BEFORE YOU START
Things to consider

What sort of funeral?

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If you want to create something that everyone will remember affectionately, something which captures the essence of the person who’s died, there are a few things to think about before you even begin to plan the service.

 

Are you looking for a traditional service, or something contemporary; will it be formal or more relaxed?

 

My own preference is to take a lot of the ‘ceremony’ out of the thing and make it a celebration of whoever has died, a run down of their life and times, in all it’s glory;  the ups and downs, triumphs and even occasional disasters!  Their quirky ways, funny sayings; the habits they had that drove you mad, but you loved them for it anyway.

 

Here are a few bullet points to get you thinking:

 

• Involve the right people.  It’s best if there are no more than two or three people to take the decisions; more than this and it gets complicated but with just a few of you, you can share the responsibility.

 

• Do it your way.  Don’t feel as though you should follow a template; there are no rules.  Think about what they’d have liked and base your decisions on that.

 

• Map out the order of service as quickly as you can.  It will be a huge relief to know this is done, click here for advice on some of the things you can include.

 

• If you’re unsure, ask.  Most of us are fortunate enough to only attend a few funerals, so we’re not experts.  No question is too daft and they will all have been asked before.

 

• Choose the right person to host the service, someone you have confidence in, someone who you like.   ​