Start with the delivery destination
A home, apartment, hotel, hospital, office, funeral home and wedding venue each require different instructions. Before selecting an arrangement, confirm that the destination accepts flower deliveries and determine where the courier should leave or hand off the order.
For apartment and condo buildings, include buzz codes only when appropriate and avoid assuming a courier can access a secured floor. For hotels, the front desk is often the safest delivery point. Hospitals may restrict flowers in certain units, so facility confirmation matters more than the bouquet choice.
Local florist or national ordering platform?
A local florist may offer stronger knowledge of the delivery area and more direct control over substitutions. A large ordering platform can be convenient, especially when sending to another province, but the fulfilment may still be handled by a local shop. Ask who actually makes and delivers the arrangement if that distinction matters to you.
Compare the total price after delivery fees and taxes, not only the advertised bouquet price. More importantly, compare recent examples of the florist’s actual work rather than relying entirely on a catalogue image.
Give useful instructions without over-controlling the design
Describe the recipient and occasion, choose a colour direction, note any flowers you strongly prefer or dislike, and give the florist room to work with fresh inventory. If the arrangement must match an event palette, photograph or cultural preference, say so clearly and order earlier.
Plan for distance, climate and the calendar
Canada covers large distances and many deliveries are fulfilled locally rather than physically shipped across the country. Winter weather, extreme heat, remote addresses, holiday peaks and rural routes can all affect timing. Build flexibility into the requested window and use a florist that regularly serves the destination area.
Common questions
How early should I order?
For an ordinary residential delivery, one or two days usually gives a florist more flexibility than a last-minute request. Weddings, funerals, holidays and destination events deserve more lead time.
Should I allow substitutions?
Seasonal availability changes. If the exact bloom matters, ask the florist to confirm inventory before ordering. Otherwise, approve substitutions by colour, style and overall value rather than letting the arrangement change without guidance.
What recipient information matters most?
Use the recipient's full name, complete delivery address, useful phone details when appropriate, and any building, desk, unit, hotel or venue instructions needed to complete the handoff.