I MIGHT be considering cancelling Burton's as my florist. I spoke with Heidi at Sugar Magnolia and really liked her. I am trying to find out if anybody knows what the deposit situation is at Burtons? Do you just lose the $50 deposit that you paid with the pink contract? Or do you lose a percent of the total order. I am not sure I want to do this at all, so I don't want to contact them directly. Thanks girls!
Sonicstef
Posted:
Member since
re: Jenny
I think everyone is getting overly stressed here... but here is my 2 cents.
I just called to cancel Burtons (not because I don't think they will do a good job but because I HAD to move my wedding to a NYC that requires I use a mandatory florist). I had been very lazy and postponed calling Burtons until today.
I called, told them why I had to cancel and the guy was very pleasant. He just politely asked me to provide this information in writing to him.
I think the clause in the contract is to protect themselves from last minute cancellations. But in reality, there is no way they could collect even if they tried.
I didn't even ask for my deposit back b/c I don't deserve it - deposits are supposed to be lost if you opt to go with another vendor. Im just thankful that Burtons doesn't ask for a big deposit like every other florist Ive spoken to does.
LisaW
Posted:
Member since
Re: canceling Burtons?
Let me just say that I got married at Oheka and used Burtons. They were recommended to me by a few friends of my family. I was also very nervous about their low prices and lax attitudes, but I got exactly what I wanted. We went to see a sample centerpiece a couple of days before, and had them change a few things and it was no problem. The flowers were fresh, full, bright and beautiful. My chuppah was incredible! I had high centerpieces with candles with ivy wrapped around the base. I can't remember all the names of the flowers, but it was meant to resemble an exotic english garden. Everybody commented on them, and let me tell you, Burtons picked up quite a few customers from my wedding alone. If my photographer had taken pictures of the centerpieces I could show you some good ones, but thats another story! I only have pics from the dinky table cameras at weird angles that I tried to salvage.
jenny11.9
Posted:
Member since
Re: canceling Burtons?
Thanks Lisa. I think you were good enough to e-mail me your website a few months back. I am just second-guessing now that I am finally at the six month mark. I am just going to contact them and make sure they are clear on what I want!
I never went to Burtons and I have heard mostly good things about them on this board...but GO WITH YOUR GUT!! You won't be happy unless you do...
and remember princess diana looked beautiful when she got married and had the best of the best...but it doesn't mean thats what I want...I hope that made sense...
Cindy
Posted:
Member since
Re: canceling Burtons?
Jenny, you are not meeting with Sugar Magnolias until June? That is a long time to wait until you decide if you should cancel your current florist. It sounds like from the post above that you would only lose your deposit. If that is the way it turns out, it wont be bad at all. Good luck.
michele31
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Member since
Re: canceling Burtons?
I think we all get nervous, especially when a bride says she didn't like on of our beloved, chosen vendors but really one post should not change your opinion so quickly. I mean, some people love certain photographers that I hated when I met them or found them to be not worth their price tag. And again, different budgets dictact different things too. Burton's contracts state Any Flower, so you get any flower choses. When I spoke with them at our first meeting I asked about their Any Flower policy here is what I was told, 'When I first started in this business I used to write everything down and price it accordingly. But every few weeks brides would call and want to make changes because they saw a pretty new photo in some magazine. It started to get to be a ton of work. So now I just do Any Flower and everyone's life is easier'. Maybe that will explain it more. The contact does state the number and type of items that you want. Just something to consider.
Meg9-20-02
Posted:
Member since
Re: canceling Burtons?
I just wanted to add one thing - I have heard great things about Burton's on the boards. I am not using them (I'm going with my house florist) but I am ordering my gown and my BMs' dresses from their bridal shop. I have been SO happy with their service. They are totally separate from the florist though - Also, about Heidi from Sugar Magnolias. I LOVED her work. I went to see her on a recommendation and she was great. I have heard wonderful things about her. We ended up not going with her because she was really expensive (almost $3000 for less flowers than a quote of under $1000 from the house florist). If you can designate that kind of money for flowers, she is definitely worth it. Hope this helps...
tarakinspa
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Member since
just met with them (long)
and I know what you mean about the lax attitude, I felt that he just wanted me to leave already, but i think hes just kinda (a geek) you know not much of a personality or has problems really communicating with people great, not everybody is as perfect as the communication skills all us LIWeddings girls have hee hee. Anyway, i actually called him on Bride-to bes comment, which was kina dumb because i dont know her real name, but i just told him i was concerned, he said he really didnt know what to say and that hed need a little more information than a screen name, i mean I know it was ridiculous but he didnt really put my mind at ease about it, but again not so sure he knows how.
He said the any flower thing works out with him because you dont need 20 orchids, and the orchids you use replace the roses, a little confuzing but he said he really does work out and that all these other florists just convince us that these flowers are that much more expensive, when in reality they arent that much more. :shrug: oh haha im not on UW
I got quoted for a higher price than i though after reading how low there prices are but I do need alot of stuff, i have at least 18 tables so im not sure if Ill do much better elsewhere but I sure as hell am gonna try, i meet with flower by michelle tommorrow.
My mother told me that someone told her to go to the not so great neighborhoods (gosh how do i put this without insulting anyone) like say wyndanch where the clientel usually cant afford as much as say great neck although the quality is the same and you get a better deal that way, not sure about this idea, what do you guys think?
Ok I warned you this was long
michele31
Posted:
Member since
Re: just met with them (long)
Area has A LOT to do with prices. I agree. I have heard some nice things about Flower Cart in Ronkonkoma. But not personal experience.
Marnles
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Member since
Re: I'm using Burton's
I have been reading this thread and just wanted to chime in. I have to admit I was a little nervous when I heard the 'negative' feedback about Burton's. But I got over it pretty quickly. I'm mostly roses and calla lillies, and I have an exact picture of the bouquet I want, so I'm 100% sure they will come as promised...
But just on the flip side of what Tarakinspa said...I got a totally different 'vibe' from Mike. He was very patient with me...went into detail...and even helped me figure out the name of a Jewish ceremony (Mizinka) that I had seen done, but couldn't recall it's official name, and wanted to do during the reception that calls for a crown of baby's breath. I was in there for almost an hour, and he is not making a lot of money off me (no centerpieces). Not that how much you spend should affect the service you receive, but you know what I mean.
When I went back to sign the contract and leave the deposit, I met with the woman (for the life of me, I can't remember her name). Again, I didn't feel rushed at all - as a matter of fact, we wound up chatting about honeymoons, which was completely off the flower topic.
So - I guess what I'm trying to say is that any vendor can have an 'off' day. I think with Burton's there is just much more positive feedback than negative, and that's why I feel comfortable. But if someone doesn't feel that way, I definitely say look into your other options....the day is just too important to worry about your decisions. The best of luck to everyone!
NIHA
Posted:
Member since
Re: I'm using Burton's..long
I too have been following this post, at this point I am staying w/ Burton's b/c my wedding is less than 6 weeks away, I HAVE to stick w/ my budget, and the any flowers thing works with me. My boquet is a dozen calla lillies, (James Cress quoted me over $100 for this). And we are having simple centerpieces (6' bubble vase w/ roses and callas and stargazers) for $40 each. I figure that they would have to try hard to mess this up. I agree with Marnles about Mike, he put me at ease compared to the other guy (Brian??), and then I was sure I wanted to go w/ them. I made him write every detail on the contract (eg. 1 dz fuscia calla lillies tied with ivory statin ribbon w/ pearl pins down the back).
Because of a recent post that a bride wasn't happy w/ her flowers because the sample was nicer than the actual day of, when I go to Burton's to see my samples, I am going to mention that I will be very unhappy if my 'day of' flowers don't look the same. Anyway, bottom line, go with how you feel and what you can afford. Also, make sure to communicate.
DeniseMang
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Member since
Tarakinspa
We went to see John at Flower Michele, then went down the road to see Burtons. We did not like Mike at all. Just like someone else posted, no personality! We ran back to John. I would highly recommend John and he actually beat Burtons prices when I asked him to. He was a little higher to begin with, but is very nice and he will work with you, you just have to ask! Please see John and you can tell him Denise and Mike told you to go (even though you were going anyway), it might help you get a better deal. We have a nice repoire with him. But, please see him. He is great, you will know right away and you will see the difference between his work and Burtons. Good Luck!
tarakinspa
Posted:
Member since
Flower michelle
I met with them today and i just have to agree with Denismang....what a sweetheart! His prices were only a couple hundred more thatn burtons and about the same as pedestals but after shopping around a bit i will try to call him and see if he can do just a little better so I feel good about a decision to go with him. He just seemed to care, I felt that he would really try to make everything as beautiful as possible unlike the feeling I got at burtons. He told me to definetly do some things on my own to save money, when he can obviously lose money that way. But hey price is my number one objective though so those of you going with burtons i dont think it is a mistake i just had such a good feeling and we all know our womans instinct. he is definetly in the running for my choice.
