How to make arrangements for a funeral?
Once you have registered the death and contacted your local funeral home, you can start the process of arranging a funeral with one of our helpful funeral directors. Below we have listed the key components of arranging a funeral and where you can find further information on each part of the service to help make the planning process easier.
It’s important to know that, while all the elements broken down below can be considered and chosen ahead of your funeral arrangement appointment with your funeral director, you don’t need to do anything. Whether you come to see us in one of our funeral homes, or you’d like us to visit you in your home where you’re more comfortable, we’ll talk you through all the options available to you, listen to your specific requests and ideas for the service, and be completely upfront about the costs involved every step of the way.
Step 1 – Choose the type of funeral
Funerals are deeply personal and can come in many different forms depending on the wishes and beliefs of the deceased. Each service should also serve the needs of attendees, and be thoughtful and lovingly arranged so that family and friends have the opportunity to say their final goodbyes. The first step in arranging a funeral is to decide on whether the deceased is to be buried or cremated, from here, you must then think about whether the service will be religious or non-religious and whether or not the funeral will have attendees present.
Burial or cremation?
Choosing a burial or cremation will dictate the type of funeral you will need to plan. This choice will be down to the personal beliefs of the deceased that may have been communicated verbally before passing or written down in a will. If the death was unexpected, the next of kin or closest relative to the loved one will be responsible for making this decision. Whichever option is most appropriate, we will be there to advise you on what each method includes and how to then proceed with the planning of the service.
Read more about what each method of being put to rest includes on our burial or cremation page. If you’re still unsure about which option may be best for you, head on over to our blog on ‘choosing between burial or cremation’ for further insight into which choice will be most suited to your loved one.
Religious or non-religious?
Deciding between having a religious or non-religious service is a personal choice that is determined by the beliefs of the deceased and their family. A religious funeral is typically held at a place of worship or crematorium, with the service being led by a priest or minister and including prayers, hymns and religious readings.
A non-religious funeral can be celebrated in a variety of ways such as a humanist ceremony, a celebration of life or a direct cremation. The location of a non-religious service can vary, some may choose to hold it at a crematorium, cemetery, funeral home or even a loved one’s house, with the service including any music, readings and tributes you wish.
For more information on which option may be best for you, head over to our blog on ‘religious vs. non-religious funerals’ to help you make an informed decision.
Attended or unattended?
Once you decide on burial or cremation and a religious or non-religious funeral, you can then decide on whether the service will be attended or unattended. Attended funerals tend to be the most common option, however, we would advise you to take the time to evaluate which option is best for you and your family. For more information on which type of service is best for you, we have a whole page dedicated to providing you with a comprehensive overview of both options on our attended or unattended funerals page.
Step 2 – Select a venue and date
Now that you know the type of funeral you are planning it’s time for you to pick out a venue and a date. Most people choose to hold the service at a place of worship or crematorium, however, there are many other venue options available to you. The date you choose will depend on the availability of the venue as well as the funeral director’s availability, family circumstances and religious beliefs. Your appointed funeral director can help you decide which location and date will align best with your funeral plan.
Step 3 – Make arrangements for the funeral service
We understand that, when it comes to making arrangements for the service, there are many factors to consider which may seem overwhelming, especially when you are grieving. However, to help alleviate some of the stress of this planning we have laid out the key elements that need to be taken into account when arranging a funeral below. Remember there is no rush to make these decisions straight away and your funeral director is there to support you and offer guidance in making the right choices to honour your loved one.
Choose a coffin or casket
Deciding on a coffin or casket is an important step when organising a funeral. There are many options available to you and the one you choose will depend on personal preference or the wishes of the deceased. From traditional oak coffins to environmentally sustainable and custom picture options, there are many bespoke coffin and casket options available that will accurately reflect and celebrate the life of your loved one. For more information on choosing a coffin that’s right for you, read our coffins and caskets page to help you pick a material, style and design to suit your preferences.
Arrange funeral transport
The procession for the funeral can be an important part of the day and the route you choose to take to the service can be personalised to ensure your loved one gets the send-off they deserve from start to finish. Whether you choose a traditional hearse or a unique funeral vehicle, you must take into consideration who will be part of the funeral procession and where it will begin. Some families choose to have the procession route begin at the home of the deceased and others may choose a different location. For more information on the options we have to choose from, head on over to our funeral vehicle options page for further insights from our directors.
Pick out funeral flowers
Floral tributes are the perfect way to personalise the service and add a meaningful touch. Whether you choose floral arrangements for the hearse and coffin or to put on display in the room for the service, the type of funeral flowers you choose is completely down to personal choice. If you’re looking for inspiration on what types of flowers may be best suited for the day, head over to our blog on ‘how to choose funeral flowers’ and our floral tribute brochure for guidance on which options suit your preferences best.
Choose music and readings
Music and readings are a large part of creating a thoughtful, personalised service to celebrate your loved one’s life. From helping you find a piece of music that represents your loved one’s life and character to helping you find the right words to describe them in their eulogy, our directors can assist you in making the service truly special. To inspire you and give you a nudge in the right direction, our funeral music and eulogies guide includes a range of recommendations and reading prompts to help.
Create an Order of Service
An order of service is a booklet that is handed out at the start of a funeral to give attendees an outline of how the funeral will go. The order of service will typically include hymns, poems, songs, readings and photographs of the deceased. Our funeral directors can help you create an order of service and other funeral stationary such as keepsake cards with a thoughtful quote and memorial items such as pins, photo prints and seeds of meaningful flowers so that each attendee can take home a memory of their loved one.
Another common funeral keepsake you may wish to include is a memorial guest book, in which guests can leave messages to the deceased and their family left behind as a sign of well wishes.
Add finishing touches
To keep the service unique to the deceased and their loved ones, adding small finishing touches to the service can make all the difference in creating a meaningful send-off. These personalised additions may include things with cultural significance to the deceased such as bagpipes playing on entry to the funeral or as a goodbye song, symbolic gestures like the releasing of doves, or even a fireworks display.
Step 4 – Organise a wake
Following the funeral, you may want to organise a wake for attendees and those who could not attend the service to gather and celebrate the life of your loved one. This is a good chance for those grieving to share memories and stories of the deceased as a chance to reminisce on the fond times they shared. If you are interested in organising a wake but are unsure of where to start, our funeral directors can offer you helpful advice and you can find further information at our blog on ‘how to organise a wake’.
How much will a funeral cost?
The price of a funeral will vary depending on the type of funeral plan you choose and what elements you wish to include in the service. If you’re looking to evaluate your options, you can easily compare different funeral plans on our website, or if you would like more information about individual costs, you can browse our comprehensive funeral price list.
Alternatively, there is an option to create a pre-paid funeral plan or pre-paid direct funeral plan which may be more suited to you. A pre-paid funeral plan can be a helping hand for those who are looking to be prepared and make funeral planning easier for loved ones when the time comes.
For a further indication of accurate pricing, contact your local funeral home or simply enter your choices into our funeral cost calculator.
Contact our directors today
If you’re interested in finding out more about how we can help you during this difficult time, get in touch with our team of friendly funeral directors today. Whatever question you may have, we’re just one click away.