When you place an order with Portland Wholesale Florist, we ask for your event date — the date of your wedding, fundraiser, or other occasion. We use this date to calculate backwards and schedule the exact harvest and delivery timing so your flowers arrive at their peak.
Why the event date matters
Wholesale flowers ship directly from the farm in tight bud — they need 3–5 days (sometimes longer) to open fully. If your flowers arrive too early, they may be past their peak on your event day. Too late, and they won't have opened at all.
By knowing your event date, we work backwards to schedule:
- Harvest date — when the farm cuts your specific flowers
- Ship date — when your order leaves the farm or our warehouse
- Delivery/pickup date — timed so flowers arrive 3–5 days before your event
Typical arrival windows by flower type
| Flower type | Days needed before event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard roses | 3–4 days | Ship tight, open reliably with water and warmth |
| Garden / David Austin roses | 4–6 days | Slower to open, especially in winter |
| Peonies | 3–5 days | Arrive as tight buds — patience required |
| Ranunculus | 4–5 days | Hollow stems, slow openers |
| Oriental lilies | 5–7 days | Especially slow in winter |
| Hydrangea | 2–3 days | Open faster, need deep hydration |
| Lisianthus | 2–3 days | Very forgiving, long vase life |
| Tulips | 3–4 days | Continue growing after cutting |
See the full Flower Opening Times guide for every variety we carry.
Summer vs. winter timing
When to place your order
For best results, place your order 2–4 weeks before your event. This gives us time to source your specific varieties and schedule optimal harvest and delivery timing.
Orders placed with less than 72 hours notice carry a 10% rush surcharge and variety selection may be more limited. See Ordering & Policies for full details.