- how much should I expect to pay per table?
- I had one florist quote me at ~$65 for 3 vases. This seems awfully high for a centerpiece that uses a minimal amount of flowers...
Lets talk about it!!
The type of orchid can definitely change the price. Cymbidium orchids tend to be on the expensive side. Maybe ask the florist if there are other orchids similar in color and shape for less. $65 sounds like a lot considering all the florist has to do is providing the orchids and assemble them.
Cymbidiums ARE expensive! $65 is the retail value of the flower stem itself (there are 8-10 blooms on each stem), without the florist doing anything. Remember, when you are paying for a centerpiece, you are paying for the florist's skill (we went to school to learn floral art), we have over head (cost of our showroom rent, insurance, workers, electricity, advertising). Before your wedding day, we have spent hours usually working on your estimate (we have to make 'recipes" to figure out how many flowers are in each centerpiece, times the number of centerpieces, to know how many bunches/boxes to buy), we have to order your flowers (many times from different sources), when the flowers come in, we 'process' your flowers (we inspect them to make sure they are fresh, they re-hydrate them, sometimes we have to force them to bloom, we clean them of foliage, dethorn each rose etc.). Then we spend many many hours assembling all of your flowers. We have to pay for our refrigerated coolers to keep your flowers fresh. Then on your wedding day, we have to load everything into the vehicles, pay helpers, continue arranging and fixing when we get in to the venue (putting sprays on arbors, cakes, fixing things, handing out personal flowers etc.) Sometimes on very tight schedule if there is a wedding before you or venue only gives us 2 hours for setting up!
The labor on submerged orchids? Cleaning and preparing the vases. Weighting the flower. Filling with rocks. At the venue we have to find a sink somewhere to fill up a watering can to get the water in the vases; get the vases to the table, get them on the table without messing up the dishes and silverware, as they heavy and messy filled with water; cleaning up; lighting candles. Hanging around or coming back to pick up the glassware (most of the time around 12AM!); prepping glassware and loading glassware into vehicle; bringing the glassware back to the showroom/studio; unloading; cleaning; putting away.
I just wanted you to be aware that there are other costs besides the cost of the stem, and that there is more work involved besides just setting out some glasses and candles. You are paying for labor and experience, AND the expensive orchids.
For less expensive orchids, with the orchid look, try dendrobium orchids. MUCH less expensive. If you want a certain color, get white ones and tint them with floral spray. Dendrobiums are about $3.50 per stem retail price, with multiple blooms on stem. You could put 3 dendrobium stems in a glass vase, you've go your orchids for a lot less money!
I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade here. I just want you to be aware of why some prices seem to be high, and to know that florists can work with you if you are willing to work with the. If you're on tight budget, it's understandable, you can do it yourself, but be aware of all of the time involved...will you have time to do all that listed above on your wedding day?!
Have a lovely wedding day ladies!!! :-)
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