Flowers and the occasion: your guide to their perfect marriage

There is an art to giving gifts, and an arrangement of freshly cut flowers can enrich any festive occasion with a dash of bright colors and a wave of good vibes, in addition to imbuing any present with that elusive something. But would any kind of flowers befitting for any occasion, or is it important to tailor the species, the colors, and the presentation to a specific one? Professional florists agree that it is, and adhere to a whole set of rules about flower choices for every holiday or personal occasion under the sun. A bouquet of classic red roses is not a one-size-fits-all solution: for greater effect, always go with what fits best. Today, let us explore the best flower choices for the most popular occasions!

The best flower choices are the most tailored

I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered.
But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.
Eleanor Roosevelt

What goes when

Every situation demands a personal touch, and even the most exquisite bouquet will look inappropriate when an occasion calls for something different. Always try to consult a professional when in doubt; thankfully, there are still a few general guidelines that tend to work universally, so here’s what’s important to remember:

• On a typical birthday, the answer is simple: just ask the birthday girl or guy what their favorite flowers are, and buy those!
• For a milestone birthday such as the 30th, 40th, and so on, larger bouquets or even whole baskets of impressive blooms are traditionally presented.
• An arrangement of field flowers in a nice wrapping is a great gift for more intimate family celebrations.
• For newlyweds or to celebrate an engagement, white or pink carnations, chrysanthemums, lilies, and gerbera daisies are a fitting choice. In many cultures, the groom is expected to also give flowers to his bride and his soon-to-be mother-in-law.
• You might want to present a happy mother with red or pink flowers if the newborn baby is a girl, while blue or purple are considered more fitting for a boy in Western countries. Two identical flower arrangements are traditionally given to twins.
• Strong-scented flowers and plants are not a good choice for a get-well gift. It is also considered a bad form to present red or white flowers to someone in a hospital.
• For that special guy in your life, remember that in many countries, men are traditionally gifted long-stem flowers that form a somewhat linear arrangement.

No matter the occasion, remember that the right arrangement and wrapping can make even the most ordinary flowers look original!

Oh look, that flower speaks!

If you know the giftee well and have an idea of what they prefer, you have no problem: all you need to do is pick their favorite flowers, arrange them in a beautiful bouquet, and then present them with a few nice words, either spoken or written on a greeting card. But what can you do in the absence of this knowledge? Use your instincts, and make sure you are aware of the symbolic meaning that most popular flowers have.

• Daisies are an appropriate choice for a younger woman you’re just getting to know: they have this cuteness to them that makes them an unconventional compliment.
• Chamomiles are all about innocence and are also a good gift for younger recipients.

• Many nations see roses as the ultimate symbol of love. Whereas forget-me-nots are a symbol of tender feelings in the UK and peonies in China.
• Bright-red carnations and tulips are also code for love or infatuation.
• You can give a bouquet of gardenias as confessing one’s secret feelings.
• Violets will convey your genuine devotion.
• A few delicate lilies can help you express admiration and affection.
• Gerbera daisies, with their airy, uplifting, flirtatious vibe, are a good gift for a budding relationship.
• You can present Chrysanthemums and irises on any occasion — or even just because. They symbolize wisdom, faith, and trust, and can be called a universal gift.
• A gladiolus will signify the sincerity of your feelings.
• Hydrangeas say “Thank you for understanding me.”
• A bouquet of gloxinias will tell the giftee of your love at first sight.
• Instead of a snide comment, yellow hyacinths can help you express that you are feeling jealous.
• On a birthday, white lavender can convey that you hope the giftee gets all they wish for.

If any bouquet feels like a bit of a cliché to you, go for a potted flower instead; while making typical bouquets last longer is an art of its own, this awesome gift will delight the recipient — and remind them of you! — for a very long time.

 

The power of colors and numbers

Even the number of flowers in a bouquet can be a sign of how you feel: presenting a single bloom will show that you care for the recipient deeply, three flowers will serve as a confirmation of your love and fidelity, while five is a good number to confess your feelings for the first time.

In many countries in Eastern Europe, smaller bouquets need to have an odd number of flowers. And the larger the bouquet, the less important the rule becomes. Presenting huge flower arrangements in itself is not really recommended when the occasion is not as tremendous, because they’re really hard to hold on to, and they generally don’t last that long.

When choosing flowers for an arrangement, their color scheme is of great importance. For younger women, more delicate shades, such as cream, light pink, and white, are the way to go. Saturated colors such as burgundy, red, and purple are fitting for a more mature recipient.

Colors also tend to convey their own symbolism:

• red traditionally symbolizes passion and intensity;
• white tends to mean innocence, purity, and youth;
• yellow signifies career success in some cultures;
• pink points to love that is timid and delicate;
• orange symbolizes wealth, and is also the color of harvest;
• blue means devotion;
• purple stands for peace and trust.

Obviously, the symbolic power of individual flowers fades in a mixed bouquet. But you should still be kept in mind when creating a flower arrangement, as it usually has a predominant color that sets the general tone.

Flowers have always been a great way to make your loved one happy as well as express your deepest feelings. But to make them speak as eloquently as possible, make sure you tailor your choice both to the occasion and the recipient’s personality!

Now that you know all the tricks:

• Browse our catalogs and pick a bouquet that does the best job of expressing how you feel!
• If in doubt, consult our experts — they are always happy to help you make a selection based on occasion, design, price, and many other parameters.
• When all else fails, a custom bouquet is a great option for making your message truly unique.
• Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more stories about flowers and everything flower-related!