When a loved one passes away, it can be challenging to plan a funeral while also coping with your pain and emotions. You may not know what details need to be planned or where to start. If you want to avoid making mistakes while planning the funeral and avoid potential issues, there are a few tips to keep in mind.
1. Failing to Ask Questions
When you’re suffering from grief, it can be easy to forget about any questions that need to be asked when you have a lot of thoughts and emotions. It’s important to work with a quality director of funeral services at a location like George Boom Funeral Home. This will allow someone with experience to present the different details to you to prevent anything from going overlooked. Funeral directors also know the best service providers to use, which includes catering, florists, religious clergy, discounts, and music.
2. Not Respecting Your Loved One’s Wishes
You may have a written form of your loved one’s wishes for their funeral, which need to be honored. Whether they wanted a certain song played or they requested donations to be made in their name to an organization, you’ll need to include these details in the planning process. It’s also important to include their favorite food in the reception and use their favorite colors when selecting the flowers. Do your best to represent their interests to ensure the funeral is a representation of who they were.
3. Forgetting Your Budget
Many people don’t realize that the average funeral costs thousands of dollars, which includes the cost of the cremation, the funeral home, and flowers. The average cost of a funeral is $7,000 and is influenced by the quality of the services and products purchased. The cost of these goods and services can also fluctuate, making it necessary to research the price of everything to ensure you can afford the funeral without getting into financial trouble. Many packages are also available through funeral homes, which can allow you to save more money.
4. Providing Vague Details About the Funeral
When you create the invitations for the funeral, it can be easy to leave out important details like how people can RSVP, the time of the funeral, the address of the funeral home, and additional information about the deceased. You can get an idea of how much food to order after everyone RSVPs and how much seating is needed.
It’s also necessary to encourage everyone to arrive early to avoid interruptions during the service. You’ll need to have ushers present by the doors to prevent anyone from walking in late on the service. They can be allowed into the room once there’s a break in the service to prevent disruptions when speeches are being made.
5. Choosing the Wrong Funeral Package
Communicate to the funeral director about how much money you want to spend to avoid choosing a package that you may not be able to afford. This can allow you to be presented with the different options available and select features that are what you envision for the funeral. The funeral director will assist you in determining the length of the funeral and even what type of casket you want to select. They can also help you find the smaller things like a condolence wreath and more.
By learning more about what is involved with planning a funeral, you’ll feel more prepared for the process and can avoid common mistakes. This can offer peace of mind and also allow you to navigate each decision that needs to be made to ensure you plan a memorable funeral that honors your loved one.
