Question for florists

[Emerald]

I once read that white flowers (roses and such) are much more expensive than other colors because they're very fragile. I want to use pale green roses (I’m sure of that) and maybe pastel-colored roses such as peach and blush pink (not sure about these yet).

1. Are soft colored flowers/roses just as fragile like white flowers and therefore more expensive?
2. Are green roses more expensive than other colors? Because I don’t see green roses being used very often (at the market). Does that mean they're very hard to obtain or should I invest in fake roses just to be on the safe side?

[thinking_much]

Sorry, I dont have an answer for this one. Actually, I also want to know :)

[WebLady]

I am no florist, but I have never heard of white flowers being more expensive just for being white. There are some white flowers that are more exotic and will cost more. White flowers do show wear and whiting more than darker colored flowers.

From my experiences, roses and carnations of any color are usually cheaper because they are most readily available.

However, I do know there are some specialty colors that are harder to get that will cost more. Such as Tropicana (orange) roses; I would guess green roses are the same.

[Louann S.]

Dear Emerald,

Hi, I AM a wedding florist and I'd love to help you with your question. Yes . . there is a variety of a green rose called "Jade" that is absolutely beautiful.

Flowers are really aren't priced according to colors - rather to availability and growing seasons. That is why tulips in the springtime are cheap . . . but if you want tulips in the winter it will cost you top dollar. They are then imported (usually from Holland).

Delicate flowers are gardenias, stephanotis, lily of the valley, and orchids.
Gardenias and stephanotis are actually grown and plucked off a plant. They come to a flower shop lying on white batting. Their delicate petals can be browned just by being touched with your fingers - the oil on your skin causes this. Orchids and calla lillies are also product of plants - causing high prices at market.

I don't consider a rose, white or otherwise, a delicate flower. They may have some bruising during shipment. That is why the outer petals are left on the rose. You merely strip those protective outer petals off before using them.

Roses are priced according to availability and cm size. That is why short stemmed roses (which are only 40 cm long and have a smaller head size) are cheaper than the same variety in the medium (50 cm) or Long Stemmed (60 cm)

It's kind of like produce in the supermarket - the nicer and bigger are priced higher, etc.

I have done several weddings using the Jade rose and have been delightetd with them everytime.

Good luck and blessings on your weddings!

Louann:D

[Emerald]

I am no florist, but I have never heard of white flowers being more expensive just for being white. There are some white flowers that are more exotic and will cost more. White flowers do show wear and whiting more than darker colored flowers.

From my experiences, roses and carnations of any color are usually cheaper because they are most readily available.

However, I do know there are some specialty colors that are harder to get that will cost more. Such as Tropicana (orange) roses; I would guess green roses are the same.
Hi Weblady:D
I can't find the article online anymore. But it basically explained that white flowers are much more delicate. Therefore florist need to buy more flowers in order to make the arrangements/bouquets. And that is why white flowers are more expensive. (From what I remember from the article)

So that's why I was wondering because I want to use soft colors (peach/green/blush) if they are also more easily bruised or delicate in comparison to darker colors. I can't find it anymore. :sob:

But thank you. I'm going to check out those Tropicana roses, since I've never seen/heard of them before.

[Emerald]

Dear Emerald,

Hi, I AM a wedding florist and I'd love to help you with your question. Yes . . there is a variety of a green rose called "Jade" that is absolutely beautiful.

Flowers are really aren't priced according to colors - rather to availability and growing seasons. That is why tulips in the springtime are cheap . . . but if you want tulips in the winter it will cost you top dollar. They are then imported (usually from Holland).

Delicate flowers are gardenias, stephanotis, lily of the valley, and orchids.
Gardenias and stephanotis are actually grown and plucked off a plant. They come to a flower shop lying on white batting. Their delicate petals can be browned just by being touched with your fingers - the oil on your skin causes this. Orchids and calla lillies are also product of plants - causing high prices at market.

I don't consider a rose, white or otherwise, a delicate flower. They may have some bruising during shipment. That is why the outer petals are left on the rose. You merely strip those protective outer petals off before using them.

Roses are priced according to availability and cm size. That is why short stemmed roses (which are only 40 cm long and have a smaller head size) are cheaper than the same variety in the medium (50 cm) or Long Stemmed (60 cm)

It's kind of like produce in the supermarket - the nicer and bigger are priced higher, etc.

I have done several weddings using the Jade rose and have been delightetd with them everytime.

Good luck and blessings on your weddings!

Louann:D
Hi Louann!! :grinhappy: Thank you very much for answering and for all that helpful information. But isn't it true that apart from availability and seasons florists also price them based on the arrangements itself? For instance I heard that handtied bouquets are less expensive than waterfall bouquets because of the wires and the time that goes into making the bouquet.

I actually like waterfall bouquets (just simple nothing overboard) however because me and my FH are trying not to overdo it, I've decided for now I will just go with a simple handtied. Are there really huge price differences between bouquet styles? Or is this just an ongoing flowertale that's not true.

[WebLady]

Most of the florists I know charge based upon the flowers used and the labor involved. So yes in this case a simple hand tied bouquet will be less than a structured one. I would assume other florists do the same.

Funny, the bouquet you are calling "waterfall" is referred to as a tear drop (inverted) bouquet out here ;)

[Smashingpennies]

I don't know much about flowers a flourist would use, but I asked a friend of mine who is a florist and she said; it depends on the demand and the type of the flower as well as growing seasons. She is just now experimenting with growing her own in a hot house, to try and cut down on costs. Carnations and more common flowers are usually cheaper; she just did a wedding where Dasiys were the theme, they wedding party spent about $100.00 for all of the boquets and other stuff that goes with it. A dozen long stemed roses; is around $60.00 at one of the places I saw a sign for. At my wedding; I did a mix of fresh and fake flowers, trying to cut down on costs. If done right a fake arrangement can look very nice.

[Louann S.]

But isn't it true that apart from availability and seasons florists also price them based on the arrangements itself? For instance I heard that handtied bouquets are less expensive than waterfall bouquets because of the wires and the time that goes into making the bouquet.Hello, Emerald - sorry for the late reply!

There are different ways that different florist figure their quotes for wedding flowers. The primary one is . . . location. Regardless of what a flower shop pays for their flowers, the law of supply and demand factors in A LOT on how the quote is made.

Therefore - the same wedding bouquet would cost more in New York or Los Angeles than they would in a small town, U.S.A. Florists charge what the market can bear. That being said - all florists have to figure in a certain profit margin. Since they have operating costs like everyone else (electricity, gasoline, delivery drivers, etc.) it SEEMS like a lot - but really isn't any more than markups at supermarkets, etc.

Now - remember it's different - but the "standard" markups recommended by companies such as FTD, Bloomlink and Teleflora is 3 times the wholesale fresh flower cost, 2 1/2 - 3 times the hard goods (bouquet holders, wire, etc.) and 40% to 100% labor costs. Labor is determined by the DIFFICULTY or the skill required to construct the flower design (and by the cost of the designer per hour to the shop!) - that translates into time. The longer it takes - the higher the labor percentage markup.


So a typical markup on a rose boutonniere looks like this:

Rose Wholesale cost to florist: $1.00 3 x's markup: Retail $3.00
Hardgoods
(leaves, wire, corsage tape, etc.) $1.00 3 x's markup: Retail: $3.00


Total retail cost of goods: $6.00 add on 50% - 100% labor: $9.00 - 12.00

Now choose a more expensive flower - such as calla lilies which can cost $3.00 a stem wholesale (in the Midwest) - now you can see where the markup goes up higher.

Yet . . if you were to price the same merchandise thru FTD.com (check out the boutonnieres!) you would be astonished to find a typical boutonniere listed at $29.99 no matter WHAT the flower. This unusually high pricing covers the cost (no matter what season) from coast to coast. Most flower shops can typically quote lower prices - but require that you come in for a one on one consultation so they talk with you face to face. They do NOT like giving quotes over the phone - and I can't blame them. Every wedding is different.

Labor time goes way up on corsages - typically because they take the designer more time. Believe it or not - I can flower up a more expensive bridesmaid bouquet in less time than creating a mother's mixed flower corsage. So the labor price goes up accordingly.

Hope this "mini lesson" on wedding pricing helps!

Best Regards,

Louann
www.weddingflowersandreceptionideas.com