Flowers for All Occasions 101

Funeral Arrangements for the Dearly Departed

We've discussed the basics of floristry in our earlier articles. We explored the elements of design used in creating gorgeous flower arrangements. Now, we learn how to apply these concepts in real life. Celebrations are so much brighter and exquisite with a fantastic variety of flowers. We're here to help you get started on two of the most common gatherings that come hand in hand with flowers.

For this article we discuss funeral flowers From the planning step to the wake. From picking the theme with your clients up to the delivery or pickup of their orders. We've put together a handy primer for handling orders for a funeral. We'll help you provide tasteful 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 wonderful way of commemorating 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 should 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 want to know for planning funeral floral decor.

Flowers in Commemoration

There's no one way to comfort someone who has just lost their loved one. But there are a ton of ways to express your sympathy to a grieving family. Ask them 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

Wakes 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 designs and arrangements. Even better, plan an ocular viewing of the venue. This is especially essential if they'll do the wake in their home. 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 coffin? Any other area your customer wants decorated? Every bit of information is vital for the perfect flower arrangements. Wakes usually stretch over a few days. You may need to change the flowers from time to time. 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 for the funeral's flower arrangements. This way, you can plan and provide premium service within their budget. Set up a timeline for preparation and delivery of the flower arrangements. Keep in contact with your customer to make sure all flowers and designs you've picked out are up to their standards.

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