Fresh vs Silk Funeral Tributes: Which Should You Choose?
When ordering funeral flowers, one of the first decisions you'll face is whether to choose fresh or silk. Both are beautiful, heartfelt choices — but they suit different needs and circumstances. Here's everything you need to know to make the right decision for your loved one.
Fresh Funeral Flowers
Fresh flowers have been the traditional choice for funerals for centuries, and for good reason. Their natural beauty, fragrance, and seasonal variety make them deeply moving tributes.
Advantages of fresh flowers
- Natural appearance and scent — there's nothing quite like the look and fragrance of real blooms
- Wide variety — seasonal flowers offer a huge range of colours, textures, and styles
- Traditional — the classic choice for funeral services and well understood by funeral directors
- Biodegradable — an important consideration for eco-conscious families or natural burials
Things to consider
- Fresh flowers are perishable — they will naturally fade after the service
- Some crematoria have restrictions on certain types of packaging or foam used in fresh arrangements — always worth checking with your funeral director
Browse our fresh funeral flowers to see our current range of wreaths, sprays, and personalised tributes.
Silk Funeral Tributes
Silk funeral flowers have grown enormously in popularity in recent years, and it's easy to see why. Modern silk flowers are crafted to an exceptionally high standard and can be virtually indistinguishable from fresh blooms at a glance.
Advantages of silk tributes
- Lasting keepsake — families can keep the arrangement at home or place it at the graveside as a permanent memorial
- Weather-resistant — ideal for outdoor memorials, graves, and niches where fresh flowers would quickly deteriorate
- No wilting — silk tributes look beautiful for months or even years
- Allergy-friendly — a considerate choice if family members have pollen allergies
Things to consider
- Silk flowers don't have the natural fragrance of fresh blooms
- Some families feel fresh flowers are more fitting for the service itself, and choose silk for the graveside afterwards
Explore our silk funeral tributes — including wreaths, hearts, and personalised arrangements.
Can You Have Both?
Absolutely. Many families choose fresh flowers for the funeral service itself, then place a silk tribute at the graveside or keep one at home as a lasting memorial. This gives you the beauty of fresh flowers on the day, and something enduring to hold on to afterwards.
Our Recommendation
If the tribute will be kept at a graveside or outdoor memorial, we'd lean towards silk — it will stay looking beautiful far longer. If the priority is the service itself and a natural, fragrant tribute, fresh flowers are hard to beat.
Still unsure? We're always happy to talk it through. As a family-run florist in Hastings, we've helped many local families make this decision and we'll give you honest, caring advice. Get in touch or browse both our fresh and silk ranges online.