Does one price really fit all?

A big part of my job that maybe people don’t first think of when they think about a Southern California wedding florist is consultations. I love them! I get to meet so many new people, chat about their wedding dreams, and hopefully be a part of making that dream a reality.

As much as I love them, they take a lot of time. For each of my full-service clients, before they even book, I’m spending a minimum of twenty minutes on the phone with them on top of hours researching, pricing different elements out, and finding options for them before I send the initial pricing estimates.

I will say, there are some standard prices for some elements. Most of the standard ones are listed on our a la carte menu. These elements, unless something drastically different is desired, are priced the same for each wedding. However, altar arrangements, arbors, installations, full tablescapes, and other design elements don’t have a “one price fits all.” Sooo many different factors go into these pieces such as fullness, seasonal availability, hardware and mechanics, labor, freelancers, insurance, tools and supplies, etc. As a result, it is hard to provide accurate pricing without first having a consultation if you’re wanting these elements.

So what is it like having a consultation with Fully Bloomed Florals?  

It’s not scary! But here is the general flow of the conversation, and what is helpful to know before we set up a time to chat.

Here’s what to expect: we will start by asking you to give us the vision you have so far for your wedding. Then we will chat through personals (the flowers going in people’s hands or on people), then ceremony elements (that can maybe be repurposed for reception), and lastly cocktail and reception. Pretty easy- takes about 30 minutes and we offer these for free!

Here’s what is most helpful to know before we chat:

First, you need to have a venue and date secured. So much of our design process and selection is influenced by where you’re getting married.

Second, it is helpful to have some idea of what you’re looking for. Whether this is exact numbers and inspiration images or a full Pinterest board, or just your colors and some words to describe your style. We can work with you whichever way! You can also check out our Pinterest boards for some popular wedding color schemes and florals to give you a better idea.

Lastly, have some idea of your budget. This helps us as well as you know where we can spend and what we may have to get creative with. And this helps you prioritize what is most important for your big day.

After our consultation, we will send you a line-item estimate of the costs for each element you are interested in. After that, you are free to consider all your options! If you do decide to move forward, we send a contract and ask for a 50% deposit. From there, we can have as little or as much communication as you want! We will also send a inspiration document if you are one of our full service clients.

I hope this helps you see why we do consultations and makes them slightly less intimidating!