How to Send Flowers to Cemeteries

Sending flowers to cemeteries is often appropriate, especially if a graveside memorial service is planned.  Choosing this option means checking a few details in advance, making a selection of  a cemetery floral arrangement, and coordinating the delivery with both the florist and the cemetery officials.

• Contact the funeral director for some ideas on what type of flowers would be appropriate for the funeral.  The idea is to determine if the family has made any special requests in relation to the flowers, such as preferring seasonal flowers, a selection of live green plants, or possibly selections that are more traditional for the area and culture.  This will provide you with some idea of what type of floral arrangement would fit into the general color scheme for the funeral.


• Talk with the cemetery.  Most will have guidelines you need to follow, such as how much in advance of the actual burial the flowers should be delivered.  Coordinating with cemetery officials also makes it easy to ensure someone is there to receive the flowers and knows at which gravesite the flowers should be placed. You can also find out if cemetery personnel actually do the placement of the flowers prior to the burial or if they hold the floral arrangements for funeral home personnel to pick up and place prior just before the casket and the mourners arrive at the cemetery.


• Discuss options with the florist.  Be sure to let the florist know you need an arrangement for delivery to the cemetery, not just something for a funeral service.  This will allow the florist to provide helpful suggestions for floral arrangements that will hold up well in the open air for a period of time.  If the burial is occurring locally, the florist will most likely be familiar with the landscape of the cemetery and can suggest something that will work well with the general appearance of the area.  Settle on an arrangement that is appropriate for the setting and is in line with the wishes of the family, place the order and remit the payment.


• Arrange for the delivery.  Provide the florist with information about when the burial will take place, so the flowers can be delivered in a timely manner.