Funeral Flowers Help

Sending Funeral or Sympathy Flowers

Flowers are a true expression of emotion, perhaps never more so than at times of sadness and loss.

Following a death, flowers are often sent to bereaved relatives as an expression of sympathy, to let the family know they are in our thoughts. Such flowers may be in the form of a subtle bouquet, perhaps a bouquet of the deceased or recipients favourite flowers. These flowers are typically sent in the days immediately following the death, prior to the funeral. Other popular choices include basket arrangements and flower posies.

In addition to these flowers, on the day of the funeral, people often send flowers either directly to the funeral directors or again, to the family of the deceased. These are typically split into two groups - sympathy flowers and funeral tributes.

Sympathy flowers

Sympathy flowers are often smaller tributes, posies or basket arrangements. These can be sent directly to the funeral directors to be transported in the hearse, or to the family where they can either be taken to the funeral separately, or kept in the home following the burial or cremation.

Funeral tributes

Funeral tributes are often larger arrangements which can only realistically be sent direct to the funeral home. These will again be transported to the church - or wherever the funeral is set to take place - in the hearse with the casket. Such funeral tributes may include full-length casket sprays, floral letters to spell out a name or the initials of the deceased, or perhaps large wreath or cross-shaped flower arrangements. These may include personal tributes, carefully crafted by the florist to the specification of the customer, whether this be the family or a friend of the deceased.

Such funeral tributes are often sent by immediate family, although personal tributes - perhaps an arrangement in the shape of something meaningful to the deceased, a horseshoe for example - may be sent by a friend, colleague or person outside the family.
It is however, often the responsibility of the family to arrange a main tribute, be it a casket spray, floral letters or something else entirely.

If the funeral procession is commencing from the family home, flowers may be sent there instead of to the funeral directors. While it may be considered difficult to speak to the family about such matters during these sad times, it is often best to double check what arrangements are in place. It may be easier to speak to someone outside the immediate family; a cousin, niece or nephew for example.

Flowers sent to a funeral often dress the hearse and coffin. A main tribute will often sit atop the casket, or beside it. Other tributes - sprays of flowers, wreaths, crosses, posies and basket for example - will often be arranged around the casket.

Flowers may also be arranged in the church if desired during the service, often in the form of a pedestal or several smaller vase arrangements. If a casket spray has been chosen, this will usually sit atop the coffin throughout the service.

Following the service, the casket and flowers will usually be transported to the cemetery or crematorium. Here, the flowers will be removed from the hearse and laid on the ground, often by the grave or outside the crematorium.

In the case of burial, the flowers are often left to mark the grave. In the case of cremation, the flowers are usually placed in a garden of remembrance. The family may also take some of the flowers home, and or invite mourners to do the same. The family may wish to remove the message cards from the flowers, or may ask the funeral director to do so. The funeral director will often be happy to oblige this request and will ensure that the messages are forwarded to the family of the deceased.

What should I send?

Having determined whether you wish to send sympathy flowers or a funeral tribute, as outlined above, your next decision is which variety - or varieties - of flower you wish to send. Another consideration is the colour of the arrangement or tribute you wish to send.

Often funeral or sympathy tributes are white, with lots of luscious foliage. This is a safe bet, although sprays and wreaths in appropriate colours - perhaps blue or yellow for a gentleman, pink or lilac for a lady - are also acceptable and often seen at funerals.

With regards to flower varieties; lilies, chrysanthemums, roses, carnations and gerberas are often the staple of sympathy flower arrangements and tributes. That is not to say other varieties cannot be sent. For example, if the deceased had a passion for a certain flower - freesia perhaps, or the hydrangea maybe - these flowers could be incorporated into the tribute.

It is also not unusual to see more exotic flower varieties in sympathy or funeral flower arrangements - orchids, anthuriums, calla lilies and even lotus seed heads for example. These are often used as detailing within larger arrangements consisting mainly of more understated flowers; the exotic varieties adding a little extra interest to the tribute.

Adding a message

A message of sympathy or condolence is often added to the flower order, in the form a message card which can be attached to the tribute.

People often ask for suggestions, "what message should I add to the card?" but in reality, it is difficult to advise on such a personal decision. Whether a message to the family expressing your condolences, or perhaps in remembrance of the deceased, it is a good idea to spend a while thinking of a suitable message.

With a little thought, a suitably heart-felt message is often forthcoming.