August 2, 2026
What Questions Should You Ask Your Florist Before Ordering
Most people order flowers the way they order takeout — pick a photo, pay, hope for the best. But florists are designers, and a few good questions turn a standard order into exactly what you pictured. These are the questions our designers at Bentley Florist wish every customer asked, along with what a good answer sounds like from any shop you call.
"What's freshest and best right now?"
This is the single most valuable question you can ask, and almost nobody does. Every florist knows which flowers came in that morning and which are at their absolute peak. Asking this question invites the designer to build your arrangement around the best stems in the cooler rather than forcing a photo from the website. You'll almost always get more beauty for the same money — and a flower that lasts days longer in the recipient's home.
"What happens if a flower isn't available?"
Substitutions are a normal part of floristry — weather, seasons, and supplier availability all shift week to week. What you want to hear is a clear policy: the shop substitutes with flowers of equal or greater value, keeps the overall color palette and style, and calls you if the change is significant. A shop that can't explain its substitution approach is a shop where the arrangement that arrives may not resemble the one you ordered.
"Can you deliver by a specific time?"
If your flowers are for a funeral service, a workplace surprise before someone leaves at noon, or a dinner reservation, say so up front. Most florists deliver on routes, not scheduled appointments, but a good shop will tell you honestly what it can promise — deliveries to a funeral home before the family arrives, for example, are a firm commitment any experienced florist knows how to keep. For same-day needs, order by early afternoon and call to confirm the day's cutoff.
"What can you do within my budget?"
Tell the florist your number instead of asking what things cost. "I'd like to spend about $60 — what would you make with that?" is the question designers love, because it lets them tell you honestly what that buys and where it goes furthest. A trustworthy shop will also tell you when less is enough — a modest hand-tied bouquet of what's in season often outshines a bigger arrangement of tired stock.
"How should the recipient care for these?"
Ask this and you're handing the recipient extra days of enjoyment. The answers are simple — recut the stems, fresh water every couple of days, keep the vase away from sunlight and ripening fruit — but they matter, and some flowers have quirks worth knowing about. Any florist proud of their flowers will happily walk you through it. If you're ordering from us, our designers include care guidance with every arrangement, and you can always call 810-742-3174 with questions after delivery.
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Ready to send something beautiful?
Call the shop and ask what is freshest — or order anytime at bentleyflorist.com.
