Funeral Flowers Guide UK – Meanings, Tribute Types & Ideas
Choosing funeral flowers can feel overwhelming, especially at a difficult time. This guide explains the main tribute types to help you choose something meaningful, personal, and appropriate.
As a family-run florist in Bury, we’ve been creating thoughtful, high-quality funeral flowers for over twenty years. We understand that finding the right tribute is a deeply personal and often difficult task.
Our goal is to help you honour your loved one with beautiful flowers that reflect their life and personality. Below, we explain the most popular funeral tributes we create, along with guidance on who typically sends each style.
Our Promise:
We work directly with local funeral directors in Bury, Whitefield, and surrounding areas to ensure your chosen flowers are delivered discreetly and on time, allowing you one less worry during a sensitive period.
Gentle, personal flowers – created with care and delivered to your chosen funeral director.

Coffin Sprays – The Central, Most Significant Tribute
The coffin spray is traditionally and usually chosen by the immediate family and serves as the largest, most visible tribute, sitting centrally on the coffin throughout the service.
We offer three main size and shape options to suit your needs:
- Double-ended: Tapered elegantly at both ends, covering the central portion of the coffin.
- Single-ended: A teardrop shape, dense with flowers at the head and tapering towards the foot.
- Full-length: A lavish design that covers most of the coffin, creating a spectacular floral presence.
Choosing colours based on a favourite hobby, sports team, or simply soft whites and pastels can make this tribute truly personal.
We liaise directly with your chosen funeral director to ensure seamless delivery and placement.
View Coffin SpraysFavourite colours, traditional lilies or roses, native UK wildflowers, soft whites and foliage, or bespoke themed elements.
“The coffin spray sets the tone for all other tributes, often guiding the colour scheme.”
If you choose a bespoke colour scheme or flower type, we can create matching hearts, letters, and wreaths for other family members.
Funeral Wreaths & Posies – Symbol of Eternity and Unending Love
The circular shape of the funeral wreath symbolises eternity, the never-ending cycle of life, and everlasting love—a truly meaningful choice.
- **Classic Circular Wreath:** Traditional shape, dense with flowers or foliage.
- **Posy (Small Round Tribute):** A compact, understated circular tribute often sent by children or close friends.
- **Loose Modern Wreath:** Features a more natural, garden-style arrangement with visible framework and varied textures.
Wreaths and posies are versatile and can be created in soft whites and greens for a traditional feel, or in vibrant colours to celebrate a life.
These are typically laid next to the coffin or displayed on stands at the service.
Browse All TributesSoft white & green, mixed seasonal pastels, bright yellows & blues (often referencing sports teams).
Funeral Heart Tributes – Open, Closed, and Cushion Designs
Heart tributes are some of the most deeply personal designs we create, representing love and loss. They are often chosen by immediate family members like partners, children, or grandchildren.
- Open heart: The centre is left empty; this shape is often symbolic of a broken heart and intense sadness.
- Closed heart: Fully filled with flowers, often used to symbolise wholeness and complete love.
- Cushions: Soft, rounded tributes, sometimes signifying rest or comfort.
We work with you to choose the perfect size, flower mix, and colour palette.
These tributes are typically created in soft pastels, white, or red—the universal colour of love.
View Heart TributesPartners, children, grandchildren, and those who shared a uniquely close, loving bond with the deceased.
“Open hearts often feel right when words are hard to find, visually communicating a depth of feeling.”
We help guide you through the choice of colours and sizes to ensure the tribute conveys your exact sentiment.
Letter Tributes – “MUM”, “DAD”, Names & Initials
Letter tributes offer a highly personal way to spell out meaningful names, initials, or affectionate words that were used every day. These are often purchased by children or close groups of family members.
- **Classic White Letters:** Traditionally backed with white chrysanthemums with small, colourful sprays.
- **Fully Coloured Letters:** Letters entirely covered in flowers matching a specific colour scheme (e.g., team colours, favourite shade).
- **Nicknames:** We can spell out meaningful nicknames, initials, or short words like 'NAN', 'BRO', or 'SIS'.
Each letter is individually made and carefully transported to the funeral director.
MUM, DAD, GRANDAD, BRO, SIS, WIFE, club names, or short abbreviations (e.g., G.G. for Great Grandma).

Tied Sheaves & Funeral Bouquets – Simple, Natural Tributes
A tied sheaf is a natural, elegant, and often understated choice. Unlike formal tributes constructed on frames, sheaves are hand-tied bundles of flowers, making them ideal when you prefer something simple and close to nature.
- **Hand-tied sheaves:** A presentation-style bouquet, easy to lay at the graveside or crematorium.
- **Garden-style bouquets:** Designed to look freshly picked, featuring natural stems and foliage.
- **Suitable options for children:** Smaller, manageable sheaves or bouquets are often chosen by younger mourners.
Classic white & green, seasonal pastels, vibrant garden flowers, natural stems wrapped in hessian or paper.

“Sheaves feel gentle – like a bouquet laid by hand, carrying an intimate, caring sentiment.”
We can wrap the stems bare (for a truly natural look) or fully covered for presentation purposes.
Custom & Themed Funeral Tributes
Bespoke and custom designs are a wonderful way to honour a person’s unique hobbies, passions, or personality. We transform meaningful objects and symbols into floral arrangements.
- **Football Club Badges:** Perfectly replicated crests using team colours.
- **Hobby-Themed Tributes:** Designs related to fishing, gardening, music, or other interests.
- **Logos, Shapes & Symbols:** Any unique shape or symbol that held importance to the deceased.
Providing photos, clear guidance on colours/team names, and an indication of your budget ensures we can meet your expectations.
Need Personal Guidance Choosing Funeral Flowers?
Our team is here to guide you through colours, styles, and card messages with sensitivity and professionalism.
Quick Guide: Funeral Flowers FAQs
Typically the immediate family or next of kin, as it is the main tribute.
The spray sits centrally on the coffin; the wreath is a circular tribute laid beside the coffin or displayed on a stand.
We recommend ordering 3–5 days in advance for constructed tributes (letters, hearts, sprays) to allow for flower sourcing and design time.
Yes — we offer reliable, discreet delivery to all local funeral directors in Bury, Whitefield, and surrounding areas.
Simple and heartfelt words are always appropriate, such as 'Rest in Peace,' or 'With all our love, from...'