Choosing a floral anniversary gift doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. If you’re after anniversary flowers, here’s how to choose the best bouquet.
Rebecca Alston is a 30 something mother, full-time wife, and foodie. She enjoys writing, decorating, making cookies, playing with her girls, and traveling green. Her blog, Mamas Like Me, is made with love.
Flowers are a traditional symbol of love and devotion, making them the perfect gift for an anniversary. However, with so many options to choose from, it can be challenging to determine how to select the best bouquet.
Fortunately, choosing a floral anniversary gift doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Here’s a simple guide to help you choose the best bouquet for your anniversary flowers.
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Consider the milestone
The first consideration when choosing an anniversary bouquet is whether this is a milestone anniversary. Choosing anniversary flowers by year is a simple way to cut through the overwhelming options and present a meaningful bouquet.
Flower years range from the first anniversary to the 65th, including:
- First: Carnation
- Second: Cosmos
- Third: Sunflower
- Fourth: Geranium
- Fifth: Daisy
- Sixth: Calla lily
- Seventh: Freesia
- Eight: Clematis
- Ninth: Poppy
- Tenth: Daffodil
- 15th: Rose
- 20th: Aster
- 25th: Iris
- 30th: Lily
- 40th: Gladioli
- 50th: Yellow roses and violets
- 60th: Orchids
- 65th: Blue hydrangeas
Don’t feel pressured to create a bouquet solely comprised of the flower that symbolizes your anniversary year. However, it’s nice to add a few of these blooms for symbolic purposes.
Consider adding them with an anniversary gift by year or writing one of these anniversary quotes on a card to go with your bouquet:
Consider the budget
Anniversary flowers can get pricey, which deters some people from buying them as a gift. Fortunately, there are plenty of bouquet options to help minimize costs while presenting a lovely arrangement.
If budget is an issue, consider getting a small or a premade arrangement rather than a large, customized bouquet. You can always ask the florist to add a couple of symbolic flowers to an existing bouquet to get the point across.
Alternatively, explore having a few symbolic anniversary blooms put together with more filler or greenery for a minimalistic approach.
If you’re feeling creative and have some confidence and / or a good You tube tutorial, you can also purchase a few wholesale flowers and arrange them yourself. This alternative is a lovely way to make your bouquet more personal and meaningful.
You can also save by reconsidering your delivery strategy. Look for a florist who offers affordable delivery, pay a local “task rabbit,” or hand deliver your bouquet.
Include wedding flowers
Another great way to choose an anniversary bouquet is to use the same flowers as those displayed during the wedding. This option is a nice gesture that invokes fond memories and showcases your thoughtfulness and attention to detail.
Many people choose this option as an alternative to the anniversary year flowers if the recipient isn’t fond of the type of blooms listed or if those flowers are out of season.
If you don’t remember what kinds of flowers were featured at the wedding, bring a photo to a florist, and they’ll be able to sort it out for you.
Include other memories
If giving flowers is a common occurrence in your relationship, you can also include elements from other memorable bouquets. If you presented a handpicked bouquet of wildflowers on your first date when you had a limited budget, gifting a professional wildflower arrangement could be a nice gesture.
Think outside bouquets you’ve gifted and consider different trips and events you’ve experienced.
Maybe the resort where you had your honeymoon had a stunning garden with blooms your spouse loved, or your spouse loves Monet’s water lilies painting and has a print displayed on the wall. Incorporating these personal gestures will make the bouquet more memorable and sentimental.
Consider their favorites
Always consider your partner’s likes and dislikes when selecting a flower arrangement. For example, the first-anniversary flower is the carnation. If you’ve heard your partner talk about how much they hate carnations, you should probably avoid that bloom. The same applies to color and style preferences.
It’s always better to get the person their favorite flowers rather than sticking to tradition. If your partner would respond better to a Goth-inspired black and red bouquet, forget the tradition and go with what they love.
Incorporate symbolism into the anniversary flowers
The lore and history of flowers are rife with symbolism. Beyond the named anniversary colors, numbers and colors also play a role in what a bouquet represents.
The most common colors related to love and romance are red and pink. Dark red speaks to lasting devotion and deep, romantic love, while purple represents passion. Yellow and orange blooms are associated with friendship and trust.
While numerology is often associated with roses, you can use the number of any blooms to convey your message. A single flower is usually a simple “love at first sight” given during a first date. Nine blooms are a symbol of eternal love and are historically viewed as more romantic and meaningful than an arrangement of 12 blooms. Twenty-four blooms show that you think of the person 24 hours a day.
Alternatively, you can give the person the numerical representation of your anniversary year.
Choose a memorable bouquet style
Sometimes the bouquet style is more impressive than the blooms themselves. Consider choosing an offbeat bouquet style that stands out and makes an impression when delivered.
Some bouquet styles to consider include:
- Crescent – taller flowers or accents punctuate either end of the bouquet, making a shape similar to a crescent moon.
- Triangular – the flowers are arranged in a pyramid-style bouquet.
- Cascade – the flowers overflow the vessel creating a waterfall (cascade) effect.
- Teardrop – a muted form of a cascade.
- Nosegay – a small, round bouquet with only a few blooms.
- Round – the blooms are arranged to make a perfect, even sphere of flowers.
These displays are a fun alternative to the natural style that you’d find in many premade arrangements. Choosing the right presentation can also help you make an impact with a limited size or budget.
Consider the vessel for your anniversary flowers
Finally, think about how the flowers will be displayed and what vessel will be used. If your partner already has a lovely vase, consider whether the style of bouquet you’re choosing is appropriate for it. Alternatively, consider including a new vessel as a gift with the floral display.
You can use this simple guide to purchase a lovely anniversary bouquet for your significant other or to help you select an anniversary gift for friends or family members.
When in doubt, ask a florist to help you choose the best possible arrangement to mark the occasion.
With careful thought put into your flower selection, your anniversary bouquet can be creative as well as beautiful. Here’s other creative ways to celebrate your anniversary.