Funeral Order of Service
Creating a Funeral Order of Service is a difficult and important task. It provides a guide about the funeral ceremony or service, helping attendees know what to expect and honouring the life of the person who has passed away.
There are a few important steps to consider before starting the design;
1) Basic information
Source photos and collate details about the deceased person, including full name, date of birth and date of passing.
2) Order of Service
Consult with family members, funeral director, religious leader or celebrant and pull together all the information and preferences for the funeral service. Outline the schedule for the service including any religious or cultural rituals. Include the date, time and location of the service too.
List individuals who will be speaking or reading during the service.
3) Select meaningful elements
Personalise the service and choose appropriate images, meaningful quotes or passages that reflect the life and personality of the person being honoured.
In the Order of Service you can integrate photos of the deceased from throughout their life.
4) Organise your content
Arrange the information in a logical order. Typically, a Funeral Order of Service includes a welcome, an order of events, speakers, readings and acknowledgments.
5) Design layout
Select readable fonts and consider colours that convey a sense of solemnity and respect. As a guide we recommend a minimum font point size of 11 with headers being point size 14 or 16. The document should be set up as A5 size (148mm x 210mm) or (14.8cm x 21cm).
A consistent design should be maintained throughout the document and once you are happy with it the document should be set up as sequential single pages and saved as a pdf.
6) Donations
Add a section explaining the purpose of the donations. For example, if donations are being collated for a specific charity in honour of the deceased.
Also, provide clear instructions on how attendees can contribute. This could include online platforms linked by QR codes, donation boxes at the service or details on where and how to transfer donations online.
7) Wake Information
Clearly specify the location of the wake or post-funeral gathering, including the full address and if required the start and end time of the wake.
8) Acknowledgments
Include a section to express gratitude to those who attended the funeral or those who have supported the family during this difficult time. You can include any additional information such as where to send condolences or flowers.
9) Proofreading
Double-check all information for accuracy, including dates, names and other details.
10) Printing
Paper stock and print quality are important, opt for a good quality stock and professional printing to enhance the overall presentation of the Order of Service.
Determine the number of copies required for attendees and decide how and when the Order of Service will be distributed during the funeral service.
By carefully considering these aspects you can create a meaningful and respectful Funeral Order of Service that honours the life of the departed individual and provides comfort to those in attendance.
Here at Prontaprint we can guide you on all aspects of the Funeral Order of Service booklet, please get in touch.