The Language of Bouquets: How to Choose a Vase and Flowers for Every Occasion

We absolutely adore the beauty and scent of fresh flowers. They bring a breath of fresh air into interiors, add energy, and lift our spirits, and most importantly, they make for a beautiful home decoration. We buy and receive flowers for a myriad of occasions. They are an indispensable gift for birthdays, name days, or anniversaries. Flowers also accompany us during engagements or on our wedding day. Understanding their symbolism and the meaning of colours will make it easier for us to choose flowers for any occasion and allow us to express our feelings, admiration, gratitude, thanks, or congratulations without needing a single word. A well-chosen floral arrangement will bring immense joy and leave cherished memories for the recipient.

It's always a good idea to know the meaning of different flower colours before putting together a bouquet for a loved one, close friend, or special someone, to avoid making a gaffe and causing any unintentional offence.

• Red – This is the colour of love, passion, and desire. A bouquet of flowers in this colour is an expression of ardent feelings and strong interest, especially if it's a bouquet of red roses.
• Pink – This is the colour of friendship, so by giving flowers of this hue, we can express our devotion, affection, and sympathy.
• Purple – It's associated with wealth, sophistication, uniqueness, and also creativity. Purple flowers will further emphasise the significance of the event they are given for.
• Yellow – This colour is often equated with betrayal, infidelity, jealousy, and even hatred. Therefore, let's avoid giving flowers in this colour, unless they are only part of a mixed bouquet. Yellow flowers combined with other colours change their meaning to positive, symbolising joy, energy, and optimism.
• Orange – This is an incredibly warm colour symbolising joy and fun. Orange flowers liven things up and add energy, associated with youth, creativity, and enthusiasm.
• Blue – This is a symbol of loyalty, peace, and freshness. Giving blue flowers to a loved one will underscore our commitment and trust.
• White – This is a symbol of purity, innocence, delicacy, and respect. White flowers, therefore, symbolise only noble and sincere feelings.

There are indeed countless occasions for giving flowers. But which types of flowers are appropriate for specific circumstances? First, a basic rule: regardless of the occasion for which we buy a bouquet, the number of flowers in it should always be odd. Contrary to popular belief, this isn't about superstitions predicting bad luck, but about aesthetics – a bouquet of three flowers simply looks better than two. However, we can make an exception if we want to give, for example, a bouquet of 10 flowers for a 10th wedding anniversary or 18 flowers for an 18th birthday.

• Red roses are flowers reserved for a beloved woman, to whom we want to show the intensity of our feelings, or for a woman with whom we wish to share a passionate and fiery romance. Orange roses, symbolising friendship, but also gratitude and appreciation, are an ideal choice for a name day or birthday. For such an occasion, pink, tea, and chic purple roses will also work perfectly.
• A bouquet composed of multi-coloured tulips looks incredibly tasteful. It's a wonderful gift for Women's Day, Mother's Day, name days, birthdays, or any other occasion where we wish to give flowers to a woman.
• A bouquet of lilies, as well as sunflowers – flowers carrying a message of best wishes for another person, make an ideal gift for birthdays or name days.
• Elegant gerberas and impressive, long-lasting anthuriums symbolise respect and appreciation. They work perfectly in a bouquet intended for a superior, business partner, supervisor after a diploma defence, or a doctor to thank them for their care during a hospital stay. A bouquet of these flowers is elegant and suitable for both women and men. It's also worth giving them for jubilees or any other solemn celebrations.
• Give daffodils when you wish to offer congratulations or thanks. However, avoid giving them to loved ones, as they symbolise unrequited love and betrayal.
• Striking and elegant orchids should be given to people to whom you wish to express gratitude.
• One of the occasions for giving flowers is the birth of a child. What kind of bouquet should you give to a new mum? Daisies, freesias, and white roses, signifying innocence and delicacy, are an excellent choice.
• Slightly less popular, yet incredibly charming pansies should be given to people you want to let know that you remember them. They are a good choice when visiting a close person, such as a mum, grandmother, or sister.

When choosing a vase for flowers, we need to consider several aspects. The shape and size are incredibly important elements, which, when properly chosen, will ensure that our bouquet is beautifully displayed and the flowers stand steadily. Tall vases, sleek and straight, with a narrow neck, are the best choice for single long-stemmed flowers, such as roses or sunflowers. A cylinder vase, depending on the specific model, will highlight the beauty of both single flowers and somewhat larger floral arrangements. A globe vase is perfectly suited for round or oval bouquets. And here it's worth paying attention to the size. Flowers in the vessel should spread out nicely along its rim, forming a harmonious whole with it. Always pay attention to matching the shape and size of the vase to the bouquet – a poorly matched vessel can tip over at any moment.

The size and proportions of the flowers in relation to the vase are also crucial. It is suggested that flowers should constitute 5/8 of the entire composition, with the remaining 3/8 reserved for the vessel. This ensures that the vase perfectly complements the bouquet, creating an overall striking display.
The colour of the vase is another important aspect. Transparent models are the most versatile, and you can place virtually any floral bouquet in them. You'll achieve a similar effect by opting for a white, silver, grey, or black vase. If, however, you want to accentuate the vibrant colour of the flowers while maintaining the cohesion of the arrangement, go for a vase slightly darker than the bouquet. You'll achieve a truly astonishing effect that no one will be able to ignore.

We shouldn't forget another aspect: the material of the vase. Transparent glass vases will perfectly showcase almost any bouquet – from green stems right up to the flowers themselves. Ceramic and metallic vases will bring out the full beauty and highlight the unique character of exotic and wildflowers. For lovers of original, unconventional, and somewhat surprising solutions, we recommend modern vases.

You never know what flowers you might receive, so it's worth having several types of vases at home, suited for different bouquets – both short and plump, as well as narrow and tall, transparent and in vibrant colours. FormAdore offers unique and designer decorative vases, which are effective ornaments in themselves and can beautifully complement any room's decor, even when empty.