Last year, before I started working with Fleur de Luxe UK, I bought a bouquet of flowers online. And things went horribly wrong.

I was thrilled when I found out that a friend of mine had got engaged. He is a lovely guy and she is too, so it made sense for them to get married soon after they announced the happy news. We went on their Facebook feed to congratulate them but didn't know what else we could do to show them how much we cared during that amazing time.

So, I bought them a bouquet online to congratulate them. I ordered quick – I wanted to get them flowers for the next day, but their cutoff was at 1PM and it was 12:55 already! – so I bought a dozen red roses that looked gorgeous online and sent them to arrive next day to the couple.

This was when disaster struck. The flowers were supposed to come gorgeously wrapped and in letterbox packaging. Instead, the box was wet at the bottom. The flowers inside were drooping sadly, half-dead. And the word 'dozen' had been used to denote nine roses, not twelve.

Don't make the same mistakes I did. When you order flowers online, get a bouquet that is perfect for you – flowers that really make you smile.

And how can you do that? Simple! Follow my five tips below on what to look out for when ordering flowers online!

1. Pick flowers that are in season.

First of all, for gorgeous looking flowers, pick the ones that are in season for that time of year. This is because, flowers in season are at their best and the most abundant.

In Spring, that means picking up some glorious tulips or daffodils. In the Summer, it's time to admire a bouquet of sunflowers and lilies. In Autumn, look out for red roses or orange carnations. And in Winter? If you're lucky enough to live somewhere with snow-filled winters then go ahead and pick up some honeysuckles, snowdrops, or pansies to meet your needs.

Some flowers though are gorgeous and in bloom all year around like Hydrangeas, and look as amazing in January as they do in July.

2. Think about what things the recipient loves

What does the recipient of these flowers need? Do they love bright colours or want something more subdued and calm? Does that person like lilies but despise roses while someone else would prefer to have a bouquet without any yellow blooms in it at all? Is there a special occasion? All this is relevant information when you're selecting what kind of bouquet that person may want.

3. Think about when the bouquet needs to be delivered

If you're ordering flowers for a funeral, then it's important to know if the service is at 11am or 12 noon. If someone has requested same-day delivery of their bouquet from an online florist, make sure that they can be delivered on time. And if not, don't give in – give the florist a call direct and see if they can help meet your needs.

We offer next-day delivery for example all across the UK, and same-day flower delivery to Birmingham if you order before 2pm. Get in touch!

4. Read the reviews

Okay, so this was my biggest mistake before I ordered. I didn't check the reviews, and if I did, I would have seen that in the last couple of weeks before my order, there were dozens of people writing in on Trustpilot and other review sites about problems with their orders from the florist I bought from.

When you order online, you can't see the flowers before you buy them. You have to put a lot of faith in your seller. So before you place your order, do some research and read the reviews. It could save you a lot of time and heartache later on!

You can read the Fleur de Luxe UK Trustpilot reviews here as well, and make up your own mind by looking at the pictures from some of our happy customers there!

5. Trust your instinct

Next, trust your instincts! Flowers come in all different shapes and sizes. What might not suit someone else may be perfect for you; so don't worry about following what others would want. Happiness can only happen when we're true to our own desires, and not rushed into making a decision. So use your gut as well to decide what is perfect for you before your decision is made.

I hope this advice is helpful to you, and you'll avoid the situation I was in! And if you have any questions or trouble making a decision, just get in touch with us directly and give us a call, and our expert team of florists will help you select a bouquet perfect for your needs.