Funeral flowers, sympathy flowers, what’s the difference you may ask. Sending flowers to express your sympathy is the important part no? Well the answer to that question is; yes and no. Flowers are the ultimate medium for conveying sympathies to those who have lost a loved one to death. However certain things should be considered before sending flowers to the bereaved family, as there is a slight difference between sympathy and funeral flowers.
Funeral Flowers vs. Sympathy Flowers
The main differences between funeral flowers and sympathy flowers are as follows:
- If your plan is to send flowers to the home of the bereaved as opposed to the funeral home or church, you’ll want to select an appropriate arrangement of sympathy flowers as opposed to funeral flowers. Sympathy flowers are frequently sent to the residence of the grieving family and are displayed around the home in memory of their loved one. They are generally smaller sized bouquets than those of funeral flower arrangements, which generally are made to be large enough so that they can be viewed from every part of the church, no matter where a person may be sitting or standing.
- Funeral flowers are generally chosen by close friends of the family or selected relatives. They will normally have a knowledge of the religious beliefs and traditions which should be incorporated into the arrangements of funeral flowers, as well as an intimate knowledge of the deceased’s and his or her family’s tastes and likes. Sometimes the favorite color of the deceased is used in arrangements for funeral flowers; if you know it you can send an arrangement reflecting that.
- If you have been to a funeral before, you may have seen funeral flowers arranged in the shape of a heart or cross. Often wreaths are used to decorate the coffin, placed on easels positioned at appropriate places. Sympathy flower arrangements are generally not so elaborate, and usually consist of a variety of flowers in various colors placed in a lovely basket or decorative vase.
- The difference between sympathy flowers and funeral flowers is also marked by the time of sending. If sending funeral flowers, they should be sent as soon as possible, as the funeral director and church staff will need time to coordinate their efforts in arranging things. If you get the news of a person’s death more than a few days after it occurs, it is best not to send funeral flowers. Many funeral homes will reject late deliveries anyway, as it can cause disruption to the flow of the service. Rather send a bouquet of sympathy flowers to the bereaved person or family’s home instead. It is appropriate to send sympathy flowers even months after the funeral, and sometimes receiving flowers at that time reinforces the knowledge that people care with them.
In the words of Henry Ward Beecher, the prominent clergyman and abolitionist Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into." But though flowers have no soul of their own, funeral flowers and sympathy flowers can each sooth the souls of out grieving family and friends. If you decide to send funeral flowers, it is best to consult the funeral notice or funeral director, as they will have knowledge of the family’s wishes, likes, and dislikes. Some religions such as Judaism or Buddhism prefer not to have funeral flowers displayed as they consider them a distraction to the spiritual importance of the ceremony. Whatever the case, you can now decide whether you wish to express your condolences with sympathy flowers or funeral flowers.
