COVID has turned the wedding business upside down. First there were massive wedding cancellations when states mandated limited social gatherings, then as COVID continued and upset plans, couples resorted to ZOOM weddings, micro weddings, and mid-week weddings.
This year consumers are making up for postponed celebrations and the wedding business is exploding. There are more demands for flowers than growers and vendors can keep up with. Supply chain issues, labor shortages, extreme weather conditions and farms going out of business have all contributed to the challenge of securing wedding product. If you're having trouble getting product, you're not alone.
Here are some tips to help you cope:
Discuss your needs with vendors well in advance of your event. If you have months of weddings ahead let them know. They can help you select color palettes and advise you on product availability, as the market changes.
Try to select product that is in season, as you will have a better chance of it being available.
Focus on the color palette rather promising specific flowers.
Offer substitutions for your clients, so that if a specific flower cannot be secured, your client has an alternative that satisfies their vision.
Order enough overage for waste. Flowers are perishable and there will be shrinkage, so ordering a bit extra is essential.
Order in reasonable bundle sizes. In other words, don’t order 8 stems of tulips if they are sold in bunches of 10. You will need to order the full bunch. Few flowers are sold by the stem.
Once you have your recipes down, use Excel or a similar program to help you count and organize exactly what you need. The more organization you do ahead of the event, the smoother it will go.
Place and confirm your order with the vendor at least 2-3 weeks before you need the flowers. The market is tight and without enough lead time, suppliers cannot guarantee your order.
Make sure you get your flowers 2-3 days ahead of the event. That way you can condition them and have them open in time for the big day.
Don't take on more than you can handle. Weddings are lucrative, but they take a tremendous amount of organization and labor. If you don't have the staff to take on multiple weddings during a weekend, decline the business or hire freelance help.
Organization and the ability to offer multiple options to couples will help you navigate this year's demanding wedding business.
“A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together.
It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.”
Dave Meurer