If you’ve ever wondered when it's appropriate to give flowers, this is really a no-brainer. You can give flowers anytime.

According to most women polled, spontaneous arrangement of flowers (like spontaneous acts of affection) rank as one of the most romantic gestures out there. Women love to be pleasantly surprised by a beautiful bouquet at home and especially at the office (where they can show the arrangement off to jealous colleagues). The size? Spontaneous flowers needn’t be big or pricey. Since she’s not expecting them, even modest arrangements and single stems will be winners.  Back to Index

First Dates.
First date flowers are a bit controversial. Many men are ambivolent as to whether it’s appropriate to show up with flowers at the door on the first date. Most times, the anwer to this is "NO". There's enough pressure on first dates to add to it with flowers, especially, when there's so much to discover.

If you must, give flowers AFTER the date, if it turns out to be a great date. Otherwise, save your cash for dinner. Post-first-date flower arrangement size? Think "small, tasteful and elegant" to "medium." Why you ask? It’s just a first date? No need to give her the impression that she doesn’t have to dress up for you anymore.  Back to Index

Following especially romantic evenings.
This is an excellent time for flowers, like the morning after a particularly romantic evening or the Monday after a romantic weekend getaway: first sleepovers, first out-of-town weekends, etc... Ideally, these flowers should be delivered by a florist, not by you, to her office (but delivering them at home also works on a weekend), in order to maximize on the feelings of goodwill, however give her the post-romance space we all need after a long evening or weekend with a new person. That whole thing about absence making the heart grow fonder?...it applies here. Post-romance flower size? Think "medium and elegant."

Other special occasions.
Flowers are also a nice gesture on birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions (such as promotions), but they aren’t required. You can replace flowers with some other nice gesture: an evening out, an evening in, a small gift, etc. The size for special occasion flowers? If you’ve ever wanted to spring for the bigger arrangement, break it out now. Otherwise, do what you can afford. After all, it’s you she should be happy to get.  Back to Index

Of course, there are those women who believe that flowers are a given on birthdays and anniversaries. Gauge your SharpWoman to see if she’s a stickler on this point. If so, forgoing flowers on these occasions will land you in the doghouse.

Doghouse Peace Offerings.
Things affect women differently than they affect men…we're men!, we do don't think too deeply. Inevitably, men will always say or do things that puts us in the doghouse. Here, flowers are generally accepted by women as a welcomed way to make ammends and soothe injured feelings. If she’s on speaking terms with you, you may even want to throw in some time together, dinner, or if the offense is bad enough, (..gasp!) the THEATER. Doghouse flower arrangement size and assorted make-ups? That depends... What did you say? or What did you do?  Back to Index