Flower Delivery Guide

When a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary approaches, many people will naturally think of flower delivery as a terrific gift idea. Of course, it is sometimes the emergency bail-out for those who forgotten an occasion and need a last minute gift. In most cases, a florist can deliver very quickly after a frantic call. Flowers are also a quick way to send good wishes to someone who is ill or who has given birth.

Most people do like flowers and plants and since they can have special meanings, this is a popular way to honor a sweetheart or cherished friend or relative. Flower delivery is also expected as a memorial gift when someone dies, both to the location for the services or to the home of the bereaved.

It does help to know the recipient well when sending flowers or a plant as a gift to be certain what you send will be well received. Some flowers could be taken the wrong way, such as sending red roses, traditionally a floral way to say “I love you,” to a casual girlfriend. Lilies may be associated with death and could be a poor choice to send to someone who is very ill. Even worse, you could send an allergic person a flower that could make them miserable.

You also need to consider where to have the flowers delivered to be sure the recipient gets them on time, and even that they can accept flower delivery where they are as well. You should do some investigation to be certain that their workplace allows such deliveries to avoid disappoint and check as well if the person is ill or in the hospital. Intensive care units and reverse isolation rooms do not allow flowers or plants, for example, so you gift will not arrive. Be sure the florist explains what happens if the gift can’t be delivered.

One real convenience is that a great many florists are networked together so that you can call or visit your favorite local shop and by their network can easily send flowers to a distant city without having to hunt down someone local to the recipient. Usually, these networked florists have to meet some criteria and will be trustworthy, but prudence says to be sure the gift delivered is what you actually ordered. If you can, visit in person rather than calling to personalize your flower gift.

An experienced florist can help you dodge the pitfalls in flower delivery to make the gift special and not awkward for you or for the person the gift is meant for. They will often know, for example, if a funeral is designated “please omit the flowers” and inform you. A local florist even sometimes knows the recipient’s likes and dislikes. If possible, establish a relationship with a florist who will know your preferences and budget as well. A regular florist can even help make an “Oops, I forgot” delivery look one that was carefully considered and planned far ahead.