First meeting with Florist

[lulamae]

Since my fiance's been around and I'm pretty much recovered from surgery (but still not back at work yet), we decided to get a bit of wedding stuff done recently. Today, we went to meet with Florists for the first time.

The only one we got to meet with today was The Plant Shoppe, as we hadn't made appointments. The woman there took some time to talk to us, which was nice. The people at the shop seem really nice and they're easy to talk to and they've done a couple of weddings at our venue before (although, never inside the hall for the reception... they've done outside receptions). This is the price estimate they gave us for our wedding (right after Valentine's Day):

Bridal bouquet: lavender roses and white hydrangea
MOH: lavender roses
Toss bouquet: lavender roses
Mom corsages (2): ivory roses
Groom and Best Man boutineers (2): lavender roses
Father boutineer: ivory rose
Alterpieces (2) (which will double as buffet table pieces): lavender and ivory roses, white hydrangea, etc.
Centerpieces (10): hydrangea in round bowl, inc bowl rental

Est total (inc. labor and delivery, pre-tax): $550

Does that seem about right? We were budgeting $400-$500 for flowers, so this is spot on, we just want to make sure we're not getting ripped off or anything.

[deputysgurl]

That sounds reasonable to me. my flowers cost about that, so I would agree with thier quote.

[labeadel]

That sounds about right. I had lots more flowers and mine cost double what yours is, and I'm in a large city, which also ups the price.

[Heather]

Yeah, it sounds great to me! I don't think you're getting ripped off at all. Where I am that would be over $1000 at least.

[justnmary]

HOLY CRAP!!! I paid $1000 and I didn't get near that! I'm feeling ripped! I didn't really even like my flowers! I was just sick of trying to figure out what would look good with blue! Yea, I would say that's a good deal...

[ljeagle]

I think thats a great deal! I paid right at $500 for 13 centerpieces, 10 corsages and bots my flowers and MOH and BM flowers.

[maroki13]

I think that is a great price. We had all roses for all of our flowers, and paid about $650 for all the bouquets, bouts., corsages, altar decorations, etc. (We had about 10 each of corsages and bouts.)

[lulamae]

Now I'm wondering if it's too good to be true, and if maybe she wasn't taking the proximity to Valentine's Day into account. I met with another florist today, KaBloom, and though she was going more rose-centric (and roses are apparently $5 a stem that time of year, although she was quoting at $4 since there would be so many) and talking around my ideas with hydrangeas, she quoted $1000 just for the flowers. Another $60 for delivery and set-up. And I can't specify a toss bouquet, they make it from whatever flowers are left over.

I'm so confused.

[Julz518]

Originally Posted by lulamae

Now I'm wondering if it's too good to be true, and if maybe she wasn't taking the proximity to Valentine's Day into account.

Get it in writing in a contract before she realizes it! Then she has to give you those prices!

[labeadel]

Yep, it's not your problem that she's not taking it into consideration. If you sign a contract and put down a deposit, then you're golden!

[syringa]

Your price is very reasonable. You may be getting a good price even though it is near Valentine's Day because you are not using red or pink flowers. I would get a signed contract while you can. If you plan to use flowers on your cake, be sure to specify those as well.

[m_t_rose]

Yes get it into writing so that she does back out at the last minute and then you end up pay double what the quote was. As read the fine print and make sure all of that is actually included. When I went to see a florist they quoted $500 and then came back and sai each addition bouquet after 2 was an additional $50.