Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

JimmysBride Posted: Feb 17, 2004 01:33 PM

Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

I went to see my first florist yesterday and I'm just so aggravated. Everything with this wedding is so much more than I planned to spend. I thought my budgeted amounts were reasonable but everywhere I turn things are way more expensive than I expected! Anyone else experiencing this??? Ok, enough with the venting.

Here's my question: since the centerpieces I want will cost me my first born child, what if I alternate Hi (expensive) and low (read: cheap, perhaps homemade) centerpieces among the tables? This way I'm only paying an arm and leg for the high ones and only a small fortune for the small ones which will hopefully only add up to equal slightly less than one first born child.

Has anyone done this? Would it look cheap and un-uniform? They would have to be totally different CPs since I can't afford to use the same flowers in the low ones....

Ugh. I am so disgusted and frustrated with the wedding industry. I feel like it's not even worth trying to plan a wedding for less $65,000. (and I'm spending WAY less than that) Ah... remember when they used to say weddings average $25K in NY?

bridget&jimmy Posted: Feb 17, 2004 01:37 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

Check out more florists I know some where over a couple thousand more then the one I booked. And the only difference between the high and low is the rental of the stand. FM me and I can give you more info.

Bridget

kgermano Posted: Feb 17, 2004 01:39 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

That is so funny, I was just asking about affordable aka cheap florists. The one good thing I have is that my hall is including centerpieces with my reception package, I'm sure they will be small but I'm kinda like who cares cause their gonna die anyway. Not to say that I don't want beautiful flowers cause I do.

Anyway what about a cheap do it yourself centerpiece, like a bunch of floating candles and petals scattered on the tables. They are low so they won't be in anyones way when talking across the table and you can get a bunch of stuff at craft stores . Also if your in the city sometimes they have a lot of cheap stores for things like candles and flowers on 28th street. Hope that helps!!

ChristineC68 Posted: Feb 17, 2004 01:39 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

I hear ya on the expense. I had no idea how much anything cost and had many sticker shock filled moments.

As for the florist - they should be able to work with you and your budget.

IMO I think the centerpieces should be the same especially if the difference in the hi and low centerpieces is going to be dramatic.

julz33 Posted: Feb 17, 2004 01:44 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

We have the same problem. All the centerpieces we liked were like $200 a table, and for 20 tables that would be $4000 for just the centerpieces!!! So I decided to do my own. Hurricane glasses with pillar candles inside surrounded by rose petals and votives on the table. This is costing us less than $15 a table. We got 2 pretty good quotes for small sized centerpieces so now we may do 1/2 with flowers, 1/2 with candles.

NYCHICK Posted: Feb 17, 2004 01:50 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

All the high centerpieces are 200 bucks a pop becasue you have to RENT the candleabra, and go figure that is the only centerpiece i wanted. It is very frustrating. Thank god I found J&R. to you.

RedHead Posted: Feb 17, 2004 02:11 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

As far as flowers go i am spending A LOT less then i thought i was going to
SO that actually has been a pleasant surprise

luvsun27 Posted: Feb 17, 2004 02:37 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

Check out Flowers by Emil I found the same problem...CP's were $150 and up and I also needed a chuppah...which most were charging between $500-1000. I am getting my high CP and my chuppah along with all the personal flowers...for a very reasonable price. FM with any questions...but definately worth a ride to Brooklyn for!

marymoon Posted: Feb 17, 2004 02:50 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

I definitely wouldn't alternate. i cna imagine myself sitting at awedding at a table with the smaller centerpiece like 'what, are we less special?' LOL. Seriously, i know you like the tall ones, but it'll look MUCH better and more elegant to have smaller, cheaper ones that are all uniform.

Jordan Posted: Feb 17, 2004 02:55 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

Can you compromise on the flowers you originally wanted? Maybe go smaller, add candles, scatter rose petals.

nylisa Posted: Feb 17, 2004 03:08 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

I totally agree with luvsun, Flowers By Emil .

skew Posted: Feb 17, 2004 03:22 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

is your heart set on having high centerpieces? you can alternate flowers on the tables, but i wouldn't alternate heights. as i guest, i personally wouldn't care, but some might (as crazy as it may be) feel offended.

IMO - i would cut costs elsewhere. flowers can really make or break the tone and ambience.

LoriH Posted: Feb 17, 2004 03:41 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

I would shop around. I would also find out what flowers are in season at your time of year. They will be much less expensive. Go to the florist with what you want to spend in mind and have them work around that.

Ericia Posted: Feb 17, 2004 03:54 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

I don't know if this would help, but if you decide to go with low flowers, you could always place nice candles around it. I've seen it done at Juju's wedding and it was certainly lovely; it gave it such a romantic feel.

this option is certainly far less than what you were quoted. With this alternative, i would shop around to different florists to see who will offer the better deal.

anaissa Posted: Feb 17, 2004 04:36 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

I am having the same problem! I just saw my third florist who actually ordered all the flowers that I described to her over the phone and made up the unusual cp I described perfectly just for our first appointment! But she quoted us over $1000 more then the other two!!! Now I am questioning if the other two can do as good a job...

butterfly20 Posted: Feb 17, 2004 04:39 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

jack and rose, im getting the low centerpieces..the type i wanted was like $65 a table...

AJsMommy122 Posted: Feb 17, 2004 04:50 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

do you have an example of what high cp you wanted?? do you want a sepcific flower? maybe you can put cheaper ones in instead? I have a cute Idea of what im going to do - but the things I wanted were discontinued and im keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to get 17 or 18 and then just have to worry about the flowers to put in them. FM me if you need anything
ps. I think the idea of alternating cp's actually looks pretty... usually.. I think it looks better in a circle ballroom.. not sure about ours though might not look right... plus I dont think one should be super nice and the other one 'egh' they should be somewhere in the middle even if they are different.

anaissa Posted: Feb 17, 2004 04:55 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

I just saw your post on the vendor board. My friend had all Calla Lilys at her Manhattan wedding and it was beautiful! She used John Sulivan from North Shore Floral and she said that they were very cheap. I think she spent under $1000 but her cp were low and really unusual. FM me for more details.

september2004 Posted: Feb 17, 2004 04:58 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

we elected not to go the flower CP route for this reason...

janwinterbridejoy Posted: Feb 17, 2004 07:20 PM

Re: Flowers are SO expensive!! Ugh! Need advice/semi-vent...

i wouldnt alternate but have you thought about other things besides flowers? you can do a acandle garden with rocks or a bowl of limes and limes or for fall gourds and leaves or a cornocopia.. i think low centerpieces are nice. another way you can go is use a different flower maybe ask your florist what flowers they could use to put you in a range you can afford maybe they can use more greenery in the taller centrepieces and maybe some fruit i hav eseen that a friends wedding and it was lovely