Styles for homecoming flowers vary greatly depending on location. In some areas, the old traditions of homecoming are celebrated with as much enthusiasm as prom. In other places, homecoming is less formal, and traditions have been modified, re-purposed or changed entirely.

Occurring usually in September or October, homecoming presents a special opportunity to increase your sales and extend your reach beyond your everyday audience. If you can secure a following of young people with your homecoming designs, this can also lead to a very profitable prom season and a loyal customer base as these young people transition to adulthood.

Petals That Persevere

No matter where you are located, if you want your customer’s homecoming to be a blast, the flowers have to last. When creating homecoming florals with fresh floral products, longevity without a water source is essential. 

According to Jackie Lacey, AAF, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, “Any floral product used for homecoming needs to be able to hold up for a couple of days with no water source.”

To keep homecoming flowers fresh, we suggest using the anti-transpirant Floralife Clear Crowning Glory. This anti-transpirant is a liquid plastic suspended in water that has no ammonia, wax, oil or anything else that is unhealthy for flowers, and it works with any flower!

Transpiration is the process by which water travels up the stem to eventually evaporate off the flower or leaves. Crowning Glory as an anti-transpirant slows this process by sealing the molecular structure. This keeps your design hydrated and prevents water from evaporating, resulting in the product staying fresh much longer.

When using Crowning Glory, do not dilute it as that would diminish its efficacy. Simply spray your product with the mist and ensure you cover it evenly on all sides. Shake off the excess. Once Crowning Glory dries, it will create a clear, indistinguishable plastic coating with no residue that will hold the moisture inside.

After spraying your product and shaking off the excess, your product can be put in a box and placed directly in the cooler.

It is important to note that it is advisable to allow the flowers to open to the preferred stage before spraying with Crowning Glory as it will slow the opening process without stopping it completely.

Making Crowning Glory part of your homecoming designs will help your flowers have enough life to be the life of the party.

Stems with Stamina

Choosing stems that will have stamina is another way to make your homecoming style a success. Most homecoming customers will ask for showy, high-end bridal-style flowers like ranunculus and astilbe, but for petals that perform well without a water source, the following flowers are tough and trendy enough to consider including in your homecoming repertoire.

Mini Calla Lilies

Elegant and able to endure, mini calla lilies are trumpet-shaped blooms available in an array of colors. Each color holds a different meaning, and the breathtaking shape makes them a versatile choice for homecoming.

Spray Roses

The go-to for corsages and boutonnieres, spray roses may be smaller than standard roses, but they are much more long-lived. Spray roses possess the same look, dimension and fragrance as classic roses with a shorter stem and smaller bloom.

Berries

Brunia, Hypericum and other berries are trending, especially with certain styles. A fun accent, berries are a whimsical way to add texture and interest without worry of compromising longevity.

Green Trick

For an unusual and unexpected burst of green, Green Trick has a large, sphere-shaped green orb atop a sturdy stem. With a fuzzy look, it can add something eclectic to set a design apart, and it will last through the festivities.

Poms

Versatile enough to be used as filler flowers or focal flowers, poms, also known as spray chrysanthemums, have bright colors and are very long-lived.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is incredibly hardy and can seamlessly blend into a variety of styles. With larger or smaller sizes and different colors and shapes, chances are eucalyptus can be a simple way to make a homecoming design more bohemian or trendy.

Creation by Location

In the same way clothing and hairstyles can differ in different locations, homecoming looks are influenced by location.

The Best for Texas and the Midwest

In Texas and some Midwest states, the phrase, “Go big or go home,” is an understatement when it comes to homecoming designs. In Texas, homecoming corsages are known as Mums, and the size and complexity of these designs can be so great that some schools place restrictions on them to avoid distractions. Some mums even incorporate cowbells, so the distraction is not only visual.

Texas corsages or homecoming mums are fun and personal. Mums began as a single fresh chrysanthemum that evolved to become much more elaborate. Prices for these designs vary according to style and location, but personalization can greatly increase profit when it comes to these designs.

To design homecoming mums, stock up on an assortment of ribbon, flowers, permanent botanicals, charms and trinkets. If you desire making grand, show-stopping mums, you can also carry plush animals.

To Appreciate a Southern State

Southern homecoming style is typically football-themed and favors carnations. Flowers can be sprayed with floral spray to match school colors.

The Best for the Northeast, Northwest and Southwest

In these areas, more contemporary options are requested. To achieve a contemporary style, it is important to note that this is a clean, sometimes architectural style that usually requires more advanced techniques with a special focus on trends. As a result, it is a good idea to include today’s trends when advertising in these regions. To keep up with trends, design scepters and floral hair accessories.

Toast of the West Coast

On the west coast, there is a more easy-going approach that leans more to bohemian styles and more natural blooms. For a creation that is a bohemian rhapsody, create a piece that is eclectic and not as structured as other styles with a bounty of blooms and other floral products.

Don’t Think Twice Floral Advice

When designing for homecoming, focus on schools in your area. Always have those school colors available in flowers, accessories and trinkets. Add-ons like plastic footballs, megaphones, team mascot charms and even mini stuffed animals help personalize your homecoming creations.

There are a few considerations regarding homecoming designs. Such as with larger, more elaborate designs, transporting them can be difficult, and certain schools may have restrictions. In some places, homecoming is no longer as popular as it once was, and some schools have canceled dances due to a lack of interest.

It is worthwhile to research local schools because schools that have canceled the dances will not be profitable to advertise to for homecoming, but for many schools, homecoming is a miniature prom with plenty of opportunity for profit. For those in areas where homecoming is still celebrated, these festivities can give you a glimpse of styles that are popular to forecast trends for prom.

To reach potential customers in the younger demographic, social media is a great way to get your looks seen without spending a fortune on advertising. Instagram is a simple, informal way to advertise your homecoming creations. Most young people search and make purchases online, so keep your website up to date with photos of your homecoming styles.

A great way to increase your reach and engagement on social media is to offer a discount to young people if they follow your business and tag you on social media. Encouraging liking/following on Instagram and Facebook is worth the discount for the potential advertising reach, especially if you get an influential young person to do this for you.

For those wearing homecoming florals, the party will be more of a blast if the florals last. By using florals known for their longevity combined with Floralife Crowning Glory, your homecoming design can become part of a memorable evening that has the potential to be viewed and appreciated on social media long after the dance has ended.

No matter what your needs may be, our staff at Kennicott Brothers is here to meet your homecoming needs.