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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Is sender information visible on the card?
As our cards include recipient information and card messages only, please remember to sign your name!
What sort of a card will be included with my order?
Our cards are either printed on designer John Henry paper or handwritten and enclosed in envelopes. Please note that our cards are not occasion-specific.
My recipient’s address is outside of the Bay Area - is it still possible to order with you?
Some of our clients opt to utilize the services of third-party delivery companies such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Postmates, Instacart, TaskRabbit, Senpex, and Shipbird to pick up flowers from our studio and deliver to locations outside of the Bay Area. Please note, however, that we are not responsible for any delay, loss, theft, or damage that occurs after the floral arrangement leaves our studio should you decide to hire a courier independently.
Do you offer wedding bouquet preservation services?
No.
Can I drop off my own vase at your location to be reused for a delivery or a pickup order?
Unfortunately, due to space limitations, we do not have the capacity to store clients’ own vases. However, any of our arrangements can be designed as a wrapped bouquet (sans vase) by request.
Could you give me a status update on my order?
If you have have provided us with a valid email address during the ordering process, you will receive an update indicating when your floral arrangement has been delivered.
Could you deliver a single rose?
Sorry, no, we do not offer delivery of single flowers. For roses, we start at one dozen.
What kinds of vases do you use?
We use a wide variety of high-quality reusable vases, most frequently clear glass, cement stone, or handmade ceramic vases from Portugal and Poland. We also have the ability to source natural wooden boxes (made in San Francisco), bamboo boxes, live moss "bird's nest" vases, combination ceramic and cement vases, genuine crystal vases, and burlap-sleeved glass vases.
Is Elizabeth's Flowers a local business?
We are a local, family owned and operated San Francisco florist known for artful and sophisticated designer arrangements. Many of the flowers we use are locally grown and organic and we carry rare, unusual and exotic blooms. We strive to use the freshest sustainably sourced botanical gems the Bay Area has to offer in interesting and unexpected ways. All of our bouquets are one-of-a-kind and handcrafted by a floral designer with 35 years of experience. Our floral design studio, located in the heart of Downtown San Francisco, was established by Elizabeth, a trained artist, in 1989.
What is your design style?
Elizabeth's signature style is lush English garden. We offer floral arrangements in a variety of styles, from lush to modern, from 'prim and proper' to 'just picked from the garden', from traditional to wild, from high-style contemporary to tussie-mussie, from bold to understated, from abstract to freestyle, from formal to French handheld, from styled to gathered, and from minimalist to lavish. We are experienced in angular design, armature design, creative design, duo design, mono botanic design, multi-rhythmic design, stretch design, tapestry design, underwater design, abstract creative design, Oriental line design, line-mass design, European mass design, assemblage, and ikebana.
Are you able to replicate a design from a picture I found online?
All of our arrangements are unique and composed of the ever-changing stock of flora available on the market thus, while we are happy to use pictures as inspiration, producing exact replicas of arrangements from stock photos (which may include out of season blooms or be arranged in a design style that does not coincide with ours) is not often in line with our business model.
Do you offer living plants in addition to cut flower arrangements?
We offer double-stemmed cascading phalaenopsis (moth) orchid plants, presented in ceramic or cement stone vessels, and accented with decorative branches and moss. We have the capacity to source a variety of plants (oncidium orchids, bromeliad orchids, miltonia orchids, succulent gardens, living air-plant wreaths, drought-resistant cacti, bonsai trees, lucky bamboo, succulent gardens, air plant terrariums, driftwood planters, etc.) in addition to the plants featured on our website with 24 hours advance notice.
Is it possible to purchase a gift card or a flower subscription as a gift?
Yes, please contact us directly and we will be glad to assist.
How can I redeem a gift card I have purchased or received?
Please e-mail us or give us a call at least one business day prior to your preferred delivery date and we will be happy to help (our business hours are 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday). If you are the purchaser and would like us to cancel and refund a gift card which has not yet been redeemed, please contact us directly for assistance.
Are there any sales, promotions, or discounts available?
No.
Are peonies in season?
Peonies are not currently in season, but some imported varieties are sporadically available on the market. Peonies start at $10 per stem (and can go up to $25 per stem depending on the rarity of the type). Due to the high cost per stem, we typically only include peonies (if available on a particular day) in $200+ floral arrangements. While we are happy to incorporate peonies into arrangements at any price point, please note that as a result of the high cost per stem, requesting that we include peonies will significantly impact the size of your arrangement.
Do you have a “cash on delivery” or "pay on pickup" option?
No. All orders must be pre-paid via credit card or debit card.
Do you accept PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay?
No.
Do you ever call ahead and alert the recipient to his or her flowers' arrival?
As a general rule, we do not call ahead unless a client specifically requests that we do so, as we have no intention of ruining any surprises. We request a phone number for the recipient because sometimes doorbells are broken, apartment buildings are locked, companies have recently moved, etc. Our couriers will contact recipients upon arrival if their assistance is necessary in gaining access into a secure building in order to successfully complete a delivery (or to alert the recipient to his or her flowers' arrival after having completed a contactless delivery). We do not recommend inputting your (the sender’s) phone number as the recipient’s unless you plan to be on-site for delivery as this may cause a delay.
Are you able to coordinate delivery time with recipients prior to delivery?
Unfortunately, no. All deliveries occur between the hours of 9am and 5pm and we do not have the capacity to accommodate specific delivery time requests. (The exception being events, weddings, and funerals which require we set up at during a specific time window - such orders must be scheduled in advance by contacting us directly and an additional charge will apply.)
Do you deliver rain or shine?
Yes!
Could I drop off or mail a card or gift to your location to be delivered along with the flowers I have ordered?
Unfortunately, our business cannot assume responsibility for outside packages.
Could I request your courier deliver a verbal message or singing telegram along with the flowers?
Sorry, no, we do not offer this service.
Is a receipt attached to the flowers?
No, we do not attach receipts to our floral arrangements. A receipt is sent via e-mail to the sender only, never to the recipient.
Do you carry dyed flowers (such as blue, black, rainbow, or glitter roses)?
No.
Do you carry faux/silk/artificial flowers?
Faux/silk/artificial flowers are only available as part of a wedding or event package.
Do you carry dried flowers?
Dried flowers are are only available as part of a wedding or event package.
Do you offer chocolates, balloons, wine, champagne, candles, or stuffed animals?
No.
Do you offer gift baskets?
No.
Do you offer floral arrangements designed in baskets?
Flower baskets are only available as part of a funeral package.
Do you carry rose petals?
Rose petals are only available as part of a wedding or engagement/proposal package.
Do you offer (greenery and floral) wreaths?
We offer holiday wreaths during the month of December. Apart from the holiday season, wreaths are only available as part of a wedding, event, or funeral package.
Do you offer (greenery and floral) garlands / table runners / aisle runners?
Garlands / table runners / aisle runners are only available as part of a wedding or event package.
Do you offer leis?
Leis are only available as part of an event package. We are not able to accommodate orders of single leis (such as for graduation).
Do you offer flower crowns?
Flower crowns are only available as part of a wedding or event package.
Do you offer boutonnieres and corsages?
Boutonnieres and corsages are only available as part of a wedding package. We are not able to accommodate orders of single boutonnieres or corsages (such as for prom).
Do you carry houseplants?
Houseplants are only available as part of an event or corporate/hospitality/home decor account package. For daily delivery and pick up orders, our plant selection is currently limited to potted orchids.
Are you able to accommodate bulk orders of loose stems?
As our focus is designer floral arrangements, we generally do not sell flowers by the stem and cannot accommodate bulk orders of loose stems or individually-wrapped flowers.
Do you sell single flowers?
No.
Do certain seasonal flowers last longer than others?
Yes, there is quite a bit of variation when it comes to the longevity of cut flowers. Most varieties last between five days and a week depending on type, environment, and level of care. Orchids, Hawaiian tropicals, and exotics last longer than most flower types. Dahlias, garden roses, sweet peas, and lilac, on the other hand, are beautiful only for a few days.
Do you keep a record of past order information?
For your convenience, you may create an online account with us for a more streamlined checkout process: https://flowerssf.bloomnation.com/customer/accoun...
Our system stores order information (i.e. description of floral arrangement, total cost, delivery instructions, etc.) pertaining to past online orders; however, we do not yet have the capability to store past order information for orders placed over the phone.
Do you require a signature for deliveries?
For business deliveries, we require a signature by the recipient or an authorized receiver (business deliveries are typically accepted by a receptionist, concierge, mailroom attendant, or security desk). We do not require a signature for residential deliveries; we do, however, offer a “signature required” option for residential deliveries by special request. Requesting this option would require our courier to return the flowers to our studio (as opposed to placing them securely in front of the door to a residence) in the event that the recipient (or an authorized receiver) is not directly available to sign for the delivery upon arrival and an additional fee equal to the delivery fee originally paid would apply for a second delivery attempt. If you would like to request this option, please let us know in the Florist Instructions field at check-out. If this option is not specifically requested we will assume that we have your permission to leave your order at the door if the recipient is not at home (assuming that it appears safe to do so).
Can I choose to remain anonymous?
If you would like to to send flowers anonymously, simply let us know in the Florist Instructions field at checkout. We will then omit your name or any information pertaining to your identity from the card attached to your order. Please note, however, that we are required by law to disclose the sender's name in the case that a recipient contacts us and invokes the right to know, thus cannot guarantee anonymity to our clients.
Are flowers safe for pets?
According to the ASPCA, many of the flowers and foliage we and other florists use aren’t safe for pets (to varying degrees) but lilies are especially toxic. While we are glad to accommodate requests to omit certain flowers types (such as lilies) from our arrangements, and although we do regularly carry flowers that are non-toxic to pets, as we source a wide variety of flowers and our stock varies from day to day we cannot guarantee our floral arrangements will be pet-safe and always recommend keeping flowers out of reach of cats, dogs, and other animals.
Are your flowers edible?
No, as commercially grown flowers are not subject to the testing required to determine safety for human consumption.
Do you accept vase donations?
Yes, we are more than happy to do so! If you are located in San Francisco, we can even arrange to have one of our couriers pick them up from your home or business (at no cost to you, of course).
Are there any job opportunities at Elizabeth's Flowers?
We are always looking to add to our extended team of contract assistants and freelance floral designers on an as-needed basis for events and major floral holidays such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. We have an active internship program as well. Please contact us by e-mail at order@flowerssf.com.
How do I take care of cut flowers?
- Keep fresh flowers away from drafts and extreme temperatures, which can quickly dry out the flowers and cause wilting.
- If your flowers came in burlap, remove this as soon as possible, trim the stems at a 45-degree angle and place your flowers in a vase full of lukewarm water. (Trim the stems underwater for best results.) Be sure to place the flowers in the correct size vase for the arrangement. A vase too small for the number of stems in an arrangement (or too short for the height to which the stems have been cut) will affect the longevity of the flowers as well as the integrity of the design.
- Do not place your arrangement near fruit or in the path of cigarette smoke. The ethylene gas is detrimental to many flower types.
- Avoid placing flower arrangements on windowsills and other areas with full sun where flowers can wilt due to overheating.
- Most flowers will last longer under cool conditions.
- Keep your vase filled with water! All flower and foliage stems should be submerged. Flowers stay fresher, longer when they have an ample amount of water. Immediately remove dead or wilting leaves and stems from fresh flower arrangements to prevent bacterial buildup.
- Change the water in the vase as often as possible. (First, remove any dead or dying flowers from the arrangement. After carefully removing the good flowers, clean the vase thoroughly with soapy water to remove any bacteria that could cause the fresh flowers to deteriorate. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. Replace the water and mix in the flower preservative provided with your arrangement, according to the instructions on the packet. For best results, cut stems with professional clippers or a sharp knife at an angle about one to two inches from the bottom. This allows them to better absorb water. Do not use scissors to cut the flowers because they can crush the stems and prevent water absorption. Place loose stems or wrapped bouquets of fresh flowers in water as soon as possible.)
- Most varieties of cut flowers will last five to seven days with proper care. (With the exception of certain naturally shorter lasting varieties such as lilac, dahlias, and sweet peas, which remain beautiful only for a few days.)
How do I take care of orchid plants?
LIGHT
Medium to bright indirect light.
SOIL
Well draining potting medium like fine-grade orchid bark or orchid mix
TEMPERATURE
During the day they thrive in mild temperatures between 68-85°F. At night they will tolerate slightly cooler environments but the temperature needs to remain steady when in bloom. Chilly temperatures or drafty areas can cause flowers and buds to drop.
WATER
Water once a week (placing a single ice cube in the pot is recommended) and allow potting mix to almost dry out between waterings. Do not let the plant stand in water.
How do I take care of succulents?
- Water the succulents (with about a quarter cup evenly dispersed) every couple of weeks. If the leaves turn brown on the edges, the plants require more water. If the plants become soggy to the touch and yellow in the center, this means they are receiving too much water.
- Allow the soil to dry out completely in between waterings.
- Provide at least half a day of natural sunlight, either direct or indirect.
What COVID-19 precautions has Elizabeth's Flowers instated?
- Delivery & Pick Up Only (No In-Person Appointments or Walk-In Sales)
- Studio Disinfected Daily
- Staff Fully Vaccinated
- Staff Wear Masks
- Staff Wear Gloves
- Staff Receive Temperature Checks
- Staff Provided With Hand Sanitizer
- Social Distancing Observed
- Contactless Delivery / Curbside Drop-Off By Request
Which awards and recognition has Elizabeth's Flowers earned?
Listed as #1 of Yelp's 10 Best Florists in San Francisco for 2017 & 2018.
https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=florists&find_loc...
https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=florists&find_loc...
Voted one of the Top 5 Florists in San Francisco by CBS Local.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/top-lists/the-top...
Voted one of the 12 Best Options for Flower Delivery in San Francisco by www.flowerdelivery-reviews.com
https://www.flowerdelivery-reviews.com/best-flower...
Voted one of the Top 3 Florists in San Francisco by ThreeBestRated.
https://threebestrated.com/local-florists-in-san-f...
https://threebestrated.com/local-florists-in-san-f...
Featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/High-t...
Featured in the Daily Meal.
http://www.thedailymeal.com/holidays/10-best-thank...
Featured on the Green Wedding Shoes blog.
http://greenweddingshoes.com/golden-gate-bridge-we...
Voted one of the 10 Best Flower and Plant Shops in San Francisco by SFist.com.
http://sfist.com/2016/05/19/the_best_flower_and_pl...
Featured in the San Francisco Examiner (in an article outlining the most romantic florists in San Francisco's Financial District).
Featured on DealTrackerSF.
Featured on the TV Show "Chance."
Featured in a United Health Group documentary (in collaboration with Don't Blink Photography/Videography).
Voted one of Fash.com's Top 10 Bay Area Businesses.
Our design was featured as one of the "10 Best Thanksgiving Centerpieces Across the U.S." by the Daily Meal.
https://www.thedailymeal.com/holidays/10-best-than...
What are your Terms & Conditions, Substitutions Policy, Cancellation Policy, Exchange/Replacement Policy, and Refund/Return Policy?
- All flowers and colors are subject to seasonal and local availability. Due to seasonal and local variations of flowers and colors available, bouquets may differ from those shown. If a particular type of flower or vase is unavailable, we may substitute a similar element of equal or greater value to preserve the look and feel of our featured arrangements, with our designers paying careful attention to overall shape, size, style, and color combinations. With regard to our mixed bouquets, arrangements on the website are samples of our work only and represent the overall shape, size, style and basic color combinations. With regard to our single flower type arrangements, we will not substitute with another type of flower (thus, if you order a bouquet of roses, your recipient is guaranteed to receive roses), but may substitute with a similar color (for example, light pink for hot pink). Although specific varieties of flowers are defined in the description, we do reserve the right to make substitutions on the rare occasion that market conditions affect flower availability but will maintain the integrity of the proposed look, feel, and color scheme and will use flowers of equivalent value.
- In the rare instance that, after exhausting all possible options, it is simply impossible for a courier to complete a delivery (i.e. if our courier determines that there is no safe place to leave the flowers in front of a residence without risk of theft or damage and the recipient is not reachable at the phone number provided at the time of delivery to assist in coordinating an alternate solution such as leaving the flowers in the care of a neighbor or nearby business), we will have our courier return the flowers to our studio and contact the sender for further instructions. Please note, we reserve the right to charge the original purchaser an additional fee for redelivery equal to the delivery fee originally paid if we are provided with an incorrect or undeliverable address. In the case that we have in good faith completed a delivery to an incorrect address provided by the customer, our business must be contacted with a forwarding address for the recipient by closing time on the date of delivery in order for us to offer a resolution.
- If a customer claims an order was not delivered, we ask that we are given 24 hours to investigate in order to determine what has occurred. Our couriers utilize sophisticated tracking software to ensure our deliveries arrive safely and take a photo of the arrangement at the drop-off point - thus, in the vast majority of cases, the missing delivery was accepted by a reception desk, concierge or mail room, the staff of which has not yet alerted the recipient to his or her flowers' arrival. On the rare occasion that we are not able to determine what has happened, we reserve the right to reattempt delivery on the following business day.
- We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If an order is filled and delivered to the recipient and there is a question of the quality of the arrangement upon arrival, the sender or recipient should contact us directly and provide a photo of the arrangement. In almost every case, we will gladly exchange the arrangement. To request an exchange, we must be contacted within 24 hours of delivery, and the recipient must be available to accept the replacement either on the original date of delivery or on the following business day and at the original location. If a client requests an exchange, the replacement arrangement provided will be the exact product originally purchased - clients may not request that we substitute with another design - and no more than one exchange may be requested per arrangement. It is the responsibility of the sender to review all of the information provided on this website relating to exchanges and replacements. Cut flowers are perishable from the moment they are cut from the living plant and are subject to variable conditions such as weather, room temperature, placement, air quality, watering, and general care. Due to the perishable nature of cut flowers and plants and all of the factors and variable conditions that affect lifespan, we do not offer returns or refunds (including partial refunds) on floral arrangements and potted plants.
- Orders canceled with 24 hours advance notice are eligible for a full refund. Orders canceled within 24 hours may be rescheduled for another date or the purchaser may receive a store credit for the full amount. Please note, we cannot cancel or modify an order once it is en route with a courier or has been delivered. Cancellations will not be accepted if a customer places an order but provides information that prevents direct delivery, such as in the case of an incorrect office or home address. The customer may obtain new information so that the order may be properly delivered using correct information, but may be asked to pay an additional redelivery fee equal to the delivery fee originally paid if an attempt has already been made. Our business is not responsible for deliveries made to incorrect addresses submitted to us by the customer. If such a delivery is completed, we may attempt to resolve the issue given we are contacted prior to closing time on the date of delivery,
- It is the client's responsibility to ensure that all order information (delivery date, recipient name, address, phone number, card message) is correct. We are not responsible for instances in which having been provided with incorrect information affects our ability to deliver in a timely manner.
- With regard to business and residential deliveries (corporate offices, retail stores, hotels, restaurants, apartment complexes, etc.), once an order has been accepted by an authorized receiver within a company or building, it becomes the responsibility of the concierge, receptionist, doorman, mailroom attendant, etc. to ensure the recipient is alerted to his or her flowers' arrival in a timely manner. Our business is not responsible for any delay, loss, theft or damage which occurs after a floral arrangement has been received by authorized personnel within a secured building, nor are we responsible for flowers expiring before their time due to a lack of proper care (such as in the case of a recipient being away on vacation at the time of delivery).
- In the event that a recipient declines to accept an arrangement of flowers, we will contact the sender and offer to redeliver the arrangement to another address in the San Francisco Bay Area on that same day for an additional fee (calculated based on distance). Alternately, we may have the courier return the flowers to our studio and hold the arrangement for pick up by the sender until closing time. Please note, we do not offer refunds on floral arrang
- We reserve the right to cancel orders of products listed at an incorrect price due to photographical error, typographical error, or error in pricing information from our suppliers.
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