Florist help!

Hi!!

I'm trying to find a florist at the moment & just wondered how everyone chose theirs?

Were there specific things you asked/looked for besides the price?  Did you get to look at portfolio's etc? 

TIA! xx

Hi BonnieLass

I'm also looking for a florist at the moment and have narrowed it down to 2. I met one of them at a wedding fair and the other was recommended to me by a Hitcher! For both of them I have had an initial consultation, seen a good few portfolios, described to them the kind of thing I am looking for and have narrowed it down to a sort of ballpark quote figure, on the understanding that we can tweak things if it doesn't quite meet our budget.

For us, price is certainly important as we're spending a fair bit on our venue so can't be too extravagant on other areas. So I need a florist that can work within that. But what's also important to me is having a florist who knows my venue well and what works there, and who will be helpful in meeting the sort of look I want but within my price range too - as before I got engaged I obviously was completely clueless about wedding decor or flowers etc!

Hope that helps a bit but not sure if it will!

I am a florist based in the Esex area, although I do other areas as well. I do always advise Brides to have a free no obligation consultation and then they can have a look through my portfolio and discuss possible flowers for there wedding in full  detail.

I dont require a deposit when booking leaving you time to save and prepare for your big day.

All flowers are delivered and set up free of charge on the day.

I also offer a free venue visit to look at the set up of the day. Another option is to see some free stem samples when you have one of your dress fittings.

I believe the flowers are a personal choice and should be carefuklly planned tkaing into account your theme, colour scheme and also your budget.

If you need any more help or advice let me know

Happy wedding planning.

Thank you both for your replies! 

Stazzle, you made some really good points.  It's good to know what to expect & what I can ask for.

Roseblossomka - I wish I was closer so I could come & see you (I'm in N.Ireland).  I know which flowers I would really like, but I'm finding it hard to visualise what way they could be done for the wedding.  Going for Irises (deep purple with the blue tinge) & bright yellow roses.

Thank you again!! xx

i decided to stay very local, and just go to the ones on my high street.

At the time i had a teensy tiny flower budget, so i chose depending on their reaction to my budget!

The llok of horror on some of their faces was brilliant, so i struck them straight off my list. Then 1 florist gave me a huge smile, told me budget wasnt an issue and that i could have stunning flowers for the money - so long as i didnt want particular blooms.

They have been fab, and as it happens my budget at least doubled for flowers, so they are getting a better deal anyway.

I did look at their portfolio, and popped in last week to check when i needed to pay the balance and they were just so nice. I asked a few questions starting with  'do you....' can you'... could you'..... and the answer was yes to everything, even before i had finished asking. They said they would and could do whatever i wanted however i wanted. Including delivery to 3 different places on the morning of the wedding for free.

so, thats how i chose!

chicken82:

i decided to stay very local, and just go to the ones on my high street.

At the time i had a teensy tiny flower budget, so i chose depending on their reaction to my budget!

The llok of horror on some of their faces was brilliant, so i struck them straight off my list. Then 1 florist gave me a huge smile, told me budget wasnt an issue and that i could have stunning flowers for the money - so long as i didnt want particular blooms.

They have been fab, and as it happens my budget at least doubled for flowers, so they are getting a better deal anyway.

I did look at their portfolio, and popped in last week to check when i needed to pay the balance and they were just so nice. I asked a few questions starting with  'do you....' can you'... could you'..... and the answer was yes to everything, even before i had finished asking. They said they would and could do whatever i wanted however i wanted. Including delivery to 3 different places on the morning of the wedding for free.

so, thats how i chose!

 

Hi Lucy, that was such a good way of doing it!  I hate to feel like I should be spending more on any item, so someone who will work with just about anything is great. 

To be honest, I'm not even sure how much we're putting aside for the flowers because I've no idea of costs etc - whats good & whats bad value!  I'm hoping that going around a few I'll get a better idea & since I know what flowers I want, I can maybe be told what they can then do with them & for how much.  xx

I used to work for a florist so thought I might be able to help give you an idea of the cost.

Irises are generally quite cheap as they are sold in bunches and are still just about in season for your wedding.  They should be up to £4 for 5 stems. Yellow roses should be ~ £2 a stem. So a table center of 5 roses, 10 irises, foliage and other materials should be about £25, a boquet of mainly roses ~ £40, button holes up to £5 and a large display ~ £50 (depending on size). Hope this helps, also cost varies regionally alot due to overheads.

I would say your prices her are VERY modest although some of the types of flowers cost less than others she could have its the making up etc - you generally pay for the time everything takes as well as the flowers.

I would suggest you go in to the florist with your budget as others have said and get them to maximise the money you have.

You can consider using a large arrangement for the church/ venue opposed to little ones - the large arrangement would give much more impact than a few smaller ones...instead use ribbons/bows for pew ends. Having more foliage to bulk out the arrangements helos keeps costs down (as you have striking colours this would work really well) A good florist will work with you and suggest money saving ideas anyway xx

HTH

This is my florist, I have her booked already so you might as well try her and get a quote and take it from there, she is in Hillsborough http://www.fionaharveyflowers.co.uk/home.html

My mum and I went up to her house where she has her own studio and we talked about my ideas and looked at some of her portfolio's, she was really nice.

MrsFinn:

I used to work for a florist so thought I might be able to help give you an idea of the cost.

Irises are generally quite cheap as they are sold in bunches and are still just about in season for your wedding.  They should be up to £4 for 5 stems. Yellow roses should be ~ £2 a stem. So a table center of 5 roses, 10 irises, foliage and other materials should be about £25, a boquet of mainly roses ~ £40, button holes up to £5 and a large display ~ £50 (depending on size). Hope this helps, also cost varies regionally alot due to overheads.

Hi Mrs Finn,  thank you very much, this definately has given me a better idea of what to expect   x

passionweddingflowers:

You can consider using a large arrangement for the church/ venue opposed to little ones - the large arrangement would give much more impact than a few smaller ones...instead use ribbons/bows for pew ends. Having more foliage to bulk out the arrangements helos keeps costs down (as you have striking colours this would work really well)

Hi Nicki, thank you for your reply!  I totally agree about the larger arrangement. I had thought about not having anything on the pew ends, but thats a great idea about bows/ ribbons instead!  xx

debs1701:

This is my florist, I have her booked already so you might as well try her and get a quote and take it from there, she is in Hillsborough http://www.fionaharveyflowers.co.uk/home.html

My mum and I went up to her house where she has her own studio and we talked about my ideas and looked at some of her portfolio's, she was really nice.

Hi Debs - Thanks for this!  I will definately have a look.  I would ideally need someone closer to Fermanagh, because we're having the wedding there, but I'll see if she travels etc. x