Floral Symbolism: A Gift Guide to Buying Her the Right Flowers
Let’s face it, as far as most men are concerned, flowers are flowers, and as long as you end up buying her a nice bouquet that makes her happy, you’ve accomplished your mission. But what if you could take things up a notch and really surprise her with a well thought out floral bouquet containing flowers with the perfect symbolism and meaning to represent your feelings and the relationship? Well, we’ve created an easy-to-follow gift guide to buying your flowers that gives you everything you need to know to select the most appropriate flower arrangement this Valentine’s Day. This will give you extra points, trust us!
Important things to remember:
-Consider Relationship. Believe it or not, the level of your relationship should be an important factor when selecting flowers for your girlfriend or wife this Valentine’s Day. With all the symbolism behind flowers and their colors, it can be easier than you think to accidentally send the wrong message.
-Use your own judgement. If we recommend pink roses or purple orchids for your relationship level but you know her favorite color is yellow and she loves yellow flowers, stick with a yellow bouquet that has flowers that symbolize what she means to you. This is just a guide after all; you know your girlfriend better than we do (hopefully).
-Planning and Timing. If you’re going to order a flower arrangement online, give yourself a few days to spare so you don’t end up with any unfortunate delays. While most online florists are wonderful with last-minute deliveries, it’s far better to give her a beautiful Valentine’s bouquet a day or two early than come up empty-handed with a terrible explanation as to why you don’t have one for her. .
Important things to avoid:
-Unromantic floral arrangements. Flowers aren’t always about romance, and the last thing you want to do is buy her an arrangement that looks like it should be a gift to your mother, or worse, your grandmother. Anything in picnic baskets, ceramic pots, teacups, or cute little pitchers is generally prohibited.
-Don’t be cheap. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune on a huge flower arrangement this Valentine’s Day, but grabbing the last half-dead bouquet at the gas station on your way to pick her up isn’t enough.
-Do not underestimate the arrival. If you’ve ordered through an online florist, make sure a human delivers the arrangement in person. Some bouquets can be shipped via FedEx or UPS and will arrive in a box, leaving you alone to arrange the flowers (not very romantic). As well as making sure they arrive in perfect condition, try to have them delivered to your workplace. Most women love the extra attention (and making Diane jealous in accounting) and it gives you extra points just by changing the delivery address. Just make sure you know his work address. exactly – or that good idea could go very wrong.
In case of doubt:
No matter the level of your relationship, the following flower bouquets strike the perfect balance of charm, allure, and romance (without being too desperate or breaking the bank!)
Red Tulips in Glass Vase – Red is perfect for Valentine’s Day and still keeps it romantic, but the tulips make this arrangement less traditional and much more modern, making it the perfect bouquet for almost any stage of your relationship. Advice: If you’re in a new relationship, you can always reduce the intensity of the arrangement a notch or two and ask your florist to use fewer flowers (say, half a dozen or a dozen).
Pink Roses and Lilies Alstroemeria – Pink roses will keep this bouquet romantic without being too traditional or overwhelming, and pink astroemeria lilies add a touch of exotic beauty and uniqueness to offset the classic roses, without being too expensive. A glass vase is always a safe bet and will add a modern touch to this arrangement. This would be the perfect arrangement for any lucky lady.
Mix of Fresh Flowers – Shades of pink, lavender, or coral roses, lilies, carnations, and maybe even orchids (if you’re willing to spend a little more money) would create a beautiful, colorful bouquet. Look for flower arrangements that contain 3 or 4 different types of flowers, and stick mostly to pinks and purples, as these are generally romantic colors that go well together without being too traditional. A bouquet like this is the perfect flower arrangement that is sure to delight her, no matter how particular.
Floral Symbolism Guide:
A comprehensive guide to the most popular flowers and their various meanings, including color symbolism, as well as helpful bouquet recommendations for each flower. Follow our guide and you won’t go wrong!
Skin tone: With a rich history dating back more than 2,000 years, carnations possess a delicate beauty that few flowers do. They typically symbolize devoted love, pride, and beauty, as well as these specific meanings for their individual colors:
Red: deep love and affection
Pink: lasting love
White: Pure love, plus good luck.
Chrysanthemum: Originally yellow in color and recognized as a symbol of the sun, these beautiful flowers also represent the essence of joy and fidelity, and are the perfect flowers to gift a spouse.
Red: A declaration of love, a simple declaration of “I love”
White: truth and true love
Yellow: light love
Daisy flower: These romantic flowers signify loyalty in love, patience, and beauty, with added nuances of all-conquering love. More specifically, the colors of daisies have additional meanings:
White: shared feelings of affection
Pink: purity and innocence
Red: unknown beauty
Delphinium/Larkspur: These beautiful flowers have been used by natives to make blue dye and ward off scorpions in ancient times. Today, these lush dolphin-shaped flowers symbolize an open heart, attachment, and convey a sense of light joy.
Gladiolus: Named for the Latin word “gladius,” meaning sword, these showy flowers have a long history from Africa to the Mediterranean. Primarily known for symbolizing strength and integrity, on a romantic level these flowers also represent infatuation, with a bouquet conveying that they pierce the recipient’s heart with passion. How’s that for romantic?
Hydrangeas: It is considered to have a variety of meanings, but the overwhelming consensus remains that the hydrangea symbolizes lasting grace and beauty.
Iris: Possessing a very noble symbolism, lilies are believed to represent compliments and a promise of love. Its various colors also have other meanings:
Violet: wisdom and compliments
Blue: faith and hope
Yellow: Passion
White: Purity
Lily: Its general symbolism is virtue, refined beauty, wealth and childhood. These majestic flowers have long held a role in ancient mythology and represent various meanings based on their colors:
Pink: wealth and prosperity
Orange: Passion
Yellow: Pure delight, or bliss
Orchid: The most coveted ornamental plants, these delicately dazzling tropical flowers are a symbol of love, luxury, beauty and strength. Pink orchids convey total affection, while the Cattleya orchid is thought to represent pure charm.
Pink: These traditional flowers are known as the quintessential symbol of romance. Although roses are primarily considered to represent all things related to romance, love, and passion, many additional meanings depend on the individual colors of roses. Avoid if: You’ve just started dating or you know it’s a little less traditional.
Red: love, passion, beauty
Pink: happiness and appreciation
Lavender: Enchantment and love at first sight
Burgundy: inner beauty
Peach: appreciation and wish
Red and white together: Unit
Dragon mouth: Although their origin is unknown, it is believed that they were once wild flowers in Spain and Italy. In the language of flowers, the snapdragon is believed to represent grace and strength.
Values: Native to the Mediterranean, these sweet and delicate flowers are believed to symbolize a happy life and lasting beauty. More specific romantic meanings include affection and “you will always be beautiful to me.”
Tulip: Rivaling roses as one of the most romantic flowers; tulips possess elegance and simplistic beauty. Although they generally symbolize perfect love, the different colors of tulips have different meanings:
Red: irresistible love
Pink: Affection and perfect happiness
Cream: Eternal love
Yellow: Cheerful thoughts and a bright smile.
Violet: Royalty, luxury and power