The Tradition and Use of Grave Blankets

What is a Grave Blanket                                                    

A grave blanket is a type of memorial decoration placed on the gravesite of a deceased loved one. Depending on where you live and the time of year, grave blankets can be made from greenery, flowers- fresh or silk, ribbons, and even include pictures or personal items. They are then “laid” atop the headstone or across the plot of a loved one.

Although we aren’t exactly sure where they originated, we can trace their use back to ancient Greece and Scandinavia. The Greeks believed that after a warrior died if the flowers that were placed on his grave began to grow it meant that a happy transition had been made; the warrior was at peace. For the Scandinavians, grave blankets were typically used before the first snow in order to keep loved ones warm during the coldest months of the year. Although they were traditionally made from evergreen boughs, today grave blankets can be customized to your taste and need. Flower grave blankets also last longer than most fresh-cut bouquets due to their durable construction.                                                                 

Types of Grave Blankets                         

Fresh flower grave blankets are a popular choice for those looking to pay tribute to their loved ones with something natural, beautiful, and long-lasting. They can be customized with different types of blooms or foliage depending on the season and can come in many sizes. The benefit of using fresh flowers is a more vibrant visage during and after a gravesite ceremony.

Artificial flower grave blankets provide an alternative for those with less time for upkeep and maintenance. Although they are still created with flowers and greenery, using artificial flowers allows the covering to withstand the elements in a way that fresh flowers cannot. They can also be customized in the same way a fresh flower grave blanket can be.

How to Pick a Grave Blanket                  

When picking out a grave blanket, one of the most important factors to consider is the time of year it will be used. For instance, if you are looking to use a grave blanket in a more traditional way, consider using evergreens, pine cones, bows, and other cold-weather flowers and greenery so that it will last longer.

You’ll also want to consider the size; small blankets can be created for headstones or full-body arrangements capable of covering the entire casket. Please do take care to provide your local florist with the correct measurements though- too large a blanket could encroach on someone else’s grave.

If your primary reason for selecting a grave blanket is for a graveside service, the space, amount of people present, and any other ceremonial items that will be there should be taken into account.

Graveside flowers should be a representation of our loved ones so if traditional wasn’t their style- we’ve got you covered. Truly, any type of grave blanket can be created. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and tell us exactly what you need. 

Lastly, you’ll want to make sure to speak to the cemetery director to make sure there aren’t any restrictions about what can be placed on a grave.

Other Grave Arrangements

While traditions and meanings vary, so can the type of grave flowers. If a grave blanket isn’t your style, consider a cemetery cone or floral headstone arrangement.

A cemetery cone is a floral arrangement of your choosing, housed in an in-ground vase that allows the flowers to both stand anchored in grass or soil and hold water. We recommend a full arrangement in order to mask the cone. The vase can also be decorated with ribbons or bows, as well.

Headstone flowers are carefully created arrangements that sit atop the headstone of your loved one. As with any floral arrangement, the type of flowers used is up to you. While we have several options on our website, we are more than happy to work with you to create exactly what you are looking for.

For those who choose to cremate their loved ones, we also have a number of fresh flower cremation urn arrangements. For a full list of your options, please click here. As always, do not hesitate to call or stop into our store if you’d prefer to talk to someone in person about your needs.

Memorial Day

If your loved one served in the military, whether their service was recent or years ago, memorial flower cones are a lovely way to honor their memory. As with all our grave arrangements, memorial cones can be created to your needs and tastes. To see an example or order a memorial cone, click here. For a number of other examples or to order any other grave or sympathy arrangements, simply visit our website here.

We Are Here to Help   

Graveside floral arrangements offer a unique way of expressing your love for the deceased and can be customized in any number of ways to reflect the personality of the individual being honored.       

At Plumeria Botanical Boutique, we offer a number of grave blankets, cemetery cones, and floral headstone designs that can be purchased in-store or online and shipped directly. And we offer domestic shipping in the contiguous United States. If you have a custom design request, please call us at 269-963-9499. Custom work is our strong suit and we would love to use our creative talents to honor your vision. Each of our grave blankets or floral funeral designs is custom-made to order by our talented design team. No two will ever be alike. We understand that the process of preparing to let your loved one go can be difficult. If you have questions or feel overwhelmed at the thought of browsing our website, please don’t hesitate to call us. We would be more than happy to discuss your memorial service and help you create a custom grave arrangement to honor your cherished loved one.