The short answer: a graduation bouquet should feel bright and proud, and it should be easy to carry and photograph. A hand-tied bouquet or a dozen roses in the graduate's favourite colour works for almost anyone. If the graduate is moving out or starting a new job soon, a plant or a gift basket will last longer than the party. Add a card that says what you are proud of, and you are done.
Who sends flowers for a graduation?
Parents and grandparents are the most common senders, but they are far from the only ones. Flowers are a lovely gift from an aunt or uncle who lives too far away to attend, from a family friend who has watched the graduate grow up, or from a partner who sat through every late night of studying. A mentor, a coach or an employer can send them too, and a group of classmates can share the cost of one larger design.
Flowers also suit every kind of graduation. High school, college, university, trade school, nursing school and a master's or doctoral degree all deserve to be marked, and so does an adult who went back to school while working and raising a family. Those graduates often get less fuss than they have earned, and a delivery at home can mean a great deal.
What to send
- A hand-tied bouquet is the classic choice for the ceremony itself, because the graduate can hold it in photos and carry it through a crowded hall. Look through our weddings and graduations collection and our best sellers for ideas, or see all of our congratulations flowers.
- Roses say congratulations clearly, and a dozen in a single colour looks polished in pictures. See all our roses, including pink, red and mixed colours.
- A vase arrangement is the better choice for delivery to the home or the party, since it arrives ready to display and does not need to be held. Our flowers and gifts under $60 include many that suit a smaller budget, which helps if a few cousins or friends are each sending something.
- A plant makes sense for a graduate heading to a first apartment or a new office. Something from our potted plants and succulents will still be growing long after the gown has gone back, and our guide to caring for succulents and planter gardens makes it easy for a first-time plant owner.
- A gift basket is practical for a graduate who is moving out. Gift baskets are made to order and need at least one day's notice.
Choosing colours
School colours are the most personal option. If the school's colours are blue and gold, or red and white, ask us about a design in those shades when you call. They look especially good next to a gown and a hood in the same colours, and they make for a keepsake photo.
If you do not know the school colours, or you would rather not match them, choose the graduate's favourite colour or go bright. Yellows, oranges and hot pinks read as joyful and look good on camera. Soft pink flowers suit a graduate with a gentler style, and white flowers look crisp against a dark gown.
Tip: a very tall design can hide the graduate's face in photos. For the ceremony, choose something compact enough to hold at waist height. Save the larger pieces for the party table.
When and where to send them
Graduations come with busy schedules and large venues, so the safest plan is not always the most obvious one.
- Bring them to the ceremony yourself. Halls and arenas can be crowded, and most graduates will not be able to receive a delivery while they are lining up. Have flowers delivered to your home before you leave, then hand them over outside when the ceremony ends.
- Send them to the home. A bouquet that arrives on the day, or the day before, sets the tone for the celebration and gives the family time to find a vase.
- Send them to the party. If the celebration is at a restaurant or a relative's home, check with the host first, and give us the name of the person who will receive them.
- Send them late, if you must. Missing the date is no reason to skip it. A bouquet a week later with a note that says you are still proud is just as welcome.
We deliver across the GTA from our Mississauga studio. Delivery is free on orders of $50 or more, and orders under $50 have a $15 delivery fee. Delivery days depend on the area, so check the delivery map and zones if your date falls on a Sunday. Order ahead in the busy graduation weeks. If you need a design at a set time, call 905-677-9999 before you order and we will tell you what is possible.
What to write on the card
Every order includes a free handwritten card. Keep the message short and specific; a line about what they overcame says more than a line about the future. Some ideas:
- We are so proud of you. You earned every bit of this.
- All those late nights paid off. Congratulations, graduate!
- Watching you get here has been one of the great joys of my life.
- From the first day of kindergarten to today, you have made us proud. Love, Mom and Dad.
- Congratulations, Doctor! We always knew you would finish it.
- You did it while working full time and raising a family. We are in awe.
- Your teachers saw it, your family saw it, and now the whole world will. Well done.
Graduation or new job?
Sometimes the two come together. If the graduate has already landed a first job, you can mark both at once with one gift, or save the second for their first day. Our guide to flowers for a new job or promotion covers what suits a desk, and our guide to flowers for a teacher or coworker has small ideas if the graduate wants to thank someone who helped them get there.
Order directly from the florist
When you order from Mystic Flowers, you are talking to the florists who make your flowers. Every design is hand-arranged in our Mississauga studio. Call us at 905-677-9999 if you would like school colours, a custom design or help with a delivery for the big day.