By relationship · partner, mother
For a partner, go for a bold bouquet: red roses if you want to say “I love you”, bright pink and orange if you would rather celebrate than declare. Deep red is the only colour that carries an unmistakably romantic message, so keep it for that relationship. For a mother, the safe choice remains soft pink, cream and pastels, with generous, rounded flowers that look lovely on a table. Think about what she actually likes: some mothers prefer a light country-style bouquet to a very classic one. If you know her well, pick the colour of her kitchen or living room; the bouquet will stay there for days and she will see it every time she walks past.
By relationship · friend, colleague, man
For a friend, bet on joy: yellow, orange, gerberas, daisies, sunflowers. These colours are neutral in romantic terms and simply say “I’m thinking of you”. For a colleague, stick to a small, bright format that is easy to keep on a desk and carry home in the evening. For a man, forget the idea that flowers are not for him: many never receive any and are all the more touched. Sunflowers, single-variety bouquets or deep, graphic tones work well, because they feel direct rather than decorative. In every case, a simple, confident bouquet is better than a lukewarm compromise that looks like nobody in particular.
By personality · colours
The safest approach is to choose the colour according to the birthday person’s character. For someone outgoing and sunny, pick bright colours: fuchsia, orange, yellow. For someone reserved, prefer soft tones such as peach, cream or powder pink. For an elegant minimalist, a sober white and green bouquet often makes more of an impression than a colourful mix. For someone who likes to be bold, a fuchsia or burgundy bouquet stands out. If you really are unsure, pastels go with everything. The language of colours gives a few useful pointers, especially to avoid red with a colleague, but it never replaces what you know about the person.
Flower colour meaningsBy age · from children to the over-50s
For a child, choose a small, very colourful bouquet with no thorns, at their scale: a compact format they can keep in their bedroom often pleases them more than a big bouquet. In their twenties and thirties, people tend to prefer seasonal flowers, country-style bouquets and bold colours to very formal arrangements, and a bouquet that photographs well is appreciated. For a milestone birthday, thirty, forty or fifty, go up a size rather than changing style. For people over fifty, nothing says the colours must be sober: start from their tastes. Above all, think practically: a suitable vase, an easy-care bouquet, and delivery at a time when the person is at home.
Birth-month flowers
Birth-month flowers are an English-speaking convention, little known in France, but they make a nice starting point. January: carnation. February: violet or iris. March: daffodil. April: daisy or sweet pea. May: lily of the valley. June: rose. July: larkspur. August: gladiolus. September: aster. October: marigold or cosmos. November: chrysanthemum. December: narcissus or holly. Be careful with November if the recipient is French: in France, chrysanthemums are associated with All Saints’ Day and graves, so they are best avoided as a birthday gift. And if the month’s flower is out of season, simply borrow its colour instead.
Timing · midday, evening, belated
Deliver around midday so the person can enjoy the bouquet throughout their birthday, at home or at work. For a surprise at dinner time, choose a 30-minute evening slot: Hanaé delivers until 11pm. You can also schedule delivery several days ahead and stop worrying about it. And if you forgot, all is not lost: order before 8pm for same-day delivery in under 2 hours, or choose 1-hour express, available from 10am to 8pm for €18. If the hand-over takes longer than one hour after payment, €12.10 is refunded on request, the difference with a standard delivery.
1-hour flower delivery in ParisWhich size · what budget
For a birthday, size M is the right starting point: generous enough to mark the occasion without being cumbersome. Keep size S for a colleague, a friend you see often or a small gesture alongside a present. Save size L for the birthdays that count: the big round numbers, a first birthday together, a mother. At Hanaé, every bouquet comes in S, M and L, the price of each size is shown on its product page, and the delivery fee is displayed before payment. If you have a precise budget in mind, a dedicated selection gathers the bouquets whose total, delivery included, stays under €70.
What to write on the card
Three personal lines beat a long quotation. Mention a shared memory, a joke only the two of you understand, or something the person achieved this year. For a partner: “Another year by your side, and I still can’t wait for the next one.” For a friend: “Happy birthday to the person who makes all my years better.” For a colleague: “Happy birthday! The team is better with you in it.” For a belated birthday: “Late, but never forgotten. Happy birthday.” At Hanaé, the card is included: you type the message at checkout and it is copied out by hand. Sign with your first name, or the surprise becomes a riddle.
At work or at a hotel
Having a birthday bouquet delivered to the office creates a real moment of surprise in front of colleagues. Add the company name, the floor and a name at reception in the address details, and aim for mid-morning or early afternoon. For a birthday celebrated in a Paris hotel, the bouquet can be left at reception. You can also have the room decorated before arrival: the Birthday pack, at €459, brings together a heart of rose petals on the bed, 12 red roses and 6 heart balloons, set up between 6pm and 11pm with a photo of the result.
Hotel room decoration for a birthdayFrequently asked questions
What flowers should I give a woman for her birthday?
Choose according to her personality: bright colours such as pink and orange for an outgoing woman, pastels for someone more reserved. Keep red roses for a partner.
What flowers can you give a man for his birthday?
Sunflowers, single-variety bouquets or deep, graphic tones often appeal to men. Many have never received flowers and are all the more touched.
What is my birth month flower?
By the English-speaking convention: carnation in January, violet or iris in February, daffodil in March, daisy or sweet pea in April, lily of the valley in May, rose in June, larkspur in July, gladiolus in August, aster in September, marigold or cosmos in October, chrysanthemum in November, narcissus or holly in December.
Can you give chrysanthemums for a birthday in France?
Best avoided: in France, chrysanthemums are associated with All Saints’ Day and graves, even though they are the November flower in the English-speaking convention.
How can I get birthday flowers delivered the same day in Paris?
With Hanaé, order before 8pm for same-day delivery in under 2 hours, or choose 1-hour express, available from 10am to 8pm.
What should I write on a birthday flower card?
Three personal lines are enough: a shared memory, something the person achieved this year, and your first name. For a belated birthday, “Late, but never forgotten” works very well.
By Hanaé7 min read
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