One thing I have learned, too late, is to tell them what you want to spend and how many pieces you need before you agree to anything. I dealt mostly with the husband, who refused to answer my questions on prices again and again. I tried to order long stem roses for the centerpieces that I was going to make and after describing it to him, he told me that they would not look right and I should consider letting them arrange my centerpieces. I had thirteen tables, and this wasn't an option. I ended up buying long stem roses from the grocery store -Meijer- and arranging them the night before the wedding. They looked beautiful and costed less than $100 - less than he wanted to charge me and swore that they made no money off of the roses, that they had no mark-up. I picked colors and told him how many pieces I needed and was told they would call me with a total in a week. This didn't happen until about four weeks later and only after my father called and was treated very rudely by the husband who owns the shop. I had a bride's bouquet, 2 bridesmaid bouquets, 2 mother's nosegays, and 6 bouttonieres total. I was quoted a price for the bouttonieres - $10 each. When I finally got an answer on the total it was dangerously close to the wedding, too close to switch florists. The total was $850. I felt that this was outrageous for what I got. How do women with four or five bridesmaid's afford it? Clearly the cost was all in the 3 bouquets and 2 nosegays, because everything else totaled $60. The bouquets were beautiful, but I would have been just as happy with a cheaper alternative. If you decide to go with this shop, I highly advise telling them a strict number you want to spend before you go any further with them. They will take advantage of you.
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