The enhancement of excitation and reemission of molecules in dose proximity to plasmonic nanostuctures is studied with special focus on the comparison between idealized and realistically shaped nonostructures. Numerical experiments show that for certain applications choosing a realistic geometry closely resembling the actual nanostructure is imperative, an idealized simulation geometry yielding significantly different results. Finally, a link between excitation and reemission processes is formed via the theory of optical reciprocity; allowing a transparent view of the electromagnetic processes involved in plasMon-enhanced fluorescence and Raman-scattering.