Florist charging too much?

I want my centerpieces to have about three hydrangeas and when I went to the LA Flower Marker I found white hydrangea bunches for about $6 but colored hydrangeas (pink and purple) for about $12. Each bunch was about 4-5 stems, so for white hydrangeas it averages to $1.50-$2 and colored for $3-$3.50 per stem. Is this right? I was looking into having a florist arrange 3 hydrangeas and 6 roses in vases that i have botten (rose Im sure are cheaper around $1.00-$1.50 per stem). They said it would be $35-$40 isnt this way too much, I understand labor cost but are they totally ripping me off or is this how much it will cost? I would think as florist they would even get flowers even cheaper since they buy by bulk right? I am totally wrong by asking them to do it for at least $25-$30?

Florist charging too much?
hasn't the weather killed a lot of fruits and veggies in CA? i would think that would apply to flowers too. perhaps that is why it seems so expensive, they do not have a good "crop" this year.
Reply:Some of the cost involved is not just the labor. They also add in fillers and maybe some of the that stuff that holds flowers in together. Maybe it also includes the vase. Also, you are paying for their creative eye to make sure everything goes together. I would say it really depends on how deluxe you want it. If you want a very simple centerpiece, do it yourself and be happy with the money you save. However, you should have a pro do it if you want it to look fancier.



P.S. Even though I want to save money and I feel I am very creative, I am not doing my own flowers just because I know it would add to my stress. Having a florist do it means you don't have to worry about wilty stems or pricking your finger when you have so many other details to worry about.
Reply:If you're looking into doing the centerpieces yourself, then it could definitely be done for less than $25 each. However, keep in mind that with a florist you are not only paying for their contacts with wholesalers, but also their time and effort that will go into creating the arrangements. You are also paying for them to deliver and set up everything for the reception. You are paying for convenience - not just the arrangements. If you think that it should be done for $30, then ask them to come down - the worst they will say is no.
Reply:no flowers are cheap unless you grow them yourself! especially roses! roses here are 6 a piece and the hydrangea would be a lil less but not much. if you want the flowers your gonna have to pay unless you do it yourself.
Reply:I used a floral designer instead of a regular florist. The prices were SLIGHTLY lower than a regular florist as they only order what they need to do each event and don't have the waste a regular florist does. Still, $35 to $40 is about what you would expect to pay for a regular centerpiece. That was why I used candle lamps and taper candles instead of having flower centerpieces. I bought Princess House crystal candle lamps on eBay for prices that ranged from $5.99 to $19.00 (plus shipping). The only tables that had flower arrangements were the head table, the family tables and the guest sign-in table. One guest from each table was awarded the table decorations to take home (a mark was put on one chair at each table). That way you're not left with a ton of decorations to take home.
Reply:Roses cheap??? Please.



If you want $25 centerpieces you will have to use carnations and greenery.



If you want roses, pay up.
Reply:$40 for an arrangement is cheap...go to 1800 flowers.com or FTD and look at the arrangements.



Flowers are expensive...when you see roses that are cheap it's because they are LOW quality. You don't want your flowers to die before the wedding is over.



Pay the florist to do it... arranging flowers is WAY more work than it looks like and you'll just stress yourself out...plus you'll need to store the flowers in a fridge before you use them and after you make the arrangements...
Reply:I would check ebay if you'd want fake flowers...... fake/satin flowers can look just as nice as real.
Reply:If you are getting a florist in the flower mart area, then yes, too expensive. If you're getting a florist outside the flower mart area, then they tack on all sorts of stuff to balance out the delivery of their materials to them, not to mention whatever delivery surcharge to get them to you. I would try to talk them down as close to $25 as possible. Good Luck.
Reply:Florists arent cheap. I'm using calla lillies, and ordering them myself. I'm going to make my own centerpieces and bridesmaid bouquets. The florist will only be making my boutenniers, corsages and my bouquet.



If you've priced everything out and you think you can make your arrangements yourself for less, do it. Ask your bridesmaids and moms to pitch in the morning of the wedding. Working together, it shouldnt take very long at all. (But I have heard that it may ruin your manicure)
Reply:you are not getting ripped off - flwers are expensive. And unless you are a wholesaler you aren't getting roses for those prices
Reply:That's what it cost to have someone else do things for you.If you really are in a tight budget ask your friends to pitch in to pay for it or do it yourself.Copy off of an arrangement.It shouldn't be that long to do it.
Reply:It is not uncommon, when you purchase something, in this case your flowers, and then have another vendor put it together for you. The vendor is making up for the lost money they are not making because you already provided the supplies.

I would check with the florist and see what their total cost is IF you purchase flowers through them and have them put the arrangements together. If it's $50 more to have the florist do it all including providing the flowers, I would go with the florist.

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