Event Flowers: Choosing, Timing and Delivering Flowers for an Event
Event flowers are the bouquets and arrangements ordered for a specific occasion: a conference, a gala dinner, an office opening, a product launch, a concert or an anniversary party. They fall into three groups: flowers that decorate the space, flowers presented to people on stage or at the door, and gift bouquets sent to the hosts. Each group has its own rules for choice of flowers, size and, above all, delivery timing.
Customers who come into our Saint Petersburg shops before an event usually ask the same few things: how far ahead to order, what will survive a long evening in a warm hall, how many bouquets are needed for speakers and how to make sure the flowers reach the venue before the doors open. We have answered these questions since 2011, and this guide collects the practical answers in one place.
The three kinds of event flowers
Decorative flowers set the mood of the room: arrangements on the reception desk, on the stage, on buffet and dinner tables. They need to be visible from a distance, stable and long-lasting, because they stand for many hours under lights. Presentation bouquets are handed to speakers, performers, award winners or the guest of honour. They must be easy to hold, photograph well and survive the journey home in the recipient's arms.
Gift bouquets are sent by guests, partners or relatives who cannot attend, or who want to thank the organisers. Here the card text matters as much as the flowers, and the bouquet should arrive at a moment when someone can receive it: before the event starts or the next morning, not in the middle of the main speech. A card with your text is free with every order from us.
Before ordering, decide which of the three you need and how many of each. A conference with six speakers and a moderator, for example, needs seven presentation bouquets of similar size, so that nobody on stage feels singled out. For larger formats we have a separate guide to conference and event flowers.
Choosing flowers that last through a long evening
A hall with stage lights, hundreds of guests and closed windows is a hard place for flowers. Choose sturdy varieties: roses with firm heads, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria, carnations, eustoma, hypericum and plenty of greenery such as eucalyptus or pistachio leaves. Hydrangeas and peonies look spectacular but wilt quickly in heat, so use them only if the arrangement has a water source and the room is cool.
Avoid strongly scented flowers near food and in small rooms. Lilies, tuberose and some hyacinths can overwhelm a dinner table and bother guests with allergies; if you love lilies, ask for pollen-free varieties or have the stamens removed. Table arrangements should be low enough for people to see each other across the table, roughly below eye level when seated.
Colour should support the event rather than compete with it. Corporate events often follow brand colours, so tell the florist the exact palette. For evening events, deep and saturated tones read better under artificial light, while pastel bouquets can look washed out on stage. White and green arrangements suit almost any formal occasion and photograph cleanly.
Bouquets we can deliver
Timing: when to order and when flowers should arrive
For a single gift or a few presentation bouquets, ordering a day or two ahead is usually enough, and we accept pre-orders 1-30 days in advance. For several identical bouquets or a specific colour scheme, order earlier: it gives time to agree the details and ensures that every bouquet looks the same. The most common mistake is ordering decorative flowers for the morning of a late-evening event without checking whether the venue will be open to receive them.
Plan delivery for two to three hours before the event starts. That leaves time to set out arrangements, put presentation bouquets in water backstage and fix anything unexpected. You can choose an exact delivery time within plus or minus 30 minutes, or a time window such as 12-15 or 15-18. If the plan changes on the day, express delivery in large cities takes 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed.
In Saint Petersburg we deliver around the clock, which helps with events that end late or begin early, and with congratulations timed to midnight. Elsewhere, work with the standard time windows and leave a margin for traffic around large venues.
Delivering to a venue: what to tell us
Venues are harder to deliver to than homes. Hotels, concert halls and business centres often have separate service entrances, security checks and staff who are busy before the doors open. When you order, give the name of the venue, the hall or floor, and a contact person on site with a mobile number. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, so that contact should be someone who will answer.
If the person named on the order is not available, we agree a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, hand the flowers to the concierge or reception. For a gala or private party, write in the comment who is allowed to receive the bouquets. Our article on event venue florals for a private gala covers venue logistics in Saint Petersburg in more detail.
Delivery is anonymous by default, which is useful for surprise bouquets presented on stage: the courier will not name the sender, and the card can be read out by the host instead. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs the operator confirms the price when confirming the order, which is worth knowing for country clubs and suburban venues.
Presenting flowers at an event: etiquette
Presentation bouquets are handed over after the speech or performance, not before, and usually by a host or a representative of the organisers. Keep the wrapping neat but light: the recipient will be photographed with the bouquet and then has to carry it through a crowd. Remove any price stickers or delivery labels before the bouquet goes on stage.
In Russia, flowers given to a living person should have an odd number of stems; even numbers are associated with funerals. This applies to mono-bouquets of roses or tulips, while large mixed arrangements are not usually counted. For a male speaker choose a compact, structured bouquet with roses, chrysanthemums or greenery in calm tones, or a smaller arrangement that can stand on a desk.
For office openings and ribbon-cutting, a bouquet or arrangement for the new premises is a traditional gesture from partners and neighbours. We go through the customs and suitable flowers in flowers for office openings and ribbon-cutting.
Ordering event flowers from abroad
Many of our event orders come from people who cannot be there: relatives congratulating a performer after a premiere, colleagues thanking a team in Saint Petersburg, families sending flowers to an anniversary dinner. Choose bouquets in our catalogue, add the card text and specify the venue and time. Payment is online by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa.
For several bouquets for one event, place them as one order with clear notes about who receives what, or call us to agree the details. Pyat Tsvetov has worked since 2011 and has three of its own shops in Saint Petersburg, on Ilyushina Street, Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street, and we deliver flowers across Russia. If you have questions about timing or flower choice for your event, call 8 (812) 507-67-05. We deliver bouquets across Russia in 1–2 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What are event flowers?
They are flowers ordered for a specific occasion: arrangements that decorate the venue, bouquets presented to speakers or guests of honour, and gift bouquets sent to the hosts. Each type has its own requirements for size and delivery time.
How far in advance should I order flowers for an event?
For a few bouquets, a day or two is usually enough; pre-orders are accepted 1-30 days ahead. For several matching bouquets or a specific colour scheme, order earlier so the details can be agreed.
When should event flowers be delivered?
Ideally two to three hours before the start, so there is time to set them out and put presentation bouquets in water. You can choose an exact time within plus or minus 30 minutes or a time window.
Which flowers last best at an event?
Roses with firm heads, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria, carnations and eustoma cope well with warm halls. Hydrangeas and peonies wilt faster in heat and need a cool room or a water source.
Can I order event flowers from abroad?
Yes. You can order online and pay by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign cards are accepted through Robokassa. Questions can be asked by phone on 8 (812) 507-67-05.
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