Funeral & Service Flowers

Funeral tributes and where they go

Each type of tribute has its own place at the service. A casket spray rests on the lid, usually covering half of it for an open-casket viewing or the full length when the casket is closed. Standing sprays, funeral wreaths, hearts and crosses stand on easels near the casket or urn. Floor baskets sit on the floor beside the casket, and the blue and white Tranquility Floor Basket can stand nearly four feet tall. For a cremation or memorial service, urn pieces such as the blue and white Cremation Wreath are usually set around or beside the urn. Vase arrangements and plants, like the Peace Lily Plant for Sympathy, fit on a side table and travel home easily with the family afterward.

Who usually sends which piece

The casket spray traditionally comes from the spouse, children or parents, and a standing funeral heart is often sent by those closest as a sign of love. The Always Remember Floral Heart Tribute comes in several versions, from soft pastel to red roses with Stargazer lilies. Extended family and close friends tend to send standing sprays, wreaths, whose unbroken circle is traditionally linked with eternal life, or crosses for a Christian service. Friends, neighbors and coworkers often choose a floor basket, a flower arrangement in a vase or a plant. An office, a team or a congregation can share one larger tribute, and the Heartfelt Sympathies Red, White & Blue Standing Basket suits a funeral for someone who served in the military.

Ribbons, cards and what to write

The card is how the family knows who sent each piece. Add your message at checkout and it's included on a card with the tribute. Keep it short and sign with full names: funeral directors often gather the cards for the family, who may use them later to write thank-you notes. A family card might read "Forever in our hearts. Love, Mark, Julie and the grandchildren." A friend might write "Thinking of you all during this difficult time, Ana." A group might write "In loving memory of a wonderful teacher, from the staff at Lakeside Elementary." Some of our tributes come finished with a ribbon, such as the all-white Sentiments of Serenity Spray and the Love's Garden Deluxe Heart Piece, with a light pink ribbon banner across the front. Your own words go on the card.

Customs that vary by faith

Traditions differ, so check the obituary or call the funeral home before you order. Flowers are widely welcomed at Catholic and Protestant services, where crosses and wreaths are common, though some parishes limit flowers inside the church during a funeral Mass, so tributes often go to the funeral home for the visitation. A traditional Jewish funeral usually has no flowers, and a donation is the more common way to show support. Muslim funerals are often held quickly and kept simple, so check with the family first. At many Buddhist and Hindu services, white flowers are the usual choice and bright red is often avoided. Meanings shift too: in parts of Europe and Asia, chrysanthemums are closely tied to mourning, while in the United States they're a common, long-lasting funeral flower.

Funeral flowers delivery and timing

A florist close to the funeral home arranges each tribute by hand and delivers it directly. Use the funeral home's full address, add the deceased's name and the service time, and pick a delivery date before the service. Most deliveries arrive by 8:00 PM in the recipient's time zone and a specific time can't be guaranteed, so for a morning service, the day before is safest. Same-day delivery is available on orders placed by 2:00 PM ET Monday to Friday and by 1:30 PM ET on Saturday, when that date is available for the ZIP code. There are no Sunday deliveries, so choose Saturday for a Monday morning service.