Funeral Flowers

When bereavement occurs, there is no better way to express your sympathy and demonstrate your love than with a floral tribute. A sea of flowers can bring comfort to loved ones, and help provide some pleasantness to an otherwise mournful occasion. The timeless elegance and beauty of flowers is a way of expressing feeling when words just say too little.

At the funeral, flowers generally adorn the hearse and the coffin itself, and are also transported in following vehicles if there are too many. The flowers should therefore be delivered in time for the cortege departure from the deceased's home, funeral home, or elsewhere.

Flowers for the funeral cortege and ceremony require special preparation and care by the florist. They will be hand delivered about two hours prior to the funeral, and the florist will work with the funeral director in ensuring that the floral tributes continue to look fresh and vibrant for the service.

Coffin Tributes

Aside from the funeral flowers, flowers are also sent to the homes of the deceased's family by way of expressing sympathy and solidarity. Flowers can convey emotion that is too great and often too difficult for words, and bring some colour to a dark moment.

For the funeral procession and coffin tributes, there are many choices available for floral displays:

• Coffin Sprays are placed directly onto the coffin, and can cover the length of the coffin itself.
• Posies are usually set on a round base though are smaller in size than wreaths. They are often included on children's coffins, or are chosen as a tribute from a child.
• Hearts offer a personal expression of love. They can be made as a solid heart or set on a frame with a space in the centre.
• Wreaths again can be a full circle of flowers, or a wreath ring. A more formal tribute for coffins, crematoriums and graves; wreaths symbolise the eternal circle of life.
• Name Tributes are highly personal and usually placed on or by the coffin
• Crosses are an elegant dedication and provide religious symbolism for committed Christian burials.
• Pillow or Cushions suggest that the deceased is now at rest, and are a thoughtful way of expressing your sympathy.
• Personal Designs are often the choice of those closest to the deceased, and can denote something that was particularly significant to, or about that person. For example; a car shape if they were a keen motorist, a pint if they liked a drink, or a handbag for a woman's woman. Options can be discussed with the florist to interpret your ideas.

Tradition and etiquette dictate that name tributes are only sent by the family of the deceased. The main coffin spray also follows this rule.

For a formal tribute to a family member, friend or colleague, wreaths or posy pads make an elegant statement. For an equally formal homage that expresses heartfelt loss and emotion, hearts, pillows and crosses are a touching piece.

If you feel that sculpted shapes are too formal, sprays and posies are an informal option and convey more of a relaxed accordance with nature. They are also the better choice if the flowers are to be used elsewhere after the service.Cremation boxes and urns can also be given floral tributes, often surrounding the container. When scattered on water, ashes can be followed by wreaths, loose flowers or loose petals.

Choosing A Tribute

Occasionally, the family may request a colour theme to reflect the tastes of the deceased. Otherwise, try to choose colours that you feel say something about who the person was, and also that say something about you and your feelings. Don't get hung up on the language of flowers and what each flower is said to mean, a funeral tribute is about choosing something that you like and that conveys your own message. There is nothing more personal than a tribute that is a result of your own thought-out choice.

Bear in mind that the exact choice of flowers will generally be limited to their seasonal availability.