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Written by Mitch Tapner.
14 minute read
A funeral wreath is a traditional mark of respect that shows the family and those in attendance how much you care. It’s also a way to express yourself in a symbolic way if you find that words alone do not do justice to what your loved one meant to you. The only difficulty is knowing how to do it in a way that is heartfelt, personal, but also proportionate.
When it comes to funeral wreaths, ideas may often feel like they are in short supply. If you’re searching for unique funeral ideas for flowers, the good news is that we have plenty of them, should you need them. As providers of direct cremation services, we regularly speak with families and mourners who are marking the death of someone they love in all manner of different ways. We hope that sharing some of the wreath ideas we have heard over the years helps you.
The process of making funeral arrangements doesn’t have to be quite so stressful or uncertain when you have someone who can guide you with care and compassion. Right now, that’s who Aura aims to be.
Wreaths are circular because they represent a sense of eternity and an act of remembrance that continues no matter what. The colours of the flowers are also important and can be used to convey different messages. White is a mark of respect and a tribute to the purity of the person who has died, whereas red is more focused on deep love and passion. Yellow is a brighter, more uplifting colour designed to celebrate friendship, and pink is a colour that represents grace and elegance.
Finding new wreath ideas for funeral arrangements is something that may involve blending contemporary and traditional elements. Doing so in a way that is sensitive to the feelings and sensibilities of your fellow mourners is something they will certainly appreciate.
If you start by considering classic British funeral traditions, you will see that popular flower choices include options like lilies, roses, and carnations. These would typically be used to create circular, heart-shaped, and cross-shaped wreath designs for additional symbolism.
Circular wreaths talk about the eternal nature of love, heart-shaped designs are about passion and compassion, while a cross-shaped wreath is a mark of respect for a loved one of the Christian faith. If you are unsure about which approach to take, florists and funeral directors can help families choose arrangements that they feel comfortable with.
Christian wreath styles are often based around eternal circles and symbolic crosses. While traditionally the colours have been understated, today, many people who identify as Christian increasingly opt for more colourful options so that the funeral becomes a celebration of life.
In the Hindu faith, wreaths are traditionally made in a garland style using red and white flowers. Many also choose to include the traditional AUM symbol as they pay tribute to the divine nature of the universe.
Adding a personal touch is something that may help you to take the next step on your healing journey. In which case, our guide to symbols of grief may prove helpful.
Knowing what to write may feel overwhelming, and this is something that is perfectly understandable. Many people find that writing from the heart as if they were addressing their loved one in person helps. Simple, heartfelt wording, such as “Forever in our hearts,” or “You will never be forgotten,” may feel appropriate in this case.
You may also find that you want to add their full name and the dates of their life at the top of your card or ribbon. Doing so may help you feel like you are still maintaining an element of formality if you are conscious of writing a note that is personal, but that may appear a little too casual to some.
If you find that you are worrying or stressing about how what you write will be received by your fellow mourners, this is completely understandable. Rather than showing that you don’t know how to gauge things, it shows you that you care about your loved one and the feelings of all those who also love them.
Being kind to yourself if you start feeling this way is what will enable you to keep moving forward on your healing journey.
Taking a moment to think about how you can go about incorporating your loved one’s favourite blooms or colours is something that may really help. Every flower has its own symbolic meaning, such as white lilies that symbolise purity and chrysanthemums that are used to convey a deep sense of mourning. Although it may help to be aware of some of the traditional meanings, you are by no means bound by them if you don’t think it feels right.
Finding a way to express yourself that you feel comfortable with is what it’s all about here, and also a way that makes you feel like you are respecting the feelings of your fellow mourners. This second point is really important because it is what will allow you to feel comfortable with your choice as the day of the service approaches.
If you find that you want to add some additional touches for the sake of personalisation, this is something that could help you to express yourself and process your emotions. Small keepsakes, photos, or handwritten notes are all common choices that strike the right balance between personalisation and preserving the overall symbolism and aesthetics of the wreath itself.
Although we would never consider trying to dictate the direction you take and how you remember someone you love, there are some key things you may wish to make yourself aware of.
The issue here is one of sensibility, especially when you consider that different generations, world views, and faiths will look at the same death and the same service in different ways.
While there are no hard rules, being aware of general funeral flower etiquette can help you feel more confident in your choices. Without wishing to overwhelm you with a fresh set of constraints, here are a few things we have found helpful and insightful over the years:
We completely understand that designing and making a wreath is something that many reading this may never have considered. By reading this guide, we hope that you find a clear path forward and a sense of direction that goes some way to removing a little of the stress and uncertainty that you may be feeling at this moment.
Our DIY funeral flowers guide may be the place to start when you want to start making your own wreath as a way to pay tribute. Here are some simple steps that you could work through at your own pace when you feel ready to:
Affordable and respectful DIY approaches are a way to approach making personal tributes that could also help you to heal. If you think about it as a chance to practice mindfulness and give yourself the time and space you need to start reflecting on what has happened, you will see why a DIY approach may be the right fit for you.
Sending a wreath to a funeral home is generally done a couple of days in advance to avoid unforeseen delays.
This is something that could go a long way to reducing your stress around paying your respects, especially if you are travelling a long way to attend the service.
You may find that our funeral flower ideas are helpful at this point. Generally speaking, the next of kin and closest members of the family will send the larger, more visually striking wreaths. If you are a good friend or a distant relative, your tribute will certainly be appreciated, but you may wish to pay them in a way that sits in the background a little more. For some, this might even mean choosing alternatives to funeral flowers, such as a donation, a letter, or a quiet personal gesture that still carries meaning.
The funeral home may be able to advise on suitable shapes, colours, and sizes given what they know about the rest of the service. Connecting with them may help provide you with a little extra peace of mind at a difficult time.
We hope that some of these funeral wreath ideas have provided you with a spark of inspiration so that you can pay your respects in a way that feels right. Not only that, we hope it has shown you that we are always right here when you need us.
It’s understandable if thinking about how to mark the death of someone you love has made you think about how you will be remembered. If you feel making plans early will help provide you with peace of mind, we can help you to compare funeral plans so that you can understand your options.
We can also talk you through our prepaid funeral plans* that allow you to put your affairs in order while you are still here. There is never any pressure from our side, and we will always be here when you need us if you want to talk.
*Terms and conditions apply. You will receive a funeral plan summary before purchase to help you make an informed decision.
If you have any questions, would like a brochure or simply would like a chat through our services, our award-winning team is here to help.
Unlike other providers, we won’t hassle you with constant calls. We’ll simply ensure you have the information you need and leave you to come to a decision in your own time. When you’re ready for us, our team will be ready to help.
Funeral wreaths are made by combining a variety of small matching bouquets around a circular structure, many of which you can buy from craft shops or florists. Starting with one bouquet is the most manageable approach and will allow you to get things right. Trimming the leaves, getting the right balance of greenery, and then tying everything together is the way to go here.
Yes, trusted services such as Interflora allow you to do this. Being able to pay your respects to a friend or relative when you are abroad is an important part of the healing process. It could help you to start processing how you feel, think about what they meant to you, and give you a sense that you are still emotionally present. These types of services will also ensure that you can place your order, safe in the knowledge that cross-border payments will go through and that the wreath will arrive at the service in pristine condition.
Lillies are a popular choice for many who see the pure white as a symbol of the beauty and wonder of life. This neutral yet striking colour can also be used to add energy and vitality to a wreath whose base colour is dictated by the natural greenery. Others may find that they wish to move away from the traditional symbolism of particular flowers and focus instead on their favourite colours. Doing so could help you to express yourself in a way that you feel more comfortable with.
Yes, it is very common to personalise a funeral wreath, and it is a creative act that can form one of the first steps of the healing process. Personalisation is a chance to sit and reflect on what your loved one meant to you and to see how you can express yourself in your own way. By finding a balance between personalisation and tradition, you may be able to arrive at something that does justice to who your loved one was.
A short message of just a couple of lines that comes from the heart and is written by hand is the way that many people choose to approach this delicate topic. You may find that you want to leave this until the morning of the service so that you have plenty of time to think and reflect on how you feel.
Yes, followers of the Hindu faith often choose circular wreaths with an AUM symbol at the centre. The idea here is to represent the eternity of life in a way that places the meaning and power of the universe at the very centre. By contrast, the Christian faith often pays tribute with cross-shaped wreaths that are a mark of respect for a sacrifice that has been made. Using it as a way to embody the many things a loved one has done to help others is something that could help you to see their death in a different light.
White is traditionally used to represent the sanctity and purity of life in a way that speaks to its eternal nature. Yellow is about the joy and happiness that an enduring memory provides, and purple is about quiet dignity and paying respect in a poignant way. There is also red, of course, that represents love, energy, and passion.