Jeff Martin’s Florists

We contracted Jeff for our spring wedding. I was very clear about what I needed. I brought in pictures and pointed out the things that were important to me. Specifically that some tables have a large ball of flowers as the centerpiece (see pic). Jeff assured me this could be done, just like the picture.
My first mistake was putting down a large sum of money (+$ 1,000) and made 2 more payments to payoff my balance before the wedding day. In the beginning Jeff had no problems meeting with me and going over things. But the closer we got to the event Jeff began adding his «creative ideas» to my flowers. Things like plastic red birds and these glitter ball things. I told him I didn’t like those, but he insisted. I was very clear that I didn’t want plastic birds in any of my centerpieces (walked in on my wedding day to the reception room, and you guessed it, –plastic birds and glitter balls)
The second red flag was my final table count. I went to see Jeff to give him my final table count, which had now decreased by one table. Jeff refused to adjust my invoice to reflect this. So I basically paid for a table that was never there. Even though this was well before time to make such changes, but he had the money in full and I knew at this point he wasn’t professional, just greedy. We even mailed and hand delivered a letter going over each of the items paid for, and how his invoice didn’t match up, even if the extra table was there. This is when Jeff went AWOL.
On the wedding day it was a nightmare come true. All the flowers had burnt edges that looked like they were at least a week or more old. The (12yr old) flower girls box of flowers had glue dripping off of it, like it was made that morning. Chunks of her box were falling off as she walked down the aisle! [This wasn’t some toddler swinging a box, this was a preteen who was holding it ever so gently. It should have never fell to pieces like that.].
The ball of flower centerpieces were sad. You could tell they didn’t have enough flowers to do it, so they tried to stuff metalic fabric in between the large spaces. The flowers were dry and burnt, with random feathers to hide bald spots. All of the centerpieces were so sad looking that my photographer had to get close ups only and no long shots.
The only positive, is the bouquet was nice. I wish more effort had been put into the rest of the pieces.

Sometimes I wait until the last minute to do things. Very rarely in fact, due to my type Anal retentive personality (which gets better as I get older). In this case, however, I am the master procrastinator. When it comes to getting the lady flowers, I just can’t seem to get it done before that day. Last time I came here, I put in an order 24 hours ahead, which was a record.
Jeff Martin is just down the street and convenient for that I’m on the way home and I guess I should get some flowers for our Anniversary moment. I’ve been going here for a few years now, and they always give me a funny, somewhat disapproving look and then set off to put something together for me. I always ask that they do something different and unusual (my lady is not a big rose/​carnation type), and they always come through with something cool and unusual. They’ve done some interesting stuff for the arts center where I work as well. Nice people and they’ve saved me a few times which helps.