PickGlobeSending flowers online is one of the easiest ways to show up for someone when you can't be there. It's also a purchase where timing matters and you never see the finished product yourself. A few checks before you pay make it much more likely the right bouquet arrives on the right day.
Delivery cut-offs and time zones
Every florist has an order cut-off for same-day or next-day delivery, and it's set in the florist's local time, not yours.
- Check the cut-off on the product or checkout page, and note which time zone it refers to. Sending from the UK to the US West Coast, or from New York to London, can easily put you on the wrong side of it.
- Weekends and public holidays often have earlier cut-offs, limited delivery or no delivery at all.
- Busy dates (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, which falls on different dates in the UK and US, and the end-of-year holidays) can sell out or have restricted delivery windows. Order early.
Same-day vs next-day vs scheduled
| Option | How it usually works | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Same-day | A local florist makes and delivers the order that day | Earlier cut-off, smaller range, sometimes a higher fee |
| Next-day | Often made centrally and shipped by courier, or prepared by a local florist | Whether it arrives in a box (needs arranging) or ready in a vase |
| Scheduled date | You pick a delivery date in advance | Whether a specific time slot is possible, and what happens if no one is home |
"Delivered by a local florist" and "sent by courier" can be very different experiences. Hand-delivered arrangements usually arrive ready to display; boxed flowers are often sent in bud and need trimming and a vase.
Substitutions: read the small print
Seasonal flowers aren't always available, so most florists reserve the right to substitute.
- Look for a substitutions policy. It should say whether they'll keep the same colour scheme, style and value.
- Substitutions are more likely at busy times and for international or same-day orders.
- If one flower really matters (a favourite, or one with meaning), consider adding a note to the order or choosing a florist's choice bouquet in a colour range instead.
Photos vs reality
Product photos are styled to look their best. To set realistic expectations:
- Check the size options. Many bouquets come in two or three sizes, and the photo may show the largest.
- Look for stem counts or dimensions rather than just a picture.
- Check whether the vase is included. Often it's an add-on.
- Read recent reviews that mention what arrived, and keep an eye out for fake reviews.
Care on arrival
Good florists include care instructions or flower food. If they don't, the general advice is simple: trim the stems at an angle, use a clean vase with fresh water, remove leaves that would sit below the waterline, and keep the flowers away from direct heat, sunlight and ripening fruit. Changing the water every couple of days helps them last.
If you're sending to someone who may not be able to arrange flowers easily, choose a hand-tied bouquet that arrives in water, or an arrangement that's ready to display.
Sending flowers internationally
Flowers can't usually be shipped across borders as a fresh product, so international orders are almost always passed to a local florist in the recipient's country through a relay or "wire" network. Both the US and UK have long-established florist networks that work this way.
- The local florist creates the arrangement, so it may look different from the photo on the site you ordered from.
- Prices, styles and available flowers depend on the destination country.
- Allow extra time, and check local holidays in the destination.
- Check the total cost in your currency, including service and delivery fees, before you pay. Our guide on comparing prices across stores shows how to compare the real total.
What to do if something goes wrong
Take a photo as soon as the flowers arrive if they look damaged or wilted, or very different from what you ordered, and contact the seller promptly. Many florists have short complaint windows for fresh flowers. If you can't get a resolution, see our guide to refunds and chargebacks. And if the site is new to you, run through our online store legitimacy checks first.
The short version
Check the cut-off in the recipient's time zone, know whether it's hand-delivered or boxed, read the substitutions policy, look at sizes and stem counts rather than just the photo, and for international orders expect a local florist's interpretation. Order early for busy dates.