Choosing a tribute · East Kent
Artificial vs Fresh Funeral Flowers
In short: artificial funeral flowers, also called silk or faux tributes, are hand-arranged replicas of fresh floral tributes. Because they can be hired rather than bought, they cost substantially less than fresh: a letter tribute from Blooming Tales is £60 to £90 depending on letter count, and we collect the piece after the service. They are weather-resistant, so they hold their appearance through a long service or at a graveside, and they carry no pollen or scent. Fresh flowers still win on fragrance, and on being yours to keep. The cost difference is largest on lettering and the bigger shaped tributes, which are also the pieces on display longest, so that is usually where hiring makes the most sense. We deliver across East Kent, including Dover, Folkestone, Deal and Canterbury.
How do artificial and fresh funeral flowers compare?
| Artificial (silk, hired) | Fresh (bought) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Hired from £50, and we collect it afterwards | Bought outright, and paid for again on each occasion |
| How long it lasts | Holds its appearance for years, indoors or at a graveside | A few days at most, then it needs replacing |
| Weather | Weather-resistant, suited to outdoor and graveside use | Wilts in warm or windy conditions during a long service |
| Allergies | No pollen, no scent | Pollen and scent can affect mourners |
| Availability | Any bloom, any colour, any time of year | Limited by season and by what wholesalers have that week |
| Scent | None | Natural fragrance, which matters a great deal to some families |
| Keeping it afterwards | Hired pieces are collected after the service | Yours to keep, and to press or dry |
How much does it cost to hire artificial funeral flowers?
These are our full hire prices in East Kent. Each piece is delivered to your funeral director or crematorium and collected afterwards. Delivery and collection in Dover are free; beyond Dover a small distance-based charge applies, up to 10 miles £10, 10 to 20 miles £15 to £20, and 20 to 30 miles £25 to £35. Nothing is charged online and nothing is booked until we have spoken.
Letter tribute pricing is one word per price, so please enquire for multi-word displays. Children's tributes are always free of hire charge; the £25 deposit is refunded after collection, or you are welcome to donate it to SANDS instead.
| Tribute | Hire price |
|---|---|
| Letter tribute, 1-4 letters (e.g. MUM, DAD, NAN) | £60 |
| Letter tribute, 5-6 letters | £80 |
| Letter tribute, 7+ letters | £90 |
| Large love heart | £80 |
| Coffin spray, added to a letter tribute | £45 |
| Teddy bear tribute | £70 |
| Angel tribute | £50 |
| Butterfly tribute | £80 |
| Children's tributes | Free hire, £25 refundable deposit |
Fresh funeral flowers are arranged to order and priced on request, as the cost depends on the blooms in season that week. Prices for fresh tributes vary considerably between florists, so it is worth asking for a quote on both before deciding.
Common questions
Are artificial funeral flowers cheaper than fresh?
Yes, substantially, because they are hired rather than bought. A hired artificial letter tribute from Blooming Tales starts at £60, and we collect it after the service. The equivalent in fresh flowers is bought outright, so it is paid for in full every time it is needed. For anniversaries and other remembrance dates the gap widens, because a tribute can simply be hired again rather than bought afresh each time.
Do artificial funeral flowers look real?
At the distances a tribute is actually seen from, at a service or at a graveside, premium silk is very difficult to tell from fresh, and it photographs well. The materials are what make the difference: our arrangements are crafted from premium silk and real-touch blooms, and every piece is hand-arranged rather than mass-produced.
Is it disrespectful to use artificial flowers at a funeral?
No. Artificial and silk tributes are now a common and well-accepted choice at services across the UK, and funeral directors handle them routinely. Many families choose them precisely because the tribute holds its appearance throughout the day, and because a silk piece can go on to sit at a graveside long after fresh flowers would have faded.
How does hiring funeral flowers work?
You enquire with the date and the piece you would like, and we confirm availability and the exact delivery cost before anything is booked. We hand-arrange the tribute at our Dover base, deliver it directly to your funeral director or crematorium, and collect it afterwards. No payment is taken online. Delivery and collection in Dover are free; elsewhere in East Kent a small distance-based charge applies.
Can you still have fresh flowers if you prefer them?
Yes. We arrange fresh funeral tributes to order alongside the hire range, priced on request. Some families choose a hired artificial tribute for the lettering and a small fresh arrangement alongside it, which keeps the cost down without giving up the scent of fresh flowers.
Still weighing it up?
Talk it through with Sophie, with no obligation. She will confirm availability, the exact delivery cost, and what will look best for the service. For more on how long tributes last and where artificial flowers are accepted, see our funeral flower guides.