Which Flowers To Choose For A Funeral And Where To Send Them?
The loss of a loved one is a difficult time, and those around you may wish to show their support. The most traditional way is to send flowers at the time of the funeral. At an online florist, by mail order or in a store, you will easily find a suitable funeral arrangement to bring or to have delivered. But you still need to know which flowers to send, what note to send with them, and where to send them. Prevago gives you some tips to avoid mistakes.
Funeral Arrangements
Which flowers to choose for a funeral?
It is well known that flowers have a language. Depending on the message you wish to convey and the relationship you had with the deceased, your choice will not be the same. Here are a few examples of flower varieties to choose from:
Roses are the queen of flowers. Dark colors symbolize deep love. Bright, they evoke sympathy. Geraniums will convey love and passion.
Gerberas evoke deep love. These flowers have the advantage of being very resistant. The heather means solidity and robust love.
The lily represents innocence and purity, the radiance of the soul.
The spathiphyllum, quite similar to the lily, symbolizes peace, innocence and rebirth. Carnations represent mourning and discretion. They symbolize respect and sobriety. Lotus flowers symbolize the eternity of life.
Chrysanthemums, often offered at All Saints’ Day, are the symbol of eternity. Very practical, they need very little maintenance and are in bloom until the first frost.
The azalea pays tribute to the joy of living.
The message sent by the orchid is eternal love. The cyclamen pays a moving tribute.
The hydrangea symbolizes sincere emotions.
The gladiolus evokes moral integrity and strength of character.
The tulip is a symbol of renewal and new beginnings. This flower is best sent to the home of the bereaved family.
Just like the variety of flowers, the color is also important:
Red, a symbol of love and passion, is often reserved for the spouse and the most intimate. Bright colors illustrate the joviality of the deceased, life and energy.
Pastel colors evoke nostalgia, friendship and tenderness. White, a symbol of purity, is often used for children’s funerals.
Purple evokes dignity, spirituality, sadness, immateriality and serenity.
However, flower types are not perceived the same way depending on the religion of the deceased
In the Catholic religion, flowers are very present: they adorn the coffin and very often each person present throws a rose into the grave.
The Muslim religion does not use flowers at funerals.
In the Jewish faith, there are usually no flowers. However, it is not forbidden to offer flowers to the family. However, flowers are not allowed on the grave, but a small stone is placed on the grave to mark the visit.
The Orthodox cult allows flowers in small quantities. Candles are preferred (their light evokes celestial light) to pay tribute to the deceased.
Can I bring artificial flowers?
Artificial flowers are also an option to consider. Among their advantages is the fact that they last longer than natural flowers.
They can be made of silk, paper, plastic or ceramic. Silk and paper flowers last a few weeks. When made of plastic, they last about a year, and several years if made of ceramic.
What message of condolence should accompany the flowers?
It is always best to write a personalized note to the family of the deceased. If flowers are to be placed at the grave, a message to the deceased may also be appropriate. Keep it short, with one or two sentences. It is not always easy to find the right words. The florist can advise you, but you can also choose messages based on these examples:
Loving memory of “your name”.
May these flowers express my sympathy in this difficult time A thought for you. My sincere condolences
A thought for “name of the deceased” and some flowers for her/him To the sweet memory of a dear friend
My family and I are thinking of you at this difficult time
It really depends on your relationship with the deceased, or how close you are to the family.
Where to send the flowers, before or after the ceremony?
Before organizing the sending of flowers, you must of course wait until you have the necessary information: date and place of the ceremony, place where the body of the deceased is visible.
Before the ceremony, you can have your floral arrangement delivered to the funeral home. The staff will then take care of the transfer to the cemetery.
For the ceremony, delivery is possible the day before. Unless otherwise instructed by the family, you should avoid sending your bouquet to the home of the mourners organizing the ceremony. They already have a lot to do with the organization of the funeral without having to manage the flowers. You can have your bouquet delivered to the funeral home, or directly to the place of the ceremony, at the church, the cemetery or the funeral home
If you attend the funeral, you can of course bring your flowers and place them next to the other bouquets already brought by the funeral staff
If you are sending flowers after the funeral, you should send them to the cemetery to decorate the grave
The flowers we send for a funeral represent us if we cannot be present at the farewell ceremony. They show our solidarity with the family of the deceased and our sadness at not being there physically to support them.
The bereaved will have their pain eased by all the expressions of compassion and sympathy, whether physical with the presence of friends and acquaintances or symbolic like the bouquets of flowers.
How Can I Make My Bouquet More Personal?
To send a more personal message to the deceased or to his family, or to sign your gesture, you have the possibility of accompanying your bouquet of flowers with a mourning ribbon. Let your heart speak for the inscription. You can find some examples of messages to personalize here.
In all cases, the advice of the florist, accustomed to preparing mourning bouquets, will help to find the flowers that best honor the memory of the deceased while assuring the family of its support.