Flowers for All Occasions 101

Funeral Arrangements for the Dearly Departed

We've talked about the basics of floristry in our past articles. Then we explored the aspects of design used in making beautiful flower arrangements. Now, we learn how to apply these ideas in real life. Celebrations are so much brighter and lovely with an exquisite variety 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 talk about funeral flowers From the planning step to the wake. From selecting the theme with your clients up to the delivery or pickup of their orders. We've compiled a helpful primer for handling orders for a funeral. We'll help you supply tasteful arrangements for the grieving family. See our following article for an overview of must-have essentials for every florist.

Making Arrangements with the Client

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

Flowers in Commemoration

There's no single way to comfort 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 certain 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 prefer to pay respect by having the funeral in their own home. Whatever the case, make sure to ask how large the room or venue will be. This way, you can prepare ahead for your arrangements and designs. Better yet, set up 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 appropriate 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 casket? Any other area your client wants decorated? Every bit of information is necessary for the perfect flower arrangements. Wakes usually stretch over a few days. You may need to change the flowers every so often. That way, you get to keep them fragrant and fresh for guests.

Budget and Timeline

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

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