30Sep 2022
Most Important Things to Consider While Selecting Funeral Flowers
Factors to Keep in Mind When Selecting Funeral Flowers
For many of us, it is important to pay tribute to someone who has died in a respectful and fitting way. Flowers can be a wonderful way to do this, but if you don’t know much about flowers and their meaning, it can be tricky to know where to start. Add to this the fact that you are likely already grieving and feeling overwhelmed, and it can make choosing sympathy flowers a highly emotional and stressful experience. But it doesn’t have to be. The key thing to remember is that you are choosing flowers for someone you love. Below we look at some of the things you might consider when choosing flowers for a funeral.
What Do You Want to Convey?
This is the most important thing to consider as it will influence all decisions. For example, if you want to convey grief and loss, then traditional bouquets of white lilies and chrysanthemums will likely be an ideal choice for you, as both these flowers represent loss, sympathy and grief. However, if you want to choose flowers that symbolise your close friendship with the deceased, then yellow sunflowers might be more appropriate. If you want to mark the death of someone and hope for eternal life, then daffodils are an ideal choice as they represent rebirth. You will find flowers that represent virtually all emotions and sentiments you wish to convey, but the challenge can be finding the right one. This is where a trained florist with experience in funeral flower arrangements will be extremely helpful as they can help you understand what you want to say with your flowers and which ones will be most appropriate for that purpose.
Are You a Close Family Member?
As a close family member, you may choose to have a much more personalised tribute created for your loved one. Letter tributes, for example, are extremely popular and may be made up to spell words such as ‘mum’, ‘dad’, ‘granddad’ and so on. These are wonderful ways to express your connection to the deceased and honour what they meant to you. As a family member, you may also be expected to create the funeral tribute that goes on the deceased’s coffin. This is where a funeral spray or funeral wreath may be most appropriate. Again, we recommend speaking to a florist about your needs if you are unsure what would be most fitting.
What Would the Person Have Liked Most?
Aside from traditional bouquets, one of the alternative approaches to choosing funeral flower arrangements is to have one designed based on the likes and personality of the person who has died. This may include having bouquets designed with their favourite flower or using their favourite colour. This personal approach can help the funeral service feel more like a celebration of life than a mourning of loss and for some that is what they would have wanted. But it is important to consider what the deceased may have wanted in this respect.
Should You Even Send Flowers?
Although flowers are traditional for many funerals, it is important to be aware that not all religions and cultures consider flowers appropriate at the funeral. Equally, some people or their families may ask that flowers are not sent and instead request money be donated to a charity. In this instance, it is important to respect the wishes. These will normally be outlined with details of the funeral service. If you are unsure, it is always wise to ask.
Where Should They Be Sent?
As a last note, it is important to find out where the flowers should be sent. In most cases, that will be the funeral home. However, in some instances, it may be the home of the family or an alternative location. Again, this should be specified on the funeral notice, but if you are unsure, it is always best to check.
