Losing someone you love is never simple. And while no bouquet can take away grief, flowers have a way of softening the edges - offering comfort, symbolising connection, and creating a visual tribute that speaks when words fall short.
At Lime Tree Bower, we’ve been crafting intentional, design-led floral arrangements for Sydney families for more than a decade. We know that choosing the right funeral flowers can feel overwhelming, especially when time is short and emotions are high. That’s why we’ve written this guide: to walk you through the different types of funeral tributes, their meanings, and the practicalities of delivery and timing across Sydney.
Whether you’re organising flowers for a chapel service, graveside farewell, or a quiet gathering at home, this guide will help you select arrangements that feel personal, thoughtful and true to the life being remembered.
1. Types of Funeral Flower Arrangements
Different styles of arrangements suit different spaces and moments within a funeral or memorial:
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Traditional wreaths - Circular in shape, symbolising eternity. Usually placed at the service or graveside.
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Casket sprays - Designed to sit on top of the casket; typically chosen by the immediate family.
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Standing sprays & sheafs - Tall designs that create presence at the chapel or crematorium.
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Bouquets & vase arrangements - Flexible tributes that can later be taken home as a keepsake.
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Native or modern tributes - Less traditional, often reflecting a love of Australian flora or a more contemporary design aesthetic.
- Everlasting tributes for pets - A beautiful keepsake to cherish your furry best friend forever.
We’ll guide you through which pieces suit which setting, and design with intention so the flowers feel harmonious with the venue.
2. Flower Choices, Colours & Symbolism
Not all flowers are created equal when it comes to meaning. Some of the most requested choices in Sydney include:
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Lilies - Purity and peace.
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Roses - Love, gratitude, remembrance.
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Orchids - Timeless elegance.
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Australian natives - Strength, connection to country, individuality.
Seasonal availability matters too. While imported flowers are possible year-round, they can increase costs - we’ll always advise you on what’s in season locally and design with freshness in mind.
Colours can also carry weight: whites and soft pastels for reverence, brighter tones for celebrating a vibrant life. Some families choose colours that reflect a favourite shade or football team - it doesn’t have to be traditional-white.
3. Delivery, Timing & Logistics in Sydney
We know the logistics of a funeral move fast. Here’s what to keep in mind:
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Timing - We recommend ordering at least 5-6 days ahead, particularly if you want something quite specifically customised. Next day would be difficult, but it may be possible depending on the design and flower availability. To be safe, we recommend reaching out to your florist to book as soon as you've figured out the date of the funeral service.
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Details to confirm - Service date and time, venue address (chapel, crematorium, church, graveside), venue access times for delivery, and the name of the deceased.
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Where we deliver - Our team regularly delivers across Sydney to funeral homes, churches, crematoriums and private residences.
We also handle presentation, such as adding a matching ribbon detail and personalised card message: ensuring arrangements arrive styled and ready to be placed with dignity and care.
4. Personalisation & Keepsakes
The most meaningful tributes reflect the person themselves:
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Incorporating their favourite flowers or colours.
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Using native flora that nods to their heritage or love of the outdoors.
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Creating eco-conscious designs with seasonal, locally-grown preferred flowers.
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Adding a sympathy greeting card, potted orchid gift plant, or a small gift bouquet for the family to take home afterwards.
Some families also choose dried flower keepsakes - a lasting reminder beyond the service.
5. Cost Expectations & Budgeting
Prices for funeral flowers in Sydney will vary depending on size, detail, flower choice and of course, the florist you choose. As a ballpark range:
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Floral wreaths typically range between $200–$500.
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Casket sprays from $300–$800.
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Bouquets & vase tributes from $100 upwards.
Costs increase with volume & size, premium/import blooms, and/or urgent timeframes. Don't forget to factor in delivery as well, in addition to the floral design costs. If budget is a concern, we can advise on ways to create something beautiful and intentional without compromising sentiment.
What to Ask Your Florist
When you’re ready to order, it helps to have a few things clear:
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Your spend range
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Any flowers or colours you’d like included (or avoided).
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The service location, date and time.
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Whether you’d like any extras, such as a personalised note or specific ribbon colour.
Our role in these delicate moments is to translate these details into a floral tribute that feels right for your loved one to celebrate their end of life. We know it's difficult enough for someone beloved to pass and experience the sadness and grief that comes with death, let alone planning a funeral service and all that comes with organising one. Our small team is compassionate and understanding, and able to support you alongside expert floral advice and tips where needed. There is no such thing as a silly question, so please just ask us.
Browse our Funeral & Sympathy Flowers Collection for ready-to-order tributes, or speak with our floral team to design something personal and intentional for your family.
Because at the heart of every funeral arrangement is not just flowers, but the memory of a life lived - and our job is to help that memory bloom.
