When someone you know loses a loved one, sending flowers to the funeral home is one of the most traditional ways to show you care. It can also feel confusing. Which arrangement is right? Who usually sends what? Where should the flowers go, and when? This guide answers the questions we hear most often at our Mississauga studio from people sending sympathy flowers to funeral homes across Toronto and the GTA.
Funeral home or family home?
Start by deciding where the flowers should go. Flowers sent to the funeral home are part of the visitation and the service. They are seen by everyone who comes to pay their respects, and they are usually larger pieces designed to stand or sit near the casket or urn.
Flowers sent to the family home are more personal. They are a comfort in the days and weeks after the funeral, when the visitors have gone home and the family is still grieving. A vase arrangement, a basket or a potted plant suits a home far better than a standing tribute.
If you are not sure, check the published funeral notice. Some families ask for donations to a charity in place of flowers. If the notice says that, it is kind to respect the request, or to send a small arrangement to the home a little later.
What to send to the funeral home
Standing sprays
Standing sprays are large tributes displayed on an easel, so they stand at eye level near the casket or urn. They are the classic choice for friends, extended family, neighbours and co-workers. A group often sends one spray together and signs the card from everyone, which lets each person contribute to a more generous tribute.
Wreaths and hearts
Round wreaths symbolise eternal life, and heart-shaped wreaths speak of deep love. Both are displayed on an easel. Hearts are often sent by a spouse, by children or by grandchildren. Browse our funeral wreaths, hearts and easels to compare styles.
Casket sprays
A casket spray rests on top of the casket during the visitation, the service and the graveside ceremony. It is traditionally chosen by the immediate family, so it is not usually something a friend would order unless the family has asked. You can see our designs in casket sprays, along with casket adornments for the inner lining and casket pillows, which are a traditional gift from children or grandchildren.
Sympathy arrangements
Smaller sympathy arrangements in a basket, an urn or a vase can sit on a table near the guest book or the photographs. They suit a celebration of life or a smaller gathering, and the family can easily take them home after the service. If you would like your flowers to stay with the family, this is a thoughtful choice.
Who usually sends what
- The immediate family: the casket spray, and often a matching standing spray or wreath. Coordinated funeral packages keep the colours and flowers consistent.
- Grandchildren: a casket pillow, a heart or a standing spray, often sent together.
- Extended family and close friends: a standing spray, a wreath or a heart.
- Co-workers, teams and community groups: a standing spray or a large arrangement signed from the group.
- Friends who cannot attend: a sympathy arrangement at the service, or flowers delivered to the family home.
These are traditions, not rules. Anything sent with care will be appreciated.
Choosing colours and flowers
White flowers are the most traditional choice for sympathy. They feel calm and peaceful and suit almost any service. Red roses and carnations express deep love and are often chosen by a spouse or close family. Soft pinks, lavender and pastels feel gentle and are often chosen for a mother, a grandmother or a child. Mixed, brighter colours can celebrate a life that was full of joy.
It is also lovely to choose the person's favourite colour or flower, or colours that meant something to them. Several of our wreaths and standing hearts can be made in the colours you choose, so add a note to your order or call us to talk it through.
Timing your delivery
Most people want their flowers in place for the visitation, before the first guests arrive. When you order, tell us the name of the funeral home, the full name of the person who has passed, and the date and time of the visitation or service. Please add the drop-off time in your order notes at checkout. All funeral flowers are delivered directly to the funeral home, so you do not need to arrange anything with them yourself.
Some funeral homes have more than one chapel. Turner & Porter, for example, has four chapels in Toronto and Mississauga, and Ward Funeral Homes has three in Weston, Brampton and Woodbridge. Always include the chapel name. You can find more details on our pages for Turner & Porter, Ward Funeral Homes and Glen Oaks Funeral Home & Cemetery, and the full list of funeral homes we deliver to.
What to write on the card
Every order includes a free handwritten card. Keep the message short and sincere. A few examples:
- "With deepest sympathy. We are thinking of you and your family."
- "In loving memory of a wonderful friend. Forever in our hearts."
- "With love and heartfelt condolences, from all of us at the office."
Sign the card the way the family will recognise you, with your full name or your family's name, so they know who to thank later.
Ordering from a local florist
Every sympathy piece we make is hand-arranged by our florists in our Mississauga studio and delivered to funeral homes across the GTA. Delivery is free on orders of $50 or more. If you have a question about a service, a funeral home or a custom design, call us at 905-677-9999 and we will help you choose something fitting. You can browse everything in one place in our sympathy and funeral flowers collection.