Translation of memories

Funeral flower arrangements come in many forms. But what is and remains important is a personal touch. Who the deceased was, and what he meant to his loved ones can be expressed very beautifully with flowers and symbolism.

Lush Natural Elegance

Lush, succulent green leaves that shine or have special markings make plants irresistible. There is a preference for a base of tranquility in the interior, with large plants with distinct leaf textures being an important addition. Plant arrangements give many possibilities and exude luxury.

Autumn Tide

The approach of autumn is already announcing itself in mid-August. The wind sounds different, there is more moisture in the air, and the spiders diligently create more and more silver air bridges between plants and flowers. Foggy gray days alternate with sunny warm late summer days. And the outdoor scent, too, is more prominent, more earthy.

Floating heart

A floating arrangement is very suitable for an ash scattering on the water, but also for a memorial service on the waterfront. To make the arrangement ‘float’, Oasis Sec blocks are attached under the wooden disc. Then holes were drilled in the wooden disc in the shape of a heart. A warm color palette of botanical materials has been placed in the holes. The materials ‘float’ above the wooden disc and drink their moisture directly from the surface water. Botanical materials: Astrantia, Chrysanthemum, Crocosmia, Dahlia, Heliopsis, lisianthus, Scabiosa and Zinnia.

"Roaming the garden together in search of materials."

Freelance florist and teacher Linda Eising prefers to keep her farewell floral arrangements close to the personal wishes of the customer. ‘It is my challenge and strength to translate those wishes into floral work. Gathering information from the bereaved by visiting, listening, asking the right questions and looking around gives me the right information to get started.’

‘Purchasing materials or, even better, using plants from home or the garden. Strolling together in your own garden for the most beautiful materials. It is often precisely those materials that have been lovingly cared for and admired by the deceased.’

‘When searching for materials together with the bereaved, the most beautiful stories and precious memories emerge. This often immediately serves as a piece of bereavement processing. When you then make an arrangement from all those materials, you see tears of emotion and recognition in the eyes of the relatives when delivering it. That gives me a lot of satisfaction. 

‘I can put my passion into bridal work’

For floral designer Max van de Sluis, one of the most important characteristics of bridal floral work is that it is primarily personal. 'In my experience, the bouquet must perfectly match the bride and the person she is, or at least the personality she wants to express. That always makes designing for bridal floral work a fun challenge. Our profession is very versatile, and within all those dimensions, bridal work is not only an important part but also a facet that I really enjoy working on. I can very sincerely put my passion and enthusiasm into this.'

‘Working with seasonal materials always gives me something extra. Expanding a flower or using only one type of (flower) material is also fun to do and gives a great result – as I have been able to show a few times in this session.’