I blame myself really. The above pictures document the sample centerpiece I picked up from my florist the other day. I can’t blame her entirely. I only gave her about one day’s notice, needing them for my table mock-up at the hotel the very next day. I said that I realized some of the flowers would not be available, but I wanted to get an impression of color and size, at least.
I was not happy with them. I’m not saying they’re ugly. They are just NOT what I asked for.
First, I think weddings on television are spoiling us. I expected that all florists would offer to make complimentary centerpieces once they had been hired and given a deposit. Mine eventually agreed to, but upon first asking I was told this was not something they normally do. Is this only an added bonus for couples spending 10k+, a la Platinum Brides? We’re nowhere near that figure, but I don’t think $2000-$3000 is something to scoff at either…
Back to the sample flowers: 1. the color is all wrong. I want strong pinks/fuchsias and a touch of lime green and 2. the flowers are all wrong. I did not ask for any of the wild flowers, daisies, leafage, etc.
Now part of this, I assume, is that for a complimentary bouquet, florists will use cheaper filler flowers. I’m also guessing they don’t just have peonies sitting around in the back every day, but still…even rationalizing all of this, I was disappointed. The foliage alone makes me cringe: only greenery allowed is hypericum!
Although the bouquet below is not in the same height/proportions that I asked for, it was a picture I showed my florist for a sense of color and compactness:
But worse than disappointed, I’m worried. What if the flowers on my wedding day look like the sample one? At least I’m happy then that this happened, so that I can clarify for my florist what I want and do not want. I know it’s a bit Bridezilla of me and I’m hoping she doesn’t think that I don’t like their work, but I’m planning on a meeting where we can discuss all of this. I’m bringing this with me:
I also just saw this online and decided that I want limes in the vase instead of a hunter green leaf. I wonder: does anyone know how many limes I will need, if they would have to be pre-sliced for the florist or even if it’s bad for the flowers?
Although the flowers are pretty, I can see how you are concerned as they really aren’t anything like you asked for (judging from the sample pic). I think it is a great idea to go over what you are wanting in detail, however, I’m not sure I would show her the pic you took with “NO” written all over it…perhaps you can bring a picture and point out the things you don’t want. Sometimes I like to pretend I’m something of an artist (pottery, acrylics and watercolour) And I know I would be completely discouraged, and even heartbroken to see something with my work on it say “No, NO, all wrong”….
Having said that I think it is really important you get your point accross in hat you want…especially when you are paying so much!
JMHO!
Yikes, I don’t think you should be worried about hurting her feelings when she strayed SO FAR from what you’d asked for. There’s pretty much nothing about that bouquet that meets your requirements except perhaps the vase. I think that photo with the notes that you are going to give her as a guideline will be very helpful for her to refer to, and maybe you want to give it to her with another page with a photo of what you DO want and notes as well? Let us know how it goes.
Actually now that I read HamiHarri’s comment, I think she’s right and I retract what I said about the photo page being a good idea. Well actually I think it’s a good idea but you might want to phrase it more softly. The goal should be to stay in her good books so that she WANTS to help you, there’s probably no faster way to ensure you get what you don’t want than to piss off the florist.
Having said that it IS important to communicate that there’s a problem with the product she provided you so definitely point out the issues. I still think providing her a page of notes with a photo of what you DO want might be a good way to go about it?
LOL…”they” say sugar works better than vinigar 
(Although I always have a hard time with that one)…
I def think a pic and some more notes on what you DO want would be so helpful…just be firm Perhaps even suggest a new trial?
All good tips from everyone. Keep in mind that she likely pulled some less expensive flowers and/or whatever she had on hand that roughly matched your colors to give you an idea of color and size. I agree it’s totally off but because she agreed to do this for free, the florist may not have had much incentive to go above and beyond on short notice.
That’s why a meeting is a good idea to confirm that she fully understands what you DO want on the day of your wedding. 
Thanks everyone for stopping me from presenting my “kill” sheet . Thankfully, I’ve had it sitting around the apt. for a while letting myself cool down a bit: always good advice! And I have had a brief conversation with her since then and I think it will all be alright. We’ll still have to meet in person and go over things to make sure we are on the same page!
The picture with the limes, looks like they are halved limes, not slices, so that will cut down on cost! And like what Daisy said, they’ll fill the rest with floral foam.
Good luck!
These are pretty but if it’s not what you want, speak up. I would definitely agree w/ posters above to emphasize the positive (surely there’s something you like, even if if’s just the size/shape/height of the containers, so praise that and then show pictures of what you want. Maybe she’s finding it impossible to work within budget constraints (?) or something else, so would give her a wide open opportunity to talk/explain where she got her ideas/inspiration.
I think it is a great idea to go over what you are wanting in detail, however, I’m not sure I would show her the pic you took with “NO” written all over it…perhaps you can bring a picture and point out the things you don’t want.
yeah…what she said
just a quick note. i’m not sure what your budget is, but the pic you gave her is significantly more expensive. maybe she wanted to give you a larger looking centerpiece with the other filler flowers and greens. if you were to only go with a dense bunch of roses, it would be much smaller than what she made, i think. just my two cents! the limes are cute!
Grace: thanks! =)
Maybe that is the problem…I’m not really sure how to gauge it. We’re being charged about $75-100 per centerpiece. The one I showed her is probably significantly higher, but I’m not sure that what we got is $100 worth either: do you guys?
Maybe I’m under-valuing it?
I don’t think you got $100 worth of flowers AND I don’t think that arrangement looks anything like the picture you provided to her. No wonder she doesn’t do trials…she’s on her own program! I would be very specific and DEFINITELY get a 2nd trial for free.
I also agree with PPs that you should be super nice - but firm. I bet she’ll come around.
Oh no, I am not a flower expert but I am paying $100/cp in nyc and I have orchid, hypericum berries, peonies, and garden roses.
Miss Petunia-I originally hired another florist and had to back out of that. (didn’t have a deposit down) She was a great lady, but after a while I realized she just didn’t see my vision even with all the direction I gave her and all the pictures I gave her.
I’d seriously have her make you another sample.
My initial reaction: Laura’s. My ultimate reaction: HamiHarri’s. 
I think the discrepancy between the trial and what you wanted is enough to justify a second trial for free, to put your mind at ease. If that florist is at all professional, she’ll want to ensure that she can keep your business and get good recommendations, so I’m sure she’ll oblige
And another note: If I were a florist, I’d definitely keep peonies around all the time. In fact, my florist shop would be called ‘all peonies all the time’ and I wouldn’t sell them. No, I’d just hide in the back of the shop and roll in them.
….ok maybe I shouldn’t be a florist.
The limes are typically not in the same container as the flowers. There’s an inner container holding the flowers then the placed in a larger one with the slicecd limes facing out. So that the limes don’t harm the flowers.
I took a floristry class this summer because I am a DIY gal who is going to be making the majority of my flowers the day before my wedding. The arrangements I wanted, high dramatic ones full of roses and seeded eucalyptus, were quoted to me at about $100 each. Once I took the class, I realized it was not the materials I was paying for , it was the labor. The same arrangments will run me $25 each if I make them myself.
One thing you may consider is that the flowers you will want to use may not be in season right now to show you an example and maybe the materials you needed weren’t available? But whatever she does show or sketch for you, you should be totally happy with for the amount of money you are paying. DON’T SETTLE!:)
Those pink daisy’s remind me of a baby shower indeed. Don’t settle, be straight forward and turn the negatives into positives and if you have to use no, add please in the front.
“Please use hypericum instead of any other greens.”
or “No Greens please.”
Something like that.
I know everything will turn out alright because
you know exactly what you want.
Seriously??!!!!!!!!!
Ok….here’s a tip I hope will help….If you give your ideas to the “professionals” that you have hired and then “let it go” you will have no disappointments. You’ve done what you can. I really think if there is a lot of nit-picking, you will tick off your professionals and then they will not take GREAT care of you. On the other hand, if you are very specific, relaxed and just be yourself, they will go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure your day is VERY special!
hey! i totally understand what you’re going through - either vendors are on better behavior for TV weddings or they’re getting paid sometihng the rest of us can’t offer!! the same thing happened to me for my planner and florist –> BOTH of whom work on tv!
FUTURE BRIDES PLEASE READ
I am so glad you did this post!
I was married last July, and I was SO UPSET when I saw my flowers! Even though I was SO SPECIFIC IN WRITING, things were WRONG. Please don’t hesitate to be FIRM with your florist!! I spent more than 5K on flowers, and they were OK, but I felt completely ripped off. She did not order enough, because I think she was trying to make more profit. And she was named the “Best Florist” in my state’s bridal magazine. You ONLY GET ONE WEDDING. I would show her the marked up photo. And while this was just a sample, it is a good excuse to go over everything again, and remind her that you are detail oriented. I was shocked/surprised when I saw my bridesmaid bouquets, when I saw the church, and when I walked in my ballroom. This can have an impact on your day—so make sure you are overly cautious. Good luck!!
May be you didn’t give her enough notice? I would definitely see if she would make you another sample (but this time with more notice). If she is complaining about doing it gratis, I might just suck it up and pay for it. $50-$100 is not that big of a deal if it will help insure that your more than $2000 worth of day of flowers will be correct. Definitely give her feedback, but like others have said, sugar is better than vinegar, and people do not like to be to criticized. You might just antagonize her and make the whole thing more difficult.
I did a similar (rose with lime) flower arrangements for my client once. You can consult with your florist, and see if she can buy and cut the limes for you. To save cost tho, I wrap the floral foam with aluminum foil, and put in the center of the vase, then sliced the limes to fill in the space. For 15 tables, 7×4x5.5 vase, I used about 30 limes, and they’re about $.50-1.00 ea. You can also get limes from Costco for a little cheaper, but the size is smaller.
By the way, your centerpiece is not worth $100ea… it looks more like $50-75 to me. If you’re providing the vase, then this centerpiece should be less than $50 ea. =P
Mrs. Petunia, Ft. Lauderdale
Age and Occupation: 31, College Professor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Engineering Student/Part-time Barista
Engagement Date: December 8, 2006
Wedding Date: March 2, 2008
Venue: Riverside Hotel
Blogging Since: August 6, 2007
About Me: Our original idea of running off to get married quickly turned into an event with 100+ guests once other people got involved and I, too, got swept away in the lovely madness that is wedding planning. Mr. Petunia and I are obsessed with all things World of Warcraft, Monopoly, and Nintendo, so we’re planning on including some fun “game-y” details into our wedding.
Not too many limes if your florists only uses sliced limes around the surrounding portion of the vase and inside will be using that green floral foam (or whatever else they may use). If they don’t use this idea, suggest it, because I’m sure it’ll save some extra $$ and of course, limes!