choosing a florist

[larussel03]

So, I talked with 3 florists and here''s the breakdown of what happened:

1. Does not own a flower shop, works out of a studio. I liked her but I feel like I''d rather go with a shop in case anything bad happens to her, or she''s sick or something. I feel like its'' just too much for me to wrory about...she was the cheapest, actually under what I was expecting to spend.

2. Went in, (florist/nursery) loved the flowers and got along well with her, but there was a bit of a language barrier (she had a heavy greek accent and I''m bad with accents) and I felt like she just didn''t get what I was talking about. She would also say things like "you dont want that, it''s out of style" about callas, which to be honest, even if they were, she shouldnt be saying that. Her price is in the range which I am looking to spend, but I''m worried that she wouldn''t get it exactly right.

3. Another huge florist/nursery, a girl about my age (mid 20''s ish) She and I hit if off so well and she even completed my sentences with exactly what I was going to say before I finished them. The only thing is that they are about 400.00 over what I wanted to spend...although my parents say it''s ok, I''m trying to do some budget control.

So question one, should I go with #3 even though they charge more? Any tips on how I can get the price down? I was thinking, for instance, the altar arrangements are really expensive, maybe we can use filler carnations that will not be obvious to everyone, and have the focus be on lillies and roses though?

I am getting all flowers except centerpieces, which are included at my venue.

 

[jcrow]

hands down go with 3. you can always tweek your budget. i ended up changing florists and the new one seems like your #3. he gets it. and that is VERY important. i would nix #2 completely. you don''t want any complications regardless of the accent. the florist and you need to be eye to eye. you don''t want any surprises in that area!

 

[E B]

Hmmm. What else would you have to cut from? To be honest, I'd cut from my floral budget (if it wasn't so tiny to begin with) because in the grand scheme of your wedding, they probably aren't what you (or your guests) will remember most. Things I wouldn't cut from: location, food, photography, and the dress. What do you remember most from the weddings you've been to? What is most important to you?

I guess I'll vote for #1, because that's what I'm doing.

My florist came HIGHLY recommended by several girls on theknot.com, and she's doing all of my flowers (bouquet, 9 centerpieces, bouts and corsages) for under $500. I haven't even thought about her falling sick and not coming through, but I figure she's a professional...she'd get them to me somehow.

 

[honeybee]

If I were you I''d go with #3. The piece of mind you''ll get knowing that a.) it is a company/florist capable of handling a wedding and b.) that it will be exactly what you want, will be well worth the $400 dollars in the end. Another way to cut costs, may be to talk w/ her (florist #3) about your budget concerns and see if she can budge a bit on the price or maybe find some good in season flowers that may be cheaper but still fit your desired look.

 

[ephemery1]

From what you've said, I would go with #3... especially if you would be working primarily with the girl who seemed so in-tune with you. That kind of understanding is worth the extra $400!!

That said, the florist we chose sounds more like your #1... she works independently and out of her home, but does weddings exclusively. She also offered a few little "extras" that were nice... for example, she'll be on-site with us throughout the ceremony to take care of any odds and ends that a wedding planner would normally do... pinning on boutennieres, fixing my dress before I go down the aisle, etc. Then she heads over to the reception spot to take care of everything that needs done there as well. My MOH's sister had a great experience with her at her wedding last summer, so I feel pretty comfortable even though it is a home business. I think I would be more nervous if I hadn't had that recommendation though...

 

[codex57]

Def #3 unless you can find references for #1. #2 just has red flags all over it.

 

[larussel03]

Thanks for the responses! My parents are very generously paying for most of the wedding, but I am trying to establish and stick to a good budget to not take advantage of their generosity. I guess what may be a feasible option is going with 3 and trying to cut it down a bit, then having FI and I pay the difference over my initial budget rather than asking my parents to.

My #1 lady seemed pretty good, but I think I''d feel better about her if I''d known someone who actually used her before, rather than just having found her randomly on the internet. And I agree, my mother spoke with #2 yesterday over the phone and said while she seemed very nice, she was worried that she just didnt ''get it''. I mean, maybe she does and we have trouble understanding her, but I see that as a potential problem. If florist #2, which is just as large as #3 can do it for my budget price, I''m sure that I can work it out to be almost there with #3. Hopefully : )

 

[larussel03]

YAY the deposit has been put down on #3!!! I just loved this girl, and I think that she's going to do a great job! It was almost like meeting with her we hit it off as though we knew each other!

So, what we've agreed on is for my bouquet a mix of orange and "all american" or "american beauty" (somthing like that) red roses (deeper than usual reds but not as dark as black magic's) with mango colored mini calla's and dark red hycinth (or something like that) berries and seeded eukalyptus for accent rather than greens! I am super psyched about this! Fi's bout will be a matching mini calla with berries. My bouquet will be wrapped with ivory satin or silk (whatever it is that they usually do) to match my dress.

The girls are going to wear a black cocktail-type dress, so their bouquets will be more orange than red (but a mix) with ivory organza tying them. I felt that with the black a satin or silk wrap would be too distracting, and the organza is more sheer. The guy's bouts are going to be orange roses with some eukalyptus stuff as well. (I can't spell eukalyptus)

For the church, we're doing just 2 large altar pieces in urns, mostly white/cream (the church is lots of stained glass and dark wood, so it has to show up) with a few fall colors mixed in. It's mostly roses and lillies so far, but I think I may ask her to sub in some carnations for fillers....I personally do not care for carnations, but if they're just the fillers and roses, lillies and fall colors are predominant I think it'll be fine. Then ivory pew bows for the 1st 3 pews on each side.

Our reception venue includes the centerpieces, so my florist said she will call them with the exact names of the roses (so we dont end up with too dark or too light). I think we'll do traditional low bowl vases that look like the BM's bouquets. Then votives around them and rose petals and votives out where the hors d'oeuvres and coffee/cake will be served.

I love fall colors!!!

I didnt think picking the flowers would be so fun, but it really was haha.

ETA: I can't beleive that the planning is almost done and my wedding is over a year away!! whoooooooooo!

 

[AmberWaves]

Sweetpea, your flowers sound EXACTLY like the ones I was thinking of having- right down to the color/type of flower and berries!! Wow! Soiunds like it''ll be perfect!

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/24/2006 1:56:09 PM
Author: AmberWaves
Sweetpea, your flowers sound EXACTLY like the ones I was thinking of having- right down to the color/type of flower and berries!! Wow! Soiunds like it''ll be perfect!

YAY! You and I are getting married a couple weeks apart, as well if I''m not mistaken! I''m so excited to be getting married in November, such a fun time of year, and I LOVE the colors!

 

[AmberWaves]

Sweetpea, I guess I should reaaaally get startedon FINDING a florist! Did you bring in pictures? I''m so excited now!!!

 

[labbielove]

sweetpea,
congrats!
i can''t wait to pick out flowers,
can''t wait to see pics of them,

wow- you are making me feel inadequate as a bride to be! although flowers are next in line after finding a photographer.

 

[anchor31]

It all sounds gorgeous!! I want orange callas and deep red roses too (with yellow chrysanthemums), so I''m pretty biaised, but when I found this pic, I just fell in love!

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/24/2006 3:45:08 PM
Author: labbielove
sweetpea,
congrats!
i can''t wait to pick out flowers,
can''t wait to see pics of them,

wow- you are making me feel inadequate as a bride to be! although flowers are next in line after finding a photographer.

OMG, I am sure that you are totally not an inadequate bride to be!! The only reason I have so much done is b/c 2 weeks ago I moved halfway across the country and I wanted to make sure I had everything big lined up before I moved. I kinda wish that I had more to work on still b/c I havnet found a job yet...I''m just playing around with a wedding website now.

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/24/2006 4:04:02 PM
Author: anchor31
It all sounds gorgeous!! I want orange callas and deep red roses too (with yellow chrysanthemums), so I''m pretty biaised, but when I found this pic, I just fell in love!

That bouquet is soooo pretty! I''ll try to see if I can find a pic that I modeled mine off of, but it was out of a magazine...

 

[larussel03]

This is the closest I can find online, so similar but not quite, add in mango callas and eukalyptus stuff and a bit more red maybe:

 

[larussel03]

here's another pic, this is more like what I'm thinking...but all american beauty red, these reds look a little funny to me

 

[larussel03]

then this bout for FI but with berries, not seeded euk:

 

[larussel03]

Then centerpieces like t hese, but in red and orange and I'm putting 3 votives out per table...I'm having a little too much fun with this...

 

[ChargerGrrl]

SPL
Congrats on finding the right florist for you! Your flower selections are lovely.

I''m going with someone more like your #1 choice, except that she came recommended by several brides on a local wedding forum I frequent. I''ve never actually met her, having planned my wedding from a bit "away". But I was able to view her work on her website, and she was easy to work with remotely.

 

[larussel03]

OMG, Fi just saw all my wedding planning stuff (I have a scrapbook where I keep all my ideas pasted in so that I can find things I liked again) and he remarked on how much he liked the boutenieer that I picked for him! I dont know, maybe it''s me being sentimental (or that glass of wine I drank watching cirque du soleil) but I am so happy that he likes what I''m doing so far! He never objects, and I thought he had no opinion, but to hear he LIKES it makes me feel like I''m doing a good job b/c I really do want him to be happy and to have details that he''s proud of as I am

 

[AmberWaves]

Is this like the bout you were thinking of?

 

[larussel03]

Date: 9/29/2006 1:10:20 PM
Author: AmberWaves
Is this like the bout you were thinking of?

Yeah, I was thinking of something just like that! Thanks Amberwaves!!