Planning Your Funeral In Advance

Many of us are scared to discuss death or funerals, either because we find it very 'morbid' or because we don't wish to think about not being here anymore.

Although discussions of death and funerals can bring out strong emotions - Planning your funeral in advance can be a helpful way to take control of your final arrangements. It can also provide peace of mind and relieve stress for your loved ones, knowing that your wishes will be carried out according to your specifications.

Benefits

There are many benefits to planning your funeral in advance. You can make all of the decisions about your service, from the music choices to where you are buried, to the transport choice, the coffin and whether you'd like a burial or a cremation. You can also take into account any environmental concerns you may have, and ensure that your funeral has minimal impact.

Most importantly, planning your funeral in advance allows you to express your wishes and have them carried out exactly as you desire. This can be a great comfort to your loved ones, who won't have to make difficult decisions at an already emotional time.

Transport

Believe it or not there are so many transport options out there for your funeral, you don't have to choose the typical black limousines or Rolls Royce. Why not opt for a bicycle hearse if you're a biker? or a VW Campervan if you're a lover of travelling? To keep the costs down you can even have your own family car adapted to transport your coffin.

Music

Music choice for funerals can be one of the hardest choices to make - particularly if you haven't told anyone what songs you'd like to have at your funeral. It can be hard to decide on a song when there are so many options to choose from. Making this choice for your family can relieve tension and stress within the family when finalising the choices.

Coffin

Nowadays there are so many options for coffins, from your typical wooden coffins, to photo laser engraved coffins, to glitter coffins and even Wicca coffins for a more environmental friendly option. Making this choice yourself will ensure that you are buried in the coffin your prefer.

Environmentally Friendly

Traditional burials and cremations are no longer the only options available for funerals. There are now the options of natural burials (where the body is returned to the Earth in the most natural way), natural organic reduction (which transforms human remains into soil which is used to regenerate the Earth) and you can also choose environmentally friendly coffins too if you prefer to opt for a tradition burial.

A Final Note

Whether you are planning your funeral far in advance, or you're planning because a death is expected, why not gather your family to discuss your choices and options and put a plan in place? You can even speak to your funeral director who can help you further with a funeral planning conversation.

Planning your own funeral and having your wishes carried out not only ensures you get the send off you'd love but it alleviates a lot of stress, tension and arguments within the family at what is already a high emotional time. Each family member will have a different view on what choice should be made and this can cause tension and mean making decisions takes a long time, so it is important to have these plans in place.