I know how important it is for family members to get every detail of the funeral just right, especially the flower arrangements. They are a powerful visual tribute. As a florist specializing in floral tributes, I understand that planning a funeral can feel overwhelming and that’s why it's important to me to simplify the process. I've put together four meaningful ways you can personalize this important tribute to your loved one.
1. Incorporating Favorite Colors
Color plays a large part in funeral flower design, influencing emotions and the overall appearance of arrangements. Color combinations can convey numerous feelings - elegance, seasonal, serenity etc. One man requested to have yellow in his wife's funeral tribute as a special dedication and reminder of the day they met, when she was wearing a yellow dress. This was a special tribute to this woman and I was honored to help this family create a very meaningful display. Some families come to me with a clear vision of the colors they want me to incorporate in their loved one's funeral flower tribute. However, if you are unsure, that's okay! I'll work closely with you to explore different color combinations that work well together, ensuring the finished flower arrangement reflects your loved one well.
2. Use mementos
A heartfelt way to personalize a family's loved one's tribute is through special mementos. These can represent their career, hobbies, or passions- whether it's cowboy boots, a favorite sports team hat, or a cherished decorative piece etc.
For example, I once created a custom flower arrangement in honor of a man who loved fishing which I deliverd to Jost Funeral Home. (Flower photo at the top) The casket spray had a beautiful display of grasses and foliage with blue hydrangeas to represent water. I also included his fishing pole. The family was very touched by this personal tribute, and I received a very sweet thank-you note expressing their gratitude.
If you’d like to incorporate a memento, we’ll discuss your loved one’s interests and passions and go over the best way to include them in a meaningful way.
3. Select a Style
The style of the funeral flower display can have various options and can play a large role in the end appearance of the tribute. I had one family who specifically wanted a wildflower inspired arrangement to beautifully surround their family member's photo with a coordinated standing spray. This display honored their loved one's appreciation for wildflowers, making a touching tribute. Other styles, such as contemporary or airy designs, also offer unique ways to celebrate your loved one's life.
4. Choose Meaningful Flowers
Flowers often convey beautiful traditional meanings behind them so it's no wonder that many people love to incorporate a special flower that holds a special memory or meaning in the arrangement. Since the planning process for funerals is so fast, it's not always possible to order the exact flower requested but I do my absolute best to get that flower in for you.
Flowers often have a number of meanings associated with them and can change depending on their color. For example, white lilies signify purity while pink can represent abundance. Yellow roses as another example mean friendship and peach can mean sympathy. Flowers can also hold significant meaning in other ways too such as birth flowers- One lady ordered an extra large arrangement featuring white roses and white larkspur for her grandfather's funeral service. These two flowers were extra special since they were the birth flowers of both her grandmother and grandfather. This was such a beautiful tribute to both of her grandparents.
Designing one-of-a-kind funeral flowers and sympathy flower arrangements is a great privilege for me. I am dedicated to helping families create personalized arrangements that their family member would have absolutely loved.