Funeral Bouquets and Flowers: Rules, Symbolism and How to Choose
A word from our specialist Jana: „Losing a loved one is one of life's hardest moments. Funeral bouquets are a quiet, yet very powerful expression of respect, sympathy and final farewell. The right choice of funeral bouquets and wreaths can express emotion without words – with dignity, respect and reverence. In the studio, you often ask me which type of flower is most fitting for a funeral. Below I've put together a full overview of the symbolism, but if reading isn't on your mind right now, I'm happy to tie a respectful bouquet for you and arrange worry-free delivery.“
✅ Delivery straight to the ceremonial hall: We'll take the stress off your shoulders. Our Airway service delivers the flowers reliably and discreetly straight to the hall, church or cemetery before the ceremony.
✅ Free funeral ribbon: For every tribute we respectfully print a premium ribbon with your personal farewell message, free of charge.
✅ A1 freshness and quality guarantee: We guarantee that your gesture of respect will look completely dignified and flawless.
Recommended Funeral Tributes (In Stock)
Discreet casket bouquets and hand-tied bouquets. We deliver them with care and on time.
Mourning bouquet Chrysanthemum
1 025 Kč
Funeral floor bouquet
3 530 Kč
Funeral bouquet Blue sky
1 352 Kč
Mourning Lilac bouquet to be placed
1 524 Kč
1. The Meaning of Flowers: What Does Each Type Say?
Every flower carries its own quiet message. Here is an overview of the symbolism of the most common funeral flowers:
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LILY (The Soul's Return): The most traditional funeral flower of all. It's believed that its heady scent and regal appearance accompany the departed soul back to a state of innocence and peace. The white lily symbolises purity of heart.
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ROSE (Love and Respect): The universal language of love. At funerals, a white rose expresses innocence and humility (often chosen for younger people), while a deep red rose symbolises profound grief and a love that endures beyond death.
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CARNATION (Eternal Memory): Once overlooked, today highly valued for its incredible longevity. The carnation says: "I will never forget you." It's the ideal choice when the bouquet is to remain on the grave for a long time.
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CHRYSANTHEMUM (Symbol of Eternity): In many European cultures the chrysanthemum is linked to death, but in a positive sense – as a symbol of eternal life and truth. Its bloom is hardy and withstands even harsh weather.
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ORCHID (Nobility): If you want to express admiration for the life of the deceased, the orchid is the right choice. It symbolises noble beauty and enduring love. It's often given as an expression of deep respect.
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PEACE LILY (Peace of the Soul): Less well known, but highly symbolic. Often given to the bereaved as a potted plant. Its white spathes resemble a white flag of peace and symbolise the soul finding calm after life's journey.
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HYACINTH (Deep Sorrow): If you're looking for a flower that says "I'm so sorry", reach for a hyacinth. Its purple colour is the colour of regret and asking for forgiveness.
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HYDRANGEA (Gratitude): The hydrangea's abundant blooms symbolise sincerity. We give it when we want to say thank you for everything the deceased did for us.
2. The Even-Number Rule (The Most Important One)
In Czech tradition, this rule is sacred. Funeral bouquets always contain an even number of blooms.
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Symbolism: Tradition holds that „one flower is for the deceased and the other for God (or the guide in the afterlife)“, so the departed is not alone.
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Exception: For large funeral wreaths the number isn't counted; overall volume is what matters.
3. Colours of Funeral Flowers
Colour carries emotion, so don't forget it when choosing:
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Dark tones (Purple, Red): Express depth of feeling and dignity (often chosen for older people).
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White: Symbolises purity, innocence and peace (often chosen for young people).
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Pastel shades: Represent gratitude and tenderness (often chosen for mothers and grandmothers).
4. Who Gives a Wreath and Who Gives a Bouquet?
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Closest family: Provides the main tribute – a large ribboned wreath or a dominant bouquet for the casket.
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Friends and colleagues: Tend to choose funeral bouquets laid flat, or taller arrangements for a vase.
5. The Funeral Ribbon: What to Write on It?
The text should be brief, personal and respectful. It's written on two sides:
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Left tail (Message): e.g. "In farewell", "With love", "We remember".
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Right tail (Signature): e.g. "The Novák family", "Colleagues from work".
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Looking for more inspiration? Take a look at our page with an extensive list of funeral ribbon wording.
What to Avoid at a Funeral? (Funeral Taboos)
Although modern floristry is more forgiving, some rules still hold:
- Overly bright colours: A bouquet shouldn't "shout". If the deceased loved colour, a more vibrant tribute can be chosen, but always in muted tones or combined with dark greenery.
- Artificial flowers: Only fresh flowers are brought to the ceremony itself. Artificial ones belong at the grave afterwards.
- Wrapping paper: If you're carrying a bouquet that will be laid by the casket, remember to remove any cellophane or paper (unless it's part of the decorative tribute).
Logistics: How to Have Flowers Delivered to a Funeral?
You don't need to worry about transport during such a difficult time.
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Delivery to the ceremony: Our vehicles deliver flowers straight to the ceremonial hall or church (in Prague and the surrounding area).
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Worry-free: Our courier hands the flowers to the funeral service staff before the ceremony begins. You don't need to arrange a thing.
Choose a dignified farewell. With care and respect.
Team KvětinyExpres.cz
