Sending flowers to a funeral, or sending sympathy flowers to the bereaved, is a perfect way to convey compassion and condolences. Beautiful blooms, elegant bouquets, and decorative wreaths at a funeral do so much to bring comfort at a time of loss.
What is the difference between Funeral Flowers and Sympathy Flowers?
Sympathy Flowers
Sympathy flowers are floral arrangements to send as a personal expression to offer condolences. They can be sent directly to the home, or place of work, of the bereaved family. Sympathy arrangements are usually of the design that they will fit onto a table and can give a mood-lifting distraction to the grief-stricken during the time of recent loss.
Conventionally Sympathy Flowers are white, although other colours are quite acceptable. Several options are available if you choose to send Sympathy Flowers, selecting designs from simple floral bouquets to a houseplant or an exotic orchid. Peace Lily plants are common as sympathy flowers. The important value of sending sympathy flowers is that the natural beauty and scent of flowers can profoundly affect the human senses in evoking compassion.
Finding affordable Sympathy Flower Arrangements
Prices for sending Sympathy Flowers in Canada do vary, but you can expect to be able to send a simple arrangement from around $70.00 – $120.00. Using an online flower retailer is becoming common practice these days, and indeed significant savings can be made this way.
Funeral Flowers
Traditional Funeral Flowers are the flower arrangement that is sent to the funeral service. A Funeral Flower arrangement is typically a standing arrangement, ordinarily one-sided and fan-shaped. They are designed to create a very visible floral tribute at a funeral service. This is why most funeral flower arrangements are designed for display purposes on an easel, or to be laid on or around a casket.
Many colours can be used, common colours are white, yellow, blue and red, but you can also choose specific colours that are meaningful to the life of the deceased. Most online companies offering flower delivery in Canada will offer a range of standard funeral flower arrangements but will be happy to create something a little personalized if you require it.
The benefit of ordering online is that this service is available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. All online flower companies will offer same-day funeral flower delivery in Canada. Many online flower companies do relay your funeral flower order to the local florist that will be familiar with the funeral home concerned. It is important to ensure you know the time of the funeral to schedule delivery appropriately.
Funeral Flowers are often sent to a funeral service when one is unable to personally attend as an expression of condolence. With the vastness of the Provinces of Canada, never mind the distances involved within Provinces, sending flowers to a funeral can often be a good option when traveling to attend is difficult.
Funeral Floral displays are an important aspect of adding colour and grace to a funeral service, and a lighter ambiance to a sombre event. Florists will offer a selection of standing funeral flower arrangements, and prices generally start from around $129.00 with large standing sprays or casket sprays ranging to $300.00.
Funeral Flower Messages
Your personal message to the family can be included on a card, and a simple message lets the bereaved family know that your thoughts are with them. The common messages used to express condolences are “With deepest sympathy“, “Thinking of you in these difficult times“, and “My thoughts and prayers are with you“.
If you need any help locating a florist in Canada, please contact us, and Canadian Funerals Online will be happy to assist you.
Terminology of Funeral Flower Arrangements
- Funeral Wreath – A floral presentation often used because a circle symbolizes eternal life.
- Spray – Flowers designed for viewing from one side only. Sprays are often placed on an easel.
- Floral Arrangement – A mix of fresh flowers displayed in a vase, basket or other container.?
- Casket Sprays – Flowers designed for the top of the casket – usually ordered by the family.?
Where should Funeral Flowers be delivered to?
Funeral flowers, sympathy flowers and floral tributes can be sent direct to the funeral home in readiness for the funeral service. On some occasions flowers are sent to the families home and in some cases, to the relatives office. Flowers often offer the bereaved family much comfort when having to deal with the loss of a loved one. Baskets and food gifts are generally sent to the relatives home and office, whereas, plants and flowers are used for both the funeral service and can be sent to the relatives upon hearing of death before or after the funeral service.
How do you choose an appropriate Floral Arrangement?
Funeral flower arrangements consist of funeral sprays, funeral wreaths, casket sprays, pillows made of flowers and crosses, or just simple flower bouquets. What arrangement to select can depend upon the wishes of the family, how well you knew the deceased, and what budget you are working with.
Often, larger displays are chosen by the family, and even how many floral arrangements they wish to have at the funeral, and what colour of flowers if they wish to theme a colour in memory of the deceased. For this reason, it can be wise to check with the funeral director or a family member, if there are any special requests concerning funeral flowers before you place an order.
With regards to costs, simple funeral bouquets are generally the least expensive flowers to send and are available to purchase online for around $70.00 – $130.00 and are often roses. Standing Sprays can cost a few hundred dollars but can really brighten up the funeral service.
The 2 most commonly used flowers for funerals are roses and carnations but can be mixed with lilies, asters, delphiniums and gerbera daisies. These types of flowers are most used at funeral services because they add some real colour, set the tone and lighten the mood.
How long before the funeral should you order a funeral flower delivery?
It is recommended to order a funeral flower delivery at least 24 hours before the funeral. If you are requesting a more complex spray, or the funeral is in a rural area, you may wish to consider ordering with more notice. In most cities, funeral flowers can be arranged for same-day delivery.
You should arrange to have the flowers delivered to the funeral home at least 2 hours before the funeral is scheduled. This allows the funeral director to coordinate placing arrangements in readiness for the service.
Most florists and funeral homes in a city or town are used to coordinating flower delivery arrangements in preparation for a funeral. In some cases, the funeral home will actually offer a funeral flower online order portal in affiliation with a local florist.
If you are ordering sympathy flowers, you can be a little more flexible in scheduling delivery. Sympathy flowers can be sent to the bereaved as a gesture once you hear about the death and before the funeral. Or, can be sent at any time during the period of grieving. Although, be mindful that receiving flowers after the funeral can also be upsetting and trigger the memory of loss.
Sympathy flowers can also be sent on the anniversary of a loss to show you remember and wish to show love and kindness to the bereaved.
4 Tips for How to Save Money Sending Funeral Flowers
#1. Look for online promotional discounts. These days there are discount codes for online purchases and many flower retailers will offer discounts.
#2. Place an order directly yourself with a flower retailer. Often, the funeral home may offer funeral flower sales, but charge an additional commission for arranging the flowers.
#3. Keep your flower choice simple. It is too easy to be swayed by all the elaborate funeral floral wreaths and sprays, but simplicity is often the most dignified.
#4. Consider making your own floral arrangement and delivering it to the funeral home, or to the family.
