How to Make Funeral Flower Arrangement in 7 Simple Steps

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You can make a funeral flower arrangement using beautiful plants and flowers to give the arrangement a soothing look.

This remembrance activity lets you contribute to the funeral with something personal and creative.

With a few steps, you will be able to create a simple flower arrangement.

Read on to find out the step by step process that you can make a beautiful funeral floral arrangement.

How to Make Funeral Flower Arrangement

Start with a soaked floral foam taped onto a shallow floral tray. Add the greenery stems onto the foam in each direction.
Pay attention to the length of the stems that will shape the casket spray: use long pieces on the front, medium pieces on the sides, and short pieces on the top and bottom.
Next, start adding flowers, 3 in each side at a time, so that you can keep track of how they are balanced on the spray.
Finally, add the small accent flowers.
As you do the arrangement, cover the gaps with greenery and flowers.
To make sure the foam and tray are covered, you can use filler greens or flowers to cover gaps.

What you’ll need

• Floral foam
• Florist tape
• Florist wire
• Shallow rectangle plastic dish
• Garden shears
• Flowers for the arrangement
• Card or handmade card

Funeral Floral Arrangement Designs

There are 3 main floral arrangements at funerals that you can make.

• Casket Spray – A long low design is for the top of the casket
• Sympathy Wreath – Commonly in a circle or heart shape and displayed on easels
• Sympathy Spray – Flowers in a decorative pot or basket and can be displayed on a standing easel

More types of funeral flower arrangements are urn arrangements, cross wreaths, and bouquets.

Step 1: Cut the green plants the night before the funeral

You can use green plants from your yard. If you are not familiar with the garden, you can always ask for a friend’s help.

Cut the plants for the arrangement the night before the event. Cut on an angle with sharp garden shears.

Clean the blade with an alcohol wipe in between different plants.

Now, it is time to keep the plants hydrated.

Dissolve a packet of Chrysal flower food for each pint (500mL) of cool water.

Place the stems into the flower food in a vase or bucket. This will make sure that the cut plants stay hydrated.

An alternative plan is to buy the flowers from a shop.

They are usually hydrated and you can design the arrangement.

Step 2: Soak the floral foam in water

Before using the floral foam, you need to soak it in water so that it gets saturated.

Then, place the foam in a shallow plastic dish.

Wrap floral tape around these two so that they stay together.

Step 3: Cut the greenery to the right length

The length of the greenery depends on your design for the length and height of the casket spray.

For casket spray flower arrangements are one-sided. You can make a triangle-shaped flower arrangement. You can keep the back part flat.

To make this, you will have to make sure that the plants are at least three times higher than the container you used to put the foam in.

Choose the length and cut the plants with a sharp garden shear.

You will have a couple of inches to fiddle with as it can be adjusted in the florist foam.

After you are done cutting the plants, it is time to insert the plants in the floral foam.

Step 4: Cut the flowers

Now it is time to cut the stems of the flowers that are larger than the regular ones.

Cut in an angle so that it’s easier to insert into the floral foam than a straight cut. It will also absorb more water to stay hydrated.

Make sure that each flower is the right height.

Step 5: Cut the smaller flowers and daisies

After you are done cutting and placing the larger flowers, it is time to work with the smaller ones.

Cut the smaller flowers and daisies and put them in the gaps between the larger flowers and plants.

There will be gaps even after you are done placing the flowers.

Fill these gaps with filler flowers and greenery. Make sure that there is no space left otherwise the arrangement will not look good as you expect.

Step 6: Decorate the flower arrangement with ribbon

You can use any colored ribbon. It is better to use the ones with light colors. You can also use single loops or double loops.

Take a florist wire and secure it by tucking it in the arrangement. Always tuck in the ribbon at the bottom of the flower arrangement.

Make tails of the ribbon and place it flat on the floral arrangement.

Step 7: Create or Buy a Card

You can handmake a card or buy a card.

Place the card in the flower arrangement in such a way that the funeral directors know the information of the family.

Also, the family should know who sent the flower arrangement.

You may include a consoling poem or writing of a fond memory.

What Flowers are Appropriate for a Funeral?

The most common flowers that are appropriate for a funeral are carnations, lilies, roses, tulips, and orchids.

There are specific flowers for funerals because they symbolize different meanings.

As roses come in different colors, they also carry different meanings. White roses are common in funerals as they show hope, purity, and heaven.

Red roses express courage as well as love.

White tulips represent heaven and eternity, where red tulips are for expressing deep love.

Orchids usually represent eternal love, and that is the reason why orchids are common at funerals. A white or pink orchid also shows sympathy which serves a high purpose at a funeral.

You can also use carnations – both white and red – as a symbol of admiration and remembrance.

How Much Should You Spend on Flowers for a Funeral?

Funeral flower arrangements usually cost from 40 dollars to over 800 dollars.

If you want a classic or simple flower arrangement, then you will be able to get a beautiful flower arrangement for around 50 dollars.

Also, it all depends on your finances, the relationship between the family of the deceased and yourself, the kind of flowers you want to buy, and more.

Takeaway
You can create a lovely funeral flower arrangement to show your support and honor for the relatives during a time of loss.

As it is a compassionate time for family and friends, a flower arrangement can help convey that you are there with them.

Related:
How to Preserve Flowers in a Jar
How to Make a Ribbon Wreath on Wire Frame