#121 Buying a Bouquet at a Flower Shop｜French Shopping Phrases

Whether it is for a birthday, to express gratitude, or simply to brighten up your home, there are many occasions when you may wish to purchase a bouquet from a florist.

When ordering a bouquet in French, it is important to communicate information such as the purpose, preferred colors or style, budget, and wrapping options using polite expressions.

In this article, I will explain useful French phrases for ordering a bouquet at a flower shop, along with key grammatical points.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour. J’aimerais acheter un bouquet, s’il vous plaît.
（Hello. I would like to buy a bouquet, please.）

B

Pour quelle occasion souhaitez-vous offrir ce bouquet ?
（For what occasion would you like to offer this bouquet?）

A

C’est pour un anniversaire. J’aimerais quelque chose de coloré mais pas trop chargé.
（It is for a birthday. I would like something colorful but not too elaborate.）

B

Très bien. Préférez-vous des tons chauds ou plutôt des couleurs pastel ?
（Very well. Do you prefer warm tones or pastel colors?）

A

Des tons chauds seraient parfaits. Et mon budget est autour de 30 euros.
（Warm tones would be perfect. And my budget is around 30 euros.）

B

D’accord. Je peux vous proposer un bouquet avec des roses, des gerberas et un peu de verdure.
（All right. I can suggest a bouquet with roses, gerberas, and a bit of greenery.）

A

Ça me semble très bien. Pourriez-vous l’emballer pour offrir ?
（That sounds great. Could you wrap it as a gift?）

B

Avec plaisir. Cela prendra quelques minutes.
（With pleasure. It will take a few minutes.）

1. Stating the Purpose of Your Purchase

When purchasing a bouquet, you can begin with an expression such as:

The phrase “J’aimerais…” is a polite way to express a request (“I would like to…”), while “un bouquet” means “a bouquet.”

If you tell the florist the purpose of the bouquet, they can recommend suitable flowers more easily.

A typical customer response:

Since bouquets vary greatly depending on their purpose—choice of flowers, color scheme, and wrapping—it is helpful to mention the occasion at the beginning.

Other possible expressions:

2. Describing the Style or Color of the Bouquet

Sharing your preferred image clearly is essential when ordering a bouquet.

Try to express the colors, overall style, and level of elegance as specifically as possible.

Here, “chargé” means “overly decorated.” The expression “pas trop chargé” conveys the nuance of “not too flashy” or “something more understated.”

Florists may also ask about your preferences:

“Tons chauds” refers to warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow. “Couleurs pastel” refers to gentle pastel shades, ideal for a soft impression.

3. Discussing Your Budget and Bouquet Contents

By stating your budget, the florist can create an arrangement that fits within your preferred price range.

Example of a florist’s suggestion:

The word “verdure” refers to foliage used to give the bouquet fullness and balance.

If you want to make additional requests:

Clearly expressing these details helps ensure the final bouquet matches your expectations.

4. Requesting Wrapping or Finishing Touches

For bouquets intended as gifts, it is common to request wrapping.

Here, “emballer” means “to wrap,” and “pour offrir” means “for giving as a gift.”

Florist’s response:

Summary