Guides funerals

Arranging a funeral for someone you love

How to delay a funeral in the UK

You can delay someone’s funeral by arranging an unattended cremation immediately after their death. Then, once their ashes have been returned to you, you’re free to have the memorial service at a time that’s right for you and your family.

What does a funeral director do?

A funeral director is responsible for arranging every part of a funeral, including the coffin, ceremony and the burial or cremation. But if you would prefer something less traditional, you could arrange the funeral yourself without a funeral director.

What happens at a cremation?

Cremation has been a funeral option in the UK for over 150 years, but it still remains a mystery to many people. Here, we look at exactly what happens at a cremation so you and your family know what to expect.

How to arrange a funeral

If you’re arranging a funeral for someone, you’ll probably want to start by working out what they wanted. This might be something they included in their will. You can then shop around for a service that feels right for everyone.

Arranging a funeral during the coronavirus lockdown: here are your options

From live streaming funerals to delayed memorial services, there are plenty of options available when it comes to arranging a funeral during the coronavirus lockdown.

Where can you scatter ashes in the UK?

Ashes can be scattered almost anywhere in the UK, as long as you have permission from the landowner first. If you’re thinking about scattering ashes at sea or on a river, you don’t need a permit, but you should follow the Environment Agency’s guidance.

Being remembered your way - how to choose an urn that reflects who you are

Life is full of colour and vibrancy. But we rarely talk about how that vibrancy of our lives can be reflected in our final resting place.

What can you put in a coffin for cremation?

A lot of people choose to put something special in their loved one’s coffin, but not everything’s allowed. So what can you include and what should you leave out?

Everything you need to know about sea burials

We’ll cover what a sea burial is, how you can organise one, where you can have one and why you might want one. As well as the risks and advantages of the process so you can decide what’s right for you.

Everything you need to know about woodland burials

A woodland burial is the choice to bury someone at a site of natural beauty, such as a woodland, meadow or orchard, instead of a traditional cemetery plot.

What is embalming?

Embalming has become an increasingly common part of funeral plans over the years. But what exactly is it? And should you choose it for your loved one?

Everything you need to know about funeral processions or cortèges

We’ll cover what a funeral procession is, where they come from and why they happen. We’ll also go through how to take part in one and what to do if you come across one.

How to hire a funeral celebrant

A funeral celebrant is a person hired to plan and run a funeral service. Before the service they spend time finding out about the life, interests and beliefs of the person who has died and create a service that fits them.

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