Saw a wedding arch in Charleston that made me question everything

I was at a venue on King Street last weekend and they had this huge floral arch, but every single bloom was fake silk. The bride paid over $2,000 for it and had no idea until she touched it. Are we really okay with venues passing off high-end fake arrangements as the real thing without telling the client?

4 comments

4 Comments

lucasschmidt24d ago

That's a tough spot for the bride. Always ask for a sample piece you can see and touch before signing any contract. Get the flower type, like "silk peony" or "real garden rose", written into the agreement. If a vendor hesitates to put the materials in writing, that's a major red flag. A good florist or venue will be upfront about what you're buying.

milacraig24d ago

How many brides actually get to keep that sample piece after the meeting? I've seen florists charge a fee for samples, which feels like a sneaky way to avoid accountability. That written agreement better include who keeps the sample and what condition it needs to be in.

parker_price23d ago

Totally get this. Feels like the same bait-and-switch energy as when a product online looks amazing but shows up cheap. @milacraig has a point about samples, it's all about transparency.

the_linda23d ago

Wait, is it even legal to not say if the flowers are fake? I mean, @lucasschmidt is right about getting it in writing, but that feels like the bare minimum they should tell you upfront. It just makes the whole wedding industry seem kind of shady.