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.



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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)

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Smith Valley Prom - A Black & White Affair

How do you stay unique when everyone is wearing the same color combination? 

That was the challenge we had while creating corsages for this event. 

Pattern..

These zebra & striped ribbons added just the right touch to keep this basic corsage interesting and unique. 

Texture..

Soft feathers contrasts with the sparkle of rhinestones

Color..

If you are wearing black or white there's no better place to add a splash of color 

Here it was a soft pink combined with black and white ribbons. 

Or

Just do your own thing!

Tracey Foster

Twigs

Yerington, NV

Prom Flowers Q & A

Leah writes:

Prom is always a very big deal in our house.
Since we broke the bank, and our budget, on the dress/alterations/jewelry this year I really want Olivia's corsage to be spectacular!
But I am envisioning reds that clash and a very busy feel.  She will wear all the bracelets on one arm and the necklace with tie in her hair as a headband, not a necklace so her neck will be bare.
I have scoured the Internet, and your corsages are by far my favorite.  Unique without being garish.
Can you help design an over the top, but cohesive corsage/bout combo to match her dress?

Thanks for any input!

Answering Leah's question today will be:

Della Gillespie-Mendenhal - Gillespie Florist, Inc Indianapolis, IN

Cathy Walsh-  Sprout. Worcester Mass. 

Tracey Foster - Twigs, Yerington NV

Reds are very hard to match and can look absolutely horrible if paired up with the wrong shade of red. I say it like that because it is near impossible to match flowers to the exact color of a dress, so concentrate on complementing instead. Go to your local florist with your dress and ask to see some red flowers or corsage accents that they may have available. Find the red flower or item that you like with your dress and build your corsage from there!
-Della

I think once you find a nice red - or a blend of different tones of red, your next issue would be coordinating with the nude background of the dress. I would stay away from white ribbons of any kind as well as pure white flowers. Stick with eggshell, or in Della's second example, the lace, which is a great link to the lace pattern of the dress.
A few  blooms on a chunky bracelet or cuff would be a great compliment to this look. This Cuff corsage is close-  but,.. I would switch out the black ribbons for a combination of rich cream satin and lace, the black & gold beads for rhinestones.
-Tracey

 I would go with a pair of white cattleya orchids with Fitz Glitzz feathers in red, trimmed with rhinestone & pearl streamers , rhinestone accents on the flower petals, & red Flash ribbon.
 An upper arm cuff or wrap would balance out all of the chunky bracelets.

-Cathy