Funeral Wreath with Ribbon: How to Order or Make Your Own
To get a funeral wreath with ribbon right, choose the shape first, write a short ribbon message that names the sender, and order with the venue address and service time ready. If you would rather build it by hand, soak a foam ring, fill it with flowers in evenly spaced groups, and finish with a pleated ribbon or a stacked bow.
The ribbon is where things go wrong. Names get misspelled, the wording runs too long to read, or the wreath arrives after the service has started. In Nairobi, tributes go to homes, churches and funeral homes, and a slip on the ribbon is hard to fix on the day.
This guide covers four steps in order: choosing the wreath, wording the ribbon, ordering with the right delivery details, and making your own. Flower Delivery Nairobi makes funeral wreaths in round, cross and heart shapes at its Tubman Road studio, so the prices and delivery terms below are ours.
Why the ribbon matters on a funeral wreath
A ribbon turns a standard wreath into a personal tribute, because it carries your name and your words. Without it, the family sees flowers but not who sent them.
What the ribbon does
The ribbon, often called a sash, is a band of satin that runs across the wreath or hangs from a bow at its base. It does two jobs. It names the sender, so the family can acknowledge the tribute later, and it carries a short message that people can read from a few steps away. When several wreaths stand side by side at a service, the ribbon is how yours is told apart.
Some families prefer no lettering at all, and a plain bow is perfectly proper. If the family has asked for no names on tributes, follow that request and send a plain ribbon instead.
The flowers say you care, and the ribbon tells the family who cared.
Colors and lettering that read well
Pick a ribbon color that sits quietly with the flowers and contrasts with the lettering. Three combinations work reliably:
- White or ivory ribbon with gold or silver lettering, for wreaths built from white roses and chrysanthemums.
- Purple ribbon with white or silver lettering, for wreaths that use purple flowers.
- Black ribbon with white lettering, for a formal, restrained look.
A wired satin ribbon about 4 cm wide holds a bow shape well and takes a pleat cleanly. Thin or limp ribbon sags once the wreath is set on an easel.
Step 1. Choose the wreath shape and flowers
Choose the shape first, because it sets the price and tells people what the tribute means. A round wreath is the traditional, neutral choice, a cross suits church services, and a heart is usually sent by close family or friends.
Match the shape to the service
Round funeral wreaths suit almost any service, whether it is held at home, in a church or at a graveside. They also give the ribbon the most room to drape. Cross-shaped wreaths fit church and faith-based services, while heart wreaths work best when you were close to the family. If you are unsure, ask the family or the funeral home which shapes are already being sent, so your tribute does not duplicate theirs.
Compare the wreaths and prices
These are the funeral wreaths we currently list, all in Kenyan shillings:
| Wreath | Shape | Flowers listed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral Love Heart Wreath | Heart | See product page | KES 5,500 |
| Executive Round Wreath | Round | White roses, white chrysanthemums, greenery | KES 6,000 |
| Executive Cross Wreath | Cross | White chrysanthemums, purple flowers | KES 6,000 |
| Tribute Cross | Cross | White chrysanthemums, roses, green fillers | KES 6,000 |
| Funeral Heart Wreath | Heart | Yellow chrysanthemums, white roses | KES 7,200 |
| Heart Shape Tribute Wreath | Heart | See product page | KES 7,500 |
| Last Respect Round Wreath | Round | See product page | KES 7,500 |
| Executive Funeral Round Wreath | Round | See product page | KES 8,500 |
Prices run from KES 5,500 to KES 8,500, so the shape matters less than the style you choose within it. Budget for delivery separately, which Step 3 covers.
Pick the shape for the service, then pick the style for your budget.
Step 2. Write the ribbon message
Keep the message to one line of tribute and one line naming who sent it. A ribbon is read at a glance, so short wording is clearer and easier to letter neatly.
Pick wording that fits your relationship
Match the tone to how well you knew the family. Copy a template below and replace the brackets:
With deepest sympathy
From [your name or family name]
Rest in peace, [Name]
Forever in our hearts
From [colleagues at company name]
Pumzika kwa amani
From [your name]
Use the first for a general tribute, the second for a workplace or a close friend, and the third if the family would welcome Swahili.
Check spelling and length before it is made
Write names exactly as the family writes them, including initials and spelling variants. A misspelled name is the most common ribbon error and the one families notice first. Limit the ribbon to two lines, and avoid long poems or Bible verses, because small lettering is hard to read from a distance.
Send your exact wording on WhatsApp when you order, and ask whether a ribbon can be added to the wreath you chose. We send a live photo and a short video of each order for approval before dispatch, so use that preview to proofread the ribbon letter by letter.
Read the ribbon aloud once before you approve it, and check every name.
Step 3. Order and confirm delivery
Order with the venue address, the service time and your ribbon wording ready. The more precise those three details are, the less likely the wreath is to arrive late or at the wrong place.
What to have ready
Gather this list before you start the order:
- The full name of the person who has died, spelled as the family writes it
- The venue name and exact address, whether a home, a church or a funeral home
- A contact person at the venue and their phone number
- The service date and the time the wreath must be in place
- Your ribbon wording and the sender name
Timing, fees and a worked example
Same-day delivery within Nairobi and surrounding areas takes 2 to 3 hours, so order at least that long before you need the wreath in place. Orders placed after 4:00 PM EAT are dispatched the next morning. For a service early the next day, order the afternoon before. Major towns outside Nairobi receive next-day delivery.
| Delivery zone | Fee | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi CBD | Free | Same day |
| Greater Nairobi | KES 500 | Same day, 2 to 3 hours |
| Outside Nairobi | KES 1,500 | Next day |
Here is how it adds up. An Executive Round Wreath at KES 6,000 delivered to a church in greater Nairobi costs KES 6,500. A Tribute Cross at KES 6,000 sent to a town outside Nairobi costs KES 7,500. A Funeral Heart Wreath delivered inside the CBD costs just KES 7,200. If you are abroad, you can pay by international card or PayPal and still approve the photo preview on WhatsApp.
Order at least three hours ahead, and the day before for early services.
Step 4. Make a funeral wreath with ribbon yourself
To make one yourself, soak a foam ring, build the flowers in evenly spaced groups, fill the gaps with greenery, and add the ribbon last. Buy your stems the day before the service so they are fresh when you start.
Gather supplies and build the base
You need these supplies:
- A round floral foam ring, such as a 15-inch (about 38 cm) ring
- Floral pins and sharp scissors or flower shears
- Large, medium and small flowers, plus greenery
- Flower food, which is optional but helps
- About 3 yards (2.7 m) of 1½-inch wired satin ribbon for the bow, and 1 yard of narrow ribbon or florist wire
- A further length of satin ribbon for the pleated sash
Then build the wreath in this order:
- Soak the foam thoroughly in water. Dry foam shortens the life of every flower in it.
- Cut the stems, leaving about an inch (2.5 cm) so they grip the foam.
- Push large flowers in groups of three, spaced evenly around the ring.
- Add medium and small flowers around each group at a slight angle, repeating the same mix each time for a tidy look.
- Fill the gaps with greenery, cover the inner and outer rims, and leave a small space for the ribbon.
Pleat the sash and tie the stacked bow
Lay the satin flat and fold small, even pleats along its length, keeping each fold tight. Hold the folds with a pin or a few stitches, then drape the pleated sash across the wreath. If you want lettering, use iron-on letters or a metallic paint pen, and test on an offcut first, because satin marks easily.
For the bow, make four loops of equal size from the wide ribbon and tie the centre tightly with the narrow ribbon, leaving a long tail. Make a second four-loop layer with slightly smaller loops and tie it on top of the first with the same tail. Keep the knot at the back, trim the tails, then wire the bow to the base of the ring and double-knot it.
Soak the foam well, space the flowers evenly, and add the ribbon last.
Ready to send a tribute
A good funeral wreath with ribbon comes down to four decisions: the shape, the ribbon wording, the delivery details, and, if you build it yourself, a well-soaked ring and a neat pleat. Keep the message short, check every name, and order early enough that the wreath is in place before the service.
If you would rather leave the arranging to florists, you can order a round funeral wreath in Nairobi, send your ribbon wording on WhatsApp, and approve the photo preview before it leaves the studio.
