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How to Order Sympathy Flowers
Five helpful tips from a griever-turned-florist
One of the most memorable gifts I received after my mom died was a beautiful hydrangea plant from my senior thesis class. As soon as I opened the box and read the card, I knew that all ten of them pooled their cash to send me something gorgeous at the worst moment of my life. Even though the hydrangea died (not enough light in my north-facing apartment), the gesture still sticks with me.
Years later, I became a florist and suddenly I was on the receiving end of calls like the ones my classmates made—calls from the friends and family of a grieving person looking to send something beautiful at the very worst moment of a person’s life.
If you’re getting ready to send flowers to someone you love who’s grieving, check out these tips from a griever-turned-florist:
1. Know what you want on the card.
Despite the cinematic imagery of flower shops as peaceful, slow-moving corners of the world full of pretty smells and magical stems, flower shops are businesses. They operate by the same rule that many businesses do: TIME = MONEY. Save both you and your florist time by having your card message prepared in advance…
