Order Special Instructions for Flowers Delivered in Russia
Order special instructions are the extra details that help explain how your flower order should be prepared or delivered, such as entrance directions, a timing request or a separate card message. Keep them short and specific, and distinguish essential requirements from preferences. A note records your request; delivery arrangements still need to be confirmed.
At Pyat Tsvetov (5 Flowers), customers often need help separating what the courier should know from what the recipient should read. We have been working since 2011 and have three flower shops in Saint Petersburg, with flower delivery across Russia. For someone ordering from abroad, a useful note removes practical uncertainty: which entrance to use, how to reach the recipient and whether the greeting should reveal the sender.
Write instructions the courier can act on
Start with the detail most likely to prevent a missed handover. An entrance number, floor, intercom instruction or clearly identified reception desk is more useful than a long explanation of the occasion. Put the complete address and recipient contact details in the relevant order fields, then use the note for extra directions. Check that building numbers and apartment numbers have not been swapped when copying an address between languages.
A practical note might read: “Entrance 2, fifth floor; intercom marked Ivanova. Please call the recipient for access.” Include an entry code only if you have permission to share it and it is needed for the delivery. Avoid placing unrelated personal information in the note, and do not rely on a landmark as the only address. Our guide to delivery instructions on the order form offers further context for writing the details.
Make timing requests precise and realistic
Write a calendar date and the time at the delivery address, especially when ordering from another country. “Tomorrow morning” can become ambiguous across time zones or when an order is read later than expected. We offer delivery at an exact time with a tolerance of plus or minus 30 minutes, or in the windows 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 and 18–21. State which arrangement you want and have it confirmed rather than leaving several conflicting times in the note.
Express delivery in large cities takes 1–2 hours after the order is confirmed, so do not count that interval from the moment you begin checkout. Orders can also be placed 1–30 days ahead, which is useful when flowers are intended for a birthday breakfast or an anniversary gathering. In Saint Petersburg, delivery is available around the clock; that schedule should not be assumed for other cities. For a celebration with a fixed start, choose a delivery time that leaves room for the stated arrival tolerance.
Bouquets we can deliver
Keep the greeting separate from private delivery notes
Label the recipient’s greeting clearly, for example: “Card text: Happy birthday, Anna! With love, Maya.” A card with your text is free, and a short message usually reads more naturally than a paragraph explaining the whole gift. Check names, punctuation and the sign-off before submitting the order. Instructions about access or timing belong outside the greeting, so they cannot be mistaken for words intended for the recipient.
Delivery is anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. If you want the recipient to know who sent the flowers, include your name in the card text instead of expecting the courier to explain. For a romantic gift, consider whether an unsigned message would feel welcome or confusing; a familiar sign-off can preserve the surprise while making the gesture comfortable. See our advice on adding a personalised message for help shaping the wording.
Describe flower preferences without creating contradictions
When choosing from the bouquets catalogue, start with the bouquet that best matches your intended gesture, then explain any important preference plainly. “Soft colours preferred” describes a visual direction, while “please avoid lilies” identifies a specific exclusion. Keep essential restrictions separate from optional wishes, and ask for confirmation if the order depends on them. A note alone should not be treated as confirmation that a particular flower, colour or alteration is available.
For birthdays and anniversaries, the recipient’s taste is a stronger guide than a supposed universal meaning of each colour. Red roses commonly suggest romance, but the relationship and card message give the gift its context. For a colleague or someone you know less closely, clear celebratory wording can make your intention easier to understand. If scent is a concern, state that concern directly and discuss a suitable choice; do not assume that a colour or bouquet name tells you how strongly the flowers will smell.
Plan the handover, including an absent recipient
The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, so a surprise should allow for that contact. Use a telephone number the recipient can answer that day, and check that it belongs to the intended person. For a workplace or hotel, give the recipient’s name as it is known at the address and identify the relevant entrance or reception point. Check the building’s own rules beforehand, because an instruction from the sender cannot ensure access to private premises.
If the recipient is absent, we agree a second delivery the same day or a handover to a neighbour or concierge with the sender’s consent. Where you are comfortable with an alternative handover, name the person or role clearly and make your consent explicit. Avoid vague wording such as “leave with anyone”, which gives little help in choosing an appropriate recipient. If there is no acceptable alternative, say so and remain reachable to discuss the next step.
Review the order, payment and care details
Before checkout, read the address, date, recipient number, card text and special instructions together to catch contradictions. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. Online checkout uses CloudPayments, and customers ordering from abroad should check the payment options displayed there rather than assume every foreign card will be accepted. Consult delivery and payment information, or call 8 (812) 507-67-05 if an essential arrangement needs clarification.
Keep flower-care advice separate from the courier’s directions, especially if you plan to share it with the recipient after delivery. For cut stems intended for a vase, use a clean vase, remove leaves that would sit below the waterline and trim the stem ends with a clean cutting tool. Refresh the water regularly and place the flowers away from radiators and direct sun. If the gift is arranged in floral foam, it needs a different approach from loose stems, so check care guidance appropriate to that arrangement before dismantling it.
Frequently asked questions
What should I put in order special instructions?
Add details that are not already clear elsewhere in the order: entrance directions, a precise timing request, essential flower preferences or consent for an alternative handover. Label card text separately and have essential requirements confirmed.
Can I request delivery without a call to the recipient?
Our courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival. If that affects your surprise, discuss the arrangement by phone on 8 (812) 507-67-05 before relying on a no-call request.
Will the recipient know who sent the flowers?
Delivery is anonymous by default, and the courier does not name the sender. Include your name in the free card text if you want the recipient to recognise the gift.
Does writing an exact time in the note guarantee arrival then?
Exact-time delivery has a tolerance of plus or minus 30 minutes and needs to be confirmed. You can also request one of the delivery windows: 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 or 18–21.
Can I pay for flowers from outside Russia?
Online checkout uses CloudPayments. Check the options displayed at checkout for your payment method; acceptance of every foreign card cannot be guaranteed.
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