Funeral wreaths and flowers are a beautiful and poignant way to pay your respects and show your love and appreciation to the deceased but it can be difficult and stressful knowing what to write for your funeral wreath message.
Typically, funeral wreaths are a stunning arrangement of flowers and greenery but many variants include a personalized message that can be placed on a band across the wreath, or on a memorial card that is stuck into the greenery.
It is this message that people often struggle with and it's understandable. You want to choose words that show your respect and that the family of the deceased will appreciate. At the same time, you may have your own memories of the person and want to incorporate some of that into your message.
If you are trying to organize a funeral wreath, but the words aren't coming, or you are unsure of the etiquette, we have created a simple guide below that you can follow.
Why is it Important to Choose the Right Words?
First, let's look at why people include messages and how the right words can help. These are some of the reasons:
- To pay your respects to the deceased.
- To give them a final message before the depart.
- To show respect and love to the family.
- To help with the grieving process.
I want to emphasize above all else that there are no wrong words. Whatever you write will be appreciated and this is not something that you should stress about too much.
A funeral wreath message, however, is the perfect way to show your love and respect for the deceased. It will also be greatly appreciated by the family (if you are not part of the immediate family) and show that you care and have supported them.
You may also have your own thoughts and memories of the person and simply want to write a funeral wreath message to pay your unique respects to them. Many people also write messages to help with the grieving process and as a way to get closure and say a final goodbye to their loved one.
It is OK to not include a message on your wreath too so please don't feel pressured if you really don't want too. The funeral wreath itself is a symbol of eternal life and the cycle of life and even without a message is a gorgeous tribute to the deceased.
Different Types of Funeral Wreath Messages
So, what do you actually write on a funeral wreath and how do you choose the right words? To make things clearer, I have created a few simple categories or themes of messages. You can think about the type of person the deceased was, and your relationship with them and one of these categories should match.
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Short and poignant messages
Many people prefer to keep their funeral wreath message short as they want the beauty of the wreath to be the main focal point. Shorter but poignant messages can also be appropriate for those who may not have been as close to the deceased. Some examples of messages include:
- Forever in our thoughts.
- Gone but never forgotten.
- With love and fond memories.
- Thinking of you always.
- Always in our hearts.
Themes of love and remembrance can help show your condolences and that you will not forget the person even though they have passed on.
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Religious messages
Perhaps the deceased was religious and had strong religious beliefs. In such an instance it could be appropriate to include a religious message on your funeral wreath such as:
- You are forever in our thoughts and prayers.
- You can rest now gently in God's arms.
- God bless you and keep you in His care.
- Rest in peace and God bless.
Using religious messages should be done with care and consideration though. For example, perhaps you have religious beliefs but the deceased or their family did not. In these instances, it may be better to include a non-religious message but pray for the deceased privately in your own way.
Some people also like to take verses from the Bible if the person was religious and there are some beautiful verses that can also be used in a general sense:
- “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” Peter 5:7
- “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. Al these things are gone forever” Revelation 21:4
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Traditional and simple messages
If you really are stuck for words or creating messages isn't your forte, there are some simple, traditional funeral messages that have been used for decades and will always be appropriate such as:
- In loving memory.
- May you rest in peace.
- With condolences.
- You will be sorely missed.
- With our deepest sympathy.
- With you in sorrow.
These show your condolences and respect and are ideal if you find writing a personalized message difficult or too upsetting. -
Personalized messages
Maybe you don't want to use a traditional phrase or a message that others will use – that's fine. Many people simply write a message from the heart and there really is no guidelines for this.
Personalized messages are often written by those who were incredibly close to the deceased such as siblings, children, grandchildren, or spouse. Writing something from your heart can help with the grieving process and show your love and respect for the person in a unique way that would have had meaning for you both.
Funeral Wreaths are Incredibly Personal so Write Something That Has Meaning
In most instances the beauty of the funeral wreath will be greatly appreciated by the bereaving family and these memorial wreaths look magnificent. The different colored flowers and greenery are a great way to show your love and respect to the deceased but a heart-felt message can also be included.
Ultimately, your words should come from the heart and express your feelings of loss and appreciation for the deceased and there is no wrong or right answers as to what to write on a funeral wreath. If you are struggling or find the process difficult, you can simply opt to not include a message, or use a traditional phrase like may they rest in peace, in loving memory, or you will be sorely missed.
Frequently asked questions
Do you put your name on a funeral wreath?
Generally, it is advised to put your name on the card you attach to the funeral wreath so there is no confusion as to who sent it etc. Your name shouldn't be part of the wreath itself as this is meant to be a dedicated / memorial to the deceased and the attention shouldn't be on you.
What is a good funeral message?
The best messages come from the heart and the deceased's loved ones will appreciate whatever you write. Always be respectful and if you can't think of any words then there are a range of messages of condolences such as “in loving memory”, “with condolences”, “you will be sorely missed”, and “may you rest in peace”.
Do you put the deceased name on funeral wreaths?
It can be appropriate to include the name of the deceased on funeral wreaths yes. However, depending on your relationship with the deceased you may want to put something more personalised such as mum, dad, gran, or grandad, for example.