How long to wait for quotes?

Most of mine would get me quotes back on the spot. I would tell them what I wanted or send pictures and they got me a quote immediately if not maybe a day later. If they want your business, they should be relatively fast.

I never waited more than a week. To me, that's a bad sign in general.

When I started reaching out to vendors for their pricing, the ones who got back to me right away were put on my "maybe" list. The ones who didn't, got axed from consideration. My time is just as valuable as any of theirs, so the ones that hit me up a week later (or not at all), I told them I no longer needed their information, and thank you for your response.

If you are running a business, in the wedding industry, there is no reason not to respond right away. I get that there may be a lot of inquiries in any particular day, and that can take time to respond to everyone. But if you are so unorganized (or uncaring) that you go more than 3 days without responding to a potential bride/groom, you don't deserve their business.

I even had one vendor email back right away, and ask me if she could get back to me in a couple of days. She knew she was backed up, and would be out of her office for a couple of days (on a job), but didn't want me to think I was being ignored. So she shot me a quick message, letting me know she'd send me some info. Then a couple of days later, there she was, giving me everything I asked for. So, waiting for the info wasn't the issue. It was how she treated her potential customers right off the bat, making us feel important.

I think my first post may have been confusing. She got back to my initial email within a day and we already discussed what I would like to see for the wedding. She said she would try to email a quote on the weekend, but she needed to check with the people she buys her flowers from in order to give me an exact quote. I also know that she said since the flowers/plants we were considering aren't in season now, it may be a little harder to get a quote from her supplier. I guess what I really want to know is if florists take a little longer to get a quote from, especially if plants are out of season. It hasn't been a week yet, which is the time frame I would've given it, but she said the weekend so I'm unsure.

The florist we met with gave us ballpark quotes on the spot, but I totally understanding having a vendor tell you they'll try to get you a quote "soon". I don't think a response like that is grounds to drop them - I'd give them until COB Wednesday, or maybe even through the weekend if I was feeling patient, and touch base again. If they don't get you back to you after that, then it may be an issue. I guess it depends if you're wanting a ton of flowers that are non-standard or harder to get, but I'd think a florist who's been in the business for a bit should be able to at estimate costs without too much effort.

The florist gave me a quote in two days. I've waited longer (almost a week?) for caterers. After initial contact. I revised the catering a couple times with the caterer we finally went with, and it took a little over a week to get each revision in, but every contact we had was positive and friendly, and apologetic when communication ran a bit late. We booked them and I'm not worried at all. It was a much bigger red flag when I got a quote in within three days from someone else, and the caterer had ignored a severe allergy that I have.

If a vendor hadn't even considered my request for a quote within a week, they were immediately eliminated. I didn't try reaching out or anything, I just let them go.

This happened when we first started looking at venues. Within a couple of weeks I narrowed down my list from 12 to the one we sent a contract.

If they communicate with you now, what will they be like at crunch time?

So one florist had me wait a MONTH before she sent me some crap literally. She took that damn long to get back to me and it wasn't even right and way under budget. I emailed her back expressing my concerns and to include more of my flowers and instead of fixing it after a WEEK what did she do? She emailed me excuses and that 2 other people were getting quotes from her for my date. I wanted to be like well if it takes you a month total for everyone to figure out a simple quote and get it correct, there's no chance those other brides have decided yet. She asked me additional questions and I haven't responded back. Only THEN did she finally fix my flower choices and quote this weekend. I still have yet to email her back and I am sure as hell not choosing her. She can sit and wait like I did. I found it incredibly rude she screwed up and made excuses and then says oh btw 2 other people are interested in your date. She clearly doesn't know how to please people at all. (Meanwhile no worries I pretty much have a florist in the works and am reaching out to Bloominous which if all goes well would be my final choice!) I'd say a week and if you reached out a second time and it wasn't timely still move on.

For instance my baker also said he got backed up with cake contracts for people and that he would get it to me by end of day (this was Friday). I am not fretting yet. If I don't receive anything by this Friday I will reach out again. Sometimes they are truly very busy BUT a month is unacceptable.

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Thank you for this! It's more seasonal greenery since it's a December wedding; we were thinking some wreaths as centerpieces or garland and I don't think she's done that before. She is recently in the business ( we went to school with her husband and she has done the flowers for some of our friends' weddings) so we thought we would give her a chance for more business. Thankfully, she said she will have a quote to us no later than tomorrow! If she still hasn't sent me one, we will be moving on.

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Yes, a month is absolutely terrible. You have way too much on your plate to worry about getting back in contact with her.

View Quoted Comment I’m currently on the midst of my wedding planning doing the same, had a consult on the 6th and it’s been a few days excluding weekends Sunday Monday for her. She did tell me to give her 3-4 days for all her vendors to respond. A week is reasonable unless ur on a time crunch right away to get a planner etc. I won’t even have the deposit until next month so for me it’s no big deal, as I’ve already considered my alternative planners and florist