How Funeral Floristry Can Bring Comfort and Closure
Scent has an incredible ability to uplift and heal. Have you ever held a sprig of rosemary, lavender, or rose, closed your eyes, and let its heavenly fragrance wash over you? There's a profound healing that can come through scent, but also through sight and touch. Flowers are calming, bringing peace to even the most difficult situations.
Imagine stepping into a garden – whether your own or a grand one like those at the RHS. It’s not just the fragrances that embrace you, but the vibrant tapestry of colours, the intricate details of each petal, the gentle hum of bees, and the flutter of butterflies. In those moments, we are reminded of something larger than ourselves. The natural world has a way of putting things into perspective, offering serenity in the midst of turmoil. Like us, flowers follow a cycle, and this may help to support us through the grieving process.
Having attended many funerals over the years, I’ve often been struck by how even a modest arrangement of flowers can make an extraordinary difference. Whether adorning the coffin or placed thoughtfully around the venue, flowers bring a gentle beauty that speaks volumes. While everyone’s vision for a funeral may differ, I always feel a pang of sadness when there are no flowers – not even a simple spray of greenery to lift the atmosphere. Flowers have the unique ability to ground us, to focus our thoughts on the person we are remembering. Many families now choose to distribute flowers among the congregation after the service, creating a deeply personal touch. It brings a sense of comfort knowing that these blooms will continue to be appreciated in someone’s home, long after the day has passed.
Certain flowers hold powerful symbolism, evoking not only their meaning and colours but also cherished memories from childhood. Buttercups and daisies often take us back to those simpler times. One flower that always brings a smile to my face is the Antirrhinum – or as I fondly called them, ‘bunny rabbits’. Growing up, my mum would show me how to gently squeeze the flower heads to make them ‘twitch’ like little rabbits. Such a small thing, yet the comfort and joy it brings even now is immeasurable.
Just recently, I visited a family to discuss arrangements for a funeral. The mother had a deep love for wildflowers, and they wanted the floral designs to reflect that natural beauty. We spoke about creating arrangements using only sustainable methods, avoiding plastic and harmful chemicals so that, like the cycle of life, the flowers would eventually compost back into the earth. It felt like such a fitting tribute to a life lived in harmony with nature.