Flower Care
Taking a few simple steps for proper care of your flower arrangement can more than double the viewing life of your cut flowers.

Water
The first and most obvious step is to get your flowers into water as soon as possible. Flowers are often refrigerated in floral shops, making them go dormant and extending their life. Once they warm up to room temperature, the flowers will become very "thirsty."

Roses are especially notorious for high water use. Whether you have a vase or an arrangement in floral foam, keep your flowers watered every day.

Food

The use of flower food is also key to extending the life of your fresh flowers. Flower food contains three key parts: a bleaching agent that kills bacteria that can cause decay, a sugar component to feed the blooms, and an acid to raise the pH of the water to a level beneficial for flowers. If you don't have any flower food, dropping an aspirin tablet in the water will also raise the PH.

Stems

If you have the time and a sharp knife, re-cutting the stems of the flowers will also add to the life of your arrangement. When pruning the stems make the cut approximately one to two inches above the original cut. It's very important to use a knife with a sharp edge because a dull knife might damage the stem and lead to shortened flower life. Make the cut on an angle and underwater in a sink or dish if possible. Cutting on an angle will make sure that water than enter the base of the stem. Cutting the stem underwater will decrease the chance of air pockets occurring in the flower stem. Air pockets can block the absorption of liquid and kill the flower. Removing any leaves on the stems that are below the waterline will also add to the life of your arrangement.

Location

Keeping flowers in a cool spot will add days to the life of your flowers. It's best to keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources such as furnace vents, radiators, or the top of a television. Keep your flowers away from fans if possible to avoid dehydration. Close proximity to ripe fruit or cigarette smoke can also be detrimental to flowers as both create gases harmful to the blooms.

All of the above recommendations will help you get a lot more value out of your gift of flowers.

SHIPPING & RETURNS

Shipping Method and Rates:

Deliveries are made via Messenger Service in NYC. Depending on the size and quantity of packages messengers may go by van, bicycle or walk. Shipping costs for Manhattan are $15. You can also pick up the flowers to avoid shipping fees.

If your building has no doorman you will be able to select a time slot when we can make the delivery. If the recipient is not home and we need to attempt a second delivery you will be charged a second delivery fee.

Where Do You Ship?

Currently, Gabriela Wakeham ships only within New York City.

Errors in Placing Your Order

The details of your name billing address, shipping address and mode of payment are critical. We cannot be responsible for errors in information that is provided to us. Costs resulting from such errors will be charged to you, and Gabriela Wakeham charges an additional $15 for redelivery of your package.

The accuracy of the shipping information you provide is crucial in making sure your delivery is prompt. This ensures that our customers can enjoy our arrangements for the full extent of their useful life. Gabriela Wakeham cannot be held responsible for returns caused by incomplete or erroneous delivery instructions.

Weekends

We only ship on Saturday and orders need to be placed before 11:00 AM for same day deliveries. If you make a purchase on Saturday after 11:00 AM or Sunday orders will be shipped until Monday.

How Do I Return or Exchange An Item?
For perishable items:

Gabriela Wakeham guarantees your flowers will be fresh for 4 days, or you may request a replacement. If you are not completely satisfied with your order, please contact us via phone or email, within 4 days of receipt for a replacement of your floral arrangement. Please note that we cannot give money back or exchange for a different arrangement. Your replacement will be for the arrangement previously purchased. Vases and flower containers are considered perishable since they are part of the floral arrangement.

Via email: customerservice@gabrielawakeham.com

Via Phone: 212-346-7833

For Non-perishable Items:

If you are not satisfied with your gift for any reason, please contact us within 21 days of the purchase for a return or exchange.
A credit will be issued to the sender's credit card within 30 days of receipt and inspection of the item. Items will only be exchanged or returned if unopened and unused.

Placing Orders
Can I place an order without your registering?

Yes, you can, but registering will give you access to more information about your order and it will make it easier next time you want to make a different purchase.

What if I forget my password?

No problem. We can give you a hint. If you still can't remember, we can reset your password and email a new one to you. We can't give out passwords over the phone or email them to a different email address than the one used to register.