Sympathy Bouquet

There is none: all three refer to a bouquet of cut flowers given after a death and intended for the family. "Mourning bouquet" is the most common term in France. What distinguishes them from wreaths and sheaves is not the name but the destination: a bouquet is placed in a vase and lives in a home, while a ceremonial arrangement remains at the place of the funeral service.

An entry-level format, around €45 to €50, is appropriate for a colleague, neighbor, or acquaintance. Plan for €60 to €80 for a friend or close relative, and more for a collective gift or family connection. A very generous bouquet from someone the family does not know well can create slight discomfort; the opposite goes unnoticed.

Recut the stems at an angle when placing them in the vase, change the water every two days while rinsing the vase, remove any submerged leaves, and keep the bouquet away from ripe fruit, which releases ethylene and accelerates wilting. With these steps, expect 5 to 8 days; without them, 3 to 4 days.

Yes, this is common practice when a colleague loses a loved one. Choose a discreet format: a large bouquet left in front of the entire team can feel like unwanted exposure when the person is trying to get through their day.

If you are attending the ceremony, prefer a sheaf, wreath, or cushion arrangement: these are designed to be displayed during the service. A bouquet is the appropriate format for delivery to the family's home, before or after the funeral service.

A vase is offered as an optional add-on at the time of order. Without it, the bouquet is delivered in a water bubble: a sealed water reserve at the base of the stems that keeps the flowers hydrated during transport. The family simply needs to recut the stems and place them in a container of their choice.

It is a sealed water reserve around the base of the stems. It prevents any interruption in water supply between the workshop and delivery, and allows the bouquet to withstand further transport. This is particularly useful for delivery to a funeral home or crematorium, when the family later takes the flowers with them, sometimes after several hours.