Florist contract void/ Covid

If youre still getting flowers from her what is the issue? youre just changing the contract. i dont get why all these vendors think its ok to take peoples deposits like this. i would have argued with her saying the deposit should be used for the flowers we are getting.

Sounds like this vendor is exploiting a loophole in your contract. You should go over it with a fine-tooth comb to check the wording of voiding versus cancelling to see if speaking to a lawyer would be the appropriate next step.

Also, you'll want to see if they slipped a bad review clause in. Some vendors can come back on you for libel if you signed that you wouldn't "badmouth" them in a review (I put quotes around it because it's all up to interpretation which can get messy). If you don't have this clause, there's nothing stopping you from leaving a 1 star review.

View quoted message Hi Vinod!
I was starting to stress out that this might back fire on me.
But reading all your comments and talking to friends and family everyone seems to think she is in the wrong for not wanting to provide any flowers for my deposit. She definitely lack of professionalism and understanding of the pandemic we are all having to go through. I remember even at our consultation she said we could change the amount of flowers closer to the date etc to now seems like everything is set in stoned. I will have no problem giving them the review they deserve if that’s what she wants to do.

This vendor sounds very bad in her dealing and not providing her services of the flowers. The review will really show what she is all about and her business on yelp. If your going to have a florist, your budget should be adjusted to the amount you can afford.

Find sites that do have reviews for vendors to put this one on and if she reads it, she will read them and know the truth if anyone else has had the same problem. Don't feel guilty for your actions, they need to know the truth about their professionalism.

View quoted message Thank you! Do you know if vendors can read discussion board? I just don’t want this to become a bigger deal then it is lol

View quoted message On some of the bridal pages I am in, on facebook, some brides have just said theyll take the hit and just give a 1 star review (for venue loses and such that i heard some horror stories about ) .... so hard. So sorry

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If she is persistent in being a jerk (won't let you change items, adamant about you spending $3000 on that one day), you can always write her an honest review of your experience across various platforms like weddingwire, yelp, google, FB, etc.

View quoted message Yes that’s a good idea to change for items for things that can be reused. I don’t feel like she will be changing her mind. But thank you for all your great advice!

View quoted message Hi Kathryn!
Thank you for your kind words.
You’re very lucky your rentals were so accommodating!
Exactly we are all already going through so much stress with the pandemic. And I would think she would of understand that we downsized... but she’s probably just hoping to get the rest of my deposit to make up for lack of weddings in 2020. Like you said I gave her plenty of notice I’m not asking for a refund I just want to downsize as we are no longer having a big wedding and just used our deposit. But the fact she’s saying if I don’t the rest she won’t provide any more flowers I think is ridiculous. I don’t want to have to go to the social media route but I feel I might have to...

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Unfortunately, no. It sucks that they're not more accommodating but you having your venue vs not, or 1 vs 500 people attending won't change the capability of the florist themselves in making the agreed upon flowers for your date as per your contract.

Could they be more accommodating considering the circumstances? Absolutely. Such a move can generate much good will for them to get future business without any loss on their part.

Are they legally obligated to do so? No, unfortunately they is no legal recourse in them being jerks as they're not breaking any legal contracts.

If after another conversation, the florist is still unaccommodating on spending amounts, ask if you can change the line items while still retaining the dollar amount. Try to shift the purchase away from perishables to something that can be reused for the future, like vases or pots that can be planted in your garden, or given away to family as gifts.

View quoted message Thanks for your reply Hank!
In a way I don’t even know if my original venue can still happened on our original date as it’s still a 10 person limit in ontrario. I had ordered flowers for our large wedding party who won’t be able to attend wouldn’t that change the contract? I mean I understand if I just change my mind of what I want but with the restriction we can’t have the wedding we original wanted and like you said she hasn’t ordered any flower as it’s still a few months away still.

I did this with my rentals because with our change in venue we didnt need $3,000 in rentals... only about $1,900 worth and the company was super accomodating.

You should be able to get whatever you can for the $1500, maybe you dont get the same type of flowers or the same style you initially went with....... I mean what would this florist do if that was your entire budget from the get go? Plus its not like the flowers were wasted... they have to do them fresh so with 6 months notice that is plenty of time.... it should just be a change in the contract... If this florist does this to you.. I would go to social media/news outlet route and go down the 'reputation' road because it sounds like they're just saving their butts with all the lack of weddings in 2020 and the financial difference these businesses are getting this year.

Sorry you have to go through this... honestly, these businesses do so many weddings a year and this is a one time event for most of us... and we didnt ask to have a pandemic completely alter our initial wedding plans. I would try to see if you can find a happy medium....

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So unfortunately, because your contract did state that you are to spend $3000 on XYZ services, and nothing is legally stopping you from receiving these services on your original date (unless we have another lockdown and her business is considered non-essential so she has to close) she can legally bind you to the full $3000 for all the flowers you asked for (she can't give you any less if you pay the full amount). If you don't pay the balance by September, she can legally void the contract due to non-payment while keeping your deposit.

When negotiating with her, try to emphasize that you're still interested in doing business at the same dollar amount, just changing the terms of said service. She wouldn't have ordered any of the flowers from suppliers yet since you're still so far out. If she still refuses, it just shows that she's out to maximize every dollar she can make rather than work with her clients. It'll be up to you on whether you want to pay extra to get the full service you're entitled to or let her walk away with $1500 for doing nothing.

View quoted message Hi Hank!
Yes the contract had the prices and amount for all the flowers, vase needed etc for our wedding date. The final payment said would be A month before our wedding.

Does your contract state the specific services that your florist was to provide? ie. $3000 for this type of flower and this many at this date? And does the contract state when the final payment should be made?