Written by Cameron Hardesty, CEO and Founder of Poppy Flowers

The Wedding Flower Industry Challenge

I spent years watching talented florists scramble to guess future flower prices, set sky-high minimums and drown in endless email chains—while couples grew more frustrated by the day. So I founded Poppy to fix it. We lock in costs with growers months ahead, buy in bulk across our national network, and built a digital quoting tool that delivers clear pricing and mood boards in seconds. No surprises, no gimmicks—just the way wedding flowers should be.

Key Challenges Facing Traditional Florists

Unpredictable Costs

Florists must set prices today for flowers they’ll buy weeks or months later, with no certainty around future market rates.

Short Selling Season

They realistically have only about eight months each year to generate revenue, so protecting margin is critical.

Cumbersome Quoting Process

Preparing detailed proposals involves back-and-forth emails, PDF attachments, and multiple consultations—hardly the instant, digital experience modern couples expect.

Perceived High Pricing

To guard against cost fluctuations and limited selling windows, florists set high minimums. Customers see those minimums as unexplained “stickershock,” worsening the overall experience.

How Poppy Transforms the Experience

Advanced Cost Visibility

Poppy locks in flower costs through large-scale contracts with growers, so we can quote accurate à-la-carte prices without hidden markups.

Year-Round Scale

With 1,100+ florists nationwide servicing weddings from January in Miami to December elsewhere, we spread volume across thousands of orders. This lets us lower order minimums and still hit our margins.

Bulk Buying Power

Purchasing millions in flowers annually gives us pricing leverage—and the ability to pass savings on to customers.

Mid-Market Focus

We tailor our services to couples spending roughly $2,000–$8,000—customers who want a luxury feel without luxury-level prices.

Our Premium, Digital-First Service

Instant Proposals & Mood Boards

Our technology generates fully branded proposals and mood boards in seconds, eliminating weeks of manual back-and-forth.

Unlimited Revisions

Change your mind as often as you like—your proposal updates immediately online.

Trend-Forward Design

Our San Francisco–based Creative Director curates fresh floral items and seasonal palettes, so every arrangement feels cutting-edge.

What This Means for Couples

Transparent, Fair Pricing

You see exactly what you’re paying for each stem.

Speed & Convenience

Get a polished, editable proposal in minutes—right from your phone.

Luxury Experience, Smarter Value

World-class design and service at a price point accessible to more couples.

By combining contractual cost certainty, nationwide scale, and proprietary proposal technology, Poppy delivers a seamless, high-end floral experience without the traditional florist’s pain points.

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