Flowers for a cremation service: what to send

Yes, flowers are as welcome at a cremation service or a memorial as at a traditional funeral. The difference is that there is often no casket, so the flowers are arranged around an urn or a photograph instead.

What is an urn wreath?

An urn wreath is a low ring of flowers made to sit around the base of an urn, framing it on the table at the service. Some form a full circle; others, often called urn surrounds, curve around the front and sides.

What other flowers suit a memorial service?

• A standing spray on an easel, placed beside the urn or the photograph.
• A vase arrangement for the table where the urn rests.
• A plant, which the family can take home and keep.

Which flowers are best for a cremation service?

There are no special rules. White roses, lilies, orchids and hydrangea are classic choices, and many families prefer flowers in the person's favorite colors. Keep the arrangement in proportion to the urn, so it frames it rather than hides it.

What happens to the flowers after the service?

They are usually not cremated. Most families take the arrangements home, share them with friends, or leave them at a graveside or memorial. If you would like something to go with the person, ask the funeral home what is possible.

Should flowers go to the service or to the family?

Either is fine. Arrangements for the service go to the funeral home or the memorial venue, timed to arrive before it starts. A vase or a plant sent to the family's home is a gentle way to show you are thinking of them in the days after.

You can see our sympathy flowers, including arrangements made for urns.