Grandad's funeral friday, questions about flowers and what to wear.

[npg1]

Hi. This is my first funeral. Grandad is being buried quite a long was from my home and i dont know if I take flowers with me or what to do? Also what to wear? Black, does that include a black coat as I only have a long red one or can I not wear that really?

Thanks for your help.

Sorry to hear about your Grandad.

What usually happens with flowers is that the florist delivers them to the funeral directors on the day of the funeral so that they go in the hearse.

If you look up a florists in that area and give them a ring they can take your order over the phone and do it that way, even write the card with the words you want.

Re: clothing. People still tend to wear quite dark, muted colours IME but it very much depends on the what the family want.

Sorry for your loss - flowers you can take with you or ring a florist in the area. Other family members may have already arranged some and you could go in with them or use the same florist?

Coatwise - opinions on black vary but I think we can be sure that your Grandad would not want you to go to lots of expense or to be cold so if it's all you've got then wear it!

You might want to talk to family members as well about how they want to do the arriving at church thing - some families go straight in and sit down then the coffin is bought in and others wait outside and follow the coffin in. If you can find that out now it may save you a bit of a flap on the day. Take lots of tissues - funerals are always emotional.

Sorry, got distracted and pressed "post" before I finished...

re: clothes -did your Grandad want a traditional, all in black type funeral do you know? If so you may find that everyone will be in black/dark colours. If not then, like Ruby said, if it was teamed with black scarf, gloves etc then it could be OK.

It just depends on how the older generations there view it as they can be very set in their ways especially the etiquette of funerals IYSWIM.

thanks for your help. Think I will wear black then i wont feel the odd one out.

Spoke to my cousin earlier and she is going to arrange flowers tomorrow and all the grandchildren are putting some money in.

Not looking forward to it. Not sure yet if we go in with the coffin or wait in church.