Sympathy and Funeral Flowers Guide

The loss of a loved one often stirs something in people to “do something.” One of the most common reactions is to send flowers, a way to showcase thoughtfulness and spread beauty in a difficult moment of someone’s life. Sympathy and funeral flowers bring comfort when carefully selected.

How do you buy funeral flowers? What do you buy? How does the process work? To help you with the process, our FTD floral experts offer guidance and tips to help you navigate how to send flowers for a funeral successfully. This sympathy and funeral flowers guide gives you everything you need to find the right flowers for any budget, order them with care, and ensure proper delivery.

Understanding Sympathy and Funeral Flowers

Many types of flowers can work well as sympathy and funeral flowers. These flowers are intended to provide an opportunity to remember a loved one, celebrate their life, offer peace to their family, and showcase the beauty of their life. That’s quite a bit to ask for in flowers. The following are some of the most common flowers for funerals and sympathy:

• Lilies: A symbol of hope, peace, and love, white lilies are one of the most used flowers for such occasions. Peace lilies offer the perfect, serene feel.

• Hydrangea: Hydrangeas are another wonderful choice, especially when mixed with lilies or other flowers, as in the Heaven Sent Floor Basket. The white and pink color combination offers a soft embrace to those struggling.

• Carnations: A slightly prettier option is the use of carnations. They work very well in sprays, such as the Stars of Life Standing Spray.

• Roses: The use of colored roses can offer a touch of elegance. Red roses are ideal to demonstrate love and respect. Choose yellow for friendship. For a child lost too soon, select white roses. A potted option, like Pure and True White Roses, can go home with family to offer a sweet reminder for years to come.

Take note of the cultural significance of flowers. For example, in some cultures, daffodils symbolize new beginnings with their bright yellow color, as seen in Japan. In the U.S., daffodils present honor and sympathy. Orchids represent everlasting love. Chrysanthemums showcase honor and sorrow, whether red or white, in the U.S.

Choosing the Right Flowers for Different Situations

When choosing flowers appropriate for a funeral or a celebration of life, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. First, always focus on the meaning and feeling you wish to convey. And, be sure that others will feel the same way. You can select any of the funeral flowers listed here for a good starting point.

Personal preferences are a crucial consideration when selecting flowers. You should choose what represents your feelings for the lost loved one. You may also wish to choose flowers that are representative of that person, perhaps their favorite flowers in colors they often wore.

One question many people have is what to send. What’s appropriate to send for a wake, funeral, or service? If you wish to send something to the home, baskets and gifts are the most common options. For funeral home delivery, consider wreaths, standing sprays, and other arrangements appropriately sized for your budget and the relationship you have. Standing sprays are ideal for the service and should not be sent to a person’s home.

Flower Arrangements and Their Meanings

Consider the popular arrangements available for sympathy and funeral flowers. Choose what is most important to you. If you are not an immediate family member, it may also be wise to connect with the family to ensure that what you are purchasing is desirable. Some options include:

• Funeral sprays: A funeral spray is a larger, often standing display. It will typically include an expertly designed display of numerous flower types. It stands on an easel or stand, placed near the casket, a memorial table, or along the walls surrounding the wake.

• Casket sprays: A casket spray is a much larger arrangement of flowers placed over the top of the casket during a viewing. At the service, it sits on top of the casket.

• Baskets: Another option is to have a sympathy flower basket delivered. These are smaller and often a tabletop display.

• Plants: Another option is to give a potted plant. This is ideal for those who want to give a plant that they can take home and continue to use as a remembrance for years to come.

There’s no limit to the types of sympathy and funeral flowers you can choose. Select what is best representative of your thoughts and feelings.

When and How to Send Sympathy Flowers

Here’s where we want to break down some of the most confusing insights into how to send flowers for a funeral, service, wake, or other type of event honoring your loved one.

Where should you send funeral flowers?

If there’s a service, send them to the funeral home. If they have a religious ceremony, you could also send them to the church.

When should you arrange for flowers to be delivered for a funeral?

Sending early could be a good thing. The key is to ensure you get them there on time. Work with the funeral home to determine when they will be setting up the space for the service. In some cases, you may be able to choose a display location within the funeral home. Note that delivering too early isn’t ideal if there is no space available for the funeral home to hold the flowers.

How does FTD partner with a local florist to get funeral flowers delivered on time?

Floral deliveries must be on time for the showings. Florists know the importance of this, and they work to deliver on time to the funeral home. Please note that florists may not always be able to access the service areas to place the arrangements. In those cases, a funeral director may set up the display location.

How long do funeral home displays last?

You should expect the flowers to be on display at the funeral home for viewings and wakes. That means they will be there for at least two days, but sometimes longer. However, the recent trend is for shower wakes of just a few hours. Clarify with the funeral home what to expect.

Do you need to make arrangements for funeral flowers delivery?

Most often, florists have working relationships with local funeral homes to create arrangement delivery timelines that work for everyone.

How do flowers make it from the funeral home to the service?

This depends on the situation. It is very common for funeral directors to transport the flowers selected by the family to the service and then onward to the cemetery. However, it may also be possible to set up a display at the church directly.

How do graveside services work?

It is not uncommon for larger cemeteries to have a facility on the grounds to hold a small gathering for a graveside service. If you wish to have flowers delivered there, make arrangements with the cemetery directly. Smaller cemeteries may not offer this type of support, and you will need to transport them to the location.

Is a casket spray available for all floral packages?

That’s not always the case. Always check the product description to see what type of arrangement is available for that particular design.

What happens to funeral flowers after the service?

Most often, families or others are invited to take them home. Another option is to have them delivered to a nearby assisted living facility, hospital, or other location that holds meaning for your family. You can also have them turned into jewelry if you choose.

How can I make sure my funeral and sympathy flowers are delivered properly?

• Ensure your info is accurate and detailed. If you are unsure of any details, please call the funeral home to request clarification.

• Also, before ordering, check that the item you’ve selected is a florist-delivered product. Some items are shipped in a box and will need to be unpacked and arranged prior to displaying.

• With these tips, it’s possible to ensure the sympathy flowers you send will arrive on time and demonstrate the love and passion you have for your family member.

Messages for Sympathy Flowers

One of the more challenging aspects of flowers for funerals or to express sympathy is crafting a message for them. What do you write in a sympathy card?

Keep it short and within the word count allowed by the florist. You do not need to include a lot of details, but a simple, direct statement that includes your name. Some examples to use as a starting point for personalization include:

• Rest in peace.

• Your kindness will always be remembered.

• In God’s arms, you can now gently rest.

• May your happiness and love remain in our hearts.

• We hold onto the memories of joy in our hearts.

Then, personalize it. Include a nickname, a statement that demonstrates your friendship, or another gesture that is fitting for the family to read. Get more ideas here - What to Write in a Condolence Card.

Finding the Perfect Sympathy Flowers Is Hard to Do

There’s no simple way to choose flowers that represent your love, pain, and emotions at the time of such a tragic loss. Yet, when you consider all of the sympathy options available at FTD, you will find the display that best speaks to what’s in your heart. Explore our selection of sympathy and funeral flowers now.