Funeral Order of Service Guide
An order of service booklet guides guests through the funeral and serves as a keepsake. This guide covers what to include, template examples, design tips, printing options, and whether to DIY or use a professional service.
Quick Overview
- ✓Essential elements every order of service should include
- ✓Template examples and layout options
- ✓Design tips for a professional, meaningful booklet
- ✓Printing options: costs, timelines, quality
- ✓DIY vs professional: pros, cons, and recommendations
What to Include
A complete order of service typically includes these elements:
Front Cover (Essential)
- ✓Photo of the deceased (optional but very common)
- ✓Full name (including maiden name if applicable)
- ✓Date of birth and death (e.g., 15th March 1945 – 3rd October 2025)
- ✓Funeral service details (date, time, venue)
- ✓Optional: "In Loving Memory of" or "A Celebration of the Life of"
Inside Pages: Order of Service (Essential)
List each part of the service in order:
Example Structure:
- 1. Entrance Music: "My Way" by Frank Sinatra
- 2. Welcome and Introduction by Celebrant
- 3. Opening Words
- 4. Hymn: "Abide With Me"
- 5. Reading: Psalm 23
- 6. Eulogy by [Name]
- 7. Reflection Music: "Angels" by Robbie Williams
- 8. Poem: "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep"
- 9. Committal
- 10. Closing Words
- 11. Exit Music: "What a Wonderful World"
Include specific titles of hymns, songs, readings, and who's performing/reading them.
Hymns and Song Lyrics (Optional but Helpful)
If using traditional hymns that guests may sing along to, include the full lyrics. For recorded songs, just list the title and artist.
Readings and Poems (Optional)
Print the full text of readings or poems so guests can follow along. This is especially meaningful for non-religious services.
Biography/Tribute (Optional)
A brief (100-200 word) summary of their life: where they were born, career, family, hobbies, personality. Gives context to guests who didn't know them well.
Example:
"John was born in Liverpool in 1945 and spent his entire career as a teacher, inspiring thousands of students. He was a devoted husband to Mary for 50 years, a proud father to three children, and a passionate Liverpool FC supporter. John loved gardening, jazz music, and traveling with his family. He will be remembered for his kindness, humor, and unwavering optimism."
Back Cover: Thank You Message (Recommended)
A message from the family thanking attendees for coming and supporting them. Also include:
- → Wake/reception details (location, time)
- → Charity donation information (if "donations instead of flowers")
- → Family contact for condolences (optional)
Example:
"The family would like to thank everyone for attending today and for your love and support during this difficult time. Please join us for refreshments at [Venue Name, Address] following the service. Donations in John's memory to Cancer Research UK can be made at the exit or online at [charity link]."
Additional Photos (Optional)
Some families include 2-4 additional photos throughout the booklet showing different life stages or memorable moments.
Template and Layout Examples
Here are common formats and page counts for order of service booklets.
Single Sheet (2 pages)
One A4 or A5 sheet, printed front and back
Front: Photo, name, dates, service details
Back: Order of service, thank you message
4-Page Booklet (Most Common)
A4 folded in half to create 4 A5 pages
Page 1: Front cover with photo
Pages 2-3: Order of service, hymns, readings
Page 4: Biography, thank you, wake details
8+ Page Booklet
Multiple sheets stapled or saddle-stitched
Extended content: Full hymn lyrics, multiple readings, longer biography, multiple photos
Professional design: More room for creative layouts
Recommended: 4-Page Booklet
The 4-page A5 booklet (A4 folded) is the sweet spot for most funerals. It's professional, affordable, and has enough space for all essential content without being overwhelming.
Design Tips
Good design makes the order of service both functional and meaningful.
1. Choose the Right Photo
- →High resolution: At least 300 DPI for printing (avoid blurry/pixelated photos)
- →Recent but flattering: Show them as people remember them
- →Smiling and happy: Celebrate their life, not just mourn
- →Good lighting and focus: Clear, well-lit face
- →Avoid: Group photos (crop to just them), busy backgrounds, poor quality scans
2. Keep Fonts Simple and Readable
- →Body text: 11-12pt minimum (remember older guests may have poor eyesight)
- →Headings: 16-18pt, bold
- →Font style: Traditional serif (Times New Roman, Garamond) or clean sans-serif (Arial, Calibri)
- →Avoid: Script fonts for body text (hard to read), too many different fonts
3. Use Color Thoughtfully
- →Traditional: Black text on white/cream background
- →Accent colors: Soft blues, greens, purples for borders or headers
- →Personal touch: Use their favorite color subtly
- →Avoid: Bright, garish colors; too much color (distracting)
- →Modern trend: Full-color covers, black & white interior
4. Layout and Spacing
- →White space: Don't cram too much text. Leave margins and breathing room.
- →Margins: At least 0.5 inch (1.3 cm) on all sides
- →Line spacing: 1.2-1.5 for readability
- →Alignment: Center-align cover, left-align body text
- →Page numbers: Not necessary for 4-page booklets
5. Add Meaningful Touches
- →Decorative elements: Subtle borders, floral designs, religious symbols
- →Quotes: Favorite sayings or meaningful quotes on the cover or back
- →Themed graphics: If they loved gardening (flowers), music (notes), sports (subtle logo)
- →Professional look: Keep decorations subtle—less is more
Need Help with Your Order of Service?
Many funeral directors offer order of service design and printing as part of their service. Get quotes from local funeral directors to compare options and prices.
Get Free Quotes →Printing Options
You have several options for printing your order of service, each with different costs, timelines, and quality.
1. Home Printing (Cheapest)
Pros:
- → Cheapest option (£10-£20 for 50 copies)
- → Complete control over design
- → Can make last-minute changes
- → Immediate turnaround
Cons:
- → Lower print quality
- → Time-consuming (printing, folding)
- → Ink costs can add up
- → May look less professional
Timeline: 1-2 hours
Best for: Small funerals, tight budgets, simple designs
2. Local Print Shop (Recommended)
Pros:
- → Professional quality
- → Fast turnaround (24-48 hours)
- → Good paper stock options
- → Affordable
- → Can see samples first
Cons:
- → May need appointment
- → Limited design help
- → Need to supply print-ready files
Timeline: 24-48 hours
Best for: Most funerals, good balance of quality and cost
3. Online Printing Services
Pros:
- → High quality, professional finish
- → Many templates available
- → Delivered to your door
- → Often cheaper than local shops
Cons:
- → Longer turnaround (3-5 days + shipping)
- → Can't see/feel samples beforehand
- → Shipping costs
- → Less flexible for last-minute changes
Timeline: 3-7 days
Best for: Planning ahead, wanting premium quality
Popular services: Vistaprint, Instantprint, Printed.com
4. Funeral Director's Service
Pros:
- → Everything handled for you
- → Professional design assistance
- → High quality printing
- → Coordinated with funeral
- → No stress for family
Cons:
- → Most expensive option
- → Less control over design
- → May use templates
Timeline: Handled as part of funeral planning
Best for: Those wanting convenience, professional results, no stress
How Many to Print?
Formula: Expected guests + 20% extra
- → Small funeral (20-30 guests): Print 40-50
- → Medium funeral (50-75 guests): Print 75-100
- → Large funeral (100+ guests): Print 125-150
Extras are for: keepsakes for family, people who take multiples, and anyone you forgot to count.
DIY vs Professional
Should you create the order of service yourself or hire a professional? Here's how to decide.
DIY Approach
What You Need:
- → Computer with Word, PowerPoint, or Canva
- → High-resolution photos
- → 2-3 hours for design and editing
- → Printer or local print shop
Difficulty:
Moderate. Requires basic design skills and attention to detail.
Cost:
£10-£80 depending on printing method
Best if:
- → You're comfortable with design software
- → You want complete control
- → Budget is very tight
- → You have time and energy
Professional Service
What You Need:
- → Photos and content/text
- → Service order details
- → Feedback on design drafts
- → Payment
Difficulty:
Easy. Someone else does the work, you just approve.
Cost:
£100-£200 (design + printing included)
Best if:
- → You're overwhelmed with funeral planning
- → You want guaranteed professional quality
- → You're not confident with design
- → Budget allows for convenience
Hybrid Approach
Many families use a middle ground:
- → DIY design using free templates (Canva, Word) + professional printing at local shop
- → Online template service (e.g., Funeral Guide, Everplans) where you fill in content, they handle design/printing
Cost: £30-£100 | Quality: High | Effort: Moderate
Tools and Resources
Here are the best tools for creating your own order of service:
Canva (Recommended for Beginners)
Free online design tool with funeral order of service templates. Drag-and-drop interface, no design skills needed.
Cost: Free (Pro version £10.99/month for premium templates)
Best for: Easy, professional-looking designs
Microsoft Word/PowerPoint
Traditional option. Many free templates available online. Good if you're already familiar with these tools.
Cost: Free if you have Office
Best for: Those comfortable with Word/PowerPoint
Adobe InDesign (Advanced)
Professional design software. Steeper learning curve but ultimate control and quality.
Cost: £19.97/month
Best for: Those with design experience or wanting highly customized layouts
Funeral-Specific Services
Websites specifically for funeral orders of service. Templates, design assistance, and printing in one place.
Examples: Funeral Guide, Loving Tributes, Funeral Printing
Cost: £50-£150 (design + printing)
Best for: Convenience and funeral-specific templates
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Low-resolution photos
Photos look fine on screen but pixelated when printed. Use high-res images (300 DPI minimum).
Spelling errors
Typos in names, dates, or readings are embarrassing. Proofread multiple times. Have 2-3 people check.
Wrong dates or times
Double-check funeral service date, time, and venue match the actual booking.
Too much text crammed in
Overwhelming and hard to read. Use white space. If content doesn't fit, use 8 pages instead of 4.
Printing too few copies
Running out mid-service is awkward. Always print 20% more than expected guests.
Last-minute printing
Rushing leads to errors and stress. Aim to have orders of service printed 2-3 days before the funeral.
Ignoring print bleed and margins
Important text too close to edges gets cut off. Leave at least 0.5 inch margins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we need an order of service?
Not legally required, but highly recommended. It helps guests follow along, participate in hymns, and serves as a keepsake. Most funerals (80%+) have them.
What paper should I use?
Recommended: 170-250gsm (grams per square meter) matte or silk finish. This is thicker than standard copy paper (80gsm) but not too thick to fold. Matte looks more traditional; silk is slightly glossy and modern.
Can we have digital orders of service?
Yes, some families email PDFs to guests beforehand or display on screens at the venue. However, most people still prefer physical copies to hold and keep. Hybrid approach: physical at service, digital emailed later.
When should we finalize the content?
At least 3-5 days before the funeral. This gives time for printing, dealing with errors, and making changes if needed. Content can't be finalized until you confirm the service order with the celebrant.
What if we make a mistake after printing?
Small errors (typo in a song lyric): Generally okay, most guests won't notice. Major errors (wrong date, name spelling): Reprint if time allows. If impossible, have someone announce the correction at the start of the service.
Let Us Help with Your Order of Service
Many funeral directors offer complete order of service design and printing. Get quotes to compare prices and see what's included in their packages.
Get Free Quotes →Related Guides
Funeral Service Ideas UK
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Funeral Music Choices UK
Top 20 funeral songs, classical pieces, and how to choose music.
Complete Funeral Planning Checklist
Step-by-step checklist from death to funeral day.
How to Arrange a Funeral in the UK
Complete guide to funeral arrangements from start to finish.
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