If you're sending sympathy flowers for a service at Aikens Funeral Home in East Tampa, here's some practical guidance on timing and etiquette to help everything arrive the way it's meant to.
Divine Flower Decor is an independently owned florist in the Tampa Bay area — we're not affiliated with Aikens Funeral Home, but East Tampa is part of our regular delivery area.
Aikens Funeral Home is located at 2708 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa, FL 33610 — (813) 232-8725.
Delivery timing
We offer next-day delivery online, with windows between 12 PM and 6 PM. Need it today? Call us at (813) 404-6410 before 11 AM to arrange same-day delivery by phone. For a service scheduled in the morning and ordered online, order at least two days ahead; for an afternoon service, the day before is usually enough.
If you can't attend in person
Sending flowers is one of the most common ways to express condolences when you're not able to attend a service — whether that's because of distance, timing, or other circumstances. It's a meaningful gesture on its own, and there's no expectation that you also need to visit or call to make it count. A card with a brief, sincere note is enough to let the family know you're thinking of them.
What's typically sent
A standing spray or easel arrangement is the most common choice from friends, coworkers, and extended family, displayed near the casket or at the entrance to the service. Casket sprays are generally reserved for immediate family. If you'd rather send something to the family's home, a smaller arrangement or blooming plant is often more practical. Soft, muted colors — white, blush, lavender — are the most traditional choice.
Browse our sympathy and funeral flower collection for options.
A Few Options to Consider
Rose Spray
$185
A graceful standing spray of red roses set among white lilies, snapdragons, and alstroemeria, framed by soft ferns and palm fronds. A dignified tribute to honor a life beautifully lived.
Serene Blessings
$185
White gladiolus and roses rise above white carnations and soft purple statice in a graceful standing basket. A peaceful arrangement to honor and comfort in difficult times.
White Tribute
$185
A full, graceful gathering of white gladiolus, lilies, roses, and carnations softened by fern in a clean white vase. A pure, peaceful tribute to a cherished memory.
If the family requested no flowers
When an obituary asks for donations instead, honoring that request is generally the more thoughtful choice. Outside of that, flowers are a widely appropriate way to express condolences, whether or not you're able to attend.
Keeping the card simple
A short, sincere message is all that's expected — "With deepest sympathy," "In loving memory of [name]," or "Thinking of you and your family" are all fitting. A brief personal memory can add something meaningful if you knew the person well.
How to place the order
Order directly through our site — at checkout, enter Aikens Funeral Home's address as the delivery address, note the service date, and add your message in the dedication card field.
Viewing or funeral service
If there's a viewing or visitation before the funeral itself, flowers are appropriate for either event. Standing sprays and larger tribute pieces are usually on display for the full length of the services, so having them arrive before the first event is the safer choice if you're not sure of the exact schedule.
Why a locally hand-delivered arrangement
Every order is designed and delivered by hand rather than shipped in a box, which matters most for sympathy pieces — a standing spray needs to arrive fully assembled and ready to display. Being based in the Tampa Bay area also makes it easy to reach us directly if a delivery detail changes.
The bottom line
None of this takes more than a few minutes to plan, but ordering a day or two ahead and keeping the card message simple covers most of what matters. If anything about the timing is unclear, a quick call usually sorts it out.
Frequently asked questions
Do you deliver to East Tampa?
Yes — East Tampa is part of our regular delivery area.
Can flowers be delivered directly to the funeral home?
Yes — use the funeral home's address as your delivery address at checkout, along with the service date.
Is it okay to send flowers even if I can't attend the service?
Yes — flowers sent on their own are a complete and appropriate gesture, whether or not you're able to be there in person.
What if the service is tomorrow morning?
Since delivery windows start at 12 PM, an order placed today won't arrive before a tomorrow-morning service. It's worth calling us to discuss options, or arranging delivery to the family's home later that day instead.
