Increasingly, those approaching the end of life choose to arrange their own funeral ceremony.  This is a difficult thing to do, particularly if family members are to be present during the planning.  However, it can also bring comfort and satisfaction as it can provide a sense of control and completion.

I will meet with you, at a place and time convenient for you, to discuss your wishes for the structure, content and tone of your ceremony.

We can discuss the type of coffin you would like and whether you prefer cremation or burial in a green or woodland burial site.  If you choose to be cremated, we can also discuss options for the committal section of the ceremony; whether or not you’d like the curtain to close, words to be said, music or simply silence.

A large part of a humanist funeral is the tribute section which can include biographical details, stories, personal words to your loved ones and space for them to contribute their own stories.  You can decide on music and readings.  You may wish to choose photographs to be put together in a slide show to be shown as part of the ceremony. You will be in control of the content and tone which can be as formal or informal as you wish.

I will take note of your wishes and write up the content of the tribute section which I will then e mail to you to check and edit as you see fit.  When you are happy with the tribute, I will create your ceremony script; you will also be able to check and edit this.  When everything is finalised, your ceremony script will be kept safe by Humanists UK until it is needed.  I will also let you know my estimate of the length of the ceremony as this will impact upon certain practicalities when it becomes time to plan the funeral as a whole as space will, usually, be needed for the tributes of your family and friends if they wish to contribute.