Back open!

Did everyone have a wonderful Christmas?? We sure did! And we can't believe it's about to turn the page to 2012!

We wanted to let you know we're back open this morning and ready to serve you!

Merry Christmas (Eve Eve)!

Are you ready? The big weekend is here! We will be closed Christmas Eve (Saturday) and reopen Monday morning to enjoy time with our families.

Merry Christmas to everyone! May your holiday be blessed and bright.

Don't forget your door! Wreaths are in!

Don't let your door go bare this winter! Be sure to keep it warm with a fresh wreath! We've got all sizes, types of decor & pretty ribbon. And this way you get to enjoy that lovely pine scene all season long! (But it's still outside, so there's less worries for allergies. ;) )

These also make beautiful (and early!) Christmas gifts as well. Look, you're knocking out gifts left & right!

Small Business Saturday!

We're back open! Did you guys have as wonderful a Thanksgiving as we did? Friends, family, food....YUM.

For those of you still standing after Black Friday, be sure to drop by for Small Business Saturday! We'll be open 9 AM - 12 PM per usual.



Be sure to remember this holiday season to spend some of time and money shopping locally. While we certainly want your business, we equally want you to share the love with any small businesses who will love you back. We'll be sharing some of our favorite local spots throughout the month, so keep an eye out here!

See you Saturday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Don't worry! There's still time to order those last minute Thanksgiving centerpieces! :) We'll be taking orders all-day long for the Bethel, Shawnee & Tecumseh areas.

Also, please know we'll be closed all day tomorrow to enjoy Thanksgiving with our own families. But we'll be back 8 AM Friday morning for all your floral desires!

While we're here, let's give a round of applause for all the Black Friday workers. We stand with you and we think you should have Thanksgiving off. Stores opening at midnight is one thing - stores opening on Thanksgiving and keeping employees away from their families is another. We love shopping as much as anybody, but we can wait a few more hours for all the sales goodness. After all, the anticipation is half the fun!

Know that everyone at Graves wishes you & yours a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday filled with lots of love & laughter and all the stuffing you can eat. :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  :)

Gobble gobble time!

I know we haven't blogged much lately, but that's because you guys ROCKED our open house! We've been busy! Congratulations to all our winners - especially Dorothy Tyler who won the grand prize Christmas tree! Woowoo!

And now we're down to the wire on Thanksgiving orders, but there's still plenty of time to get yours in! You can't forget your TABLE dressing! Gobble gobble! :)

 We'll be closed all day Thanksgiving but back open bright & early Friday morning. See you BLACK FRIDAY! :)

Aw, thanks guys!

Graves turned 104 yesterday! Can you believe it? Thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes!

We can't wait to celebrate it with our annual open house on 11-11-11! Here's another sneak peek for you....

We're going to have a 20% off ALL in-store items the day of the open house - even if they're already discounted! Several items will be already be discounted half off (plus that 20%), so you're looking at some awesome deals. And the prizes? And did we mention....Chicago St. Deli COOKIES!?

We're excited. Keep an eye out for further details!

Happy Hallows Eve!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN all you ghosts & goblins!! Everyone at Graves Floral is wishing you the spooookiest of Halloweens and all the candy you can eat! (or at least all that mom will allow! :) ) 

Have a fantastic evening and stay safe!

Open House: The First Sneak Peek

Can you believe it? Our annual holiday open house is (gasp!) less than a MONTH AWAY?!

We're excited. We can't wait to show you all our pretties!

It'll all be taking place November 11 (11-11-11, indeed!) from 8:00 - 5:00. There will be massive sales: 20% off all in-store items, including those already marked down. Hourly door prizes. The grand prize. Cookies.

It's gonna be awesome.

Here's just the tiniiiest sneak peek for you. Keep an eye out here or on our Facebook for all the upcoming details!

Pretty Bird, Pretty Bird!

This pretty just went up for sale in our front cooler! We've got some gorgeous birds of paradise this week at a great price, so be sure to grab them while they're here. Also new this week: craspedia, or billy balls (the bright yellow ones!), and we're loving the chance to play with them as well.

2012 Calendar's!! The Language of Flowers...

2012 calendar's are IN! We're so excited - these are always popular with our customers. As always, we'll have them available here and we'll be passing them out with deliveries. (And, of course, they'll be available at our open house!) They're free (and the flowers are so pretty!) so be sure to get yours today!

Think Pink.

  Yes...we're thinking pink this month. 

 We're thinking pink for every survivor, for every lost loved one, for every individual in the middle of their battle and every family member or supportive friend that's walked beside you through it all.

Don't forget, friends... 

Think Pink. 

The Pumpkins Have Returned!

Can you believe it? It's already time for our neighbor's annual Pumpkin Patch!

Yes, our next door neighbor the First Christian Church has had an annual Pumpkin Patch for the past sixteen years! The pumpkins always look so festive for the season, we can't help but wander up there and purchase some for ourselves!

It's true... I love the 'warty' ones! Although that orange & white one in front is my favorite.

Don't forget that we can make fresh arrangements out of fresh pumpkin too! Well, okay, let me rephrase that...we can use your pumpkin as a container for your fresh arrangements! This is particularly nice closer to (say it with me now) HALLOWEEN! Or for an extra special Thanksgiving centerpiece, that's certainly a way to go too!

Although fresh pumpkin sounds pretty good too....mmm, pumpkin pie.

And be sure to bring the kiddos! Sometimes they'll have toys out front, but they always have plenty of photo opportunities...including the ever present pumpkin bridge!

We think this fundraiser is super. If you want some good looking pumpkins (and a variety of them at that!) be sure to stop by and check them out!


Thanks for First Christian for letting us snag some pics!

Fall Elegance: The Handheld Edition

I simply love this collection of flowers and colors. 

Let's start with the corsages, shall we?

A wristlet of black schzwalder & mango callas with berries & seeded euc.

And, of course, the men! Simple, yet stylish.

And then the oo-la-la handhelds...

Bridesmaids

 These bridesmaids bouquets were each a little unique, which made it so fun to design!













Even their wraps were each a little different.




And then, of course, what you've been waiting on....

Bridal

 This turned out so, so pretty. Callas, dahlias, hyperium, freesia....and those ribbon curls! The touches of glitz!

Sigh. Perfect colors. Perfect bride. Perfect wedding.

We'll definitely be getting more pics and sharing them your way soon!

September Wedding: Fall Elegance

Oo, we've been teasing with this one all week! And it was GORGEOUS. We absolutely loved working this wedding with all its lovely fall colors and all the varieties of flowers. And the use of those lanterns? Perfect.

I mean, look at the way this piece turned out:

Reception Centerpieces

Oooooo....those colors! And all the different textures and shades! In that piece alone we have (ready for the list?) candlelight roses, dahlias (in purple, red, gold), amaranthus (in green & burgandy), hypericum berries (red & green), calla lilies (black schzwalder & mango), freesia (gold & purple) and seeded euc...whew!

And you will continue to see variations of that list throughout the whole ceremony, but certainly in the rest of receptions pieces that follow:

Bride's Table

Cake Table

Also at this wedding was a beautiful outdoor staircase that led down to the reception. The bride & groom were announced at the top of it and had their entryway leading down it. How beautiful! This birdcage was at the top:

 

 

Love the draping amaranthus. 

And there were mixed arrangements leading their way down the stairs. At the reception these floral pieces had candle holders with electric votives, as it was just turning dusk. Perfect timing.

A few of the stair pieces:

 Can't wait to show you the rest!

Steampunk'd!

We always enjoy stretching our design skills a bit.... and I can't help but love Steampunk! This was my first attempt at the look. What'cha think?:)

Gorgeous Fall Wedding: Just the Teaser!

Congratulations to our Paige & Eric!! We're so excited for you guys and wish you ALL the best in the future.

Check out this teaser of their gorgeous wedding! More to come later this week!

Could that be a reception piece I see?

National Alzheimer's Awareness Day

Today is National Alzheimer's Awareness Day. Please support those around you and their families who are fighting this battle - we know its a daily struggle. Everyone here will be thinking of you and of those already lost today.

Let the Games Begin!

We're all riled up for the games this weekend! We're a shop divided, so football season is always interesting. ;) Though we all root for each others teams - right up until Bedlam!



We've been getting quite a few calls showing off Sooner spirit, but where are you Cowboys? I know you're out there!

Newcomer to Facebook!

Our great friends, Chicago Street Deli, have now joined Facebook! They have some of the best cookies in Shawnee, so be sure to drop by and give them some love!

Don't forget your boots!

We're got an upcoming rehearsal dinner that will feature cowboy boots as star centerpieces! Don't be afraid to look around for worn or discarded pieces that still reflect your personality or party. Sometimes they provide the most character!

Back open!

We're back open! Did everyone have a great holiday!

Now that the Labor Day holiday is over, we'll begin our preparations for (shh, do we dare say it?)...CHRISTMAS! We know, we know...it's only September! But we'll prepare now so you can have the best of the best later.

So keep an eye out! We'll be announcing our dates for our annual open house soon! :)

Closed: Labor Day

Just a reminder: We will be closed Saturday the 3rd through Monday the 5th for the Labor Day holiday. We'll be back open bright & early Tuesday morning! Stay safe, have a beautiful weekend and enjoy FOOTBALL!

The Return of the Sunflowers

Guess who's baaaaaack? :)

One of my favorites! They always look so happy!

We've already had so many requests for these, that they're sure to go quickly each week. They'll be here throughout the fall, so be sure to take advantage while they're here!

Late Summer

It's that beautiful time of year again - I love late summer/ fall colors! This centerpiece is full of one of my favorite color combo: reds, oranges & yellows...swoon. And the horsetail also rocks my socks off.

Currently in our Coolers!

This mod arrangement went up in our coolers yesterday and it was too cute not to share! Orange gerber daisies & carnations with green button mums. Touches of wirework.

Switching to Fall

Whew! We're one day away from breaking the over-50-days-of-over-100-degree-heat record! (Personally, at this point, I hope we make it.)

Nonetheless, we're in the process of switching the shop over into fall! One of my favorite seasons. Do you think the weather will take notice? :) (After we break the record, of course!)

Love the pheasant ball.

Announcement! New place to find us!

Happy Monday, everyone!! We've got a super exciting announcement to make this morning! We're now on one of the newest and up-in-comingist websites around...can you guess?

Graves is now on Pinterest! If you're already in love with Pinterest, you now know you can follow our boards and see what on the internet makes the girls at Graves go "oooo...pretty!" You can also find our personal portfolios on the site as well, allowing you to see who makes what in the shop (and our favorite picks among those!)

Also, this is great news for our future brides! You will now have online access to inspiration boards we create for your wedding, as well as hopefully gain inspiration for yourselves through our other boards.

And if you were unaware of Pinterest until this moment you will love its ability to organize your images and thoughts - especially for our brides trying to keep it all together! You will also be amazed at the amount of images already on Pinterest just waiting for you to grab and input in your personal life.

Pinterest is still invite only (I believe its still in beta...?) but you can check out all the images on the rest of their site - as well as our own - while you're waiting. I'm amazed at how quickly their staff gets back to you with answers, so you can rest knowing they're doing their best. Be sure to request your invitation at the top of their page!

We can't wait to see you! Let us know if/when you're on there- we'd love to follow you and see all the great things that inspire you as well!

Tropical Centerpiece

Happy Friday everyone! Wasn't that rain yesterday awesome? And now its the weekend! We're on a roll!

Check out this super cute tropical arrangement that went out last week. LOVE those anthuriums! They came in so gorgeous!

2011 Weddings: Pinks, Creams & Greens Part 3

Here we are, the final segment of our grand wedding at Oak Tree! Finally, we're to the ceremony! (If you missed it, Part 1 & 2 are just below! They walk you through the reception and bridal party pieces.)

Now, Oak Tree's gazebo & grounds are so pretty on their own that it doesn't demand much decoration. In this case, our bride went with simple touches, just enough to enhance the site, but not to overwhelm it. Take a look:

Okay, so the W stands out a bit! But it was supposed to!

Our bride was using her soon-to-be last initial as a theme throughout the entire wedding, so she really wanted it to walk through it on her way up the aisle!


Almost 200 roses later and voila! A 'W' appeared!


The gazebo was touched with two pieces on each side:




The same flowers as in the reception pieces: green hydrangeas & dendrobium orchids, deep fuschia carnations & sweet william, pink alstromeria, calla lilies & asters & curly, curly willow.

I swooned a bit over the way the arrangements looked under those lanterns.

2011 Weddings: Pinks, Creams & Greens Part 2

Be sure to check out yesterdays post for Part 1 (the reception) of this gorgeous extravaganza at Oak Tree in Edmond!

Now let's move on to the part you're waiting for... the bridal party.

All. Beautiful. Callas.
Yes. That's what we're talking about.



The Bridal Bouquet:

Love those stunning green tips. It makes the white stand out so much more.

The Bridesmaids Bouquet:


The bridesmaids wore black dresses, so these Garnet Glow calla lilies really stood out! Just a touch of black pins tied their bouquets to their dresses.

Mothers Corsages:
Father's Bout:

This was a military wedding, so there were no boutonnieres for the groom or groomsmen. They were sure handsome in their uniforms!

One last look...

All the callas used in the wedding were specifically mini callas. Those soft green tips really make this piece. Love it when the flowers come in so, so lovely.

2011 Weddings: Pinks, Creams & Greens Part 1

Oh my....can we go ahead and classify this as one of our FAVORITE weddings?! This past Saturday we were moving and grooving up to Oak Tree in Edmond - one of the nicest country clubs in the area (and with super friendly staff!).

Seriously, Julie at Oak Tree is absolutely phenomenal. She'll take awesome care of you.

There's so much to this wedding! Let's go backwards a bit and start with the reception pieces:

I loooove this look. Wrapped up in that glass cylinder is curly willow intermingled with pink and white callas. See?

Love. Love.




More on those airplanes in a minute.

These pieces were filled with green hydrangeas & dendrobium orchids, pink callas, asters, alstromeria & deep fuchsia sweet william & carnations with curly willow stretching to the sky.

And then...the CAKE arrived!


Pink calla lilies tucked into the cake...

This gorgeous creation was designed by Gypsy Cakes in Edmond. Such sweet people making such sweet cakes!

We don't know where these airplanes came from, unfortunately, but they're a super cute idea! The groom is a pilot in the Navy, so this small decorative touch could double as favors. (For this wedding the favors included their initials and wedding date on a golf ball! What a great idea for a golf course setting.)

And finally, the toss/guestbook bouquet that will give you a sneak peak at whats to come with the bridal....


Just gorgeous.