December 13, 1999




Gerald Stevens, Inc.
301 East Las Olas Boulevard, Suite 300
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Gerald Stevens, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing by
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended. The Registration Statement relates to an aggregate of
1,632,793 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to be
offered for sale from time to time by the selling stockholders set forth on the
Selling Stockholder table in the Registration Statement. Of the shares of common
stock to be offered, 1,621,599 shares (the "Shares") were issued and outstanding
as of the date of the prospectus and 11,194 shares (the "Warrant Shares") are
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants (the "Warrants") to purchase
the Company's common stock.

         We have examined such corporate records, documents, instruments and
certificates of the Company and have received such representations from the
officers and directors of the Company and have reviewed such questions of law as
we have deemed necessary, relevant or appropriate to enable us to render the
opinion expressed herein. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness
of all signatures and authenticity of all documents, instruments, records and
certificates submitted to us as originals.

         Based upon such examination and review and upon the representations
made to us by the officers and directors of the Company, we are of the opinion
that (i) the Shares have been duly and validly authorized and are validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and (ii) the Warrant Shares have been duly
and validly authorized and, assuming that the Warrant Shares are issued against





Gerald Stevens, Inc.
December 10, 1999
Page 2
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payment therefor in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warrants,
will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         The opinions expressed herein are limited to the corporate laws of the
State of Delaware. We express no opinion as to the effect on the matters covered
of the laws of any other jurisdiction. This opinion is delivered to you solely
in connection with the matters described herein and may not be delivered to or
relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose. This opinion may not
be quoted or used in whole or in part for any other purpose. Copies may not be
provided to any person without our prior written consent. The effectiveness of
this opinion is only as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update
this opinion or to advise you of subsequent changes.

         This firm consents to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to the firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus which is part of the Registration Statement.


                                      Very truly yours,


                                      /s/ AKERMAN, SENTERFITT & EIDSON, P.A.