After someone passes away, their loved ones are struck with grief. During this emotional and trying time, it’s only natural to want to offer support and comfort to a grieving friend. One way to do that is by sending sympathy flowers. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to do that. This guide breaks down proper sympathy flower etiquette to help you avoid any awkward situations.
When to Send Sympathy Flowers
The rule of thumb is to send sympathy flowers immediately after the loss occurs, but there are some exceptions to that. If you choose, you can also send sympathy flowers a week or so after the funeral when the chaos has died down a bit. Truthfully, you can send sympathy flowers even up to a month or two after a loss to show the grieving friend or family member that you are thinking of them.
What to Write on the Card
Even if you aren’t great with words, it’s important to attach a card to the sympathy flowers that you send someone. The good news is that brevity is the way to go with these sympathy notes. The main points that should be articulated on the card are the recipient, the sender, and your thoughts of condolence. Something simple like, “you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers” or “my deepest condolences on your loss” are both acceptable to jot on the condolence note. Also, be sure to sign the note with your first and last name, as they will be receiving many condolence cards and sympathy flowers and it will avoid any mix ups when they write thank you notes.
The Difference Between Sympathy Flowers and Funeral Flowers
There is a distinction between sympathy flowers and funeral flowers. Sympathy flowers are typically smaller arrangements that are addressed to a loved one of the deceased and sent directly to their home. Funeral flowers, on the other hand, are sent to the funeral home or church to pay tribute to the deceased. These are larger arrangements that are typically much more formal and they should never be sent directly to the home of the deceased’s loved one.
Where to Purchase Sympathy Flowers
When you are looking for sympathy flowers there are a couple places to do so. The first is to stop in at or call the local florist. This is a great way to support a local business, but it is not your only option. There are also many online floral arrangement retailers that offer sympathy flowers and can ship them anywhere in the country. While using an online florist might be cheaper, this can typically limit your options to one of their pre-set arrangements. For more variety, the local florist might be a better option.
If you are looking to show a grieving friend or family member that you are thinking of them, there are many ways to do so. For sympathy gifts that go beyond traditional floral arrangements, check out what The Comfort Company has to offer.