Buying Wholesale FYI

cwcottage

I just wanted to share this info. I wanted to be able to buy my flowers as cheaply as possible and get the most bang for my buck. I looked at all the online websites and found some good prices.

We are lucky to have a local grower that supplies florals nationwide but they only sell to businesses. So I applied for a seller's permit from the board of equalization. It was free and took about 2 weeks to get. Now I will be able to buy my flowers through this grower unbelievable prices. My main flower will be Stargazer lilies. They are sold at the online websites for $3 to $4 a stem. The local grower sells them for .89 a stem! And they do ship as well.

I know this isn't an option for many but I just wanted to throw this out there in case it can help anyone.

stelhe

That is great advice!  I was going to order from an online seller but I hate the idea of having flowers shipped from South America. 

cwcottage

I have heard of many good experiance ordering online. I will be ordering my orchids online as this grower doesn't have them. But I know what you mean. I think the best outcome is with hardier types of flowers. Good luck!

tkalaurie

I am also afraid of having flowers shipped, but it's something I'm still considering.  Besides the obvious reasons of them not showing up on time or arriving dead or looking horrible, my wedding is also the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so I'm afraid the holiday could mess the shipping up.  If your wedding is on a Saturday, what day will your flowers arrive?  Do you know how long they last?  I've heard they will last a few days until you cut them.  I was thinking of doing my own bouquets and centerpieces and ordering the roses online for a cheaper price, but I am worried about getting them on Friday and getting those, along with the other time consuming decorations set up done in time.  The idea of silk flowers is appealing in the fact that I could get those done this summer and store them, but I haven't found any silk flowers that look that good.  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

sheelamarie408

I would love to do this and from Northern California as well. Could you provide more info on where you bought the flowers/what steps you took?

cwcottage

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_flowers_buying-wholesale-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:28Discussion:ea48e2ce-a8b9-4d8c-84b1-cac07c80caf8Post:c843762e-ffc2-46ae-b059-602dd8255ed1">Re: Buying Wholesale FYI</a>:
[QUOTE]I would love to do this and from Northern California as well. Could you provide more info on where you bought the flowers/what steps you took?
Posted by sheelamarie408[/QUOTE]

I haven't actually bought my flowers yet, just did some pricing. They won't give you prices unless you have a seller's permit.

What I did was went to this website, filled out the app. printed it out and sent it along with a copy of my driver's license to the address given. When asked what type of business I am starting I put floral arranging and consulting. When asked what I projected my sales to be I put something like $100 a month. They ask when you will start and I put a month after I mailed the app.

<a href="http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/boe400spa.pdf">http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/boe400spa.pdf</a>

The floral grower I am so fortunate to live close to is called Sun Valley Group. Here is their link:

<a href="http://www.thesunvalleygroup.com/svg/Company_PastnPresent.cfm">http://www.thesunvalleygroup.com/svg/Company_PastnPresent.cfm</a>

The location near me is in Arcata, CA. I'm only half an hour away so yay! I've had to buy 99% of everything for my wedding online or from the Bay Area but one of the most important things, the flowers, will be local. I am jazzed!

Hope this helps!

Midgetth

I have a wholesaler by me in NJ who does open to the public twice a week to the public free of charge. So I say it is a very good idea if you want to DIY flowers. It's a lot what  nicer to go there & see exactly you're getting. Just check out your local wholesaler

sheelamarie408

There is one in San Francisco that is open to the public on the weekends, but thats a good drive from me in Sacramento for 2 days before the wedding.

Thanks for the info, I am definitely going to be looking into this! If you end up getting prices and all that, please post back here and let me know if the prices were significantly better.

DRE2015

Recently engaged, very new at all this stuff...
Are you guys buying wholesale flowers b/c you're doing all your own arrangements or are you buying wholesale in addition to hiring a florist?

Lisa50

Okay, I'm with the process until I visualize loading up all those gorgeous flowers and taking them ... where??  to whom?

Will you have a florist put together bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces with the flowers you've purchased?  That's where I keep getting stuck.  Yikes!  Will a florist do that?  Will you do it all yourself?

Do tell!

sheelamarie408

I am having my sister in law and a few others arrange them. Yes, it will be a big job, but we are all pretty crafty and I have a lot of help and I think it will be fun. I expect to do it the day before the wedding, and start some things 2 days before.

flower_diva

be very careful ladies. You are verifiying that you are starting a business. You are dealing with the state government and the IRS. If you do not have a legitimate business this consitutes fraud. FYI

sheelamarie408

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_flowers_buying-wholesale-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:28Discussion:ea48e2ce-a8b9-4d8c-84b1-cac07c80caf8Post:8e235e3b-1e97-4492-9df8-b05e56f8c347">Re: Buying Wholesale FYI</a>:
[QUOTE]be very careful ladies. You are verifiying that you are starting a business. You are dealing with the state government and the IRS. If you do not have a legitimate business this consitutes fraud. FYI
Posted by flower_diva[/QUOTE]

after reading up on doing this, we decided not to because of this reason. the documents state you cant use it for personal reasons - it must be a business. it ends up being more work than its worth for us anyway, especially because places wont tell you their wholesale prices until you have a license.

stelhe

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_flowers_buying-wholesale-fyi?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:28Discussion:ea48e2ce-a8b9-4d8c-84b1-cac07c80caf8Post:b512aafb-9986-4c95-bf2a-fbd2330062a4">Re: Buying Wholesale FYI</a>:
[QUOTE]Okay, I'm with the process until I visualize loading up all those gorgeous flowers and taking them ... where??  to whom? Will you have a florist put together bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces with the flowers you've purchased?  That's where I keep getting stuck.  Yikes!  Will a florist do that?  Will you do it all yourself?
Posted by Lisa50[/QUOTE]

I am also having a friend help me arrange all the flowers myself.  It's a big job but also a big money saver if you think you'll have the time (or a couple of trustworthy friends with time).  Just keep in mind, if you do try to do your own flowers, to keep the arrangements simple.  We're doing tight bunches of carnations in simple white vases.  Easy but still a nice pop of color on each table.