Urgent funeral flowers: how to get them there in time

If you need funeral flowers urgently in Switzerland, the key figure is 48 hours: KANEL makes each funeral piece to order and asks for at least two days before the ceremony, with free delivery anywhere in the country, Monday to Saturday. If the service is sooner, do not order blindly online: call or WhatsApp KANEL first on +41 78 243 18 69 (Monday–Saturday, 9am–6pm) to ask whether a delivery is still possible.

This guide explains how to act quickly, what to prepare and what to do if the flowers cannot arrive in time. For an overview of formats and customs, see our guide to funeral flowers in Switzerland.

Why funeral flowers need a little time

Wreaths, sprays, hearts and cushions are not ready-made. At KANEL they are composed by hand in the workshop in Vernier (Geneva), only once ordered, with fresh flowers. They then travel to the church, funeral home, crematorium or cemetery. That is why KANEL asks for at least two days’ notice.

In Switzerland, funerals often take place within a few days of the death. Death notices are usually published quickly, so the best thing you can do is order as soon as you know the date and place.

Step by step when time is short

1. Check the death notice

Before anything else, read the notice (newspaper, online obituary or the message from the family). It tells you:

• the date, time and place of the ceremony;
• whether it is a burial or a cremation;
• whether the family asks for no flowers or for donations instead.

If the family asks for donations, respect that wish; a card or a bouquet to the home a little later is still possible.

2. Count the hours

• More than 48 hours before the ceremony: you can order online as normal. Choose the delivery date in the calendar.
• Less than 48 hours: contact KANEL by phone or WhatsApp on +41 78 243 18 69 before ordering. Explain the place, date and time. They will tell you whether it can be done; it is not guaranteed.
• Funeral on Monday: there are no Sunday deliveries, so the flowers must arrive on Saturday. Check with the funeral home that it can receive and keep them.

3. Prepare the information in advance

A quick order is a complete order. Have ready:

1. the first name and surname of the deceased;
2. the full address of the delivery place (church, funeral home, crematorium, cemetery), with grave number or room if relevant;
3. the date and time of the ceremony;
4. your preferred delivery time (usually before the ceremony starts);
5. a contact person on site and their phone number (often the funeral home);
6. the text for the ribbon.

If you do not have the funeral home’s details, they are usually in the death notice, or the family’s contact person can give them to you.

4. Choose a format quickly

When time is short, do not overthink it. A simple guide:

More detail in our guides to the funeral spray, the funeral cushion and the funeral wreath.

5. Keep the ribbon short

A personalised ribbon costs CHF 35 at KANEL. In a hurry, a universal phrase works best: “In loving memory” on one side, your names on the other. For more options, see our list of funeral ribbon messages.

KANEL funeral prices at a glance

Source: kanel.ch, checked November 2026. Delivery is free throughout Switzerland with no minimum order. Full details in our article on how much funeral flowers cost in Switzerland.

Ordering in advance when you can

If you are reading this before a funeral date is known, for instance because a relative is very ill, it may help to know that KANEL accepts funeral bookings up to 60 days ahead, and the calendar shows the available dates for each postcode. Many people simply prefer to choose calmly once the date is set; the point is that the ordering itself takes only a few minutes when you have the information ready.

If the flowers cannot arrive in time

Sometimes it is simply too late. That does not mean you cannot show your support:

• Send flowers to the family’s home a few days later. Many families say the quiet days after the funeral are the hardest, and flowers then are especially touching.
• Send flowers to the grave. A cushion or a small arrangement delivered to the cemetery a week or two later is a lasting gesture. See our guide to grave flowers and cemetery delivery.
• Write a card. A few sincere words matter more than any arrangement. Our article on condolence messages for flowers can help.

Sending from abroad at short notice

If you live outside Switzerland, remember that the 48-hour lead time and KANEL’s phone hours (9am–6pm, Monday–Saturday) are in Swiss time. If you are in North America or Asia, a WhatsApp message is often the easiest way to reach the team within those hours. Payment by international card or PayPal is accepted, as are TWINT and Alma.

Summary

• Standard lead time for handmade funeral pieces: 48 hours.
• Under 48 hours: call or WhatsApp KANEL on +41 78 243 18 69 before ordering; nothing is guaranteed.
• No Sunday delivery; plan Saturday for a Monday funeral.
• Have the deceased’s name, address, ceremony time, contact person and ribbon text ready.

Order as soon as you know the date: KANEL’s funeral flowers are made by hand in Geneva and delivered free to the ceremony anywhere in Switzerland, Monday to Saturday.