Flowers for All Occasions 101

Funeral Arrangements for the Dearly Departed

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

For this article we discuss funeral flowers From the planning phase 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 classy arrangements for the grieving family. See our upcoming article for an overview of must-have essentials for every florist.

Making Arrangements with the Client

Flower arrangements, when done properly, are an excellent way of commemorating the loss of a loved one. It's also a way to show profound sympathy for the family left behind. Creating floral tributes for them will allow them to 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 few 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 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 personal and intimate as possible as a tribute to the departed.

Venue

Funeral services are usually held at funeral parlors. But some people prefer to pay respect by having the funeral in their own home. Whichever 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, 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 proper 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 important for the perfect flower arrangements. Wakes usually stretch over a several days. You may need to change the flowers from time to time. This way, you get to keep them fresh and fragrant for guests.

Budget and Timeline

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

Read all about Flowers And The Industry in our next article.