When planning a funeral, emotions can be high and so it’s easy to forget something. From flowers to transportation, there’s a lot to consider for this important day. We’ve put together a list of the key things to plan in to make sure your loved one’s life is celebrated how they wanted it to be.
To make sure you have everything covered for the funeral service of your loved one, the below checklist covers all the fundamental elements.
Decide on a budget
One of the first things you will need to settle on is a budget for the event. It is important to decide this right at the beginning so you can make informed decisions later on. The average funeral cost was £3837 in 2020, but this of course changes depending on what kind of funeral you choose.
Click here for more information on the cost of funerals.
Find a funeral director
If you decide you would like to pay for a funeral director to help with the organisation of the service, you will need to find one which suits your budget and can provide the service your loved one wanted. Prices can vary greatly across the country, but you can use our free search tool to find one local to you, in your price range.
Cremation or burial?
The next thing to consider is whether the deceased wished to be cremated or buried. Both methods are widely used across the UK, with the average cost of a burial at around £4,383 and the average cost for a cremation at £3,306 in 2020. For more information on the differences between cremation and burials, click here.
Choose the special touches
The next stage is to pick out all the things which will make the funeral service unique to the one you are celebrating. This can be done through the choice of coffin, urn or casket, as well as flowers, music, readings and, if it is a burial, the outfit you dress them in. If budget is a concern, this is also an area where you can save money and opt for a simpler service. For ideas on planning a uniquely beautiful funeral, take a look at some of our advice articles below:
- Beautiful Funeral Ideas
- A Guide to a Simple Funeral Service
- A Guide to a Unique Funeral Service
- Planning a Themed Funeral
- Finding the Perfect Funeral Song
Organise an Order of Service
Every Order of Service is personalised. It is essentially the plan of what will happen at the funeral and will follow the wishes of the deceased. Depending on the person you are remembering, this may include:
- Prayer or blessings
- Readings by a relative or close friend
- A eulogy of the person’s life
- A committal
The Order of Service can be printed for those attending and are often kept as a memory of the day. For more information on planning an Order of Service, click here.
Decide who will attend
Next, you need to decide who you wish to be present at the event. Did your deceased want a close, personal service, or do they wish for their life to be celebrated with their wider circles? Would you be comfortable with children attending? How many guests can the venue accommodate?
Possible groups of guests to consider might be:
- Work friends
- Friends from social clubs
- Members of their church or religious group
- Childhood and school friends
- Extended family members
Transportation plans
Choosing the right transportation that’s not just for your guests, but for the deceased, is another chance to celebrate what made your loved one unique. For transportation of the deceased, a traditional hearse can be used, or something more distinctive such as an entourage of antique cars or even a motorcycle hearse.
For guest transportation, you may need to consider mobility issues for elderly or disabled attendees as well as the number of attendees requiring transport.
Send the invitations
The final stage is to invite your guests. Make sure to give people as much notice as possible, so that as many people who wish to attend can. It is important that on the invite, you include any details such as:
- Contact details for the funeral director or a family member
- A dress code for the event
- Whether or not children are welcome
- Any unique requests, such as a charitable donation in lieu of flowers
There are plenty of templates available online which can help you find the right wording; many families use the invitation as a chance to create something unique to the individual being mourned.
If you’re looking for a funeral director, use our free search tool to find and compare funeral directors in your area. Here you can find the contact details and pricing quotes directly from directors local to you.