How to personalise a funeral on a budget

Planning a personalised funeral doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, there are plenty of things you can do to keep the cost of a funeral down whilst making sure that it is a fitting tribute to you or your loved one. 

Setting

The cost of a funeral does in fact vary depending on the location. With this in mind, it may be worth considering your options and choosing to hold the service in another area, especially if your loved one has a personal connection with a different locality. 

Some people are raised in one place and then choose to live elsewhere. It may be a good idea to get quotes in both locations to see which works out better. If the deceased has more friends and family in one particular area and it also works out cheaper, it may be best to hold the funeral there.  

Special Touches

Making a funeral a personal experience doesn’t have to cost anything. You can personalise the event and create special memories of the day as well as your loved one. Collect keepsakes which you can take with you to the funeral and use as conversation starters with those people you might not be well acquainted with. 

Photographs

Gathering a collection of photographs of your loved one will help to bring back special memories and spark nostalgia. Try to find photos which cover the span of your loved one’s life. You might also like to take along anything which represents the deceased, including photos of them partaking in their hobbies or during special events. 

Readings and Displays

If your loved one was creative or had particular hobbies, maybe you could display some of their pieces. Writing something of your own to read out at the funeral, be it a poem or a story, is a lovely touch. Hearing what you have to say can give mourners a special insight into the relationship you shared with the deceased. Alternatively, why not choose a reading which meant something to your loved one or their family? Not everybody will feel comfortable standing up and talking at such a difficult time. Don’t worry if this is the case. 

Possessions

If the funeral procession is starting at the funeral directors and your loved one is open to viewings, perhaps encourage close relatives to place cherished items in the coffin itself. This could be anything from a piece of jewellery or clothing to a religious item. 

Music

If your loved one was a lover of music, why not bring a song they liked to be played at a point in the ceremony. It could be entrance music, a piece to be played during the service, or a song to play whilst exiting the funeral. Playing music is easily accommodated; all you have to do is provide the song to the funeral director. 

If the coffin is going to be in view during the service, instead of flowers, why not place their favourite hat or a cherished item on top of the coffin? At the end of the service, invite people to come past the coffin and say their goodbyes if they wish. 

Whatever you decide to do, personalising a funeral is a fitting tribute to a loved one and the perfect way to share a special moment with fellow mourners.