Future MIL "Overwhelmed" By Flower Cost

crawford724

So, my wedding is in 2 weeks... As if I don't have enough on my plate, my future MIL got the bill for her part of the flowers (they offered to pay for flowers and rehearsal dinner). She told my fiance she was "very overwhelmed" at the cost of the flowers and what could we do to decrease the cost. I have told her from the beginning to get together with my mom and discuss budget and what she was willing to spend, BUT she never contacted my mom! Well, I'm kinda "PO'd" that she didn't say anything before now.

I know we should have had more communication from the beginning about budget, but we are a little to late for that now. My future MIL and I get along great and I don't want this to cause any hard feelings between her and I, or our families...I'm not sure what to do!?!?!

crawford724

A little more info - cost $800

1 bride bouquet
1 throw-away bouquet
4 groomsmen bout
1 usher bout
2 mom small bouquet
2 dad bout
3 grandmother corsages
3 grandfather bout

waltzingmatilda13

That sounds like a lot. Are you using out-of-season flowers? I had about the same number of flowers overall and we only paid $450.

Did you MIL give you a number that she was comfortable with before you made arrangements or just tell you to have at it? Can you go back and re-work the flowers to include something cheaper? I know our florist let us make changes up until the day before the wedding.

jagore08

Are you having any BM bouquets?  I just didn't see them in the above.

You should ask your FMIL what she's comfortable with and you and your FI should make up the difference.  If you didn't have a discussion about budget then you really can't be "PO'd" about the situation.  Yes, you told her to talk to your mom but you should have made sure the conversation was had before finalizing your flowers.

crawford724

I'm paying for my bridesmaid bouquets and finace's bout. We are using mango cala lilies and dahlias in my bouquet. And just the cala lilies in the bridesmaids. Hypernium berries for the bouts. Roses in the small bouquets.

I asked FMIL many times to talk about flowers, but this was just never worked out. And I told her if she ever had any questions, just to ask me or my mom. Yes, in retrospect we should have worked out a number with her. I will talk to the florist, hopefully we will be able to work something out.

suz62984

I've been getting ridiculous quotes from florists with the same flowers that you are using. Using my quotes, this would only cost me $540 at my max estimate. It does seem a little high for what you are getting but at 2 weeks out you are a little stuck.

I would offer to pay the difference of what she is comfortable with. Have your FI handle this. It is his mother.

Catwoman708

So the $800 is for 4 bouquets, 10 bouts, and 3 corsages.

Yeah, it's a little high unless you are using expensive flowers.  I would think one of you would have mentioned the cost of the flowers before now.   At 2 weeks to go, you've probably already signed a contract with the florist, nad she might have already placed the order for your flowers, so it's a little late to try to trim the cost now.  Probably easier for FMIL to trim the cost of the rehearsal dinner, lol. 

If it is possible to trim flower costs, maybe ask the florist for suggestions on cheaper flowers in the same colors and similar look, or just use plain simple carnations for all the bouts, corsages, and smaller simpler mother's bouquets.

Or tell FMIL to just contribute what she had budgeted and don't worry about it, you'll cover the rest. 

tldh

what kind of flowers are you using?  If they are inseason and not hard to get, this bill should be between $400-$450.

blondie82784

Give your FMIL my bill $3300.00 she'll have a heart attack with that one... Mine include centerpieces and church from another florist who is included in my package with out the centerpieces it came to just over $1000 so I don't think that's that bad

benmel31

that does seem like a lot, but you are using unique flowers.  

the only thing I can suggest is to ask her how much she is willing to give towards flowers and you pay the difference.  it is not worth starting a riff between you and your FMIL 2 weeks before the wedding.

crawford724

Thanks for all of your replies. My FMIL called me the other day to say that my FI should not have told me about this...she apologized, I apologized, and we've worked it out.

Kristin&eric

My mom is paying for everything and i just send her the prices, and we pick from that. But i guess its a little late in the game for that. I agree with what benmel says. Even though it is more money you have to fork up, atleast the realtionship will be saved,