Liam Payne's heartbreaking floral tributes at funeral and the hidden meanings behind them

Friends and family of Liam Payne gathered today for the funeral of the former One Direction star, who tragically passed away on 16th October at the age of 31.

The service was planned to pay homage to the singer, incorporating personal touches that celebrated his life alongside traditional floral arrangements and candles. As mourners entered the church, they were greeted by a unique floral tribute: a display of bowling pins being struck by a ball, crafted from fresh flowers—a nod to Liam's well-known passion for bowling.

The musician had even spent his last birthday on 29th August bowling with his loved ones, just months before his untimely death in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"Liam was with his mum in Manchester where they celebrated his birthday with family. They were still incredibly close and enjoyed spending time together bowling. Liam's family stayed with him for a few days at the Stock Exchange Hotel," shared a source with the Daily Mail. The source added, "It's tragic to think that ended up being the last time they would celebrate his special day with him."

In the days leading up to his passing, his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, playfully teased him on TikTok for his bowling obsession.

In a heartfelt post dated October 3, she uploaded a montage of their bowling alley dates, showcasing the couple's playful competitiveness. "He drags me to bowling at least four times a week," she wrote alongside the footage, clearly indicating their shared affection for the sport, reports the Mirror.

The video sparked a wave of nostalgia among fans, with one comment reading, "The joy that bowling brought him even though he was so bad at it... I miss him so so much," reflecting on Kate's victory in the game.

His funeral service also included a touching nod to his cherished hobbies, with guest vehicles bearing Batman logos on their windshields – a black bat set against a stark white backdrop, celebrating Liam's well-known love for the caped crusader. A self-proclaimed Batman fanatic, Liam had once housed a life-size cutout of the DC superhero, and in 2013, cheekily declared himself as the night-time vigilante on Twitter with the words: "For those who you who have doubted me and now turn to hate I'd like to say one thing... I am Batman."

This wasn't just a phase; his birthdays often featured Batman-themed cakes, and he owned an impressively realistic costume which made recurring appearances at Halloween celebrations spanning years, from 2012 to 2019.

In addition to the references to Liam's passions and pastimes, his hearse poignantly highlighted what truly mattered to the late singer. Atop the hearse, two floral tributes, one in red and the other in blue, leaned against each other.

One arrangement spelled out "SON," while the other read "DADDY."

As the father of seven year old Bear Payne, his child with ex-partner Cheryl Cole, Liam's love for his son was well-documented. Following his passing, Cheryl praised Liam as a father after his death, while Liam himself spoke openly of his devotion to the young boy.