In most countries, it is customary to send condolence flowers for the funeral service or burial service of a loved one, friend, or associate. We send funeral flowers to pay our respects to the family and pay honor and tribute to the deceased. We do this in remembrance of the deceased as a funeral parlor or burial ceremony with a lot of funeral flowers signify how many people remember this person.
You may receive a tremendous amount of funeral flowers for your loved one’s death, especially if he or she was a kind person, a person of influence, or someone popular in the society. A generous and caring person will always be remembered by all in their passing. So when you know that many people are affected by your loved one’s passing, it is wise not to forbid the giving of funeral flowers.
Sometimes, funeral flowers are all that people have to express words they simply cannot utter. It is a difficult time full of sorrow and you never know whether what you say will only hurt the loved ones of the deceased or what you will say to make them feel better.
Funeral Flowers to Expect
For one, the casket sprays will always be in the control of the immediate family. You will choose and order the inside sprays as well as the floral arrangements that will be placed on top of the casket. The other relatives will be giving funeral flowers in the form of standing sprays. Friends may give bouquets, floral baskets, or funeral wreaths.
Accept all of these with a grateful heart as it is a reminder of the influence your loved one had in lives beyond your family. Do not be troubled about what you will do with the flowers after the funeral as we have some helpful tips for you.
First things first, don’t forget to thank
Express your gratitude to all the people who came and sent their love through funeral flowers. There will be card message along with the funeral flowers that will help you get in touch with your loved one’s friends and business associates after the funeral service. You may have to contact your loved one’s friends to find the contact information of other guests if those are not written on the card. Be sure that if you send funeral flowers that your contact info is there in order not to add more stress to the family. To remove all the cards from the funeral flowers so as not to forget to send thank you cards after the funeral.
Take home some bouquets and wreaths
Most of the time, well-meaning friends and family will send bouquets to the family home. These are sympathy flowers that look nothing like funeral flowers. But, you may want to bring home a few floral arrangements as a reminder of your loved one. It can also add beauty and fragrance in your home. It should also serve as a reminder that you are not alone in your time of grief.
Plant a few stems
Consider planting a few beautiful flowers from the arrangement to put in your garden. It can stand as a living monument of your loved one. Your guests may also give potted plants for you to keep indoors.
Press the funeral flowers
We often look back on our memories of our loved ones by keeping some of the petals or a single stalk to place in the middle of our favorite books. We can also press these flowers to create bookmarks, candles, potpourri, and small trinkets to keep the memory of our loved ones alive. We can also press them to decorate our journals and scrapbooks.
Leave them on the gravesite
Be sure to find out what is allowed when leaving flowers on the gravesite. As permanent headstones are not placed right away, you can leave the floral arrangements on the grave after the service. The cut-flowers should stay in bloom for several days up to a week. Only be sure to remove all plastic wrapping and other decorative paper to keep the cemetery litter-free.
Place them on another gravesite
If you are in a cemetery where other loved ones are laid to rest, you can also place some of the funeral flowers on their graves. It could be a good time, depending on your customs, to visit other loved ones’ graves and also remember them with the funeral flowers. Remove all cards and wrappers before laying the flowers on their gravesite.
Give to family and friends
It is acceptable to send flower bouquets, wreaths, and baskets to family and friends after the funeral service. Siblings, spouses, children of the deceased, and family friends, will all do well being comforted with flower arrangements. Keep in mind that you are not the only one who has lost a family member, and it will do you all good to feel that you are there to comfort one another.
Donate the flowers
There are floral arrangements that don’t look like they were made solely for a funeral. These bouquets can be sent to a hospital, retirement home, or hospice. Be sure to make arrangements for the sending of the flowers before you actually send them. Some do not accept flowers due to pollen allergies.
Also, if you are donating the flowers, do remove notes and cards that identify for what purpose the flowers have been used for. Also, flowers that are suggestive of a funeral should not be donated. These include casket sprays and cross-shaped flower arrangements.