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AIBU?

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Original poster

Partners who sent flowers/balloons to a person's workplace

277 replies

LittleMissUnreasonable · 14/02/2018 17:40

That's it really...AIBU to think this is incredibley showy to send flowers or balloons etc to your partners workplace. It reeks of smug couples and "look at me and this big generic grand gesture I can do in front of as many people as possible ". Understated things done more privately are a lot better and I've never actually seen anyone not look embarrassed to have flowers delivered to them at work. It's done more as a "look what a wonderful DP I am in front of my partners work colleagues " thing....

Yes I'm in a relationship and not bitter. I get flowers and this idea would be my worse nightmare Grin

OP posts:
ReanimatedSGB · 15/02/2018 01:42

And if someone has to ring or text or nag their partner to send flowers to work just so they are not 'the only one who doesn't get any' then that is really... depressing.

Peanutbuttercheese · 15/02/2018 01:49

I sent flowers to my bf at his office to say good luck in his exams, he was thrilled.

Snipples · 15/02/2018 04:52

This thread has made me laugh. My husband always sends me flowers to work. Birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day - everytime. We both work really long hours (both lawyers) so never at home and he likely has no time to go to the shop. Plenty of others also have flowers delivered in the office and I think it's quite sweet.

Until yesterday, when I think the florist must have downplayed the size of the arrangement and I received a bunch of roses that were on steroids and arranged into a ridiculous height - I was utterly mortified and so will DH be once he sees them. Too heavy for me to even lift to the car.

Had to put up with a lot of comments yesterday like "bloody hell, you won't miss them" "what's he done" "you bought them yourself didn't you" etc. So embarrassing.

ForalltheSaints · 15/02/2018 06:59

Our office has banned personal deliveries given the number of parcels that get sent around Christmas time. This is the first year of the ban and so it was a different office yesterday compared with last year.

Maybe that is the way to go.

Louiselouie0890 · 15/02/2018 07:49

I dont understand why it would bother anyone. Who really cares?@

MaisyPops · 15/02/2018 08:08

I dont understand why it would bother anyone
Because it's a workplace.

And whilst some would be very much 'that's lovely but it's a bit awkward at work', in my experience the people who love getting presents delivered to work also love droning on about how amazing their DP/DH is, how he's sooo thoughtful. (And also probably the ones who take photos of their valentine's meal and presents and upload it to instagram with #boydidgood #datenightwiththisone).

It's just annoying. And also more annoying that they assume anyone who doesn't really care beyond 'oh that's nice' is some miserable negferret who is only jealous of how thoughtful their husband is because negferret's husband probably never shows them any affection.

squoosh · 15/02/2018 08:15

I have never had flowers sent to my workplace or sent flowers to someone else's workplace but the anger this act seems to provoke in some people on this thread is mightily bizarre.

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 15/02/2018 09:23

I've had flowers sent to me at work a few times, random occasions though not valentines or birthdays. I think it's quite nice, I don't bang on to colleagues cos I don't want to bore them but inside I think it's lovely.

Appuskidu · 15/02/2018 09:28

I know someone who was always posting on FB about her husband being her ‘rock’, how amazing he was and then pictures of flowers he’d sent her at work.

She threw him out last year for having an affair with her best friend.

Public displays of affection aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be.

Gah81 · 15/02/2018 09:36

😂 at some of these comments. I never post on social media about my relationship or talk about it at work. I know others who have had flowers at work and have a similarly private approach to their lovelives.

MsHarry · 15/02/2018 09:41

I think there is a type though gah that’s obviously not you. I’ve seen it and know what people mean. It’s all about the show and not the sentiment.

Gah81 · 15/02/2018 09:49

Fair enough. Maybe it's because I work in finance and am surrounded by mostly men or women who are doing their best not to give men any opportunity to do them down but remaining strictly private and avoiding the suggestion that they might be a stereotype Grin.

Gah81 · 15/02/2018 09:50

*by remaining

LakieLady · 15/02/2018 10:00

I’d also get done by the company as you are expressly forbidden from receiving personal items at work as it is ‘wasting company resources’ as the post room have to receive them. So I’d be punished for getting something I didn’t want!

Bloody hell, how can they punish someone for something they have no control over? Fair enough if it's something you've ordered, but how is the sender meant to know your company's policy?

WheresTheHooferDoofer · 15/02/2018 10:04

Flowers at work aren't always cringy, a sign of a cheater, etc, the reasons are as individual as the circumstances.

It could be that the recipient isn't going to be at home during normal delivery hours. It's also possible that the giver isn't going to be near a florist during business hours. Lots of reasons, no need to be dismissive.

But 000bourneFarm is right, maybe retraining as a florist is a good career move. 😁

WheresTheHooferDoofer · 15/02/2018 10:06

I meant to add that I used to work in a place with armed guards, and flowers certainly got delivered there.

Cauliflowersqueeze · 15/02/2018 10:09

Always seems like an over-jealous male pissing out his territory to me a bit.

MrsKoala · 15/02/2018 10:23

I have had flowers delivered to me at work twice.

First time I was a receptionist for a massive building of different companies and every day flowers ca,e in for various people which i had to sign for and then deliver to them at their desk. I joked to my friend in passing once that i always got slightly excited when i saw them and then a little deflated because they were never for me. A few weeks later the obligatory daily flower delivery arrived and when i looked at the card it had my name and said 'this time they are for you!'. It was such a sweet gesture.

The second time i was pregnant and in the first horrendous trimester. I had gone blind in one eye and had optic neuritis and had been told i had a 50% chance of having MS. I was in the first month of a new job with long hours and DH was working abroad for a fortnight. He sent flowers to my work because i wouldn't have been home for the delivery and he wanted me to get them the next day.

Hortonlovesahoo · 15/02/2018 10:24

I’ve had them delivered to work as there was no one home to collect them otherwise

smoothieooo · 15/02/2018 10:29

I got sent flowers yesterday at work and I bloody loved it! But... DP and I have a LDR and only see each other 2-3 times a month. I didn't bang on about it or do a victory lap holding them aloft, but I was really touched.

worriedsouth · 15/02/2018 11:38

The only time I've had something similar was when my then bf now dh had flowers delivered to me as I came out of my last exam of finals (30 years ago!). He was 300 miles away at the time and I was totally surprised, a bit embarrassed, but delighted. It was so unexpected and he'd gone to a lot of trouble to get them to me. I do generally find ostentatious displays of affection rather showy, much in the same way as couples all over each other and lovey-dovey on social media.

Haisuli · 15/02/2018 11:47

When I was younger and sexier, I got flowers delivered to work twice in two years by secret admirers. It was amazing. I bloody loved it!!!
Yesterday my manager's partner came in with a big bunch of flowers for her. I thought it was gorgeous. Not cringey at all but really really sweet.

MistressDeeCee · 15/02/2018 11:55

My OH has done this before. It cheered up my working day. Fucked if I'd worry what anyone else thought about it . Who cares if it's deemed showy? & when it happens with other colleagues I'm there saying that's nice, looking at the flowers etc. It makes me smile. There are worse things aren't there? like eating lemons . Don't be so jealous, it's terrible for the mindset and achieves nothing.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 15/02/2018 11:56

I think it’s really embarrassing personally, but some people love it and each to their own.

My train home is usually person to person full and standing.. or if it’s the luckiest day of your life and you manage to get a seat, it’s clinging to handbag, laptop bag and canvas bag of heels / lunch / umbrella while someone accidentally elbows you in the head. I wouldn’t like to add flowers to that.

FlippingFoal · 15/02/2018 12:04

I had someone send me flowers to work after the first date. Everyone thought it was really sweet - to be honest it creeped me out, and with good reason. Turned into a complete control freak by the third date. I've never had anyone else do it so I can't comment further. I think it would make me feel uncomfortable though

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