When deciding on a flower arrangement for a funeral, Nancy Wharton, who has been in business for twenty-six years and is the founder and owner of Casa Verde Florist in Austin, Texas, suggests, “There are a variety of arrangements appropriate for a funeral. A sympathy arrangement can be spray, which is a standing piece. A lot of people use wall sprays, which can be attached behind the casket or to a normal wall. The other piece that people use is a sympathy basket. The reason for this is because it can be easily taken to the graveside. The sympathy basket is a mixture of flowers. The option people tend to send is an altar type arrangement. You see these in churches. It’s a fan type arrangement. Plants are also used a great deal. Blooming, green plants with flowers added to them, are appropriate - peace lilies, little white flags that bloom, are all pretty standard in funeral arrangements. Ivy is used a lot. It’s a solid type green plant. Chrysanthemum plants are often used for funerals as well. Sometimes, the flowers are taken home by family members, especially if it is a potted plant, but unless it’s a cremation or memorial service, arrangements are usually taken to the graveside.”

When deciding on the appropriate colors one should include in a funeral arrangement, Nancy says, “As far as colors, people usually go with mixed colors. Sometimes, they want one solid color; however, most of the time the colors in the arrangement are mixed. If it’s for a man’s service, they will ask for a more masculine color. If it’s for a woman, they will usually want pastels or something spring-like. However, sometimes people go with seasonal colors. Colors represent a lot.” A departed loved ones favorite color, if known, can also be a respectful choice to incorporate into a sympathy arrangement.

Nancy goes onto remark that often times, relatives will decide they want names put on the arrangement, such as mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, or cousin. “We had one lady order an arrangement for her best friend. It had been one of her very dear friends. So we put ‘best friend’ on her arrangement,” she adds. These personalized notations are seen especially in floral wreaths placed at the front of a wake or funeral. Angels and other spiritual symbols are also quite common in funeral arrangements. Other items that symbolize the interests of the deceased can also be incorporated into funeral arrangements.

by : Nancy Wharton via : homegarden.expertvillage.com