Well, I am kind of a hybrid - I am more familiar with flowers than the average consumer, yet I am not a designer. So I am not sure I am the best to give advice...But...
First, I don't even know what the price is going to be! He said he would call me next week and let me know. So there is no sticker shock yet. I am expecting it to be expensive, but flowers are a huge deal in our family, more so than most, so I have just accepted that. I cut out the appetizer on the dinner so that I could afford flowers! I also know that he will not cheat me, just because I know how he does business and their reputation as a shop.
My situation was a little hard too because I had to use daisies. They were my mom's wedding flowers. But they don't make the most exciting event flowers. And I couldn't find examples of even anything I really wanted.
What was good is that he made size and quantity suggestions based on the table sizing that the restaurant will be using. He was honest when one of my suggestions did not sound like a good idea. He asked very specific color questions. He was very detailed in getting the information about when I wanted them delivered, etc.
I just have one beef with the majority of the florists in our area that doesn't really apply to a lot of FCers. I want pictures!! Either online, or in a book in the shop. I go on all of the websites of florists in our area, even the really high end event florists that do the celebrity events in town - and all I see are cookie cutter TF and FTD images. I wish there were more portfolios of past events etc. that I could say, oh, I like this look but I don't like that one. Even if you have a TF/FTD website - add on a portfolio of your customer work!!
Can I just throw out one other suggestion - remember that your vendors are possible customers too. I had a plethora of choices of florists I could choose. I did not choose the closest to the venue, I did not choose the one with the biggest advertising. I did not choose the cheapest nor the fanciest. I chose the one who has been around for a long time, and who treats us decently, and who I know has a good business ethic, and who has a pretty shop! (Actually I had a couple of options and it was really hard to decide.) But if a florist calls us up and screams at me... guess what? Shes not getting my business when the time comes.
I'll keep you posted with the sticker shock answer when I get the sticker. And I'll post pics of the final product when it is done. We'll see if the vision in my head got translated or not!!
Now you can know how your customers feel when they come to you!
