When your wedding florist delivers wrong flowers, your decorator fails to execute the design, or floral vendors no-show, use this playbook to recover your deposits and damages through demand letters and small claims court.
Common Florist & Decorator Disputes
Dispute Type
Typical Fee Range
Recovery Likelihood
Florist complete no-show
$1,500 - $8,000
High - full refund plus replacement costs
Wrong flowers/colors delivered
$1,000 - $5,000
Medium-High - documentation critical
Wilted or dead flowers
$800 - $4,000
High - clear breach with photo evidence
Missing items (bouquets, centerpieces)
$500 - $3,000
High - partial refund for missing items
Decorator failed to match design
$2,000 - $15,000
Medium - comparison evidence needed
Common florist breaches
Complete failure to deliver any flowers.
Wrong flower types, colors, or varieties.
Arrangements significantly smaller than ordered.
Flowers delivered wilted, browning, or dead.
Missing items like bouquets or boutonnieres.
Late delivery causing ceremony delays.
Common decorator breaches
Decor looks nothing like the design proposal.
Missing elements from the agreed design.
Wrong colors or style of linens and draping.
Incomplete setup at event start time.
Damaged or dirty rental items.
Failure to set up or break down as agreed.
Photograph everything immediately: Take photos of flowers and decor as soon as they arrive and throughout the event. Compare photos to your contract's design proposal or mood board. Time-stamped photos are critical evidence.
Legal Framework for Floral & Decor Contracts
Contract Law Principles
Conforming goods: Florists must deliver flowers that match the contract specifications in type, color, quantity, and condition.
Material breach: Delivering substantially different flowers or decor than contracted is a material breach entitling you to reject and demand refund.
Perfect tender rule: For goods (flowers), you can reject delivery if it fails to conform to the contract in any respect.
Types of Recoverable Damages
Direct damages: Return of deposit and payments for items not delivered or delivered wrong.
Cover damages: The cost to purchase replacement flowers or decor, minus the contract price.
Consequential damages: Emergency purchases, rush delivery fees, and related expenses.
Diminished value: Difference between value of flowers ordered and value of flowers received.
Substitution Clauses
Many floral contracts allow substitutions for similar flowers due to availability.
Substitutions must be of equal or greater value and similar appearance.
Substituting cheap flowers for premium varieties exceeds reasonable substitution rights.
The florist should notify you of significant substitutions before the event.
Small Claims Court Thresholds
State
Small Claims Limit
Filing Fee
California
$12,500
$30 - $75
Texas
$20,000
$50 - $100
New York
$10,000
$15 - $20
Florida
$8,000
$50 - $300
Illinois
$10,000
$50 - $150
UCC applies to flower sales: The Uniform Commercial Code governs sales of goods including flowers. This gives you strong remedies including the right to reject non-conforming goods and recover the price paid plus cover damages.
Documentation Checklist
Contract Documents
Signed florist/decorator contract.
Itemized flower list with varieties and quantities.
Design proposal, mood board, or inspiration images.
Color palette and specific flower requests.
Payment Records
Deposit receipts and payment confirmations.
Final payment receipts.
Receipts for emergency replacement flowers.
Credit card statements showing charges.
Visual Evidence
Photos of the design proposal or mood board from the contract.
Photos of what was actually delivered, with timestamps.
Close-up photos showing wilted, brown, or dead flowers.
Photos showing missing items (empty tables, no bouquets).
Side-by-side comparison images of promised vs. delivered.
Video walk-through showing the overall decor.
Witness Evidence
Statements from wedding coordinator or venue staff.
Guest observations about flower quality or missing decor.
Photographer's observations (they often notice details).
Delivery person's statements about arrival time and condition.
Save the actual flowers: If possible, preserve some of the problematic flowers in a refrigerator. Physical evidence of wilted or wrong flowers can be powerful in small claims court. Photograph them next to the contract's flower list.
Demand Letter Strategy
Quantifying Floral Damages
Calculate the value of each item not delivered or delivered wrong.
Include the premium for emergency replacement purchases.
Factor in the diminished value of substitute flowers.
Document any rush or delivery fees for replacements.
Key Letter Sections
Introduction: Identify yourself, the florist/decorator, contract date, and event date.
Contract specifications: Quote the exact flowers, colors, and designs that were agreed upon.
Breach description: Detail what was delivered versus what was promised, item by item.
Damages calculation: Itemize refund amounts for each deficient item plus replacement costs.
Demand: State exact amount and 14-day deadline.
Leverage Points
Reviews on The Knot, WeddingWire, Google, and Yelp.
Photos posted on social media showing the actual delivery.
Better Business Bureau complaints.
Local florist association complaints if applicable.
Venue preferred vendor list removal.
Be specific about substitutions: If the florist claims they made reasonable substitutions, your demand letter should explain why the substitutions were not comparable in value, appearance, or quality to what was contracted.
Sample Florist/Decorator Breach Demand Letter
[Date]
Via Certified Mail and Email
[Florist/Decorator Owner Name]
[Company Name]
[Address]
[City, State ZIP]
Re: Demand for Refund - Floral/Decor Contract Breach
Contract Date: [Date]
Event Date: [Wedding/Event Date]
Amount Due: $[Amount]
Dear [Owner Name]:
I am writing to demand a refund of $[Amount] for [florist/decorator] services that failed to meet the specifications in our contract for my wedding on [Event Date].
BACKGROUND
On [Contract Date], I entered into a contract with [Company Name] for [wedding florals / event decoration] for my wedding at [Venue Name] on [Event Date]. I paid a total of $[Amount], consisting of a deposit of $[Deposit] on [Date] and final payment of $[Balance] on [Date].
Our contract specified the following items:
- Bridal bouquet: [specific flowers, e.g., "white garden roses, peonies, and eucalyptus"]
- [Number] bridesmaid bouquets: [description]
- [Number] centerpieces: [description]
- [Number] boutonnieres: [description]
- Ceremony arch/altar flowers: [description]
- [Additional items as applicable]
The total contract price was $[Amount] for these specific items in [color palette] colors.
BREACH OF CONTRACT
The flowers/decor delivered to my wedding materially breached our agreement:
[Choose applicable scenarios:]
WRONG FLOWERS: Instead of the [contracted flowers], you delivered [what was actually received]. Specifically:
- Bridal bouquet: Contracted for [specific flowers]; received [what was delivered]
- Centerpieces: Contracted for [description]; received [what was delivered]
- [Additional discrepancies]
QUALITY ISSUES: The flowers delivered were in unacceptable condition:
- [Issue 1: e.g., "Multiple roses in the bridal bouquet were browning and wilted"]
- [Issue 2: e.g., "Centerpiece flowers were visibly dead with petals falling off"]
- [Issue 3: e.g., "Boutonnieres were crushed and unusable"]
MISSING ITEMS: The following contracted items were never delivered:
- [Missing item 1 and its contract price]
- [Missing item 2 and its contract price]
NO-SHOW: [Company Name] failed to deliver any flowers/decor on my wedding day. Despite numerous calls and messages, no delivery was made, leaving my venue without any floral arrangements.
MITIGATION AND DAMAGES
[For no-show or major failures:]
We were forced to purchase emergency replacement flowers from [source] at a cost of $[Amount]. Despite this mitigation, our wedding decor was significantly diminished from what we contracted and paid for.
My damages are as follows:
1. Contract price for items not delivered or materially deficient:
- [Item 1]: $[Amount]
- [Item 2]: $[Amount]
- [Additional items]
2. Emergency replacement flowers: $[Amount]
3. [Additional damages]
TOTAL DAMAGES: $[Amount]
DEMAND
I demand that you pay $[Amount] within fourteen (14) days of this letter. Payment should be made by [check mailed to address / refund to original payment method].
If I do not receive payment by [Deadline Date], I will:
1. File a claim in [County] Small Claims Court;
2. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau;
3. Post truthful reviews with photos showing what was promised versus delivered; and
4. Notify [Venue Name] to remove you from their preferred vendor list.
I have attached our signed contract, the design proposal showing what was promised, photographs of what was actually delivered, payment receipts, and receipts for emergency replacement purchases.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone]
Enclosures:
- Florist/Decorator Contract dated [Date]
- Design proposal/mood board
- Payment receipts totaling $[Amount]
- Photos of contracted design vs. actual delivery
- Emergency replacement receipts
- Guest/vendor statements
Reasonable substitution clauses allow for similar flowers when specific varieties are unavailable. However, substitutions must be of comparable value and appearance. Substituting carnations for peonies or filler flowers for featured blooms exceeds reasonable substitution. If the florist knew certain flowers would be unavailable, they should have notified you before the event.
If flowers wilted abnormally fast due to poor quality or improper preparation, you may have a claim. However, florists are generally not responsible for natural wilting over many hours. Focus on the condition at delivery and during the ceremony and early reception. Photos with timestamps showing wilted flowers upon arrival or within the first few hours support your claim.
Attorney Services & Contact
Florist & Decorator Dispute Resolution
I represent clients seeking to recover deposits and damages from florists and decorators who delivered wrong items, provided poor quality, or failed to perform for weddings and events.
Email owner@terms.law or use Calendly for a paid strategy session.