Flowers for All Occasions 101

Funeral Arrangements for the Dearly Departed

We've gone over the basics of floristry in our previous articles. We went over the aspects of design used in crafting stunning flower arrangements. Now, we learn how to apply these principles in real life. Celebrations are so much brighter and exquisite with an exquisite assortment 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 talk about funeral flowers From the planning phase to the wake. From deciding on the theme with your clients up to the delivery or pickup of their orders. We've compiled a handy primer for handling orders for a funeral. We'll help you supply exquisite arrangements for the grieving family. See our following article for an overview of must-have essentials for every florist.

Making Arrangements with the Client

Flower arrangements, when done properly, 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. Crafting floral tributes for them will help them express themselves in a hard time. It goes without saying, florists must take careful note of every detail. This will help make the process of planning go as smoothly as possible. Here are a some things florists want to know for planning funeral floral decor.

Flowers in Commemoration

There's no single way to comfort someone who has just lost their loved one. But there are a bunch 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 flowers are. Keep the arrangement as personal and intimate 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. That way, you can plan ahead for your designs and arrangements. Better yet, plan an ocular viewing of the venue. If they'll do the wake in their home, this is especially vital. With these measurements, you'll be able to make arrangements with the right size.

Size and Headcount

How many guests are they expecting? 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 vital for the perfect flower arrangements. Wakes usually stretch over a several days. You may need to replace the flowers every so often. That way, you get to keep them fragrant and fresh for guests.

Budget and Timeline

Of course, you'll want to know how much your customer has budgeted the funeral's flower arrangements. That way, you can plan and provide top-notch service within their budget. Determine a timeline for prep work and delivery of the flower arrangements. Keep in contact with your customer to make sure all designs and flowers you've picked out are up to their standards.

Read all about Art of Floristry in our next article.