80% of Americans say that receiving flowers makes them happy, so those are pretty good odds that sending someone flowers is a great idea!
Flowers make a great gift for that special person in your life. They’re beautiful, can be personalized and because they don’t last forever, the receiver appreciates them more.
But you might not know how to send someone flowers appropriately if you’ve never sent any before. How many flowers are too many? What if they’re not home when the delivery arrives?
This guide covers every detail about sending someone flowers from where to buy the flowers to which varieties to pick!
1. Order in Advance
Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and even Christmas are busy times of the year for florists. Summers are fairly busy due to it being wedding season.
Don’t leave ordering flowers until the last minute because some varieties of flowers are more difficult to source in certain seasons. And once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Ordering about a month in advance should be adequate for most flowers. But keep in mind, sometimes the best reasons to send flowers are “just because” and “no reason at all.”
2. Choose Long-Lasting Types of Flowers
One of the best tips for sending flowers is to choose long-lasting varieties. You’re likely to spend upwards of $45 on a bouquet so you want to make sure it lasts!
Chrysanthemums are well-known for being one of the longest-lasting cut flowers. Lilies, orchids, and freesias also have a long shelf life, too. Try and pick a bouquet with some of these flowers as part of the arrangement.
It’s a personal choice, but don’t be afraid of picking some flowers that are still in bud. Sure, they might not look quite as nice as flowers in bloom but the recipient will be able to enjoy their flowers much longer!
3. Think About What the Flowers Mean
Should you send a dozen red roses to your mom for her birthday? Unless she only likes red roses, that’s a bouquet probably reserved for a partner or spouse. She might be a bit confused!
There aren’t too many flowers that have a symbolic meaning, but there are a few to be aware of. Just so you’re not accidentally sending the wrong message.
For example, yellow roses symbolize friendship and pink roses are used for thank-you gifts. White flower arrangements are commonly used in funerals, so maybe avoid all-white bouquets when you’re sending someone flowers!
4. Be Mindful of Allergies
When choosing a bouquet, consider any allergies that the recipient has. Daisies and sunflowers are amongst the worst flowers for those with allergies and rose is a common irritant.
Or if the recipient has a bee allergy, you want to steer clear of geraniums and bluebells which can attract bees.
Lily pollen is poisonous to cats, so if you’re sending flowers to someone with a cat, be sure to remove the orange stems. Or better yet, avoid lilies altogether!
5. Hire a Local Florist
One of the benefits of sending flowers from a local florist is that they can offer a personal service and you can make requests for particular varieties.
When ordering flowers online, you generally have to choose a pre-arranged bouquet. A local florist delivery is also more likely to deliver your bouquet to the correct address and within your chosen timeframe.
Plus, you’ll be buying from a small, local business instead of a corporation and the carbon footprint of the bouquet will be substantially lower.
6. Consider Where (and When) to Send Them
Firstly, make sure you’re 100% certain you have the correct name and address. The last thing you want to do is send flowers to the wrong person.
The next question you want to ask yourself is where to send the flowers. Is their house or place of work a more appropriate place? If they work in a friendly office, they may like receiving flowers there. But if the recipient works in the medical profession it might not be the best idea.
Think about the ideal place and time to send the flowers so the recipient can appreciate them.
7. Bouquet Size Is Important
Bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to sending someone flowers. A huge bouquet might have been classy in the 1980s, but sending an over-sized flower garden with lace and frills is a little tasteless these days.
But there’s a lyric in a song that says “Give me my flowers while I’m living.” This simply means to show gratitude to the people you love before they pass, but you should definitely take it literally.
When you’re sending someone flowers, don’t tell the florist to make “whatever’s cheapest.” Spend a few extra dollars to send flowers that reflect your feelings towards the recipient.
Show them how much you care while you can.
8. Don’t Forget About the Card
Sending someone flowers means you need to write them a short note to go with the delivery. You don’t have to write a novel, but just a short and sweet sentiment to compliment the flowers.
If you’re experiencing writer’s block, you could write a quote from their favorite movie, book, or song lyric.
Also, don’t forget to sign your name at the end! You want your partner or loved one to know it was your gift.
9. Tip Your Florist When You Order
And finally, tip the florist when you order so the recipient doesn’t have to worry about doing so when they receive the flowers. If they do, then the local florist has received a nice tip. But if they don’t, then at least the florist hasn’t been forgotten!
Anything around $5-$10 is an appropriate amount for a large bunch of flowers. If you were buying flowers to take away immediately you wouldn’t need to tip, but for delivery, it’s a nice gesture.
Useful Tips for Sending Someone Flowers
Sending someone flowers is a great gift and a thoughtful way of letting someone know you care.
Hopefully, you’ve learned a little more about sending flowers to your loved ones so you don’t make an unfortunate mistake.
Check out our other lifestyle articles for more top tips!
