When I start working with a client, I’m not necessarily looking for someone who always defers to me, who says, “Yes, of course, you’re a genius!”, or even someone who says, “Surprise me.” Really, the green flags have more to do with a ‘go with the flow’ attitude.

Go with the flow.

That ‘go with the flow’ attitude shows me that you trust me as your florist. Trusting the process is the Dolly Parton of green flags. You hired me because you love what I do with color and shape. You hired me because you went to an event where I was the florist, and you saw the way I transformed the room from a plain white box into a hot pink disco heaven straight out of 1978. When I show you a rough sketch, whether or not you can see it in your mind’s eye, you trust that what I envision is going to match what you say you want.

A vision, not a Pinterest board.

A green flag client says, “I want drama, color, sparkle. I want it to be goth and a little unhinged.” Hell yeah, you do. You bring the ideas, and I bring them to life.

Opinions.

But not control issues. “I want it to feel like a modern art museum having a Shakespeare-themed gala.” - Yes.

“Are you sure that shade of chartreuse is going to work?” - No.

Clear communication meets trust in a green flag client. We are collaborators, we share what’s important, and we trust each other with the rest.

Kind communication.

Texting “URGENT!!!!” the day of is only acceptable if the bride cuts her finger and splatters blood all over the white lilies. Red flag clients say, “URGENT!!!!” when they mean, “Hey, do you have some time to chat in the next couple of days?”

Clear communication is saying, “Yes, love that.” Or, “I don’t know what color the venue’s carpeting is, but I’ll find out.” Clear communication is saying, “Heads up, my weirdo mom decided to bring her own bouquet. I’ll try to make it disappear.”

Even saying, “That isn’t what I was envisioning,” is more of a green flag than saying, “This is what you were so excited to show me?”

Yes, we are more partners in this experience than friends, and yes, we both deserve respect. Yes, I love yellow on you. No, sunflowers are not currently in season.

You respect the budget, and by extension, my expertise.

Green flag clients don’t act personally offended when I explain what it costs to fill a 4,000 square-foot church. One rose at the end of each pew is going to look sad and dinky, and I need you to trust me on this.

Red flag clients roll their eyes in my face (yes, this has happened more than once) and say they’ll be better off with flowers from a grocery store. And that’s fine, go ahead to your local grocery store. Green flag clients understand that the cost of a professional florist isn’t just the cost of a bloom.

The cost of a professional florist includes (and is certainly not limited to) procuring and shipping flowers and foliage, as well as the time and physical labor required for arranging, delivering, rethinking, fine-tuning, and dismantling floral installations. This includes keeping flowers and foliage alive from arrival to the end of the event, and sometimes beyond. The cost includes my 15+ years of experience, honing my craft technically and creatively, and it includes paying my employees, who are putting in just as much physical labor as I am, a fair and living wage.

You see and appreciate the artistry.

A green flag client understands that what I do is more than dropping off flowers at a venue; it is an art, a dedication, and a passion. The same way you might look at a custom gown for a gala and think, I can’t even begin to imagine the time, experience, effort, and creativity that went into this. Where you appreciate the time and devotion I put into my work, I appreciate the time and devotion that went into planning your event, and together, we’ll move with that in mind. With that mindset, partnerships work.