How to Show Sympathy with Flowers

One of the most meaningful gifts you can give to someone in mourning is a thoughtfully designed flower arrangement. For times of sadness, such a gift mustn’t be something you’ve just grabbed off a shelf without thinking. More than any other situation, times of grief call for thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and attention to detail.

If you want to bless a grieving person in your life, read on and learn the best practices for choosing flowers that will bring comfort and peace to friends and family during hard times.

The Meaning of Flowers in Times of Mourning

Flowers communicate emotion when words are difficult. When a loved one passes, there are plenty of people around to offer trite affirmations and words of comfort. Although verbal encouragement can help, a beautiful gift often touches a deeper place in someone’s heart — helping them to remember the goodness and meaning in life and start to heal.

Blooming flowers like roses, carnations, and lilies make especially potent gifts, as they are often associated with the cycles of living. If a person believes in life after death, these kinds of flowers can serve as reminders that their loved ones may be gone physically, but they are still present in spirit. 

A less symbolic way that flowers help is that they need care. One of the worst things for a grieving person to do is simply sit and think about their sadness. A floral arrangement can be easy to tend to, but it still requires tangible work that can keep the mind off sad or dark thoughts.

Choosing the Right Arrangement

As we mentioned earlier, a floral arrangement for someone in grief needs to be sensitive and thoughtful. Below are a few suggestions for things to think about as you decide what kind of gift you want to give your loved one.

Money for Funeral Expenses:

When choosing a gift for a loved one, the first decision you need to make is whether you want to send them a personal gift or contribute to the memorial service. While sending an individual arrangement can mean a lot to the one grieving, funeral costs are often a much more pressing concern. Consider whether it would be more comforting to send flowers or to contribute money toward floral arrangements for the funeral. Of course, some people will refuse any help paying for the funeral. In such cases, the decision is made for you.

Options for Arrangements:

More often than not, the mourning of a loved one is a somber and formal event. This calls for flowers that aren’t too gaudy or colorful. It’s best to stick to simple and traditional designs.

Some of the most beautiful and popular mourning arrangements are wreaths, sprays, and crosses. A spray is an oval-shaped grouping of flowers that looks like a wreath but without a hole in the center. These can go on top of a coffin or stand alone on a metal or wood easel. Sprays are some of the largest arrangements you can get and are often selected by close friends and family as part of the funeral service decorations. If you are not closely involved with the funeral planning, a spray is probably not the most ideal arrangement to send.

Wreaths and crosses are wonderful arrangements for mourning, as they can hang on a wall or door. Consider how many gifts a person in mourning might receive — from flowers to food and drinks. A floral arrangement in a vase or pot would simply contribute to the crowding of gifts in a home, but a hanging wreath or cross can stay out of the way while contributing to the beauty of the space for a long time after.

Picking the Right Colors:

Mourning is rarely a time for bright, flamboyant colors. At the same time, the colors you choose should communicate hope and speak to your love for the person who’s receiving them. 

If you want to stick with the most traditional colors, choose red and white. These are the popular choices for most occasions because they provide a good balance between vibrancy and humble beauty. 

If you want more unique colors, that’s okay too. Just be sure that you won’t offend the recipient with your choice. A safe selection is often one that uses softer colors. If you don’t want to use red and white, consider light pinks, yellows, and blues. These colors don’t tend to feel over-the-top. They also complement each other well and produce a pop of beauty while remaining appropriately subtle.

Conclusion

By now, you hopefully have some ideas for the perfect arrangement to bless your loved ones with. Remember that, while there are traditions and social norms surrounding flowers for grief, the most important element is always the love and intent behind the giving of those flowers.

If you are looking for sympathy or funeral arrangements in the Pittsburgh area, consider Gidas Flowers. We have a wide selection of beautiful and customizable arrangements for any occasion. Our talented team is ready to help you craft the perfect gift for someone going through a difficult time. 

Browse our selection or contact us today!