Discover what not to do when sending sympathy flowers to the family of a passed away loved one. Ensure you send beautiful flowers to the right location, with a signed card. Get help from a local florist to select sympathy flowers. Order flowers to get same day or scheduled delivery to a local home or business address.
Can be difficult to find the right words to express sympathy and send comfort when someone you know and care about experiences a loss. Flowers offer condolences and serve as a reminder that there are others out there that care and are there for them during this difficult time.
Flowers act both a symbol of your care for the deceased or their loved ones and many flowers have their own individual meanings based on color or type. Most people welcome flowers in their home after losing a loved one and appreciate the thought behind such a gesture.
Flowers are typically sent to the deceased individual’s family home, bring them to a wake or vigil, or send them to the funeral home or church where the funeral service will be held. Learn what not to do when sending sympathy flowers and order flowers from Everyday Flowers & Balloons, online or in-person at our San Francisco, CA flower shop.
Don’t Forget Religious Traditions
Some religions include giving flowers as a part of expressing sympathy; however, other religious customs may discourage giving or receiving gifts or tokens such as flowers.
Christian funerals, wakes, and grieving include the tradition of giving and receiving flowers as a sign of sympathy. However, it is not custom to send flowers to the family of the deceased in Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and several other religions. Customs are some of the most important things to consider when figuring out what not to do when sending sympathy flowers.
In Judaism sending flowers is not an appropriate gesture of sympathy. Since flowers are not a part of the Jewish funeral tradition and families typically do not adorn caskets or gravesites with flowers, it would be inappropriate to give flowers.
Muslim customs tend not to include bringing or sending flowers to a family when a loved one or family member passes away, due to the promotion of simplicity and moderation.
Hindu funeral customs do not typically include the giving of flowers, though there may be flower garlands or mixed season sprays of flowers on caskets.
In some cultures or areas, specific colors or types of flowers are traditionally given. For example, white or yellow mums are custom in Asian funerals. In China, Japan, and Korea, white mums are a sign of lamentation and grief.
Don’t Leave the Card Blank
It can be tough the find the right words to express your sympathy, especially if you weren’t especially close or didn’t know the individual who passed away but want to be there for their surviving loved ones.
On the other hand, if you had a close relationship with the person who passed away, if might be hard to put all your thoughts and feelings into one card or statement.
If you’re struggling to find the right words to convey your message, consider borrowing common sympathy messages with a brief note about your relationship with the individual who has passed away or the person you are send the flowers to.
Something as simple as letting someone know that you send your condolences, are sorry for their loss, or are there for them in their time of sorrow is fine if you are struggling for words. Delivering random flowers with a blank card is at the top of what not to do when sending sympathy flowers.
Don’t Risk Damaged Flowers
Avoid purchasing flowers from big box retailers. These types of flower companies typically accept your order online or over the phone and pass it along to a smaller flower shop, charging you more that they pay others to handle your order and resulting in a delay.
Order flowers bouquets or arrangements directly from the smaller or more local flower shops, since many will work with you to ensure the perfect flower delivery. Call a local flower shop or go in person to speak to a florist and create the perfect sympathy flower arrangement.
Local flower shops can create custom flower arrangements and help you decide on the perfect flowers for the recipient. Many local florists also provide same day delivery to home and business addresses, so you know that the flowers you order will arrive in the perfect condition.
Sending damaged flowers or risking a sub-par flower arrangement completely defeats the purpose of your sign of condolences and should be taken seriously when considering what not to do when sending sympathy flowers.
Don’t Send Flowers to the Wrong Location
Either send flowers to the home of the friend, family member, or loved one who has passed to express your sympathy to their family or send them to the funeral home or location where their family will honor their life and memory–such as in the case of a wake.
When in doubt about where to send flowers, ask a family friend or related person who can give you a definite answer. A family may appreciate you sending flowers directly to the wake or funeral service, especially if they have a flower color or theme planned and your flowers will contribute to the service.
Make sure you have the most up to date home or funeral service address and that the flowers are properly addressed so that they find their intended recipient.
Don’t Worry About Timing
It might seem odd if you wait several weeks or months to send flowers or send them on the same day somebody has passed away, but there is an extended window of time for sending flowers.
While it may not be advised to send flowers as soon as you hear about an individual’s passing, don’t worry too much about the timing.
With so much else of everyone’s mind, flowers are almost always a welcome token of concern, sympathy, and condolences. Whether you send flowers in the days after a death, during the time of the funeral or wake, or even the week after these events, there is no specific right time to send flowers.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
If you have doubts about which flowers you should send to a grieving family, or whether you should send flowers at all, don’t be afraid to ask. Discuss your concerns with a florist, since they can guide you through sympathy flower etiquette.
Some funerals may be more serious, in which case white flowers may be the most appropriate. In the case of a funeral for a child, pink or blue flowers may be planned for the service.
If you aren’t sure which flowers or color to select, you may want to take any concerns you have to a family friend or relative to get advice on the best flowers to select and when and where to send them.
Some families may welcome flowers immediately after the passing of a loved one, while other need time to grieve before accepting any gifts or flowers, even those with good intentions.
Each situation is different, but in order to avoid breaking any customs or causing confusion, it may be best to simply ask a family friend or member of the same faith or community whether flowers would be appreciated, along with which type may be best.
If you’re still unsure of what not to do when sending sympathy flowers, simply ask. Most people are happy to offer a straightforward answer and appreciate your intentions.
Don’t Forget to Send Flowers
Everyday Flowers & Balloons is a local flower shop in Redwood City, CA, and we understand the importance of flowers in daily life, from the heartwarming days to the somber events we all experience.
Order flowers online and have them delivered to any local home address, church, religious center that accepts flowers or gifts, or funeral home to convey your condolences.