COMPARISON SHOPPING WEDDING FLORISTS!

     

      This isn’t a statement to this particular bride in any way shape or form, the
     experience for me just brings up the thought of comparison shopping and my 

     recommendations for brides in general about florist shopping!

    I got an email from a bride we provided a proposal and custom design for that ended

   up getting a proposal for the same flower selections, etc. from another florist, and

   that florist gave her a lower price. I understand brides like to shop around, as I was

   a bride — which is completely fine and I’m just sad because she was  adorable and 

   I would have loved to have had her as one of my brides! A bride would be silly

   NOT to shop around for different options/prices/etc.

   When comparing your options, you can’t compare apples to oranges!

   How to get your dream vendors within your budget: If you absolutely love your

   vendor, ask them what other options there are to keep the same concept, but get 

   the price down to get it into the budget. I very well could have offered an easy

   solution that would have trimmed a few hundred dollars that would not have

   even affected the overall design. Then, the bride could have used the florist she 

   preferred artistically.

   Why is one florist more expensive than another? How do I compare? 

  When comparing one florist to another you must take into account that they may

  both be planning to use a different amount of stems, exact flower types, different 

  quality in wholesalers, and most of all — the floral design talent and technical skill.

  So, really, you can’t compare them. Just because another florist may do an estimate

  for the same designs, but at a lower price point, doesn’t mean they would have been 

  the same design [it's not like comparing car prices]. The designs can utilize the same

  flowers, but that doesn’t mean the finished product will look the same. It’s like two 

  different cooks using the same ingredients…doesn’t mean both dishes will taste

  or look the same! Both florist are most likely planning to design it differently and 

  you just can’t compare apples and oranges, especially on price. I think some brides

  get confused and think both florists would have a set amount of stems to use, but

  really it depends on the florist. Yea, the flower types might be the same, but there 

  are so many factors that play into the final product. You also need to make sure to

  use a florist that is familiar with the types of flowers and design styles you are 

  interested in. A florist that is not as familiar with using sensitive flowers like the 

  currently popular dusty miller, will wilt by the time you walk down the aisle if not

  prepped, preserved and kept hydrated until you are holding them in your hands.

  Factors that play into your floral designers finished product:

  - the designer. PERIOD. end of story! Artistic talent in this design based field is 

  the fueling ability to create magic on your wedding day. Then, there’s technical

  event floral design skills. Take two different painters, Van Gogh and Picasso — 

  they both use oil paint, the same type of canvas, but then end product looks 

  completely different. It’s all about how the designer gathers the materials, 

  arranges the materials, and the way they place the flowers together with their 

  artistic talent and technical design skills.

   - Is the florist you chose a factory florist? If they put out many wedding (3+) in 

  one weekend, how  do they plan to be involved in the end hands-on design 

  work of your bouquets, etc.?

   - the grower that provides the flowers and what quality they are (different

   growers have different quality levels, even for the same type of flowers), the 

   wholesaler that stores them and their preservation process.    

   - how the floral designer preps, stores, preserves your flowers from the time 

   they arrive at their store, cutting them, storing them in the proper temperatures

   (orchids need different temperature air than many other flowers, some florists 

   don't follow this!), designing them, delivery, to the time you walk down the 

   aisle with them (or the reception...:-) ) Recently I saw the work of another florist on

   a local photographers wedding blog, and the flowers were wilting…they didn’t properly

   take care of the flowers on the day of the wedding and didn’t help the bride understand

   that those particular flowers wouldn’t hold up in warm weather. The result was wilting

   flowers in all her bridal photos. If she had gone with an experienced wedding florist, this

  would not have happened, it was a complete waste of money for her bridal bouquets! An  

  experienced wedding florist knows there are other options other than putting a bouquet 

  in water that will hydrate a bouquet so well you don’t need to put it in water at all day! 

   Many other small factors play into it, but these are the main points that affect

   the look of your flowers! 

  

   Post questions or comments below!