People send flowers for all kinds of reasons. Sympathy, romance, farewell, or simply to make someone smile. But when you’re sending flowers for a specific occasion, it can be difficult to know what to send. Many occasions come with their very own floral etiquette. So, where do you even start?
The Dos and Don’ts of Sending Flowers
Whether it’s a birthday, a promotion, or a new baby, flowers are one of the most popular gifts to send. But what should you be sending, if you don’t want to create the wrong impression?
Don’t:
… Send red roses unless you’re romantically involved (or want to be).
Red roses are synonymous with romance. Sending a bouquet of them to someone you’re not in a relationship with is a sure-fire way to create misunderstanding and awkwardness. Any other colour of rose is fine!
… Surprise the recipient at work.
It might seem like a nice idea, but at best having flowers at work is inconvenient – where do you put them? How do you get them home? Especially if you use public transport. At worst, it can be embarrassing, and may even risk the appearance of being unprofessional.
… Send flowers to a hospital patient
All hospitals are different, but increasingly these days, hospitals will not accept the delivery of flowers. In fact, since COVID-19, you’re unlikely to find any hospital that will. Not only do they pose a potential infection risk, but they make more work for already overstretched staff. Wait until the patient is recuperating at home. They’ll be in a much better position to enjoy them then.
Do:
… Select according to the occasion.
- For birthdays, brighter, cheerier arrangements, like the Citrus Squeeze Hatbox or Grapefruit Crush might be appropriate.
- While to celebrate a new baby, you might want to consider the softer tones, cream, pink, mauve and light yellow are all good choices.
- When selecting funeral flowers, it’s best to consult the family, but if they are happy for you to choose, go for an arrangement that best reflects the person you’ve lost.
- And for sympathy flowers, white is always a safe option.
… Think about the recipient’s preferences.
You might not know what someone’s favourite flower is, but if you’ve notice that they wear a lot of a particular colour, let that be your guide. Are they vibrant in their clothing or their manner? Then look for more flamboyant floral arrangements. If they show a preference for elegance or more muted shades, that can be your pointer.
… Consider the recipient’s lifestyle.
If you know that they don’t have much room at home, remember that big isn’t always better. If they have pet cats or dogs, don’t give a bouquet that contains lilies, as they are poisonous to our feline and canine companions. If they are known to have hay fever, select low-pollen blooms, such as roses.
… Send a card.
Receiving flowers can be really lovely. But if you don’t know who’s sent them, it can feel a little awkward. It gives rise to potential embarrassment, misunderstanding, or even feelings of unease. You might want to be romantic or even mysterious, but sending a card is always a good idea.
Flowers can be used to mark all kinds of occasions. Are you ready to make someone’s day by selecting the perfect arrangement? Click right this way for inspiration…