Roses are one of the most popular flowers to give when someone passes away. They are elegant, fragrant, and come in a wide variety of colors that convey different meanings. The color of roses you choose to give at a funeral or memorial service can express certain sentiments about the deceased or your relationship with them. When selecting rose colors, it’s important to consider the message you want to share.
Traditional Funeral Rose Colors
There are a few traditional rose colors that are commonly given at funerals and memorial services:
- White – White roses symbolize purity, innocence, and reverence. They convey sympathy and are a classic funeral flower choice.
- Red – Red roses express love, respect, courage, and passion for the deceased. They are a bold, meaningful choice.
- Pink – Pink roses signify gentleness, grace, and admiration. They offer a soft, subtle message of empathy.
- Yellow – Yellow roses represent joy, warmth, and friendship. They provide optimism and celebrate the light the deceased brought to your life.
These colors carry timeless messages that make them safe, appropriate options when you are unsure what to send. You can’t go wrong giving traditional funeral roses in a classic color.
Unique Memorial Rose Colors
While classic white, red, pink, or yellow roses are always tasteful choices, you may want to select a more unique color that offers a personalized message about the deceased. Here are some options:
- Lavender – Lavender roses convey enchantment and mystical love for the deceased.
- Coral – Coral roses show desire and passion for life, emphasizing the vibrancy of the departed.
- Orange – Orange roses illustrate pride, enthusiasm, and fondness for the memories you share.
- Peach – Peach roses indicate gratitude, sincerity, and appreciation for the individual.
- Blue – Blue roses signify the unattainable or impossible as you mourn someone who cannot be replaced.
- Black – Black roses express farewell and signify the end of a chapter.
These unique rose colors have special meanings that let you customize your message and remembrance of the deceased. They can provide comfort, convey deep love, and pay tribute to someone’s spirit.
Multi-Colored Rose Arrangements
For a complementary, well-rounded message, you may opt to send a multi-colored rose arrangement. Combining different rose colors allows you to mix several meanings and sentiments for the deceased. Some popular color combinations include:
- Red and White – Honors love and reverence
- Pink and Yellow – Conveys gentle admiration and friendship
- Lavender, Peach and Coral – Expresses mystical, sincere, vibrant love
- Red, Orange, Yellow – Shows passion, pride, joy
Blending rose colors provides a nuanced, thoughtful gift that touches on multiple emotions and memories. It offers a symbolic celebration of the deceased’s life.
Best Color Meanings for Different Relations
The most appropriate rose color also depends on your relationship to the deceased. Here are meaningful selections for different types of common relations:
| Relation to Deceased | Best Rose Colors |
|---|---|
| Parent | Pink, white, yellow |
| Grandparent | Lavender, yellow, peach |
| Sibling | Red, white, coral |
| Spouse | Red, pink, coral |
| Child | White, pink, lavender |
| Friend | Yellow, peach, orange |
Tailoring the rose color to your relationship can help convey meaningful sentiments like admiration for a grandparent, devotion to a spouse, or lively spirit of a friend. Prioritize colors that symbolize the positives of that particular bond.
Presenting Roses at Memorial Services
The way you present funeral roses can also carry significance. Some options include:
- Standing spray – A full, upright arrangement displayed next to the urn or casket.
- Wreath – A circular arrangement that lays flat atop the casket.
- Bouquet – A hand-held bunch that can be placed on the casket or displayed at the memorial.
- Single stem – A single rose that can be worn, held during the service, or laid beside a picture of the deceased.
Consider if you want to carry the roses, have them near the deceased, or use them to decorate the memorial space. This can help you determine the most fitting presentation format.
Conclusion
Roses offer a time-honored, elegant way to honor those we’ve lost. Whether you opt for traditional colors like white, red, pink or yellow, or choose unique shades like lavender, coral, orange or blue, different rose colors hold symbolic meaning. Multi-colored arrangements allow you to share a variety of heartfelt messages. When selecting your funeral roses, consider your relationship to the deceased and the sentiments you wish to convey, so the color choice reflects what is in your heart.
