What Does In Lieu Of Flowers Mean?

In lieu of flowers is a phrase used to invite users to honor the life of someone who has passed in a different way from sending flowers. The phrase basically means "instead of flowers," so it means giving a gift or donation instead of sending flowers to the funeral. Some families may request to have monetary donations be made to a charity instead of bringing flowers to a funeral or memorial service for a loved one. They may have only a few flowers that they want at the viewing, and would prefer friends and distant family to put their money towards a donation instead. But that doesn't always mean flowers cannot be sent to the family themselves. Learn more about the meaning of "in lieu of flowers" and proper etiquette for an upcoming funeral that mentions that. 

Whether someone has asked for a donation in memory of the deceased or is asking for flowers to be sent, there are a few rules to follow.

The amount of a charitable donation in honor of someone who has passed can be determined by what you would have spent on flowers if they were requested. The amount can depend on how close you are to the family and the loved one and what you are willing to spend to show appreciation. The following tips are also important to help you during the process:

• Be sure to alert the charity that your gift is "in memory of____".
• Provide the name and address of the deceased family so they are aware that a donation was made in the name of their loved one.

Some may choose to send the loved one's family flowers and honor their request for a donation. Learn below some helpful tips if you decide to send the family flowers and make a donation request as the family has requested.

• Follow the above etiquette tips for sending a donation.
• Send flowers to the family's address and not to the funeral if they have made a specific "in lieu of flowers" request.

Has it been requested to make donations or other gifts in lieu of flowers? Discover below some helpful ideas you can give that are as meaningful as sending a bouquet of beautiful flowers.

• A donation
• A handwritten note
• A memorial stone
• A care package
• A photo album

If a family has requested a donation or gift in lieu of flowers, it's important to follow their wishes. With the help of Hamel-Lydon, we ensure that you give a meaningful gift that honors the lift a loved one lived while also paying your respects to the family. Our team helps with funeral gift ideas, sending flowers to families, and grief counseling support for these challenging times. Whether you want to plan a funeral or memorial service or are looking for help after a loss, our team is more than happy to help. Contact us today at 617-472-5888 .