What to Do with Funeral Flowers

This is part of our complete guide to funeral flowers.

Sending flowers is a thoughtful way to remember and honour a beloved deceased person, but many wonder what to do with funeral flowers after a service. At Bridgwater Funerals, we understand this can be overwhelming, so we have compiled this guide to help you decide what to do with funeral flowers. We offer caring support throughout planning a loved one’s funeral, including traditional, horse-drawn and military funerals in Bridgwater, Somerset and surrounding areas.

If you or your family are uncomfortable throwing away flowers after a funeral, turn them into a beautiful keepsake. You can preserve the flowers for your loved one and have something special to remember them by. Here are a few creative and unique funeral flower ideas:

A memory frame is a creative way to combine flowers, photos and small keepsakes into one display. You can arrange dried petals around a printed picture or poem using a shadow box or deep-set frame. Include dried flower heads or petals, a meaningful photo or message, and small personal items such as a ribbon or charm. Then, display the floral memory frame at home or give it as a gift.

You can create a photo album filled with memories and enhance it with dried petals and small floral touches. Use photos from the service or life events, dried petals or pressed leaves, handwritten messages or printed tributes. Glue petals onto each page or add them as decorations around quotes and photographs. Share albums with family members or save them for younger generations. This turns funeral flowers into a lasting part of your family history.

Flattened petals and leaves retain their colour and shape, letting you create something that holds meaning beyond the day of the service. To press funeral flowers, choose flat flowers like pansies, violets, or daisies, then place them between two sheets of absorbent paper. Press them inside a heavy book or use a flower press and leave them sit for at least two weeks. Once they dry, you can arrange them inside frames, bookmarks, or memory cards.

You can turn funeral flowers into keepsake jewellery, such as pendants, bracelets, or rings. Customise the jewellery for your preferences, creating a locket with petals inside, resin rings or earrings with floral detail, and keyrings or charms with flower arrangements. You’ll be able to wear these items throughout your life as a tribute to your loved one.

Encasing flowers in resin keeps their shape and colour, turning them into a lasting display piece. Create a paperweight by completely drying the flower heads and placing them in a silicone mould designed for resin. Pour in clear resin and allow it to cure fully before popping them out and polishing the edges, if necessary. A floral paperweight adds beauty to desks, shelves, or windowsills, offering a moment of reflection each time you view it.

After drying funeral flowers, you can add them to a mix of herbs, oils, and spices to create potpourri. You’ll need dried petals from roses, lavender, or carnations, including a few drops of essential oil such as rose, orange, or sandalwood. Add fixatives like orris root powder to hold the scent, and a sealed container to let it blend for at least one week. Once ready, store your potpourri in bowls, pouches, or glass jars. The fragrance lasts for weeks, adding a soft, familiar ambience to any room.

Fresh, beautiful flowers from a loved one’s funeral hold emotional value, so it’s natural to want them to last as long as possible. A few simple steps can help you extend their life and enjoy their beauty a little longer. We have tips for preserving funeral flowers to help you make them last:

Trim a few inches off the bottom at a 45-degree angle to allow the flowers to absorb more water. Use a container that suits the bouquet’s size and shape.

Clear any leaves resting in water to avoid rot. This process helps your flowers stay clean and fresh.

Refresh the water every few days rather than topping it up. Clean water keeps bacteria away.

Add a feed packet or mix sugar and vinegar into water. This step helps nourish the flowers and prevent bacteria.

Place flowers in a cool, shaded area away from sunlight and radiators. Avoid drafty windows to prevent wilting.

Funeral flowers can become meaningful keepsakes that honour a loved one’s memory. Instead of discarding them, you can turn petals into pressed art, photo albums, or framed displays. Choose ideas that reflect your loved one’s personality, including their favourite colours, scents or flowers they loved. You can also blend several concepts to create a personalised tribute. These creative and unique touches keep their presence close, offering comfort and preserving their memory long after the service.

If you need help planning a funeral or want more ideas for what to do with funeral flowers, you can depend on us for local knowledge and experience. We offer complete funeral care for families in Bridgwater, Somerset, and the immediate surrounding areas, including resources for bereavement support groups. From traditional ceremonies to woodland burials and low-cost options, we help you plan the appropriate service for your loved one. Contact us today for expert advice and assistance.