Flowers are often used as a message of love, condolences, sympathy, friendship and a sign that you care. You may not have known this but there are guidelines you can keep in mind when you’re trying to send the right bouquet for various occasions. Here you’ll find a number of guidelines to help you make the right decision.

What kind of occasion are you preparing for? Is it a celebration, perhaps a birthday or anniversary? If you are sending an arrangement for your partner, red has been the traditional color of love and romance. However, there isn’t anything that says you can’t get creative. Keep your partner’s favorite colors in mind when you’re making this decision.

When you’re preparing to send a bouquet for someone who is grieving, the process may be a bit more difficult. There are traditions that have to be taken into consideration particular to each family and culture. Your best bet in this case would probably be to get in touch with the funeral home in charge of getting the arrangements ready. You may also want to consult a religious leader that is associated with the family. This will help make ensure you don’t make any embarrassing mistakes.

If you want to extend sympathy, while you have plenty of options there are some things you definitely avoid. Wreaths and casket arrangements are avoided because they come with particular meanings. For instance, the circular shape of a wreath means life. While casket arrangements are meant to be placed directly on top of the casket, not for the inside of a home. Make it easier on the family by sending a simple arrangement that has its own water container.

If you decide you want to send a bouquet, you may not really know which colors are appropriate. In this case, you can turn to the several florist sites online. You can easily find a pre-arranged bouquet in the sympathy section. However, you may still have a bit of trouble choosing the colors.

When you send bright colors, the message you’re trying to send is one of cheer. White colored flora are usually sent to traditional families. Softer, pastel colors sends a message that you want to be there for the recipient in during their trying times. If you seem overwhelmed with the options, choose a mix of pastel colors for your bouquet arrangement.

In case you are sending an arrangement to a hospital, ensure that you’re within hospital guidelines. You want to avoid anything that is too big that will get in the way of hospital staff, hindering their ability to work. Tall and slim arrangements are the best to send because they tell the recipient you care without getting in the way.

When having flowers sent to a hospital, ensure it comes with its own vase. Most of the time hospital staff can not find water containers for flora arrangements. So, to ensure that you’re giving a gift that the recipient will enjoy without having to worry about, simply include the water source. Avoid sending anything with soil, you probably want to postpone this type of gift until the recipient is at home.