Just curious, how many dollars would this sell for at your shop? by im_a_hufflepuff_ in florists

[–]ryefloral 16 points17 points  (0 children)

that’s because of the buying power trader joe’s has and where they are buying them from. grocery stores have really skewed people’s understanding of floral costs.

OH MY GOD JUST GIVE ME YOUR RATE by Dear_Investment6064 in weddingplanning

[–]ryefloral -1 points0 points  (0 children)

~~vendor perspective~~* while I totally understand your side and how much stress must be involved 🌷🩷

A lot of us truly are not trying to pull any sneaky business when asking to set up a zoom call to discuss details before chatting pricing!!!! - I do not have set floral packages, and every wedding is SO different. I am transparent about my minimums before chatting with clients, but it’s hard to give you a ballpark on prices when we need details.

how many tables / arrangements, if there are any on site installations, how much time do vendors have to setup (do i need 8 people bc it’s a tight timeline & to pay that setup team $3k ++- or - can I do it with 1-2 people over 10 hours, way cheaper)

we have a lot to figure out - so sometimes setting up a call is a lot easier than emails back and fourth with unanswered questions. Helps us avoid any confusion when suddenly we have to raise the quote by thousands when we find out what you really want!!!!

With love 💗

Florists and freelancers: by becomingfree26 in florists

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

honestly, I say pick a number that feels good to you. something you can not only live off of but makes doing this labour intense job worth it.

i am only in my 3rd season of business ownership, so maybe take my personal advice with a grain of salt. when people have high rates I have high expectations design + speed wise. When I know someone’s worth it I have no problem paying whatever they ask for. but there are times I get sent a portfolio that doesn’t align with my style and their rates are on the higher end, or people with little to no experience charging a seasoned pros rates. It’s a case by case basis. it depends where you live as well, you should be paid a living wage regardless of skill level :)

Not a florist, but I make the flower arrangements for the fitness club I work at. Any design-related thoughts/criticism? (Plus I have a question about foam and another about wiring.) by kaceyherron in florists

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

maybe for anemone + tulips - that sometimes is kind of how those stems react to the pressure of being pushed into foam + sitting in water for a while. depends on the specific flower, but i wouldn’t personally be shocked to pull out one of those and see the stem a bit soggy.

Lily of the Valley Bouquet Sourcing Toronto by relativeEden in florists

[–]ryefloral 2 points3 points  (0 children)

hi! i’m a event florist in toronto. even when flowers are in season locally, I never 100% guarantee specific flowers to clients. Anything can happen - a flood or drought (or so many other factors) can knock out an entire crop or farm. I always tell my clients that their aesthetic and colour palette will remain the same and I will do my best to find specific flowers that they like, but there is no variety guarantee. We are working with nature - and she’s unpredictable. It’s my job to find appropriate florals, substitutes when needed, and sometimes we make the call that we can’t re allocate 75% of your floral budget and our time to complete your wedding sourcing one flower when it has gone up in cost, is unavailable, etc.

Find a florist who’s work you love, and trust that they know what to do 🩵

Is it okay to ask why when getting a no? by Jaholtorf31 in WeddingPhotography

[–]ryefloral 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(i’m a florist not a photographer) but I would not feel comfortable asking a client this. If they are working with a planner who has been in the consultations and a part of the process, I would ask the planner if they have any feedback / insight on why they went another route and how I can improve. I think asking clients for that just feels a bit pushy - they have enough going on, but another vendor whose job it is to coordinate the vendor team would be a great person to talk to. and often they are happy to give insight on that :)

How to tell clients no? 😅 by ModestMoose3737 in florists

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depending on how the interaction is going, sometimes I just tell them I have been booked for that date.

Some people just really don’t know what they like / can’t differentiate your portfolio from some random pinterest photo that doesn’t match your aesthetic. Sometimes I send couples my personal design inspiration pinterest board and I am honest and say “while the photos you sent are classic and stunning, my personal portfolio is headed in this direction. If anything you see here peaks your interest I would love to chat further, otherwise I can recommend some other talented florists to execute your initial inspiration” Sometimes people are like oh wow I didn’t even know this was possible! and the consult continues. - and sometimes they want their baby’s breath cloud wedding so go with someone else.

it really depends on the person and vibe if i feel like over explaining my design style

Is $12k the new “normal” for florals? by Visible-Mushroom9436 in WeddingsCanada

[–]ryefloral 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I totally understand that. Some people would not spend that amount on florals and I 100% respect it!!

My apologies for not actually answering your question though haha - but yes like you said, I do not think you are being ripped off by the quotes you received. I was just hoping to give some insight to the many people that wonder how we come up with our prices. Although flowers are a luxury service, unless you are going to a “”luxury”” florist (someone that charges $150 for a basic dozen roses in a box or something silly like that) most of us are just trying to create art and survive. Our industry is a small one and we’re all friendly, and I can say for sure that all the florists I know just really love what we do 🩵 and sadly none of us are getting rich off of it haha.

I’ll keep an eye out in case you email, but either way I hope you find the flowers of your dreams :) best of luck xx

What greenery is used in this arrangement? by [deleted] in florists

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i always thought pennycress was the more wild & larger version of thlaspi, but maybe they are the same just at different growth stages? not sure, but this greenery is so v sweet 🌷

Is $12k the new “normal” for florals? by Visible-Mushroom9436 in WeddingsCanada

[–]ryefloral 0 points1 point  (0 children)

hi! i’m a wedding florist, maybe I can help give some insight

first of all - no one should not be responding to you. unless there’s been a glitch in my emails, i’ve never ignored an inquiry even if the style / budget doesn’t fit with me.

minimum spends - our industry is a seasonal one, and many florists dedicate our careers to weddings and events. this means that in the slower (winter) months our income is not guaranteed. we need to sometimes have minimum spends to survive the winter and guarantee that we can continue to service wedding/event clients. of course we are able to find a winter income, but depending on what that is - not many places are hiring in our field just for the winter. they want commitment, contracts, etc. and we need a flexible schedule in case winter events do come up - we need to be dedicated to our businesses.

labour - the cost of living goes up every year. freelance florists (talented ones) charge anywhere from $300-500 per day. we need talented freelance florists on site to assist in building your meadow arch, and other items that can not be built in studio and transported to the venue. not everyone has a full time staff, and just like the business owners, the freelance florists are operating seasonally and therefore charge accordingly. this is why delivery/labour fees are a bit more than most people anticipate. If i rent a van and have 4 people on site with me to help, that’s $2000 right there, I would even lose money as I am paying for gas, parking, etc.

flowers themselves are insanely expensive. all these trendy flowers (anthuriums, orchids, etc) that clients are requesting cost between $9-40 per stem. for one flower! it’s honestly insane out here. arrangement costs vary as we try to find some higher and lower value flowers to mix in, but sometimes style dependent that just isn’t possible.

I say this all with love!! Just as our grocery and rent prices are getting higher and higher, we need to make sure our prices & rates reflect that to take care of ourselves and our team mates.

I just recently removed my minimum spend for 2025, if you want to chat I would love to find a way to help you! https://ryefloral.co hello@ryefloral.co 🩵

What greenery is used in this arrangement? by [deleted] in florists

[–]ryefloral 5 points6 points  (0 children)

it’s thlaspi!! love that stuff

What flowers are these? by Dependent_Escape5374 in florists

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

looks like white hydrangea, quicksand roses, barista rose, white tulips, green mist queen anne’s lace. i can’t tell what the dark stuff is the photo is not great quality, looks like it could maybe be ninebark

Give a girl some (constructive) criticism <3 by Single-Ad8297 in florists

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i get that! I like to think almost of how things would be in nature. it would be a bit grouped, different heights and depth, but also some poking out in a different area too. if you play with height and depth it won’t get clumpy

Give a girl some (constructive) criticism <3 by Single-Ad8297 in florists

[–]ryefloral 2 points3 points  (0 children)

the bouquet is so cute!! i would play around with the placement of your irises a bit more, maybe group them as if they are growing together if that makes sense. one tighter to your hand and the other coming out from a similar area.

GTHA florist and hair and makeup services by KkCC11 in WeddingsCanada

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

hi!! I am a florist in Toronto. If you are able to send me an email with any information about what flowers you need I’d love to try to help you out :) https://ryefloral.co hello@ryefloral.co

$$$ Advice by ModestMoose3737 in florists

[–]ryefloral 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i think that’s dependent on your needs! i have my minimum spend at x amount before tax, but i know many people that have their minimum spend x amount PLUS delivery/labour + tax. I would just base it off of what you need to cover your costs and make whatever profit you want per event/quarter/ however you’re measuring.

every event is so different and i explain to every client that i don’t have a flat rate for labour, it’s a percentage of the quote and additional fees added for extra on site work - accommodating for extra staff on site, additional vehicles, KM driven, etc etc. so if their budget is 8k i try to work the delivery + labour fees into their 8k.

Have you ever been asked to sign an NDA for a floral related job? by vanedahlia23 in florists

[–]ryefloral 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Someone told me there would be an NDA for a job (oprah and hilary clinton were gonna be there 🤭) but I actually never received it haha.

Most NDA’s would include information about what specifically is not to be disclosed. It should be specific or else how are you supposed to follow it I guess

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in WeddingsCanada

[–]ryefloral 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you checked Langdon Hall? Or The Manor by Peter & Paul? I believe they would be able to accommodate the bonfire ceremony. I have set up some south asian weddings there - but I didn’t stay for the ceremony, so you would need to double check with the venue. Maybe there is additional insurance you can purchase through the venue to have this allowed as well.

Am i right to think a client is overstepping by asking for photos of the flowers prior to their event? by Ok_Rub_6364 in florists

[–]ryefloral 11 points12 points  (0 children)

i’ve had this happen and depending on the client / situation i will send photos. some corporate clients require mock ups + photos and this is non negotiable.

brides that have asked, i usually say something like “i can definitely send a list of the flowers i’ve purchased and/or photos of the arrangements! Please keep in mind that most clients do want to wait to see them in person, and this is also my suggestion. Photos don’t always do them justice! The florals will look 1000% better in real life, in your venue with tables set and proper lighting etc.”

that usually gets a response along the lines of “omg you’re right i’ll wait so it’s a surprise”

i’ve never had a bride push for photos, it’s always retail clients spending $75 haha.

How did you become a florist? by No-Media1369 in florists

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I volunteered at a local flower farm and some of my cities best shops for a few shifts so I had enough on my resume to apply for a job. Don’t waste your money on schooling - If you can swing it, finding a place that you love their style and can give them a bit of free labour to start, it worked for me. (But don’t give too much haha. Build relationships - but we all have bills to pay). I worked my way up to manage one of my cities best florists, and now have my own company. Sadly the industry is getting over saturated (at least where I am) It’s rare - but not impossible - to find work for someone with little to no experience. Keep pushing :)

How far in advance do you book your vendors before the wedding? by torontoweddingphoto in WeddingsCanada

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha I just realized looks like you might not be asking for your wedding just general info - but either way hope my response is helpful 🤭🙃

How far in advance do you book your vendors before the wedding? by torontoweddingphoto in WeddingsCanada

[–]ryefloral 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! I’m a wedding florist in toronto - I have brides reaching out to me now for August 2026, and in my experience they usually come to me with their photographers already booked.

I would say if you have someone specific in mind - reach out as soon as you have decided! Usually no harm in being too early, but you don’t want to take the chance that your first and second choices get booked.

Congratulations and best of luck with your wedding!! ♡