How do you turn a bride away?

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Even though you already dealt with it, you have to stick to your guns and it is 75% no exceptions.

Although, from what you said about her wanting dimensions, that would make me run too. That means she is getting way too detailed making it seem like they are going to be ahrd to please.
 
Great thread.....

Over the years I have never said no to anything.... I always seemed to be able to work around everything and everyone - " there are no problems - only solutions!!"

The last couple of years however, my patience has started to run out ( I think it could be a sign of old age - ha ha) and this year I have made the decision that I will start saying NO - Sorry, I can't do it..~ ... Over the last 2 weeks I have turned 5 Brides away for various reasons and ya know, it is a good feeling...!!!!

Some people are just not worth the stress and the strain........
 
Great response Mocha Rose! Very professional, and truthful.

I feel very fortunate with my brides - only one or two have shown the bizarre behaviors mentioned. Last year, we had a Math major, who wanted to know the "ratio" of pink to white we would be using in her bouquets. :rolleyes: She is foever known as Ratio Bride. They're a funny bunch, but I still enjoy them.

tracy
 
Yes!

Theresa said:
I think it was Connie that mentioned a while back...you can't lose money on jobs you don't get.
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Yes, this statement is a paraphrase from a Wedding Seminar that Kevin Ylvisaker (forgive the spelling) was leading. He said, "You cannot lose money on a wedding that you do not get. You can only lose money on a wedding that you price too low." That one statement caused me to completely change the way I do business. I've told that to Kevin so many times that he's probably sick of hearing it.

I don't even start looking for flowers or ribbon until the deposit (1/2 of the entire amount) is made, and banked.
 
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Sher's answer is perfect. I don't think you need to justify the whys or wherefores of your decision to the bride or anyone else. You know in your gut this is not the best person to work with... trust your gut. :)

V
 
Victoria said:
Sher's answer is perfect. I don't think you need to justify the whys or wherefores of your decision to the bride or anyone else. You know in your gut this is not the best person to work with... trust your gut. :)

V
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v,

Let's think about the Public Relations aspect of this answer and the situation.

This is a silk wedding and there is no mention of servicing this wedding.

Sher's answer is good if you both weddings are fresh and servicing one or both weddings.

However, this isn't the case.

Victoria, I think you know me well enough to know that I am not impuning your comments or reputation, but in my heart I can't let your answer stand with out commentary. WE are all here to promote the best possible image of floriculture everywhere. I just can't see how the misrepresenting the true reason for declining this booking is a positive response to our industry.

We have all had challenging weddings in the past, and when we meet these challenges and problem brides head on and serve their needs and satisfy their goals is when we become better salesman, designers, deliverymen, and wedding coordinators.

Don't run from these challenges.... the last two sentences were not directed at you V, but meant for everyone to ponder.

Joe

ps. v, you know i think the world of your ideas and opinions, God love you.
 
Mocha:
I hesitate to respond here, but I will give you the short version.

Four emails from a bride during the quotation phase of the wedding planning process is not normal, at least for me. since I don't get to check emails all that often during the day, I hesitate to give my email address out.
I would rather talk to them than answer a bunch of emails!!

Asking exact dimensions of bouquets is not normal.....(general discriptions like its as big as a large dinner plate, or smaller than a 1 lb coffee can usually keep mine pretty well satisfied.

Your letter response was fine. Don't sweat. My feeling was that she is on a very tight budget, especially after the payment plan part, and cannot afford what you have priced and repriced for her. Her problem, not yours.

Take a deep breath....now let it out....now move on. there are at least 10,000 more in our area that need flowers for this year!

(And if she did not understand your "i'm sorry" email, she'll call!!)

Best regards,
Cheryl
 
A good rule of measure I was told once was from wrist to wrist , in a bridal bouq. as big as a dinner plate on a bean pole bride may would make her front heavy,(crash) and one to fit a thin girl would be way to small for a fuller sized person, have you heard this anyone? I have measured for a bride before.
 
If samples are involved, I measure and take pictures.
Otherwise, we do discuss size and I give a visual cue of size.

My humble opinion, the bouquet should be in proportion with the bride.

This is a joke a bride shared with me 2 years ago: we wanted to sing here comes the bride, and not here comes the flowers.
 
Theresa said:
If samples are involved, I measure and take pictures.
Otherwise, we do discuss size and I give a visual cue of size.
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We recently made a couple of artificial samples of hand tieds in 6" 8" 10".Sill need to make a couple cascades - tailored/contemporary and lush/romantic.

Though I make sure there is the understanding that sizes are approximate, not exact, I really think it has helped brides get a concrete visual. Most have been opting for the 10", not the 6" and 8" of years past

tracy
 
Clarification....

I should have made myself clearer.
My sizes are all approximate....we do not give exact dimensions.
We also have many, many samples in my consultation area that will give the brides a "touch & feel" of what sizes we are talking about.
When someone tries to pin me down on exact size, I use the "dinner plate" example.

We also feel that the bouquet needs to be in proportion to the brides size -- I want to see the bride, not the flowers with the bride behind them!!

sorry, it was a late night...and I should have not been reading & typing at that point.

Cheryl
 
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