FAQ that turned into an accidental Florist’s Blog

This is so confusing! How do I compare quotes from different suppliers?!

At the risk of oversimplifying things, most florists are paying fairly similar prices for flowers. Many of us source from the same growers and farms, which means the base cost of blooms doesn’t vary wildly from studio to studio.

Where things begin to differ is in how those costs are presented. Some florists charge labour as a clear, separate line item. Others roll that cost into the flowers themselves. Some show a very low labour charge, while quietly absorbing that cost into the items. It’s easy to see how, when comparing quotes, this can quickly become confusing and overwhelming.

One of the biggest differences to pay attention to is the quality of designs you will ultimately receive. This comes down to flower selection, grower relationships, conditioning and handling skills, and the settings and environments used by the florist you’re working with. Two florists might buy the same hydrangea from the same supplier on the same day, yet the outcome can be vastly different. An experienced and highly skilled florist (the two don’t always go hand in hand) will lead to fresher-looking blooms, better longevity, and far less product lost along the way, a loss that is always paid for in one form or another.

Another important consideration when comparing quotes is how much product has been allowed for. I once quoted on a wedding designed entirely around baby’s breath. A style I once reigned as queen in, sorry for the less than humble brag, that requires significantly more stock than many people anticipate, as well as considered placements and often a combination of varieties to achieve that cloud like fluffiness. In this instance, the couple opted for another florist whose itemised pricing was similar to mine, but with a minimal labour charge shown. When I stumbled across the images from the day, it was clear that around half the amount of product had been used compared to what I had allowed for, resulting in a lighter, more minimal outcome. This isn’t about right or wrong, it simply highlights why floral quotes aren’t always directly comparable. Differences in stock quantities and labour allowances will naturally lead to different final results, even when working from the same brief.

Side note: On babies breath/ gypsophila, the entire florist community would like me to clarify that it is not a “cheap filler” and “whoever put this out there, should be jailed for 20 years in flower jail” - the florist community.

Last of all, is the cost of labour to the florist. What takes an experienced and highly skilled florist an hour or so to do, might take 3 inexperienced florists a whole day to achieve. That isn’t a judgement; it’s just what I have seen and experienced time and time again. Experience and honed skills allow us to work efficiently, achieve a more polished result, and ultimately allocate more of the budget where it truly matters: into the flowers themselves. Which, let’s be honest, is what both you, and we, as the flower-obsessed nerds we proudly are, want more than anything.

Ok rant over. I hope you enjoyed my first ever accidental blog post xx