Introduction: Clueless Guy's Guide to Buying Flowers
Here's your foolproof guide to choosing the perfect bouquet to impress your miss. It doesn't take a lot of money or any kind of floral-knowledge to knock her socks off! A few easy-to-remember pointers is all you'll need for the rest of your life.
Step 1: Learn at Least a Little Something About Your Girl
What color does she like? If you have no idea, think about what colors she often wears or has about her. What color is her bag, her phone, her shoes, her laptop? Chances are the answers are all around you.
How would you describe her? Edgy? Nature-y? Soft and romantic? Career/goal-oriented? Delicate or bold? Shy or outgoing? Funny, quirky, serious? Even just one or two descriptors will help.
Is she allergic to flowers? Worth finding out. If you don't want to be obvious and ask, find some flowers when you're out together for her to smell. That'll give you a good idea.
Step 2: What Do You Want to Say?
- I like you and want to pursue something further?
- Thanks for a great evening?
- I'm totally in love with you and want everyone to know it?
- Happy birthday/anniversary/batmizvah?
- I'm really sorry for what I did/said/forgot?
- I was just thinking how much you might like these flowers for no reason at all? (this is an especially good one)
Step 3: Find a Florist
Look in the phone book to find a local florist. If there are multiple florists and reviews available, check those out to help you with a decision. If you can't find one nearby, try to find a grocer with a floral counter. Even this is better than nothing!
If there's one near you, a farmers' market is also a great place to find fresh flowers and support local growers.
Step 4: Get Help From a Pro
After you've had a look around, find someone who works there and tell them the following things:
- "I want an arrangement made for (occasion/reason)." .Even if the flowers are to say "I'm sorry," fess up, and the florist will totally look after you.
- "I want to use (girl's favorite colors)." The florist will usually recommend a couple complimentary colors. If your girl is bolder, go for opposite or contrasting colors. If she's softer, go for a palette of similar shades.
- "I want it to look (however you would describe your girl)." This will help the florist choose shapes and sizes of blooms, along with extra greenery to fill out the arrangement.
- "I want to spend (your budget)." Let the florist know right away what your price range is so they can work your budget to its fullest. Don't be shy, or you will end up with sticker shock.
Now watch them go to work! People love to be asked for their advice, and this is a great way to encourage creativity from someone who might otherwise be spending their day picking brown petals off of dying blooms.
Added bonus: florists will often go over your budget a little without charging extra if it completes the look or enhances their design. They want to take pride in their work as much as you do and will often offer up a nicer bouquet than you could have bought pre-arranged!
Step 5: What to Do If You Can't Find a Florist
- Remove the plastic from the flowers
- Buy some colored tissue paper, butcher paper or craft paper and some ribbon or raffia or whatever you can find to tie them up with
- Make your own card (see step 6)
Step 6: Write a Card
This is the hard part, but you'll be OK!
Keep it short and simple. Avoid anything generic or cheesy and make it sincere. Even a few well chosen words will go farther than some over-quoted sonnet.
If you're totally stuck, I recommend using a famous quotes site. I recommend Bartelby's or QuotationsPage.com where you can type a word or phrase into a box and get a slew of results! But be specific: a search on "love" will leave you reeling. Find a word that has some significance to you or the occasion, and go from there.
Remember, when quoting someone, include their name at the end of the quote. Otherwise your girl may think you're trying to pull one over on her! Make sure to give credit where credit is due.
Step 7: Give Flowers, Get Kisses!!
The last step is to decide when and how to deliver your precious gift.
If you're picking her up at her house, the flowers-behind-the-back trick is classic.
If you're going to be out together all day, consider whether she'll want to be carrying around a big bunch of flowers on your adventures (probably not). If this is the case, invest in a cheap cooler and store them in your car's trunk until the date is over. If you don't have a car or trunk, get creative. Your thoughtfulness will be appreciated.
If you're meeting her at work/school, decide if she's the kind of girl that likes attention. If so, spring the flowers on her when there are plenty of other people around. If not, wait until you're alone.
Final tip:
If you're picking a girl up for a date from her house, and you're meeting her mother for the first time - buy the flowers for your girl. Have a separate, single stem of something truly beautiful to give to her mom. Serious points all around. Seriously.
Step 8: Special Thanks
- bell and trunk flowers for the generous use of their time and beautiful space
- fungus amungus for his gorgeous photography and laser cut valentines
- randofo for his sassy "clueless" stylings
71 Comments
2 years ago
cool stuff!
7 years ago
When it comes for flowers, Ready Flowers Online is one of the best! fast delivery and guaranteed
7 years ago
In today's Internet
age, more and more people go online to order flowers for delivery. we
are also online florist offering flower, roses, cakes, gifts delivery
in india. Our Website is http://www.budsnroses.co.in
7 years ago
I should show this post to my boyfriend. I'm constantly dropping him hints to buy me flowers, but he's terrified of flower shops. I feel like if he just stopped and considered some of the colors I like, choosing flowers for me would be a lot easier. Thanks for sharing these tips! http://www.wildgeesegardens.com/flowers-kalispell
7 years ago
Its tough when choosing flowers as a guy i suppose. Us girls can be picky! But thats purley because we want you to get it right first time round!! Most florsits will help with choosing flowers and i think is great for them to do! I like the fact that you have made a post about this to help fellow men out! How lovely!
8 years ago on Introduction
When it comes to knowing which flowers to buy, clueless would probably be a good way to describe me. I know that my wife likes to be given flowers, and I am happy to give them to her, but I've never known how to choose them. I think I'll try using the advice from the article to look for things about her that could help me know what kind of flowers she might like. I think she would be very impressed if I could give her the perfect flowers, without having asked her to choose them.
Gaston Parizeau | http://www.valleyfreshflowers.net
8 years ago on Introduction
I am not one to know how to pick flowers out for my girl either. I usually just go with red roses no matter what to be save. Next time though, I think I should go with light blue, her favorite color.
http://www.janineflorist.com.au/why-use-us
8 years ago on Introduction
Really very good guide! So i use http://www.gelesinternetu.eu/en.htm they also have something different. :)
8 years ago on Introduction
Very good guide :) - assuming you know the recipient well; i would also
like to add that there are loads of cultural obstacles - first i personally always send roses, but watch the following: e.g. never send
an even number of roses to someone with an Eastern background, white roses are a sensitive issue in the Asia culture, on the African
continent it is mainly about the colours - maybe see a small summary
here http://www.only-roses.com/- i use these guys in London all the time, they also have roses that last for more than one year. Happy Wife, Happy Live :)
9 years ago on Introduction
This is a very detailed guide. We also have a similar blog post published here, for those of you who want to learn more.
9 years ago on Introduction
Girls and flowers go side by side, a flower as a gift is always welcome as it doesn’t oblige her too much as do the other costly items.
florists online
http://www.dpetals.com.sg/online-florist-singapore.html
9 years ago on Introduction
I have to say that the information here was the most complete that I found anywhere. I am definitely bookmarking this to come back and read later.
9 years ago on Introduction
I think it is really important to learn which
flowers girl prefers. For example, lilies are beautiful but if she doesn’t like
their smell you’ll not only waste your money but also make her uncomfortable –
she’ll have to accept gift that she doesn’t like or even is allergic to. If you
need to send flowers you can use this site http://megaflowers.com/ - they always manage to deliver
flowers as beautiful as shown on picture.
9 years ago on Introduction
Nice guides about buying flowers. For buying a fresh and awesome
flowers, it is very essential to choose the right flower shop. For
buying luxury roses flowers, you can visit http://www.rosesonly.co.uk .
I've found a very huge collection of flowers on it when i visited.
10 years ago on Step 4
Also I have found out if the flowers are very fragrant its a nice bonus.
Also based on my experience with women. Carnations rarely count as an acceptable flower even if from a florist carnation heavy bouquets tend to have a supermarket feel to them.
10 years ago on Introduction
Really good, I actually picked some buttercups the other day while out walking with my girlfriend, I collected enough to make a small bunch, I thought she would think it was a bit cheesy but she really liked it. I have gone into florists and said how much i'd like to spend and they have put something together for me which has worked out well so far, I have also bought online several times, last time it was V.Day and I must admit, I left it till the last minute on v.day as it was lunch time by the time i'd found somewhere! flowers-sameday.co.uk I think. When picking online I usually just go with what I think she might like which has worked so far but after reading the article above it never occurred to me before to consider the colour of her clothes when buying flowers.. It is something I will remember next time :p
12 years ago on Introduction
Most people web search for "flowers" but I've learned after building a flower website ( http://bridgewaterflower.com ) that you need to be in search of a storefront flower and gift shop or you will end up getting caught in the conglomerate confusion and also paying more.
12 years ago on Introduction
Btw girls love it when a guy picks them wildflowers, it's onething to buy them, but picking them especially fer her is even better. It's very romantic and thoughtful. But don't pick flowers from peoples yards unless you get the owner's okay. N' make sure there's no bugs/Arachnida/bees in the wildflowers, that would not go well with the receiver XP. Trust me I'm a girl, I know wat I like better.
13 years ago on Introduction
Yaah! I'd like to know why guys have to always buy the flowers, the diamonds, the meals.... Even if the guy makes less money??? Ever heard of Women's lib??? What if we changed it to them buying for us for a change.... I always say "equal work for equal pays means YOU open the door and shell out sometimes".... It should be an "equal" relationship???
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I also prefer a woman who will share equally in the relationship. To me, this shows her committment to work on the relationship. If she doesn't buy, she isn't committed.