African American Weddings

Why didn't anyone tell me....

Here goes... I went back home  this weekend 1) to take care of some family stuff, and 2) to speak with a local florist. The florist was very nice and very helpful. That's not my issue. My issue is (1) flowers are crazy, crazy expensive  I did not know.. Please tell me if this is a good price or not. The florist is going to provide:bride bouquet (different shades of roses)9 bridal party bouquets (diff shades of roses)14 boutonnieres (groom, best men, groomsmen, uchers, FI dad, and my brother)4 corsages3 large sandstone urines total + tax = 746.33 balance.Is this too much? Or am I trippin?  I really need honest opinions..Thanks,Crystal

Re: Why didn't anyone tell me....

  • edited December 2011
    this is exactly why I DIY'd silk flowers!
  • edited December 2011
    miss2mrscj posted this a few days back for budget brides: http://www.proflowers.com/default.aspx?r ef=1800PFweb Compare your prices with theirs. Also what is your motif and when are you getting married? Sometimes flowers that are not in season are way more expensive. Are your flowers out of season? I really had my heart set on fuschia peonies but I am getting married in Sept. and they are out of season then and mad expensive. So I am opting for fuschia roses instead which are a year round bloom and will give the same effect.
  • edited December 2011
    I'd recommend DIYing the BM Bouquets and whatever else you can.  That would save you a ton.  That's what I'm doing.  I remember posting about this once.  One quote I actually got was for 6 grand!  Needless to say I never called that place back.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • ak1226ak1226 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Is there a major city near your wedding site? If there is, try to DIY, but my flowers( that I priced) are a little more than yours, so that is not bad at all. If there is a major city, see if they have a floral distirict and try getting your flowers from there. If it makes you feel any better, I priced mines in Los Angeles and that was considered cheap.
  • edited December 2011
    mycicybride,supposedly the flowers that I have chosen are in season. I chose Roses..MrsW2000,DIYing,I was thinking about doing this but my family insist that it would be easier to do it thru the florist that way I have nothing to worry about the day of.ak1226,Major city,The Tallahassee, Florida is the closets major city and I wouldn't consider this a major city.. That's just me..I have to think of something because this way is really blowing my budget to pieces...
  • ak1226ak1226 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Do you have to have fresh flowers? Michael's alays has a great sale on artifical flowers and they look great. You can also have the flowers that you want, rather they are in season or not.
  • edited December 2011
    Unfortunately, it sound like it is coming down to time vs. money. Could you consider hosting a DIY floral event the night before the wedding? And have your BMs host it? Ask friends and even AAW knotties in your area to come and help you get it done. I recently went to one of these to put invitations together for a RDU knottie that I barely even knew. People showed up and she got her entire 200 invites done that one evening. Of course everything was pre-cut, etc. She did a demo and an assembly line was set up and we got it done. Just an idea. HTH
  • edited December 2011
    ak1226,To save I am thinking I will have fresh flowers for my bouquet and the Groom flower and everyone else have silk flowers. My family is trying to say that to do artifical flowers are just as expensive as fresh flowers about time you buy all the necessary items??
  • edited December 2011
    mycicybride,That would something to consider if I was getting married in the Atlanta area. I am getting married 3.5 hours away. I guess that's my family is worried about me DIYing stuff.. I live in Atlanta, I'm getting married in Thomasville, Ga and moving to Nashville, TN after the wedding. Right now, Im between all 3 cities...
  • ak1226ak1226 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am super allergic to everything, so I have no choice but to switch to silk flowers and I am shopping around. That is going to be your big issue if you want silks or any type of ariticial, just shop around.
  • edited December 2011
    If you do go with the real flowers can you try to cut costs elsewhere to make up the difference so at the end you have a balanced budget?
  • edited December 2011
    Flowers cost.... like ridiculous amounts of money.... I was also shocked.
  • edited December 2011
    mycicybride, I was thinking about cutting down on the reception decor to help balance the budget.. The reception site actual provides centerpieces in the package I have chosen. I am going to talk with the owner this week and find out if she can be done..
  • edited December 2011
    OK....I was hoping there was still a way you could get your flowers without breaking the bank. If you could cut a lil on decor then that's good.
  • edited December 2011
    BTW...Where did you find the earrings on your blog? Beautiful....
  • 1csdavis1csdavis member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My flowers were $825.  I'm in the Baton Rouge, LA area so I'm not sure if that had something to do with it.  I was pleased with my budget after my future SIL said she paid $1200 for her flowers.  All together we are getting1 bridal bouquet (ranunculus, roses, daisies, etc)8 BM bouquets (2 junior brides) 1 miniature bride bouquet15 boutonnieres (groom, 8 GM, 2 ushers, 3 dads, pastor)9 corsages (2 mothers, 2 grandmothers, godmother, 4 hostesses)10 table centerpieces (same flowers as bouquets)To save on delivery costs my coordinator is pickingup the flowers and she is also using her own eiffel towers for the centerpieces.Depending on your area that price may be exactly right.  I wanted fresh flowers so I made my budget work around it.
  • edited December 2011
    mycicybride,I got the ear rings from www.greatdaybridal.com..Thanks,clross01
  • edited December 2011
    1csdavis,That sounds pretty good.. My flowers are only for the ceremony.. I probably could use the bouquets as flower decor at the reception as well.. That is a thought..
  • edited December 2011
    Girl your trippin....I got much less for more money. I would be ecstatic if I was paying what you paid...smh
    Expecting our 16 year Dating Anniversary baby on 11/11/11! BabyFetus Ticker
  • edited December 2011
    HisWifey82,What type of flowers did you use? Did you use them ceremony and reception? Or just the ceremony?
  • edited December 2011
    I paid $150 for my bouquet, $45 x 8 for each BM bouquet and $3 x 9 bouts, I am not sure what are sandstone urines.
    Mr. and Mrs. Jones est. 10/18/2008
  • edited December 2011
     Mrs.JKforever,Thanks for bringing that to attention.. Its Urns..  The florist will rent to me 3 columns with urns on top of them for $120.
  • edited December 2011
    Hello all,I apologize if I offended anyone with my mis-spelling. Its URNS not urines... Oops my bad..Clross01
  • braxtongirlbraxtongirl member
    Eighth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I live in the DMV area and flowers are ridiculous. I am paying $175 for my bouquet (roses and calla lilies) and $35 for bridesmaids (7), $10 for 16, $16 for 10 corsages/wristlets, and $270 for 2 ceremony arrangements. That is $1010 and we haven't talked about ceremony arrangements.
  • edited December 2011
    Flowers are definitely expensive. The price you were quoted is actually really good for all you are getting. I'm definitely a little jealous.
  • aquarius125aquarius125 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Your price is very good. I would just do a cost analysis both ways. Florist vs DIY. One suggestion: if you go with silk for the maids and moms then DIY and just pay for the florist to do fresh. GL
  • edited December 2011
    I am doing roses and for $1500 I got: my bouquet, 3 BM bouquets, 5 boutinneire (sp?), 2 corsgaes for the mothers, two alter deocrations, 32 roses for the DIY (submerged roses I am doing for centerpieces) and the aisle lined with rose petals....Flowers are expensive, girl I am definitely feeling your pain :)
    Expecting our 16 year Dating Anniversary baby on 11/11/11! BabyFetus Ticker
  • edited December 2011
    Ok, that sounds right. Here was the break down of mine, and I used a serious budget florist: Style of Bouquet: beautiful hand tied cluster design composed of Garden roses (ivory) and peonies (blush pink).  Stems wrapped in Ivory bridal satin with pearl pin accents (see picture for design) $165 Ivory feathers will surround the base of the bouquet.  Toss Bouquet         FREEBridesmaidsStyle of Bouquets: smaller hand tied cluster design composed of blush pink garden roses, sweet peas (or freesia) and ranunculus (if available) all in blush Pink.  Stems wrapped in blush pink satin with pearl pin accents @ $65          $325 ©Corsages: 6 Dendrobium orchids (blush pink) @ $18     $108 ©Boutonnieres: 12 Pink freesia or pink dendrobium orchid blossoms @ $8   $96
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