Anyone used or going to use a grocery store for their flowers?

As a Palm Springs, CA wedding officiant I am in a position to know many vendors. In our area, Jensen's Florists (part of the Jensen's food chain) are excellent. Bridal couples receive excellent prices and service.

Reverend Stan

It is becoming more popular, but I would still think about a florist you get the service you want and it is more of what you really want the day of. you don't want to settle on just pricing. I am a planner in the southern ca. area and I can tell you to check out Katsflorals.com She works with all budgets and she does great work.

A couple of things to consider would be that a florist has the time to arrange the flowers for you and keep them fresh. If you do your own flowers will you have the time to do them with everything else going on or will you have the storage space to keep them fresh for your wedding? Just making sure you keep these things in mind. Have you checked out some of the florists here on wedding wire? They might be able to do your flowers for you for close to the cost you are looking for. I hope everything works out.

Best Wishes,

Im going to! I work at H.E.B and they do beautiful arrangements! They said since i work there they'd cut me a good deal ..plus its very very convienient for me since i work there!!

My friend got all of her flowers at Sam's and she said it was so cheap and very easy to do the bouquets! Good luck!

A close friend of mine go married last year and his mother worked in the flower department at safeway. She purchase all the flowers and made everything herself and it was beautiful. I am visiting 3 floriest in the next month to get some prices then im talking to a friend and the mom at safeway for compairisons. I think if you have seen the work and you know it looks good and they have the room to keep everything you need/want fresh...go for it.

Although you do not have the convenience of a florist to deliver and set-up your floral arrangements, I have seen this done at my friend's wedding last year and am planning to do so as well. The money she saved was incredible. Which made sense since they were going on their honeymoon and by the time they were backt he flowers would all be dead...she spent $150 for all the bouquets, arrangements, and boutennieres (sp?). A good way to save yourself some money if you don't mind taking some time (a very small amount of time for the 4 bridesmaids to make the bouquets & arrangements). GOOD LUCK!!

My friend's sister works as a florist and she told me instead of using the flower shops flowers which would run me up a lot of money, to buy them from Costco or Sams, i haven't looked into it yet but if its gonna save me money i'm definitely gonna do it.

I was going to do the samething. I am DIYS with my mom help. It's easy and simple. I am not too picky about which flowers I need or gotta have. Since my arrangements on the tables are not flowers I figure to do a test run through when the time gets closer. I was just going to use some roses and feathers and maybe through a couple of different flowers in. I am a person that is willing to work with it instead of it working me. I figure if I get the flowers the day before the wedding since I will be at the hotel me and my mom will work on them. Very fast and simple. Plus why spend so much on flowers when you can use it for something else. And the bad part about it is you won't hold it for long since you will throw it anyways. Good luck.

My company offers floral design workshops where you come to our design studio and with professional help from a florist, you make your own centerpieces and bouquets.

You purchase the flowers wholesale and you are saving on the typical florist mark up because you are doing the work yourself.

We'll even deliver and set them up for you on the day of your wedding.

For more information, visit www.theboutiquegrp.com

You might want to check out the flower district too (where the florist get their flowers). Great deals! and b/c we're not florists we had to pay $1 admission. We've already figured out who we're getting them from and some of the vendors will make you bouquets for a great price.

IN my opinion, most large chain flowers are very boring and cookie cutter, although some small chains or independents can be nice. I can't think of one in LaJolla, though. Please, do yourself a favor and call Caty at Resplendent Venue Design and Artistry in North SD county (http://www.resplendentdesign.com/Resplendent/Welcome.html) - she does beautiful work & she's a delightful person

I just ordered my flowers from Publix grocery store (not sure if Publix is in your area or not) and am getting all of the same flowers in our bouquets for anywhere from 20%-70% less on each item. For example, brides bouquet was 20% less than the florist's quote, but my jr. bridesmaid bouquet that the florist quoted me at $50 is only going to be $15 with Publix...same flowers, same design.

The florist at Publix advised that if you don't know what you want for your bouquets then it's best to go to a florist that specializes in weddings and can really sit down and spend time with you. I knew what I wanted and had pictures, so it was a good fit for me. We are also getting our cake there and so they are delivering the flowers with the cake at no extra charge.

People magazine just put out an article on using flowers from the super market. Take a look at it they are actually very pretty. Also if it makes you feel better I did the flowers for my brothers rehearsal dinner, a friends rehearsal dinner and a wedding in June and the flowers were from the super market and no one had a clue they weren't from a fancy floweriest. Everyone really loved them.

I'm with Paola (sorry if I spelled it wrong). I don't live very far from the L.A. flower district. Well it takes me about an hour to get there but the money that I'm saving on the flower is GREAT! I have a few friend helping me and my venue has a huge fridge that they are letting me keep my flowers in. Good luck

Use local flower growers during the summer months. Others are all covered with pesticides anyway. shipped from S. America.

My wife happens to work for a grocery store as - yes, the florist. One thing that we found out is that, although their selection is very broad and they do have good, quality flowers, they have a few drawbacks for weddings. One of these drawbacks is the lack of delivery. That's definitely one less thing you need to worry about on your wedding day.

For the price difference, it's worth going to someone who specializes in weddings.

MC/DJ Carlos