Mackay and Whitsunday florists best Valentine’s Day stories, from funny to extravagant

Six bouquets for six different girls, sad resale attempts on Facebook marketplace and driving to rural off-road spots to make a delivery. Four florists who have seen it all share their advice.

Rosie & Christie from ESPRESSO AND BLOOM are busy ahead of Valentine’s Day. Photo: Contributed

Mackay and Whitsunday florists have described some of the most romantic February 14 gestures they will never forget, as well as some less romantic ones.

A Willow in Bloom owner Zoey Mills remembers one in particular.

“We’ve had a couple of really extravagant bouquets,” she said.

Zoey Mills from A Willow in Bloom. Photo: Contributed

“One man ordered a bouquet of 500 red roses, which was huge, it ended up being over $1000 worth of flowers.

“It was a massive, big, chunky, round, delish bouquet.”

She said they also get to see lots of funny little card messages in the shop this time of year.

A Willow in Bloom have plenty of stock for their busiest year yet. Photo: Contributed

This Valentine’s is their busiest yet with Ms Mills saying as a growing business owner she was so excited and hoped it would get busier each year.

“It makes me nervous for the last minute ones coming through,” she added.

Shawna Starrett owner of The Florist Fourways. Photo: Contributed

Shawna Starrett, owner of The Florist Fourways in West Mackay witnessed one of the sadder Valentine’s Day stories play out after a man went all out buying $1,000 worth of flowers for a woman he met online.

But the woman never showed up and the man was forced to sell the flowers on Facebook Marketplace.

“That’s not really a good love story,” she said.

Ms Starrett said she was getting orders from far and wide, and they were happy to make the deliveries rain, hail, or shine.

She had to use the four wheel drive for a recent delivery that took her over an hour from the shop.

“We went through two cattle gates, through the mud,” she said.

“Really off the beaten track.”

Orders seem to be coming in earlier this year with a lot of people who work in mines or have varied rosters celebrating early or even in the week after Valentine’s.

She added that she was also busy preparing orders for other events and occasions that happened to fall on Valentine’s weekend.

The Florist Fourways have plenty of options. Photo: Contributed

Scott Osborne owns Deborah’s Flowers in West Mackay and he has had one man come in to order six lots of flowers, to be sent to six different ladies.

“He’s a very busy man, I don’t know how he does it,” he said.

He said the weather hasn’t been the best for them but rain is to be expected this time of year, and it isn’t stopping customers from placing orders.

Brisbane crafted chocolates are selling very well for Mr Osborne this year, as are soft toys, wine, and candles with people wanting to add extra gifts to their orders.

Mr Osborne had some sage advice to give to Valentines shoppers.

“Get in early,” he said.

“Pick of the crop if you get in early, you leave it to the last minute, it’s a bit tougher.

“Especially if you want it delivered, it pays to get in early,”

Espresso and Bloom have stunning bouquets ready to go for the big day. Photo: Contributed

Rosie and Christie, owners of Espresso and Bloom, said while they have some juicy stories, their lips are sealed.

While the romantic orders are nice they say their favourites are the ‘to me, love me’ ones because they are all about self love and cheekily it keeps the partners guessing who is sending them flowers.

Both Rosie and Christie have always loved all things flowers and when they both moved up to Airlie Beach they wanted to keep that flower love going so started their flower business at the markets on a Saturday.

Eventually they combined their passion for flowers and coffee, opening their Cannonvale shop front last August.

“We love the face-to-face interactions with our customers and being able to bring both flowers and caffeine to the Whitsundays,” they said.

They added they are run off their feet at the shop ahead of Valentine’s Day but wouldn’t have it any other way, plus they are very thankful to have plenty of coffee on hand.

Originally published as Mackay and Whitsunday florists best Valentine’s Day stories, from funny to extravagant