Guides funerals

Planning a funeral

A guide to British funeral etiquette

Funeral etiquette means things like what to wear, whether to send flowers and where to sit. Every funeral is different depending on the family’s wishes, but generally the more traditional it is, the more specific the etiquette.

What happens to funeral flowers after a cremation

After the service, close friends or family will usually take any flowers home straight away or collect them a day or two later. The average flower arrangement will last up to two weeks before being thrown away or composted by the person who took it home.

What is a humanist funeral?

A humanist funeral service is a type of non-religious ceremony celebrating the life of someone who has died. This may be led by a humanist celebrant, or you could simply arrange your own non-religious memorial with your loved one’s ashes present.

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.

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.

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.

How long are funerals?

This guide will go through all the things that affect a funeral’s length so that you know what to plan for.

A guide to the interment of ashes

Interment is the process of putting cremation ashes in a permanent resting place that you can visit. Interring ashes can meaning burying them or putting them in a Columbarium — a building, room, or freestanding wall designed to hold urns.

What’s a celebration of life?

A celebration of life is an end-of-life event held to honour someone’s life, rather than remember their death. You could hold one instead of, or combined with, a more traditional funeral.

How to buy a burial plot

If you’re thinking about buying a burial plot – we’ll go through all the details from what a burial plot is, to how much it costs, so you feel prepared.

Can you have a funeral on a weekend

Most funeral directors and religious venues will offer a funeral on a Saturday or Sunday, but there are some special considerations to keep in mind.

How to write a Funeral Order of Service

An Order of Service is a booklet outlining the structure and content of an end-of-life event. They originated at Christian funerals, and included what hymns and readings would be performed at the service.

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