Funeral flowers often carry more than beauty - they hold emotion, memory and care. But knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. This guide helps you choose blooms that reflect remembrance with sincerity and meaning.

Here, you’ll find straightforward explanations about flower types, traditional arrangements and the sentiments they can convey. The aim is to help you make thoughtful, respectful choices with confidence and clarity.

The Significance of Funeral Flowers

The tradition of using flowers for funerals spans cultures and centuries, serving as a visual expression of sympathy and respect for the person who has died.

Their presence offers quiet comfort to those grieving, marking the occasion with calmness and beauty. Arrangements are often placed on the coffin, installed in a church or service venue or sent directly to the bereaved family.

Flowers help create a gentle atmosphere during a difficult time. They add colour and life to services that could otherwise feel stark or clinical.

Symbolism in Floral Choices

Different flowers can carry their own significance. Recognising these meanings can help you choose blooms that speak from the heart. Blooming Amazing Flower Company’s most popular funeral blooms include lilies, roses, gerbera, lisianthus and orchids - each selected for its symbolic resonance:

• Lilies -  Represent restoration of the soul and purity. White lilies are especially common at funerals.

• Roses -  White roses symbolize reverence and innocence, while red roses express love and respect.

• Gerbera - Their cheerful form conveys sincerity and provides a gentle comfort to mourners; they’re favoured in wreaths and sprays.

• Lisianthus - Signifies appreciation and gratitude, making them a thoughtful addition to sympathy bouquets

• Orchids - Symbolise eternal love and strength, often used in standing sprays.

The symbolism can vary by culture and region. Traditional Irish funerals often feature lilies, roses and local seasonal blooms.

Colours and Their Messages

The colours of funeral flowers can communicate different emotions and messages:

• White - Purity, peace and reverence

• Red - Love, respect and courage

• Pink - Gentleness, admiration and grace

• Yellow - Friendship and devotion

• Purple - Dignity and respect

Many people choose colours based on the deceased person's favourite colour or what feels most comforting. There are no strict rules - what really matters is that the selection is meaningful to those involved.

Types of Funeral Flower Arrangements

Our range of funeral flower arrangements comes in several forms. Each has a specific purpose and placement during services.

Identifying these differences helps when ordering flowers or sending them as a gesture of support.

Wreaths

A funeral wreath is a circular arrangement that symbolizes eternal life. Their shape represents the circle of life with no beginning and no end.

Typically displayed on a church alter or on the coffin and occasionally on easels at the funeral service, wreaths are often made with a foam base covered with flowers and greenery. They range from small (about 30 cm across) to large (60 cm or more). They are removed to the graveside in the hearse after the service. 

Wreaths can be accompanied by personalised messages written on a card and include special flower selections that hold meaning for the giver or the deceased. 

Coffin Sprays and Sheaves

Coffin sprays rest directly on top of the coffin during the service. These are usually arranged by immediate family members as they are the most prominent floral tribute. A full coffin spray covers most of the coffin lid, while a half spray covers just a portion. The choice often depends on whether the coffin will be open or closed during viewing.

Sheaves are simpler hand-tied bundles of flowers, designed to lie flat. They're less formal than sprays. Sheaves can be placed on the coffin and left at the graveside after burial. Spray and sheaves typically include a mix of focal flowers (like lilies or roses) with supporting blooms and greenery for texture and fullness.

Personalising Funeral Flowers for a Meaningful Tribute

Funeral flowers become more meaningful when they reflect the person being remembered. Personal touches transform standard arrangements into unique tributes.

Adding elements that connect to the deceased's life creates a more authentic memorial. These details often provide comfort to those grieving.

Incorporating Favourite Blooms

Using flowers that the person loved creates a more personal tribute. This might include:

• Flower types they grew in their garden

• Blooms in their favourite colours

• Seasonal varieties that they particularly enjoyed

• Flowers that featured in important life events, like their wedding

If someone had a favourite flower that's out of season, florists can often suggest similar alternatives that capture the same feeling or colour palette.

In Dublin, check our seasonal blooms for availability. Spring often includes tulips and early peonies, while summer offers choices like dahlias and hydrangeas. Autumn often features sunflowers and winter can include flowers roses with seasonal touches such as berries.   

Adding Keepsake Elements

Small personal items can be incorporated into funeral arrangements to make them unique:

• A meaningful ribbon colour or pattern

• A small photograph tucked among the flowers

• A token representing a hobby or interest

• A special message written on a card

These additions don't need to be elaborate. Even simple touches, like using ribbon in the colours of a favourite sports team, can make an arrangement more personal.

After the service, these keepsake elements can be removed and kept by family members as mementos, while the flowers themselves serve their purpose during the ceremony.

Practical Considerations When Choosing Funeral Flowers

Beyond symbolism and style, practical matters affect flower selection. Timing and seasonality play essential roles in the process. These factors ensure that arrangements arrive in perfect condition and are appropriate for the specific funeral setting.

Timing and Delivery Coordination

Funeral flowers are typically delivered on the morning of the service or in time for the removal. This ensures they look fresh throughout the ceremony.

Ideally orders are placed with as much notice as possible before delivery, though many florists can accommodate shorter time frames if needed. For custom or elaborate designs, more notice may be helpful.

When ordering, it's important to provide:

• The full name of the deceased  

• Service date, time, and location

• Any specific delivery instructions

• Contact information for both sender and recipient

• Full delivery address for the recipient or funeral home  

Our flower delivery service in Dublin offers options including same-day delivery for orders placed before our 2pm cut-off time.

Sustainable and Seasonal Selections

Seasonal flowers offer several advantages:

• They're fresher and last longer

• They're often more affordable

• They have a smaller environmental footprint

• They may be used to connect to a theme significant to the deceased person

In Ireland, spring funeral arrangements might include tulips, while summer offers roses and dahlias. Autumn brings chrysanthemums and asters and winter can feature evergreens and amaryllis with seasonal touches such as berry.

Sustainable options include arrangements without floral foam (which isn't biodegradable) and locally grown flowers that haven't been shipped long distances.

Etiquette and Thoughtful Gestures

Understanding funeral flower customs helps avoid unintentional missteps during a sensitive time. While traditions vary, some general guidelines apply in most situations.

Following these customs shows respect for the family's grief and the occasion's solemnity.

Message Suggestions for Sympathy Cards

Messages accompanying funeral flowers are typically brief and heartfelt. The card provides context for who sent the arrangement.

Appropriate messages might include:

• "With deepest sympathy"

• "In loving memory"

• "Our thoughts are with you"

• "Remembering [name] with love"

• "Sending comfort during this difficult time"

Always include your name or the names of those sending the flowers. This helps the family know who to thank later and connects the gesture to your relationship with the deceased.

The message card is not the place for lengthy sentiments; a separate sympathy card can be sent for more detailed expressions of condolence.

When Flowers May Not Be Appropriate

In some circumstances, flowers aren't the expected or preferred tribute:

• When the family has requested "no flowers" or "donations instead of flowers"

• For certain religious traditions that have different customs

Alternative gestures include:

• Donations to a specified charity

• Providing food for the family in the days leading up to or after the service

• A handwritten letter of condolence

• An offer of specific help

When in doubt, checking the death notice or asking someone close to the family can provide guidance on the most appreciated form of remembrance.

Support and Guidance from Blooming Amazing Flower Company

Blooming Amazing Flower Company offers full Sympathy & Funeral Flower Services across Dublin city and county. Our bespoke approach ensures every tribute is both unique, personalised and symbolically appropriate.

Personal Consultation for Bespoke Arrangements

Speak with one of our artisan florists (in person, by phone or email) about the personality and preferences of your loved one, any favourite flowers and the type of service being held. During a consultation, the florist might ask about:

• The personality and preferences of the deceased

• Any specific flowers or colours with special significance

• The type of service being held

• The relationship between the sender and the recipient

This information allows for truly personalised designs rather than standard arrangements. Consultations can happen in person, by phone or via email, depending on timing and your own preferences.

Collection & Ordering

Explore our dedicated Sympathy & Funeral Collection for wreaths, sprays, sheaves and other floral tributes - handcrafted to order. 

Delivery Coordination

We liaise directly with funeral directors and venues in Dublin to confirm delivery times and placement instructions, ensuring flowers arrive fresh and on time.

Ensuring a Seamless Experience

The practical details matter greatly when sending funeral flowers. Blooming Amazing Flower Company handles these aspects with care:

• Confirming delivery times with funeral directors and venues

• Using appropriate packaging for transport

• Including hand written cards and messages

Our in-house delivery team, serving all Dublin city and county guarantees respectful handling, punctual delivery and a flawless presentation at every service.

Arrangements are created with fresh, seasonal flowers, properly conditioned for optimum display throughout the service and beyond, providing lasting comfort to those in mourning.