How To Care For Funeral Flowers After The Funeral

Some of my clients prefer to take home the arrangements after the funeral service.  Whilst some flowers may be in bud, unlike gift bouquets designed to last for some time, funeral arrangements are made to look their best at the funeral. 

However, there's nothing wrong with keeping them going a little longer. 

So what should you do?

Some like to leave the arrangement in the garden and look at the flowers. If you decide to do this, I would suggest you give it water every day, unless it rains, of course. As an alternative, the flowers and foliage could be removed from the arrangement and placed in vases or jam jars. I would suggest you recut the stems at an angle to encourage the fresh water to be taken up, removing blooms as they fade and refreshing the water too.

Repurposing floral funeral arrangements

I'm often asked to make alternative arrangements for customers and one that's really popular is a coffin spray that can be distributed to the guests after a service. 

Many dislike the fact that after a couple of days, the crematorium or place of worship dispose of the designs, and to many it seems such a waste.  Seeing the display going out to others may give comfort to the family and give the guests something beautiful and positive to enjoy.  

If that's something that you would like to consider, contact me at www.flourishingflowers.co.uk. Alternatively, follow me on my Facebook page HERE for more funeral flower tips and inspiration. 

What To Write On Funeral Flower Cards

When you order funeral flowers you’ll be asked what message you’d like on the arrangement. 

Whether it's a friend or a loved one, where do you start?  I've never been a great one for words but does it really matter as long as the sentiment comes from the heart? On a practical note the cards have limited space, so if in doubt my advice is to keep it short and simple.  Here are a few that may help to make the decision easier:

Those we love don't go away,

They walk beside us every day.

Unseen, unheard, but always near

Still loved, still missed and very dear.

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart. I'll stay forever. [A A Milne - Winnie the Pooh]

 Forever in our Hearts

Gone but never forgotten

❤️

Organising funerals can be incredibly distressing, and whilst I can’t wave a magic wand and make it all go away, what I can do is be there to listen to your story. What did your loved one like? From their favourite memories, their passion, a hobby, their favourite flower or colours, are questions we will work through together to help you organise the perfect flower tribute for your special loved one.

I will support and guide you to choose personal and fitting flower tributes, as well as advise you on the funeral process, alleviating some of the stress of the situation.  One arrangement does not fit all, nor should it. Contact me HERE me to enquire further.

A Guide To Choosing Your Funeral Flowers

Are you looking to pay your final respects to someone special in your life?

It goes without saying that it’s never easy when you lose a loved one. Choosing and organising the right funeral flowers can be a little difficult, especially when we’re not in the right frame of mind and feel there is too much to deal with - both practically and emotionally. Understandably too. So with that in mind, below are 5 floral designs to give you a guide to choosing your tribute.

Funeral Flower Types

The Heart

The open or closed heart are often chosen by close family members, or perhaps by children signifying the love they had for the deceased, and acts as a very personal statement.

A Coffin Spray

A coffin spray, sometimes known as a double ended spray or Casket arrangement.

Traditionally this is the arrangement that sits on the coffin as it is taken into the chapel for the service. It is often chosen by the close family members as their parting gift. Some families prefer to have this coupled with donations to a charity rather than masses of flowers.

There are choices in respect of how these are arranged such as 'living' arrangements, those that can be taken apart and distributed amongst the mourners or one that will remain at the crematorium or place of worship. For further details, take a look at my home page HERE

The Wreath

The wreath signifies the circle of eternal life, so is often seen as appropriate for funerals. 

These can be made up with a mass of one flower or a mix of different flowers and colours.

Alternatively, these could be more natural structures of twisted branches of willow or dogwood with foliage and flowers.  Whatever the choice, this is a classic and tasteful arrangement

The Sheaf

This is a hand tied arrangement that is designed to lay flat, in a teardrop shape. This can be made up of a mix of flowers and styles both classic and contemporary. It is often popular made up of one single type of flower like a rose with added foliage.

The Posy 

This is a perfect arrangement for a funeral and is an especially popular choice with friends or for young children.  A round design that can be seen from all sides, with a dome shape to the top. If you are in doubt about the type of design to choose, you cannot go far wrong with this.

I feel that times are changing and hopefully for the better in respect of floristry. My clients have often wanted more than a standard arrangement and why should they only have these just because it's always been done that way, when there are so many alternatives

Take for example the massed chrysanthemum arrangements.  Now we can offer more than this - something more sustainable, something with longevity and not just thrown away after a couple of days.  This is why I have introduced living arrangements to my portfolio. 

These can be made in various shapes and can be planted out giving the family some comfort at a difficult time after the funeral.  They can be made up of a mix of annuals and perennials at this time of year, or when plants are more limited during the winter, perhaps bulbs, perennials and some cut flowers. 

 The joy of these is that they can be arranged with what is in season. Give me a call if you would like to discuss further, or contact me HERE.

Organising funerals can be incredibly distressing, and whilst I can’t wave a magic wand and make it all go away, what I can do is be there to listen to your story. What did your loved one like? From their favourite memories, their passion, a hobby, their favourite flower or colours, are questions we will work through together to help you organise the perfect flower tribute for your special loved one.

I will support and guide you to choose personal and fitting flower tributes, as well as advise you on the funeral process, alleviating some of the stress of the situation.  One arrangement does not fit all, nor should it. Contact me HERE me to enquire further.