Image Map

A Combined Effort

Fairly often during prom season I (Twigs) receive inquiries about shipping corsages. 
I'm pretty nervous about shipping something so delicate and important as a prom corsage, but I have sent several of our handcrafted wire wraps and cuffs to various states. 

I received such an inquiry for this  silver wire wrap (Shooting Star) the week before Mother's Day this year. Thank goodness it wasn't needed until AFTER the holiday (whew!) 


Here it is with our floral design using hot pink dendrobium orchids
(they look purple in the photo don't they?) and wax flower accents.


We sent it off in plenty of time for her to contact a florist in her area, and arrange
for them to add the flowers to the wrap when it arrived. 

A few weeks went by without hearing anything....
then this lovely email turned up in my inbox!

 Tracey,
Just wanted to let you know, my son's girlfriend
loved the corsage!! Attached are a few pictures,
so you can see the finished product.
Thanks again for helping us out with this.
Sandra 


 Sandra had contacted Bachelor Button Floral & Interior Accents to
take charge of adding the florals - didn't they do a great job?!

Look how different our design styles are... 
 I concentrate the florals on the end while  they spread theirs out along the length of the wrap. 
(hmmm.. might have to try that) 

A big thank you to Jon Grim & Mark Buczak, owners of Bachelor Button, who were 
so helpful and gracious while taking care of Sandra's very special order. 





Corsage Creations on Pinterest!

Our friends Corsage Creations from 'across the pond' have been working on 
their pinterest boards for a while.
(They were featured here on Prom Flowers last June)

This morning I was delighted to find many of their lovely corsage designs 
added to their board Prom Corsages

Here are a few..
aren't they lovely? 

Geo Flash Bracelet in hot pink  from Corsage Creations
Eye Candy in black & white from Corsage Creations
Serena bracelet with orchids from Corsage Creations
Geo Flash in Turquoise from Corsage Creations

Eye Candy in white from Corsage Creations

I'm always struck by the elegant simplicity in their designs.
A single exquisite bloom or two, and
perfect placement of flowers and accessories.

 Follow Corsage Creations on Pinterest 
for other prom and wedding ideas.
(make sure you check out their boutonnieres!) 






 

Hand Held VS Wrist Corsage -- My Experience

First year I went to prom I wanted to have a unique corsage! Since my dad owned a flower shop, I not only knew what was typically ordered but what was not! I decided on a phalaenopsis orchid corsage. My dad warned me that it was a more delicate flower and I would have to be careful with it 
if I wanted to save it after prom. I figured no big deal, 
how crazy is prom going to be?


Now it’s not like a high school prom is that crazy but I didn’t think about how the dance floor would be dark and although I may not be in a rush, others may be. A few minutes into prom a guy in a hurry to cut through the line for pictures brushed past me and half my orchid was gone! I was bummed and swore next time I would get something I couldn’t break!



The next year I decided on taking a ribbon wrapped calla lily. I thought this would be something I could get great pictures with but once I went out to the dance floor, I could leave the flower at the table. I loved the calla and because everyone else had corsages, I had something no one else had and got lots of compliments! It was really nice to be able to dance the night away and not worry about the flowers hanging off my wrist. It was all great until I realized on the way home that I had left my calla at prom!

Looking back, my experience was much better with the handheld flower than the wrist corsage. Even though I forgot it for saving! Really though, who still has their prom flowers 10 years later? If someone does; they are probably throwing that dusty thing away right now!




In the spirit of looking back, I wouldn’t do the hand held callas OR the orchid corsage. What is offered today is soooo much better than what was offered when I was in high school! I would have worn a keepsake bracelet with mini-carnations or daisies! Then during prom I wouldn’t worry about what happened to my flowers because that’s not what I would be saving. Instead, after prom, I would cut the corsage from the bracelet and wear the bracelet on a daily basis and would still have it today in my jewelry box!

Bauble Bath by Gillespie Florists

Mirage by Gillespie Florists




What did you choose this year, wrist corsage or hand held bouquet? 
With a keepsake bracelet or without? 
What was your experience & would you choose the same  again?

Della Gillespie
Gillespie Florists
9255 W. 10th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46234
317.273.1100


All images are copyrighted and owned by Gillespie Florists.

Unique challenges-what to design when every request is the same and every item needs to be different.



Every year has its favorite colors.  Last year it was royal blue, this year it’s been dark purple and turquoise.  When order after order comes in requesting the same color pallet, it can be a challenge to make each boutonniere and corsage unique.  



Purple Challenge.
  Purple is a great color.  From lavender to plum, eggplant to fuchsia, 
purple is just a wonderful color to work with.   



REQUEST: ‘Something to go with my son’s date’s purple dress.’

DESIGN:  Since we didn’t know the exact shade of purple, we went with various shades from lavender to eggplant.  Classic white spray roses and fun accessories like the iridescent leaves and rhinestone picks finished the design.  



Plum Royalty Set



REQUEST: ‘My dress is purple and I like the purple design on your website.'

DESIGN: The young lady that ordered this corsage liked the various shades of deep purple, but wanted a different flower, so we used the same ribbons and accessories, but featured a purple tinted mum.  
 She loved it.



Plum Royalty Set- (Yes, it's the same photo as last time)
REQUEST:  ‘I need a corsage and boutonniere just like the photo on your website.’
DESIGN: The original photo shows sweet peas.  I didn’t have any this year, so we used Alstroemeria lilies. We tried to keep everything else the same, including the dark purple ribbons and silver and rhinestone accents. 




REQUEST: ‘I need a boutonniere to go with my eggplant purple dress. ‘

DESIGN: We didn’t design the corsage for this couple, just the boutonniere.   To match her dress, she picked the deep purple calla lily, but left everything else up to us.  I love the clean look of the Calla Lily and silver gleaming leaves.




 
REQUEST: ‘We need a pretty corsage with not a lot of ‘fluff’
and a matching boutonniere for a purple dress.'
DESIGN: This is my personal favorite. This young man came in two years in a row.  Last year, he ordered red spray roses.  This year, his date (same girl) was wearing purple.  So we went with the fuchsia Dendrobium orchids. He also picked a rhinestone bracelet and the silver accessories.  Almost everything in this design was chosen by the guy.  How’d he do?  Of course, since we designed for them last year, we knew the style they liked, which is always a benefit.



*******************************************************



Turquoise challenge
.  There aren’t many blue flowers and no true turquoise flowers—at least not that I’ve worked with.  So we often use white flowers and turquoise accessories.  Again, the challenge is making sure everything looks different. We can’t have two girls wearing the same corsage at the same prom!



 

REQUEST: ‘Make something similar to this photo but with turquoise.’

DESIGN:  This is a composite flower consisting of a spray rose and Alstroemeria petals.  The Flutterzz feather accents were very popular this year.  They are a great way to add movement and length without adding a lot of weight.  And they come in so many great colors-including turquoise!




 REQUEST: ’My daughter needs a fun design for a turquoise dress.  
 She’ll LOVE the zebra striped ribbon!’

DESIGN:  When the girl’s mother ordered this set, she started with the zebra print ribbon, then she picked out the accessories, including white Flutterzz and rhinestones. 


REQUEST: ‘I need a corsage for a white dress with different shades of blue accents.'

DESIGN: We used the royal blue Flutterzz, light blue ribbons, blue rhinestone accessories.  This is one of the few corsages where the customer requested fresh foliage.  






 REQUEST: ‘My daughter’s dress is turquoise with iridescent shimmer.  I need a corsage and matching boutonniere, but I don’t want any rhinestones.’

DESIGN:  With ‘pearls and shimmer’ in mind, we picked a glittery blue ribbon, a turquoise accent ribbon, iridescent leaves and pearls…and not a single rhinestone.   





I have been a floral designer for 18 years and owned the Rose of Sharon Floral Designs for 15 years.  The Rose of Sharon is located in the northwest corner of Arkansas, and recently moved to a larger space just north of Fayetteville, AR.  I've always loved the detail work needed for weddings and proms; it is one of the main things that drew me to being a florist.
  Althea Wiles 
 Rose of Sharon Floral Designs 
  2015 C Main Dr.
  Fayetteville AR 72704

    (Located in Johnson)