Florist Demanding Full Decor Control

You should check out flower depot in Mississauga and buy bulk without any strings attached. You will save more since its an auction place. Don't contract with tje florist due to her terms which sounds ridiculous.

If the only "professional" flowers you wanted were bouquets and one larger centrepiece... I'd strongly urge you to look into Costco flowers. I'm just getting bouquets and boutonnieres, and I'm saving hundreds of dollars.

Even if you go with another option though, I wouldn't drop extra money, and give up your crafts, just for her stick-in-the-mud type contract... Definitely address her about it, see if she really means you can't do anything yourself, and if that's the case, just nicely explain to her, your DIY projects and additional decor take priority over picking her specifically...

I love DIY, and plan to do as much as possible for my wedding... if you give that up just to use a certain florist, I think you'll regret it. I know how much fun I have with DIY, and the pride when you see it come together.... don't lose that if it's something you want!!!

Also, a big floral budget when you don't need to have it, will feel like a waste of money later.

Wow that’s insane. I’d look elsewhere too. No one should tell you what to do on YOUR wedding day!!!

I don’t like what that vendor is doing.. THIS IS YOUR WEDDING, not hers.
You should keep looking, at least you now know what your looking for in your do’s and don’ts in vendors.

you should be able to do what you want, add what you want and create what you want at your wedding.
and spend how much you want!

Good luck hun!

I agree with others - go somewhere else. Sounds to me like she is not the kind of florist I'd want to work with!

Did you already pay a deposit and/or the full amount? If so, just argue that she's only being used for the ceremony and not the reception. What is she going to do? Spy on your wedding to ensure you don't have anything else going on post-ceremony?

If you're just looking at her for the ceremony flowers, I would think you would be okay to DIY the reception. It's not like you're going to be intermingling the different vendors. I'd argue that you were hiring her for the ceremony only and the reception is a separate event.

Honestly I’d go with someone else!! She has not right to tell you what you can or cannot do for you decor!! Unless it’s a rule at your venue, then that’s different. Otherwise friend or not go with another who will only sell you what you want.

I’ve never heard of this I’d find another florist to compare with!

For me personally I'd look for a new florist. We are also doing a lot of decor ourselves and only going to the florist for bouquets. There are plenty of amazing florists that just do the bouquets and it saves tons of money.

Since you know her have you mentioned you had hopes and ideas to do some fake floral DIY?

It seems to be a strange rule to me... it would be like a photographer saying no other guest can take photos with their phone?

I would talk to her and see if she really does mind! And if it is a huge thing for you I'd even tell her that you would be considering looking elsewhere than because doing these DIYs is a big part of your wedding vision and fun!

Don't be scared to be stern, this is your day and YOU are dropping a lot of money on it! If you want to do something no one has the right to get in your way.

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I get that part of it too. She wants to maintain the integrity of her business. But also, we were going to do greenery for cnetrepieces, and we were planning on getting it bulk from Costco to cut costs, because what she's charging is insane. She's not setting up for us, so we'd be the ones putting the greenery out, and it would literally just be laying stems down the length of the table. There isn't really a "design" element to it.

This seems a bit outrageous to me. A lot of vendors will want to make sure that no other florists are being used, so that if their work is subpar, people wont' think its the original vendors work.

I would honestly speak with her and tell her what you are looking for, and that you wanted to DIY the stuff you mentioned and it would not be another vendor coming in. She might be okay with it. If she Is not okay with it, I would look elsewhere.