Gypsophila, a Marmite flower, is constantly skipping in and out of the limelight; one month it’s the biggest floral trend while the next it’s frumpy and outdated. Over recent years we’ve seen its popularity surge as it’s taken pride of place in celebrity weddings, fashion shows and glossy magazines.

While many florists might hate the stuff or see it as a cheap alternative to offer brides on a budget, the fact that celebs and the super-rich are opting for this so-called filler flower shows it’s still got plenty of commercial potential. As wedding season draws in we thought we’d settle it and find out what you really think on the matter, so take our poll below, then check out our facts on the much-maligned flower so you’ve insights and ideas to share with your customers.

Pictured above: a ‘just gyp’ bouquet encrusted with one of our many brooch bouquets.

How to make a corsage is one of the most Googled queries in floristry and we can see why. Do you wire or glue? How much stem do you snip? And what about buttonholes, isn’t there an easier way?!

As florists of course you know most of the answers but prom accessories have been undergoing a serious surge in popularity plus an upheaval in methods so we’re sharing a range of contemporary ideas in both style and technique so you’re totally ready for that swarm of teenage customers we hope will arrive over the next few weeks.

 READ OUR ULTIMATE CORSAGE GLUE GUIDE 

Blue roses?! Yes, blue roses!! Whatever you think of them, it’s proven that loads of teen prom-goers are head-over-heels for dyed blooms and don’t give a damn that they’re not au naturel, so don’t be shocked to find a few in this list. We adore the way Philip Holley has combined one with a striking peacock feather on the Zoey Corsage Cuff. With that stunning dress, we reckon this really is a mix of colours to die for, even if they are dyed. *Pun intended!

The colouring of the beaded Nadya Corsage Bracelet is coordinated perfectly to bring out gold touches in this Treasure Chest brooch and pink shadows within this chrysanth bloom. A great choice for selling to girly girls with added bright pink Flutters feathers.

Achieve a more demure look with orchids and a touch of gyp. Dark green fern contrasts elegantly with whites and pearls, and for something unique, this wristlet comes with a watch.

Another blue, this time teamed with spiky succulents and thistles with sleek dark callas and foliage. The result? The perfect choice for a teen prom-goer who picks out the Rocker wristlet from your pick n mix selection.

A very special prom accessory, or an even more special gift from a first date? We adore the combination of shells and fuchsia in the design above, and with a touch of cold glue and a bundle of patience, stunning detail work like this won’t take as long as you think.

Before offering design suggestions, ask teen customers what their prom outfit will be like. This Stylin bracelet and Sparkling Heirloom brooch pick out the subtle sparkle on our model’s dress perfectly.

Never sure whether your stems are poking the right way? If you can’t cut your flower at its head and have to leave some stem, often bits poking out of your corsage can look out of place. As with this calla-on-a–cuff design, add a colourful floral collar to detract and neatly tape-up to make the whole thing tie-in to create the desired shape.

Here’s another example of detracting from an unruly stem with bullion wire wrapped around the end of this scabious on a silver Rocker bracelet.

Not too big and not too small, traditional in style but oh-so-pretty, this design simply glued to the Savannah wristlet is a sure-fire win with young prom-goers.

Sparkles! For so many teens there’s just never enough. Go on, give them what they want. Find the pearls and glitzy picks here.

Great for corsage customers looking for a very simple piece; this Athena wristlet has a plain silver band but of course comes complete with the special Corsage Creations plastic attachment for gluing any flowers you choose.

We travel the globe to source unique design tools and accessories, all with florists and event planners in mind, so we’re often first to spot the latest industry trends and innovative new ideas.

Our new catalogue is landing on doorsteps up and down the UK this week (flick through online here), and we hope that our 2018 collection will tick all the boxes; whether you’re adding special touches to florals, in search of clever cost-effective ideas or in need of innovative tools to save time and money.

Make Ultra Violet go the extra mile

Global trend experts have spoken, and purple has officially been crowned the colour of 2018. Since Pantone named Ultra Violet its Colour of the Year, designers around the world have included purple in their predictions; and we’ve a huge host of products in a similar shade – see our full selection of purple products here.

Check out our brand new glitter lilac butterflies on a wire, and in the classic range you’ll find a variety of purple corsage bracelets, brooches and feathers. Plus, in perfect purple we’ve got Kara’s Kisses, bling it on stickers, metallic wire, amazing wraps, faux rose petals, satin ribbon and more. Take full advantage of the trend and get your hands on our stunning, ready-made purple everlasting brooch bouquet while stocks last, at its lowest price!

More, more, more rose gold

2017 was a rose gold frenzy, in the jewellery world and beyond. It’s a trend set to stick around so we’ve added a rose gold option to a number of our most popular product lines, see the full selection here. It includes brooches like favourites Heirloom and Aurora, as well as our chair backs, amazing wraps, diamante branches and rhinestone quintets, pearl sprays and loops, plus buttonholes, corsage bracelets and our gleaming and lacey leaves – perfect for adding a subtle gleam to all sorts floral designs.

Go faux

With quality increasing at a spectacular rate, silk flowers have become increasingly popular over recent years and are no longer shunned as an ugly alternative – even favoured by stylists, interior designers and fashion mags for certain occasions. We’ve expanded our range of faux flowers and foliage to include a host of ivy, cherry blossom and anemone (coming to the web-shop soon), and all are an extremely cost-effective way to transform a venue. Another popular option is scattering petals, so we’ve just added a new line of romantic colours to our silk range, including grey, blush pink, wisteria, pure white and burgundy.

Animal-around

Animals incorporated into design are predicted to be big this year (from Pulbrook & Gould’s safari wreath to ‘grammable wildlife ceramics and luxury bird-cage lampshades) so you’ll find new feathered friends in our collection including a thrush and blue tit – perfect for replicating the top interior trend. Plus, our colourful butterflies have had a glittery makeover, and we’ve launched a line of ladybird pegs and stickers, great for making orders more memorable.

Little trend-setters

We’re especially excited about our large new line of children’s corsage bracelets – created especially for little wrists, they offer a great add-on sale for wedding bookings so that even the smallest of bridesmaids can take to that aisle like a catwalk.

See the catalogue

We’ve added too many new products to list them all here, so browse the full webshop, flick through the catalogue online or order one in the post.

‘Win a dream wedding kit’ competition, beginning Monday 25th June 2018

1. The Competition hosted by Corsage Creations is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

2. No purchase is necessary to enter or win, and a purchase does not increase the chances of winning.

3. Eligibility: This Competition is open only to those who enter by one of the following three methods: a) Liking and Commenting on the relevant Competition Facebook post, b) Commenting on the relevant Competition Instagram post, c) Retweeting the relevant Competition Twitter post. The Competition is only open to legal residents of United Kingdom and Ireland and is void where prohibited by law. Employees of Corsage Creations, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and suppliers, (collectively the “Employees”), and immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of Employees are not eligible to participate in the Competition. The Competition is subject to all applicable laws and regulations.

4. Agreement to Rules: By participating, the Contestant (“You”) agree to be fully unconditionally bound by these Rules, and You represent and warrant that You meet the eligibility requirements. In addition, You agree to accept the decisions of Corsage Creations as final and binding as it relates to the content of this Competition.

5. Competition Period: Entries will be accepted online starting on Monday 25th June 2018 and ending Monday 2nd July 2018. All entries must be received by 12pm on Monday 2nd July 2018.

6. How to Enter: The Competition must be entered by submitting an entry using one of the three following methods; a) Liking and Commenting on the relevant Competition Facebook post, b) Commenting on the relevant Competition Instagram post, c) Retweeting the relevant Competition Twitter post. The entry must fulfil all Competition requirements as specified to be eligible to win a prize. Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Corsage Creations.

7. Prizes: The Winner of the Campaign (the “Winner”) will receive brooch bouquet of the Winner’s choice from the six items in our ‘Fancy’ range (Fancy Brooch Bouquet Elegant – Silver; Fancy Brooch Bouquet Eternity – Silver and Cream; Fancy Brooch Bouquet Everlasting – Purple; Fancy Brooch Bouquet Fascination – Silver; Fancy Brooch Bouquet Glamour – Silver; Fancy Brooch Bouquet Lovely – Silver), as well as a selection their choice of Corsage Creations products worth a maximum of £50. Product choice is subject to availability and confirmation following discussion with the Winner upon contacting them to inform them of their win. Corsage Creations will aim to fulfil the Winner’s full request but reserve the right to offer alternatives or substitutions if unable to provide all requested items within the set price bracket. Actual/appraised value may differ at time of prize award. The final specifics of the prize shall be determined by Corsage Creations. No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted except at Corsage Creations’ discretion. The prize is non-transferable. Any and all prize-related expenses, including without limitation any local taxes, shall be the sole responsibility of Winner. No substitution of prize or transfer/assignment of prize to others or request for the cash equivalent by Winner is permitted. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Corsage Creations to use Winner’s name, likeness, and entry for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

8. Odds: The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

9. Winner Selection and Notification: Winner will be selected by a random draw from a list of all entrants compiled from all three entry methods, drawn under the supervision of Corsage Creations. Winner will be notified by within five 5 days following selection of Winner. The winner will be selected at random from the collective list of entrants from all three social media channels. Depending on the method of entry, the winner will be informed the following way:
a) If on Facebook, Corsage Creations will reply to their comment (on the relevant Competition post) requesting an email address or telephone number to organise delivery of the prize; b) If on Instagram or Twitter, Corsage Creations will send them a direct message requesting an email address or telephone number to organise delivery of the prize.

10. Corsage Creations shall have no liability for Winner’s failure to receive notices due to spam, junk e-mail or other security settings or for Winner’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If Winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim the prize or reply to the notification within 14 days from the time award notification was sent, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate Winner selected. Receipt by Winner of the prize offered in this Competition is conditioned upon compliance with any and all national laws and regulations. Any violation of these official rules by Winner (at Corsage Creations’ sole discretion) will result in Winner’s disqualification as Winner of the Competition, and all privileges as Winner will be immediately terminated.

11. Terms & Conditions: Corsage Creations reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Competition should virus, bug, non-authorised human intervention, fraud, or other cause beyond Corsage Creations’ control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Competition. In such case, Corsage Creations may select the Winner from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Corsage Creations. Corsage Creations reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Competition or website or violates these Terms & Conditions. Corsage Creations has the right, in its sole discretion, to maintain the integrity of the Competition, to void votes for any reason, including, but not limited to: multiple entries from the same user from different IP addresses; multiple entries from the same computer in excess of that allowed by Competition rules; or the use of bots, macros, scripts, or other technical means for entering.

12. Limitation of Liability: By entering, You agree to release and hold harmless Corsage Creations and its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers, and directors from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, claim, or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from: (i) such entrant’s participation in the Competition and/or his/her acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize or any portion thereof; (ii) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to the malfunction of any computer, cable, network, hardware, or software, or other mechanical equipment; (iii) the unavailability or inaccessibility of any transmissions, telephone, or Internet service; (iv) unauthorised human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Promotion; (v) electronic or human error in the administration of the Promotion or the processing of entries.

13. Disputes: this competition is governed by the laws of England. As a condition of participating in this Competition, participant agrees that any and all disputes that cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Competition, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in England having jurisdiction. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances shall participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable legal fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e. costs associated with entering this Competition). Participant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

14. Privacy Policy: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the Privacy Policy stated on the Corsage Creations website. To read the Privacy Policy, click here.

15. Sponsor: The Sponsor of the Competition is:

Corsage Creations
Douthwaite & Co. Ltd,
Unit 408,
Birch Park, Street 7,
Thorp Arch Trading Estate,
Wetherby,
Leeds,
LS23 7FG

16. Data protection: the only data collected by Corsage Creations during the course of the Competition will be the names of the social media pages of those who enter, collected solely for the purpose of gathering all entrants together to select a Winner at random. Once the Winner has been selected and confirmed, all data will be destroyed. The Winner must then provide Corsage Creations with an email address or telephone number and postal address for the prize to be delivered to. Once the Winner has received the prize, Corsage Creations will not store any of this data.