Flower lady - VENT - SORRY SO LONG...PLEASE READ

kcc76

I will try to make this short.  I have a family friend that is willing to do my flowers.  I spoke to her the end of last year than again in May.  In May she showed me the flowers she did for her Pasters wedding.  They were beautiful.  She stated she would call me when that was over.  This was on a Wednesday and the wedding was the following Saturday.  I didn't hear from her .  I called her August 19th and email her info to give me a quote. I told her I wanted a quote using real flowers and a quote using artificial, but no matter what I wanted my bouquet to be real flowers.  She stated she hadn't called me because her contacts were erased from her phone and didn't have my mothers number. Now she knows people that know my family and my mother so she could have gotten her number.  Anyway....two days later I tell her that I really needed a quote and I was speaking to other vendors.  She stated she would get back to me in 2 day, but she got back to me in 3 days instead.  The quote by email: 7 Bouquets, 6 boutonniere 4 corsages, 2 large (arrangements) and I was given the quote of $800. I called her and left her a message asking what the quote consist of real or artificial.  Six days later she called me back stating she had been busy.  She would have to add some artificial flower to the real to make it look like something.  I told her the quote was kind of high and I was looking into other options.  She told me she would work with my budget and she would go to the store this weekend (labor day weekend) to price real roses and if I could meet her at Michael's on Tuesday  at 7 to price materials...ect.  She told me to call her at 6 to remind her.  I got off from work at 4 and went to my aunts house to wait around until it was time to meet her.  A little after six I call the lady and ask are we still meeting at 7 and she said she was going to call me when she got a break and if we could meet another day.  I said ok.  She now wants to meet next Tuesday.  She stated she was waiting for someone to call her back with the price of real roses and she would let me know. She was at Michael's this weekend because she is doing another wedding and didn't see to many artificial ivory roses.  I said ok.  Then she proceeds to say you stated you wanted real flowers.  I am like OMG!! (to my self).  She stated she would call me when she got the price of the real roses.  We hung up.  I am so fed up with it all.  My aunt and mother thinks we could do the flowers ourself. FI wants bouts for him and grooms  to be real flowers so we do real flowers for the bouts, real flowers for bride bouquet and artificial for the rest.  I am so over it all.  Just give me a quote what is all this back and forth for??? I am sorry this was so long and crazy!!! OMG....OMG....I have 59 day!! I don't want to continue worrying about flowers! 

CreoleBride30

I would personally move on. I had this same issue with my flower person...he does an immaculate job, but never returned any of my calls. He was always going to get back with me. So, I moved on. That worries me too much. I think it was because I wasn't a high-end dollar money making ticket for him so I was pushed off to the side. If you do decide to do real flowers yourself (there are tons of instructions online/youtube), maybe you can try Sam's Wholesale. I hear many great things about them, but have never used them myself. Read the reviews. Also, try your local chain supermarket that sells real flowers. I've also heard of great reviews by doing this as well. You just have to know what you are doing with the flowers. And be prepared to have those big 5 gallon buckets to put the flowers in water. 

Cha

kcc76

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_flower-lady-vent-sorry-so-longplease-read?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:35b989cc-9f0f-4d89-a7c3-84e8113fe447Post:09fcb3d2-e9b7-4249-8d18-f83120af1d37">Re: Flower lady - VENT - SORRY SO LONG...PLEASE READ</a>:
[QUOTE]I would personally move on. I had this same issue with my flower person...he does an immaculate job, but never returned any of my calls. He was always going to get back with me. So, I moved on. That worries me too much.<strong><font color="#800000"> <u>I think it was because I wasn't a high-end dollar money making ticket for him so I was pushed off to the side</u>.</font></strong> If you do decide to do real flowers yourself (there are tons of instructions online/youtube), maybe you can try Sam's Wholesale. I hear many great things about them, but have never used them myself. Read the reviews. Also, try your local chain supermarket that sells real flowers. I've also heard of great reviews by doing this as well. You just have to know what you are doing with the flowers. And be prepared to have those big 5 gallon buckets to put the flowers in water.  Cha
Posted by CreoleBride30[/QUOTE]

I think this is the case with me too! She is in the process of doing another wedding.  I don't want to spend a ton on flowers so that's why I am not using them for my centerpieces.  I know she made a pretty penny on her pasters wedding.  My mother told me she thinks the problem is that she is concentrating on someone elses wedding and wouldn't I want her to do the same for mine. I said YES, but she knew about my wedding before she knew about the one she is in the process of doing now and I just want a damn quote with details of what it included. I am already in the process of moving on. I know someone else that will be making me some mock ups next week to show me. I feel better about things now.

footballwife77

$800 sounds a bit pricey for what you were asking for. I'd go to the grocery store this weekend, get you a $10 bouquet and see what you can do. If it's not doable, then explore other options such as florists. Otherwise. Micheals has an artificial floral design center. You pick out the items you want and they make it all pretty for you. I just saw the sign, Mrs.Boss went that route so you'll have to talk to her about how she liked her flowers.

keyaira04

Agree with pp to move on and try to do some mock up this weekend yourself. If not or if you don't want to dyi, maybe look into asking your or a family members church hospitality ministry who does there arrangements. If not, look into some local small business florists. A few supermarkets do the simple boutonnière and corsages for $7-10 each, so check them out.

M1ssJ

It was pricey. you can 100% do the bouts yourself. You could also get them from Costco or Sams

nursing2u

I totally agree with everyone else. I understand being busy with the other weddings..BUT.. you have to be accountable for what you say. She had told you sooo many times what she WILL DO.. and continues to NOT do it.. 59 DAYS... thats close.. and if you can find someone that will do what they say and it takes this un necessary stress and drama away...I say MOVE ON....imo

MrsSmith2Be02

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_flower-lady-vent-sorry-so-longplease-read?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:35b989cc-9f0f-4d89-a7c3-84e8113fe447Post:dc36d2b8-e3f8-495a-b0df-8292b251edab">Flower lady - VENT - SORRY SO LONG...PLEASE READ</a>:
[QUOTE]I will try to make this short.  I have a family friend that is willing to do my flowers.  I spoke to her the end of last year than again in May.  In May she showed me the flowers she did for her Pasters wedding.  They were beautiful.  She stated she would call me when that was over.  This was on a Wednesday and the wedding was the following Saturday.  I didn't hear from her .  I called her August 19th and email her info to give me a quote. I told her I wanted a quote using real flowers and a quote using artificial, but no matter what I wanted my bouquet to be real flowers.  She stated she hadn't called me because her contacts were erased from her phone and didn't have my mothers number. Now she knows people that know my family and my mother so she could have gotten her number.  Anyway....two days later I tell her that I really needed a quote and I was speaking to other vendors.  She stated she would get back to me in 2 day, but she got back to me in 3 days instead.  The quote by email: 7 Bouquets, 6 boutonniere 4 corsages, 2 large (arrangements) and I was given the quote of $800. I called her and left her a message asking what the quote consist of real or artificial.  Six days later she called me back stating she had been busy.  She would have to add some artificial flower to the real to make it look like something.  I told her the quote was kind of high and I was looking into other options.  She told me she would work with my budget and she would go to the store this weekend (labor day weekend) to price real roses and if I could meet her at Michael's on Tuesday  at 7 to price materials...ect.  She told me to call her at 6 to remind her.  I got off from work at 4 and went to my aunts house to wait around until it was time to meet her.  A little after six I call the lady and ask are we still meeting at 7 and she said she was going to call me when she got a break and if we could meet another day.  I said ok.  She now wants to meet next Tuesday.  She stated she was waiting for someone to call her back with the price of real roses and she would let me know. She was at Michael's this weekend because she is doing another wedding and didn't see to many artificial ivory roses.  I said ok.  Then she proceeds to say you stated you wanted real flowers.  I am like OMG!! (to my self).  She stated she would call me when she got the price of the real roses.  We hung up.  I am so fed up with it all.  My aunt and mother thinks we could do the flowers ourself. FI wants bouts for him and grooms  to be real flowers so we do real flowers for the bouts, real flowers for bride bouquet and artificial for the rest.  I am so over it all.  Just give me a quote what is all this back and forth for??? I am sorry this was so long and crazy!!! OMG....OMG....I have 59 day!! I don't want to continue worrying about flowers! 
Posted by kcc76[/QUOTE]


Poor Baby! Don't stress. Yes you have 59 days and your TK sistas are gonna help! Check out Costco, Sams, and Fiftyflowers.com. They all have pre-made wedding boxes for like $200 in whatever color you want with real flowers. ALSO, Whole Foods (if you have one in your area) will do arrangements as well. Is she a "floral designer" or just someone who has been playing around with flowers? Any real designer knows NOT to go to Michaels (unless that is all that is around) because they are HIGH for no reason. With the internet, she could have been priced the flowers buying wholesale and then purchased ribbon from a wholesaler as well. I'm sorry. Let me know if you need some help with ideas. I was going to have my aunt do my flowers, but decided against it because I didn't want my fam working the day of.

MrsSmith2Be02

Also - $800 for what you are asking for is RIDICULOUS!

I have:
1 Brides Bouquet
6 Bridesmaids Bouquets
14 Boutennires
3 corsages and the price for the personal flowers (all reall) was around $700.

kcc76

Thanks ladies! You all are telling me things that I know is so true. I will have to walk away from this lady. She's not a floral designer she just does flowers on the side. I have checked with Sams Club and will do some research this weekend. FI is HOT and told me not to call her anymore. I know someone else that said they could do some mock ups for me next week to see if I like them. I will keep you all updated.

kcc76

In Response to Re:Flower lady VENT SORRY SO LONG...PLEASE READ:[QUOTE]Also 800 for what you are asking for is RIDICULOUS! I have: 1 Brides Bouquet6 Bridesmaids Bouquets14 Boutennires3 corsages and the price for the personal flowers all reall was around 700. Posted by MrsSmith2Be02[/QUOTE]

Yeah I figured. :