What to do with funeral flowers after the service

Flowers have been part of many funeral traditions for thousands of years. Not only do they symbolize the life cycle from birth to death, but they also bring about a sense of comfort. Funeral flowers and funeral wreaths are a beautiful way to express sympathy and to celebrate a loved one’s life in a meaningful way.

However, when the funeral is over, it can be difficult to part with the flowers. These creative ideas provide some beautiful ways to repurpose funeral flowers.

Frame them

Pressing and framing flowers sent in memory of your loved one can be a special token of remembrance.

What paper do I use to dry the flowers?

When pressing flowers, you’ll need to dry flowers out as quickly as possible to prevent browning. This can be done by using newspaper, blotting paper, printing paper, flat cardboard or facial tissue.

Using a book

The easiest method of flower pressing requires no equipment other than absorbent paper and a heavy book. Pigments in the flowers may stain the pages of the book, so make sure you use paper on each side of the flowers being used.

• Step one: Place a flower or flowers between two pieces of paper, and place these within the pages of the book. Make sure the flowers are spaced out so the moisture from one flower doesn’t transfer to another.
• Step two: Use a heavy weight or another book on top, to press the flowers.
• Step three: After a couple of weeks the flowers should be completely dry. Be careful when removing the flowers from the book as they become very delicate.
• Step four: When the flowers are dry, you’ll be able to arrange and trim them so that they’re able to fit into a glass frame.

Using a wooden flower press

There are a number of flower press kits available online, which will have their own set of instructions. But if you already have one, here are the steps to follow:

• Step one: Before the flowers go into the press, trim off any unwanted leaves and brush off any dirt.
• Step two: The flowers will need to go into the press as quickly as possible to avoid browning. Open up your flower press and remove all the cardboard inserts except for the bottom. Distribute the flowers evenly throughout the press, starting at the bottom layer, putting your flowers on top of the cardboard inserts.
• Step three: Close the press, tightening the screws of all four corners. For best results leave the press undisturbed for two to three weeks.

Pressed flower cards

When the time is right after your loved one’s funeral, you may want to write personal messages to close friends and family. Creating beautiful handmade cards with pressed flowers from your loved one’s funeral is a lovely way of expressing your love and gratitude to those closest to you, for their support.

Make a wreath or centerpiece

Beautiful flowers deserve to go to beautiful people. Why not make little remembrance bouquets for other people who also held your loved one dear? Or, you could donate flowers to hospitals and care homes. You could involve the whole family in making different, creative arrangements. It’s a special acknowledgement of how much someone meant to so many people.

Make a DIY floral candle

Lighting a candle with flowers melted into the wax, can be an extra special tribute to your loved one. Calmful Living has an easy-follow-recipe to make your very own DIY floral candle.

• If you are finding it difficult to cope after tge loss of a loved one, our Bereavement Support section has helpful articles about caring for yourself, friends and family through the grieving process.