, white waxflower and dusty miller, hand-tied with eggshell ribbon wrap. The groomsmen wore red mini gerberas, a touch of waxflower, dusty miller and blue wire on the stem while the groom, William, wrapped things up with a White mini gerbera with dark eye, white wax flower, red spray rose bloom, dusty miller backing and and blue wire on the stem.

Exciting costumes, thrilling themes, fantastic flowers: what a way to walk down the aisle and we are beyond delighted to have shared the experience by providing flowers for this event. Do you have an entertaining idea for your wedding? Need to plan long distance? DIY wedding flowers? Whatever your theme, distance, ideas; the super staff at Gillespie Florists are here to help you have the wedding of your dreams. Go ahead, give us a call and schedule a complimentary consultation with our wedding specialist. We'll help make your wedding out of this world.

View our wedding flowers online and schedule a free consultation below!

"Sweet spring is your
time is my time is our
time for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love...” 
― E.E. Cummings

Oh yes, surely we can discern the topic of discussion today. Springtime isn't just lovetime, it's the beginning of peak wedding season! Which beautiful blooms are the most popular for matrimony and celebration of unending love? I'm so glad you asked; it will be of no surprise you'll spy some of these blooms in a few popular wedding floral trends: Modern Garden, Lapis Luxury, Kaleidoscope, and Majestic.

1. Peony

One of the most popular, they are also a bit difficult to coordinate due to the limited availability in the spring.
Why do we love them? Romanticism is oozing out of these beauties. Elegant, soft, prime choice for palettes; like moths to a flame, we cannot deny the siren call of the peony. 

2. Rose

3. Hydrangea

A full blooming floral in soft and delicate pastels make this another springtime favorite. Standalone stems in a vase; tied together with simple ribbons for bridesmaids and accentuating the bridal bouquet with their overflowing butterfly petals.

4. Ranunculus

Bold and bright or subtle and pale, Ranunculus has been trending high in many wedding themes recently. Soft and delicate, the paper-thin petals have a definitive edge which help them pop in bouquets when paired with peonies and garden roses. Fabulous form and the wide variety of colors available make them ideal for almost any theme.

5. Sweet Pea

This sweet smelling floral lives up to its name for many reasons. Ruffly, fragrant, romantic, and ranging from white to coral pink to purple, and many shades in between. Like many of the flowers on this list, these blooms are simply lovely by themselves  but also look fabulous mixed with other springtime flowers.

6. Gerbera Daisy

Personally I think these are the happiest flowers in the world but don't take my word for it, what do you think? Available in a wide assortment of colors ranging from the palest peach you can imagine to the most vibrant orange and hot pink; so vibrant they'll knock your garters off. Gerberas are making feature appearances in the Kaleidoscope floral wedding trend this year with their bolder, standout colors.

7. Lilac

This delightful, aromatic, delicated-petaled harbinger of spring will have you reminiscing sunny days, fresh breezes and country charm. The lilac is the perfect choice for a Modern Garden occasion or dress them up with violets, lavender roses, and Picasso Callas for a sophisticated Majestic wedding floral trend.  

8. Tulip

Springtime isn't complete without these beauties; brides adore the versatility of these blooms as they are available in hundreds of colors and varieties. From classic and simple clean lines to the varigated, fringed, and feathery; the possibility of themes incorporating tulips are endless! Add extra whimsy and romanticism with petals displayed wide open instead of traditional closed bloom. 

10. Orchid

Orchids are another option for springtime weddings; yet which one do you choose? There dozens of types of orchids with prices ranging from below $10 a stem to over $20! The variety of size and shape can have orchids such as Cymbidium featured as the main attraction of the bridal bouquet to including Dendrobiums, which mix well with garden roses, sweet peas, peonies, and parrot tulips for a beautiful springtime floral blend.

Oh the beauty of spring and it's abundance of flowers for weddings. Pale pastels, brilliant bold hues, sensational saturations; the possibilities are endless in color and theme for the beginning of peak wedding season. In the process of planning your nuptials? We are here for all the seasons! For more inspiration, check out our wedding collection online and give us a call to set up a complimentary consultation with our Wedding Specialist!

With great pleasure and utmost esteem do we present to you a most royal, regal, and romantic wedding flower trends: Majestic. 

Why so royally inclined? Only the richest of colors are utilized in this trend comprised of luxurious gold, deep purple, sophisticated lavender, and luscious dark pink. The main attraction of color is purple; which is often associated with nobility, royalty, power, and luxury. It also represents meanings of wealth, extravagance, creativity, grandeur, devotion, mystery, and magic. All of these descriptions and more can attest to the color, design, and mood of the Majestic Wedding Floral trend.

Flowers which are commonly highlighted in this richly saturated color trend are Dendrobium orchids, cymbidium orchids, vanda orchids, purple mini carnations, lisianthus, and orange spray roses. However such as all trends, there are many other flowers available to emulate the look and mood such as garden roses, callas, statice, ranunculus, and ever noble garden roses. While various shades of purple and pink are prime hues in Majestic; accent with gold butter tones and a glimmer of coral strategically placed to add extra grandeur to this royal theme. 

Speaking of gold, let us not forget the application of lustrous metallic gold to add to the extravagance. Imagine a gilded tower overflowing with hydangeas, peonies, and phaleonopsis. Petite found objects brushed to romantic golden shimmer; some of them containing a single calla lily or small composition of spray roses and carnations. Such lavish table pieces call for a sit-down meal with multiple courses; more time for your guests to sit, relax, enjoy fine foods, company, and of course, the elegant decor for their visual appreciation. Unsure the budget will allow for a multiple course thorough-fare? Opt for a cocktail reception with fancy finger foods instead! The best advantage to your wedding plans is the ability to take inspiration from favorite themes and transform them into a unique one of your own design!

These four wedding trends serve as inspiration to make your wedding a dream come true: Romantically rustic Modern Garden, exquisite Lapis Luxury, boldly brilliant Kaleidoscope, and extravagant Majestic. Which one speaks the most to you; or is there a combination of characteristics from each which make your heart skip a beat? Perhaps all the options are beginning to boggle your mind? The fine and friendly staff of Gillespie Florists is here to help you create the perfect floral theme for your wedding. Contact us for a complimentary consultation with our Wedding Specialist and browse our extensive wedding collection online to get started today!

And the award for the most vibrantly colored wedding trend of them all this year goes to: Kaliedoscope!

The name does a good job at tipping you off to what the trend is all about: delicious eye-candy you can almost taste presented in bold and sophisticated modern fashion. Certainly we do adore smooth and rich luxury; there's a place for earthy, rustic texture; however we cannot deny the extreme excitement which ignites with a pop of radical color! 

 Enjoy a taste of Mother Nature's rainbow with the wedding color trend: Kaleidoscope. Contemporary design is created through the use of simple shapes and dynamic colors such as coral red, bright orange, neon yellow/green, bright turquoise, hot pinks, black, white and emerald green! So many gorgeous colors; how is it possible we have these natural hues available? We do in flowers such as billy ball, fuji mums, joyful gerberas, playful green trick and those ever popular ranunculus which keep appearing in our trends this year. Adding more color and stepping outside the comfort zone of florals we add fruits such as illuminating limes, scintillating oranges, lemons, and other vibrant produce to continue the modern trend. The use of sleek wires, neon sand, and other simple lined items round out the look and tie all our colorful elements with topiaries and geometric shapes of clear glass cubes, cylinders, and bold contrast graphic print containers. 

What time is the right time for this outstanding color statement? The deep chill of winter will gain heat and summer thirst will be quenched with the hot juicy pop of these spectacular colors. Whether your wedding occurs during day or night, this brilliant color delight will set the mood for a festive celebration of your love. 

Modern Garden, Lapis Luxury, Kaleidoscope, Majestic; what 2015 wedding trend speaks to you? We have lovely examples of each and more on our website! Check out our extensive collection online and find even more at our shop when you contact our wedding specialist for a free consultation!

Elegant, classy, sophisticated, urbane: these adjectives and many more found under the thesaurus when your fingers dance delicately over the keys to spell out the word "refined" and hit "enter". What else do these elite words of finery describe in terms of 2015's trends for wedding colors and themes? Rich and Luxurious. However, it doesn't have to be rich in expenditure: keep it simple with crisp clean lines, bold contrast in colors, and simplified table settings and centerpieces. Pure and pristine white with bold statement accent of blues inspired by waters of the world will reflect the classy and formal elements.

The flowers used for this sophisticated theme are nothing more than supreme in their stature and refinement as white calla lilies, roses, tulips, and peonies combined with the blue flowers of either hydrangea or delphinium are utilized. Centerpiece container colors range from white and blue to a mixture of both. Another option which will retain a classic look is to apply the elegance found in the lines and simplicity of calla lilies and tulips. Combine a few stems of either with a tall clear glass vase and you will have a bold statement softened with simple lines and color. 

The Lapis Luxury theme is the black-tie affair modernized with an evening ceremony and receptions featuring either sit-down table service dining; however, a more budget friendly approach of cocktails and appetizers would also fit the fancy bill.

Regardless of the time of day, budget, venue, etc. the refined wedding trend featuring classic colors of white and blue, using the graceful and sophisticated blooms of callas, roses, hydrangea, and more, will make a luxurious and memorable statement on for your grand wedding affair.

Need bridal bouquet ideas and inspiration? Visit our online collection here!

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