Funeral Tribtues and Donations

Sadly,  a family friend past away over Christmas. As a last goodbye, one usually takes flowers. However, it seems that recently there has been an increase in donations made to charity in memory of the deceased, in the place of flowers. This I feel is a great shame.

On a personal level, I prefer to celebrate a life lived, and flowers help to convey that final message. From a business approach, a decline in funeral orders is bad news for the average florist. Funerals, sadly, are a florist's bread and butter earnings when  things are quiet.

I wonder why people only permit family flowers . . I fear that tribute flowers have been stigmatised :

• They don't last long
• Flowers only needed for a day 
• Often need removing from crematoriums straight away.

Tribute flowers need not be wasted. I know of many florists who will dismantle the flowers and re- arrange them ( a service to seriously consider offering, customer service is key at such a distressing time) and the family can then donate them to care homes, local libraries and other public spaces, so the flowers are used to their full potential.

Whilst I agree that donations are of great benefit, to the wonderful work/ services that the hundreds of charities in the U.K perform, I still feel that flowers will always be more personal.