The sympathy floral business has seen a shift in the past few years with modern visitations and services becoming more popular. With cremation as a choice more and more people are making, customization in floral presentations is also increasing.

Smaller designs meant to highlight an urn are generally more affordable yet are still a popular way to show tribute through flowers when choosing something other than a traditional burial.

Another option is to create tribute pieces that feature elements of a loved one’s life. Small to large props like sporting equipment, statuary, or other treasures are requested by consumers to highlight within a fresh flower arrangement.

Without the proper mechanics, these new special requests can seem quite daunting to floral designers. Read more to learn about solutions for these challenges that have recently been developed for our industry.

A Unique and Reliable Solution: The Serenity Cage System

Gone are the days of creating makeshift mechanics out of baking sheets, cellophane, cardboard, and bricks of floral foam.

As a floral designer of 20 years, I have concocted some harebrained ideas for showcasing urns and other props in sympathy tribute arrangements.

I was once asked to highlight a full surf skimboard in a casket spray. I can tell you that the piece was stable but not pretty on the inside. Our professionalism as floral designers may come into question once pieces like this are deconstructed after a service concludes.

Fortunately, we no longer have to worry about this judgment as there is a product to solve this challenge: Serenity. Serenity is a modular cage system created by a florist who was tired of creating makeshift pieces as her primary source of floral revenue.

Serenity comes in a large (two foam brick) size and an extra-large (three foam brick) size. Both sizes have a solidly constructed plastic bottom that is equally strong and durable and also offers a small reservoir of water to keep foam hydrated longer, which makes these tribute arrangements go further.

The foam is contained within a wide gridded cage structure that accommodates flexible accessory placement as well as larger floral stems, such as branches or tropical flowers. These modular cage systems can hold a lot of product!

To elevate urns and props, there are multiple accessory pieces to choose from. A round platform is perfect for the common-type round urns, statuary bases, or even a vase with a floating candle.

The easel accessories can be used to elevate photo frames, books, and Bibles, as well as placards and signage. The rectangle accessories make designing with uncommonly shaped props and objects a breeze. This could include a custom square urn or even something that showcases a craft, hobby, or trade of the deceased.

Between the solid construction of the base of the Serenity piece and the addition of the accessory pieces, these designs become both strong and professional looking. The pieces can also be safely transported separately, and the props easily placed on-site once they arrive at the venue. This feature makes Serenity popular with delivery drivers and funeral directors as well.

Designing in these new modular cages is also a breeze. The large cage can be used to create modest to sprawling floral tributes of any shape.

The cage may be square, but using a variety of mixed foliage and floral material allows for the creation of beautiful bespoke arrangements or even something more formal.

The extra-large cage can be used to create large-scale pieces appropriate for housing prop materials or other sizable event statement arrangements. These pieces are strong enough to elevate a garden urn of plants or even an event glass piece full of water with another arrangement on top. All of these pieces are easily assembled to their full glory on-site.

As a floral designer, I am so thankful for other designers who share their concepts and ideas with the floral community, our industry manufacturers, and partners. It’s from these brilliant ideas that we gain access to professional products produced especially for our unique needs.

With the Serenity modular cage system, I have much less stress and save time when it comes to designing arrangements for sympathy tributes. They help my business look professional in the eyes of local funeral home directors and clients who are paying top dollar for these specialty services.

Give these unique systems a try today. Order from your local wholesaler or online from 46spruce.com. If you aren’t a 46 & Spruce Professional, consider signing up for a free account to gain access to bulk quantities of these and more floral supplies at discount prices!