I decided on having a bouquet of all white, and I love peonies but can't have them since my wedding is in August. At least this is what I have been told.
Soooo, I decided I wanted white Garden Roses or white English Roses and apparently I can't have those either? Does that sound right to anyone.
I've heard of people getting Peonies in August and September....and I don't understand why its so difficult to get English or Garden Roses....I could purchase them online so why can't my florist get them? Is it because they are contracted to only one Grower?
I am really started to get frustrated. I already signed my contract with them....but I want to find another florist that can do what they say the can do.
but I don't know if these are legitimate "excuses" that my current florist is telling me. please help.
I'm doing white gerbera and shasty Daisies for my August wedding. There are several websites out there that have info on seasons for flowers, maybe using information from the web can help you talk to your florist?
I am getting green roses in early August. Don't know where you are at but Peterkort Roses http://www.peterkortroses.com/ is where I am getting ours from. I know they carry the garden roses in late Aug as well. Maybe have your florist call them to see if they can ship outside of Portland. The garden roses come in a bunch of 10 and they are only $14/bunch right now, don't know what they will be in late Aug. If you find a source for peonies, take into consideration that they might not hold up as well in the August heat (again depending on where you are at).
I'm using dahlias for my August wedding. They will be in peak season.
I don't know much about the floral industry, but it may be that your florist can't afford to get out-of-season flowers and stay within your negotiated budget.
I interviewed 4 florists, and each said something completely different about flowers that they would be able to get. Each time, I countered with "well, I can find this online for this much..." and somehow, the florists' story changes! I think part of the problem is that the florist doesn't want to be responsible if a particular flower isn't up to par (quality-wise) because it's out of season. Also, are you on a tight budget? Peonies and garden roses are oretty expensive out of season. As far as I know, most florists aren't tied to one distributor/grower (I know that the one I decided to go with had to call around to a number of distributors get white snowberries for me in September).
You can get any flower you want year round, it's just a matter of how much you are willing to pay for an out of season flower. Peonies out of season cost between $400- $600 where in season I have bought them for about $10-$15 for 20 stems. Imported are more expensive, I think I got like 10 stems for $20 or so.
If they come and they don't open or come in not so great condition then if she must make something out of it, and they don't look good, it's her name on the line.Maybe this is why she is hesitant.
Most florist don't have one grower but if you want them and are determined maybe you can purchase them and have them shipped to her?
If they are out of season or something and cost too much, would you consider silk(fake) flowers? Angel's Accents is a really reputable company alot of girls on The Knot go through, I'm having a DW and since peonies are out of season in Mexico then and are really expensive I'm going through Angel's Accents instead. Just an option to consider, hope that helps!
Thank you all for your input it really helps to hear others opinions.
I interviewed 4 florists before deciding on this one, and I decided to go with this florist because they seemed like they were willing to work with me to get the desired look I wanted for flowers.
I am on somewhat of a budget. I kept everything to a minimum including the bridesmaids bouquets are quite small about 7 - 9 stems. But I told her I was willing to go a little higher for my own bouquet. I just am starting to feel a little restricted more so now than when I first signed my contract because of all my ideas being shot down. I am going to talk to her and see if I can purchase the flowers and she can possibly make the bouquet that way.
I looked at silk flowers (before looking at florists).....I bought some on sav-on-crafts.....but i felt like they looked artificial in pictures so I returned them. I'll checkout Angel's accents, but I'm not sure I could even get out of my contract at this point.
I don't really want any green in my bouquet. I think I want to go with English roses and white hydrangea, but going back to my florist she says hydrangea will wilt very fast in august (in Chicago). She said that lots of girls do hydrangea for their bouquets in August but to forewarn me that they will most likely wilt.
Hydrangea are really durable flowers. My best friend had them for her bouquet with no problems what so ever. I mean yes, after being out of water for 8 hours they will wilt... but just put them in a clear glass vase with some water when you get to your reception- it will look pretty... also it's not like you carry them all night.
Do what you like- don't let opinions change your mind. That's one thing I really regret about the wedding planning process... I am too easily swayed to make people happy.
My florist created a mock bouquet for me to see, and the White Roses were more like yellowish/cream with a slight tint of green. Yuck.
She said this was as white as they get them...but that they have more Roses coming in next weekend and that she will look at those to see if they are whiter. (geeez.......can't get the shape of rose i like and now can't even get the right color of rose i wanted)
So I told her I wanted the bouquet to look more white and that I assumed the Roses would not look yellowish/cream/green. ( I wasn't expecting paper white, but at least resemble white).
That's when she told me how hard it was because there aren't many "white" flowers available in August. Hmm, this is not what she told me when I was deciding on a florist. Sigh..............so I'm waiting til a couple weeks before I can see the revised bouquet. If its still not up to par, I will have to see if I can get my deposit back.
I'm sorry but that's absolutely ridiculous. If you want, PM me with your email and I'll show you a picture of a white bouquet (roses, hydrangeas, baby's breath) that I made for my FSIL's wedding on August 18, 2007.
Ask your florist if she can get Akito roses. Though not diamond white, they're much more white than cream. I ordered 600 of them last August for FSIL's wedding.
I am using an all white color scheme for my wedding in two weeks. My bouquet is ivory roses and anna roses, my bridesmaids is ivory an d white roses and all my centerpieces are white flowers, Hydrangeas and roses. Hope that helps!
Too bad it's been difficult getting the flowers you want...
My FSIL got married in October and had an all white bouquet with white dahlias and it looks gorgeous -- really full and fluffy (dahlias come in lots of shapes and sizes).
I wanted ranunculas for my August wedding and had the same problem. However, my florist decided to use silk - they are very realistic and I like the idea of having flowers in my bouquet that I can keep. Ask your florist if she can find peonies in silk. If you mix silk flowers in with real flowers, no one will be able to tell the difference!
and PS, I don't mean the cheap silk flowers you buy at a craft store - you can get VERY realistic silk flowers through a professional florist. my centerpieces are going to be silk flowers and i couldn't even tell the difference when i looked at them up close!
Ok so after all the great input I received I called up my florist and actually got to talk to the owner. I told her how I was disappointed with my mockup bouquet and the color (which she was aware of since she was there the day I went to see my mock up). I told her that I had wanted Garden Roses and that I felt that I got the impression that I can't get them and the roses (Akito) in my bouquet were yellowish/greenish and that I wanted more of a white. I told her I understand that the roses vary in shade a bit, and that I didnt expect them to be SUPER white, but that it should look more white than cream/yellow/green. She asked me what roses in particular..........and again I said Garden. I then told her that I see the type of roses I want online, so I gave her the sites, and she saw what I was looking at and said she could get them in and she'll put those into my mock up bouquet that they are re-doing, and so my appt is in a couple weeks and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I really started to feel that I was asking for too much or that I was the one being difficult and that my expectations were out of line.........thanks for all your feedback it really helped me muddy up the courage to demand what I really wanted.
I decided on having a bouquet of all white, and I love peonies but can't have them since my wedding is in August. At least this is what I have been told.
Soooo, I decided I wanted white Garden Roses or white English Roses and apparently I can't have those either? Does that sound right to anyone.
I've heard of people getting Peonies in August and September....and I don't understand why its so difficult to get English or Garden Roses....I could purchase them online so why can't my florist get them? Is it because they are contracted to only one Grower?
I am really started to get frustrated. I already signed my contract with them....but I want to find another florist that can do what they say the can do.
but I don't know if these are legitimate "excuses" that my current florist is telling me. please help.
posted by emmkae Newbee: 47 posts 5 months agoI'm doing white gerbera and shasty Daisies for my August wedding. There are several websites out there that have info on seasons for flowers, maybe using information from the web can help you talk to your florist?
http://www.blissweddings.com/weddingfloral/seasons.asp
http://www.weddingchaos.co.uk/TheOrganising/wedding-flowers-august.asp
posted by caliocteach Busy bee: 799 posts 5 months agoI am getting green roses in early August. Don't know where you are at but Peterkort Roses http://www.peterkortroses.com/ is where I am getting ours from. I know they carry the garden roses in late Aug as well. Maybe have your florist call them to see if they can ship outside of Portland. The garden roses come in a bunch of 10 and they are only $14/bunch right now, don't know what they will be in late Aug. If you find a source for peonies, take into consideration that they might not hold up as well in the August heat (again depending on where you are at).
posted by Luxe Worker bee: 103 posts 5 months agoI'm using dahlias for my August wedding. They will be in peak season.
I don't know much about the floral industry, but it may be that your florist can't afford to get out-of-season flowers and stay within your negotiated budget.
posted by peachypear Helper bee: 225 posts 5 months agoI'm not sure why you can't have peonies..
www.fiftyflowers.com sells peonies year round.. although they are semi expensive. They also have garden roses.
I would order them online and arrange yourself of have the florist do it. I would question the people who are telling you this.
http://www.flowerwholesale.com/Default.asp?Categ=Peony
you can also get them there but the shipping is sort of high.
posted by maureen9004 Helper bee: 285 posts 5 months agoI interviewed 4 florists, and each said something completely different about flowers that they would be able to get. Each time, I countered with "well, I can find this online for this much..." and somehow, the florists' story changes! I think part of the problem is that the florist doesn't want to be responsible if a particular flower isn't up to par (quality-wise) because it's out of season. Also, are you on a tight budget? Peonies and garden roses are oretty expensive out of season. As far as I know, most florists aren't tied to one distributor/grower (I know that the one I decided to go with had to call around to a number of distributors get white snowberries for me in September).
Just a few thoughts!
posted by rebecca Bumble bee: 1,247 posts 5 months agoYou can get any flower you want year round, it's just a matter of how much you are willing to pay for an out of season flower. Peonies out of season cost between $400- $600 where in season I have bought them for about $10-$15 for 20 stems. Imported are more expensive, I think I got like 10 stems for $20 or so.
If they come and they don't open or come in not so great condition then if she must make something out of it, and they don't look good, it's her name on the line.Maybe this is why she is hesitant.
Most florist don't have one grower but if you want them and are determined maybe you can purchase them and have them shipped to her?
Good luck!
posted by bree Newbee: 40 posts 5 months agoIf they are out of season or something and cost too much, would you consider silk(fake) flowers? Angel's Accents is a really reputable company alot of girls on The Knot go through, I'm having a DW and since peonies are out of season in Mexico then and are really expensive I'm going through Angel's Accents instead. Just an option to consider, hope that helps!
posted by Jen4637 Worker bee: 124 posts 5 months agoI wanted peonies as well but was worried about the quality in August.
We are using white lisianthus instead which looks (IMO) like a cross between a peony and rose.
GL!
posted by chicagolawyer Wannabee: 1 posts 5 months agoThank you all for your input it really helps to hear others opinions.
I interviewed 4 florists before deciding on this one, and I decided to go with this florist because they seemed like they were willing to work with me to get the desired look I wanted for flowers.
I am on somewhat of a budget. I kept everything to a minimum including the bridesmaids bouquets are quite small about 7 - 9 stems. But I told her I was willing to go a little higher for my own bouquet. I just am starting to feel a little restricted more so now than when I first signed my contract because of all my ideas being shot down. I am going to talk to her and see if I can purchase the flowers and she can possibly make the bouquet that way.
I looked at silk flowers (before looking at florists).....I bought some on sav-on-crafts.....but i felt like they looked artificial in pictures so I returned them. I'll checkout Angel's accents, but I'm not sure I could even get out of my contract at this point.
I don't really want any green in my bouquet. I think I want to go with English roses and white hydrangea, but going back to my florist she says hydrangea will wilt very fast in august (in Chicago). She said that lots of girls do hydrangea for their bouquets in August but to forewarn me that they will most likely wilt.
posted by emmkae Newbee: 47 posts 5 months agoHydrangea are really durable flowers. My best friend had them for her bouquet with no problems what so ever. I mean yes, after being out of water for 8 hours they will wilt... but just put them in a clear glass vase with some water when you get to your reception- it will look pretty... also it's not like you carry them all night.
Do what you like- don't let opinions change your mind. That's one thing I really regret about the wedding planning process... I am too easily swayed to make people happy.
posted by maureen9004 Helper bee: 285 posts 5 months agoMy florist created a mock bouquet for me to see, and the White Roses were more like yellowish/cream with a slight tint of green. Yuck.
She said this was as white as they get them...but that they have more Roses coming in next weekend and that she will look at those to see if they are whiter. (geeez.......can't get the shape of rose i like and now can't even get the right color of rose i wanted)
So I told her I wanted the bouquet to look more white and that I assumed the Roses would not look yellowish/cream/green. ( I wasn't expecting paper white, but at least resemble white).
That's when she told me how hard it was because there aren't many "white" flowers available in August. Hmm, this is not what she told me when I was deciding on a florist. Sigh..............so I'm waiting til a couple weeks before I can see the revised bouquet. If its still not up to par, I will have to see if I can get my deposit back.
Did any of you regret a white bouquet?
posted by emmkae Newbee: 47 posts 5 months agoI'm sorry but that's absolutely ridiculous. If you want, PM me with your email and I'll show you a picture of a white bouquet (roses, hydrangeas, baby's breath) that I made for my FSIL's wedding on August 18, 2007.
Ask your florist if she can get Akito roses. Though not diamond white, they're much more white than cream. I ordered 600 of them last August for FSIL's wedding.
Why are vendors so difficult!?
posted by rebecca Bumble bee: 1,247 posts 5 months agoI am using an all white color scheme for my wedding in two weeks. My bouquet is ivory roses and anna roses, my bridesmaids is ivory an d white roses and all my centerpieces are white flowers, Hydrangeas and roses. Hope that helps!
posted by Eims Newbee: 43 posts 5 months agoToo bad it's been difficult getting the flowers you want...
My FSIL got married in October and had an all white bouquet with white dahlias and it looks gorgeous -- really full and fluffy (dahlias come in lots of shapes and sizes).
GOOD LUCK!
posted by indecisivebride Helper bee: 230 posts 5 months agoI wanted ranunculas for my August wedding and had the same problem. However, my florist decided to use silk - they are very realistic and I like the idea of having flowers in my bouquet that I can keep. Ask your florist if she can find peonies in silk. If you mix silk flowers in with real flowers, no one will be able to tell the difference!
posted by justducky Newbee: 9 posts 5 months agoand PS, I don't mean the cheap silk flowers you buy at a craft store - you can get VERY realistic silk flowers through a professional florist. my centerpieces are going to be silk flowers and i couldn't even tell the difference when i looked at them up close!
posted by justducky Newbee: 9 posts 5 months agooh thanks so much for your messages! i didn't know that florists can get silk flowers.......i didn't know they varied in quality either.
thanks again!
posted by emmkae Newbee: 47 posts 5 months agoOk so after all the great input I received I called up my florist and actually got to talk to the owner. I told her how I was disappointed with my mockup bouquet and the color (which she was aware of since she was there the day I went to see my mock up). I told her that I had wanted Garden Roses and that I felt that I got the impression that I can't get them and the roses (Akito) in my bouquet were yellowish/greenish and that I wanted more of a white. I told her I understand that the roses vary in shade a bit, and that I didnt expect them to be SUPER white, but that it should look more white than cream/yellow/green. She asked me what roses in particular..........and again I said Garden. I then told her that I see the type of roses I want online, so I gave her the sites, and she saw what I was looking at and said she could get them in and she'll put those into my mock up bouquet that they are re-doing, and so my appt is in a couple weeks and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I really started to feel that I was asking for too much or that I was the one being difficult and that my expectations were out of line.........thanks for all your feedback it really helped me muddy up the courage to demand what I really wanted.
posted by emmkae Newbee: 47 posts 5 months ago