Picking Out Sympathy and Funeral Flowers

You've just received word that someone has died and now you need to send flowers. Sympathy and funeral flowers are one of the biggest reasons for sending flowers. So how do you know what type of flower arrangement to send, or what type or even what color of flowers are appropriate? Are there occasions when sending a floral tribute is not appropriate?

Sprays and Baskets

There are a variety of flower arrangements suitable as a floral tribute to a funeral. Sprays are arrangements of flowers mounted on easels or stands for display around the casket. Positioned on the floor or on pedestals of varying heights, floral baskets can range from cut flowers to live flowers and green plants.

Who Sends What

Then there are the large sympathy flower arrangements called "casket sprays" that, as their name implies, lay on top of the casket. Casket sprays are traditionally purchased by the immediate family of the deceased as an elaborate token of their love. Parents, spouses and children also send crosses and hearts. Aunts, uncles and friends send wreaths and standing sprays of flowers, while relatives that are more distant and acquaintances send baskets and even flowering potted plants.

Flower to Use

As far as type of flower or color of blossom that is appropriate, there isn't really etiquette for either. Any type of flower can be used in a sympathy and funeral tribute, although roses, carnations, lilies are the most traditional. However, just a quick peek at any online floral service will show any number of exotic flowers as part of arrangements offered for funerals.

Flower Color

There aren't really any hard and fast rules regarding flower color, although white or pastel sympathy funeral flowers tend to be chosen for funerals when the deceased is a baby or child. Red roses, usually American roses, tend to be used by the spouse as an expression of deep, abiding love.

When Not to Send Flowers

A time when a sympathy flower delivery might not be appropriate, is when the deceased is Jewish, where custom discourages flowers. In that case, you will want to send a gift basket of fresh fruit or other kosher food items, the traditional condolence gift during Shiva, the Hebrew time of mourning.