Help! I've messed up wedding flowers!

[Babymamma192]

Ahhh I could cry and throw up right now!

My BIL and soon to be SIL asked me to do their wedding flowers (they're on a budget) and I did floristry at college.

So they asked me and I said yes we looked at flowers and decided to order a 'wedding pack' from a supplier and well I've messed up on the delivery date and instead of it coming on the 4th of January it's coming... TOMORROW!!!

I have no use for £500 worth of flowers tomorrow argghhh!!

So people of mums net if you had £500 worth of flowers..... What would you do with them..... also any suggestions on how I'd be able to make some of the money back for them as now I will be having to spend £500 on new flowers for the wedding!

I'd first of all talk to the supplier and see if they could use them

Assuming there is no way you can cancel? Ring round local florists and see if you can offload any? Offer them for sale by the bunch on local selling groups?

Sorry forgot to mention I've phoned the supplier and they can't/won't take them back so I'm definitely stuck with them!

@TheFlis im gonna get phoning round now... Oh I really hope someone will take them!

Can you knock up a quick Etsy page or similar and sell them locally as festive/winter flower arrangements?! Publicise in local FB groups, school chat etc.

I'd be posting in LOTS of local groups seeing if people can take some off your hands (at a reduced cost). You won't make all your money back, but you can at least get some of it back. Anything you don't sell I'd probably donate to local nursing homes or churches. It's better than them going to waste.

How did the dates go so wrong?! 😱Is it definitely your mistake?

And yes, agree you need to get on groups. What do you have coming?

@JustWhatWeDontNeed I have no idea how I've done it but I think it is my fault unfortunately!

I have 80 roses, 40 stems of carnations, 30 stems of hydrangea, 50 stems of hypericum, soft ruscus, eucalyptus, thlaspi green bell, craspedia... So much stuff!
Just called at some local florists and they've said if I call back with the stuff tomorrow they can see if it's any use to them so hopefully they'll take some of it off my hands!

Just can't believe I've done it! Feel so so stupid!!

May have to go buy some cellophane and anything that I end up with I'll have to make into bouquets and stick on fb!

Thanks for all the messages and ideas!

Bucket at the traffic lights for the roses... 🫣

Hopefully you can shift some onto florists...

Is it a mistake you can afford? I'd be horrified if this happened to my relative.

I'm sure the last thing you want to be doing tomorrow is making 20 bunches of flowers to not sell on FB marketplace 😩

There are plenty of school / community Christmas fairs on this weekend. Ring round and find a stall and then make them up into jam jar posies and sell them. You might also need to source some jam jars of course....

That’s a cracking deal for £500!
Kinda hoping I see a frantic lady selling bunches of flowers at the 3 fairs I’m going to this week so I can buy some.

Edit: I know that the flowers don’t arrange themself, the skill costs more. I just love flowers.

I think if you sell them to florists you won't get your money back as they'll need to be able to make a profit on them. Your best bet is probably to make up bouquets and sell them. What colours are the flowers? Could they pass as Xmas bouquets since it's December on Friday?

Could you explain this on a Facebook group and make up bouquets cheap to sell? Like do a load of £10 bouquets?

churches are always happy to have flowers!

Whereabouts are you? I’d buy £50 of flowers!

Anyone near you doing make your own wreath courses? They might take some of the bits.

I’d be tempted to have a little trial run with some, as well, and then have as a nice display in my house.

There are loads of wreath-making workshops going on round here (for charity and profit). I made mine last week and I would happily have bought a nice bouquet of flowers at the same time.

The organisers might ask for a cut/share of proceeds but I reckon that you could shift them.

What about trying a fancy farm shop or independent green grocer to see whether they can shift some.

If you have school age kids, a bunch of flowers would be a lovely Friday gift for the teacher(s).

Where are you?

Could you make up into £10 bouquets and sell off at a market stool?

Many years ago , I booked my mum back home on a flight after our wedding. Managed to book the wrong month . It does happen.
Fingers crossed you get some money back.

Can you preserve them and use them/sell them next year instead ahead of wedding season?
Have you got a local market you could grab a stall at and stick some Christmas ribbon on them?

Did you mean market stall?

Yes. 😱

Do you have a local Facebook group? Ours goes mad for cheap bouquets.

Wow so many suggestions! Thank you all!!
@Laurdo they're oranges, reds and the hydrangea are green so could pass as festive bouquets!
@Doormatnomore haha keep your eyes peeled I may just be there 🤣
@WishIMite im in the north west not far from Chester.
@QueenOfWeeds a trial run is also a good suggestion and if I can't get them sold on I'll be having a go at it 😂 at least I'll be prepared for the real thing 🤣

@OhMehGoddess thank you for sharing your story 🤣 good to know I'm not alone
.. Hope everything worked out for you and your mum!

@ManyATrueWord yes I'm in a couple of local Facebook groups so if I do end up having to keep them I'll be definitely posting some bouquets....hopefully people will want them 🤣