One of life’s most difficult experiences is losing a loved one. The loss can disrupt the flow in our lives or leave us powerless. In such moments, an act of kindness often carries the greatest meaning. As a family member or friend, you should express your condolences to the deceased. One of the longest-running traditions of eulogizing someone is sending flowers.
What are funeral flowers? Funeral flowers are like the second language as they facilitate emotional release. It’s an expression of sympathy and self-respect for mourners who can’t express themselves verbally. But there’s a message to the type of flower you send to a funeral service.
Best way to send flowers to a funeral?
The flowers you send to a funeral will heavily depend on the individual you’re honoring and the family. Here is how to send flowers to a funeral.
Recognize the wishes of the family
In some funeral arrangements, the family can ask you to make donations. While this decision is up to you, respecting the wishes of the family members is always appreciated. If you learn about the funeral after it has taken place, sending flowers to the home is acceptable. The family of the deceased will list their preferences and where to send the flowers.
Choose the flowers carefully
If you’re unfamiliar with the culture of the family, you should follow the traditional favorites. Here are a few suggestions:
- Lilies of the valley – the return of happiness
- Pink roses (paid link) – grace
- Red roses (paid link) – love, respect, and courage
- Hybrid tea roses – I’ll remember you
- Apple blossom – better things to come
Next, you should decide on the type of arrangement you want. Banquets in vases, lower baskets, and potted plants are all possibilities. If you’re from an immediate member of the family, you can choose a wreath (paid link). If you’re a member of the extended family, you can go for an extended casket spray (paid link).
If you’re a close friend, you can send flowers directly to the family you wish to comfort.
Make a tribute to the personality of the deceased
The flowers you choose should recognize what the deceased loved to do in real life. If the deceased is with a gardener, you can send a plant that can be planted outdoors. If the deceased loved to spend time outdoors, you can send a banquet of wildflowers.
What to write on ribbon for funeral flowers?
When grieving the loss of a loved one, it can be overwhelming to write a message that expresses how much the deceased meant to you. Generally, you should write a meaningful message to show sympathy and sorrow. If you’re struggling to come up with the words, here are some ideas that may inspire you.
- Gone but never forgotten
- In loving memory
- Forever in our thoughts
- With you in sorrow
- Till we meet again
- With our deepest sympathy
- With love and memories
- Forever missed but not forgotten
- You’ll be sorely missed
- May you rest in peace
What to write on funeral flowers for the family?
This is done by the extended family members like uncles, aunties, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Since there are no fast rules on who can send the messages, anyone can express their sentiment. Some people prefer to name their relationship with the deceased like:
- Best dad in the world
- Cherished wife and husband
- Amazing grandma
- Adored sister
- Courageous nephew
- Always my brother
- Courageous cousin
- Loving mom and wife
- Outstanding grandfather
- Greatest mom
- Protective brother
What to write on the Funeral Ribbon (friends and coworkers)
If a group of coworkers needs to send a message, they will use different words. The message should quickly identify the sender and the relationship they shared with the deceased. This can mean a lot to the deceased family. You can include messages like:
- Brilliant worker
- Cherished friend
- Excellent teammate
- Best mate
- Exceptional employee
- Beloved companion
- Brother in spirit
Religious Messages For Funeral Flowers
If the deceased was a religious person, you can write a message that suits him or her. You should be careful about your choice of words to convey your sentiment. A few examples include:
- God took you in his loving arms
- God will link the chain until we meet again
- Asleep in heaven
- Angels rejoice
- Eternal rest in Christ
- Heaven gates open
No matter how you relate to the deceased, you should not feel the pressure to write something complicated. Don’t forget to sign your name and convey your condolences.
What to send to the funeral instead of flowers?
While sending flowers is the perfect gesture for death, there’re times when you can send something else. Sometimes, the family of the deceased will tell you what to do. Check the funeral home website or obituary if there’s an `in lieu of flowers’ suggestion. Here is what you can send to a funeral instead of flowers.
- A handwritten note or trinket If the idea of sending flowers sounds too generic, a handwritten note is the most thoughtful. If you’re not sure of the words to use, you should choose a company with relatable card options.
- Photos the family doesn’t have If the deceased is your close friend, you may have a photo the family may not have. You can also put together a memorial CD and give the family. As months and years pass, they will be glad you have as many photos as possible.
- A memorial guestbook A customized memorial guestbook will help you share a memory of the deceased. Don’t just sign their name, but also craft a special message to the family.
- Something for the kids One of the questions people ask after the death of a loved one is how the children are affected. However, with all the attention at the funeral, children seem to be forgotten. Think of the age and interests of the children. Some of the suggestions are a journal to express feelings, activity books, movies, coloring books, video games, etc. Such things will help them know you care and you’ve not forgotten them.
- Book of letters If there are young children impacted by the loss, you can compile a book of letters. But the children are not the only ones who can benefit from this gesture. A book to a parent about their son or daughter can be helpful. There are some things the child may have done that parents are not aware of. However, this requires a lot of effort. You may have to contact friends to gather the letters.
- Practical household goods packaged in a box The grieving family may not have the time to stock up on some goods. After packaging them, you can include a choice of your sympathy card.
- Tree, shrub, or memorial stone If you want to leave a lasting memory of your loved one, you can plant a tree or shrub. Before you make this decision, you should check whether the family has a space for a tree or shrub. If the tree is too much, a garden stone can be a nice gift.
- Self-care gift Gifting a certificate for a manicure, massage, or yoga class can be a nice gesture. Apart from that, you can give some candles, DVDs, bath items, etc. If they love a specific sport or movie, a ticket or a gift card can be more appropriate.
- Housework After losing a loved one, people get put on the back burner. Realistically, this can continue for days or weeks as the family continues to mourn. You can offer to clean their home or even hire a cleaning team to do the job.
What is a casket spray?
A casket spray consists of many flowers and motifs, as per the family’s wishes. The common flower funeral arrangement can include orchids, roses, and trailing greens.
A casket spray can come from the children, spouse, and parents of the deceased. It could also come from nieces and grandchildren.
Types of casket sprays
- Couch casket spray This floral arrangement is large to cover the whole casket. It’s a closed casket service.
- Inside casket spray This is sometimes referred to as a casket insert. If there’s an open casket, the family members can place the casket spray inside. This floral arrangement is provided by children, grandchildren, grandparents, and parents. Some people choose casket posies, flower pillows, heart shapes, garlands, and floral rosary arrangements.
- Half couch casket spray Only half the top of the casket is open to friends and family. A half-couch casket is placed in the middle section.
When ordering a casket spray, you should contact a local florist and express your wishes. A funeral director can also make arrangements to ensure the casket spray aligns with your budget. Keep in mind that casket floral arrangement takes time to design. So, you should give the florist plenty of time to honor the departed. Don’t forget to pick colors the deceased loved.
Best place to order flowers for a funeral?
With so many types of flowers to choose from, the biggest headache is where to shop for them. Whether you want to create a banquet for your loved ones or send them to a funeral service, you can find affordable funeral flowers. The best place to start is online.
While you can work with a local florist for a low-cost banquet, the delivery fee can add up fast. If you order online, you don’t expect to pay additional fees. A quick search online will give a few options.
As long as the florist has your address, your order will arrive as requested. And whatever delivery service you choose, make sure it’s a reflection of your feelings about the departed.
What flower to buy for a funeral?
While flowers are the best way to express your condolences to someone experiencing a loss, choosing the right ones can be an overwhelming task. One of the factors to consider is the color – it could make a big difference. Ultimately though, the right floral arrangement will depend on the relationship you had with the deceased.
Red The red color indicates strength and beauty. It also adds a touch of vibrancy to the funeral.
White This has been the traditional color in many funerals. The white color evokes a feeling of innocence, peace, and honor.
Yellow The vibrant yellow color evokes happy memories. It’s appropriate for any funeral if you want to make the occasion a celebration rather than sadness.
Pink Pink flowers represent sympathy and softness.
Blue The blue color symbolizes your hopes for the future. It’s the best way to express your condolences and wish the family well.
Purple The purple color signifies dignity and respect. This makes it the perfect accent for funeral flowers. You can pair purple color with white to create a soothing and peaceful mood.
Since different colors have several meanings, you can mix different colors. A floral arrangement that includes purple, yellow, and orange can be the perfect celebration of life. A banquet that consists of a few lilies represents a sense of serenity and peace. Similarly, a combination of white and red flowers can represent peace and strength.
What does a white rose mean at a funeral?
A rose is a common flower, but each color has a different connotation. The white color represents purity and a way to bring peace to the grieving family. Sometimes, a white rose signifies love, hope, respect, innocence, and appreciation.
Where do you send flowers for a funeral?
When sending flowers to a funeral, you should address the funeral home or the church. You should include the name of the deceased, so the person who receives them knows who they are addressed to. If you’re a member of the nuclear family, you can bring the flowers yourself. If you belong to the extended family, you can have them delivered. The messages on the flower cards should also address the deceased family. You should include quotes like “we’ll miss you” or “rest in peace”.
If you’re sending the flowers to the deceased home, you should include your work and home address. You can schedule such deliveries after the funeral.
If there’s a graveside service, you can deliver the flowers there too.
A funeral is one of the most difficult times in someone’s life. Thankfully, there are many ways to express grief and condolences. The best reflection of respect for the dearly departed is sending flowers to bid farewell. As you choose them, the arrangement should tell a story of the relationship you shared with the deceased. You may want to consider sending additional flowers a couple of weeks later to let the family know that you’re still thinking of them.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you.
