Funeral elements and choices

Down to Earth

Funeral elements and choices

The amount of money spent on someone’s funeral does not equal how much you loved them.

Some people find carrying out or arranging some aspects themselves can make the funeral feel much more personal and like ‘a gift’ to the person who has died. It can also help reduce the cost.

Transport

Transport of the person who has died
If you’re using a funeral director, ask about any less expensive options they have for transporting the body to the funeral, rather than a more expensive hearse. For example, an estate car or private ambulance can be used. If you have a suitable vehicle yourself, funeral directors will often support you to use this.

Transport to attend the funeral
If you’re using a funeral director, you may be offered the use of a chauffeured vehicle or limousine for mourners to travel to the funeral. This service is optional, and the cost can add up quickly. Some people choose to use their own vehicles, or a taxi service to travel to the venue instead. You can often form a cortege with the lead vehicle carrying the person who has died if you wanted.

Coffin and pallbearers

Choice of coffin
If you are using a funeral director, ask for details of their simplest coffin.

You may also be able to provide your own coffin, purchased directly from a supplier. If you choose to do this it’s important to check it meets the requirements for the type and location of the funeral you are arranging. Some funeral directors will charge a “handling fee” for coffins which aren’t purchased through them.

Pallbearers
Would you or family/friends like to carry the coffin yourselves? Some people feel it is one last ‘gift’ they can give to their loved one.

If you would like to provide some, or all the bearers, speak to the funeral director (if you are using one) to check this is possible. It may also reduce the cost.

If you would like to be involved with moving the coffin at the funeral, but aren’t confident carrying it on your shoulders, you may be able to use a wheeled bier instead.

The funeral service and venue

Faith leaders and celebrants tend to charge to lead a funeral services, but if you are a regular attender of a faith community, your faith leader may offer to lead the service for free. If you are using a funeral director, their staff may also be able to lead a simple service, or a trusted friend or family member may want to take the lead.

A funeral service can take place in different locations. Many faith-based venues will charge for you to use their space for a funeral, although if you are a regular attendee they may waive this. If you are using a funeral director, they will often charge for the additional time and travel if you choose to have a service somewhere before attending the crematorium or cemetery. Having the service and committal at the crematorium or cemetery chapel may help to reduce the cost.

See our guidance on choosing the type of funeral for more ways to reduce costs for a cremation or burial.

Choosing the type of funeral

A group of people are standing in a cemetery with their backs to the camera.

Embalming

Embalming is sometimes referred to as ‘presentation’, ‘hygienic preparation’ or ‘preservation’.

Many funeral directors offer embalming, some include it in their prices and may not reduce their fee if you opt not to have it, while with some it is a separate, extra charge. If you want to view the deceased person, some funeral directors will assume that you want embalming. Best practice is to ask for your consent, but they may not.

Embalming aims to preserve the body temporarily by draining and replacing bodily fluids with chemicals. It is classed as an invasive procedure.

Funeral directors may recommend it, especially if several weeks have passed since the person died and you want to view them. It may be more advisable in some situations than others, but there is no rule to say that you must have it done. It can affect the person’s colouring and how their skin feels so if you are considering it, ask the funeral director what to expect. Some people prefer not to have it as they feel it can make the person look less natural.

There can be other things funeral directors can do to make the viewing experience softer, so ask them what options are available.

Some green cemeteries will not allow embalming, and it is not allowed for burial at sea. If you are having the deceased person repatriated to another country, they will normally need to be embalmed.

Viewing the person who has died

This is a very personal choice, and there can be different factors to bear in mind. If you are using a funeral director, have chosen not to see the person who has died at their premises, and do not want this option available for other friends or family members, it’s helpful to let the funeral director know. Sometimes this can make a difference to the cost of the funeral.

In some cases, a funeral director or other professional involved in the care of the body of the deceased person may recommend you do not view the body if it has already started to break down. Some people find it helpful to write a letter to the person who has died to say goodbye, rather than seeing them.

A black man and a white man are standing outside. The black man is reading from a book. The white man has his hand on the black man's shoulder.

Orders of service and floral tributes

Orders of service
Sometimes, people choose to have a printed booklet at a funeral service setting out the order of ceremony. These can vary in cost, professional ones often consisting of a flat fee for design and then printing costs dependent on the number of copies required.

Orders of service – do you need them? If so, could you print your own? It could be a sheet of paper rather than a booklet.

Flowers
Did the person who died want flowers? If so, consider purchasing some lovely, but inexpensive supermarket flowers and arrange them with some ribbon. Or going to a florist direct will often be cheaper than going through a funeral director.