Good florist for about $500-$700?

Ticosparents

Is that asking for too much?  I

crnota

That will be VERY difficult, honestly.

 My florals were $1500 and that was a very good quote for what I was looking for. I had quotes done by several knottie recommended florists.

We did have a few more bouquets/bouts, but the same number of centerpieces, and only 1 ceremony piece. You may very well be able to find something cheaper than what we paid (maybe Flower District?), but not for $500!

I had no idea how much flowers cost before I got into things, but they are pricy.

lala90

That sounds like how much it would cost to do it yourself.  My friend did her own flowers and I was a bridesmaid and helped. It took about 12 hours the day before the wedding and there were several people helping...it didn't look that good either. We spent about $700 at the flower mart. 

My florist is charging me about $2500.  I've seen  her work at another wedding and it was gorgeous.  After helping my friend out a few years back--I believe hiring a good florist is worth every penny.

CurlyGirlyGirl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_california-los-angeles_good-florist-500-700?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:68Discussion:1d79215b-58a0-4c00-9f14-84e712cb27e6Post:dfdb992c-f807-4f5d-85c2-173bada57c4c">Re: Good florist for about $500-$700?</a>:
[QUOTE]there were several people helping...it didn't look that good either. 
Posted by lala90[/QUOTE]
I certainly hope you didn't say that to your friend :(<div>I spent that much and DIY flowers from the flower mart.  IMO, they looked way better than any of the flowers I have seen the ladies post here on the knot because they were EXACTLY how I envisioned them to be.  </div><div>
</div><div>To the OP, it will be hard to find someone who will do them for that price, but you can also repurpose items such as altar arrangements for the head table.  Some people even use bm bouquets as centerpieces (don't know that I would personally go that route, but it's an option).  </div><div>
</div><div>Price will also be driven by the flowers you pick, and if they are in season.  Sometimes hydrangeas can be very expensive.</div>

xxquemirasxx

The only way I see you pulling in that price range is DIYing it. Flowers can be very expensive but like Lala said it can be worth every penny if you hire the right florist.

I decided to go with someone in the florist district to try the keep the cost down I CAN'T give you a review until about 6 wks and I'm keeping my fingers crossed this plan works. This is what I have:

-Bride Bouquet 

-Flower for hair 

-Grooms Boutinniere 

-Best Person Bouquet or BM 

-Mother (2) 

-Father (2) 

-Ring Bearer (1)

- Flower girl small pomanders (2) 

Ceremony 

-8 medium pomander balls for down the aisle 

-8 shepard hooks stands (renting) 

LOTS OF PETALS! 

Reception 

-4 tall (3feet) Manzanitas trees 

-4 low centerpieces 

MORE PETALS TABLES ETC.. 

These are the flowers we are using: 

Roses- black magic, black bacarra, and some red roses 

Calla Lilies-plum, 

Orchids-Plum, burgundy 

Hydrangeas- dark red, burgundy

The 1st quote was right under $1000 but I've added an arrangement for the gazebo and I tweaked certain things that brought the cost up.  

A knottie fav is Commerce Flowers maybe you should try getting a quote from them...have never heard any complaints 

GL in your search!

[Deleted User]

I would call Pierce College if your budget is that low.  They teach floral design.  If you are in great need of flowers, their floral designer who teaches classes sometimes asks for a church to decorate to teach her students the princiles of aisle decoration,  wouldn't it be a win-win situation if it was a real wedding for a couple in real need?!?

I DIYed my flowers and I took 4 floral design classes to pull it off. What I learned was flowers are a last minute thing.  If you want to save money, have a florist do only your centerpieces and reception decor and do your personal and cermony flowers youself(that's if you think you can afford the time)

Check with your local grocery store florist and with Home Depot(they sell flowers in LA).My reception flowers were a combination of Trader Joes and Home Depot Supplied flowers.  It wasn't the orignal design but it worked out well  because people could take the vases home.

That's another lesson I learned.  Yeah if you go visually over the top and go for the fansy centerpieces they look great, but guests are a lot more happy if they can take the flowers with them(at least that was the case with our guests). I am so glad I didn't go with my original design even though now I have those tall vases sitting in the basement.

We had at least half our tables walk out with the centerpiece.  It worked out fine because we ran out of time at the last  minute[I ran out of time and my coordinator didn't do her job right], and one of my bridesmaids stepped in and made them for me(she was awesojme), had the orignal design been pulled off guests wouldn't have been able to do that.

Sometimes planned simplicity is better than a pile of cash thrown around willy nilly.

As brides we are obsessed with flowers right now in our current lives, but most people that have moved on would be happy even if it was a potted mum plant or a bowl full of daisies.

nemi95

That's the DIY price. I'm getting my flowers downtown and taking a wedding floral class trough the city of long beach. The class is like $75 and about another $50 for supplies.... They are supposed to teach you everything!

You may be able to hire a florist downtown for the centerpieces and you can go your own boquets and boutineer's. Those are actually pretty easy. I made a couple of samples just by watching a how to off youtube. You just have to be careful to keep things even.  Good luck!

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I'm paying about $750 for just personal flowers, cake flowers and rose petals, so no, with CPs, you're looking at over $1,000, and for ceremony decorations it will likely be closer to $2,000 at the very least. And that's only for a very cheap florist.

If I were you, I'd consider doing non-floral CPs and/or skipping ceremony arrangements.