JP Parker Flowers

PACE Awards

2011-04-08T10:12:00.008-03:00

We are excited to announce that we are the proud recipients of two PACE Awards! The awards are for Professional Achievement in Creative Events for the International Special Events Society (ISES).

Our first award is for Best ISES Team Effort (Under $75,000) Flying High. The fabulous planners at Accent on Indianapolis put together a phenomenal team including A Classic Party Rental and Evans Audio Visual. The event took place in an airplane hangar. We were able to use black ceramic containers joined by metal screening and wire to create a contemporary, masculine arrangement. Bright colored flowers such as purple Canterbury bells, orange alstromeria, red gerbera daisies, and yellow button mums just added to the fun!
The second award was for Best ISES Team Effort ($75,000-$200,000) An Affair to Remember. Again, our friends at Accent on Indianapolis pulled together a team that included Encore Entertainment, Evans Audio Visual, Indy Visual, and Thomas Caterers of Distinction. The silver and crystal arrangements fit perfectly in the open space high above the city.

Franklin College President's Dinner 2011

2011-02-22T11:56:00.005-04:00

We were so luck to be a part of the Franklin College President's Dinner. The event was held in the Branigin Room on campus. Half of the centerpieces were tall arrangements on top of glass cylinder vases. The other centerpieces were short arrangements made inside of bubble bowls.

The centerpieces were made with snapdragons, lilies, gerbera daisies, and orchids.

Scottish Rite Bridal Fair

2011-02-09T17:44:00.011-04:00

For many years, we have participated in The Perfect Wedding Guide's Bridal Show at the Scottish Rite. These shows give our designers an opportunity to showcase some of the inspiration they have gathered! They are able to test out color schemes and designs. It also gives us a feel for what may be popular in the coming months.

In the photo above, red roses and touches of greenery create a striking, simple bouquet. Below all white flowers such as fuji mums, ginestra, tulips, roses, hydrangea, and snapdragons work together to create an elegan centerpiece. Dried materials, curly willow branches, and orange mini gerbera daisies provide a perfect fall themed centerpiece.

Silver branches, calla lilies, and crystals are illuminated by votive candles for a romantic design.

This bouquet is made with varying shades of blue delphinium and anemone flowers.

Un-Birthday Party!

2011-01-13T18:01:00.004-04:00

A very merry un-birthday was had by all of the guests at this Alice in Wonderland themed event! The designs that we got to create for this fun party were whimsical and creative. Fuji mums and gerbera daisies were used along with metallic wire, ribbons, and silk butterflies.

Event in the Sky

2011-01-13T17:52:00.006-04:00

We were so happy to work again with the fabulous ladies of Accent on Indianapolis. They planned a beautiful surprise party at D'Amore Events. The event space on the 48th floor of the Chase Tower provided a perfect backdrop for the silver branches, crystals, and candles.

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

2010-11-16T12:38:00.007-04:00

Thanksgiving is almost here! While you're trimming your turkey, don't forget to order your Thanksgiving centerpiece. Whether you will be a guest or hosting a holiday get together, the centerpiece is the finishing touch to the event.

Heather and Monte's Wedding

2010-10-11T16:09:00.002-03:00

Heather and Monte had a gorgeous day to get married. Their ceremony and reception were both held at the magnificent Renaissance Hotel. The centerpieces were made with purple alstromeria, purple statice, and green hypericum berries.

Maggie and Jonathan's Reception

2010-10-11T16:03:00.003-03:00

Maggie and Jonathan had a beautiful wedding reception at The Marott. The cake was decorated in the bride's signature peach and green. The tables were decorated with curly willow branches coming our of greenery and blue hydrangea. Peach roses were hung from the branches.

"Plant Hope and Make a Difference"

2010-10-11T00:29:00.004-03:00

Our sunflowers we grow at J P Parker Flower Farm are a flower many associate with our floral company. It give us great joy to grow these, but little did we know what joy they would bring this growing season. One of our favorite event planners we work with Sarah Hines , Accent on Indy , ask if we could have a group of kids plant sunflowers and watch the progress of the growing plus then use the blooms for their annual gala fundraiser. You see these kids are very special kids with Cystic Fibrosis. Sarah has been involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and their annual gala Guys and Dolls for several years. This year the theme was "Plant hope and make a difference" So on October 9 2010 we were able to see the benefit of planting one seed and making a difference. Thank you Sarah for the opportunity to be a part of this great event.

Maggie and Jonathan's Wedding

2010-10-08T11:49:00.007-03:00

Maggie and Jonathan are celebrating their nuptials at Meridian Street United Methodist Church and The Marott. They have a beautiful, crisp fall day to accentuate the beautiful fall bouquets. The bride's bouquet is made with peach garden roses, orange ranunculus, bunny tail, montbreesia, white spray roses, and seeded eucalyptus. The attendants' bouquets are made with the peach garden roses, lotus pods, and dusty miller leaves.

Cristina and Luis's Wedding

2010-10-06T13:03:00.003-03:00

The Indiana State Museum provided a beautiful backdrop for Cristina and Luis's fall wedding. The centerpieces were very natural looking. Half of the tables were decorated with a tall cylinder with willow branches and river rocks. The other half of the tables were decorated iwth a fall, gardeny looking full floral arrangement. Roses, button mums, fuji mums, and bells of Ireland were used with touches of seeded eucalyptus.

Lindsey and Mark's Wedding

2010-10-06T12:28:00.007-03:00

Lindsey and Mark's wedding ceremony and reception were held in Eli Lilly Hall of the Indiana History Center. The grand staircase was decorated with bunting, greenery, and chocolate brown ribbon.

For the reception, hot pink, purple, and fuchsia flowers were used. The tables had a variety of centerpieces on them. A bubble bowl with a full floral arrangement had spray roses, alstromeria, and statice in them. The cylinder vase had roses stacked inside of the vase with accents of decorative wire. Some of the tables had a cylinder vase on them with snapdragons, larkspur, and spray roses in them.

DorShann and Jermaine's Wedding

2010-10-06T12:10:00.004-03:00

DorShann and Jermaine had a beautiful afternoon to say I Do! The bright orange and yellow flowers that they chose matched the sunshine that was abundant at their outdoor ceremony at Hillcrest Country Club. Yellow lilies, orange tulips, orange freesia, yellow hypericum berries, and ivory garden roses worked well in the bride's bouquet.

Four full arrangements made with orange gladiolus, cream stock, yellow snapdragons, yellow lilies, and orange roses sat on pillars to decorate the aisle.

Farrin and Jason's Wedding

2010-10-06T10:29:00.006-03:00

Farrin and Greg had an opulent black, gold, and pearl wedding at the Omni Severin Hotel. The stage that they used for the ceremony was decorated with a cluster of cylinder vases with calla lilies, dendrobium orchids, pearls, and gold mesh inside of them. The flowers and all of the other touches, provided by our friend Sarah Hines at Accent on Indianapolis, made the room magical!

Kim and Jacob's Wedding

2010-07-06T13:00:00.003-03:00

Kim and Jacob held a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Omni Severin Hotel. Light pink roses and green hypericum berries added to the unity candle, the aislelabras, and the cake.

Making the Usual Unusual

2010-07-06T12:53:00.005-03:00

Gerbera daisies and grapevine wreaths are not usually thought of as unusual ingredients in the flower design world. However, this standout design takes the ordinary and really makes it extraordinary.

Transporting Fabulous Flower Arrangements

2010-07-06T12:48:00.003-03:00

Transporting flower arrangements can be a tricky situation. We sent a five foot tall flower arrangement to our friends at the Meridian Design Group for a recent fundraiser they hosted.
Chuck was wedged inside of the van with the arrangement in order to get it to the salon.

Event at the Eiteljorg

2010-07-06T12:45:00.004-03:00

The Eiteljorg Museum's Clowes Sculpture Court can only make the flower arrangements that we provided look more beautiful. The table centerpieces were made with roses, lilies, gerbera daisies, and parrot tulips. The arrangements on the buffet tables were make with tall snapdragons, roses, and lilies.

Dillon and Maryanne's Wedding

2010-07-06T12:40:00.004-03:00

Dillon and Maryanne exchanged their vows in the space next door to our Indianapolis locations. Healing Arts Indy provided the perfect backdrop for the contemporary look they were after. The bride carried a unique clutch style bouquet made with yellow fuji mums, purple statice, small xanadu tropical leaves, burgundy leucadendron, and red hypericum berries. These flowers worked to create interesting shapes and textures.

The arrangements that bookended the ceremony area were made with Asian willow, red gladiolus, yellow fuji mums, purple statice, and large monstera leaves.

The Kentucky Derby 2010

2010-04-30T17:14:00.003-03:00

Mint juleps and roses can only mean one thing...The Kentucky Derby. Red roses in a simple silver mint julep cup are such a classic design that make a big statement.

Dinner at the Skyline Club

2010-04-30T17:07:00.005-03:00

One of our favorite locations, The Skyline Club, hosted a dinner party in their beautiful main dining room. The clients wanted contemporary, unique flower arrangements. We used pin cushion protea, gerbera daisies, and tropical greenery to create these fabulous designs.

Orchard in Bloom 2010

2010-04-30T16:38:00.008-03:00

This weekend we are honored to be a part of the Orchard In Bloom event at Holliday Park. Orchard In Bloom is a nationally recognized garden show and community event now in its 21st year. We are involved with the Weddings in Bloom portion of the event. Along with many of our friends in the floral industry, we created a wedding space vignette.

Our design began around the screen. The paper lanterns and white and green flowers created a garden look for a wedding ceremony. Green hydrangea, white stargazer lilies, white stock, and white fuji mums filled the containers and decorated the screen.

Angela and Michael's Wedding

2010-04-28T18:16:00.005-03:00

Angela and Michael were really unique in the flowers they chose for their wedding. During the ceremony at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church the bride and her attendants each carried a different color rose bouquet. The guest tables at Meridian Hill Country Club each had a monochromatic arrangement on them. Half of the tables used shorter arrangements of a single color rose in a clear glass cube vase. The other half of the arrangements were made using a single color of roses and tulips on top of a clear cylinder vase.

Hillview Country Club Bridal Fair

2010-04-27T12:47:00.016-03:00

We were so happy to once again be involved with Hillview Country Club's annual Bridal Fair. We were able to show off some of our favorite flowers and designs.

Green fuji mums, brazellia, and white freesia give an interesting twist on a traditional green and white bouquet.

Pink roses, spray roses, and green trachellium work together for a more traditional style bouquet.

Terra cotta roses and burgundy leucadendron create a warm, rich fall motif.

Amy and Kyle's Wedding

2010-04-27T12:41:00.014-03:00

We were thrilled to work with Amy and Kyle to create a beautiful wedding! The ceremony was at Grace Point Church in Whiteland,Indiana. Pink roses and pink spray roses were used in a salal leaf wreath on the doors to the church. This unique look truly welcomed the guests.

The reception was held at The Crowne Plaza at Union Station's Illinois Ballroom. Some of the centerpieces feature pilsner vases with white hydrangea, pink roses, green trachelium, pink snapdragons, curly willow, and bear grass. Swirls of silver wire accented the bottom of pilsner vases.

The cake was made by our friends at A Piece of Cake. We used the hot pink and ivory spray roses and the green trachellium to creat the topper and the swirl of flowers down the tiers.

Lindsey's Bridal Shower

2010-04-12T15:22:00.005-03:00

We are so happy to be a part, not only of Lindsey and Chris's wedding, but also of Lindsey's bridal shower. The wedding in May is using deep purple, green, and a few orange flowers. We were able to play off this color scheme with lavender roses, green brazillia, green hydrangea, and deep purple ranunculus flowers for the shower. The flowers were arranged in a variety cube vases down the table.

Flower and Patio Show 2010

2010-04-05T10:39:00.004-03:00

Once again we were involved with the Indiana Flower and Patio Show. This year, though, we teamed up with Landscapes by Dallas Foster, Inc. The partnership yielded a plentiful bounty including the fabulous garden and tablescapes pictured and the Garden of Excellence Award.

The Indiana Flower and Patio Show is also a vehicle for our designers to share their knowledge and passion. Each day of the show a designer provided an informative presentation with tips and tricks about flowers and new design trends. The visitors could then visit our cut flower garden to purchase some of the flowers used in the presentations so that they could create their own designs at home.

UPS Hospitality Suite

2010-04-02T17:20:00.003-03:00

Today we got to work with one of our favorite companies, Accent on Indianapolis. They allowed us to create some unique arrangements for the UPS Hospitality Suite at the Hilton Garden Inn. We were able to use white tulips, white button mums, curly willow, gold wire, and gold aspidistra leaves to really bring out their brown logo color.

Final Four 2010 in Indianapolis

2010-03-31T18:14:00.005-03:00

In Indiana, we take basketball seriously! That is why we are so excited for the Final Four this weekend right in our neighborhood. When one group requested flower arrangements in basketballs, the designers jumped at the challenge. We think the result with orange pin cushion protea, blue delphinium, and safari sunset leucadendron is the perfect arrangement for any basketball fan.

Stacy and Barry's Wedding

2010-03-31T17:59:00.005-03:00

Stacy and Barry had an intimate wedding at The Alcove at The Conrad. We were able to dust off our chuppa and bring it back to its former glory. The cake was decorated with white tulips and white freesia with black ribbon. The black accents of ribbon were also used on the cocktail tables. The arrangements were full of whit tulips and bear grass.

James and Breck's Wedding

2010-03-27T14:51:00.003-03:00

James and Breck had a beautiful day to celebrate their nuptials. Fort Benjamin Harrison's Kendall Inn provided a picturesque backdrop for the day's events. The centerpieces were mounds of pink and ivory roses with bear grass swirled inside of the vase.

Chrissy and Phil's Wedding

2010-03-26T18:24:00.006-03:00

Most brides and grooms only want a scattering of flowers on their cakes. This was not the case for Chrissy and Phil at their wedding at the Omni Severin Hotel. They chose to cover their cake with white fuji mums, ivory roses and spray roses, white carnations, and white wax flower. The result was stunning!

Melanie and Matt's Wedding

2010-03-26T18:20:00.005-03:00

The Skyline Club played host to Melanie and Matt and their guests. The awe inspiring vistas from the windows provided the perfect setting for their ceremony and reception. The guest tables were decorated with a grouping of three cube vases filled with terra cotta roses, yellow asiatic lilies, and burgundy hypericum berries. The cake pulled in the red and yellow theme with yellow alstromeria and burgundy hypericum berries.

Erin Go Bragh!

2010-03-15T17:22:00.006-03:00

Get out your green! St. Patrick's Day is quickly approaching, and the designers are getting in the Irish spirit. Here is a fun arrangement and a shamrock plant!

Dancing with the Stars at the Columbia Club

2010-02-26T15:37:00.009-04:00

The Columbia Club hosted their annual Dancing with the Stars event this week. The Club entertains prospective brides and grooms and their families. The main entertainment of the evening is a dance showcase and dance instruction for the guests.

We put together a set-up for a ceremony in the lobby of the Columbia Club. We were able to use our new screen of flowers decorated with white stargazer lilies, spray roses, hydrangea, and dendrobium orchids. Two side pieces flanked the screen with bear grass and hanging candles. There was also a bouquet made with roses, ranunculus, and fever few.

We're Dreaming of Spring!

2010-02-26T15:08:00.007-04:00

Now that March is almost here, we're all dreaming of spring! The orange tulips and flowering branches in these arrangements are helping us to cope with the cold conditions outside.

The top arrangement is made with orange tulips, orange roses, yellow crespedia, blue thistle, and curly willow branches. Flowering branches, green button mums, leucadendron, and light green antherium work together in the bottom arrangement.

Movie Premiere Event

2010-02-01T13:00:00.009-04:00

We were so honored to be a part of Indianapolis law firm Bingham McHale's movie release event. The gala affair was in thrown to recognize John Crowley. Mr. Crowley was an attorney who started his career at Bingham McHale. He eventually gave up his law career to find a cure for Pompe disease, an often-fatal neuromuscular disorder that afflicts his children. Their story is told in the movie "Extraordinary Measures" starring Brendan Frazier and Harrison Ford.

The centerpieces were made with red tulips, red hypericum berries, silver deciduous huck, and red gerbera daisies, and accents of wire mesh and film.

Aaronette and Jay's Wedding

2010-02-01T12:35:00.007-04:00

Aarontette and Jay started off their wedding weekend with a beautiful rehearsal dinner at the Conrad Hotel. The happy couple used white flowers with a touch of purple in the centerpieces at the rehearsal dinner. On Saturday, Aaronette and Jay exchanged vows at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, and then the celebration continued into the night at the Omni Severin Hotel. The centerpieces that were used at the reception included white roses, spray roses, and alstromeria.

Barbara and Evan's Wedding

2010-02-01T12:10:00.009-04:00

Barbara and Evan celebrated with elegance and style at at Christ Church Cathedral and the Columbia Club. The flowers were all shades of ivory and white. The centerpieces used ivory roses, white stock, spray roses, dendrobium orchids, white lilies, and winter greenery. The bride and groom wanted to warm up the foyer of the Columbia Club with candle light. Floating candles and cylinder vases really did the trick!

Bright Tropicals Heat up the Winter Cold

2010-01-29T16:43:00.003-04:00

The winter doldrums that we're experiencing in Indiana are inspiring our designers and customers alike to use tropical flowers! I think we're all dreaming of a faraway hot locale.

Lizzy and George's Wedding

2010-01-26T10:48:00.003-04:00

The Rathskeller hosted the wedding of Lizzy and George. They had a perfect winter theme with blue and white decor. The cake was decorated with white dendrobium orchids and blue delphinium.

Ashley and Kyle's Wedding

2010-01-26T10:40:00.006-04:00

Ashley and Kyle celebrated the new year in style! They had a beautiful ceremony at the First United Methodist Church in Martinsville . Then the party moved to the Indiana Roof Ballroom. Guests rang in the new year surrounded by jeweled trees, groupings of vases with green hydrangea, bells of Ireland, and hot pink roses, and tall arrangements with curly willow, bear grass, and spray roses.

Weddings with WOW!

2010-01-22T13:09:00.010-04:00

The International Special Event Society (ISES) held their January meeting at the Indiana Historical Society. The theme was Weddings with Wow! We created the centerpieces for two of our favorite event planners' tables.

Katina Kaiser of Eclectic Events and Design created a dashing red table with every detail accounted for. We were able to showcase red tulips, red carnations, and ti leaves with gold accents in three tall goblet style vases.

Accent on Indianapolis's Sarah Hines created a sleek look with very unique gray and purple linens. We were able to try out some new design ideas using hydrangea, blue delphinium, silver sticks, and crystals.

Bridal Shows

2010-01-13T14:50:00.004-04:00

January at the flower shop can only mean one thing...Bridal Shows! We participated in the Indianapolis Monthly Bridal Show at the Ritz Charles and the Perfect Wedding Guide's Bridal Show at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. In our booth we wanted to show how flowers can really add to the color scheme of a wedding.

We love participating in the shows because we get to meet so many brides in such a short time, and we get to reconnect with other vendors that we may not have seen in a while! We always have a great time, and the inquiries for weddings this season are starting to pour in!

JP Parker Flowers Founder Pam Parker Receives 2009 NAWBO Member of the Year Award

2010-01-07T11:24:00.004-04:00

On December 16, I was very humbled to receive the 2009 NAWBO Member of the Year Award at a ceremony in Downtown Indianapolis. If you haven’t heard of the National Association of Women Business Owners, it’s the only organization in the country that represents the interest of women entrepreneurs in all industries. The Indianapolis chapter is one of the largest in the country, with over 230 members.

According to NAWBO, the Member of the Year Award “honors one outstanding NAWBO-Indianapolis member who has worked to practice, innovate, and effect change by supporting and establishing presence for NAWBO.” Surrounded by so many successful women at the ceremony, I felt immense gratitude for the honor but was still left wondering why I had been chosen. I could only think of one thing–I am definitely “loud and proud” when it comes to supporting NAWBO and women entrepreneurs in Central Indiana. If this award can in any way help me raise that volume further, then I’ll run with it!

This award is ultimately for our team. Nancy Hanni, my partner and a truly great woman entrepreneur, is such a big inspiration. Without her, we wouldn’t have the business we have, and I wouldn’t have the wherewithal to support and mentor other women who are growing their businesses. Our designers bring true passion and ability to their work that our clients love and appreciate. My husband Larry has been both my sounding board and my rock. And there, at the ceremony, were all my friends and colleagues. It was our award–the NAWBO team’s award!
People have asked me why I am such a big fan of this organization–shouldn’t entrepreneurship be gender-neutral? In one dimension, that is true. I don’t want people to buy flowers from us because we’re women running the show. I want them to come to JP Parker because they feel we have the best product. By the same token, when I buy from other businesses, I hardly give a thought to whether a man or a woman is the owner or president.

But the reason we don’t give such things a thought most of the time is because of organizations like NAWBO. When I was younger, a woman entrepreneur was exceptional. A little odd, in fact. Sometimes being different was an advantage–often it wasn’t. Over the past thirty years, we women entrepreneurs have achieved something close to equality not by telling people how to think but by banding together, mentoring and encouraging each other, and making sure we offered products that were just as good–maybe even better sometimes, just to be sure. The result has been a better economy and business culture, not just for women, but for all of us.

Will organizations like NAWBO stay relevant now that we’ve made such progress? I certainly think so. The reason is that women entrepreneurs find themselves in situations where a woman’s support and perspective is of tremendous value. For example, I can’t count the number of women in our chapter who are single parents trying to find a balance between their business dreams and being great moms. So many of us have been through the same life experiences. We know how to lend a helping hand to each other, and we know how to celebrate when we achieve success, too.

That is why this award means so much to me. It’s about honoring our history, planning for our future, and pledging ongoing support to this great project. Next year, when someone new accepts this award, you can bet I’ll be cheering her on–and cheering on the team of more than 230 people helping women entrepreneurs thrive in Indy and beyond!

–Pam Parker

Founder, JP Parker Flowers

Emily and Nick's Wedding

2010-01-06T16:19:00.004-04:00

Emily and Nick had a perfect winter day for their wedding at Meridian Street United Methodist Church. After the beautiful ceremony, the party moved to the Indianapolis Museum of Art's fabulous Deer Zink Pavilion. The couple was able to capture the beauty of candlelight and the freshness of flowers with a grouping of three vases as the centerpiece for the guest tables. Iris, stock, spray roses, and freesia were used in the large arrangements, and white dendrobium orchids were used in the middle size arrangements.

Unique Holiday Arrangements 2009

2009-12-21T13:58:00.007-04:00

With the holidays just around the corner, I thought I would share some of our favorite arrangements this season!

New JP Parker employee gets married in elegant outdoor ceremony. Guess who does the flowers!

2009-12-21T10:31:00.014-04:00

Congratulations to the latest member of the JP Parker family: Ashley Millis, née Jaquess,who celebrated her wedding in September in a “country chic” ceremony and reception at at our own JP Parker farm in Franklin, Indiana, where we grow many of the beautiful flowers we supply to our customers.

Needless to say, Ashley selected JP Parker to provide the flowers for her wedding, finding herself in the pleasantly unusual position of being customer and supplier at the same time! Said Ashley,

I really learned a lot from this experience! Karen was my designer, and it was clear from the beginning how much she loves her work. We looked through all kinds of magazines to get ideas. She really encourages the customer to dream big and be creative! Karen brought up many points that I would never have thought of. She understands the practical side of weddings and makes sure that the dreams will work at the actual venue.

We think Ashley, who joined JP Parker in August, is going to be a very creative member of the team herself! She has a degree in marketing from Butler University and a real passion for design. She and Karen made a great team in coming up with floral arrangements to compliment the glorious green outdoor setting of Ashley’s “wedding in the round.”

JP Parker supplied beautiful flowers for both the ceremony, held outdoors, and the reception, held inside a tent, as well as the personal flowers like the bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages.

For the ceremony, we created eight simple and elegant hanging globes featuring zinnias from our farm. On the ground, we placed a splash of rose petals in the shape of an “M” for “Millis.” The result was a perfect dash of color that enhanced the proceedings without overwhelming the eye.

For the reception, we provided arrangements for twenty guest tables–ten taller pieces, and ten shorter. In addition, eight cocktail tables were decorated with framed equisetum and candles, provided by the bride. Varying the sizes in this way can add to the visual texture of the room, making the entire space more interesting. We also provided a flowers for the cake and cake table.

The shorter arrangements featured…

Stargazer lilies
Full-size roses
Equisetum (horsetail)

The taller arrangements featured…

Stargazer lilies
Spray roses on branches
Curly willow branches

The cake flowers featured…

Full-size and spray roses and dendrobium orchids for the cake topper
Rose petals around the bottom of the cake

The personal flowers were stunning. Ashley chose to use darker pink for her bouquet and a green variation for her bridesmaids. The groom had a dark pink boutonniere to match the bride and the groomsmen followed the green in the bridesmaids' bouquets.

As the photographs here show, Ashley’s wedding was truly beautiful! We wish her many happy years with her husband, Brian–as well as many happy years with JP Parker!

Mike and Laura's Wedding

2009-12-21T10:11:00.005-04:00

Matt and Laura celebrated their wedding reception this past weekend at the Columbia Club. The feel of the entire wedding was vintage, old Hollywood. We were able to use feathers and gold accents to really play up the theme. The motif was even carried to the gift table. The bride a groom used a birdcage to collect their cards, and we were able to add feathers, bling, and white roses to it.

December Open House at A Classic Party Rental

2009-12-19T10:51:00.007-04:00

Each month our friends at A Classic Party Rental open their showroom for an evening of fun, food, and unique designs! We were excited to be a part of the December open house with a Toy Land theme. The designers created a lion table with rich ambers, golds, and burgundies. The zebra table has a contemporary feel with the stark black and white linens, flowers, and holiday ornaments. The giraffe table really shows off the holiday spirit with a safari twist! The red ornaments and poinsettias work perfectly with the fabulous linens. The tiger table combines dried and artificial products to make you feel like you're in the jungle! All of the photos were taken by the talented Erin Hession of Erin Hession Photography.

ISES Education Conference II

2009-12-18T17:29:00.004-04:00

The Columbia Club hosted the ISES Education Conference this year. After the class presentations in the morning, lunch was served in the Ballroom. We used the Club's candlelabras with white and ivory roses and white hydrangea to create a striking, elegant look. These photos are courtesy of our friends at Nathaniel Edmunds Photography.

Dinner Party

2009-12-18T16:19:00.006-04:00

Yesterday evening we were privileged to work with one of our favorite event planners, Rayna Traylor of RTR Events. The magnolia leaves, French tulips, and white hydrangea worked beautifully with the candles to create the perfect setting for a perfect dinner!

An International Fairytale Wedding in Vilnus, Lithuania

2009-12-15T15:12:00.017-04:00

Planning the wedding flowers for an international wedding with an international bride is as challenging as it sounds. However, it seemed too lovely and rare to pass up doing the wedding flowers for a wedding in Lithuania. The groom, an Indianapolis native, was the only person involved who spoke English, and he gave me just enough information about the bride, the venue, and the charming city of Vilnus to give me direction. The only information I had for wedding flowers was that the bride, Yuliya, loved yellow and orange tulips and that she wanted white roses and other white flowers for her bridal bouquet.

The challenge begins. One of our main floral wholesalers, Everflora Chicago, set me up with a flower connection in the Netherlands that ships by air directly to Vilnus. I order the flowers from him and arranged for the Hotel to pick up the flowers a few days before we would arrive. Nothing ever goes just as planned, and the Hotel couldn’t locate the flowers. After a sleepless night and much worrying about the condition of the flowers, we finally found them, put them in intensive care submerged in the bathtub and they were just fine. But, we were a day behind and had much to do.
Vilnus, Lithuania is a breathtaking, small-world, and charming city. So are its people. The Hotel where we stayed and where the wedding was held was no exception. These photos cannot accurately portray the allure of the ballroom, its fresco ceiling, and the inside of the hotel, but I tried my best to let the spaces around me guide the style and design of the floral work. The tulips themselves were truly inspirational and fit the feel of the wedding perfectly. The chair back flowers were an addition that made the whole table come together from every angle. We designed and completed the reception area by noon on Monday.

Tuesday, the wedding day, was an early morning with a quick stop to the local flower markets to complete purchasing some flowers. A perfect, gorgeous stem of white lilies inspired the bridal bouquet. The bouquet also included stunning white roses, and touches of white wax flower. The boutonniere was made of the same white roses and white wax flower. The bridal bouquet looked amazing against Yuliya’s handmade Russian gown and I could see in her eyes how pleased she was.

25 people attended the small, intimate wedding. Half were from Russia or Belarus and the other half were from Indiana. The whole night was magical starting with the ceremony in a church dating back to the year 1531. The 7-course meal lasted 3 hours and was beyond any of our expectations.

There were so many people that made this an incredible and successful event, from the hotel staff and cab drivers to the local florists. I’m so thankful for their selfless work. I hope through this account of my Lithuania experience you can feel my gratitude for being a part of such an amazing group of professionals. We all can only hope for the opportunities in our career where we’re able to demonstrate our professional skills at this level.

ISES Education Conference 2009

2009-12-07T17:30:00.013-04:00

At JP Parker Flowers we are a member of the International Special Events Society (ISES). Every year, our Indiana Chapter puts on an Education Conference. This year's Conference was titled, "Planning Events Can Be Murder," and the entire day followed the theme with a murder mystery in the vein of the game Clue. The photos (taken by the talented Paula Shoultz Brown) show the different tables for our first session.

Professor Plum from Comedy Sportz with the Laughing Gas.

Miss Peacock from JP Parker Flowers with the Floral Knife.

Colonel Mustard from the Columbia Club with Candlestick.

Mrs. White from A Classic Party Rental Company with the Chiavari Chair.

Mr. Green from M arkey's Rental and Staging with the Speaker Wire.

Miss Scarlet from Chair Covers and Linens with the chair cover tie.

The keynote speaker of the session was Allison Melangton, President and CEO of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee. Ms. Melangton brings over 25 years of national and international experience in sports and events management to the Host Committee. Her presentation really jump started all of the attendees to think about how organized one has to be in order to plan an event the size of the Super Bowl. This was a great way for us all to start our day!

Natalie and Brad's Wedding

2009-11-16T18:43:00.007-04:00

Natalie and Brad had their ceremony and reception at the Columbia Club. We were ecstatic to be working at one of our favorite venues in the city. The bride and groom chose to decorate the guest tables at the reception with two varieties of centerpieces. One had a full look made with white alstromeria, purple larkspur, and deep red roses. The other arrangement was made with a cluster of vases filled with green dendrobium orchid blooms, deep red roses, and deep purple posy calla lilies.

Lauren and Brandon's Wedding

2009-11-16T16:25:00.007-04:00

Lauren and Brandon had a gorgeous wedding ceremony at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin. We filled the bride's cones with peach daisies to line the aisle.

The reception was held at Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria and Catering. The tables were decorated with organic looking arrangements of curly willow, roses, and daisies.

Ornamental Kale

2009-11-16T13:54:00.005-04:00

In the fall ornamental kale is readily available and can help create unique and interesting designs. These three arrangements all utilize ornamental kale with such varied results. The arrangement in the clear glass vase uses orange mokara orchids and orange spray roses. The tall arrangement uses tropical heliconia and ginger. The arrangement in the ceramic container uses green hypericum berries, fuchsia carnations, and sedum.

Jennifer and Kumar's Wedding

2009-11-09T12:39:00.002-04:00

Jennifer and Kumar celebrated their nuptials at the beautiful Indianapolis Museum of Art. Jennifer's bouquet was made with fall foliage, green cymbidium orchid blooms, white posy calla lilies, orange lilies, and red roses.

Our A-List Video

2009-11-06T12:21:00.002-04:00

Click on the title above to see our video on the A-List! We had a lot of fun filming it, and the people from WRTV6 did a great job putting everything together!

Another Fabulous Contemporary Design

2009-11-05T12:52:00.003-04:00

This fabulous arrangement went out to a hospital this afternoon. If the ornamental kale, gerbera daisies, tulips, pin cushion protea, and monstera leaves don't cheer the patient up, I don't know what will!

Meredith and Spencer's Wedding

2009-11-05T12:09:00.006-04:00

We're wrapping up fall with Meredith and Spencer. They're one of our last weddings to use fall colors in their flowers. The unusual use of blue thistle, lotus pods, and poppy pods brings out the richness of the calla lilies and roses. The metallic copper wire ties everything together. The bride's bouquet (top), groom's boutonniere (left), and attendant's bouquet (right) will work beautifully at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Check back soon for guest table arrangements that will be used to decorate the Fountain Square Theatre.

Unique Arrangements

2009-11-04T14:23:00.005-04:00

While we can create designs to fit any one's tastes, it is fun for our designers to get to go wild! These two fun arrangements showcase the flowers in them. The white arrangement is made with larkspur, equisetum, ivy, and dusty miller. Equisetum, red hypericum berries, orange roses, and millet combine for a contemporary design.

Chris and Carrie's Vow Renewal

2009-11-04T14:04:00.006-04:00

Chris and Carrie are a great couple! They are renewing their vows this weekend at The Lighthouse Baptist Church. We are so excited to use the brown leaves with the bright green fuji mums and Yoko Ono button mums. The white roses, burgundy hypericum berries, and lotus pods are set off by the bright green flowers in the bouquet, boutonniere, and small clutch for their daughter.

Sarah and Paul's Wedding

2009-10-19T18:32:00.011-03:00

Sarah and Paul were a fabulous couple to work with! They were looking for a unique, interesting variety of flowers in jewel tones. This allowed the designers to really get creative with the bouquets. Beck Chapel on the Indiana University campus and The Columns Ballroom in Greenwood, Indiana provided the perfect backdrop for these one of a kind flowers.

Outdoor Wedding Elegance

2009-10-07T17:38:00.007-03:00

It is possible to have an elegant and refined wedding ceremony in the middle of the woods. By using clean, simple arrangements we were able to help create a chic ceremony space!

Laura and Joe's Wedding

2009-09-12T15:03:00.004-03:00

Laura and Joe had a perfect day for an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception at the Mansion at Oak Hill. For the centerpieces at the reception, three different arrangements were used to create interest and dimension to the room.

New Trends-- Tussie Mussies

2009-09-12T14:52:00.004-03:00

One of the most popular options for mothers at weddings is a small clutch of flowers called a tussie mussie. At Lina and Dan's wedding at the Indiana Roof Ballroom the mothers carried a tussie mussie of white freesia and ruscus leaves.

Nicholas and Jennifer's Wedding

2009-08-29T16:27:00.005-03:00

Jennifer and Nicholas allowed us to help them create a beautiful wedding space with two altar arrangements at Northwood Christian Church. Then, they celebrated with a reception at the Rathskeller.

Tina and Levin's Wedding

2009-08-29T14:58:00.003-03:00

Tina and Levin were a great couple to work with because they were looking for seasonal flowers with a garden-y look. The Morris Butler House provided the perfect backdrop for these lovely flowers.

Pam Parker's Thoughts on Winning the A List

2009-08-29T12:14:00.010-03:00

Ok, so bear with me. I guess a week of vacation and winning the number 1 spot on the A-List Best Wedding Florist has me all melancholy, and I might add grateful. We have been nominated 2007, 2008, and now winner 2009. Thank you who ever you are who nominated us. The fact someone out there did nominate us is just mind boggling! First of all, JP Parker Flowers is such a team of players. Now, I can refer to them as the A-Team. We could not do without any one of the players. Pam Parker is certainly not all there is to JP Parker Flowers. Three years ago Nancy Hanni became my business partner. Nancy is my voice of reason because I am the flighty artist. She is such a good business partner. Plus, as a person she is the nicest person I know. Some people we really rely on get very little recognition. They show up at late hours to strike an event (which means take it down and haul it off). Often they set up our holiday décor or put in the long hours at the flower show. Thanks Jerry and Lisa. I might add that when I get in a real pinch, I call Lisa. She has been there for us for 15 years… Wow! Jim, Betty and John deliver for us. Jim also keeps all the curb appeal of the flowers outside our stores beautiful. Jerry and Don harvest flowers at the crack of dawn. Don Bryant manages, buys, and designs in our Franklin store. Plus you can always count on Don for a good joke. Jasmine is probably the best, most talented new designer I have seen in my many years in the industry. Karen is our main Franklin wedding designer. She is so dedicated to her clients and brides. Karen sent an email to her brides to ask them to comment or vote for the A List and they did! Pam Avenius manages the Indianapolis shop. Pam is one of the hardest working people I know, and she is very talented. Chuck has created weddings for a long time. He is charming, and his brides love him. Lesley is currently putting our new POS together. I could never begin to do that. She also is the best at customer service and marketing. Ashley is new to JP Parker Flowers. She is a recent grad of Butler in Marketing. This summer as an intern she was so helpful with our horticulture endeavors. Now after her wedding she will be at JP Parker Flowers full time. We have part time helpers also. Now I will be the first to admit I am a control freak. Aren’t all entrepreneurs? This year our team took over as I had two close family members in hospice. Now I return to work from my break in Minneapolis. We have a big September and October ahead with weddings and events. This is the true A Team of J P Parker Flowers. Thank you team. Also thanks to the many people who voted for us. We are so grateful for our event planners and venues who suggest us. I read the comments and recommendations, and I am touched. We will continue to give our all. “God is good”

Sunflowers at the Indiana State Fair

2009-08-17T14:01:00.006-03:00

In the middle of our busy wedding season, we were able to take some time off to hand out our home grown sunflowers at the Indiana State Fair.

Rick and Ali's Wedding

2009-08-17T13:44:00.004-03:00

Rick and Ali had a beautiful day for a wedding and reception at the The Montage at Allison Pointe. During their ceremony, they had a unity candle arrangement on the altar and a precious flower girl in a halo to match.

Jamie and Andy's Wedding

2009-08-17T13:37:00.003-03:00

Jamie and Andy were a great couple to work with because they wanted so much color in their centerpieces! They had their reception at the Indianapolis Arts Garden. All of the windows provided the perfect setting for such vibrant decor!

Michele and Danny's Wedding

2009-08-17T12:41:00.007-03:00

Michele and Danny had a beautiful wedding and reception at the Hulman Riverhouse at the White River Gardens. The bride and her attendants carried calla lilies, and these flowers were carried throughout the reception centerpieces. The sweetheart table and the cake were decorated with dendrobium orchids and hypericum berries.

Brandon and Tiffany's Wedding

2009-07-28T17:51:00.009-03:00

We had the wonderful opportunity to work with a terrific couple, Brandon and Tiffany, on flowers for their wedding. We are so thankful to Christi Nelson of Rawsii for the SMASHING FABULOUS photographs!

Sunflowers in the Field

2009-07-27T16:58:00.005-03:00

As promised here are photos of our sunflowers in the field. All 300,000 stems are lovingly cut by hand so that JP Parker Flowers can offer local, eco-friendly product to our customers.

We've Made the A List

2009-07-25T10:43:00.004-03:00

We have received word that we have been listed on the Indy A List! Please visit the website and post your comments and votes for JP Parker flowers at:
www.theindychannel.com/alist this is a direct link to our page on the ballot and you may leave your comments while there.

Thanks in advance for your kind comments and thanks for voting!

Funeral Wreath

2009-07-20T22:01:00.005-03:00

This unique wreath was the perfect memorial piece for a recent funeral. The green hydrangea and green fuji mums give the perfect mix of textures.

Sunflowers

2009-07-20T21:58:00.002-03:00

Our summer sunflowers have arrived! Watch for more posts with more photos of our locally grown sunflowers!

Shannon and John's Wedding

2009-07-14T21:22:00.006-03:00

Shannon and John said, "I do" at Our Lady of Greenwood Catholic Church. We were able to create tall, natural pedestal arrangements with roses, calla lilies, and curly willow.

Rita and Paul's Wedding

2009-07-14T21:17:00.008-03:00

Rita and Paul celebrated their patriotic nuptials on July 3rd. Rita was able to use beautiful burgundy cymbidium orchids with Black Magic roses in her bouquet for the ceremony at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.

The reception was held at Beeson Hall in Franklin. The centerpieces and the arrangements on the cocktail tables used more traditional red, white, and blue.

Unique Funeral Arrangements

2009-07-10T15:18:00.005-03:00

We are lucky to have creative clients that request some pretty unique arrangements. Recently, a customer asked for a piece for a funeral that included a parasol. This was the result!

Aisha and Jonathan's Wedding

2009-06-25T13:02:00.005-03:00

Aisha and Jonathan had a charming outdoor wedding at a residence in Indianapolis. The garden ceremony space had an arbor that we were able to decorate with swags of flowers.

Michelle and Rob's Wedding

2009-06-23T19:21:00.005-03:00

Michelle and Rob had a beautiful wedding at Southport United Methodist Church. We were able to work with Katina Kaiser from Eclectic Events and Design to decorate the church with pew decorations, a unity candle arrangement, and large pedestal pieces.

USS Indianapolis Luncheon

2009-06-17T18:00:00.004-03:00

The Columbia Club hosted a lovely luncheon for the survivors of the US S Indianapolis. We were again able to use local flowers and greenery to create these patriotic arrangements.

IMPI Awards Banquet

2009-06-11T18:18:00.009-03:00

Last week we joined forces with the Indiana chapter of Meeting Professionals International for their Twilight on the Farm. They hosted their annual awards banquet at the beautiful Traders Point Creamery in Zionsville, Indiana. The barn there provided a wonderful backdrop for the locally grown flowers, greenery, fruits, and vegetables that were used in the arrangements.

Rehearsal Dinner at the Columbia Club

2009-06-07T13:17:00.005-03:00

The Columbia Club's beautiful Crystal Terrace was the perfect setting for a wedding rehearsal dinner on Friday night. The light blue linens wonderfully set off the arrangements of peonies and California roses. After the event the family requested that the arrangements should be taken to local nursing homes and hospitals so that even more people could enjoy their beauty!

Corporate Reception Flowers

2009-06-07T13:03:00.003-03:00

We are lucky enough to provide flowers for the reception area at the local law firm of Bingham McHale. We love working with them because they really allow the designers to showcase their creativity.

Courtney and Matt's Wedding

2009-06-02T18:21:00.007-03:00

Courtney and Matt had a beautiful wedding at a residence in Shelbyville. To decorate the chairs for the ceremony, they decided to use pomander flower balls. These arrangements, also known as kissing balls, can be used as bouquets to carry, chair decor, and even centerpieces.

PEONIES!

2009-06-02T18:04:00.003-03:00

Our peonies are here! Pam Parker, one of the owners of JP Parker Flowers, grows peonies on her farm in Needham, IN. This allows our shops to offer locally grown, eco-friendly product.

Breakfast at the Eiteljorg Museum

2009-06-01T17:57:00.005-03:00

Last week our Indianapolis shop had the pleasure of working with one of our favorite event planners Rayna Reinholt Traylor to create some fabulous centerpieces for a breakfast at the Eiteljorg Museum. With such an earthly and natural room, the we were able to use a very natural looking container with sunset lilies, solidego, leucadendron, and an interesting greenery called wooly bush.

ISES Gets a Taste of Thai

2009-02-21T14:46:00.006-04:00

JP Parker flowers is a proud member of ISES, that is, the International Special Events Society. ISES is an organization that brings people together from every avenue of the special event industry, be it planners, caterers, DJs, equipment rental companies or those specializing in invitations and papers.

ISES held a special event on February 4th, at the gathering; event specialists shared their latest and most innovative wares with one another, helping one another to stay on the cutting edge of what’s new in their lines. How do event specialists show off their latest, “fashions?” The same way they do in Paris, Milan or New York, they take to the runway in a couture style show. It was on this run way that Indianapolis event specialists were met by a larger than life butterfly created by A Classic Rental, its wings fashioned from their new line of table linens.

JP Parker presented two very special designs during the fashion show; our own Jasmine Farris donned her Thai wedding gown and carried a bouquet she created with true Asian flair. Jasmine designed a bouquet inspired by the Lotus flower, through a process of reflexing and sewing banana leaves into the traditional Asian blossom, but that is where tradition stopped. The Lotus Blossom surrounded a gathering of deep golden Mokara orchids from her native Thailand. The orchids cascaded from the base of the bouquet on fine wire that allowed the blooms to dance above the golden beaded design on her gown, an ivory Thai silk dress, a modern design inspired by traditional wedding clothing. Jasmine’s bouquet was anything but traditional; it showcased materials from her former home in new and creative ways.

ISES, Indianapolis Chapter members got to see a second design created by Jasmine, the bouquet of Obake Anthurium and Cesar Anthurium were bound to bamboo in order to create a scepter style bouquet. Jasmine wore a black and red Thai skirt that was accented with hand sewn beads in black, red and bronze. The cluster of Golden Mokara orchids in her hair gave the finishing touch to her ensemble.

It was a great evening for the senses as the after party showcased some of the latest things from the grills, ovens and bars of several of the city’s best known catering companies.

As always, the staff of JP Parker flowers invites you to leave a comment!

St. Valentine and the Gift of Flowers

2009-02-06T14:56:00.000-04:00

St. Valentine’s Day, that day in mid February where romantic love is celebrated with the exchanging of gifts… Flower shops like JP Parker flowers begin months ahead planning designs for the traditional gift associated with Valentine’s love, flowers.

St. Valentine is not a well documented man when it comes to history, attaching him to the holiday that we now celebrate is difficult, the reason being? It took the stories of three men named Valentine to make the man who was canonized as a saint sometime after 269AD. Valentine of Rome was made a saint because of his martyrdom sometime after that date; however, there were other men who bore the same name whose stories have blended themselves into his. Red is associated with the day because it is the color the Church of Rome associates with martyrs. Romantic love and St. Valentine probably came together because legend states that Valentine of Rome, while imprisoned, fell in love with his jailer’s daughter. He is said to have written her a love note before his death and signed it, “from your Valentine,” a phrase we continue to use today.

The date in mid February that we celebrate Valentine’s Day is believed to be the eve of the first day of spring on some ancient Roman calendars, it was the day celebrated with giving tokens of flowers by suitors to young prospective brides in countries in south central Europe.

Valentine’s Day continues to be a day marked by lovers, be it romantic, platonic or familiar love. It’s a day when the staffs of JP Parker flowers in both Indianapolis and Franklin help a great many people express their affection with the gift of flowers. It’s a day marked with attaching cards to those flowers that bear the ancient message, “from your Valentine.”

The staff of JP Parker flowers invites you to share your comments with us here.

The Power of Flowers...The Body

2009-01-30T17:18:00.001-04:00

Researchers from Kansas State University learned in a recent study what so many florists already know flowers and plants aid in healing and improve health. In the study published in October 2008’s HortTechnology, researchers reported that blooming plants helped patients in the speed of their recovery, patients who had blooming plants and flowers in their hospital rooms required less pain medication, experienced lower levels of anxiety and had lower blood pressure readings.

We at JP Parker flowers appreciate the outcome of the KSU study, as florists, we know the power of flowers. While flowers are now proven to assist in the healing of the body, florists know what they do for the human spirit as well. The JP Parker delivery staff meets numerous people each day at doors all over Marion and Johnson counties whose smiles broaden with the same speed that their door opens. It is very rare for anyone bearing flowers to be chased from the front door. Flowers and plants not only lend healing; they open doors to improved peacefulness and strengthened relationships.

The prolific short story writer, O. Henry, wrote a story called The Last Leaf, the tale is about an artist who saves the life of another by painting an ivy leaf on the wall of a neighbor’s house. A fellow artist, wracked with pneumonia in 1890’s New York City claims she will pass away when the last ivy leaf falls, because of the cunning of an aging artist he paints his greatest masterpiece-an ivy leaf at the end of a bare ivy vine while the patient sleeps, thus duping her into believing that the leaf was still there, it gave the ailing artist health and the hope needed to recover so that she could paint her masterpiece. The elder artist knew the power of flowers and plants to heal and renew. The painting of the ivy leaf on the wall became the aged artist’s greatest masterpiece.

As florists, we at JP Parker know the power of flowers, during this season of dark days, colds, flu, depression attached to the economy and simple cabin fever, we keep the, “cure,” in stock, tulips, daffodils, iris, daisies and an ivy plant or two.