Funeral Order of Service

Planning and designing the order of service for your loved one is a very personal and emotional experience. As well as forming the itinerary for the funeral ceremony it is a montage of memories by which all loved ones attending can remember them.

Deciding which of their precious moments, favourite songs, hymns, and messages to include will probably be an exercise which you undertake with friends and family as well as your funeral director.

The Cover Page

The conventional layout for an order of service is best kept simple and will normally include the following items:

• A photo of your loved one
• Their full legal name
• The date of their birth and death
• The time and location of their funeral
• An optional short quotation, message, or sentiment

The photo is the most important aspect of the cover and should represent your loved one as they would wish to be remembered. Spend some time with family and friends looking through photographs – you will know when you find the right picture.

The Service Outline

The first pages will outline the ceremonies schedule. 

• Details and music for the arrival procession
• Introduction
• Hymns and music
• Names and order of speakers
• Committal and blessings
• Closing music

Memories

The following pages can optionally be dedicated to memories of your loved one’s life. Some people like to include:

• A collage of photos
• Favourite quotations
• Scripture verses
• Poems or songs
• Sentiments

Many people attending the funeral like to keep their copy of an order of service to reflect on in years to come. Therefore, it’s helpful to consider how the order of service might bring back memories in future years.

The Closing Page

The closing page for an order of service should also be kept simple. Sometimes a different photo is used to depict a different time of life or another aspect of your loved one’s life or personality. Sometimes a portrait with someone special to them or group photo is placed here.

This space is also used to include details of any preferred charities for donations which were close to your loved one’s heart or which helped them during their life. 

It is can also be a good place to formally thank friends and family for attending the ceremony.

Design

Your funeral director will be able to help you with the design and a reliable printer. We recommend aiming to keep things simple and easy to read with clear larger fonts and a clean layout.