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A Guide to Unique Memorial Services

It is now common for people to choose to celebrate the life of a loved one in an unusual or unique way. Our guide will touch upon some of the meaningful and interesting things people are doing to pay homage to their loved ones.

Alternative Hearses

There are many places in the UK offering unique or unusual hearses that can really personalise a service for a loved one. Here are some of the more interesting hearses we have found:

Vintage Lorry Hearse

With a 21ft deck, you can create a personalised arrangement for your loved one to reflect a profession, hobby or something close to their heart.

Tank Hearse

This vintage hearse provides a visually stunning send-off for a tank mad loved one.

Hummer Hearse

A six wheeled converted Humvee hearse, perfect for petrol heads.

Firework ash scattering

Many companies across the UK are now offering a truly unique way to say goodbye to a loved one and scatter their ashes. As seen in the video clip from BBC below, ashes are respectfully and tastefully incorporated into fireworks by trained pyrotechnicians. Many providers will also give the option of arranging the display for you.

Have a woodland burial

Natural woodland burials are becoming more popular with people who are environmentally conscious. There are over 270 beautiful natural woodland burial sites in the UK that offer a truly beautiful send-off, set amongst natural flora, fauna and woodland. To find out more about natural woodland burials read our article here.

Unique funeral ceremony ideas

There are many ways to add personality to a ceremony. Here are some of our favourites:

Live stream the funeral

Many social platforms, including Facebook and YouTube provide live streaming options. By live streaming a funeral service, you give people who were unable to attend a chance to be a part of the ceremony and pay their respects from wherever they are in the world.

Release balloons

A beautiful and vibrant way to pay homage to a life lived. There are many companies in the UK that will create custom balloons, you can then source a pressurised helium pump or get a local company to help to inflate them.

Dove release

As a symbol of peace and love, a dove release provides a beautiful and visual way to pay tribute to a loved one.

Unique memorial service ideas

Whether you decide on a traditional or more modern and unique funeral, there are many ways you can add something different to remember a life lived. Here are some of our top picks:

Give out seed packets

Giving out seed packets allows mourners to each grow their own memorial for a loved one in their own garden. This is a wonderful way to celebrate a life lived, giving each attendee a lasting memorial.

Personalised candles

Some people choose to give out personalised candles with the loved one’s name on, providing each guest with an opportunity to pay tribute in the days and weeks after the funeral.

Create a memory tree

You may wish to allow guests to share their memories of a loved one by creating a unique memorial tree. This could be as simple as having a vase with branches in on a counter with labels and pens.

Unique ideas for the wake

Wakes are often held at a hall or pub nearby, giving attendees a chance to talk together and share their memories. They also provide an opportunity to introduce even more of your loved one’s personality:

Host an open microphone

Attendees may wish to share memories about the loved one that has passed. Providing an open mic at the wake gives them a chance to talk about their memories and experiences.

Include four legged friends

If your loved one was fond of animals, it may be a nice touch to welcome pets to take part in the wake.

Personalise the food

Serve up a selection of a loved one’s favourite foods to personalise the Wake, a further tribute to a life lived.

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Funeral Director fees

The price quoted contains the Funeral Director fees for a simple funeral. This includes:

  • Funeral Director fees for meetings, paperwork and running the funeral
  • Collection of the deceased and care prior to funeral
  • Hearse or appropriate vehicle for transport to the funeral
  • Basic coffin

The Funeral Director fees quoted do not include third party costs (often called disbursements). The Funeral Director will guide you through your options. These costs are:

  • Cremation or burial fees
  • Medical certificate for cremation
  • Clergy or officiant fee for conducting the ceremony

In addition to the disbursements you may want to discuss optional costs with your Funeral Director - these could include:

  • Funeral flowers
  • Memorial (venue hire, catering etc)
  • Memorial headstone
  • Orders of service
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What is a Direct Cremation?

A Direct Cremation is an alternative to the traditional funeral. This involves the cremation of the deceased without a funeral service. A Direct Cremation is generally the most economic option because costs of the coffin, preparation of the body, funeral service and expensive transportation are not included. However, many people choose Direct Cremations for reasons other than expense, for example:

  • - Wanting to have a memorial at a different time to the cremation
  • - Expressed desire from the deceased to not have a ceremony
  • - Individuals with relatives who face big physical or geographical challenges in coming together for a ceremony

The prices quoted for Direct Cremations include:

  • All charges, meetings and paperwork for the cremation
  • Collection of deceased and care prior to cremation
  • A simple coffin and urn for the ashes
  • Cremation fees and delivery of ashes to the family
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Attended funeral

This is Funeral Choice’s best estimate of this Funeral Director’s fees for an Attended Funeral, which is where family and friends have a ceremony or service for the deceased person at the same time as they attend their burial or cremation.

This price includes the following:

  • Taking care of all necessary legal and administrative arrangements
  • Collecting and transporting the deceased person from the place of death (normally within 15 miles of the funeral director’s premises) into the funeral director’s care
  • Care of the deceased person before the funeral in appropriate facilities.
  • Providing a suitable coffin
  • Optional viewing of the deceased person for family and friends, by appointment with the funeral director
  • At a date and time you agree with the funeral director, taking the deceased person direct to the agreed cemetery or crematorium (normally within 20 miles of the funeral director’s premises) in a hearse or other appropriate vehicle

In addition to the Funeral Director’s fee, there will be third party costs to consider (sometimes called disbursements) to cover the other aspects of a funeral (such as the crematorium or burial fees). Your chosen Funeral Director will be able to provide these for you.

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Unattended funeral

This is Funeral Choice’s best estimate of this Funeral Director’s fees and the crematorium fee for an Unattended Funeral, which is where family and friends may choose to have a ceremony, event or service for the deceased person, but they do not attend the burial or cremation itself. This is also known as a Direct Cremation.

This price includes the following:

  • Funeral Director's fees
  • Crematorium fee (for an unattended funeral) as selected by the Funeral Director

In addition to this fee, there might be additional third party costs to consider (sometimes called disbursements). Your chosen Funeral Director will be able to explain these for you.

If you wish to attend the funeral, you should view the “Attended Funeral” price instead.

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Why is this price Estimated?

We work hard to ensure the Funeral Director Fees we display are accurate and up to date. However, unlike with our partners, we cannot guarantee this price is correct today.

Funeral Director fees

The price quoted contains the Funeral Director fees for a simple funeral. This includes:

  • Funeral Director fees for meetings, paperwork and running the funeral
  • Collection of the deceased and care prior to funeral
  • Hearse or appropriate vehicle for transport to the funeral
  • Basic coffin

The Funeral Director fees quoted do not include third party costs (often called disbursements). The Funeral Director will guide you through your options. These costs are:

  • Cremation or burial fees
  • Medical certificate for cremation
  • Clergy or officiant fee for conducting the ceremony

In addition to the disbursements you may want to discuss optional costs with your Funeral Director - these could include:

  • Funeral flowers
  • Memorial (venue hire, catering etc)
  • Memorial headstone
  • Orders of service
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