Florist Dilemma - Help!

I think you should yes which is heartbreaking when you had this as a gift!

Me personally, im not to bothered about flowers so if I had a freebie worth 900 then I would take it. Im sure the florist is not going to be that stubborn and risk business (even though it is a freebie) andnot going to let you incorporate some of your ideas. It is your wedding afterall. I would stick with the gift.

Does the gift state that it has to be specific flower arrangements though? If not, then as a customer, paying or not, she should be taking your ideas on board x

If it was me, I would go with my gut feeling. The very fact that she has said she will 'consider' your requirements, rather than work with you, and can't promise anything speaks volumes to me as someone who is in the trade myself. Some florists are only comfortable doing what they like doing or, worse still, what they can only do and panic at the thought of doing something out of their comfort zone. This is why sometimes you find that florists try and talk you out of having what you want. It may also be the fact that the prize value has been overinflated and she doesn't really want to spend anymore than she can get away with.

It might be worth checking out a few other florists in your area and taking your samples, pictures with you and see what their reactions are and compare them with the prize offer. This will probably sway you in the right direction. If it's definitely not what you want, it will niggle away at you till you see them on the day.

Find a florist you love.

our florist royally ballsed up our flowers and had such a negative impact on the day.

Your flowers will be in many of your photos you don't want to look back with disappointment.

Go with your gut. If you've budgeted for your own florist, then do that. Essentially, you are going with the freebie florist to avoid hurting her feelings and, really, shes not the important one here.

Alternatively, can you use her for the thank you flowers only?

It's better that she is up front now about having doubts about being able to pull off your vision than that she takes the commission and doesn't give you what you want.

So you could use her for buttonholes and thank you bouquets and then source another florist for the things which will impact on the 'feel of the day', or you could bite the bullet and let her offer the prize to someone who does want shabby chic and roses etc. Do you know anyone else getting married who might give you half the value so you have something towards your own bouquets?

I agree with the previous posters. Maybe use her for button holes/corsages and thank you flowers and find someone else for bouquets and centrepieces etc. How disappointing to hear her responses.

Thanks everyone for all of your advice, I feel much better knowing that I am not being daft after all!

I am going to have a look around for some other florists and get a couple of quotes and see what they can do, OH thinks i'm mad, but 'whatever makes me happy!' The flowers are really important to me, and something that I have been thinking about for ages and it would really change the feel of the day if they were wrong.

I'm mad for you on this!! I'd have another go at chatting to her once she's had a while to mull over your ideas, and very gently and politely tell her that you are feeling anxious about her response to your ideas, and that it's important to you to get it right.

I have a wedding planner I've had some issues with (differing visions) ... but we've got there in the end, with a little bit of sterness and time for the dust to settle.

If you don't get anywhere, if she is still stubborn, go elsewhere but ensure reviews are left and you try and get it out there that she didn't honour your prize. Perhaps report to facebook?

Also very politely thank and explain to the gift giver ...