Funeral Etiquette: What You Have to Know about Funeral Flowers

Flowers are a time-honoured way of showing appreciation, love, care, and expressing sympathy. Even for funerals, bringing and giving flowers is known to be a thoughtful gesture along with a heartfelt sympathy note. However, not everybody is familiar with funeral etiquette when it comes to using flowers.

Read on to discover more about funeral etiquette and what flowers are best appropriate for funerals.

Funeral Etiquette: The Color of Flowers

Colour is one of the factors to consider when choosing a flower arrangement. The colour you choose is critical when ordering funeral flowers or a sympathy bouquet. Take into account the following:

• White: Funeral and sympathy flowers are traditionally white. White represents peace, innocence, and honour. White flowers are required for funerals.
• Red: Red flowers represent radiance and strength. Red funeral flowers can bring life to a funeral or visitation.
• Pink: Pink flowers represent compassion and gentleness. Pink is a popular colour for sympathy and funeral flowers.
• Yellow: Yellow and orange flowers are associated with happy childhood memories. They can be used to turn a funeral into a joyous occasion rather than a solemn one.
• Purple: Purple is a dignified and respectful colour that works well for funeral flowers. It goes well with white or pink to make a peaceful, calming arrangement.
• Blue: Blue funeral flowers express condolences and expressions of grief. Blue can also represent the family's future aspirations and well-wishes.

Note that colours can have their own distinct meanings. Different combinations in floral arrangements often convey more meaning than single hues.

Funeral Etiquette: The Flower Varieties

Aside from colour, the type of funeral flowers is important. The majority of funeral flower arrangements that we see today contain vibrant greenery and well-known flowers that convey different meanings. Here are some popular funeral flowers and their meanings:

1. Lily

White funeral lilies represent peace, grace, and dignity. White lilies are a time-honoured funeral flower tradition.

2. Daisy 

Daisies, both white and coloured, are frequently used to brighten funeral arrangements. Daisy arrangements were traditionally reserved for infants and children.

3. Rose

Roses represent love and respect. Yellow roses are given in memory of a close friend, while pink roses are given in memory of a loved one. Even after death, classic red roses send an enduring message of love.

4. Carnation

Carnations are commonly used in funeral flower arrangements because they serve as a strong foundation for larger flowers such as roses and lilies. They are less expensive than roses or lilies, and can be used as a centrepiece of a floral arrangement.

5. Gladiolus

Gladiolus is an iris flower also known as the "sword lily." It grows in clumps on tall stems, representing strength and integrity. They come in a variety of colours and are a great choice for funeral floral arrangements.

6. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The chrysanthemum is an excellent choice for funeral arrangements due to the wide range of colours and shapes available.

7. Orchid

Think of orchids as a one-of-a-kind funeral flower. Orchids can be used as cut flowers or live plants in funeral arrangements. Pink and white orchids are becoming increasingly popular in today's funeral culture.

8. Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are excellent for making a large pom-pom of smaller blossoms in floral arrangements. Because of their bulky shape, they are ideal for wreaths and garlands. They also come in a variety of colours, allowing you to design an entire arrangement in any colour or colour range you want.

Conclusion

The best thing about flowers is their ability to light up the room even at the darkest and saddest moments of loss. This is why it’s essential to learn and apply funeral etiquette when it comes to giving and presenting flowers. Take note that you can never be too polite and mindful!