Funeral Flower Ideas

Start with the person

The most meaningful funeral flower arrangement usually begins with a simple question: what did they love? Think about the clothes they wore, the garden they kept or the place they were happiest. A keen gardener might suit a loose, cottage garden style; someone smart and orderly might suit a neat, traditional floral design in a single shade. Flowers can bring back a memory in a way words can't, so let your flower choices follow the person.

• Did they have a favourite flower, such as roses, lilies or a carnation in a buttonhole?
• Was there a colour they always came back to?
• Were they quiet and gentle, or bright and bold?
• Did they follow a team, love the sea or grow their own vegetables?

Funeral flower ideas by relationship

For Mum. Soft pinks, blush roses and white lilies are a gentle choice. A wreath of pink roses from her children says a great deal without words. See our flowers for mum.

For Dad and Grandad. Blue and white or red and white are the most chosen, often with roses, carnations and chrysanthemum. Look at our tributes for Dad, for Grandad and for a man.

For Nan. Lilac, purple and pink tributes suit many grandmothers. The Nan Funeral Wreath mixes lilac roses with daisies and gypsophila. See our flowers for Nan.

From friends and colleagues. A spray or a small arrangement for the service, or flowers sent to the family home, are both kind ways to show you care.

Ideas by colour

A clear colour palette makes even a simple design feel considered, and the choice of colours is often the easiest place to begin.

• White: calm, classic and suitable for anyone. See our white funeral flowers.
• Pink: soft and loving, often chosen for a mother, grandmother or daughter.
• Purple and lilac: long linked with remembrance and dignity. See our purple funeral flowers.
• Red and white: red roses symbolise everlasting love. See our red and white designs.
• Blue and white: peaceful and popular for men. See our blue and white designs.
• Yellow: bright and warm, a good choice for a celebration of life. Our sunshine yellow tribute mixes yellow roses, gerberas and anthuriums.

Types of funeral flowers and where they go

Each shape has its own place at the funeral service, so the type of floral tribute is as much a part of the idea as the different flowers in it.

• Coffin sprays: a double ended casket spray placed on the top of the coffin, usually from close family. It stays there in the hearse and through the service.
• Funeral sprays: a single ended teardrop of flowers on a hidden base, laid on or beside the coffin.
• Sheaves: hand-tied, with the stems showing, designed to lie flat, a little like a bouquet.
• Wreaths: a ring of flowers, an old symbol of eternal life.
• Posies: small and delicate, a lovely choice from a child or a single friend.
• Sympathy flowers: flower arrangements, bouquets, baskets and plants such as a white orchid, sent to the family home rather than the service.

Some families might choose floral letters used to spell a name, but we don't make a letter tribute, pillows, hearts or crosses. Every design we offer is one of the traditional floral arrangements above, made with fresh flowers by a local florist.

Adding a personal touch

You don't need an elaborate design or a bespoke tribute to make a beautiful funeral tribute feel personal. Small choices help you personalise it:

• Their team or hobby. Pick a combination close to their football club or a favourite place, such as blue and white for the seaside.
• Their garden. If they grew roses or hydrangeas, choose a design built around the same bloom.
• A season they loved. Seasonal flowers in sunny yellows for someone who loved summer, deep reds and purples for a winter birthday.
• The card. A nickname or a line only the family would understand. Our guide on what to write on funeral flowers has many examples.

Practical tips

Check the funeral date and the name of the funeral directors before you order, and ask whether the family would like flowers at all. Some prefer family flowers only, with donations to a charity instead. Most of our designs come in three sizes, and larger sizes add more stems of the same flowers. If one isn't available, the florist may use another of the same shade and style, of equal or greater value. Delivery is £12.49 per order, Monday to Saturday. For smaller budgets, see our cheap funeral flowers and our guide to what funeral flowers cost.

Questions about choosing flowers

What is the most appropriate flower for a funeral?

Lilies, roses, carnations and chrysanthemums are the most traditional. A white lily is the classic funeral flower, but the right tribute is the one that feels like the person.

What are some unique funeral ideas for flowers?

Choose the bloom they loved, match their team or hobby colours, pick a loose garden style for a gardener, or send a sympathy plant the family can keep.

What is an alternative to a funeral wreath?

A spray or a small posy are good alternatives. For the family home, a bouquet or a plant lasts beyond the day.

Is a non-religious funeral different for flowers?

No. The same tributes suit any service. Choose by the person, not the ceremony.