A Guide To Choosing Funeral Tribute Flowers

22 July 2019

One of the most popular and traditional ways of paying respects to someone who has passed away is with funeral tribute flowers. Not only is it a nice way to mark the occasion and show how much the person meant to you, but it’s also nice for the bereaved.

The issue with flowers is that finding the right ones can be incredibly difficult. Many people stumble and hesitate when it comes to arranging flowers for funerals because they don’t know the etiquette. Don’t worry though, because we aim to help you out with our guide to choosing funeral tribute flowers.

In this article we will look at several factors you need to consider...

Relationship with the Deceased

First and foremost, the relationship you had to the deceased is what determines the kind of tribute flowers you should send. As a rule of thumb:

Immediate family members choose the casket flowers.
Relatives (outside the immediate family) and close friends can choose from a wide variety of different options, such as cushions, hearts, wreaths or anything they like.
Friends and colleagues will often choose a sheaf or spray flower arrangement.

The Wishes of the Family

Not all families want to be bombarded with a multitude of flowers. Instead, they prefer anyone wishing to pay their respects to the deceased do so by making a charitable donation. This will often be mentioned in the funeral announcement or obituary notice.

What Flowers Should You Buy?

If you have decided you’re going to send flowers to a funeral, and understand the etiquette to follow, there is only one thing left to consider - what kind of flowers are you going to send? Florists are a good port of call when it comes to determining this. Even if you’re going to buy online, you could take a trip to your local flower shop to speak to an expert.

To give you some ideas though, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular funeral flowers below and what they mean:

White Stargazer Lily – Given this lily is associated with sympathy, innocence and purity, it’s no wonder it’s a popular choice at funerals.
Roses – The red rose symbolizes love and courage. The white rose symbolizes elegrance, grace and loyalty. The yellow rose symbolizes friendship.
Gladioli – Used to convey moral integrity and strength of character.
Orchids – Symbolizes everlasting love for the deceased. Pink and white orchids symbolize sympathy.
Statice – You may not have heard of this one, but it’s usually given when you’re offering messages of sympathy and remembrance. Interestingly, at almost the other end of the scale, it can be used to represent success.
Poppy – The traditional poppy has a long association with consolation and remembrance. Many people buy paper poppies to commemorate Remembrance Day.
Alchemilla Mollis, Lady’s Mantle – This represents comforting love, so is a good choice if you want to show someone, you’re there to support them while they grieve.

Another important aspect to consider when buying flowers, along with the type, is the colour and how the colour can affect the meaning. Take for instance the fact a red rose is a symbol for everlasting love, while a white one means elegance and grace.

Flower Seed Packs

If you are looking to gift flowers to the family of the bereaved, then why not conside forget-me-not flower seeds. The family can then plant these in their garden at home and when the flowers bloom, they will remember the loved one they were planted in rememberance of. Why not take a look at our forget-me-not seed packs here.