Funerals are often accompanied by flowers. For those of us who might be attending or holding a funeral for the first time, we might not be entirely sure what function funeral flowers serve.
What are funeral flowers exactly? What flowers should I choose? How much does it cost?
This article will discuss the complete guide to purchasing funeral flowers.
What Are Funeral Flowers?
Funeral flowers are bouquets of flowers that are displayed at a loved one’s funeral or memorial service.
Emotions are often difficult to put into words. Flowers help us as a way to express our deepest sentiments, whether happy or sad.
It can represent condolences, admiration, and our tribute to honor our loved ones.
Why Do People Send Funeral Flowers?
Having flowers around the deceased is and has been one of the oldest forms of mourning. It has been a tradition tracking even before modern civilization.
In 1951, Dr. Ralph Solecki found several burial sites with clumps of ancient pollen surrounding one of the skeletons in the Shanidar Cave of Northern Iraq.
Dr. Ralph Solecki claimed this showed flowers have been used at funerary rites since ages ago. The tradition carries on even today. In Mexican culture, the day of the dead use flowers a lot.
There are several reasons why people use flowers at funerals. Most frequently, people send funeral flowers because they can display them as a way to express love, sympathy, and respect. In return families usually send funeral thank-you notes.
Flowers also help to build a loving and warm environment in the funeral with their natural beauty and elegance.
It has a subtle beauty that is fitting with a common message at funeral services that often portray acceptance of death as a good rest for our loved ones.
What Is the Difference Between Funeral Flowers and Sympathy Flowers?
Funeral flowers are the floral tributes that are displayed during the funeral or memorial service and are usually meant to honor the deceased.
People will send funeral flowers to the venue where the memorial or funeral service is being held such as a funeral home, crematory, or church.
Sympathy flowers, on the other hand, are usually sent to the surviving family to show our condolences and express our sympathy and care at a time of grief.
Hence, instead of sending them to the venue of where a funeral service is being held, Sympathy flowers are typically sent to the home or workplace of the bereaved.
What Are the Appropriate Flowers to choose for Funerals?
Here are 7 appropriate flowers to choose for funerals and their meanings.
Lily
lilies are mainly associated with innocence and purity. The flower is a popular choice for funeral services.
Lilies often come to represent the soul of the deceased returning to a place of peace.
They are very aromatic and the smell can remind people of special memories with their loved ones.
Chrysanthemums
Used frequently as a flower for funeral services.
In the United States, chrysanthemums symbolize truth and help to promote a cheerful atmosphere.
It has the characteristic of being aromatic, deeply lobed, can be a large and flamboyant flower.
Roses
Roses are very popular and they can carry different meanings depending on the color chosen for the occasion.
Red roses symbolize courage, passion, and confidence. White roses stand for innocence and purity; also silence, secrecy, and reverence.
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Gladioli
This flower portrays the strength of character, remembrance, faithfulness, and moral integrity.
The flowers symbolize being honest and faithful at all times. It is a fitting funeral flower to honor a loved one that has a strong character, with high unwavering integrity.
Carnations
A great flower to honor a mother’s love. Carnations associate with motherly love due to their many various backgrounds that are related to a story of a mother’s love.
They have choices of white, pink, red, and orange color flowers.
Orchids
Orchids are a sign of our everlasting love.
White and pink orchids symbolize sympathy.
Poppy
This flower is a popular choice to honor a fallen soldier.
It is a popular choice for a memorial and remembrance flower that honors veterans because of a war memorial poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.
Which Arrangement Types of Funeral Flowers Should I Send?
Here are 4 arrangement type choices of funeral flowers that you can send
Flower Baskets
Flowers are arranged together in a basket. They usually sit on the floor or at a table to display a funeral or memorial service.
A Funeral basket is easy to carry around.
Flower baskets are a wonderful sympathy gift to the bereaved family.
Sprays
Flower sprays are large and flat arrangement bouquets of flowers and plants.
There are usually two types of sprays. One that is put on top of a casket, and a standing spray that is attached to an easel
Only families of the deceased may bring the sprays that will be put on top of the casket. Standing sprays are usually displayed next to the casket of our loved ones.
Wreaths,
A wreath floral arrangement is also common in funerals or memorial services. Wreaths come in a circular or sometimes heart-shaped arrangement.
They are often showcased at an easel stand next to the casket. Usually delivered to the funeral home or brought to the burial site.
Crosses, and Hearts
Similar to wreaths, but instead of being arranged into a circular shape, these flowers and plants are arranged into a shape of a cross or a heart.
It is a symbolic representation of faith and or love. Crosses and Hearts funeral floral arrangement is usually brought by the immediate family of the deceased.
How Much to Spend on Funeral Flowers?
The range of price for funeral flowers can cost anywhere from $30 to $800.
The general rule of thumb is that price will increase the bigger the size of the flower arrangement. Design and flower choices may affect too.
For example, peace lily (which is also popular for remembrance flowers) in a basket is an affordable floral arrangement. With simple and basic arrangements, it will probably cost between $30 to $80.
Larger display funeral flower arrangements shaped like crosses, or heart-shaped wreaths can cost from $250 to $650.
To Where Should I Send Funeral Flowers?
Here are the places where you should send funeral flowers to:
Send to funeral homes or burial site
Funeral flowers are mostly delivered directly to the funeral home responsible for the funeral.
It is practical and doesn’t add up to the hassle of having to bring the flowers on your own to the funeral viewing or memorial service event.
It also helps the staff at the funeral home to immediately set up the venue for the memorial service for proper visitation.
Send to the home of the immediate surviving family
Sending flowers to the home of the immediate family is more often associated with sympathy flowers than funeral flowers. The families will have to transport the flower to the funeral service.
Nevertheless, it is still acceptable in most cases, just that we’d recommend you to at least contact the families first and ask if they would prefer to have it be sent at home or the funeral/memorial venue.
Send to the venue of the memorial service
Generally, because funeral flowers are meant to be displayed at a funeral, or memorial service, you should send the flowers to where the event is being held.
It could be a church, community center, or an outdoor memorial place that the family has chosen.
Remember, always try to ensure that the flower is well received, and it may be best to try to contact the family holding the funeral first before sending the flowers for extra assurance.
There are cases where the flowers are being handled poorly by the receiving party because of a lack of communication. We wouldn’t want our funeral flowers left uncared for.
What Message Should I Include When Sending Funeral Flowers?
A Heartfelt, sympathetic, and supportive message is usually best to include when sending funeral flowers.
Some people will be in shock and are not ready to lose their loved ones. Making them aware through your message that you got their back, will mean a lot to them.
Expressing your condolences is a nice thing to do! Saying things that express you also shared the feeling of loss will feel meaningful to the family of the deceased.
Despite good intentions, we can still say the wrong thing which can give a sour taste. To avoid that, here’s an article we write of sympathy messages for families losing a loved one that can help you.
How to Save Money on Sending Funeral Flowers?
Many people consider funeral flowers as expensive. Saving money and not spending too much on funeral flowers is reasonable because the flowers will not last that long anyway and are usually only used once at the funeral service.
To save money on funeral flowers, consider purchasing them as a group gift.
You could try to reach out to relatives, friends, associates, or communities of the deceased that you are related with and invite them to buy a funeral flower together.
Everyone contributing a $15 can amount to a greater total that allows you to buy more meaningful flower arrangements.
When Are Funeral Flowers Not Acceptable?
If when the families have specifically stated that they request donations instead of flowers, you should respect the request and not send any flowers to their funeral service.
Some religions, also have different treatments for funeral flowers. You need to watch for it too.
For example, Jewish people conducted immediate burial and hold shiva afterward in which they will cease normal daily activities to experience the grieving process.
Sending flowers is unnecessary for them, and it is more common to send fruit or food baskets to the home of the deceased as your sign of support.
End of Article
Funeral flowers have been a long tradition of expression of love and sympathy to the deceased.
Displaying a funeral flower at a funeral service symbolizes our love for them, which is often difficult to put into words, especially during grief. It is a nice, subtle and elegant way of paying tributes to the deceased.
We hope this article helped you to learn more about funeral flowers. If you recently just lost a loved one, we are sorry for that. We hope you move forward strong in the days ahead.
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