Planning a funeral - either for yourself or for a loved one - is seldom a topic that we think about often. Many of us don’t know where to start, or it may be a subject we are uncomfortable discussing with friends and family. Knowing what to do when planning a funeral can help make the process less stressful and help you feel more in control of how you wish to celebrate your life or the life of your loved one.  

The Farewell Guide has put together this guide to make funeral planning straightforward while also giving you the freedom to choose exactly what you want for your funeral and burial.  

We have provided comprehensive Support Guides for each step of the funeral planning journey below. You can also refer to our Support Centre for answers to frequently asked questions, blogs about planning funerals in the UK, and a directory of important documents.   

We have organised this guide into 5 sections: 

1. Planning a funeral in advance. 

2. What to do when someone dies. 

3. Your funeral your way 

4. Things to Remember When Planning a Funeral 

5. Start Planning a Funeral 

Planning a funeral in advance 

Many people aren’t aware that you can actually plan your funeral well in advance, as well as pay for it, lock in today’s price, and store your wishes using The Farewell Guide’s free funeral planner tool.  

1. Think about what you want for your funeral. 

You can fully customise your funeral and have the send-off that you feel best celebrates your life. You can write down what you would like for your funeral and record your wishes using our free funeral planning tool.  

Remember, you do not have to go with the “traditional” choices if you don’t want to! We believe in your right to have the funeral that you truly want. 

Options to consider include: 

• Do you want to be buried or cremated when you die? 

• Do you want an attended or unattended funeral? 

• Additional funeral options like a limousine, flowers, embalming, specialist coffin, viewings, etc.  

• What kind of burial do you want: traditional burial, eco/green burial, woodland or natural burial, home burial on private land, above-ground burial in a mausoleum, or burial at sea. 

• Do you want a religious or non-religious funeral? 

• Do you want a humanist funeral?  

• Do you want a service or not? 

• Where do you want your funeral service to be held? 

• Who do you want to take responsibility for arranging your funeral? 

Support Guides for types of funerals: 

Cremation in the UK: Direct, Unattended and Attended Options Explained 

Should You Choose Cremation or Burial? 

2. Plan the funeral ceremony. 

For many people the funeral ceremony or service is the part of funeral planning they most like to personalise. The service is where family, friends, and anyone who wishes to pay their respects will gather to remember the person who has died. Your funeral service can be a celebration of your life and the legacy you wish to leave your loved ones after you die. You can imbue as much of your personality into your funeral service as you want! Here are some ways to make your funeral unique to you: 

• Custom flower designs. 

• Pick your playlist. 

• Have the funeral in a park, sports arena, art gallery or even at home. 

• Ask loved ones to share memories. 

• Choose whomever you want to perform the service. 

Tip: You do not have to have a service at all, if you do not want to.  

3. Choose a funeral director. 

A good funeral director will guide you through the funeral planning process and will be able to fulfil your wishes to the best of their abilities. You can find and compare funeral directors in your area on our website for free.  

Support guides for choosing a funeral director: 

An Easy Guide To Finding A Local Funeral Director 

How To Protect Yourself When Using A Funeral Director 

How Funeral Directors are Regulated 

4. Planning funeral finances.  

The average cost of a simple attended funeral was £4,285 in 2024, and funeral costs are going up each year. The good news is you can plan and pay for your funeral well in advance and lock in prices before they go up.  

There are several ways you can pay for your funeral including: 

• Over-50s Life Insurance 

• life insurance 

• paying from your estate 

• savings/current account 

• prepaid funeral plans.  

Planning your funeral finances ahead of time will save you money and avoid financial burdens on your loved ones when you die.  

Support guides for funeral costs: 

A Guide to Funeral Prices: There is no one size fits all 

How do people pay for a loved one’s funeral? 

Where to get help with funeral costs 

5. Compare prepaid funerals. 

Prepaid funeral plans are the most common method of paying for a funeral in the UK. With a prepaid funeral you can record your funeral wishes - including additional services and extras - and lock in today’s price. You can compare prepaid funeral plans from local, trusted funeral directors for free using our funeral planning tool.  

Support guides for prepaid funeral plans: 

The Ultimate Guide to Prepaid Funeral Plans in the UK 

Prepaid Funeral Plans: How They Are Regulated and How We Help You Stay Safe 

6. Download and share your funeral wishes with your will solicitor and loved ones.  

We created the free funeral planning tool on our website to help people record their funeral wishes, store important documents, choose a funeral director, and secure a funeral plan all in one place.  

Having all the information relating to your funeral arrangements in one secure place makes it easier for your loved ones, executor, or Will solicitor to stay informed about your wishes. After you’ve recorded your funeral wishes, you can then download them or share them with a click. 

What to do when someone dies 

You may find yourself in a situation where a loved one has died and you are responsible for arranging their funeral. We understand that this can be overwhelming as there are several decisions that you will need to make. You can refer to our step-by-step guide for what to do when someone dies here to learn more. 

1. Register the death. 

2. Find out if they had funeral wishes saved.  

3. Find out if they have a prepaid funeral plan. Read our support guide here. 

4. Find their will. 
    

Your Funeral Your Way 

The Farewell Guide was started not only as a tool to support people on the funeral planning process, but also to encourage them to plan the perfect farewell that encapsulates their unique personality and life journey. 

1. There may be one part of the funeral you want planned your way. 

For many people, there may be just one or two aspects of their funeral they want done a certain way. For example, you may request your friends and family to wear colourful attire to your funeral instead of black, or you might want to serve your favourite cake at the service.  

2. Incorporating your identity at your funeral. 

If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ or another community you can plan your funeral so that these aspects of your identity are properly represented and celebrated. You are welcome to hire a queer-affirming celebrant to perform the ceremony and include close members of your community and chosen family in the send-off.  

3. Funerals are fully customisable. 

Many people aren’t aware that funerals are actually fully customisable! Nearly every aspect of your funeral can be chosen by you, barring anything that is illegal or restricted in the country you live in. You have the power to choose what will happen to your body, where you will be interred, what your funeral service will look like, and who will be included in your funeral.  

4. You can have a living funeral. 

A living funeral is a funeral that you throw for yourself when you are still alive. Sometimes called “a celebration of life”, a living funeral is planned just like a normal funeral with the only difference being that you will be present at it. Living funerals are a beautiful way to celebrate your life with your loved ones. Learn how to plan a living funeral in the UK here. 

5. Charitable donations instead of flowers - and other fun ideas.  

You can go as non-traditional as you like when planning your funeral! Some people request their funeral attendees to make a donation to a charity that is close to their heart, or ask that loved ones bring photos and memories to share at the service. You can also plan where you would like your ashes to be scattered.  

6. Taking care of your dependents. 

Having a funeral and end-of-life plan ensures that your dependents will be taken care of after you die. Funeral planning also includes estate and will planning, and other aspects of end-of-life organising that you will have to consider. You may want to have financial security in place for your loved one with a disability or other loved ones.  

7. Funeral planning for people with disabilities. 

People with learning disabilities may have clear ideas for what they wish their funeral to be like, and recording their funeral and end-of-life wishes may help ease some of the uncertainty surrounding the topic of death or dying. Funeral planning should be accessible and available to everyone, including those with special needs or learning difficulties. We have a guide for supporting end-of-life wishes for people with learning difficulties here. 
 

Things to Remember When Planning a Funeral: 

1. You don’t have to book additional funeral options like flowers from the funeral director - you can use any vendors you like. 

2. You are free to customise as much or as little of your funeral as you like. 

3. Planning a funeral in advance is advisable as it can provide you with peace of mind knowing that your funeral arrangements are confirmed. For example, burial plots may need to be booked well in advance and planning ahead will ensure that you will have a plot available for you when the time comes. 

4. Saving your funeral and end-of-life wishes in a secure location - like The Farewell Guide - and sharing them with your family/chosen family/Will solicitor will ensure that your wishes are fulfilled as per your requirements.  

Start Planning A Funeral and Recording Your Funeral Wishes For Free 

Take control of your funeral planning journey and begin by recording what you would like your funeral to be like on our free funeral planning tool.  

1. Choose if you are planning a funeral in advance or immediately. 

2. Choose if you are planning a funeral for yourself or for someone else. 

3. Choose what type of funeral you would like. 

4. Choose extras like flowers, limousine, coffin type, etc. 

5. Search our directory of trusted funeral directors in your area. 

6. Compare prices and prepaid funeral plans. 

7. Request to speak to a funeral director to begin booking your funeral plan with them. 

The Farewell Guide is here to support you every step of the way on your funeral planning journey. Our team is available to answer any questions you may have and to offer assistance if you need it. Contact us here.