Most of us know what wedding officiants do. They work with couples to design the perfect wedding ceremony and then conduct the proceedings. But did you know there are also funeral officiants—professionals who are trained to help plan and conduct funeral ceremonies? These experts are called Funeral Celebrants.

What does a Funeral Celebrant do?

Funeral Celebrants collaborate with the family to create a personalized ceremony that truly reflects the life of the person being memorialized. The celebrant gets to know the deceased by asking questions, listening to stories, and curating the information provided by the family. In designing the ceremony, they pay careful attention to the music, readings, poems, and rituals that are incorporated into the ceremony.

The Celebrant’s role during the ceremony is up to the family. In many cases, the Celebrant and family will divide the duties. For example, the Celebrant might give the eulogy and lead the songs while family members present readings and prayers.

How is a Funeral Director different from a Celebrant?

According to the National Funeral Director’s Association, the key duties of a funeral director include:

• Arranging for the removal of the deceased from the place of death
• Providing support to the bereaved during the initial stages of grief
• Preparing the body according to legal requirements and the wishes of the survivors
• Arranging and directing funeral ceremonies
• Securing information for legal documents, filing death certificates, and other legal papers
• Helping survivors when filing death benefits claims, as well as assisting them in adapting to their lives post-death

As you can see, that’s quite a broad portfolio of duties. That’s why the exact duties performed by a funeral director can vary depending on the funeral. This is especially true when it comes to acting as the funeral officiant. The funeral director may conduct the ceremony or work with a celebrant or officiant to perform the service.

The key role of a celebrant is to ensure that the funeral ceremony is personalized. Most are unaffiliated, that is to say, not directly employed by the funeral home. Their job is to focus on the funeral service or memorial ceremony. They are independent professionals who can conduct funerals at any location or within the funeral home. Unless they are also a funeral director, funeral celebrants do not handle body preparation or any of the specialized tasks that funeral directors are trained and certified to do.

Celebrants receive training and certification at organizations such as the Celebrant Foundation & Institute.

Can I use both a funeral director and a funeral celebrant?

Professional funeral celebrants are accustomed to working closely with funeral homes and are happy to do so. If you are using both, then generally, the funeral director will be responsible for transportation and care of the deceased and various organizational and administrative tasks while the celebrant takes care of the emotional and personal elements of the service. The choice between a funeral director and a funeral celebrant, or both, depends on your preferences, cultural or religious beliefs, and the specific needs of the funeral you are planning. It can also depend on regulations. When a burial is chosen, many states require that a funeral director be on hand throughout the process.

Traditional funerals where the casket is present almost always involve the services of a funeral director. If you are having the funeral at a place of worship, a clergy member will likely be involved. There are many options for where to hold memorial services because they can be held at any time following a burial or cremation. The services of a celebrant are an excellent choice for a memorial service to celebrate the life of the deceased.

What about religion?

Most celebrants are happy to design ceremonies that incorporate spiritual rituals. In fact, many clergy are also trained as celebrants.

A key reason that people like working with celebrants is that they focus on making the funeral ceremony extremely personal. If religion was important to the deceased, then, of course, it should be part of the ceremony. How active a celebrant is in conducting a funeral’s religious elements depends on your denomination. In many religions, only an ordained priest or minister can offer the rites.

So, back to the original question: Do you need both a funeral director and a funeral celebrant?

Fortunately, today, we have many options when it comes to handling funeral ceremonies. There is an important role for both the funeral director and a Professional celebrant. If your ceremony includes a funeral where the body is present, you will need the services of a funeral director. If you are having a memorial service rather than a funeral (the body is not present), then a Celebrant will be able to handle all the details.

>>Visit our Directory of Funeral Celebrants

>>Download our Guide to Using a Funeral Celebrant

>>Read: Using Funeral Celebrants

>>Read: Yes. Planning a Funeral is Like Planning a Wedding

Sources: NFDA Careers Page (https://nfda.org/careers)

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Question: Why do I need the Funeralwise Wise Planning System if I already have a prepaid plan through a funeral home.

Answer: The Wise Planning System is a powerful tool that offers things your prepaid plan doesn’t — like ceremony planning, checklists, storing personal and genealogical information, and more.

When you buy a prepaid plan from a funeral home or cremation provider, you enter into a contract to purchase a set of products and services to be used at the end of your life. You pay for the plan either in full or over a specified period of time. Precisely what your contact includes depends on the plan you buy and the provider you are working with.

In general, a prepaid funeral plan includes services related to burial (not necessarily a plot) or cremation. Most plans will include a casket or urn, a ceremony, a headstone, and miscellaneous costs associated with the ceremony.

Prepaid funeral plans work well for many people. Since the plan is purchased from a specific funeral home, you know exactly what you are getting and the cost. Best of all, you get the peace of mind of knowing that your loved ones won’t have to make a lot of hard decisions at a very emotional time. The trouble is, there’s a lot more to planning a funeral than just buying the casket or urn. That’s where the Wise Planning System comes in.

Where the Wise Planning System Fits In

Planning a funeral or memorial service is much like planning any celebration for a milestone life event. Having a prepaid funeral plan ensures you have the venue, you’ll still need to fill in the blanks. For a funeral, that means there are decisions to make about who will officiate, what music will be played, what readings will be provided, and all the other details that go into creating a meaningful end-of-life ceremony.

>>Read more about Celebrations of Life.

Practical Real-World Help Taking Care of Funeral Planning Details

The Wise Planning System is a do-it-yourself tool that guides you every step of the way as you lay out the details for a funeral or memorial service. Because the planner is online, you can do your planning at a time when it’s convenient for you–24/7.

With the Wise Planning System, you can designate a “Plan Guardian.” A Plan Guardian is a person you trust to make sure your wishes are carried out the way you want them to be. You share your plan with them, and they’ll be able to see exactly how you’d like your ceremony conducted. When the time comes, your Guardian “activates” your plan. This gives them access to features such as checklists to walk them through exactly what they need to do.

The Funeralwise planner lets you plan with as much or as little detail as you like. You can store personal information to help your loved ones prepare your eulogy, write your obituary, or capture information for the family tree. The Wise Planning System’s beauty is that its flexibility means you can use it to fill whatever funeral planning needs you have. So if you already have a prepaid funeral plan, the planner is the perfect complement to it.

Don’t have a funeral home plan yet but thinking of buying one?

You certainly don’t need to have a prepaid funeral plan to take advantage of the Wise Planning System. However, if you are considering purchasing a plan, our planner can help. The Wise Planning System includes a vibrant funeral and cremation provider search directory in addition to its other features. The directory can help you find providers in your area so that you can shop for the right plan for you.

Want to learn more about the Wise Planning System? Visit our funeral planning pages.

>>Funeral Planning: Your Complete Resource

>>Wise Planning System for Planning Ahead

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The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) recently confirmed what many in the industry suspected, more than half of Americans now opt for cremation. The NFDA, which also tracks funeral industry statistics, estimates that by 2025 this number will be more than 60%.

Rising funeral prices for in-ground burial are a big driver for growth but that is only part of the story. We are more mobile, less religious, and less tied to a given location. All these add up to more demand for cremation.

For consumers that means more options and more competition. It also means that it pays to learn all you can about choosing cremation. It’s a big decision that is very personal. We can help. Visit our cremation section for complete information on how to choose, what to consider, and how it works.

THE SCOOP ON FUNERAL PRICES & COSTS

You don’t have to be an expert to know that funeral prices continue to increase. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, the best way to guard against paying more than you need to is by planning ahead. Another good defense against rising prices is to learn as much as you can about what you are paying for.

Our funeral costs page has all the details–from the average costs of burial and cremation to areas where you are most likely to be able to save money. This page also has information that can help you estimate how much the type of funeral you have in mind might cost. You’ll also find tips on how to save money without sacrificing quality.

>> Learn More About Costs

DESIGNING A GOOD FUNERAL

We are often asked what makes a good funeral. Our answer is always the same–it’s personal. In other words, there is no formula. Instead, a “good funeral” is what you want it be. The key is that it reflects the spirit and personality of the deceased. 

There are many ways to personalize a service–from the music to the readings to where the service is held. Sure, there are common elements that are used in many funerals and memorial services but you are not bound by these. You can include more or less depending on your personal preference. Our website has information on all aspects of planning a service and can be used for inspiration when you need it. 

>> More On Getting Personal

WHAT IS DEATH POSITIVE?

You may not have heard about it yet but there is a movement brewing. It’s called the Death Positive Movement.

For those who consider themselves “death positive.” the topic of death needs to be brought out of the shadows.They believe we should accept that death is part of life, be able to talk freely about how we feel about it, take more control of what happens when the time comes, and make sure our loved ones know how we want our end-of-life handled.

The movement is still young, but it is growing. We encourage you to learn more about it. Over time, maybe we can all be more death positive!

>> Read More About It

FUNERAL INSURANCE UPDATE

Many of the people who visit our site are looking for ways to fund their funeral. We’ve always offered information on funeral insurance but since this is such an important topic we’ve improved both the way we match people with providers and our quote engine.

If you haven’t set aside funds for your funeral yet we suggest that you take a look at our all new “Funeral Insurance Finder.” You’re under no obligation.

We think it’s important that you consider talking with an advisor to make sure the policy you choose is right for your unique circumstance but you can do it all online.

>> Try the New Insurance Finder

Have you tried our online planner yet? Why not take a few minutes to do that today. Remember… the best time to plan a funeral is before you need to.

>> Try the Planner

Funeralwise.com is the place to go on the web for everything you need to know about funerals. Whether you are planning a funeral or attending one, we can provide you with straight-forward answers to your questions and step-by-step instructions to guide you on your way.

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You may have seen the latest TV ads from a national funeral home chain. The spots feature a motorcycle-themed funeral, a lap around a track for an auto racing fan, and a disco party for a dance lover. These commercials are examples of some very unique final farewells and highlight a new focus on creating highly personalized funerals and memorial services.

Without a doubt, creating custom end-of-life ceremonies is one of the hottest trends in the funeral industry. We think that’s a great thing since one of the main reasons to have a funeral is to give our friends and family the chance to show their love and respect one last time. There’s no better way to do that than to let them share some of the things that make you unique.

Creating a memorial ceremony that doesn’t follow a traditional model requires some planning. The best way to make it a true reflection of your unique life is for you to be involved in the plan. You’ll also be giving a great gift to your loved ones since it won’t be left to them to guess at what you would want.

There are many ways to create a personalized funeral or celebration of life. Among the most common ways is to include videos, photos, or special music in the ceremony, but there is no right or wrong way. In the end, it’s entirely up to you. There is no reason why you can’t have any kind of ceremony you want.

If you’re having trouble thinking about the type of service you’d like to have, we can help. Our website is filled with information that will help guide you.

>>Read More About How to Personalize a Funeral
>>Download our Guide to Making Funeral Arrangements

USING FUNERAL MUSIC FOR PERSONALIZING A FUNERAL

You may be surprised to hear that among the most popular selections for funeral songs is Monty Python’s “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” While that may be unexpected, it proves the point that one of the best ways to add a personal touch to a funeral or memorial service is through the music that is played. These days, when it comes to choosing music, anything goes.

With so many options available, picking out a handful of favorites can be difficult. Our guide to selecting funeral music can help. It includes helpful tips as well as lists of good choices from a variety of genres.

>>LEARN MORE ABOUT MUSIC

FUNERAL OR CELEBRATION OF LIFE? IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

When a loved one dies, we look for the perfect way to honor their life. We also want to give those left behind a way to say goodbye. Traditionally, society has turned to funeral services that are based on religious or cultural traditions as a way to pay tribute.

But times change. As the world has become more mobile and less connected to organized religion, we have turned to a less formal, more personalized approach to commemorating the lives of our loved ones. In recent years we have seen the increasing popularity of Celebrations of Life instead of traditional funerals.

>>READ ON…

5 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT BEING A FUNERAL CELEBRANT

Dedicating yourself to helping others plan end-of-life ceremonies is a labor of love. It’s a job that requires the ability to put yourself in your client’s shoes and be open to witnessing the pain and heartbreak that can come with death. Being a funeral officiant also offers the opportunity to help people navigate the difficult path through grief.

Those who take on the challenges of the job find it hugely rewarding. Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant Elaine Voci, Ph.D. recently shared her perspective on the being part of the vibrant Celebrant community.

>>I WANT TO KNOW MORE

HONORING ANIMALS WITH CEREMONY

Our animals are part of the family. So it’s no surprise that when it’s time to say goodbye it can be extremely difficult. For some people, having a ceremony to honor the life of a beloved furry friend that has passed away can offer the perfect way to honor our pet.

We had the pleasure of talking with Laura King, a Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant who specializes in conducting ceremonies for pets at all stages of life. Click on the button below to learn more about Laura and hear her unique point-of-view on holding services for pets.

>>GET TO KNOW LAURA

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We’ve partnered with Trustpilot, an independent online review service, to find out what you think. If you’ve reviewed us, thank you! If you haven’t gotten an invitation and you’d like to share your opinion, email us at support@funeralwise.com. To see more reviews, click on the stars below.

Have you tried our online planner yet? Why not take a few minutes to do that today. Remember… the best time to plan a funeral is BEFORE you need it.

>>TRY THE PLANNER

Funeralwise.com is the place to go on the web for everything you need to know about funerals. Whether you are planning a funeral or attending one, we will provide you with straight-forward answers to your questions and step-by-step instructions to guide you on your way.

The post Making Funerals More Personal appeared first on Funeralwise.

When you think about planning a funeral in advance, you probably assume you’ll have to break out the checkbook. Think again. Preplanning and prepaying are NOT the same thing.

There is a big difference between creating a funeral plan and buying one. You can prepare a comprehensive plan for how you would like your funeral or memorial service handled without spending a cent.

Preplanning a funeral simply means that you record, either on paper or electronically, how you want your end-of-life arrangements handled. Making those decisions does NOT have to cost money, but it is worth its weight in gold. When you create a funeral plan, you take the burden of guessing what you want off of your loved ones.

A funeral plan includes things like:

• Whether you would like to be buried versus cremated.
• What type of service you prefer (body versus no body present).
• In the case of cremation, if you would like to be scattered or memorialized in an urn and where you would like the urn kept.
• What elements you would like to have included in your service (music, readings, etc.).
• And any other details you would like to be included in your final send off.

Buying a prepaid funeral plan, on the other hand, is a financial decision. Sure, you record your final wishes, but you also commit to a long-term financial obligation. This is an important distinction because buying a prepaid plan means you enter into a contract with a specific provider or set of providers. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but you need to treat it as you would any significant financial transaction–do your homework, make sure that the provider(s) is reputable, and confirm that the financial aspects make sense for your particular situation.

As far as paying for your funeral goes, we agree that you should think about how the costs will be covered. Buying a prepaid plan is just one of the ways to do that. Many people find that funeral insurance makes sense, while others set aside funds in a savings account or money market. The tool that’s right for you will depend on your unique financial situation. You can learn more about the various ways to pay for a funeral by visiting our website. 

>> Read more about Paying For A Funeral

The Funeralwise.com Wise Planning System is a free option for do-it-yourself funeral planning. You can define what you want with as much or as little detail as you’d like. You can also share your plan with someone you trust so that they’ll know it’s there if they need it. Unlike many of the other online planners available, the Wise Planning System includes a cost estimate which allows you to get a real-time estimate of what your selections will cost based on industry averages. These estimates can be helpful when you begin to shop for providers in your area.

Whether you choose to use the Wise Planning System or some other tool, we hope you’ll create a funeral plan and share it with your loved ones. That way, your family will be prepared in the unfortunate instance that they need to know what you want when the time comes.

The post Planning Your Funeral – No Money Needed! appeared first on Funeralwise.

The post Loss of a Pet FAQ appeared first on Funeralwise.

The same is true of poetry. Poets have been writing about the strong bond they have with their pets for decades. Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote a famous poem immortalizing her dog, Flush, in 1933. Chile’s Pablo Neruda penned his famous tribute, A Dog Has Died, in the 1900s. Indeed, there are many moving examples of poetry that was written to help the poet with the loss of a pet.

Prayer has stood the test of time when it comes to helping honor beloved animals. St. Francis Assisi’s time-honored, Prayer for My Pet, is said to have been written sometime prior to 1226. There are many options when it comes to prayers, both contemporary and ancient.

For some, writing your own poem or prayer may be an option. In both cases, all you need to do is speak from your heart. In the case of prayer, you will address God, or the spiritual being prescribed by your faith. 

If you are holding a memorial service or funeral for your pet, including poetry and religious readings in the ceremony is a wonderful way to personalize the event. We have compiled some of the most popular examples of loss of a pet poems and prayers on the pages listed in the links above. In addition to prayers and poems, we have compiled some popular quotations that relate to our love for our pets and our pain at their loss. While not specifically for pets, we have additional selections in our Readings and Poems for Funeral Ceremonies pages.

We recommend that you visit our Coping with Loss of a Pet page to learn more about the grief that comes with losing your pet. The grief process is different for each of us and there is no simple timetable that works for everyone. If you feel that your grief is too much, be sure to consult a professional. There are many resources to help you work through the pain. Your doctor or veterinarian is a good first step.

The post Prayers, Poems, and Quotes to Celebrate a Pet’s Life appeared first on Funeralwise.

There are many sayings that pertain to pet loss. We have compiled some of the most popular. We have also provided several narrative passages that can offer meaning in times of difficulty. These can be useful if you are preparing passages for use during a pet memorial service.

Examples of Loss of a Pet Quotes

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.  –Roger Caras

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. –Will Rogers

I know for certain that we never lose people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought, and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love. – Leo Buscaglia

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle. – St. Francis of Assisi

Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog. A dog can show you more honest affection with a flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes. – Gene Hill

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. – Mark Twain

Sometimes losing a pet is more painful than losing a human because in the case of the pet, you were not pretending to love it. – Amy Sedaris

If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans. – James Herriot

I guess you don’t really own a dog, you rent them, and you have to be thankful that you had a long lease. – Joe Garagiola

Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog, it merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs your heart is very big.  – Erica Jong

If I have any beliefs about immortality it is that certain dogs I know will go to heaven, and very very few people. – James Thurber

No heaven will not ever Heaven be. Unless my cats are there to welcome me. – Anonymous

The dog is a gentleman. I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s. – Mark Twain

Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. – John Grogan

Dogs die. But dogs live, too. Right up until they die, they live. They live brave, beautiful lives. They protect their families. And love us. And make our lives a little brighter. And they don’t waste time being afraid of tomorrow. – Dan Gemeinhart

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. – Josh Billings

I would like to see anyone, prophet, king or God, convince a thousand cats to do the same thing at the same time. – Neil Gaiman, English author

A home without a cat — and a well fed, well petted and properly revered cat — may be a home, perhaps, but how can it prove title? –Mark Twain, American author

No one can truly understand the bond we form with our cats we love until they experience the loss of one. – Unknown

Animals have come to mean so much in our lives. We live in a fragmented and disconnected culture. Politics are ugly, religion is struggling, technology is stressful, and the economy is unfortunate. What’s one thing that we have in our lives that we can depend on? A dog or a cat loving us unconditionally, every day, very faithfully. – Jon Katz

While they are not specifically loss of a pet quotes, we have additional quotes related to grief located on our Quotes to Read for a Funeral Service page.

Examples of Loss of a Pet Readings

Rainbow Bridge 

Author unknown. Source: Abigail Van Buren,  Arizona Republic,  February 20, 1994

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. They frolic and romp all day with one another.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing. They each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They run and play together until the day comes when one of them suddenly stops playing and looks off into the distance. The nose twitches. The ears are up. The bright eyes are intent. The eager body quivers. Suddenly this one runs from the group, faster and faster, leaping and flying over the tall green grass.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace, clinging together in joyous reunion. Happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your cherished pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.

And with your pet beside you once again, you cross the Rainbow Bridge together.

Where to Bury A Dog

by Ben Hur Lampman

There are various places within which a dog may be buried. We are thinking now of a setter, whose coat was flame in the sunshine, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or an unworthy thought. This setter is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam, and at its proper season the cherry strews petals on the green lawn of his grave. Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a good dog. Beneath such trees, such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy summer, or gnawed at a flavorous bone, or lifted head to challenge some strange intruder. These are good places, in life or in death. Yet it is a small matter, and it touches sentiment more than anything else.

For if the dog be well remembered, if sometimes he leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that dog sleeps at long and at last. On a hill where the wind is unrebuked and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream he knew in puppyhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where most exhilarating cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing lost — if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a dog. One place that is best of all.

If you bury him in this spot, the secret of which you must already have, he will come to you when you call — come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel they should not growl at him, nor resent his coming, for he is yours and he belongs there.

People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no whimper pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master.

Eulogy for a Companion Animal

Author Unknown

Our Father in heaven, we thank you for all creation, for flowers of field and garden, for friends and family voices, and especially for our faithful friend and constant companion, [pet஡me].

This beloved pet, though unable to speak, told us in many ways that we were loved by one of Your creation. It has been said that actions speak louder than words. In many ways, [petÍŠ name] spoke of his/her constant love, respect and loyalty to us. Would that mankind could do likewise.

We have come here to say farewell to a true friend and loving member of our household. We thank You, Lord, for sending us this beloved companion. [Pet’s name] will not be forgotten.

The post Loss of a Pet Quotes and Readings appeared first on Funeralwise.

A funeral program is a small brochure that usually contains a tribute to the deceased and details of what will take place during the funeral or memorial service. You may also hear it referred to it as an “Order of Service,” or a Memorial Folder.

A funeral program is not required, but most people like to provide one since it helps those attending the funeral or memorial service follow along and participate more fully. The program also gives those who are paying their respects something to take with them as a memento.

The funeral home or church may offer to compile and print the program for you. If they do this for you, someone close to the deceased should work closely with them so the program truly reflects the unique life of the person being memorialized. Many families prefer to handle the program on their own since it can be very rewarding. It gives them a chance to look back on and appreciate the life of the deceased and participate in making the arrangements.

Funeral programs generally contain four pages. Think of a page of 8 ½ x 11 paper folded in half. You can make your program longer if you like, but for most people, four pages are enough.

There are many tools available if you want to create your own funeral program. Working with a specialized funeral printing company is the easiest and most cost-effective way. These companies offer a variety of templates and make it easy and affordable to have professional-looking programs printed quickly.

See our Collection of Funeral Programs.

What to Include in the Funeral Program

The content of your funeral program will depend on your personal preference and the type of service you are having. It can be as simple or as complex as you like. Think of the program as two separate parts: the cover and the contents. The cover usually includes:

• A photo of the deceased
• The name of the deceased
• The deceased’s date of birth and death
• A quotation or inspirational saying (A favorite of the deceased or one that you think captures the essence of the person being remembered.)
• A funeral program title (A short phrase or caption that sets the tone for the service. Examples are “A Homecoming Celebration,” “A Celebration of Life,” “A Loving Farewell.”

If you are having a religious service, you may want to include a relevant scripture passage. For a secular service, a poem or favorite reading may be appropriate. You may also want to include a quote that the deceased found meaningful. Instead of inside the program, some designers will place the quotation on the cover. You have a great deal of flexibility in how you place your information since there are no hard and fast rules.

Among the items that are commonly included in the inside of the in the funeral program are:

• Service Information (Date, Time, Location, Person Officiating)
• Funeral Outline (Order of Service): The events that will take place during the service.
• People participating in the service: (Officiant, Persons giving Eulogy and readings, soloists, musicians, Others)
• Music Selections (Lyrics if appropriate)
• Poems, Readings, or Scriptures
• Funeral Prayers
• Obituary or Biography of the Deceased
• Interment details
• Funeral Reception Information; Time and Place

You are not limited to the information shown in the list above. Nor are you required to have all of these items. The list is provided so that you will have an idea of the type of information many people like to include.  If you want to do something different—go for it! The real point in having a Funeral Program at all is to honor a loved one and help those who are grieving for them remember them. Exactly how you do that will depend on your culture, traditions, and personal preferences.

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So if you can’t imagine having that storybook wedding without doing the work on the front-end, why would you consider having your funeral that way? In truth, most people recognize the importance of funeral planning. A recent survey by the National Funeral Directors Association found that more than 62% of people feel it’s important to let their family know what they want for their funeral plans but less than 22% actually do it. In other words, we know we should create a funeral plan but we never get around to it.

Of course, thinking about planning a funeral can be hard. It forces us to confront our own mortality or the mortality of a loved one. Add that to the prospect of the actual planning part, and it can be pretty intimidating. But, believe it or not, planning your funeral can also be very rewarding. You are commemorating your ultimate life event and freeing your loved ones of the burden of trying to guess what you would want. As an added bonus, when you do your own planning you are in control. You can decide how much you want to spend, who you want to be there, and what type of celebration you want.

When you are ready to plan (Pro Tip: get started now!), you can take out a pad of paper and start making notes or take advantage of the online tools that are there to help. With the Funeralwise Wise Planning System Quick Plan, you can create a basic plan in less than 5 minutes. Once you save your Quick Plan you’ll be automatically upgraded to the Wise Plan Essentials. To see how the Quick Plan and the Wise Plan Essentials compare, click here. 

Wise Plan Essentials is a powerful step up from the Quick Plan. It gives you the ability to more finely tune your cost estimates, define the type of service you’d like, and store information for the people you’d like contacted in the case of your death. You can even request a final expense insurance quote.

So instead of thinking about funeral planning as a dreaded task. Think about it the way you would think about planning a wedding. To help get you in the right frame of mind, here are some of the ways that planning a funeral is just like planning a wedding.

10 Surprising Ways That Planning a Funeral is Just like Planning a Wedding

1. Both weddings and funerals commemorate key milestones in our lives.

A wedding celebrates a beginning, a funeral acknowledges an ending. Both are occasions where friends and family gather together to share an important event in someone’s life. The trend away from traditional funerals toward “Celebrations of Life” is an acknowledgment of this. Recognizing what made the deceased’s life unique is an important part of the mourning process.

2. They both require planning and lots of it.

One of the most common complaints about traditional funerals is that they are impersonal and cookie cutter. A “good” funeral is one that is personal and connects the ceremony to those who are mourning a loss. Creating this type of special event does not happen by chance. Instead, it takes some planning and thought. Planning a funeral doesn’t have to be a torturous task but rather, it is an opportunity to reflect on a life well-lived. When you remember the purpose of the funeral, ask for help if you need it, and engage others in the process, it can be extremely rewarding. Don’t forget to share your plans with a loved one so that when the time comes your family knows exactly what you want.

3. Weddings and funerals can be expensive and you’ll need to find a way to pay for them.

You don’t have to break the bank to have a meaningful funeral. Planning ahead is your best defense against the spending traps that can befall you or your loved ones when making decisions during an emotional time. A key step is setting a budget. A budget helps you evaluate how the cost of individual items will impact the amount you have in mind. Many people opt to purchase funeral insurance to ensure that there are funds to cover end-of-life expenses.

4. You’ll have lots of decisions to make.

Whether it’s a wedding or a funeral, you will have to make choices about a lot of things, both big and small. That can be a good thing because it gives you a lot of flexibility. Your funeral can be as simple or as elaborate as you like; go all out or keep it simple and stick to a modest budget. It’s entirely up to you. Planning ahead gives you the power to decide for yourself the type of burial (if you want one), service, and reception that is best for you.

5. You can get help both online and in-person.

A new and growing service for handling funeral arrangements is the Funeral Celebrant. These professionals operate much like wedding planners. They work with you to design a service that meets your goals and objectives. There are also online tools, like the Funeralwise Wise Planning System that let you record your wishes, estimate costs, and designate a trusted person to make sure your funeral is taken care of the way you want.

6. Those who care about you will have the chance to gather together to share memories.

Weddings and funerals give your friends and family the opportunity to gather together to share memories, stories, and remembrances. Whether it is a heartfelt toast or an emotional eulogy, those who care about you want the chance to participate and support each other. We are fond of saying that funerals are for the living. Of course, weddings are too! With so many families spread from place to place, it is more important than ever to offer those who are beginning the journey through grief, the chance to support each other.

7. Flowers, Music, and Readings!

There are many similarities between the elements of a wedding service and a funeral service. Both are replete with symbols like flowers and both make use of music, readings, poems, and scripture to convey messages about the occasion and the people who are being honored. Regardless of the type of ceremony you choose, there are numerous ways to incorporate both traditional and contemporary songs or texts. Funeralwise has many examples of funeral songs and funeral readings that can be used for inspiration.

8. It’s an emotional time (make decisions wisely).

Both weddings and funerals can mean big money. The best thing you can do is to try to make your buying decisions dispassionately and with your budget in mind. In both cases, planning ahead can make it much easier to shop around, consider your choices, and decide what you really need to create the kind of ceremony you have in mind. You may not be able to avoid the big-ticket items but it is possible to keep costs under control.

9. The “right” rituals will depend on your religion and culture.

Chances are the ceremony you envision is based in large part on the traditions of your religion, culture, and family. There are many resources available that can help you decide which elements are appropriate. In most cases, it is perfectly acceptable to mix traditional and modern elements. Your celebrant, funeral director, or clergy member can help guide you in determining what is appropriate in your particular circumstance.

10. What makes a good one is that it fits the personality of the person(s) being celebrated.

If you’ve ever been to a “good” wedding then you know that there was something that made it just a little bit different and it was likely unique to the individuals who were being honored. The same is true for funerals. A “good” funeral pays tribute to the person who has passed and reflects his or her personality. The section of our website that covers Celebrations of Life is rich with information on how you can personalize your funeral or the funeral of a loved one.

The hardest part of planning a funeral is getting started. But diving in and getting your thoughts down is well worth it. Once you do, you can rest assured that your funeral plan is done in a way that is special, affordable, and memorable. You’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your loved ones will know exactly what you wanted.

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