If you want something out of the ordinary, be sure to say "No mums, no carns, no gyp". That's florist talk for chrysanthemums, carnations, and gypsophila (as in baby's breath), which all combine to spell b-o-r-i-n-g.
#4 Reconsider Roses, or at Least Red Roses
If it's February and you want to court romantic favor, you send roses. I won't argue with you. But at least allow me to point out the joyous optimism and financial wisdom of sending several dozen spring flowers instead (buy red tulips when the flower petals are still a little green but showing enough color to indicate what they'll be).
And hear me out about red roses, whose attributes pale in comparison to other kinds. They are often the least fragrant, they do not last the longest, and they are guaranteed to be the most difficult to find young and fresh (tell me about it). Also, long-stemmed reds tend to live life as tight, bullet-headed buds for a week, then open and fall apart; other varities "blow open", which means they'll be half or full open within a day of two, then last for a week to ten days.
#5 Cost and Guarantee
When ordering from a florist, expect to spend at least $75 for a dozen, long-stemmed roses in a vase (the price will go up the closer you get to VDay). Figure you're paying at least $8 for the container and $10 delivery. You can find roses for less when shopping on-line, but if you're reading this within a week of the big event, quality is bound to plummet.
What you can do is buy from a company that offers a 100% guarantee, one that will make good on your order if something goes wrong (lousy flowers, wrong color, late delivery, etc.). Understand that they won't be making good on anything until after this holiday, but if it means another dozen roses a few weeks later, who's the worse?
#6 Go Ahead, Ignore my Advice, Order On-line
If you're going to order on-line, skip the vase arrangements and order cut flowers in a box. Here's a couple of highly rated websites; just be sure to double-check that you're getting a 100% guarantee:
