Making arrangementsFlowers generally dress the hearse and coffin, or if there are too many, they travel on or in following vehicles. Timing is everything at a funeral and the flowers must be in place in good time for the cortege to set off, either from the funeral home, the deceased's home or elsewhere. Some funeral directors will liaise directly with the florist to ensure the timing is right, but if you're commissioning the florist yourself make sure the funeral director is kept fully informed.
 It can help if people are advised to send flowers to one central place.
Apart from the floral decorations that are ordered to dress the hearse when the coffin is embarked, there may be other tributes left at your home by friends and relatives, or delivered by a floral service. It can help if people are advised to send flowers to one central place. Personalised tributesThere's a tradition in some areas to personalise a funeral with the flowers - having them made up to form a name or initials, or an emblem of work or pastimes. Wreaths, cushions, sprays or tributes such as Gates of Heaven are standards in the florist's craft; if these aren't on display they'll probably be shown in a photograph album or catalogue. The season will of course affect the availability of some varieties and the florist should advise you of substitutes to the blooms shown in the pictures. What happens after the funeral?Confirm with the funeral director what you want to happen with the flowers. They may be taken for display on a wreath court at the crematorium after the service, or to cover the grave after it has been back filled. Hospitals or other institutions may be grateful for flowers, but some have a policy of refusing such donations. You might also want the funeral director to collect, or make a list of the names and messages left with the flowers. As an alternative to having flowers, you may wish people to donate the money to charity instead.
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