Need advice for talking to florists...?

My wedding is in February, and I'm having a really hard time finding an available florist. Most of them have a one-wedding-per-weekend policy. This is really frustrating because I don't need them to provide full-service for my wedding. I only need: one small bridal boquet, one groom's boutonniere, one or two corsages, and two tall skinny arrangements for the ceremony. (My mom and her best friend have generously offered to drive down a couple of days early and help my friend and me make all the centerpieces for the reception.)



I know that a florist can make an arrangement or two with only a couple of days notice. They do this all the time for dinner parties, business luncheons, and funerals. I think that they hear the word 'wedding' and assume 'full service'.



Should I just ask for the two arrangements and not tell the florist that the arrangements are for a wedding? Should I get the bouquet/boutonniere from a different florist than the arrangements? ...help? :-)

Need advice for talking to florists...?
i am a florist



i understand their policy, but you need to explain the scope of work you need done, it doesn't sound like a lot



also offer to pick up your flowers, that will free them up for the wedding they have to service
Reply:I'm planning mine and the best thing i have learned is be honest and don't be pushed into anything you don't want stand your ground

yes pretty much most florists only do one a day as it can take a while if it's big but just have a meeting tell them your happy for someone to pick up this will help you but just explain you don't want a lot also take pic/photos in and show them what you want as this will help you show your not asking for a lot



good luck for feb hope it works out
Reply:Tell them it;s for a wedding, but make sure they know it's not full servie. Then list off what you need. If they say they are unavailable. Ask them if they know of anyone who could help you. Many times they'll give you a name of another florist or someone else. Then call that person. So on and So on til someone says thay can do it. Referals are the best way to go. You might start your conversaiton by saying.:





Hello, my name is ____________ and i'm getting married on ______, I need a couple of corsagers, and a few boquets, and 2 small arangments. Is this something you can help me with?



(Wait for response)

~~If they say no, ask the follwoing~~



Can you recommend anyone else that I may call?











Good luck and congrats!
Reply:My husband and I were looking for a really cheap place to get flowers and we saw an advertisement in a window at a Mexican store. We went in to talk to her just to see how much she would charge since every where else was REALLY expensive. We only wanted 16 boutonnieres, 3 bridesmaid bouquets, bridal bouquet, 3 table decorations for bridal party table, and 2 small arrangements for the church. All of that came up to 250 and we only gave her a couple of weeks notice. I was real nervous on how it was going to turn out, but I was ecstatic to find out that they were EXACTLY what I wanted!!!! You could always try going to one of those stores. Hope I helped and Good Luck!!!!!
Reply:Although this may sound cheesy at first, at least check it out...Kroger's floral department. I purchased my flowers from them. I carried long-stemmed calla lilies and my bridesmaids carried bouquets of white flowers and I had a bouquet of daisies to toss. My sister-in-law wrapped the stems of the calla lilies in white ribbon which was very elegant looking. he bridesmaid stems were wrapped in white ribbon, too.



My sister purchased some of her flowers at Kroger and got all of her rose petals there...cheap.



Hope this helps!
Reply:I think that considering what you want that any florist should be able to accomodate you. Don't even say wedding, just go in knowing what you want and place the order and when you or someone else will pick them up. Likely they only do one wedding because others are ordering hundreds and hundreds of $$ of flowers that have to be delivered and probably takes a couple of them to go and set everything up. There is no reason that they can't have everything done and ready to be picked up. They probably just don't want to have to deliver them if they are already booked for a wedding.
Reply:try a smaller shop...... when you deal with the bigger shops they tend to get out of hand quick can even try the food store sometimes the larger chains have florists in the store. if worse come to worse just get yourself some beautiful roses and some lovely ribbon (figure one roll for each bouquet) arrange roses in an elongated bouquet and then taking the ribbon start from the bottom and wrap up the stems take some nice pearl topped straight pins and secure the ribbon as far as flower arrangements for the altar go see if you can get some nice plants from home depot or lowes colored foil from the craft store and wrap the pots in the color to match your flowers.... everything is do able for mr. wonderful (haha) just give him a rose in his lapel good luck and if you need more advice my name is gidget and i've had my shop for 15 yrs in new jersey