Family Funeral Work

[villageflowerlady]

This will start as a bit of a rant against Mother in Laws but there is a point so please read. My MIL asked me to order flowers for an Uncle's service. I found the florist the family went to for the main pieces and used them. The flowers were lovely and coordinated with the family pieces-this was from the siblings but did not have a brother ribbon on it. We got to the service and she asked if I saw the flowers--- yes they were pretty-- a bit compact for my style but still certainly to value and looked nice with the rest. She asks if we cookie cutter design the arrangements because all the flowers were the same. so, my question is "do you keep the flowers looking similar for a funeral or do you change it up?" If I know that the arrangement is from a family member I try to keep with the same flowers and "feeling" usually trying to mix up the styles. I guess I hadn't thought that critically but when at a funeral do we want things to look like they all belong? Do people want designs to stand out? How does your funeral work flow?

 

[hollyflr]

I try to ask the family member if they want their flowers to coordinate with the other flowers. Most say yes. There is nothing more jarring then walking in seeing one arrangement sticking out like a sore thumb.

 

[vikki]

I know a few flower shops that absolutely refuse to do anything but match the family flowers for all orders. It does make for a beautiful setting, everything goes together and visually, I think it is very appealing.

We usually always coordinate the family pieces in the same colors, flowers etc.
But that being said, we don't coordinate the rest of the flowers unless they ask us to. I have found that most of my customers want to stand out and be noticed with something different than the family flowers.

I had 1 family request that everything that everyone ordered match their flowers. It made it really difficult when a customer wanted to send something totally different and I had to tell them the family requested all pink. I had 1 customer refuse to do it. He sent a blue and red arrangment, our school colors, as she was so active in school functions and that is how he knew her. It did stick out like a sore thumb, but he was a customer too, and I wasn't going to argue with him.

 

[Spookyflowers]

I think the family flowers should be just for the family. I've had people ask if I'm doing the family pieces and I say yes and they say do something different I don't want to be like them. So it is up to the customer as to what they want.
Have you ever had a family request no plants or a particular flower be used and do you abid by that request?
I've come to ask my customers if the want traditional or non traditional anymore as some want very old style while others want more upscale flowes.

 

[vikki]

Have you ever had a family request no plants or a particular flower be used and do you abid by that request?

I have had a family go even one step further than this, they have actually went around the shop and picked out what they wanted. I felt like they were brides doing a bridal registry. It was insane, but I tried to tactfully suggest to customers that the family would appreciate a certain piece from my shop.. NUTS!

 

[Flowerchatter03]

Depends...

It would depend on the people paying the $$. I am creating an arrangement to convey their thoughts of sympathy not mine or anyone elses. So it depends on who is paying for the arrangement.

If the family has a request as far as colors etc, I might tell the customer that the family is requesting...but I would go on to say that it is up to them and what they wish to communicate to the family.

I called out an order one time to another florist and they said to me that they were obligated to say, "In Leui of flowers the family is requesting donations to (?). If your customer is still willing to send flowers, I'll take your order." Are you serious?

 

[Carol Bice]

I called out an order one time to another florist and they said to me that they were obligated to say, "In Leui of flowers the family is requesting donations to (?). If your customer is still willing to send flowers, I'll take your order." Are you serious? [/QUOTE]

OMG, I'm not sure there is enough money to pay me to say "In leui of lowers, the family is requesting donations to...

How dare a family tell the florist to say that to their customers. I just never ceased to be amazed at how people think.

Carol Bice

 

[Aqua]

I use the same flowers or the same colour for family flowers and give my other customers the advise to take different flowers or design that match to the family flowers. It`s allways nice too see a harmonious picture of funeral flowers.
I`m allways happy when we have to do the whole funeral flowers.
Everytime we did it, we earned a lot off thanks for our work.
If a customer absolutely wants to order diferent flowers, we do them. But fortunately that happens very seldom.:bow_flowe


~ Silvie ~

 

[Rhonda]

I called out an order one time to another florist and they said to me that they were obligated to say, "In Leui of flowers the family is requesting donations to (?). If your customer is still willing to send flowers, I'll take your order." Are you serious?

OMG, I'm not sure there is enough money to pay me to say "In leui of lowers, the family is requesting donations to...

How dare a family tell the florist to say that to their customers. I just never ceased to be amazed at how people think.

Carol Bice[/QUOTE]

I'm afraid I've had to tell people no flowers. We have had two in my 35 years that the spouse has been deathly allergic to scents - O2/asthma and the whole shabang... (and cause hubby is an EMT had confirmation on the facts) but we were able to send to the church for funeral due to the large size of the church and air exchange from fans - but still no heavily scented like lilies.
Other than that we try to "coordinate" color themes unless specifically requested like the standard dozen carnations - red - with baby's breath "always loving brother rest in peace" thingy :wide:

 

[RWK]

While co-ordinating the colors, flowers, etc. looks great, There are and will be those who have a clear set on what they want to send, whether it matches or not.

Simply asking the customer if they would like their flowers to blend/coordinate with the other flowers you are doing for the deceased is all it takes.

If they say yes......GREAT......If they say no..........STILL GREAT because they are still ordering with you.

 

[ivygreen]

Just wondering if you avoid specific requests or don't care to have customers pick certain things, how you handle a w/s order? If TF-199 isn't in your plan do you do it anyway? or reject? If they send a $100 tropical and everything else is traditional, do you sub or fill as requested?

If you do it for w/s work, why wouldn't you do it for a customer?

 

[lizzie ann]

It would depend on the people paying the $$. I am creating an arrangement to convey their thoughts of sympathy not mine or anyone elses. So it depends on who is paying for the arrangement.

If the family has a request as far as colors etc, I might tell the customer that the family is requesting...but I would go on to say that it is up to them and what they wish to communicate to the family.

I called out an order one time to another florist and they said to me that they were obligated to say, "In Leui of flowers the family is requesting donations to (?). If your customer is still willing to send flowers, I'll take your order." Are you serious?

One of my employees told a customer the same thing.I had her put the customer on hold while I explained to her that perhaps this order would help to fund her paycheck...AND that I never wanted to hear anyone refuse an order. I am not the flower police and will not refuse an order. sheez how dumb can a person be!!!!:boggles: