During the mourning period, sympathy flowers are one of the few ways that you can express your condolences to the grieving family.
Despite the sombre atmosphere of the funeral, flowers can still provide colour, fragrance, and beauty to the homes of the bereaved. Sending out sympathy flowers can be a sign of thoughtfulness and respect, and can also add a touch of tranquillity to the otherwise melancholic ambiance.
5 Tips in Choosing the Right Sympathy Flowers
Here are 5 tips you can use when choosing the perfect type of sympathy flowers:
- Flower Language
Floriography is what is commonly known as the language of flowers. Every variety of flowers has different underlying meanings to them. Take for example roses, they symbolize beauty and love; or how sunflowers symbolize loyalty and adoration. Flowers that fit the sombre atmosphere for the bereavement ceremonies are chrysanthemums, carnations, and white lilies.
White lilies are a traditional set of flowers that you can send to grieving families. They provide a sense of hope and encouragement for an otherwise mournful event. Chrysanthemums symbolize grief and can convey desolation. While carnations are another set of common flower choices that can represent sympathy.
Other examples of flowers that symbolize bereavement are gladioli, hydrangeas, tulips, and orchids. Each of these flowers has unique messages of sympathy that you can impart to those who are grieving.
- Expression through Colours
Colour is another method of expressing your sympathies creatively. There can be thousands of interpretations based on one colour. Colour can often be associated with life or death, depending on its vibrancy and hue.
White is often symbolized as hope or light, while black can be associated with death or bad luck. Since you intend to send out your deepest sympathies to the bereaved family, you should choose flowers that have a lighter shade.
White carnations convey a sense of purity and innocence, while pink carnations send thoughtful regards to the receiver. White lilies are perfect flowers you can send to religious households or families with strong faith.
Cool and muted colours can also be associated with grief. However, to keep the event light-hearted, like the “celebration of life” practiced in Toronto, you should send flowers that have brighter colours, such as pastel yellow or peachy pink.
- Floral Arrangement
Flower arrangement is also an essential factor in choosing the perfect flower for the funeral. If you randomly pick any type of flower and arrange them messily, the receiver might misinterpret your gift and notice the lack of effort.
Depending on how the flowers are arranged, this should also be part of your criteria in choosing the right set of sympathy flowers. You can arrange them by their shapes, sizes, and or colours. Make sure all of the flowers complement one another, so that they may provide a touch of beauty to the sad event.
You can seek some help from experts offering funeral flower arrangements in Toronto or other funeral services that are present in your local area.
- Location of the Ceremony
Determining the location of the ceremony beforehand is a significant step. You first have to assess the size of the location before sending out your flowers. You must take into account what type of flower best suits the location.
If the funeral is set at a spacious house, then you can send large, standing flowers that can fit the area. If it is located in a small room in a funeral home, it is best to send in potted plants so that the families can easily carry them home.
You can also seek other funeral services online that are readily available within your location.
- Special Considerations
Before you send your sympathy flowers, you must be mindful of the family’s cultures and traditions. Be considerate of their religious customs inside their own household, since some cultures do not encourage the act of giving flowers for funerals.
An example of this is Islamic funerals. Muslims value simplicity and minimalism in their own homes and thus, guests refrain from giving flowers or gifts to show respect. Being empathetic towards their culture is also a great way of displaying your sympathies for the bereaved families.
Mourning the loss of a loved one can truly be a traumatic experience. It can sometimes drain the very essence of happiness within everyone and lead them into a never-ending cycle of depression.
Although flower-giving can be a great way of expressing your sympathies, helping them recover from their loss can also be considered an act of thoughtfulness. Referring them to professional help, like trauma therapy sessions in San Francisco, can gradually ease their agony and encourage them to reach out more. Being there for someone while they are grieving is a truly unforgettable gift that you can provide.
Alton Clarke was born and raised in Syracuse. He has written for MSNBC, The Business Insider and Passport Magazine. In regards to academics, Alton earned a degree from St. John’s University. Alton covers entertainment and culture stories here at Diving daily.