Do It Yourself-ers - A Florist's Nightmare or Dream Come True???

This is a subject that strikes terror into the heart of every florist - A DIY individual.  Every flower shop has THAT individual who thinks they can do it themselves, and they just need a little assistance from the local florist.  Then, Aunt Betty can take over and SHE will do all the centerpieces for the event is that is taking place. There are a few reasons that your local florist may not be as "pleased as punch" to help you out in a situation like this. Let's look at it from the florist's point of view as opposed to the DIY-er's

Point #1 - Whose reputation is on the line?
So let's just take for example that it is a bridal party.  Of course the bride does not want to take a chance that her bouquet or her bridal party bouquets will be anything less than perfection, so she asks the florist to do those. The florist gives the bride her price and all is well with both parties. THEN the reception is discussed and Aunt Betty has made it clear that she will do the centerpieces. This is unfortunate for both the bride and the florist. The florist has put her name on the line by doing the bridal party, but she will also be mentioned even though she did not do the centerpieces. Many floral shops will not DO only choice pieces of the party, and then allow a DIY-er to do other non professional pieces. The reason for this is that their shop name is associated with ALL of that wedding or party. No one ever says, well "So and So Floral" did the brides and bridal party, but Aunt Betty did the reception pieces (especially if those look amateurish)...NO, THEY DON'T!  Unfortunately no matter what the DIY-er centerpieces look like, the Flower shop takes the "credit"(or in this case - the rap).  Believe me, it just happened to a friend of mine! And here is the resulting centerpiece from the DIYer!!!

So do you think the guests at this event are going to talk about the beautiful bridal bouquet that was done professionally by her florist OR the above centerpiece? And Aunt Betty will not be mentioned as the creator. That is point #1.

Point #2 - It is a matter of professionalism. Do you know how many hours of training went into the making of a REAL florist? Most florists are in a continual training mode - just to keep up with the latest trends. They read all they can in the latest trade magazines, subscribe to online courses or take classes wherever they are offered. These classes are not cheap, but in order to stay abreast of the new ideas; they are necessary. That is what makes your REAL FLORIST the person you can TRUST to make your event perfect. Do you have any idea how INSULTING it is to your local florist to suggest that Aunt Betty could make it just as nice? You wouldn't go into a restaurant, steak in hand and say to the chef, "Show me how to cook this steak just as good as YOU do it". You realize that the chef has had training unavailable to John Q. Public and you would trust that he would do a good job and if  you made it out of the kitchen alive, that would be a plus!. When a customer suggests that anybody can throw some stems in a vase and create a centerpiece, it is a real slap in the face to that florist. So, please THINK about it before you decide to go that route.

Point #3 - Getting the flowers. Your florist is not a wholesaler of flowers. They buy them FROM a wholesaler. Flowers are not cheap. Do you know how many you will need? or are you expecting your florist to tell you what to order? From the florist's point of view, this is not a fair position to put her in - YOU are taking her job away from her, and yet you expect her to do the estimate on the number of flowers you will need? From the DIYer's outlook, you NEED her (the florist's) expertise or you may be caught short by ordering too light or wasteful by over ordering. The next question is WHEN should I get them? Most florists know if the wedding is on this date, then the flowers should come in on that date. Some need time to mature, others have no lead time and should be ordered at the last minute. This is one of the main reasons that some florists charge a "Consultation Fee" up front. It pays for the time it takes to make all of these decisions that can save you time and money in the end.

 Point #4 - Time is Money - when you decide to "stop by your florist to run some ideas past her" do you realize that even though she is willing to stop whatever she is doing to help you, she has 100 things waiting for her attention on the back burner? DIYers need to research their project before going to the shop owner for advice. The florist isn't going to make any money on your project, so you need to KNOW what you want before going there. Remember if you are planning on just buying stems, the florist will be making approximately a 10% markup which is $10 on a $100 purchase. If you are a regular customer, I'm certain that your florist will be willing to help you, but if you are someone who never uses that florist, you may find your reception a little "chilly"!  Designers are usually not willing to give away their trade secrets that took them YEARS to learn without compensation.

Point #5 - Is it worth the savings to do it yourself?  This can only be answered on a case by case basis. Sometimes it is actually cheaper to allow the professional to do their job.  All of the above are the deciding factors that a DIYer must take into account.The actual arranging, delivery and setup are all things that must be done at the last minute. Your florist is used to doing them because it is part of her job. Delivery of an event alone can be a harrowing situation - ask any delivery person! As a DIYer are you planning on attending the event? Being fully dressed and ready for the event takes time and while it can be done, you certainly don't want to end up with your good dress all water stained from a few unruly vases in your car.

After all is said and done, the option is certainly YOURS, but it's always good to look at an issue from both sides and try to see both the pros and cons before making any decision. Hopefully this article has opened your eyes to the joys and pitfalls of "doing it yourself".

Proms, Corsages, and Bouts...

Proms, Corsages, and Bouts...

This is a topic we don't usually think about until the actual time of the event is upon us.  It's unlike any other event that takes place during the course of a florist's year, for many reasons, some good and some not so good.  I'd like to take a minute to discuss some of the elements that go into choosing the right florist to take care of your prom needs and how you, the customer, can prepare to make this another great floral event in your life.

You may wonder, "What goes into making a good corsage or boutonniere?" As a florist the first thing I would say is planning. Deciding what kind of corsage you want  to wear is the first step.  Are you going to carry a Tussie Mussie, which were very popular this year or are you going to go for a more traditional wrist corsage?  Are you looking to end up with a keepsake piece of jewelry or would you like some original wire work that is now available?  Have you decided on your dress - these colors will be important in making sure that you have coordinating ribbon choices? The answers to these questions should be available when you go to speak to the florist.  This makes your prom consultation so much easier.  Don't forget to give her the date of your prom and agree on a time for pick up.  She will also need your telephone number and billing information as all special orders are prepaid. Prom season is a flurry of activity, so it is best to get these details out of the way as early as possible.

The second step is your consultation.  It is your job to be ready with the answers to the above questions in order for the consult to go smoothly.  The most important part of the consult for the florist is listening and hearing what you want.  It is always fun to throw out some "fun" suggestions, but a good florist is one that will hear what you want and go with your choices. Do you want "bling", how about some baby pearls?, do you want roses or orchids or a combination of flowers? These are all choices you will need to make on the spot. You must be ready, so do your homework before you get there! 

My best suggestion is to know your local florist!   Establish a relationship with them beforehand so that you feel comfortable discussing what you really want with them.  You may want to stop by early before "prom-mania" starts and he or she can show you the types of flowers generally used,  or you can discuss any special ideas you may have.  This pre-consult visit also gives you the opportunity to take your time and look over books or pictures from previous years. During crunch time, a florist will not be able to do this, so get there early on in the season. 

And last but not least, don't wait until the last minute to place your order. Every florist wants to be able to give you the corsage of your dreams, but if you don't give them the time needed to place the order for your flowers, it can be disappointing on both ends. The florist will feel that she hasn't provided you with the experience you deserved and you may not be able to get  the exact corsage you wanted. 

Pick up day is usually one that is fun. You get to see your creation come to life, and the florist gets to see your reaction to her hard work. Many long hours go into getting that corsage from the planning stage to a "ready to wear" accessory. You are ready to go!!  Enjoy your evening out and don't forget to tag your florist in your FB photos!