Flower woes - help?

GracefulMeadow86 · March 2010

Hi ladies - we're on a tight budget for the flowers so ive been trying to check out a few spots lately.

I talked to Price chopper yesterday and they told me that 10 gerbera daisies in a vase in July would be $50 per centerpiece!!! i think thats totally insane - i thought the grocery stores were supposed to be LESS expensive!

I emailed Jane and Just for you and she's getting back to me about her availability, but do you ladies have any other suggestions? I really want flowers and i cannot make them myself as we're going to need like 25-30 centerpieces. we're having a large wedding but within a tight budget. i was thinking more HALF the price of what i was quoted for the flowers...

PS the receptions in New Britain.

Thanks so much!!!

akulaji · March 2010

I'm using Flore in Southbury. Lori is absolutely fabulous. She'll even teach you to DIY your flowers if you want. My point in telling you that is that she's very budget conscious and willing to try and give you the most for the money you can spend. You should definitely give her a call. She lists price guidelines on her website, but I think those are just guides. You want very simple centerpieces, so I would hope they'd come under the $50 range. For example, my bouquet came in around $125 for cymbidium orchids, roses, hydrangea, peonies, hypericum berries and greenery and I wanted a very full bouquet. http://www.flowersasmedicine.com/index.html

FYI, I think they would definitely deliver to New Britian too. That's still relatively close.

GracefulMeadow86 · March 2010

thank you i will absolutely check her out!

money saver · March 2010

i went to stop and shop and you know the flower arragement they have in the fridge they range from 10 bucks to 50
why dont you go there and pick out one that u might like and see if they can customize it for you a little bit.
personally i try to stay away from wedding talk with those places because i have a feeling they jack up the prices.
daisies are not that expensive they shouldnt cost you 50 bucks
maybe if you work somethin out like you buy the vases and all they do is put the flowers together.. maybe you can have someone pick them up the day before so that you dont get charged delivery fees. its all about negotiation...

GracefulMeadow86 · March 2010

hmm those are some good ideas, money saver. i see why youre a money saver!!

smore154 · March 2010

This is something I don't really like- but figured I'd suggest since you may be into it- but my cousin is getting married (lives in Ohio) in July and they are on a really tight budget. Her mother in law used to have a craft company (like things you'd see in sturbridge village- woodedn signs, wreaths, etc) and actually designed a centerpiece using fake flowers, lighted twigs/branches and limes. I haven't seen it in person, only pictures- but its an idea. They are obviously getting a discount on all this since she can buy these wholesale. I know sometimes fake flowers are just as much as real ones, but figured I'd throw it out there!

GracefulMeadow86 · March 2010

yeah i actually looked into this early on in the decision-making process. i ordered some samples of gerberas from a few different places and they all look sooooo fake. it would be a little less expensive per stem, but not worth it considering how plasticy fake they look. i was actually really disappointed.

starrbuk13 · March 2010

that does seem expensive!

i did gerbera daisies in august and it was far cheaper than that. granted they were bouquets, but they still had at least 10 flowers (and i think they had more...)

unfortunately, i don't know anyone up here that i can recommend. the only florist i've used in this area is Flowers West in West Hartford, and i thought they were overpriced. my wedding florist was down in shelton, unfortunately, although i did think they were well-priced...sorry i can't be of more help!

AngelaN611 · March 2010

I am using Always Bloomin in Plainville and was quoted a really good price for my peonies and garden roses. Theresa has been great to work with so far.

Also, this is just an idea but would it be cheaper for you to buy the vases yourself (at Christmas Tree Shop, Joann's, Costco or something like that) and just pay for the flowers?

Good luck!

akulaji · March 2010

Oh, one other thing... I'm DIYing my centerpieces, and was going to buy all my supplies myself, order flowers online, etc. For the heck of it, I asked Lori at Flore if she could match the prices I got online for vases, flowers, etc. and she did... PLUS, I'm not having to pay shipping for the items and I don't have to worry about refrigeration, etc. If there's anything wrong with the flowers, she'll handle it, etc. I actually got a better deal from her on vases rather than ordering online or buying in a store... especially for ordering online because the shipping ended up being so much that the vases were more expensive that way. I'm using 5" square vases, and they're not easy to find in stores.

So, if you're really just wanting gerber daisies in a vase w/ nothing else, she could order the supplies for you and teach you how to do your own arrangements. I did my mockup with her last week and she taught me everything I need to know to do my own. If I were you, I'd find online pricing for gerbers and take that quote to her and see if she can give you the same deal or better.

Blueyezz0530 · March 2010

I hope Jane is available for you...she is awesome...that is who I used!

chellah · March 2010

Check out Stylish Blookms. She is newer but, AMAZING! Her prices are very reasonable. She gets back right away too! GL!

http://www.stylishblooms.com

beach11 · March 2010

Unfortunately I can't help you with a florist, mine is in Southwick, MA, but I am doing gerberas, hydrangea & bear grass and my centerpieces are only $45 (for an Aug wedding). If I remember correctly without pulling my paperwork we will have 10-12 gerbera steams, 3 steams of hydrangea and the bear grass for each centerpiece.

steph555 · March 2010

Check out HGK Designs
She does some great work at great prices
www.hgkdesigns.com

chellelee · March 2010

i second stylishblooms.com, melissa is great and young and very understanding of budgets... i highly reccomend her work, and to stay away from "traditional florists" b/c they are less accomidating on budgets

good luck, go with melissa!!!

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