Funerals are tough when you’ve just lost a loved one – arranging a funeral and taking care of all the details can be incredibly overwhelming. So, when it comes to flowers, giving us a quick call to discuss what you’re after. It may be the best way to get the flowers your loved ones would have wanted.
If you decide to buy online, it may be worth taking note of the meanings of different types of flowers before you buy. Each type of flower has its unique symbolism and can be used to express different sentiments and we discuss these later in this article.
Background of Funeral Flowers
Did you know that, according to some experts, funeral flowers have been around for more than 62,000 years? Funeral services have always included a lot of flowers and in some cultures, they are vital as part of the funeral rituals.
In today’s society, flowers are often presented as a sign of grief and compassion. You can send flowers and condolence cards to the funeral home or the family’s dwellings to be displayed during the service.
To help you make sure you get the right types of flowers or arrangements when it comes to funerals, we have compiled some helpful information about funeral and sympathy flowers.
Funeral Flowers and Sympathy Flowers Are Different
If you’ve ever purchased flowers for a funeral service, you may be familiar with funeral flowers and sympathy flowers. ‘What’s the difference?’ is a commonly asked question.
One may contend that all flowers fit under this category because presenting flowers as a gift is a typical method to express sympathy. This is only partially true; the key deciding factors are the flowers’ size, placement, and arrangement.
We typically class funeral flowers as arrangements used during the funeral itself and sympathy flowers are those given to the grieving family.
Funeral Preparation
Usually, family members or close family friends of the deceased select funeral flowers as they would have known them and their preferences the best.
Sometimes in churches, bigger funeral flower arrangements are on display so they may be viewed from all directions. Typically, flowers and wreaths are used to decorate the casket. Two other common choices are significant groupings resembling a cross or a heart.
What Do the Different Flower Types Indicate?
When arranging flowers for a service, we often get asked what the different flowers represent. We always recommend taking some time to consider the significance of the specific flowers to make sure you say goodbye in the way they would have wanted.
Here are some examples of flowers and their symbolic significance.
- Roses – Love, Respect, Courage
- Hyacinths –You’re In My Prayers
- Lilies – Majesty
- Carnations – Fascination/Love
- Chrysanthemums (Mums) – I Love You
- Orchids – I Will Always Love You
- Peace Lilies – Peace
- Hydrangeas – Heartfelt Emotions
Different Arrangements
The varied arrangements that talented florists can create are only a sample of what they can do.
Bouquets
A bouquet is the most common floral arrangement. They consist of different flowers that are typically placed in vases or baskets.
Sombre Wreaths
The deceased’s immediate family members must select the coffin spray. The funeral wreath arrangement is substantial and extends over the top of the casket.
Sprays
Sprays are typically large displays that frequently resemble a cross or a heart, they can be used during the funeral or sent as sympathy flowers to the family of the deceased.
Wreaths
Wreaths are circular floral arrangements and come in various sizes. They can be put in the casket or displayed on top during the funeral. They can also be used as sympathy gifts or even displays for gravestones.
Conclusion
The significance of various flower varieties should be considered when selecting funeral flowers but, ultimately, the decision of what type of flower to send should be based on your relationship with the deceased and the message you wish to convey.
We can help create sympathy bouquets, wreaths and even bespoke arrangements to make your lives easier during an already tough time, just give us a call at 0115 9 737 888 and we’ll do what we can to help or browse our funeral and sympathy flowers.
