I am a modern woman who by no means expects antiquated acts of chivalry. You do not need to always open doors for me when I am completely capable of opening them myself or pull out my chairs at restaurants. However, I love flowers, and they are especially nice to get when you are not expecting them. Buying flowers for a loved one is not about how much money you spend, but the beauty of the gesture.

I put together this guide because I know how it feels to walk into a store and have no idea where to start looking. Here are the answers to all of your questions, from my point of view.

1. What store should I go to?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. You should be more focused on how the flowers look than how nice of a store they come from. Some of the nicest flowers can be found from street vendors or at grocery stores like Trader Joe's. Even if you are at the most upscale boutique, you need to pay attention to how the flowers look. If they appear to be healthy and not dried up, wilted, or brown, then they are good.

2. What's the appropriate price range for a bouquet?

There is often no correlation between how nice and healthy the flowers are and their price. The price range also depends on what type of flower you get. There is no standard for prices. While nice flowers used to be rather expensive, these days, you should not have to spend more than $30 on a dozen roses.

3. What type of flower should I get?

This is where it gets complicated. You cannot go wrong with healthy roses. Tulips and daffodils are beautiful in the spring, and peonies in the summer, when they are in season. Gerbera daisies (pictured below on the left) are pretty and come in a variety of great colors. Mixed bouquets can be nice, but if you do not feel like you have a good eye for flowers, stay away from these. In my opinion, lilies smell bad and are more associated with religious holidays than gifts. Never give carnations or chrysanthemums (pictured below on the right).

4. Does the color matter?

In general, color only matters when it comes to roses. Red roses are associated with a grand statement of romantic love, so they are appropriate on Valentine's Day, anniversaries, or any time you are trying to make a big statement of your love. If you are passing a flower vender on your way to your second date and pick out a dozen red roses, you are probably giving off the wrong message. However, pink roses are more associated with friendship and admiration and are a beautiful choice. White roses are classically associated with purity, remembrance, and marriages. Pink, white, yellow, orange, peach, and ivory roses are all beautiful in monochromatic bouquets or combined.

Also, do not give flowers that are not their natural color. It is common for carnations to be dyed an unnatural color, but this could really happen with any white flower and is not a great look.

5. How many flowers should be in the bouquet?

Around a dozen is a usually a good amount, especially with rose-sized flowers. If the flowers are bigger than most types, then you can do with less than a dozen, and you should get more if the flowers are extra small.

In the end, the most important thing to look for when picking out flowers for a loved one is their health. The type, color, and size of flower arrangements are all a matter of taste, but nobody wants a half-dead bouquet.