Flowers for All Occasions 101

Funeral Arrangements for the Dearly Departed

We've discussed the basics of floristry in our earlier articles. Then we talked about the elements of design used in crafting beautiful flower arrangements. Now, we learn how to apply these principles in real life. Gatherings are so much brighter and beautiful with an exquisite selection of flowers. We're here to help you get started on two of the most common activities that come hand in hand with flowers.

In this article we discuss funeral flowers From the planning step to the wake. From deciding on the theme with your clients up to the delivery or pickup of their orders. We've created a handy primer for handling orders for a funeral. We'll help you produce classy arrangements for the grieving family. See our next article for an overview of must-have essentials for every florist.

Making Arrangements with the Client

Flower arrangements, when done right, are a splendid way of paying respect to the loss of a loved one. It's also a way to show deep sympathy for the family left behind. Making floral tributes for them will help them express themselves in a hard time. It goes without saying, florists need to take careful note of every detail. This will help make the process of preparing go as smoothly as possible. Here are a couple of things florists need to know for planning funeral floral decor.

Flowers in Commemoration

There's no one way to console someone who has just lost their loved one. But there are a lot of ways to show your sympathy to a grieving family. Ask if they would like particular flowers included, or what their loved one's favorite blooms are. Keep the arrangement as intimate and personal as possible as a tribute to the departed.

Venue

Funeral services are usually held at funeral homes. But some people want to pay respect by having the funeral in their own house. Whatever the case, make sure to ask how big the room or venue will be. That way, you can plan ahead for your designs and arrangements. Even better, schedule an ocular viewing of the venue. If they'll do the wake in their home, this is especially important. With these measurements, you'll be able to make arrangements with the right size.

Size and Headcount

How many guests are they counting on? How many tables are there, and what size? What's the size of the coffin? Any other area your customer wants decorated? Every bit of information is necessary for the perfect flower arrangements. Wakes usually stretch over a several days. You may need to change the flowers every now and then. That way, you get to keep them fragrant and fresh for guests.

Budget and Timeline

Needless to say, you'll want to know how much your customer has budgeted the funeral's flower arrangements. This way, you can plan and provide top-notch service within their budget. Determine a timeline for preparation and delivery of the flower arrangements. Keep in contact with your client to make sure all flowers and designs you've picked are up to their standards.

Read all about Origins of Flowers and the Industry in our next article.