Booked FLOWER MICHELLE!!! w/reviews

This has been one of the hardest and longest decisions I have had to make thus far. I kept toying with high or low CPs. Or a combo of both. Then I wanted candles incorporated somehow. The drama went on and on. And I still keep seeing things that I am thinking hmm I likeeee that!

Here is my review of ALL the vendors I visited. For those negative ones, if you want further details please forum mail me. Please only take this as my opinion and experience. I am VERY picky with customer service. I think that with customer service there comes a higher price along with it. Although I kept saying to FH I don't want us to spend alot of $$ on flowers, we can go with a cheaper vendor, I began noticing that that wasn't the case. With that said, here goes my review...

Simply Elegant: I wasn't happy at all. Service, quality nor price. I was getting talked out of what I wanted. Not good.

Burtons: FH and I met with John. He is a really nice guy who knows what he is doing. He gave me suggestions that I was happy with. We were quoted on low CPs. The price was affordable. When I started changing my mind on what I wanted, I called and I spoke with Mike on the phone. That is a BIG no-no for me. If I have an appt with someone, I like to speak there after with the person I had the first appt with. That is just me, I know anal! He wouldn't put John on the phone. Then he was going to charge me an additional amt of $$ for the high stands. I understand they are more $$ but once I calculated the additional charge, they were not as inexpensive as others.

Flower Den: I had made an appt and kept re-scheduling it due to various last minute commitments. On my third re-schedule I spoke with Gigi and she wasn't very nice. I probably caught her at a bad time. But according to her, appts shouldn't be made on Saturdays (the only day I could drive to BK from LI). I explained that to her and the response I got was not very pleassant. Well her assistant should know when they can and cannot schedule appts no? So after that I canceled the appt I had and never went. Plus she is way out in BK. Too far for me to drive.

Mormile Florist: I showed up to my 1st appt and they didn't have me written in the appt book. 2nd time I went, I had an appt with Carol who was late, which I understood since I was stuck in traffic myself. I ended up seeing Bill instead. Carol gets there and you would think she would come over and personally apologize and say 'Wanda I am sorry I am late' or something, anything. She comes over by where Bill and I were and she starts looking for an album. Bill tells her 'Carol, Wanda is here we are going over a few things for her wedding'. She didn't even LOOK at me when she says Hi Wanda. Hmmm never went back and the amount they were charging was way too high.

Colonial Florist: My re-scheduled time wasn't placed in the book and I was lectured on why I didn't come in at 12:30 as originally stated. At that point I knew I didn't care if they charged me 2 cents for my flowers, I wasn't booking. Don't question me why you the idiot I am looking at failed to write in the book the appt was changed to 2:30!! On top of the fact that who I saw kept talking me out of what I wanted. WHAT!!!! On three occasions I had to say that is what I WANT!!! I walked out of there laughing, literally.

Flowers by Rose: Doris and Rose are true dolls. They really are. Rose is very creative and has an eye for beautiful, great quality arrangements. I could tell they both put time and effort into the work they do. The price was a little high but she helped me with a few things to stay within my budget. The only negative and FH brought this up to me, is they are kind of far from where we live. 95% of the people that come to my house get lost. I am not kidding! What if they got lost to my house? Or got lost going to the church? I don't think they had done a wedding at CB. I know they did Theresa's engagement party at Jericho Terrace which is in LI but that was really my main concern. Plus FH also mentioned what if there was a snow storm, thunder storm or weather didn't allow them to be on time coming from Howard Beach. Especially on that pain in the butt Belt Pkwy. March is so unpredictable that I wasn't willing to take that chance. I would recommend them to anyone. Had I known about them 2 yrs ago, I would have told FH to use them for his mom's retirement party at Russo's on the Bay.

Jack & Rose: Jack is really a piece of work. He is so on top of his business which I think is awesome. I was very pleased with him overall. On my second visit with FH, FH wasn't very pleased. Although, FH kept telling me the florist vendor is ultimately my decision to make since he doesn't know what is what, having him tell me he wasn't very pleased with Jack made me wonder. The prices are just right, his service and quality of business is perfect, but I kept second guessing myself.

Flower Michelle: John is AWESOME!!! As of yesterday, I have been to his location 5 times!!! Here is my run down... 1st appt he had an emergency. 2nd we met and talked for over 2 hours. Honestly, he was over my budget. But I love his work. So I kept playing around with what we could take out to lower it down a bit. I know with my 20 and probably more tables, it was the CP's that are $$. 3rd time I went to further discuss what I wanted and also on the budget. He worked with me to stay within budget and suggested a few more things. I was VERY pleased at this point. I was glowing walking out of the store. 4th time I brought FH (by his teeth LOL)
We didn't get to see him, long story. 5th time, last night, I booked!! I feel like we clicked immiedately. His personality, enthusiasm, creativity are all there. He was a bit more $$ than Jack & Rose and Flowers by Rose, but I was very comfortable with him. Mainly I went with my gut. I didn't want to wonder the day of the wedding what ifs. I didn't want to think up to the wedding should I have booked John? If something was to happen the day of, I would have regretted my decision if I didn't book him.

I am so relieved this vendor search is over!! John laughed when I told him how many vendors I saw. Thanks to this board I had a 4 page list going. I narrowed them down by budget then went from there. Thanks everyone!! If you want further info please forum mail me.