what to ask a potential florist

ddiner

Hi All!

I am starting a new post b/c while this is flower-related, its not specific to price (there's a price thread that was started yesterday)

Our wedding is next August and we want to start looking into florists and flowers.  The problem is, we dont exactly know where/how to start!  I dont mean where to find florists (you ladies and gents have been VERY helpful with recommendations on this board - thanks!!) Our problem is that we have no clue how a meeting with a florist should go!

We know how many centerpieces we need, how many wedding party bouquests we need, a huppah, etc.  I also theoretically also have a color scheme in mind, as well as a budget.

However, i have no idea how to START the conversation wtih a florist!  Am i supposed to go into a first meeting know what specific flowers i want, what the centerpiece should look like?  Because if so, i am seriously screwed.  I dont particularly have a vision yet, i just know what colors i like.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

cindyn9178

I would suggest googling images of flowers, and get some ideas for inspiration. Then, print all of them out and bring them with you.
Even if they aren't exactly what you want, if you can show the florist something to start with, that would be helpful. Otherwise, you will be entirely depending on how the florist understands what you are explaining, and they may not get it, without some kind of visual.

You can also bring pictures of what you DON'T like.. that will help give the florist an idea of what to stay away from. I did this and it was very helpful, and I felt 100%comfortable that my florist understood exactly what I wanted.

Bring your list of everything you need, what flowers/colors you think you want or like. I personally wouldn't tell them your budget off the bat. I let them give me a quote, and then asked for it cheaper, based on our budget.

I'd also ask for a breakdown of the approximate cost of each item (although It seems maybe all florists won't do this for you?) But this way, you can get an idea of what is costing you more, and possibly change those items around/eliminate something, etc.

dramaz

Insist on an itemized breakdown of every single thing. Many florists are resistant to do this, but if you are insistent they will do it because they want your business.

Florists vary so much in price, we were quoted anywhere from $500 to $1400 for the same exact flowers, ended up paying around $800. We told the florist exactly how much we were willing to spend per table on the centerpieces and asked them to work with our budget. And that worked wonderfully for us.

It's ok if you have no idea. I was very specific and most florists were impressed that I already knew exactly what I wanted, which I've been told that most people don't.

Good luck! If you don't sweat the small stuff everything has a way of working out.

carolbee

who did you use?

cindyn9178

Not sure which of us you are asking, but I used Apple Blossom Flowers in Scotch Plains.

dramaz

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_ask-potential-florist?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:6d854871-789b-457d-bc5b-3da2b3c65f07Post:50afa911-4429-498b-bab6-e32c4001384e">Re: what to ask a potential florist</a>:
[QUOTE]who did you use?
Posted by carolbee[/QUOTE]

Anne at Kuperus Farmside Gardens & Florist in Sussex

shoebie

I would ask a few things

Delivery Fee?

How long have they been in business?

Sample Pictures of past weddings?

Have they worked with your location(s)?

What flowers are in season at your wedding time? (major cost saver)

Do they provide optional items to be delvered and taken with flowers such as isle runner trellis etc?

When will your items be made? (You want this answer to be the morning of a few local places will try and make things the night before and they look just ok the next day)

If a bloom you have chosen is unavailble the week of when they order will she be able to get a similar price and bloom.

Ill be seeing my aunt tonight at dinner (a 30 year florist) ill ask her if there is anything else you should ask thats all i could think of off the top of my head. 

ddiner

thank you for all the advice and suggestions! 

and thanks shoebie420!  i would not have thought of half of those questions.  If your aunt has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

katetw

I second asking what they will do if a bloom doesn't work out the week of your wedding -- the ONLY THING I wanted was lilies-of-the-valley in my bouquet (just my bouquet, with other flowers, meaning the florist had free reign over everything, I just wanted that for family tradition reasons). On the wedding day, when I got my flowers (they arrived while I was out that morning, so I didn't see the florist), she had put FAKE flowers because apparently there were no lilies-of-the-valley available.

Sometimes stuff happens and flowers aren't available, but be sure you know how she'll handle it... I would have preferred to have no lilies rather than fake lilies, but I wasn't given that option, and I was really disappointed in how it looked.