Creative Ideas to Help You Plan a Funeral

In this article, we look at creative ideas to help you plan a funeral. The idea of planning a funeral might be something you have never thought about. That is until you are thrust into the whirlwind of a loved one passing. You find you now have to deal with all sorts of matters including the final farewell.

Many people find the process quite daunting, but the good news is there are very few things you can get wrong. A funeral director will be on hand to guide you through the traditional components. But the final decision is down to you and any other family members helping with the process. It can be as outlandish or straightforward as you like. The primary consideration is reflecting the personality of the deceased. For some people, the smaller and quieter the better. For others, the most fitting tribute is something different and more unusual. Here are some creative ideas to help you plan a funeral should the need arise.

Travel in Style

Most people assume that the coffin has to loaded onto a hearse. This is not the only way. Alternative transportation is now a popular option. A motorbike with sidecar hearse is one alternative. Sometimes the family choose to have supporting transport. The biking community often provides funeral escorts. This might be because the deceased was part of the community, or to offer support to the family of a child as a last wish. Tractors have brought in farmers coffins. Bus drivers have arrived on buses, the only limit is your imagination.

Build a Theme

Sometimes funerals have a theme. This has become a more significant tradition over the last two decades. This can be simple and subtle. Guests asked to wear a particular colour for example. Or this can be bolder. Something seen for a child’s funeral was guests invited to dress as superheroes. Funeral directors should ensure that their staff comply. They should offer to match the theme if this is what the family wish. I attended a funeral where the pallbearers were all staff members. They had been asked to wear ‘onesies’ (all in one pyjamas), to match the rest of the family and guests.

Form a Guard

Guards of honour form at the entrance to the church or crematorium. Recently, a lady who had made a significant contribution to dog rescue was laid to rest. It was the wish of the family that as many rescue dogs as possible attended. Owners of dogs she rehomed stood outside of the crematorium with their canines to form a guard of honour. Again there are a lot of personalisation options here. A hockey player maybe remembered with a hockey stick guard of honour. Any former sports team player may request the team to attend. This gives a lovely, lasting image for the guests to remember what their loved one was passionate about.

Alternative Coffins

This one is sometimes received with horror. But, traditional funerals are now not the only way to make that final send-off memorable. Some people find the idea irreverent, yet alternative coffins feature in many funerals. The idea started off in Australia and is gaining in popularity. One option is to decorate a traditional coffin. The other is to have a custom-made, different casket. some ideas include a football strip coloured coffin or one with images of a pet. Guitars adorning the top could be perfect for a musician. Again there is a distinct anything-goes vibe surrounding alternate caskets. It seems to be that if the idea is accepted, then the sky is the limit.

Share Memories

Asking every guest to bring a photo or small item that reminds them of the deceased is also becoming popular. This usually will not form part of the service, but be collected afterwards. These beautiful keepsakes for the family can have a short note attached to explain the choice. A few days after the funeral this could be a lovely thing for the family to go through together – or be an activity that includes all the guests at the wake.

Give a Gift

It has to be said that most people attending a funeral would not be expecting to receive a gift, but a new idea that has started is just that. Generally, this is only a small token. Some people have bookmarks made. Whereas others, and my favourite suggestion so far, give out a small packet of seeds. Forget-me-nots make an excellent choice. The guests can either plant these at home or set them free into the countryside to honour the memory of the deceased.

Call us for creative design

If you would like to discuss your requirements, please get in touch. We work directly with families and also funeral directors. We have the expertise and skills to create the funeral order of service you want for your loved one. We can create a bespoke design, print and deliver within 3 working days.

Call us on 0800 612 6484, which is free from a landline, or email us via our contact form.