Floral Question

[marywdw]

Question for those of you w/ experience w/ Disney Floral...If you want floral centerpieces, the cost includes rental of the vase/container....what if you were to bring your own container? Has anyone tried this? Just curious b/c I've seen some vases that I like (and I'm only going to have 5 tables) and was wondering if they accept your containers?????
Thanks!

 

[wendy46001]

the container is a separate line item in your budget from floral (rental fee)...they will let you use your own vase...but I’m sure they will charge you for the floral foam or gel that is needed to keep the flowers alive....

 

[dznystar]

We are getting married at the WP and our reception will be at the French Island at EPCOT. We are not allowed to bring in any outside decorations at all. I know that if you have your reception at one of the convention centers, you can bring centerpieces though. Good luck!

 

[DisneyFairy19]

Wow I thought the vase was included in the floral fee...

 

[marywdw]

Wow I thought the vase was included in the floral fee...

It is my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong ladies ) that the cost is included (ex. in the wishbook) but that only includes the use of the vase - you don't get to keep it.

 

[StephSFL]

It is my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong ladies ) that the cost is included (ex. in the wishbook) but that only includes the use of the vase - you don't get to keep it.

That sounds right to me!

I have heard of brides brining in vases/containers for in park receptions and being charged a set-up fee and for the finishing materials (flowers, etc.). We were lookign to do this and we were told by our EM it was an option, but there were fees associated with it (our reception was at EPCOT).

 

[IrishCinderella]

Like Wendy said, the vases/containers/etc. are separate line items in your floral budget. The way to figure it out is that anything they cannot re-use you are buying, and anything they can is a rental item. Therefore, you buy the flowers and votives and you rent the vases/containers (btw-you can have them quote you for buying the vases/containers, but this is obviously pricey).

When deciding on my floral vendor, I got a quote from Disney and 2 outside vendors. While the format of each quote was a bit different, the vases/containers/etc. were always considered rental items.

I eliminated nearly all of my rental fees with Disney Floral (which I think are very high anyway) by bringing in all my own "glassware" - basically any vase/container/votive holder/etc. I bought everything at a local wholesale floral distributor, decorated them myself, and my parents drove all these fragile items down to Florida. Two days before the wedding, my DH dropped everything off at the Disney Event Group offices (which is where the Disney Floral team actually works). You can ship the items to these offices if driving is not an option for you, but not until (I think) 2 weeks before the event due to their limited storage space.

It was a bit of work on my part, but it lowered my floral bill by hundreds of dollars (I bought everything at significantly lower prices) and I got to keep a few as keepsakes. My Disney Floral rep was very receptive to the idea of me bringing in my own, she never balked once or tried to get me to keep the rental items. There were very minimal set-up fees for us, and the cost savings far outweighed these fees.

Here are some pictures (every glass item you see, other than food service items, I brought in myself):

BTW, I was not charged for floral foam or anything to keep the flowers alive because I gave them the containers 2 days in advance. I would never recommend trying to do this the day of the wedding; it would be far too much stress to try and set everything up yourself and I doubt Disney would even allow it.

 

[marywdw]

I really like what you've done!!!! I'm thinking the same thing - why pay to rent them when you can buy them for less and then you can keep them or give them to your guests?!!?
Glad to hear your floral person didn't give you a hard time about bringing your own - did they charge you then for the flowers and labor only or did they add a fee since you brought your own stuff? I probably only have 5 tables...do you think it would be worth it for me?
Thanks!

 

[IrishCinderella]

I really like what you've done!!!! I'm thinking the same thing - why pay to rent them when you can buy them for less and then you can keep them or give them to your guests?!!?
Glad to hear your floral person didn't give you a hard time about bringing your own - did they charge you then for the flowers and labor only or did they add a fee since you brought your own stuff? I probably only have 5 tables...do you think it would be worth it for me?
Thanks!

Thank you - I did love my ceremony and reception decor when I saw it all set-up and everything. It was like it jumped right out of head and turned 3D.

What I recommend is to have Disney quote you for renting the items first. Then shop around and estimate how much it will cost you to buy/ship the items. Go back to your Floral Rep and tell her exactly what you'd like to bring in yourself and have her take them out of your quote and add in the associated set-up fees. The price of the actual flowers, which include the 'labor' costs of making the arrangement, should not change unless your container is a vastly different size or something from the rental container. (More than likely, the Floral Rep will keep both quotes so don't worry about then having to put the rental items back in the quote.) Compare the difference in price and then decide whether or not it's worth it. Remember to consider not only the costs associated, but also your time and energy - which will be precious to you right before the wedding.

Yes, there are set-up fees, but honestly I think mine were far under $50 (however, remember things are always changing at DFTW) and I saved hundreds of dollars. It was beyond worth it for me.

 

[KStarfish82]

This may sounds like a weird question, but what if you do not want to have flowers on your tables? I mean for instance, I always thought I may do a fish bowl thing with floating candles or something. Do you think that would be OK?

 

[princessdisneybelle]

This may sounds like a weird question, but what if you do not want to have flowers on your tables? I mean for instance, I always thought I may do a fish bowl thing with floating candles or something. Do you think that would be OK?

Alot of people dont do flowers. Just look up some ideas of centerpieces you do like.