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Oy! I'm sorry your meetings with potential florists did not go well but definitely think long and hard before you decide to DIY 26 centerpieces and all the bouquets--that is a TON of work to take on yourself!! Dont' underestimate how much time and energy those projects can require, esp so close to the wedding.
I would first try to get references or referals from other brides in the area. And I think it's worth it to ask to get in touch with brides who they've worked with in the past and speak to them honestly. I don't think you need to necessarily have a cosmic connection with your florist. The florist is one of the behind-the-scenes vendors--he/she isn't like your photographer or wedding coordinator, who you will be spending most of your wedding day with. I was a little hestitant to work with our florist as he came off as little flighty during our initial meetings, but he ended up being every bit as amazing as everyone told me he was.
aw I'm sorry, that sounds so stressful ><; Well, I JUST posted up a poll here about flowers and it made me realize the trade between going all out at the florist and DIY is really up to you and your personality. Personally, we have a tight budget, so we cut out a few things from the package to save a bit, but we also are too busy to do too much DIY (and I'm kinda lazy teehee).
If you feel like you will have time to DIY, you will save a TON of money, but you also give up a lot of your own time to research where to buy from and enlisting your BM and other to help you out (especially with 26 centerpieces)! Budget that in with how much you might need to do the days before the wedding, that would also need to be taken into account.
As for the florist, you definetly need to be comfortable with them. You're right, you are shelling out over 4k money to them to do a good job, they better follow through. As for my process, I just went to my hometown, local florist (where I got my prom flowers and the like, lol), because i already know they do a great job with flowers and are serious about what they do. Our meeting went wonderfully and i was really glad we went with them. I'd say, doesn't hurt to go to a few more interviews; and even try to go to some local florists that you know also do wedding flowers seriously; you might get a better deal and better service (I tend to find that the wedding specialist type florists are really.. exclusive.. I tried to get an appointment for one and they said I had to set it up a month in advanced too.. I was sorta annoyed at that so I did not).
In conclusion, go to a few more, find ones local to you (that might make it easier for followup meetings too), and find someone who really cares about what you like!! You're paying, you better get what you want!! Good luck!! And dont stress out so much! You'll find a good florist that'll fit what you want perfectly! If not, DIY is always an option, as long as you enlist lots of people to help out!!
Thanks ladies!! Ok, I'm going to calm down, regroup, interview a few more people and then see if I'm willing to go DIY crazy!
I didn't want to deal with a lot of different vendors, so I'm having my reception at a restaurant instead of catered at another location, and not using a florist. I'm planning on walking into Kroger the day before my wedding and grabbing a bunch of different pretty flowers in my colors (sunset) and making a really unique bouquet. I want a bouquet with different shapes and textures, not the usual thing, but i don't want to deal with getting that arranged with someone. There aren't any other *real* flowers at my reception or ceremony (I got my BM bouquets at Michael's and they look real enough!). It's not worth the money to me! So you can just forget about the stress of flowers and find alternatives. You can always float fake flowers in water with a votive candle and stones and no one will know the diff!
You know my mom just went through this yesterday! She went to go meet with someone, and they brought out a book of what she said were horrible 80's pictures. They said just pick one and they'll do it. My mom asked if they had anything in purples and blues, and if she could do something like the pictures we have, and she just said "um, we do what's in the pictures" Thanks for the creative input! So we decided that a couple days before the wedding we're just going to go into the city where there's a huge flower district and just go crazy. This is also just a backup in case I don't like the fake flower bouquet I'm going to try first.
DIY sounds like a ton of work. I'm pretty sure there are good florists out there. Ours did just what we wanted, no problem. Check yelp, google maps, weddingwire, theknot, etc.
Well, I've got an appointment lined up with another one for next week (also one of the top 10 in the area) but she's already making me nervous. She read the consultation form wrong and thought I was asking for this year Sept. 24th instead of Sept. 24 2011 and said to call her if it was 2011, but didn't leave her contact info... I finally found her number and called and then her assistant didn't get all of my details before she rushed me off the phone while I was making the appointment... argh. What happened to professionalism? Also, why do florist only meet on weekdays from 9-5PM? They do realize that other people have to take off of work to meet with them right? Sheesh... how inconvenient!
Ah...rant...sorry! I just really didn't think it would be this difficult!
I'd encourage you to keep looking - especially because you have a very healthy budget, you should be able to find someone who is creative and really wants to engage you!
I think 26 tables is way too much to DIY non floral centerpieces for most people- DIY projects are so time consuming, i can just see that becoming really laborious and not so fun for you.
If you get stuck after the next few florist meetings, you can take matters into your own hands - come up with a really specific idea with a photo or other clear illustration of exactly what you want (i.e. 50 purple dahlias on a floral foam ball resting on a 12" cylinder vase filled with water and submerged cala lillies) and just hire a florist to execute it for you. That way you know exactly what you're getting, it's your idea and even if you don't really trust their taste or they haven't come up with ideas you love, you don't have to do all of the work yourself. You could even source the containers yourself and provide them if the florists in your area are not coming up with anything interesting on that front.
Do you have any favorite flowers that you do love? Woudl be happy to help you brainstorm, there are PLENTY of options besides white and roses out there!
Hey Floret Cadet! I actually do have some pretty specific things in mind! I think I'll have to go play with silk flowers or start a very detailed drawing to make sure the florist gets it.
I know I love dahlias, I love orchids, I really don't mind daisies/chrysanthemums/carnations that much, I like celiosa/coxcomb, calla lilies are ok, I like the deep red lilies (not sure what they're called), I also like amaranthus.
I know I want to stick with reds, burgandy, dark purple, greenery, dark orange and golds.
I've mentioned all of these things in all of my meetings, but I'm still hitting road blocks. Maybe it's time to get out the colored pencils and demonstrate....or buy the silks.... What do you think?
I feel like there should be a florist out there that will listen to you. When I went to my florist, she had a book of different flowers and I just went through them all and said what I like and what I don't like and in what color I liked them. She didn't try to influence me at all, just wrote down what I liked and that's that. That was for the bouquets and bouts though, I diy'ed my centerpieces. They were pretty simple though, I just picked one type of flower that I ordered wholesale so I could just cut them and toss them in the vase, no arranging required.
@Floret Cadet: Wow, thank you so much for the suggestions! I'll keep looking for pics and florists. I have an appointment with Robin next week (she was recommended by a photographer I interviewed too). Hopefully, I'll get this nailed down before I pull all of my hair out!
@artbee: I would LOVE a florist that showed me a book! No one has done that yet! They haven't even really shown me portfolios... I thought that was really strange. I guess they just assume I looked online at their stuff?
Hey Stacey,
I am in Cinci too! I am using Murphy's Florist on the Westside. Renee, who is the owner has been soooo patient with me. I have a very specific vision, and there are certain wedding flowers and styles that I absolutely hate, and she has been so understanding, and not pushy at all. My wedding is three weeks away and two weeks ago I change my mind on a lot of things, and she was said it was no problem! There were some things that I had wanted that just can't happen because of the season, but other than that, she has been completely on board with all of my ideas.
I know what you mean! I met my first florist last week and left feeling less than excited. I said no roses or callas, took in specific pictures of what I wanted, and I even showed them pictures of my dress and inspiration. The guy kept talking about roses, saying he'd make up a mock up for me and he might throw some spray roses in (UGH! The first thing I said was no roses). Then he keeps trying to add more color into my scheme, which I don't want. And basically said he can't do the bouquet I fell in love with because he's not sure if he can get ranunculus and doesn't recommend using berries, but could wrap wire around the bouquet (of stock orchids stephanotis and spray roses... puke, sorry not my style) to give me the color I want.
I'm pretty bummed about the whole thing.
There is absolutely no reason, especially with your budget, that you cannot find an exceptional florist. The problem is ,I think it can be hard to find in a lot of areas in the midwest. Keep looking though....the good vendors are out there!
It depends on what you want. We are doing our own flowers, but I just want gerberas. Nothing fancy. If you want something eloborant, you might want to continue the search or sit down and figure out what it will take to do it yourself.
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Ok, I've met with two florists and so far, they've both just left me wanting to run away screaming! The first one begged me to do the flowers, but she refused to accept the fact that I didn't like roses (she said I'd learn to love them...argh!). She also had tacky rod iron stands she wanted to use even though I told her I would rather buy my own and she showed me pictures and examples that were FROM HER COMPETITOR!!! I know she didn't work on those arrangements - I just knew I'd seen them before and looked them up again...Sure enough, her competitor had them on her blog! Wow.... The second florist was supposed to be one of the best in the area. However, despite the fact that me and my FI took off work to meet with her because her schedule was so booked, and the fact that we were required to fill out all forms and schedule a month in advance for a consulation, she 1) wasn't prepared for our meeting at all 2) didn't have our forms or date info 3) had her 2 year old niece there during the meeting...watching the little mermaid...in her office...with us. (My FI even fixed the movie for her...). After all of that, she didn't even listen to what we were saying! She said it would take a week and a half for a quote and that she didn't have suggestions, but would try to think of some...???? Oh, she also tried to push having white in the decor after I said I'd like to try to avoid it at all costs.
I swear I'm not a bridezilla! I mean, if I'm going to pay close to $4000 for flowers, I figure you can help me avoid roses and the color white... and if I don't like your rentals, you should be ok with me buying some for you!
I've got two more consultation requests out there, but they're outstanding from over a week ago with still no reply...is that a bad sign? The others didn't take as long to reply...
At this point, I'm really worried about meeting with anyone else. I left the last two meeting anxious and frustrated. If I can't trust them during the meeting, how will I trust them with the money on the wedding day??
So...my current thought.... DIY all of the wedding centerpieces. I would use lots of Moroccan lanterns and then DIY paper flowers. It's a heck of a lot of folding and glueing, but I think I could make something that I would like. I'll do the brooch bouquets for me and my BMs. I've got tons of brooches already.
I'd have to DIY 26 centerpieces though. I have plenty of time, but....am I crazy for trying? Should I just keep interviewing? I honestly don't know what to do here. I know I'm asking for florists to think out of the box...I just didn't think it would be such a crazy request you know?
What do you lovely bees think? (Sorry for the long rant up there!! Thanks for your time!)