How to Account for Funeral Flower Arrangement Expenses

Flowers play a significant part of most funerals. In the context of a funeral, they serve many purposes: to celebrate and honor the life of the deceased, to express sympathy to his family, to lift the spirits of those in attendance, and to add beauty and fragrance to the surroundings. Floral arrangements for a funeral can range from simple to elaborate, and from inexpensive to costly. For those charged with organizing a funeral, the process of determining the cost of flowers can be confusing and stressful. These guidelines will help you to plan and account for funeral flower arrangement expenses.

Instructions

1. Communicate with your florist about your budget. If you have a set amount of money you can spend on funeral flowers, let her know at your first meeting. Doing so will help her determine your options and communicate them to you, saving you both time and stress.

2. Ask to see pictures. A good florist will have a few books featuring photographs of several different types of funeral flower arrangements, including casket sprays, sprays on easels, wreaths, and more. When you see something you like, inquire about its price.

3. If an arrangement you like is priced out of your budget, ask the florist if she can do either of the following: design it on a smaller scale for less money, or substitute costly flowers with less expensive ones to bring the price down.

4. Expect to spend approximately a hundred dollars minimum on any large casket spray or easel spray. Plan to spend about fifty dollars minimum on arrangements in vases or baskets.

5. Note that laborious extras, such as adding a name or other words to a ribbon banner and attaching it to a spray of flowers, will sometimes prompt the florist to add to the cost of the arrangement.

6. Always inquire about the cost of delivery. Most florists charge about ten dollars to deliver arrangements in their neighborhood. If the funeral location is in a different neighborhood, the florist will charge a higher delivery fee.

7. Ask if the florist charges a set-up fee. Some may charge for the task of placing the arrangements at the site of the funeral and making sure they are presented properly.

8. Some florists may also transport the funeral arrangements to the home of the deceased person's family after the funeral service. Make sure to inquire about the cost of this service if you ask for it.

9. Talk to friends and family members about sharing the cost of flowers. The arrangement can be a gift to the deceased person's family from all of you.

Tips & Warnings

• Roses, orchids and large lilies such as Stargazers and Casablancas are among the more costly flowers.

• Chrysanthemums, tiger lilies and carnations are some of the less expensive flowers.