March 7, 2020

One of the most common ways to show your respects at a loved one’s gravesite is to leave a floral arrangement. It might surprise you to learn that there’s more than one way to do this, and that graveside floral arrangements are not at all one-size-fits-all.

The standard option is a simple bouquet, which you can leave adjacent to the grave marker. For special occasions, you can also find floral signs; for example, you can get a floral arrangement that spells out “Mom” or “We Love You Mom” to leave for Mother’s Day.

Speaking of holidays, a number of seasonal and festive arrangements are available, including red, white, and blue arrangements for patriotic holidays. These are especially popular options for commemorating the final resting places of veterans.

Another important distinction is between fresh and silk flowers. Some cemeteries will allow either kind, but others will ask you to only use silk flowers. Indeed, it’s always important to check the cemetery’s rules about the kinds of displays they permit at gravesites. No matter which kind of flower you use, it’s crucial to find a way to keep them from blowing away; an anchored vase is prudent, and you can place fillers, such as Styrofoam, within the vase to keep the flowers in place.

Of course, your loved one may not reside in a traditional cemetery plot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t honor their legacy with a floral arrangement. Cemetery flower providers, as well as many general florists, now offer flowers that are specially made to fit within columbarium niches or inside mausoleums. No matter how or where your loved one is buried or interred, there are ways you can leave flowers for them.

Finally, note that floral arrangements can be meaningfully paired with other items or keepsakes, even if it’s something as simple as a framed photo or a small family memento. (Again, check with the cemetery to make sure their rules don’t prohibit any of this.) This is a great way to personalize your arrangements, to make them unique to the person whose memory you seek to honor.

To learn more about the options you have for honoring a loved one through flowers, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local funeral director.

If you would like a FREE funeral decisions planning guide please contact us at 12700 Southeast Raytown Road | 816-761-6272
longviewfuneralhome.com