5 Things To Consider When Planning A Funeral For The First Time

As inevitable as it is, the death of a loved one will leave you overwhelmed with grief. So it’s understandable that planning and overseeing a funeral can be stressful, especially if it’s your first time having to organise the funeral of a deceased loved one. You probably have no idea where to start or how to go about it.

From the costs to burial options, here’s what you need to know when it comes to holding a funeral service in Melbourne for the first time.

1. Having a realistic budget

As with any event, funerals too need proper budgeting. There are many important costs that need to be kept in mind when budgeting including venue fees for the wake, coffins or urns, burial or cremation costs, and payment to the funeral director. Other costs may also include the rental of hearses, food and catering, flowers, and other miscellaneous expenditure. It’s crucial to do your research on the pricing of materials and services before budgeting so that you have a realistic idea of how much you’d need to spend.

If you’re on a tighter budget, there are many affordable funeral homes that you can reach out to which are reputable and reliable. Make sure to communicate your financial situation to providers and request advice on the types of services that can be done within your budget. To further lessen your financial burden, there are also options to arrange funeral services in advance, paid upfront, or in instalments – before death happens. This way, you also won’t be overwhelmed by having to make decisions when your loved one passes away.

2. Choosing the right funeral home

An experienced funeral director will guide you through the whole process and allow you to grieve in peace with your loved ones. One of the best ways to find a good funeral home is through referrals from loved ones. Reviews and recommendations will ensure you get the best funeral service in Melbourne.

Make a list of suggested funeral homes, contact the providers and discuss your plan and budget. It will also help you to do your own background research on the services those funeral homes offer. Some of the questions you can ask your funeral director are:

• If there is a casket, will it be opened or closed?

• If the body is to be cremated, will the ashes be scattered or deposited in an urn?

• Will you be able to provide specific religious services?

• Is your service inclusive of a wake?

It’s important that you hire a funeral home that understands your needs and caters to the deceased’s values and beliefs to ensure the funeral will be conducted as smoothly as possible.

3. Deciding on a final resting place

Choosing the final resting place is both the most important and the most nerve-racking part, especially if the deceased has never conveyed their wishes. Apart from the commonly known traditional burial and cremation, there are options for green or eco-friendly burials and even anatomical donation. Whatever the choice, it’s a deeply personal decision and it all comes down to what aligns with the deceased’s values.

When it comes to choosing a burial vessel – caskets, coffins, or urns – wood caskets are a popular choice. There’s a wide range of wood grains like maple, elm and ash, which can also be embellished with decorative elements. Urn selection, on the other hand, depends on where you would be storing the cremains. Glass, marble, wood, and ceramic urns are standard options for keeping the cremains at home or in the columbarium. You can also request biodegradable caskets and other eco-friendly if you’d like to plan a green funeral in Melbourne. Discuss these options with your funeral director to know what options their funeral home offer.

4. Selecting a suitable remembrance service

Although a remembrance service is for the living, it’s an essential part of a funeral. By having a wake before the funeral service, loved ones have an opportunity to say goodbye to the deceased and offer condolences to the grieving family. Alternatively, you can choose to have a memorial service afterwards, especially if you chose to cremate your loved one, for family and friends to mourn together.

Some people prefer the remembrance service at a place of worship, whilst others may opt for a non-religious or private place to mourn. Whatever your preference, it’s best to get advice and assistance from a funeral director on your ideas, budget, timeline, and guest capacity so that they can help make all the appropriate arrangements for the funeral service. The most important thing is that you do something to honour and remember the life your loved one lived.

5. Reaching out for help and support

No one should have to plan and organise an entire funeral on their own. Besides having a funeral director, you can also approach your family and friends to lend a helping hand – they’d be more than willing to help lessen your burden. Tasks such as selecting a venue for the wake, overseeing the catering, and preparing the invites, arranging the transport in between services, can be passed on to your friends and family. You can also ask someone close to you to draft up something meaningful if you’re not in a condition to pen down a eulogy. Make use of the help that will be offered – there will be plenty – and don’t overwhelm yourself. If all else fails, let your funeral director know that you may need extra hands on deck.

Take it easy and allow yourself to grieve

Planning a funeral is not easy and can be a lot for someone in mourning. You can get too overwhelmed with the decision making and organising, and eventually forget to give yourself space and time to grieve. From making burial decisions to coordinating the service, it’s better to have an experienced and compassionate funeral director to guide you along the way and help ease your burden while ensuring everything goes smoothly on that day.

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