Guide
Funeral Flower Etiquette: What to Send, and When
A plain guide to sympathy tributes — who sends what, where it goes, and how to word the card.
Sympathy flowers are one of the few gifts people send while unsure of the rules. The short version: almost anything thoughtful is welcome, but different tributes are meant for different places.
If you tell us the relationship and where the flowers are going — service, graveside or home — we'll steer you to the right form.
Casket sprays are for immediate family
The spray that lies on the casket is traditionally chosen by the spouse, children or parents. If you're not immediate family, choose a standing easel, a vase arrangement or a basket instead.
Standing easels and wreaths go to the service
Easels, wreaths and crosses are displayed around the casket or urn and are usually sent by extended family, friend groups, workplaces and organizations. Send these to the funeral home, addressed with the service date and the name of the deceased.
Vases and baskets go to the home
Something that can sit on a kitchen counter is often the kinder choice in the weeks after a service, when the house is quiet again. Compact vase arrangements and plants both work well and need no vase-hunting from the family.
Timing
Tributes for a service should arrive at the funeral home one to two hours before it begins. Home arrangements can arrive any time — including a week or two later, when most flowers have stopped coming.
Check for a family request first. Some families ask for donations in lieu of flowers; a single arrangement to the home is still appropriate in that case.
What to write on the card
Short and sincere beats eloquent. "With deepest sympathy from the Alvarez family," "Thinking of you all," or a single sentence about the person are all enough. Always sign with a full name so the family knows who to thank.
Common questions
- Can you deliver to a Los Angeles funeral home?
- Yes. We deliver to funeral homes, churches and chapels across Los Angeles. Give us the service time when you call and we'll schedule the delivery ahead of it.
- What colors are appropriate for sympathy flowers?
- White and cream are traditional, but soft pinks, lavenders and the person's favorite color are all appropriate and increasingly common.
- How much should I spend on funeral flowers?
- Friends and colleagues commonly send arrangements in the $75–$150 range; larger easels and sprays cost more because of their size.
Send flowers today
Call 424.446.2353 between 8 AM and 5 PM, or send us the details and we'll call you back. Free delivery across Los Angeles.