Valentine’s Day is almost here and many men want to order roses for their girlfriends, wives and mothers. Before placing your flower order, whether over the phone or on-line, knowing the right questions to ask is the key to receiving a great rose bouquet. Nothing is worse than making a grand gesture on your part only to have it turn out poorly.

The first step is to plan ahead. Order your flowers two weeks or more ahead of Valentine’s Day. Everyone wants to send their special someone flowers on the morning of February 14th. Florist shops aren’t made to handle this once a year short term rush. By getting your order in early you’ll help guarantee the delivery time and day you’ve requested. Florist shops are stocked by delivery trucks or suppliers that deliver flowers once or twice a week. Ordering ahead ensures your florist has enough time to get the exact flowers you want from their supplier.

Unless red roses are what your girlfriend or wife wants, order something else. Red roses are very clichéd. If your relationship is new and you want to make a declaration of your love, go with the red. Otherwise select orange, pink, yellow, purple or white roses. Be unique, do some detective work and find out which color rose is her favorite. Maybe she doesn’t like roses at all and really loves iris or tulips. You’re trying to make her feel special, selecting something “outside the box” that you know she’ll love guarantees a much bigger hit than going with a traditional standard.

Once you’ve decided what flowers you want to send, you’ll now need to pick a florist. Your best bet and also the cheapest only works if you’re having the flowers delivered locally. Simply walk into a nearby florist shop and see what they offer. Good florist employees are always helpful. You should be able to view a supply of fresh high quality flowers in their shop. Tell them what you have in mind and see what they offer. You should discuss several points with a new florist. First, you’re concerned about freshness, you don’t want any flowers with bruised or brown petals in your bouquet. Next, your florist should be able to deliver flowers at a specified time during the day; if you request morning that’s when your flowers should be delivered. Not all flowers are available at all times of the year. If the tulips you’re looking for are difficult to come by in February ask what flowers look great right now. Be open to suggestions and honest about your budget.

If you’re ordering on-line the same as above applies. You’ll also want to find out what sort of guarantee the site offers. My husband sent me two dozen roses from an on-line florist when we were dating. He ordered a mix of yellow, orange and pink roses for the bouquet, which would have been an amazing arrangement. This particular on-line florist sent me two dozen red roses a day late. This is unacceptable, but many sites say they can substitute flowers at the last minute, etc. Make sure you understand the site’s policies and that you’re willing to accept all of them before you place an order. Read the fine print.

Once you find a good local florist or on-line site stick with them. Good florists love their repeat customers and so really make an effort to keep you happy. If your significant other does receive flowers for Valentine’s Day that either aren’t what you ordered or the flowers aren’t fresh call and complain. Many florists will offer a partial refund or offer to resend a new bouquet. Get started early and order your Valentine flowers today!