{"id":4761,"date":"2022-07-01T15:22:50","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T15:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blossominggifts.com\/blog\/?p=4761"},"modified":"2022-09-16T15:29:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-16T15:29:37","slug":"sympathy-flowers-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blossominggifts.com\/blog\/sympathy-flowers-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to Sympathy Flowers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Losing those we care about is one of the hardest things we go through in life. When someone in your life has lost someone special to them, you want to support them – but it can be difficult knowing what to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sending flowers is one of the most universal expressions of sympathy in the face of grief. It can be difficult to know what to say or do, and a small token of flowers can go a long way toward letting those left behind know that they are cared for and loved. Sympathy flowers can be used to honour the life of the person passed or to bring comfort and brightness to those left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Feeling overwhelmed by choices at these times is perfectly normal and very common. To help you choose the perfect, personal token of sympathy, we have covered a range of traditional funeral flowers and their meanings. You can also read about the best sympathy flowers to gift according to your relationship with the person or by their faith or religion. We finish with a section of recommended condolence messages to include and appropriate sympathy flowers etiquette. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

View Sympathy Flowers<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Traditional Sympathy Flowers & Their Meanings<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Across cultures there are many traditional flowers. Drawing from tradition can help give your blooms meaning and depth, and helps us feel connected to a wider community in our grief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Across traditions, white<\/a> is the most commonly chosen colour for sympathy flowers. It is often mixed in with blush pinks<\/a>, pale blues<\/a> and creams. You are not limited to these colours when picking an arrangement; it is also common to send funeral flowers that are the favourite colour of the person you wish to remember, or in a selection of colours that may better reflect their personality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Many of the most popular sympathy flowers grow in a dazzling range of colours. Each of the flowers can be arranged in several traditional forms, such as wreaths, standing bouquets or special graveside arrangements and casket sprays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Chrysanthemums<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

In many European countries, especially France, chrysanthemums are a traditional flower of death. This began after the first World War when the first Armistice Day was celebrated. The then president of France, Raymond Poincar\u00e9, ordered that all the soldiers graves to be decorated with flowers rather than candles, which were the previous tradition. As Chrysanthemums are one of the few flowers still in bloom at that late time of year in France, they were the most prominent in these displays. In the years after the war they came to be seen as a symbol for death, for mourning and for honouring a life. Chrysanthemums would make the perfect token for someone who is more traditional, or perhaps has a military connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

In China, where they were first cultivated, chrysanthemums represent the change into autumn<\/a>. They are commonly used to decorate graves and remember loved ones for this reason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

View Chrysanthemums<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Carnations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Carnations are a common condolence flower in many cultures. Purple<\/a> carnations are the traditional sympathy flower given in France. In Mexico, carnations of all colours are used to decorate gravesides. Carnations represent love, affection, protection, healing and strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

As they grow in a wide range of colours, you can use carnations to personalise your sympathy flowers to the spirit of the departed and reflect their personality in your bouquet. Carnations last for a long time once cut, making them a perfect choice for flowers you are sending to a loved one\u2019s home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

View Carnations<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lilies <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Graceful, refined and striking, white lilies represent the innocence and purity of loved ones and the sincerity of grief. Their strong perfume has long made them a popular flower for funerals, awakening our senses when we feel most numb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

View Lilies<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Orchids <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

A less common choice, gifted either cut or as a plant. Orchids symbolise thoughtfulness and the cycle of life. As Orchids seem to die back and then return to life in full bloom, they are often gifted to remind us that those who have passed are still with us in a myriad of ways. When gifting an orchid plant, you are gifting an annual reminder of the lost persons presence as it bursts back into bloom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

View Orchids<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Roses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

In present times, roses are one of the most common funeral flowers. Roses are highly regarded in our culture<\/a> and an easily recognisable symbol of love and affection for the departed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Each of the different colours has a slightly different meaning<\/a>. Yellow roses show deeply valued friendship, pink shows gratitude to the departed and red shows deep love and grief. Roses can be mixed in with the participants favourite flower to create a stunning sympathy bouquet with layers of personal meaning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

View Roses<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Gladioli <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Tall, strong and proud, gladiolus are an ideal sympathy flower for those with a strong character and plenty of integrity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sympathy Flowers by Relationship<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n

While the type of flower you choose to send should be picked in consideration to the relationship you have with the deceased, the form you choose to send your flower is perhaps of more importance here. You don\u2019t want to send flowers that would traditionally take pride of place if the family of the loved one have already bought something. See our sympathy flowers etiquette section for more advice on the best sympathy flowers do\u2019s and don\u2019ts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Funeral Flowers for Someone Close<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Choosing sympathy flowers for someone close to you can be incredibly difficult. You may be involved in organising the larger funeral flowers, such as a casket spray, with other close friends or family. When picking sympathy flowers for someone close to you, try and trust your instincts and pick something they would like. There is no right or wrong in a sincere gift. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

You could pick a flower they like, an arrangement in their favourite colours or a selection of colours that reminds you of their personality. Alongside a larger display you may wish to add your own small, more personalised, tribute or send sympathy flowers to a family member. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

A Family Member<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

If you are part of the extended family, or perhaps an estranged family member, you can either send flowers to the family home of the person who has passed, or to a specific family member they were especially close with. Attaching a small, thoughtful note is ideal paired with a well-chosen bouquet. If you are for any reason unable to attend the service itself, sending flowers can be an excellent way to show your respects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Sympathy Flowers for A Romantic Partner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

It can be very difficult supporting your partner as they deal with a loss. Each of us respond to our grief in our own way. It is important to let your loved one know that you are there for them, in whatever way they need. Perhaps pick a more intimate bouquet, sent to their home with a condolences message letting them know they have your support. It can be thoughtful to send a gift of flowers in the long weeks following the funeral to let them know you are still thinking of them, and making space for their grief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

If it is your own romantic partner you are wishing to memorialise with a bouquet, you may wish to communicate with any other close family members that are organising funeral flowers. This way you can have a voice in organising larger floral tributes and also curate a more intimate, personalised wreath to reflect your feeling for your loved one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Best Sympathy Flowers for a Friend<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

A friendship can be hard to summarise in flowers. Sending sympathy flowers for a friend can be a wonderful reminder to the family just how loved their lost one was, and of the positive impact they made to the world around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

For a friendship group, the family may prefer for you to send one larger tribute as a group. It may be worth asking them for their wishes before ordering. Working together to create a memorial flower arrangement can also be a cathartic and healing moment for the group. If sending from a group of friends, try to avoid in jokes that might be crude or in jokes that make family and other loved ones feel excluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Condolence Flowers for an Acquaintance <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Stick to smaller arrangements that will be easier for the family to move about. If buying an arrangement as a group, say from colleagues, contact the family or a point of contact from the funeral home before getting a larger arrangement to be sure it fits with the flowers they may have chosen. Sending one arrangement collectively will be easier for the family to manage than several separate small bouquets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Sending Sympathy Flowers to Different Faiths <\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n

For Buddhists stick to white flowers, which are seen as a symbol for mourning, and avoid red flowers. Red is a colour associated with good luck and prosperity, and it would be improper to suggest a funeral was such an event. The dress code for a Buddhist funeral tends toward simpler outfits, with jewellery avoided altogether. As such, reflect this in your choice of bouquet by favouring simplicity and functionality over excessive ornamentation, and contact the organiser first to check if flowers are to be sent at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

If attending a Jewish, Islamic and Hindu funeral then it is a no to flowers altogether – if you wish to send something, send a gift at a later date instead to let them know you are thinking of them in the lonely months following the funeral. Similarly, it is important for guests to arrive empty handed at Hindu funerals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

If attending a Christian funeral, carnations are a popular choice. It is said carnations were created from the Virgin Mary\u2019s tears, making them a favoured choice. For Mormon funerals, do not include a cross or crucifix in your funeral arrangement. Certain Protestant branches of the church may prefer a plainer arrangement. Eastern Orthodox branches prefer flowers to be sent to the funeral home in the three days between death and burial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Condolence Messages to Include<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Condolence messages don\u2019t have to be lengthy and they certainly don\u2019t have to be perfect. What\u2019s important is to reach out and show you care. It\u2019s okay to admit that you don\u2019t know what to say; sometimes we just don\u2019t know what to write on sympathy flowers. Just let them know you\u2019re there and you care for them. If you\u2019re stuck for words, here are a few prompts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n