47 Funeral Decisions You Didn’t Know You’d Have to Make
When someone dies, most people think there are a handful of big decisions to make.
Burial or cremation. Day or date. Chapel or graveside. Simple enough, right?
Except it isn’t.
Behind those big decisions sit dozens of smaller ones. When grief already feels heavy, the decision fatigue is real. You’re tired, emotional, and running on very little sleep. We see it all the time; families apologising for not being able to “think straight.” The truth is, you’re not meant to be thinking straight. You’re grieving.
That’s why having the right people beside you matters. Not someone who fires questions at you, but someone who gently filters them. Someone who says, “Here are your options and here’s what most families find helpful.” Someone who can read the room when you’ve had enough.
To help bring all the decisions together, we’ve created a list of 47 decisions that come up during funeral planning, so you don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night in a panic.
47 decisions to make when planning a funeral
The basics
- Burial or cremation
- If burial, which cemetery
- If cremation, what happens to the ashes
- Date of the service
- Time of the service
- Venue (chapel, church, home, outdoors, graveside)
- Open or closed casket
- Order of service
- Timing of ash interment or unveiling
- Seating layout
- Reserved seating for immediate family
- Location of the gathering afterwards
- Catering after the service
Preferences
- Dress code (black, bright, casual, themed)
- Religious, spiritual, or secular tone
- Livestream or in-person only
- Recording the service
- Photo slideshows or tribute videos
- Can anyone send flowers, or will they only be from family?
- Funeral vehicles (hearse only, or additional cars)
- Keepsakes (orders of service, bookmarks, memory cards)
- Guest book or memory table
- Headstone or plaque wording
- How do you want people to remember them
Who’s involved?
- Who will lead the service?
- Will children or grandchildren be involved?
- Who writes and delivers the eulogy?
- Will multiple people speak?
- Who carries the coffin?
- Who will dress them?
- Will there be a private family viewing first?
Personal touches
- Should there be any personal touches or symbols?
- What will they wear?
- Will there be jewellery or personal items in the casket?
- What are the hair and makeup preferences?
- Which photo represents them best?
- What goes on the front of the service sheet?
- What wording goes inside the service sheet?
- Will there be poems or readings (and who will read them)?
Funeral Music
- What will the entry song be?
- What will the reflection song be?
- What will the exit song be?
- Will there be a live musician or recorded music?
Beyond the Service
- Will there be donations to a charity?
- What will the wording be for the death notice?
- Which newspapers or platforms will it be published on?
- Will there be a social media announcement?
Lean on us for support
It can be daunting, but that’s why having the right people beside you matters. Not someone who fires questions at you, but someone who gently filters them. Someone who says, “Here are your options, and here’s what most families find helpful.” Someone who can read the room when you’ve had enough.
A funeral isn’t just one decision. It’s dozens of small ones, made during one of life’s hardest times. And you shouldn’t have to carry all 47 on your own.
Contact us today, and we’ll help guide you through.
