Flowers are a vital part of many key events in our lives. While flowers are a welcome gift for occasions that are normally considered for rejoicing and celebration, they are also used as a way to express our sentiments in times of woe.

Funeral Flowers
When someone you know has passed away, offering a gift of flowers is a simple but meaningful way of expressing one’s respectful sentiments. They can also help with the healing process of both the family and friends of the deceased by being a symbol of comfort and hope.

Before purchasing sympathy flower arrangements for someone who has passed away, it is essential that an appropriate one is chosen. After all, the last thing you’d want to do is offend the recipients at such a time.

Customs and Traditions
Funerals can be heavily influenced by one’s customs and traditions. Whether it is based on ethnic, religious, societal, or cultural factors, you as the sender must honour the deceased and their family/friends by respecting their beliefs and ways. Doing so is a reflection of your sincerity and courtesy.

If you do not share the same customs and traditions of the deceased, make sure you are familiar with them before selecting a sympathy flower arrangement.
In some cases, the deceased may have followed a different set of beliefs from his/her family. In this case, it may be more suitable to send an arrangement that fits the family because, after all, funerals are part of the process of healing for the living.

Your Relationship
Selecting the appropriate sympathy flower arrangement can depend greatly on the relationship you had with the deceased. A simple arrangement may be better for someone who was just a coworker, while fancier presentations are typically reserved for someone who was closer to you.

Meanings
You may also want to consider exploring the meanings of the blooms that are in a sympathy flower arrangement. Because flowers often symbolize traits, the flowers you choose should suitably reflect  your relationship with the deceased. The flowers can even reflect a trait that they possessed. For example, you may want to send a bouquet featuring yellow jasmine to someone that is remembered for being elegant or sophisticated. To compliment the beauty of a female, orchids are appropriate. On the other hand, it may be inappropriate to present pink carnations if your relationship with the deceased was not close, since they represent a mother’s undying love.
It is important to note that meanings may differ according to an individual’s background. In the West, the chrysanthemum may simply represent love, while in Japan, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of royalty. This is also a part of understanding the customs and traditions of the deceased as mentioned above.

Where to send the flowers
If you know where the service is taking place and are welcome to send flowers to the service, then you will probably be expected to send something there. However, sometimes you may not know where the service is being held. In this case, you can ask your florist for help (since they can sometimes find out that information for you) or simply choose to send the arrangement to the home of the bereaved.

And don’t forget to include a card!

Sometimes, it can be difficult to select which type of flowers would be most suitable for a funeral service. And because there are so many funeral flower arrangements available, it can be hard to figure out which would convey your sentiments accurately.

Funeral flowers should generally represent not only your condolences, but also be a comforting token for the bereaved. Because there are so many ways to express these sentiments, floral arrangements range from simple and subdued to quite extravagant and colourful.

At 416-Florist.com, we offer a number of suggested funeral flower arrangements, but they are by no means the selction that you have to choose from. We are flexible in creating the type of arrangement that would be more suitable for you and the bereaved. Simply let us know the style, whether it be a tribute, spray or wreath, and the types of flowers you would like to include. If you weren’t close to the deceased and are not familiar with the bereaved, it may be better to select a bouquet that is more simple than extravagant.

Funeral flower arrangements tend to use fresn blooms that are in season.

Here is a list of flowers that are commonly used. Accompanied are also their meanings, which are often unknown to the recipient(s). You may write the meaning of the flowers that are in the arrangement in the symapthy card that is attached to express your feelings clearer to the bereaved:

• Alstroemeria, also known as Peruvian Lily, represents friendship and devotion.

• Carnation, also known as Dianthus Caryophyllus, represents love. The colour of Carnations sometimes changes its meaning. For example, a pink carnation implies a mother’s undying love, while red represents love and admiration.

• Chrysanthemum represents fidelity. This is another flower that has different meanings related to its different colours. Red represents your love while white is a loyal love.

• Delphinium, also known as Larkspur, represents heavenliness and an open heart.

• Hydrangeas represent heartfelt gratitude. Some also believe it represents boastfulness and vanity, however a positive connotation is usually more acceptable.

• Irises represent faith and hope. They are often related to the Christian resurrection.

• Queen Anne’s Lace represents sanctuary.

• Roses have long been related to love and romance, however they are suitable a funeral flower to represent deep love for the deceased.

• Snapdragons represent desire and strength.

• Statice, also known as Sea Lavender and Limonium, represents sympathy and remembrance. This flower is usually used as an accent to bouquets, since the blooms are quite small.

There are several other blooms used in funeral flower arrangements, however including all would make this list way too long! If there’s a flower that you would like to include in your arrangement, simply let us know.

As for colour selection, more traditional bouquets feature a simple red, white and blue palette. You may also choose to include a colour that was the favourite of the deceased.

If you’re unfamiliar with what the colours of flowers represent, just let us know and we can describe what each colour represents. For example, purple flowers often convey admiration, while blue is calming.

And remember…
If you are unsure of the location of the funeral service, 416-Florist.com may be able to help. Since we’ve been providing funeral flower arrangements for over 10 years, we have forged relationships with a number of funeral homes in the GTA and can contact them to locate where and when the service is being held.

There are many ways to express your condolences and support at the funeral service of someone who’s passed away. One of the most significant ways of doing so is with funeral flowers.

Suitable Funeral Flowers
Flowers have a long history imbued with meaning for various occasions.

The primary types of funeral flowers sent to a service are sprays, bouquets, wreaths and tributes. Regardless of the arrangement, most of the actual blooms used are seasonal. Good etiquette dictates that any flowers be sent prior to the first visitation. In addition, flowers may also be sent in cases when a request has been made for a charitable donation in lieu of flowers, but this should be accompanied by a small donation as well.

Whether sent as an individual or as an organization, the type of arrangement depends a great deal on your relationship with the deceased and their family.

Sprays
A spray is a group of fresh flowers that are tied together. It’s quite similar to a bouquet however, the flowers are arranged flat and meant to be seen from one side only. A funeral spray may be sent by anyone who knew the deceased personally. This includes both individuals and organizations.

There are two main types of sprays: standing sprays and those that are placed on a casket. A standing spray is displayed on some kind of stand and can be sent by anyone. Casket sprays are normally sent by relatives or those close to the family. A full size casket spray will cover the entire coffin while half-sized casket sprays are for the closed part of the coffin during open casket funerals.

Bouquets and Floral Baskets
A bouquet or floral basket is a collection of freshly cut flowers arranged in a vase or basket. These are suitable sympathy flowers for anyone to send. Avoid sending bouquets that aren’t placed in a vase, as they are inappropriate.

Wreaths
A wreath is an arrangement of flowers that is usually circular, though they can also be in other shapes. Wreaths represent one of the more traditional forms of sympathy flower arrangements and may be sent by anyone who knew the deceased personally, including organizations.

For organizations or groups sending sympathy flowers, it’s important to include a sympathy card with a list of names who send their condolences. However, if there are too many names, a single name describing the entire group and an address is generally considered more appropriate. This way, the bereaved have someone to contact to express their appreciation.

Tributes
Name tributes, also known as floral tributes, are common for cremations and are suitable from those closest to the deceased. Since the type of ceremony surrounding a cremation can vary, it is best to find out in advance where it will be held. If a service is not held, they can be sent directly to the home of the bereaved.

Tributes are designed to reflect the character of the deceased. Theme-based, they can focus on religion, nationality, career or interests.

One of the most common arrangements is in the shape of a cross. There are also heart shaped wreaths, cushions and pillows. These can placed on the coffin itself, much like a spray.

After the Service
When you’re unable to send flowers to the service in time, it’s completely acceptable to send them to the home of the bereaved afterwards. Sending flowers after a service you’ve attended also marks a sign of remembrance and ongoing sympathy for them.

In this situation, it’s preferable to send arrangements that are more subdued. Potted plants are a good choice in lieu of a wreath or spray.