Funeral flowers in Switzerland: what to choose, who sends what, what it costs

In Switzerland flowers are part of almost every funeral. The family decorates the coffin or urn, guests bring a bouquet or have a wreath delivered. Nothing is prescribed, but a few customs make the choice easier.

This guide explains which flowers and colours are common, which shapes exist and who usually brings what. It also gives examples of ribbon wording, tips on ordering and delivery, reference prices from the City of Bern and what the line “instead of flowers” in a death notice means.

Which flowers suit a funeral

The classic funeral flowers are roses, lilies, calla lilies, chrysanthemums and carnations. They last well, look calm and are available all year. Florists often add seasonal flowers and greenery.

Each flower is said to carry a meaning. These associations are tradition, not a rule; nobody will read your bouquet as a coded message.

• White flowers — the most common choice; they stand for peace and farewell and suit every guest
• White roses and lilies — classic symbols of purity and faithfulness
• Red roses — stand for love; by custom they tend to come from a partner, parents or children
• Calla lilies and chrysanthemums — often used in wreaths and arrangements as a sign of remembrance and loyalty
• Blue and purple — calm colours that go well with white
• The favourite flower — often the most personal choice, even if it is colourful

If you knew the person, choose what suited them: sunflowers for the gardener, wildflowers for the hiker. Families are usually touched by such gestures.

Seasonal flowers are often fresher and cheaper than imported ones. In spring tulips or ranunculus work well, in autumn asters or dahlias. Ask the florist what is good at the moment.

Bouquet, arrangement, wreath, coffin and urn flowers

Funeral flowers come in several forms. Prices depend on size, flowers and season. As a guide, here are the starting prices of the City of Bern's flower shops on its cemeteries (information sheet “Trauerfloristik”, consulted in October 2026). Prices elsewhere in Switzerland may differ:

• Coffin spray — an arrangement set on the coffin, from about CHF 300; a tied coffin bouquet laid diagonally on the coffin and later placed on the grave, from about CHF 150
• Urn flowers — a small garland around the urn lid from about CHF 80, a small arrangement on the lid from about CHF 50
• Urn wreath — the urn is lowered into the grave inside the wreath, which then decorates the grave; from about CHF 160
• Funeral arrangement — for the chapel and the grave, with or without a ribbon, from about CHF 150
• Wreath — a bouquet wreath on a green base from about CHF 350, a full flower wreath from about CHF 380
• Symbolic shapes — a heart, a cushion or a cross made of flowers, from about CHF 280
• Bouquet — a hand-tied bouquet that guests bring themselves and lay at the grave

Who brings what? The coffin or urn flowers are usually ordered by the closest family; they are the centrepiece of the service. Wreaths and large arrangements often come from the wider family, a local club, the employer or a group of friends who club together. Individual guests usually bring a small bouquet or a single flower.

Flowers are not a must. You can also show your sympathy with a card; how is explained in Offering condolences.

Ribbon wording: examples for wreaths and arrangements

Wreaths and arrangements often carry a ribbon with a short text. One end has the farewell message, the other the names of the senders. Space is tight, so a few words are enough.

• Family — “With love, your children”, “Forever in our hearts”, “We miss you”
• Friends — “In friendship”, “Thank you for everything”, “A last farewell”
• Neighbours — “In fond memory, your neighbours from Linden Lane”
• Club or company — “In grateful memory, the village gymnastics club”, “With deepest sympathy, the team at Example Ltd”
• Religious — “Rest in peace”, “In God's hands” or a short verse, if it suits the person

Choose a lettering colour that stands out clearly, such as gold or silver on a dark ribbon and black on a light one. Check names and spelling before printing; a misspelt ribbon can hardly be replaced on the day of the service.

Ordering and delivery to the cemetery or chapel

Order from a florist near the cemetery. Larger towns have flower shops right on the cemeteries; in Bern, for example, the city runs its own. When you order, give the name of the person who died and the date, time and place of the service.

Where flowers are delivered is set by the municipality (in Switzerland, the Gemeinde or commune runs the cemetery). In Wetzikon (ZH), for example, the regulations say that flowers and wreaths are generally handed in or delivered at the cemetery. If the family wants them in the church during the service, they arrange and pay for the transport themselves. Check with the municipality concerned, as the rules vary.

• Order as soon as the date and place of the service are fixed; wreaths need more notice than a bouquet
• Give the ribbon text in writing
• Add a card with your name to a bouquet or arrangement, so the family later knows who the flowers came from
• Ask whether the shop delivers directly to the chapel or cemetery
• If the service is in another municipality, the cemetery administration can give you the address

“Instead of flowers”: understanding a donation request

More and more death notices include a line such as “Instead of flowers, please consider a donation to …”, followed by the name of an organisation and an IBAN. The family is asking you not to send flowers and to support a cause that mattered to the person who died instead.

Follow this wish. Transfer the money directly to the named organisation and mention the name of the deceased, so the donation can be matched. The amount is up to you; nobody expects a particular sum.

• “Instead of flowers” — no wreaths or arrangements; a single bouquet laid at the grave by close relatives is usually still fine
• “No flowers, please” — without a donation request; the family simply does not want floral tributes
• No note — flowers are welcome

At Jewish funerals flowers are not customary; at the Jewish cemetery in Bern, for example, there are neither flowers nor music in the hall because they are not part of the tradition. For ceremonies of other faiths, ask the family if in doubt.

If you want to give something personal despite the donation request, write a card. It does not replace the flowers, but it shows that you are thinking of the family.

At the grave and after the service

At a burial, many guests step up to the grave one by one after the coffin has been lowered. It is common to drop a flower into the grave or lay it beside it; sometimes the family provides a basket of flowers for this. Cemetery staff place wreaths and arrangements next to or on the grave.

The flowers then stay for a while before they are cleared. How long is set by the municipality's cemetery regulations. Two examples:

• Schenkon (LU) — flowers, wreaths and grave decorations may generally stay for up to six weeks after the burial; staff may remove withered wreaths earlier
• Stäfa (ZH), communal grave — flower and plant arrangements are removed by the cemetery gardener after about two weeks; no arrangements are allowed on the lawn itself

For your municipality, ask the cemetery administration. If the family wants to keep some flowers, such as the coffin bouquet or the ribbons as a keepsake, it is best to take them on the day or shortly afterwards. For a small urn burial a single arrangement is often enough.

If you are organising a service yourself

As the family, you decide on the coffin or urn flowers and whether guests should bring flowers or donate instead. You state this wish in the death notice; we arrange the flowers and the running of the ceremony with you under Memorial service.