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Written by Emily Cross.
11 minute read
Paying your respects to your grandfather and celebrating his life is something that can present you with a series of difficult emotions. To many, their grandad was a source of strength and continuity in their lives and someone they would routinely look to for advice.
We understand that making decisions regarding funeral flowers at this time may feel overwhelming or daunting, but we also know that it may serve as a welcome distraction to some. Thinking of this aspect of the funeral may help you begin to process how you feel and consider what he meant to you.
While our core focus is providing things such as our direct cremation services, we also believe that a holistic approach to funeral arrangements is important. With this in mind, we have created a detailed guide designed to talk you through the process of deciding on funeral flowers for your grandad. We hope you find words of support and some new ideas.
Key takeaways:
Among the many different symbols of grief you may or may not be familiar with, funeral flowers are perhaps the most prominent. They are a show of respect and an acknowledgment of loss at a time when you are likely still overcoming the initial shock of your grandfather’s death.
Funeral flowers have historically been used to honour the person who has died by serving as a reminder of the beauty and fragility of life. They add colour and aesthetic flourishes to what may be a largely sombre or understated occasion, and they also provide a foundation on which people can add personal notes and messages of love and support. Giving flowers is a sign of remembrance, love, and respect that everyone in the UK will recognise on some level or in some way.
Flowers such as lilies, roses, and chrysanthemums are traditionally given because they have very specific meanings:
Sending flowers is one of the most well-known British funeral traditions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the choice will come naturally to you. Here are some options you may wish to consider when paying tribute to your grandad.
Your grandad’s favourite flowers and colors could serve as a natural starting point when designing and creating a personalised arrangement. Thinking about his hobbies could give you ideas about how to select secondary colours and also how to lay out the flowers themselves. For example, if your grandfather was a keen fisherman who spent many years sailing, a nautical theme may hit the right note.
Traditional arrangements like sprays and wreaths would typically be used when providing a tribute that sits on top of the coffin or at the front of the funeral service. If you prefer to give your tribute in a different setting, such as at the graveside after the committal, a more personalised arrangement may be something you wish to consider. A brief look at our funeral arrangements checklist may help identify different opportunities to share and display your floral tribute.
Choosing the type of flower is one thing, but there are also different ways you can showcase and present the flowers once you have chosen them.
Floral tributes that spell out “Grandad” or “Great Grandad” are a personal and thoughtful way to pay tribute that will instantly be recognised by other mourners. You may wish to consider if your grandfather had a favourite sports team, in which case you can accent the floral letters with the team’s colours for a meaningful touch.
Circular wreaths are designed to represent eternal life and remembrance by providing a symbolic representation of what many see as the circular nature of life. Standing sprays that create a strong visual impact are also traditionally chosen because they can serve as an evocative yet thoughtful background that shows that the venue has been catered to accommodate the personality of your grandad.
If you are interested in learning a new skill, you may wish to explore our guide on DIY funeral flowers at this time. Additionally, you may decide you want to also add other non-traditional elements, in which case our ideas regarding uplifting funeral songs may provide extra inspiration.
Homemade flower arrangements may feel like they are going to require hours and hours of practice, but you can make a start much easier than you may expect. A starting point you may want to think about is to reflect on the personal and symbolic touches you wish to use to honour your grandad. From this first step, you can then put into practice the following tips at a pace that you feel comfortable with:
Taking your time to learn a new skill and being kind to yourself if it doesn’t result in something ‘perfect’ the first time can also be really important. Thinking about learning flower arranging as a welcome distraction that could help you to sit with your emotions and give yourself enough space and energy to deal with them may also be helpful.
It’s perfectly understandable to feel upset or sad when the funeral flowers you have built a connection with are past their prime. Some find that drying or pressing flowers to preserve them for many years to come is something they want to do.
Pressed flowers, in particular, can serve as beautiful elements of a wider craft project that could help you create a lasting tribute to the memory of your grandfather. What makes this special is that it gives you a way to hold onto a part of the funeral, reshaped into something personal—something you can return to as you process your feelings and remember the day.
The complex world of funeral etiquette in the UK may make it feel that there is a never-ending list of considerations when you come to order your funeral flowers. While it is natural to want to get everything exactly as you wish, you may want to try and avoid causing yourself additional pressure at what is likely to be an already difficult time.
Considering the following points may help you strike the right balance between getting everything how you want it and being kind to yourself so that you can continue the grieving process in your own way.
Speaking with local florists for tailored arrangements and delivery may help provide the peace of mind that makes all the difference. Because you will be able to put a name to a face and make contact quickly and easily, it is likely that you will find it easier to communicate what you are looking to achieve in terms of the exact nature of the floral tribute.
A local florist will also understand the importance of coordination with the funeral home or family, and will have likely been in contact with your choice of funeral home many times.
Although creating funeral flowers is ultimately a personal and creative task, our experience has been that quick and efficient communication between everyone involved is what brings everything together in the end.
Simple yet meaningful floral tributes on a budget can still be readily achievable, particularly if you limit yourself to one colour and type of flower and a simple layout. Sometimes you may feel that simplicity and an understated approach is actually most appropriate, in which case you may feel that you can create it yourself.
One thing to have in mind is the need for sensitivity to the family’s preferences around flowers and decor. If you know that a particular colour or choice of flower could be seen as insensitive by particular sections of the wider family, you may wish to avoid exploring that particular creative avenue.
If you have read this and find that you’re still searching for something more, you may wish to take a look at our guide that covers alternatives to funeral flowers. It might be the spark you’ve been searching for—a way to honour your grandad’s memory and celebrate the life he lived in a way that feels right to you
Finding ways to pay tribute to a man who has been an integral part of your life may be an emotional process, but it is also one that allows you to remember him how you see fit. Over many years as a family-run funeral provider, we have seen some beautiful, thoughtful, and moving tributes and hope that the words in this guide help you achieve much the same thing.
You may also find that reflecting on life and death at this time makes you think about your own affairs and how you would wish to be remembered. In this case, you may find that our *prepaid funeral plans are helpful when you have enough emotional energy to begin the conversation.
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Lilies and roses are common choices for such a service and they have a deep sense of tradition. A choice of colours and a variety of different sizes can also enrich the overall aesthetic of any arrangement you decide to create.
Personal touches are often what can make all the difference here because they allow you to express how close you were to your grandfather and what he meant to you. His favourite colours, hobbies, or even some reference to his chosen sports team are all things you may wish to consider.
A wreath that symbolises the never-ending cycle of life is a traditional choice and could be displayed on the coffin or alongside the urn at the very front of the church or crematorium.
You have complete freedom to speak from the heart when leaving a personal message of this kind. Some people find that addressing their grandfather directly as if they were writing him a note helps them to express how they feel and process their emotions.
A traditional wreath or spray is always seen as respectful and could help you manage any cultural sensitivities that may be present in the wider family. Others find that a letter arrangement strikes the right balance between respect and paying tribute in a personal way. The choice of colour and the type of flower you use for the arrangement is also important as there is always the possibility that a certain shade or species may be seen as inconsiderate.
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