We plan for most things in life, so why should our funeral, memorial, or celebration of life be any different? Taking the time to make end-of-life plans allows us to decide how we’ll be remembered and to live life to the fullest, knowing everything is taken care of. Funeral planning is an interesting way to reflect on how you’ve lived your life—and what you still want to do. It can be a cathartic experience that will give your loved ones peace of mind. 

Funeral planning involves more than just selecting burial or cremation. It’s the opportunity to celebrate your journey in life. This ceremony is a personalized tribute to your religious beliefs, values, and hobbies. Many people find peace of mind through the process because they know they’ve taken steps to make their loved one’s lives easier when the time comes. Funeral planning includes making logistical arrangements and choosing specific ceremony details, like the type of service, preferred music, and final resting place, that will honor your life. 

Whether planning for yourself or arranging a service for a loved one, this guide will help you with all the details. From selecting a final resting place to organizing the service, the information below will guide you as you create a funeral that reflects your values and the legacy you want to leave behind.

What is Funeral Planning? 

Funeral planning is the process of making final arrangements for a funeral or memorial service. This can be done for a loved one who’s passed or pre-planned for yourself. There are many things to consider when you begin funeral planning, like choosing a final resting place, handling financial logistics, and planning transportation for remains when the time comes. We recommend making your plans in advance to create a legacy that aligns with your values. 

How Much Does a Funeral Cost? 

Funeral prices vary but typically range from $6,280 to $8,300, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. The cost depends on a few factors like transportation, cremation vs. burial, funeral service vs. memorial ceremony, final resting place, and additional add-ons. Some fees may surprise you, like preparation of the body, transportation, and indeclinable service fees. Other optional line items include embalmment, casket material, urns, flowers, and the use of a hearse. Ask the funeral home or mortuary what fees you’ll be responsible for when exploring your options. 

How Long Does it Take to Plan a Funeral? 

Planning a funeral can be done relatively quickly—in a few days to a week when necessary. Many people find themselves having to plan a funeral for a loved one while in the throes of grief and with a quick timeline. This process can be extremely stressful for the bereaved which is why we recommend pre-planning. When you pre-plan you can intentionally create a funeral plan that resonates with you without sacrificing things you want because you’re under a time crunch. The funeral pre-planning process typically takes a week or two depending on how quickly you want to make decisions. 

How to Plan a Funeral in 5 Steps 

1. Choose a Funeral Home or Mortuary 

When there’s a death someone has to pick up the body. If you pass peacefully at home, there are two options for this transport: a funeral home or a mortuary (sometimes called a crematory). A funeral home can offer a full-service funeral experience, with cremation or burial, ceremony, and details all handled at the funeral home. A mortuary is more focused on preparation of the body for burial or cremation. Keep this in mind as you explore your options and decide what’s best for you. If you’d like to be cremated without an in-house funeral ceremony, a mortuary may be the most affordable option for you. 

Browse our list of partners to find a funeral home or crematory in your area. 

2. Burial or Cremation? 

There are largely two most common interment choices—burial and cremation. Today, the vast majority of Americans (61.9%) choose cremation over burial. The reason people are opting for cremation is for its flexibility and affordability. Cremation allows families to choose alternative or multiple ways to honor their loved ones, such as scattering ashes at a special location, preserving them in an urn, or creating a living memorial in a forest. 

Traditional burial remains a meaningful choice for many, especially those who find comfort in a permanent gravesite. When you opt for burial you’ll need to choose a casket, cemetery, plot location, and headstone. These additions add up, so do your research and price match to find the best fit. If you like the idea of a cemetery but prefer to be cremated, you may also inter ashes at a family gravesite or mausoleum. 

Cremation vs Traditional Burial

In recent years, consumers have shown more interest in sustainable alternatives. Human composting is one of those alternatives that is gaining popularity. Natural organic reduction (or human composting) is the process of a human body breaking down into soil. The body is placed in a vessel surrounded by natural materials to create an accelerated version of natural decomposition. Currently, human composting is only available in 6 states—California, Colorado, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.  

3. Select Your Final Resting Place

Choosing a final resting place is uniquely personal and depends on your values and preferences. There are traditional options, like a permanent gravesite or mausoleum; and quirky choices like a piece of art made with cremation ashes. When deciding your final resting place consider things like future accessibility, location, and the people who will want to visit. This information can help guide you toward the choice that feels most meaningful. These are just a few of the options to pick from: 

• Cemetery: In-ground burial in a dedicated gravesite for cremated or buried remains. 
• Mausoleum or Columbarium: Above-ground options like mausoleums (for caskets) or columbaria (for cremated remains) are an alternative to in-ground burial.
• Scattering Ashes: For those who choose cremation, scattering ashes in a meaningful location like a beach, mountain, or family property. 
• Memorial Forest: A natural and eco-friendly option where ashes are incorporated into the soil at the base of a thriving and protected tree. 
• Private Land: Some families choose to create a private memorial on their land. 
• Urn: Keeping ashes in an urn allows you to keep your loved one close.
• Cremation Art: Turn ashes into a painting, diamond, ceramic, or pebble for your garden. 

Each option comes with its pros and cons. For example, private land can be sold making it hard to visit in the future. You’ll want to take the pros and cons into account when selecting something as permanent as your final resting place. 

Three of the most popular options are ash scattering, memorial forests, and traditional burial. These options vary widely in price, environmental impact, and accessibility.

Ash Scattering vs. Memorial Forest vs. Traditional Burial

Discuss these options with loved ones if you’re unsure what to choose. Those closest to you can help you choose a legacy that aligns with your values. We also encourage you to have end-of-life conversations often. Discussing these hard topics can bring people closer together and make you less afraid of the unknown. 

4. Plan The Service

How do you want people to celebrate your life? Some of us will find comfort in the tradition of a funeral service, while others will gravitate towards the lightness of a celebration of life. Each service can be customized to your preferences and wishes. Here are some of the options available to you: 

• Funeral Service: A formal ceremony, often with the body present in a casket or urn. A funeral service occurs in a funeral home, church, or at the gravesite. Mourners wear black and send flowers to express their sympathy to the closest of kin. There are typically religious rituals like prayers and hymns. Because the body is present a funeral service usually occurs quickly after the deceased has passed. 
• Memorial Service: Unlike a funeral, the body is not present. A memorial service is usually weeks or months after the deceased is buried or cremated. This option offers a lot more flexibility with timing and location, and the tone of a memorial service tends to be less formal. Mourners gather to reflect and honor the life of the person who passed. There are typically speeches, reflections, and stories shared and the environment and dress code tend to be less strict. 
• Celebration of Life: This is the most informal service. Mourners trade the all-black dress code for colorful clothing or your favorite sports team’s jersey. Friends and family gather to tell their favorite stories or make your favorite sweet treats. A celebration of life is whatever you want it to be! It can be held at a loved one’s home, a favorite restaurant, or a public park. The options are endless. 

Once you’ve chosen the type of service you’d like to have you can start planning the details. Do you want people to read eulogies? Would you like a certain food catered? These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself. 

Things to consider when planning your funeral service:  

• Location: Decide on a location for the service. If outdoors, prepare for an alternative if there’s bad weather.
• Guest List: Think about who you’d like to attend your final send-off. Will it be invite-only, or an open ceremony? 
• Service Structure: Draft a schedule of how welcome remarks, readings, and music will flow on the day of the service.
• Eulogies: Note any loved ones that you’d like to share a eulogy, poem, story, or other reading. Consider writing something to be shared on that day.
• Music: Choose favorite songs or artists that you want to be featured on the day of the service.
• Food and Drinks: Plan refreshment preferences for the service. Consider catering from a favorite restaurant or if you’d like a potluck-style gathering.
• Flowers and Decor: Note favorite flowers, colors, and other decoration preferences to be honored on the day of the service.
• Photos and Art: Share favorite photos and pieces of art that you want to be shown on the day of the service.

Read 30 Creative Memorial Service Ideas to help you start planning. 

5. Share Your Wishes 

Once you’ve made your plans it’s important to share them with loved ones—in writing and person. Without sharing your plans no one will be able to honor them, so it’s important to have these end-of-life conversations early and often. You can even start the conversation before you know what you want. It can be helpful just to start thinking about these things out loud with people that you trust. 

Start the conversation with our 10-question quiz. It will help you begin your end-of-life plans and guide family conversations.

Why You Should Pre-Pay for Your Funeral

We highly recommend pre-planning your funeral to avoid causing stress to your loved ones while they grieve. Pre-planning allows you to lock in current pricing and remove the potential of rising costs affecting your family when the time comes. Most importantly, it allows you to create the legacy and ceremony that most reflects your wishes. 

The advantages of pre-planning: 

• Lock in current pricing 
• Complete important paperwork in advance 
• Reduce stress on your loved ones 
• Eliminate financial pressure on friends and family 
• Make the choices that you truly want

Begin Planning Today

We never know when we’re going to take our last breath, but we do know that day will come. Give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind by planning for the inevitable. By following the steps above you’ll give your loved ones the gift of a plan. 

Better Place Forests is here to help you find a beautiful, natural final resting place. If you’re ready to take the next step, talk with one of our forest guides today.