Funeral Flowers — Frequently Asked Questions

Guidance — Help Me Choose

What type of funeral flowers should I choose based on my relationship to the deceased?

Honestly, this is one of the things people worry about most, and in most cases that worry is unnecessary. Generally, close family tends to choose something bigger like a casket cover, a full spray, or a wreath. Friends, work colleagues and extended family usually go with an arrangement, a sheaf or a bunch of sympathy flowers. But these aren't hard rules.

Here at Susan Avery, I usually say, "Don't think about the etiquette but think about the person instead."

A carefully chosen arrangement is never the wrong call.

In my experience, once people let go of the "what should I choose" idea, the decision tends to make itself.

What's the difference between a wreath, sheaf, spray, arrangement and casket cover?

A wreath is the circular one and it's been used to symbolise remembrance for a long time.

Our sheafs are hand-tied and laid flat, a bit like cut flowers from a garden.

Spray are larger and designed to be displayed during the service. 

An arrangement will usually come in a container. Our Susan Avery arrangements are designed to be taken home afterwards. (Often, we move these from the service to the wake.

Casket covers sit directly on top of the casket and are nearly always chosen by immediate family.

Most people come in without a clear idea of what  they want, and that's fine.

Once we talk through where the flowers are going and who they're from, everything usually falls into place quickly.

What flowers are most appropriate for a funeral service?

There's no single right answer here.

White flowers are popular. They suit the occasion.

We also families choosing seasonal varieties like garden roses and Australian wildflowers.

In forty years of designing funeral flowers, I've seen meaningful tributes made from almost everything including traditional lilies, wildflowers, proteas, even herbs from someone's garden.

A tribute works not by variety but when it feels like the person.

What size funeral tribute should I order?

Bigger doesn't automatically mean more meaningful. People assume it does, but carefully chosen arrangements carry just as much weight as something three times the size.

When I  help someone decide, I usually ask three things...
•what was your relationship
•where will the flowers be placed
•what budget are we working with

The answer to those three things together make decisions pretty clear.

Remember, don't spend beyond what feels right to you.

Should I choose traditional flowers or a contemporary arrangement?

Both work, and the choice depends more on the person being remembered than on anything else.

Often, traditional arrangements suit formal services and they feel right for families who want something classic.

Contemporary tributes tend to be more personal and can reflect someone's character, what they loved, how they lived.

My honest advice is think about the person first and the style second. 

Reassurance — Am I right?

Is it appropriate to send flowers to the service?

In almost every situation, yes.

Flowers always say something when words don't quite cover it.  They don't need to be explained or justified.

Families tell us that they noticed who sent something. Not what was spent, just that someone took the time.

I always say that a modest bunch sent with thought "lands" as well as anything else.

Am I spending enough on funeral flowers?

I get asked this a lot and my short answer is: it's not about what you're supposed to spend. There's no set amount.

I've helped people choose across a range of budgets, and I've never once seen anyone in the congregation comparing prices. They're thinking about the person they've lost.

What registers is the gesture, not the amount on the invoice.

Is it acceptable for me to send flowers if I can't attend the service?

Yes, without question. People live interstate, overseas, or jus have circumstances that make attending impossible.

Sending flowers is completely normal. It's an appreciated way to show someone you're thinking of them. Families notice that you're making the effort and remembering.

What should I write on the sympathy card?

People tie themselves in knots over this and it really doesn't need to be complicated.

Short and genuine is almost always better than long and laboured. 

Something like "Thinking of you" or "With love and sympathy" or even just "Remembering [name] with great fondness" is enough.

Write how you'd speak because that's the part which actually gets through.

I am not a family member — can I still send flowers?

If you feel like sending them, send them.

Neighbours, work colleagues, casual and old friends, community members — none of that needs a family connection.

Let the family know you care too. It's never unwelcome.

Logistics — Can you Help Me?

How far in advance should my funeral flowers be ordered?

As soon as you know the service details, it's worth getting in touch.

Funerals often come together quickly and the window can be tight.

We're geared up to handle urgent orders and will always tell you honestly what's possible. Don't hold off just because it feels too soon to call.

Where should the flowers be delivered?

It depends on the arrangements. Flowers can go to a funeral home, a church or chapel, a crematorium or directly to the family home — whichever suits the service.

If you're not sure, just give us the service details and we'll work out the right delivery point with you.

Can funeral flowers be delivered directly to the funeral director or service?

Yes, and that's the most common way we do it.

Tributes go directly to funeral directors, churches and chapels every day.

We coordinate timing so everything is in place before people arrive — it's what we do.

What information do I need before ordering?

The person's name, the venue, the date and where you'd like delivery to go. That's enough to get us started.

If you have thoughts on colour or style, bring those along. If you don't, that's fine too. We'll walk you through what's available and what works.

What happens to the flowers after the funeral service?

It varies from family to family. Some take their arrangements home, some divide them among relatives, some leave them at the cemetery. We often re-purpose them to a nursing home or special care person

A lot of people find it comforting to have flowers at home for a few more days. Others prefer to leave them where the service was held. Either way is right. There's no protocol you need to follow.

Personalisation — Can This Reflect the Person?

Can I include the person's favourite flowers or colours?

Absolutely, and honestly this is one of the best starting points if you're not sure where to begin.

We create tributes around favourite flowers and colours all the time.

Sometimes it's specific like a particular rose or a colour they always wore. Other times it's more of a feeling.

Can you create a tribute to reflect a hobby, profession or passion?

In most cases, yes.

Over the years I've worked with families and referenced all sorts of things — gardens, the sea, music, art, sport, a love of the bush.

It doesn't need to be obvious or elaborate. Often a small detail woven into an arrangement carries more weight than something designed to make a statement.

Can native Australian flowers be included?

Yes, and we use them often. Wildflowers bring a different kind of character — texture, structure, a sense of place that softer flowers sometimes don't have.

A lot of families choose them because they're for someone who loved the Australian landscape, had a passion for gardening, or simply preferred things that felt local and "un-showy". Australian wildflowers work beautifully on their own and look great mixed through something more traditional.

Can funeral flowers be designed in a garden-style?

Yes. It's become one of the more popular approaches, and for good reason.

Garden-style arrangements feel loose and natural rather than formal — more like flowers cut from someone's backyard than something constructed.

This approach works well if you want something which feels warm and personal instead of ceremonial.

How can I make the tribute feel personal without being overly formal?

Start with one thing that reminds you of them. A colour, a flower, a feeling.

You don't need a concept or a theme — just a single detail that feels true to who they were. Build your tribute around something specific. The family will recognise it immediately and that's what stays with people.

In my experience the most meaningful tributes are rarely complicated ones.

My Conclusion?

Keep it meaningful.
You loved them and always will.