Whether you’re planning an intimate memorial service or an elaborate funeral, flowers can help honor a deceased loved one. Some scholars believe flowers have been part of burial ceremonies for over 70,000 years.
With so many types of funeral flowers available, selecting the ones that reflect your relative’s unique personality can be challenging. Our guide presents an overview of funeral flowers and their symbolism, helping you choose the best arrangements for your family member or friend.
Honoring Loved Ones With Funeral Flowers
Communicating your grief — either verbally or in writing — is a powerful way to mark a loved one’s loss. However, finding the words to express your emotions can be challenging.
Flowers offer an alternative way to celebrate someone’s life. People across cultures associate different meanings with flower variants and colors, so research a flower’s significance before including it in arrangements.
Sympathy Flowers and Their Symbolism
While flowers will enhance any funeral arrangement, some variants are more popular due to their symbolism. Here are some of the most common types of funeral flowers and their meanings.
- Lilies: Lilies are a classic funeral flower representing innocence, peace and sympathy. These blooms come in beautiful pinks, oranges and yellows, but white lilies are the most common choice to honor the deceased.
- Carnations: These double-flowered beauties are available in multiple colors and carry different meanings in various cultures. For example, purple carnations signify grief in France, whereas red carnations symbolize respect in South Korea.
- Chrysanthemums: Symbolize the depth of your grief by adding chrysanthemums or mums to a funeral arrangement. Yellow or white variants are a common choice for funerals.
- Orchids: Orchids will elevate any funeral arrangement as one of the most delicate and beautiful flowers. They carry a range of meanings, such as respect, purity and endless love.
- Roses: These versatile flowers are appropriate for various occasions, including memorial services and funerals. White roses signify innocence, whereas crimson ones convey loss and sorrow.
- Hydrangeas: Cut or potted hydrangeas add a bold floral statement at funerals. They are an excellent way to convey the magnitude of your emotions.
- Peace lilies: Besides symbolizing hope and peace, peace lilies are more resilient than many other flowers. They are a good choice in warmer environments, as they’re less likely to wilt. Potted indoor peace lilies can bloom year-round and live for years with the correct care regimen, becoming a beautiful memorial to your loved one.
Consider your loved one’s personality and preferences when honoring them with funeral flowers, choosing their favorite varieties or flowers in their preferred colors. Selecting flowers based on their meanings is another effective way to represent your loved one’s presence.
Sympathy Flowers vs. Funeral Flowers
Many florists sell sympathy and funeral floral arrangements — so what’s the difference? Sympathy flowers are smaller arrangements that people send to the deceased’s family. You can send these flowers to the family’s home or the venue before the memorial service. Exploring sympathy flowers and their symbolism helps you convey your condolences.
On the other hand, funeral flowers are more dramatic arrangements such as standing sprays or casket wreaths. Their larger size ensures people can see them even from the back of a venue. Family or close friends generally organize funeral flowers.
Working With Florists to Create Meaningful Arrangements
Between writing an evocative obituary and choosing appropriate music for the service, you have numerous tasks to complete before your loved one’s funeral. Working with a florist ensures beautiful arrangements while enabling you to dedicate time to other priorities.
A florist’s role in funerals is to source flowers in season and arrange them according to your preferences. Florists also have the facilities to store blooms at the correct temperature so they look fresh at the service. Discuss the following factors when choosing a florist to assist with your funeral flowers.
- Work samples: Ask for samples of the florist’s work to understand their style and expertise.
- Budget: Define how much you want to spend on flowers so your florist can create beautiful arrangements within your budget.
- Delivery: Specify when you would like the flowers to arrive to allow enough time to set up the venue before the funeral. You may need to rent a van vehicle to transport the arrangements if delivery is not an option.
Significance of Wreaths and Sprays at Funerals
There are many ways to customize funeral flower arrangements to meet religious and personal specifications. Here are some display ideas.
- Standing spray: These arrangements are typically at a venue entrance or on either side of the speaker’s podium. They are large floral displays presented on an easel or column-like structure.
- Casket arrangements: As the name suggests, these arrangements are on or in the casket, providing a focal floral display during the ceremony.
- Heart and cross displays: The arrangement’s shape is as significant as the flower colors and varieties you choose. Heart- and cross-shaped floral displays represent love and religious themes.
- Basket arrangements: Flowers arranged in baskets make it handy for family and close friends to take them home after the funeral.
- Petal ceremony: Scattering petals on the casket provides a beautiful way for people to say a final goodbye.
Before choosing funeral flowers, visit the venue and identify focal areas for flower displays. Your loved one’s final wishes are also crucial in the decision. For example, they may have specified whether they prefer an open or closed casket, impacting your chosen arrangements.
You might choose to arrange the funeral flowers yourself if you have a flair for decorating and creating floral displays. This hands-on effort adds a personal touch to the funeral, making it a unique way to commemorate your loved one. However, remember that purchasing and arranging flowers will take time.
Choose Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home for Personalized Support
Choosing funeral flowers is a heartfelt way to pay tribute to your loved one. Honor their memory by understanding the symbolism behind different flowers and working with professional florists.
The caring team at Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home supports families in organizing memorial services and funerals for their loved ones. From assisting with florist recommendations to setting up the venue, we help you plan services that honor your loved one’s memory. Reach out to our compassionate staff today to learn more about our experience.