Occasions · Anniversary & Romance
Anniversary and romantic flowers.
How to plan anniversary flowers that feel personal: the flower for each year, timing, where to deliver, and what to write.
Planning it
Anniversary flowers work best when they say something specific.
Anyone can send a dozen red roses. What makes anniversary flowers memorable is a detail that only the two of you would understand: the flower from the wedding, the color of the first apartment's front door, or one rose for every year. This page covers the traditional anniversary flowers, how to time and place a surprise, and our romantic designs.
For rose varieties, stem counts and color meanings, see our roses guide.
From the shop
Romantic designs
Roses and garden roses at the center, from a hand-tied bouquet to a grand gesture. Prices are current starting prices.
Bespoke Roses
$750Our all-rose composition in a bespoke vessel, $750. The grand gesture for a big anniversary or a proposal.
Bay Way
$325A compact vase, $325, for a nightstand or a breakfast table, where they'll see it first thing.
Culbreath Isles
$150 – $300Fuller and looser, from $150, with roses among other garden stems, for a romance that's less formal.
Bespoke Wrapped Bouquet
$100 – $250The Velvet Dusk look, from $100: blush roses and dusky tones, hand-tied to carry to dinner.
By year
The traditional anniversary flowers
Just as there are traditional anniversary gifts, there are traditional anniversary flowers. Lists vary between sources, but a commonly cited version is:
Some of these, like lilac, lily of the valley and peony, are seasonal and can be hard to find in Florida at certain times of year. If the anniversary flower isn't available, we can include it in color, or pair one or two special stems with roses.
- 1st: carnation.
- 2nd: lily of the valley.
- 3rd: sunflower.
- 4th: hydrangea.
- 5th: daisy.
- 6th: calla lily.
- 7th: freesia.
- 8th: lilac.
- 9th: bird of paradise.
- 10th: daffodil.
- 11th: tulip.
- 12th: peony.
- 13th: chrysanthemum.
- 14th: dendrobium orchid.
- 15th: rose.
- 20th: aster.
- 25th: iris.
- 28th: orchid.
- 30th: lily.
- 40th: gladiolus.
- 50th: yellow rose and violet.
Personal
Ideas that mean more than the list
The best anniversary flowers often have nothing to do with tradition.
- Recreate the wedding bouquet, or a version of it. If you have a photo, send it with the order.
- Use the colors of the wedding, or the place where you met.
- Send one rose for every year together. For a long marriage, that becomes a striking arrangement.
- Choose their favorite flower, even if it's simple. A bunch of sunflowers from someone who remembered is more romantic than a formal arrangement.
Timing
When the flowers should arrive
Timing changes how the gift feels.
If the anniversary falls on a weekend, consider whether they'll be home, or out of town.
- In the morning, delivered to the home, the flowers set the tone for the whole day.
- At the office, the surprise is more public, and colleagues will ask about it. Some people love that, and some don't.
- The day before a dinner, so the flowers are at home when you get back.
- A week after, when the day itself has passed, as a reminder.
Places
Delivering to a hotel, a restaurant or a rental
Anniversaries often mean a night away or a special dinner. Deliveries to these places need a little more planning.
Tampa Bay is full of places for an anniversary weekend, from beach hotels on the Gulf to downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa. Wherever you're staying, the front desk is the place to start.
- Hotels: give the hotel name, the guest name on the reservation and the check-in date. Most hotels will hold flowers at the front desk; some will place them in the room with notice. Call the hotel first to ask about their policy.
- Restaurants: ask the restaurant whether they're happy to receive flowers and hold them until you arrive, and give the reservation name and time.
- Vacation rentals: give the full address and access instructions, and make sure someone can take the flowers inside quickly in warm weather.
Proposals
Flowers for the question
For a proposal, flowers are part of the setting rather than the gift. Think about:
If you're planning a proposal at a venue, see our wedding venue guides for places in Tampa Bay, and tell us about the setting when you order.
- Whether the flowers should be there when you arrive, or given at the moment.
- Whether you'll be photographed, in which case a single strong color photographs better than a busy mix.
- A small bouquet your partner can carry afterwards, to a dinner or a celebration.
- Whether the location allows flowers. Some parks, beaches and venues have rules about decorations and petals, so check before you plan a scattered-petal scene.
Budget
Matching the gift to the year
There's no rule, but here's how the studio's current prices map to different moments:
If you're spending more on the dinner or the trip, a smaller, personal bouquet often fits better than a large arrangement that competes with the rest of the evening.
- From $100, a Bespoke Wrapped Bouquet in the Velvet Dusk look is right for a first date anniversary, a just-because gift, or a bouquet to carry to dinner.
- From $150, Culbreath Isles is a fuller vase arrangement for a home, with roses among other garden stems.
- At $325, Bay Way is compact but considered, and it looks good on a nightstand.
- At $750, Bespoke Roses is our grand gesture, for a 10th, a 25th or a proposal.
Apart
When you can't be there in person
Not every couple spends the anniversary together. Work trips, deployments and long-distance relationships are common, and Tampa Bay has many military families connected to MacDill Air Force Base. Flowers delivered on the day are a way to be present. In this case, a longer card message matters more than usual. Tell them what you'll do when you're together again, or remind them of a specific day.
If you're ordering from another time zone or another country, give us the recipient's phone number and the preferred delivery time in Tampa.
Making them last
Care for a romantic weekend
If the flowers are meant to last through a weekend away, a few things help. Put them in fresh water as soon as they arrive, keep them away from direct sun and air-conditioning vents, and don't leave them in a hot car while you check in. In a hotel room, ask for a vase if the flowers arrive wrapped. Roses kept cool and in clean water should look good for several days. See our roses guide for more care tips.
Not just anniversaries
Romantic flowers for no reason
The most romantic flowers often arrive on an ordinary Tuesday. No occasion, no expectations. For a just-because gift, a smaller bouquet in their favorite colors is perfect. A short card, like "Just because," is enough.
The card
What to write
Keep it personal. A few ideas:
An inside joke, a reference to a shared memory, or a plan for the year ahead often means more than a general line.
- "Still choosing you. Happy anniversary."
- "[Number] years, and I'd do every one again."
- "To the best decision I ever made."
- "Just because I love you."
FAQ
Anniversary flower questions.
What is the traditional flower for each anniversary?
Lists vary, but a commonly cited version is carnation for the 1st, sunflower for the 3rd, daisy for the 5th, daffodil for the 10th, rose for the 15th, iris for the 25th and yellow roses with violets for the 50th.
Can you deliver anniversary flowers to a hotel?
Usually, yes. Give us the hotel name, the guest name on the reservation and the check-in date. Most hotels hold flowers at the front desk. Call the hotel first to confirm their policy.
What flowers are best for an anniversary?
Roses are the classic choice, but the most memorable flowers are personal: a version of the wedding bouquet, the traditional flower for the year, or their favorite.
Should I send anniversary flowers to home or work?
Home is more private, and the flowers set the tone for the day. Work is more public, and colleagues will notice. Choose based on how your partner feels about attention.
How can I make anniversary flowers more personal?
Recreate the wedding bouquet, use one rose for each year together, or include the traditional flower for the year. A specific card message makes the biggest difference.
Related occasions
From the journal
Need help choosing?
Call us and we'll help you choose, or create something custom.