How to Choose a Florist for a Funeral in Dallas–Fort Worth

Funeral flowers serve multiple purposes: honoring the deceased, providing comfort to the family, and creating a visual environment of respect and remembrance for visitors. For DFW families, choosing the right florist depends on the type of arrangements desired, the cultural and religious tradition, the budget, and the geographic location of the service.

This guide walks through the major DFW florists, what each does well, and how to coordinate with the funeral home. Vargas-London does not earn referral fees from any florist; the recommendations here reflect what we observe DFW families consistently choose.

The major DFW funeral florists

The florists most often used by DFW families:

• McShan Florist — 10311 Garland Rd, Dallas (multiple locations across DFW). Family-owned since 1948, the largest DFW florist with reliable same-day funeral delivery to any funeral home in the metroplex. Phone: (214) 324-2481. Website: mcshanflorist.com.
• Cebolla Flowers — 4514 Travis St #105, Dallas (Park Cities). European-style sympathy work; appropriate for traditional Catholic, Episcopal, and Park Cities services. Phone: (214) 522-0027.
• Gordon Boswell Flowers — 1220 Pennsylvania Ave, Fort Worth. Established Fort Worth florist; primary choice for Cultural District, TCU-area, and downtown Fort Worth services. Phone: (817) 332-2265.
• Avant Garden Floral — 4900 Belt Line Rd, Dallas. Modern, understated arrangements; serves North Dallas, Park Cities, and the LBJ corridor.
• Inwood Flowers — 5840 W Lovers Lane #150, Dallas. Long-established Inwood/Lovers Lane corridor florist.
• Apostolic Flowers — bilingual (Spanish/English) florist for Hispanic Catholic families; coordinates rosario floral pieces and Misa de cuerpo presente arrangements.
• Plano Florist — local same-day delivery throughout Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen.

Types of funeral arrangements

Common funeral floral arrangements:

• Casket spray: large arrangement that covers the top of the casket. Typically $250–$500 for traditional arrangements; $500–$1,200 for elaborate. The casket spray is typically family-purchased.
• Standing wreath or cross: large standing arrangement, often on an easel near the casket. $150–$400 for standard; $400–$800 for elaborate.
• Casket lid spray: smaller spray for the lid of the casket (used at viewings).
• Pedestal arrangement: large arrangement on a pedestal, typically near the casket or at the front of the chapel/sanctuary. $200–$500.
• Vase or basket arrangement: smaller arrangements typically given by friends, neighbors, organizations, and extended family. $50–$200.
• Sympathy bouquet: simpler arrangement for delivery to the family's home.
• Living plants and trees: increasingly chosen as longer-lasting tributes; the family takes them home after the service.

For most DFW funerals, the family typically purchases the casket spray (1) and possibly one or two standing wreaths (2-3 arrangements totaling $500–$1,500). Friends, organizations, and extended family typically purchase 5–20 additional smaller arrangements totaling $1,000–$3,000+ depending on the size of the service.

Religious and cultural considerations

Different traditions have different floral conventions:

• Catholic: floral arrangements are appropriate and welcomed. Casket sprays are typical. Cemeteries (Calvary Hill, Mount Olivet, Gates of Heaven) accept floral arrangements at the gravesite.
• Hispanic Catholic: rosario floral pieces are common — arrangements specifically meant to be brought to the rosario the night before the Funeral Mass.
• Jewish: traditional Jewish funerals discourage flowers; donations to charity (tzedakah) in the deceased's name are traditional alternatives. Reform Jewish families may have flowers; Orthodox and Conservative families typically do not.
• Muslim: traditional Islamic funerals discourage flowers; family typically does not request them. Donations to charity (sadaqah) are traditional alternatives.
• Hindu: floral garlands (mala) for the deceased are traditional. Family may request specific traditional flowers.
• Buddhist: floral arrangements are appropriate; some traditions prefer specific flowers (lotus is meaningful).
• African American Christian (Baptist, AME, COGIC): floral arrangements are central; many family members and organizations send flowers.

Vargas-London helps families understand what is appropriate for their specific tradition.

How to order flowers and coordinate delivery

Practical coordination:

1. Time the order: order at least 24–48 hours in advance. Same-day delivery from major DFW florists is possible but limits selection.
2. Confirm delivery details: the florist needs the funeral home address (12101 Greenville Ave., #118, Dallas, TX 75243), the deceased's name, and the date and time of the service. The florist will deliver before the service.
3. Specify card content: the florist provides a card with the sender's name and message. The family typically keeps these as a record.
4. Coordinate with the church/venue: if the service is at a church, the florist may deliver directly to the church (with permission).
5. Cemetery delivery: floral arrangements can also be delivered directly to the cemetery for the graveside service.
6. After the service: family typically takes the casket spray and other significant arrangements; smaller arrangements may be left with the cemetery or distributed to family members.

Cost-saving alternatives

For families wanting to honor the deceased while managing costs:

• Living plants (orchids, peace lilies) cost $50–$200 and last for months or years
• One large family casket spray plus simple sympathy arrangements from extended family typically suffices
• In lieu of flowers: many obituaries include 'in lieu of flowers, donations to [charity]' — this is appropriate and often welcomed by the family
• Memorial donations: donations to charities, the deceased's church, or causes meaningful to them are often more meaningful than flowers
• Photo arrangements: simple framed photo collages instead of large floral pieces