Florist News

I have a wedding consultation on saturday for the date of 28th dec.

If i remember rightly my wholesalers didnt open till that date after xmas and i know for definate the flowers they were selling were the weeks befores stuff, because they told me.

Should i be honest with the bride and tell her about this problem or just string her along and hope she doesn't want anything too exotic hoping everything will be alright.

I'm imagining it will probably be something with red roses in (as its xmas), but not sure what state they will be in if i have to get them 23/24th and they have probably been at the wholesalers couple of days before that.

Someone has told me to price it expensive, so i don't get it, but i don't want to do that because it gives me a bad name then.

I can see it being a real pain, and i'm not gonna be able to relax over xmas worrying about what state the flowers will be in by the time of the wedding.

What would you say to her?

this is EXACTLY the reason we turn down weddings on this date. Be honest with her and tell her the situation, she can make a decision as to whether she wants to take the gamble with her flowers. Its stressful enough for you hoping that the flowers are going to make it til the day you need them, making sure you've kept behind just the right amount of flowers you'll need because there is no other way of getting anymore and if you do- they might be a different variety or different stage of opening, been there done that...don't need the hassle!!
Good luck though elouise,
Jo

My advice would be to call her and say that you have spoken to your supplier and that you're concerned that the flowers will not be fresh (explain about Christmas etc) and very politely but be firm say that as you have such a fantastic reputation for quality you feel you would be compromising your reputation if the flowers were not up to your usual standard and you have had to make the desision not to take any wedding orders for that week and wish her all the best.
There is plenty of money to be made at Christmas and if it means you spend your short break worried sick its really really not worth it, I don't take weddings for three weeks over Christmas even though I only close Christmas day and Boxing Day. In my first year in business I made the mistake of taking two weddings at M Day and one a couple of days before Christmas, never again! now I always tell people sorry i'm fuly booked for those dates.

i had a wedding for this date a couple of years ago, and i was honest about the condition of the flowers, and how expensive they would be, and the bride decided to go for silk flowers, she wanted deep red roses, and you can get some decent silk ones, i hate silk weddings but it really did look nice, and the best part was i could make them before xmas so i wasnt rushing about, its probably the worst time of the year to get flowers in good condition, i would just explain the situation and see what she wants to do, but explain the pros and cons of everything then she can make an informed choice, you dont want a bad rep because the flowers werent up to your usual standard

All three of us wrote those replys at the same time!

Thanks peeps.

Im gonna tell her the flower availability situation and say i will take the wedding but only if its silk, and she would have to collect it the week before xmas.

After my holiday closing post yesterday and you lot telling me to chill out, ive decided im gonna close for the whole week after xmas, im also going to sneak a week in june/july somewhere. there's no stopping me now!!!

You can get fresh flowers on the 28th as the auction is going on the 27th, so wholesalers or direct from Holland should have a delivery that morning.

Only thing is will you have time to prepare everything that same day, really depends on what time the wedding is and also think that the flowers will be tight as in not open.

My dutchman doesnt come over that week after xmas and i also spoke to my wholesalers last dec (they are probably one of the biggest in manchester) and they said no fresh flowers.
I'm not gonna risk it , it would be a complete nightmare trying to make them on that morning and also there might be a risk of some bits not turning up.

I think i would be inclined not to mention the supply availability concerns at all. I would just either be closed for the week or fully booked. Your bride will not understand the logistics and will probably assume you just can't cope with it. She will be out shopping that week and will see flowers all over the place and wonder why you couldn't get them. Bear in mind that whatever reason you give, it will be related to all her friends and aquaintences for the next 6 months.

i hate flippin wedding between xmas and new year- people are so inconsiderate

It comes down to whether you want the hassle or not just after xmas...I've done a few between xmas and new year (one on the 27th so had to work boxing day, which is double time for a start) and everything is VERY expensive.. I don't think you'll get a bad rep for telling her they are expensive..you'll find a lot of florists won't even entertain the idea of weddings at that time of year partly becasue they don't know how much to charge and partly because they don't know if they can get the flowers.

Like admin said, there should be fresh flowers about..but it's whether or not you can get them. who have you tried in manchester? some suppliers may be more helpful than others, your best supplier should want to help you out

Another thing to consider is just keeping your flowers in a cooler (or your suppliers)..if you get them fresh (tell them they have to be fresh) on the 24th it's only a couple of days till the 27th when you'll be making them up. Our roses came on the wed for valentines day and they were all delivered sat/sun the cooler kept them lovely and tight.

I think I would be tempted to get them before xmas and keep them in the cooler rather than risk something not turing up on the last minute

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Sarah Creating Bespoke Wedding Flowers Cheshire