I need some pre-wedding advice/help

[Dee Dee]

Thre is a very prominent MD in our area. He orders his flowers through us has for years and years. However he is by no means a big ticket customer.

So his daughter is getting married she calls us first and says you have always done all of my fathers work, Dr. A------ so I want you to do my wedding. Where can I E-mail my likes before I come in. Then sends us an E-mail with 13 links all to Platinum wedding events Kimbery & Bryan wedding, Brittany & Shaharam wedding, etc. Next day another E-mail 8 more links all Platinum. She would like a "round number quote for her wedding with 16-25 tables before she comes all the way in" She lives in town.

Would any of you quote this blind just because the father is a long standing customer?

Should I just honestly look at the pics and tell her what I would charge per table.

I usually never do any of this. However like I said her dad is a big name with a big influence around here.

HELP!?

 

[boots12313]

I would not quote blind...if she gave you one example...you could give her a price on that example you need to know the flowers she wants how many in the bridal party what kind of set up you would have...where you have to go ect.....much to hard to give blind quote...Becky

 

[aileen_c]

I would honestly say to her you couldn't do a blind quote based off all the links she gave you simply because they are all different from each other. That there are too many variables and you'd love to work with her to tailor the wedding to reflect her interests. Offer to meet her half way at a coffee house or a quiet meeting room somewhere for the intial consult?? Then when you've discussed everything meet again for the final quote?? Just throwing ideas out there...maybe it will spark something for ya! GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Kristine]

I would just ball park quote. The pics you have sent me range in price from x to x. let her know about any seasonal availability (ie if she's looking for lily of valley etc) and increased costs.

also general prices for bouts and corsages between x and x

could you offer to meet her at the wedding or reception venue?

 

[twiggy]

Would any of you quote this blind just because the father is a long standing customer?

Should I just honestly look at the pics and tell her what I would charge per table.

I usually never do any of this. However like I said her dad is a big name with a big influence around here.

HELP!?

I would not quote blind - it's just bad business and if you come up short it could lead to resentment and bad feelings all around.

I would give an honest quote for a few (one or two) and go from there-she needs a place to start.

If you usually never do any of this- why are you now? don't let this customer intimidate you- they are just people who sought YOU out to do their wedding .. be fair with yourself and them and everyone will be happy

 

[SpringCity]

I would probably tell her the range too, which is likely to vary widely. Then she might get the clue that w/all those pics you can't get a "round" quote. I'd also make sure to quote high. Sounds like champagne taste, not beer budget but only willing to spend beer dollars, based on what you said about the dad. Could be a pain in the butt!

 

[TGDragonfly]

Hi Dawn, by all means quote high. That way she will have an idea as to the costs. It will make things easier by giving her something to gauge things by.

 

[lori042499]

I would also give a round about, for instance if what you are looking at is centerpieces and the look to be very opulent like 200-500 dollars give her a whole job estimate of say a wedding with the looks of the pictures shown would probably range 12-15,000 dollars or what ever you think it looks like, but quote a wide quote ao as to not dissappoint during consult...

 

[Carol Bice]

I would use every method I could to convince her to come in to discuss the wedding plans. Tell her that her day is way to special to just give quotes. Let her know that you want to give her a few ideas that will enhance what she is going for since it is going to be so very exciting.

Once you get her in the shop.....turn on the charm and get that deposit before she leaves.

Carol Bice

 

[TGDragonfly]

I would every method I could to convince her to come in to discuss the wedding plans. Tell her that her day is way to special to just give quotes. Let her know that you want to give her a few ideas that will enhance what she is going for since it is going to be so very exciting.

Once you get her in the shop.....turn on the charm and get that deposit before she leaves.

Carol Bice

And for god's sake, turn off FlowerChat at this consultation. :>

 

[Victoria]

What Carol said.

And Thom, rarely does a day go by when you don't make me smile or laugh out right.

V

 

[Carrieann]

I would politely get her to meet with you first, either at your shop or elsewhere.

my personal policy is I do not talk money before or even during the first consultation.

My reason for this policy is that I tend to let emotions get in the way when I price things at first consult. I like the bride, I get excited about her wedding, I really want to do her flowers, etc... Therefore, I am thinking with my heart and not my head. I purposely wait at least a day before sitting down to price a wedding, then, the wedding becomes more about the flowers and numbers to me than the bride. Does that make any sense??

 

[Knife's Wife]

Like Carol said I would try to charm her into coming in to the store for a sit down. No blind quoting!

I have always done a consultations without talking money, and then wait a day to send a quote, detailed if they have put up the $25.00 save the date deposit. But, I have found with the girls that come in with these grand ideas, a pics of celebrity weddings it is best to start talking money right from the get go.

As in... Yes isn't this a spectacular centerpiece,very impressive, something of this caliber would run about $850.00 per table. Is that what you would like and does that fit within your budget?

You should be able to get a pretty good idea of what they are willing to spend by their reaction if you throw some numbers at what they are showing you.

Some florist ask up front what the budget is for flowers, I rarely come across a bride who will share this information, unless of course they have had a sister get married the family usually wants to spend the same amount and the girls usually wants to be sure she is going to spend at least what her sister got to spend so she comes right out with it.

When celebrity weddings pics are being looked at, and it is not a celebrity, chances are that you will spend loads of time in this consult, and then pricing it out only for her to be shock that she is not of celebrity (money) status. You will never hear from her again because she will be to embarrassed to to admit it was thousands more then what she had intended.

Sorry this was so long,

Joan

 

[Carrieann]

Joan, good point with the celebrity wedding pics. I guess I forget about that. I am lucky enough to not have my brides bring in these pics, we are in a very very small town and I think the girls here understand they will not be able to afford that stuff. (maybe I shouldn't say that out loud!)
I do get pics off the internet from brides, especially from the knot. I talk to them about WHY they like this piece and go from there.

For the most part my brides do NOT bring in pics. They look through my JH book, my portfolio and I have a book of mag. pics that I put together, pics that I like, think my brides will like, and I know I can re-create.