The death of a loved one is a devastating time for everyone involved and organising a funeral service is probably the last thing one anyone’s mind. But unfortunately, it’s something that has do be done. So to help make things a little easier for you, here’s a list of the essential things you’ll need to do.
Talk to your friends and family
Before you start making bookings and formalising arrangements, you need to talk family members and close friends. This will not only help you to find out what your loved one would have wanted but it will also make people feel included at an emotional and difficult time. Don’t be afraid to ask for their help and get their input on a variety of aspects.
Choose the type of ceremony you want
The first decision you will need to make is what type of funeral ceremony to have. Will it be religious, non-religious? Traditional or modern? Once you’ve decided on the type of ceremony it will be, you can start researching other things.
Choose a funeral director
Once you’ve decided what kind of funeral ceremony you want, you next need to select a funeral director. This is the most important decision you will make as it will affect the rest of your decisions.
For example, an experienced funeral director like Olsens Funerals will be able to guide you through the whole process and put you in touch with virtually all the other people you need to deal with. From helping you select a venue to putting you in touch with flower services and printers for the order of service, the right funeral director will pretty much help you plan the funeral from start to finish.
Date and guest list
The next thing to do is decide whether it will be a private farewell service or an open ceremony. How many people are you expecting and how are you going to let them know? If it’s just close friends and family you may not need to worry about printing invitations but if you are planning an open ceremony you will need to consider getting the word out via newspapers or other methods.
Remember it’s just one day
Organising a funeral is a huge emotional undertaking. It’s natural to put a lot of pressure on yourself as you feel like you need to put together the perfect day to honour your loved one. But be kind to yourself and remember that this is just one day.
Yes, there are certain elements you can incorporate into a farewell service to honour your loved one but by wanting the best for them and getting together with friends and family to celebrate them, you are already honouring them in a wonderful way. Whatever flowers you choose, whichever songs you sing and however you choose to organise things, the main thing that matters is that you want to remember and celebrate them. It may sound cheesy, but it’s true. So don’t put too much pressure on yourself, remember that it’s just one day and try and see it as a celebration of life.
Conclusion
Planning a funeral is stressful and emotional so don’t be afraid to ask for help from others. The most important decision you will make is choosing a funeral director. Once you have done that, you can rely on their expertise, experience and connections to get you through the rest of it. And finally, don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember your relationship with and love for your loved goes far beyond whatever happens on one day.