Which Flowers to Send for Every Occasion

Choosing flowers gets much easier once you know what the occasion usually calls for. Here is the short version, from a shop that sends these out every day.

Birthdays

Go bright and personal. Mixed seasonal bouquets in strong colors suit most people, and a flower box works well when the person has no vase or is at the office. If you know their favourite color, use it; it turns a nice gift into a thoughtful one.

Anniversaries and romance

Red roses remain the classic, and the number carries meaning (more on that in our guide to rose numbers and colors). If red feels expected, deep pink garden roses, peonies or a mixed romantic bouquet in blush tones say the same thing more quietly. See our roses.

New baby

Soft and cheerful: pastel pinks, blues, whites and creams. Keep the arrangement compact, since new parents have no free hands and little free surface. Avoid strong scents like lilies in a small apartment with a newborn.

Get well

Bright, simple and low maintenance. Sunflowers, gerberas and daisies lift a room. If the flowers are going to a hospital, check the ward's policy first, and choose an arrangement in a container so nobody has to hunt for a vase. Skip heavy fragrance.

Sympathy and condolence

White and soft tones are traditional: lilies, white roses, chrysanthemums. Arrangements sent to a home should be ready to display without work. Arrangements for a service are a different category entirely, and we cover those in our funeral flower etiquette guide and on our funeral flowers page.

Thank you

Medium sized, warm colors, nothing that looks like it is trying too hard. A hand-tied bouquet with a short handwritten note does more work than an expensive arrangement with no message.

Apology

Keep it sincere rather than grand. White and soft pink read as humble; a giant red bouquet can read as theatrical. What matters most is that it arrives quickly, which is where same-day delivery earns its keep.

Housewarming and hostess gifts

Bring something that does not create work for the host in the middle of a party: a box or basket arrangement that already holds water, not loose stems that need a vase.

What the colors suggest

• Red: love and passion.
• Pink: affection, gratitude, gentleness.
• White: respect, sympathy, new beginnings.
• Yellow: friendship and cheer.
• Orange: energy and enthusiasm.
• Purple and lavender: admiration and something a little unexpected.

How much to spend

Size matters less than freshness and fit. A well-made small bouquet of good flowers beats a large arrangement of tired ones. Tell us your budget and the occasion and we will make the most of it.

Not sure? Call us 24/7 at (929) 309-5719, or see what other customers send most often.