Funeral Flower Arrangements
Our arrangements are free-standing designs in a low ceramic container, made by a local florist and delivered to the funeral director, the venue or the family's home. They sit well at the service or the wake, and the family can take them home afterwards.
What a free-standing floral arrangement is for
Most flowers for a funeral are made to lie flat on or beside the coffin. An arrangement is different: the flowers are set in a container, so it stands on its own on a table, a windowsill or the floor near the front. That makes it a good choice when you want a display at the wake, at a memorial gathering or in the family home rather than at the graveside. It also travels well, so close family can carry it home afterwards.
Each of our designs uses roses and lilies with seasonal blooms such as stock, snapdragons or hydrangea. The White Sympathy Arrangement and the White Funeral Flower Arrangement are calm and simple; the Lilac Sympathy Arrangement brings in soft purple; and the Red and White Funeral Flower Arrangement pairs red roses with white lilies, a classic symbol of love.
Other types of tribute and where they go
If you are not sure an arrangement is right, it helps to know the other shapes a florist can craft and where each one is placed:
- Coffin sprays rest along the lid and are usually chosen by the closest family. In America the same design is called a casket spray.
- Sprays are a single teardrop of flowers placed on the coffin, beside it or at the graveside.
- A wreath is a circular design, a symbol of eternal life. Some are made on a moss base with laurel leaves and a cluster of flowers.
- A sheaf is a flat bunch tied with a ribbon, with the stems left showing.
- Posies are small and round, made on posy pads, and suit a grave or a spot beside larger tributes.
Many families choose one main tribute and let friends send smaller pieces. You can see every design together on our funeral tributes page.
Choosing colours and flowers that reflect the person
There is no wrong choice. White is the colour most associated with funeral flowers, and many families choose it when they are unsure. Lilac and purple feel gentle and thoughtful, while red roses say love plainly and often feature in flowers for a husband, wife or parent. Some people prefer something vibrant, such as yellow, for a loved one who was bright and full of life. If the person had a favourite flower, start there; it is a fitting tribute that shows you knew them well, and it can say more about your relationship with the deceased than any card. Our pages for mum and grandad show designs families often pick.
Lilies have a strong scent and are toxic to cats. If the flowers are going to a home with a cat, choose a design without lilies or keep it well out of reach.
Sizes and prices
Each arrangement comes in three sizes: Standard, Preferred and Elegant. The larger sizes keep the same design and add more stems of the same flowers, so it looks fuller. Prices start from £44.00 for the Standard size. Delivery is one charge of £12.49 per order to one address, added at checkout. If a flower is not available, the florist may use one of the same colour and style, of equal or greater value.
Ordering funeral flower arrangements and delivery
Every order is made by a florist near the service and delivered by hand. Flower delivery runs Monday to Saturday, from tomorrow onwards, but not on Sundays or bank holidays, and we cannot deliver to AB10 postcodes. When you send flowers, give the date of the service and the address of the local funeral director or venue, and choose a delivery day before it. Most families send them to the funeral director, who will arrange them where the family has asked.
Adding a personal touch with the card
Every design includes a flower card with your message. A few heartfelt words are enough to express your condolence: the person's name, how you knew them and a short farewell. Sign it so the family knows who sent it. For ideas, our guide on what to write on funeral flowers has examples for family, friends and colleagues.
Questions about arrangements for a service
Where do flowers go at a funeral?
The family's flowers usually rest on the lid. Others are placed beside it, at the front of the church or crematorium, or at the graveside after a burial. A free-standing arrangement can stand on a table at the service or the wake.
How long before the day should I order?
Order as soon as you know the date and the funeral director. We deliver from tomorrow onwards, Monday to Saturday, so for a Monday service the flowers should arrive on the Saturday before.
What happens to the flowers afterwards?
Arrangements are easy to take home, so the family often keeps them in the house to remember the day. Other tributes are usually left at the graveside or in the crematorium's garden of remembrance.
Should I sign the card?
Yes. The family will want to know who sent the flowers, so add your name, or your family's names, at the end of your message.
