The bottom line is that our clients are our bosses. But we’re also artists with our own unique sense of vision and expertise. So, how do we merge these two? It’s not easy. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re a florist, a wedding and event designer or a wedding planner: it’s a struggle for all of us. Over the years, I’ve found myself wearing all of these hats at one time or another. Today I’m going to focus on my work as a florist. On Wednesday I’ll examine my work as a designer and on Thursday I’ll give my full attention to my work as a wedding planner.
Here are the five most difficult floral requests I’ve ever gotten from brides:
1. A bride once wanted goldfish swimming in each of her centerpieces. I should have know better and said no, but my instinct is always to find a way. Unfortunately, in the middle of the party, these beautiful fish starting dying, and I found myself trying to discretely remove dead fish from the centerpieces while guests were on the dance floor.
2. Another client insisted that I use only phalaenopsis white orchids in her bridal bouquet after she saw just such a bouquet in a bridal magazine. I made it for her, but about twenty minutes into the wedding ceremony, the very fragile orchids started to look damaged. Not everything we see in magazines works in real life. However, if a client insists; make a second bouquet in case the first one dies. Just be sure to bill her for that additional arrangement!
3. One client asked for all gardenia centerpieces. I reminded her that these flowers have a very strong smell and told her I didn’t think it was a good idea. But she insisted, and so I gave in. Unfortunately, one of her guests got sick from the overwhelming scent.
4. I grew up in Panama where birds of paradise flowers are everywhere. I like them, but I don’t necessarily like using them; I think of them kind of like weeds growing in the backyard. However, I had a client who wanted an arrangement for her escort card table made entirely of birds of paradise. Eventually, I gave in. And, I have to be honest here, it didn’t look half bad!
5. Way back when I first started working as a florist, I was dead set against using silk flowers in my arrangements. I thought flowers were only beautiful when they were real and fresh. These days we have the most amazing silk flowers and often even I have a hard time telling which ones are real and which ones are fake. Sometimes brides request silk flower bridal bouquets, because they want to keep their bouquets as a keepsake. I welcome this challenge. Usually, I include crystals, and the bouquets turn out beautifully.
Dear Readers (especially florists!), what tricky floral requests have you gotten? Please share. Also, how do you feel about using silk flowers?
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
eBridge interactive
August 22, 2011
Well nice one..Really interesting..I like this type of post..It create charm after reading..I think some times artist make great poster without any planning and this is one of them…great job..
Eve
August 22, 2011
Great post! Thanks so much Preston!
I think the biggest challenge I face is when a client shows me an image from an international magazine and insists we use the same blooms, importing flowers is very stressful and very expensive. One time my green and purple hydrangea order came in white and pink. Season of the wedding and chosen flowers go hand in hand, but brides set the date, book their venue and then get around to flowers and decor and often get disappointed when their favorite flowers are not available.
Another challenge is when the client wants to know how many flowers will be in each arrangement and what will be the specific dimensions – I always have a chuckle about that.
flowerlover
August 22, 2011
I also had a bride who wanted gold fish in the centerpieces. Fortunately, they all lived and now live in their Koi pond.
carrie chang
August 22, 2011
hi there, i 101% agreed with your top five most difficult wedding bouquet!!
when a bride come to me want her bouquet using silk or artificial flowers, i feel sad, first of all they are just plastic trash for me, no matter how they look real they still not fresh and natural.
also speaking about birds, i have a bride she’s about 5ft tall, and she request me to do red ginger, protea and birds on her bouquet, it’s very easy to imagine how heavy and messy looking of the bouquet on a small lady, so finally i did not work with her because her budget was way lower than i could buy from the market.
Ronni
August 22, 2011
When my sister got married two years ago, she wanted Beta fish in her center pieces. So we had to purchase them, let the water sit in each center piece bowl (16) over night, put the fish in the bowl, transport the bowls to the venue and then hope the flowers she picked poisoned the fish. It turned out ok – her guests were able to bring them home, and one is still alive! Regardless of the outcome, I will always tell brides NOT to use fish. So. Much. Hassle.
Pam Archer
August 22, 2011
I sometimes use “permanently pretty” hydrangea mixed with fresh flowers in ceremony decorations in outdoor ceremonies where I know the heat will make fresh hydrangea wilt. Aside from that, I don’t use silk in my wedding work. I don’t have a problem using them to create a duplicate keepsake bouquet, though.
Marisa
August 22, 2011
I have a bride right now that has not only requested silk flowers but brooches and fabric roses in her bouquet, too. I had to draw the line with her when she wanted to put tulle around the bouquet as well, I just gently told her that I thought it would make the bouquet too busy then suggested that we use it in her bridesmaid’s bouquets. Don’t misunderstand, I don’t like the idea of tulle at all, but it’s her wedding and I’m gonna make it work!
carrie giliberti
August 22, 2011
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY? It is so refreshing to hear that even the most accomplished florists are challenged sometimes! I think some silk flowers, like the hydrangea which can look very natural, are okay to mix w/ fresh. They are too unpredictable!
Gena Martin
August 22, 2011
For a wedding show booth, I used gold fish in a large vase with flowers on top. But because my mother-in-law is a marine biologist I was told to put some sort of air circulator in it. I used a clear tub and hit the tank in the flowers and it looked amazing. I had so many people book me for that arrangement. Not to mention that we donated the fish to the local high school marine biology class where they kept them in fish tanks for the next school year.
Eliana
August 22, 2011
This is a great post as always. I was sad to hear you see the birds of paradise like weeds though. I also grew up in a tropical country and I am just crazy over them! Too bad most of my clients do not want to pay what they cost here. But I am happy you though it looked beautiful after all. There are some flowers I feel the same way about, they just don’t do it for me but often I have to forget what I like and just think as a designer: I am here to make the best out my customer’s wishes, so let’s do it!
I get hard to work around requests all the time, but I felt on your gold fish situation, because I did have someone request that once, and I agreed. Luckely for me I did not close that sale, probably because of the pricing on the gold fish.
Thanks for the great post Preston!
Angela
August 22, 2011
I had fun reading this article. my most welcome idea was number 5. Wont brush it off when I have a client who insist. Lovely post. Look forward to the others.
Evelyn Baker
August 23, 2011
One of the top challenges I have run into is using out-of-season flowers even if they are available. I have had a few brides insist on tulips in July. The blooms tend to be smaller and don’t hold up in the heat. The bride was happy with her bouquet but I always try to come up with alternatives that are in season.
Savannah (Pearls and Pages)
September 12, 2011
Oh a fave read! Love hearing what brides will request…and what sometimes ends up working out! The Gardenia…oh dear
I think trying to meld a design that meets the designer’s vision, and the bride’s is ideal. But tough! Or getting the bride to visualize the vision you have…and that that’s why they hired you…your expertise. Some brides can be very insistent on something you know won’t work out for the best…I don’t think there’s a good answer to this one at all. Each case is different.
The Silk Flower Store
October 24, 2011
Thanks for sharing your ideas. I was desperately waiting for such posts. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your further write ups thanks once again.