Funeral Planning Guide

1. Learn & Plan Ahead

As much as possible, educate yourself and plan your funeral in advance.

This will ease stress on your loved ones, reduce costs, and help you get what you want.

2. Set Your Budget

Funerals cost a lot. But there are many ways to save while still honoring your loved one the way they deserve.

Much will come down to the choices you make, and our funeral planning guide will help you compare affordable vs high-end options.

Here’s how to set your funeral budget.

1. Research average funeral costs
2. Take a look at your finances and insurance, then determine what you can afford
3. Consider donations in lieu of flowers
4. Ask a friend to help you stay on task and avoid unnecessary purchases

3. Choose Disposition Method

For most of us, this comes down to burial vs cremation. You can learn about all the various disposition methods, which include some out-there ideas, but essentially the choice will be between cremation and burial.

We have helpful guides to both burial and cremation that will answer most of your questions and help you decide, if you haven’t already.

Consider whether or not to embalm. And here's the complete list of everything that you can do with your body, including all sorts of alternative burial and preservation methods.

4. Choose the Type of Service

There are many types of funeral services. We’ve explained each one here, including the “before” events (wake, viewing, visitation) as well as “after” events (reception, cremation, scattering, committal).

For most, the main decision is between a traditional funeral or a less formal, more contemporary celebration of life. If the service is to be after burial or cremation, the program can be much the same as either of those but is typically called a memorial service.

Learn more: 10 Types of Funeral Services & Memorial Celebrations

5. Plan the Service Events

Next you’ll need to choose what events should make up the service itself. Think through the order of service - what should be included? 

You’ll want to choose an officiant, decide on readings, Scriptures, prayers, and songs, as well as who should give the eulogy.

Consider open vs closed casket, a moment of silence and reflection, special music, open mic sharing time, or any other special memorial tributes.

Funeral Readings, Speeches, and Prayers:

• How to Write a Eulogy
• 50+ Beautiful Funeral Readings
• 100 Popular Funeral Songs
• Meaningful Funeral Scriptures
• Biblical Funeral Prayers

Funeral Options & Events:

• Choose the Officiant or Celebrant
• Open vs Closed Casket
• Create a Funeral Program
• Pallbearers and Processions
• Virtual Funerals & Online Events

6. Plan a Reception

What will people do after the service?

There’s something familiar yet special about sharing a meal, from finely catered delicacies to homestyle potlucks.

Read our Funeral Reception Planning Guide for more.

7. Choose a Final Resting Place

The traditional resting place is burial at a cemetery. Some people choose to have the body interred in a crypt or mausoleum.

But now that cremation is the most popular disposition choice, the final resting place can vary. Many families scatter all or part of the ashes. Others choose to keep the cremation urn at home. You can also bury the urn, or place it into a columbarium niche at the funeral home.

Here are more creative and interesting things to do with cremated remains.