What Are Sympathy Flower: Express Your Sympathy

General Sympathy flowers intro

Conventionally, sympathy flowers are a gesture to show you care, not a time to show off your creativity or taste for exotic floral arrangements. That said, there is still room for creativity, but within the confines of a bit of protocol.

Now is the time to pay tribute to the person that you and your friends and family will miss so dearly. His or her life should be celebrated and there is no better way to share your feelings or express your condolences than with an overflowing basket of lovely sympathy blossoms.

It is more than just a tradition to send flowers for a funeral, it is a way of expressing your sympathy and care for the bereaved. Whether you are sending a wreath for the service, to be laid on the grave or a sympathy bouquet for loved ones as a message that you are thinking of them, sympathy flowers all have different meanings.

Sympathy flowers are a choice of a gracious way to show how much you care. Your choice of flowers during this time can say a lot. It can convey the many emotions that you and your loved ones are feeling by sending the right sympathy bouquet.

When someone you know has experienced a loss, it is often very difficult to know what to say and what to do. Your first response may be to show up in person with a home-cooked meal. This gesture, of course, will certainly be appreciated. A phone call will also make the bereaved know that you are there to help in times of grief. But besides that phone call, there is something else that you can do to ensure that your condolences are felt wholeheartedly. Have a sympathy bouquet from a flower shop sent to the home, funeral home or the church of the dear departed. This gesture is the surest way to express your sympathies while not overstepping the privacy of the family experiencing loss.

What types of sympathy flowers to buy

This is not the time to choose a large bouquet of exotic, tropical blossoms unless you know for sure that they will be appreciated by the family.

There are many blossoms that you can choose for a sympathy bouquet that have light hues but are still stunning to the eye. Remember to choose carefully when choosing sympathy flowers so that you will evoke fond, wonderful memories about someone and not upset those who are mourning.

Whenever someone dies, the moment is hard for both their relatives and friends. Even mere acquaintances feel the pain of the loss. That’s why it is more than logical to send flowers to express your sympathy and care for the family of the deceased. Nowadays, there are many flowers that are sent to show sympathy and they usually depend on the religion and country. However, there are some flowers which traditionally are associated with loss, sympathy, funerals and remembrance. They are mentioned here

You can buy and send sympathy bouquets arranged with the above mentioned flowers.

Lilies

These beautiful flowers are given for many occasions, but are also associated with sympathy and funerals. In the Christian folklore the lilies represent resurrection. According to the language of flowers, the meaning of the lily is to stand for the innocence of the left soul.

The most appropriate flower from the lilies is the white stargazer – it symbolizes sympathy and shows that you have lost someone you loved.

Peace Lily

A peace lily is a classic gift during such a difficult time. They are long lasting and the blossoms resemble candles lit in honor of the loved one who has passed. You can choose, too, the container that best suits your tastes or those of the recipient family.

We offer baskets, porcelain vases and more. When a basket of flowers is in order, there are plenty of choices and tasteful ways to express sympathy. Add a white ribbon and you can immediately portray ‘Sympathy’ for the family of the departed.

Carnations

Carnations are one of the most popular sympathy flowers in many countries all over the world. They are grown in different colors, each of them with its own different meaning and symbolism.

For instance, red carnations are known to express admiration, whereas pink carnations symbolize remembrance. White carnations represent purity. Therefore, a fine bouquet of variously colored carnations can be the perfect choice for such an occasion. Not only can you send carnations as sympathy flowers, arranged in a bouquet, but if the deceased was particularly close to you, you could have carnations arranged in a beautiful wreath. This is a great way to show to the family how much this person meant to you.

Chrysanthemums

These perennial flowers originate from Asia and northeastern Europe. They are quite popular at funeral services in European and Asian countries.

Chrysanthemums make for fine floral arrangements and create nice combinations with carnations and roses for bouquets and wreaths. These flowers symbolize loss, death and grief and can be seen at almost any funeral service all over the world. What is interesting is that chrysanthemums are used for reducing indoor air pollution. Moreover, the festival of happiness in Japan celebrates exactly this flower.

Roses

Roses are one of the most popular and bought flowers everywhere in the world, cherished for their colours, beauty and scent. Even though they are usually associated with love, romance and friendship, they are also popular as sympathy flowers. When put in different flower arrangements they look neat and appropriate.

Just like carnations, roses can be found in different colours, each with its own specific meaning. Because of their rather formal appeal, they make for proper sympathy flowers. You can send a bouquet of roses with different colours and this will express your sympathy quite effectively.

Gladioli

These flowers are frequently used for arrangements of sympathy flowers. A classical arrangement you can see at funeral services is a fan spray with gladioli. Gladioli flowers represent valued character features: moral integrity, sincerity and the strength of one’s character. These meanings make them the perfect choice of sympathy flowers.

Sending gladioli to the family of the deceased shows that you believe that person possessed these qualities, which is like a reverence to them, as well as to their family.

Nowadays, florists offer plenty of bouquets of sympathy flowers, wreaths and fan sprays. There are traditional sympathy flowers, as well as some not so common ones you can get. Many people choose to buy the favourite flowers of the deceased, which is also a strong statement of remembrance and care in times of grief.

If you are closer to the family or you are a family member, you can buy a funeral wreath or order a post on a stand for the funeral ceremony in the church. You might give out a helping hand to the family. Always call. They might have already had someone helping them with the flower arrangements.

Where to send the flowers

Make sure you know, however, where the flowers are to be sent and always respect the family’s wishes when it comes to sending sympathy flowers – they may be overwhelmed at this time, so it is best not to do any extra work for the family. It might be better to have the flowers sent to the home instead of to where the funeral service will take place so that family members will not have to transport the arrangement after the service. Or they might already have someone helping them with the funeral flowers.

What to write on a card

When choosing a bouquet or arrangement, however, keep in mind a few words that should guide your selection – peace, sympathy, and love. You want the flower arrangement that you send to express your sympathy and love and your wishes for peace for the dearly departed and the grieving family.

There are certain traditional arrangements that are expected at every funeral or wake, but there are many other ways to show your sympathy with flowers.

To learn more of what to write on sympathy cards and funeral messages read our article abour funeral and sympathy flower messages.

Conclusion

During such a difficult time, flowers are truly appreciated by the family and friends who are grieving. They are a way to show your love and support at a time when the bereaved often need calm and peace around them.

With us you can send whatever you feel best portrays your sentiment. When choosing a bouquet or arrangement, however, keep in mind a few words that should guide your selection – peace, sympathy, and love. You want the flower arrangement that you send to express your sympathy and love and your wishes for peace for the dearly departed and the grieving family. There are certain traditional arrangements that are expected at every funeral or wake, but there are many other ways to show your sympathy with flowers.

FAQ

What is appropriate for sympathy flowers?

Lilies, Peace Lilies, Red Carnations and Chrysanthemums are amongts the most popular simpathy flowers given. You can always choose any kind of bouquet to express sympathy. Remember that colors should be simple and in a way dull. Keep away from very multi-colored and type of 'happy bouquets', since you are not celebrating anything, but the opposite! Choose no more than 2 colors in a mix.

What is a condolence flower?

Condolence flowers are type of sympathy flowers made by a flower shop and then sent and delivered to the people or family in need. It is well accepted to write a sympathy message on a card or hand deliver them yourslef, if possible.

What can I say instead of sympathy flowers?

Instead of sympathy flower you can organise a tree plantation in memory of the person who has passed away. It is a kind geesture that might or not be liked by the grieving family and relatives, so make sure to somehow ask them and let them know what you have planned in your mind.