Wedding Question - About Gratuities...florist

[JKMastalski]

My mom just got the proposal from my sister's florist/room designer person. We like to call him "franc" like from Father of the Bride. (He is even worse than Franc!).
Anyways, Franc's proposal was $xxxx amout of dollars. Then underneath that it said " + 20% for Delivery, Set Up, Services & Breakdown = $xxxx.".

The question is, is that his tip???? I think it is, otherwise why would he not have just listed that within the proposal.
What do you think?

 

[Chris2597]

HMMMMM....The florist we used for dd wedding did charge a small delivery and set up fee , but it wasnt so outrageous t hat I would have questioned it. However, some of the vendors that we consulted with during the planning process really gouged the consumer for everything....I would ask him point blank (in a nice way) what the charges are for...If his charges turn out to be out of line, drop him.....Unless you are set on using him. We did tip several of the vendors above and beyond for outstanding customer service, but it was at our discretion.

 

[Daxx]

Gosh, a percentage of the total amount really doesn't seem fair. **Please note that I am not a florist, so what do I know about charges, so don't flame me on that statement!!!** I know our florist charged a set fee for delivery, set up and break down. And, I'm sure that set rate had to do w/all that was ordered. I'm sure the rate varied, depending on how much work was involved. For example, if they're only setting out two floral displays, it'd be a lower charge than if they're setting up a trellis in the church, tying flower bouquets to the pews and hanging wreathes outside the church.

Now, looking at the percentage thing ... for example, what if your event and mine were the same "size" and at the same place. Say we both ordered 10 vases of flowers to be delivered to the ABC Banquet Hall. Say your flowers cost $1,000 because you chose to use daisies but mine cost $10,000 b/c I chose to use cala lillies. The set up and break down would be the same b/c they're 10 vases of flowers and they're at the same site. Your set up fee would be $200 and my set up would be $2,000. Is that really fair? Same venue, same amount of vases, same work involved.

I don't know the answer ... but I'd see what other florists are offering.

 

[pearlieq]

Get some other quotes. That sounds like too much unless your flowers are very elaborate and will require an unusual amount of work for delivery/setup/teardown.

As I recall most of our quotes had that as a flat fee and it was aroun 10% of our rather modest flower order.

Good luck!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My florist charged a flat delivery fee. If your amount is indeed 4 figures (by the number of x's you had)--20% is exhorbitant. That is at least $250. That should already be incorportated into the cost of the flowers.

I think I paid in the neighborhood of $500 (very simple--allergic to a lot!) then it was a $25-$50 delivery fee. We ended up winning a gift certificate to our florist--so the amount was actually a bit lower that we actually paid.

Daxx's analogy about sums it up really nicely!

 

[Towncrier]

My wife charges a flat delivery and service fee (although that fee does vary depending on how far away from our house the wedding and reception are held). She has NEVER based that fee on a percentage.

Regarding gratuities for the florist, I believe that in all the years that she has been doing weddings, she has only received one or two tips. But she has gotten LOTS of referrals.