Funeral Flowers: It’s Not All About Lillies

Deciding on funeral flowers for a final farewell isn’t easy. It’s a difficult time, you are grieving, you have so much to organise and sometimes it’s an easy option to default to the traditional floral tributes we have all seen for many years.

But funeral flowers have moved on, so have we, and flowers now have the power to say so much more about your memories of someone, so it’s worth taking a moment to think about whether lillies really are the right flower for your loved one.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-lily in any way but in this article, I will be taking a look at both traditional and alternative funeral floral options – at the end of the day, you can then decide what works for you.

Remember, a great florist will not only handcraft you a beautiful funeral tribute, but also support you as you make difficult choices during these emotional times. So please don’t be afraid to reach out for advice and support – we are here to help.

Which to choose? Let’s explain.

When choosing a fitting floral tribute, you may be overwhelmed by the options. There are all manner of shaped wreaths, standing sprays  (which usually sit on an easel by the coffin), casket sprays (which sit on top of the coffin), sheaf sprays (a flat lay bouquet), trugs and and more.

Nowadays, people often choose one main casket arrangement from close family and request charitable donations from wider friends and family. So, it’s even more important that the floral tribute(s) really represent the deceased and the life they led.

Why are lillies seen as funeral flowers?

Since the times of ancient Greeks and Romans, lilies have been associated with purity and innocence. It’s perhaps unsurprising in that case that the lily is the flower most commonly associated with funeral services, as they have come to represent the soul of the deceased returning to a place of peace.  The white oriental lily or arum lily is most commonly used but pink stargazer and longiflorum lilies with their extended trumpet shape are also often used in sympathy and funeral floral arrangements.

As lilies are associated with funerals and not necessarily with the life and personality of your loved one, lots of people are now opting for less traditional floral arrangements. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular options…

Personalised flowers.

If you really want to represent your loved one, perhaps you’d like to include their favourite flower, hobby, colour or the blooms they had on their wedding day.

Eco-friendly funeral flowers.

Becoming ever more popular as an eco-friendly and more sustainable option, essentially, this means not using green flower foam, plastics and choosing more planet-friendly or sustainable ways to create arrangements. Many people now have woodland burials, so everything, including twine and message cards must be eco-friendly and biodegradeable and whilst there is still a way to go on this, the floristry industry has made great improvements in recent years.

With crematoriums, flowers are disposed of after a service which is very wasteful. I would therefore encourage you to take your flowers home or share among family and friends which also allows for some quiet moments of reflection over the coming days or you can also press flowers for a longer lasting keepsake.

A few final thoughts on choosing funeral flowers…

Funeral directors often have an agreement in place with a preferred florist, where they take a percentage of whatever the customer spends on funeral flowers. This isn’t something that has ever sat well with me and I have never worked in this way.

However, you don’t have to go with the florist recommended by the funeral director. By working with your own independent florist, you can make your budget go further and create truly special arrangements that really represent your loved one.

The main thing to remember is that you CAN do things YOUR way.