Funeral Planning Ahead of Time

Thinking about funeral planning for ourselves or someone we love can be hard. In 2025, less than 1% of people knew all of their loved one’s funeral wishes.⁺ But knowing what the people you care about want to happen at their funeral is the only way to fully honour their wishes.

As well as talking with those close to you about your wishes and theirs, you can also look into how funeral plans can secure your future arrangements.

Don’t worry if you do find you’re in the dark about what your loved one wanted. There are simple and affordable funeral options available, like cremation only funerals, that allow you more time to plan a personal memorial.

⁺ Less than 1% of people knew all their loved one’s funeral wishes in 2025 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

Why plan a funeral in advance?

Though it might seem daunting, taking the steps to plan a funeral in advance has several advantages.

Older Lady Filling Out Funeral Plan Form

Planning for yourself

If you choose to plan a funeral for yourself, it takes the stress away from your family as they know ahead of time exactly what you want to happen. Paying in advance takes away any financial burden too.

View our funeral plans

Older Couple Viewing Funeral Plans On Laptop

Planning for someone else

Making plans for a loved one’s funeral in advance also brings peace of mind as you can be reassured they will be cared for in the way you would want them to be when the time comes.

Setting up a plan for a loved one

Questions to consider when funeral planning

There are a few choices to be made to make sure that the funeral you’re planning reflects your preferences in the best possible way, but not all of them have to be made in advance. The more traditional aspects of a funeral can be done away with completely in favour of a simple funeral.

Type of funeral - Would you prefer a burial, cremation or direct cremation?
Funeral provider - Do the providers you're looking at specialise in your preferred funeral and offer the support you'd like?
Clothes - Do you want to be wearing anything specific? What would you like your family to wear?
Music - Are there any particular songs, hymns or special pieces of music you'd like played?
Readings - Would you like any specific readings, poems or prayers? Or any photos or letters to be placed in your coffin?
Personal touches - Who would you like to write your eulogy or obituary? Are any charity donations to be made in your name?
Burial - Where would you like to be buried? Who would you like to carry your coffin?
Ashes - If you've chosen a cremation, where would you like your ashes scattered or who would you want to keep them?
Memorial service - Would you like a sombre, serious and traditional affair or something more personal and modern?
Location - Where would you like the funeral itself and the memorial service/wake afterwards to take place?

Some people plan a funeral down to the smallest details. Others have a broader plan. How detailed you would like your funeral planning to get is entirely up to you.

Our funeral planning products

We have two simple and low cost funeral plans for you to choose from.

Our Direct Cremation Plan gives your family the flexibility to pay their respects in their own way. Alternatively, with our Funeral Service Plan, you have the choice of a 30 or a 60 minute service. This can be family-led or led by a professional celebrant. The choice is yours.

View our services or for additional pricing information and a full list of our optional extras, please see our price list.

Direct Cremation Plan

From £1,999 or £20.74* per month

Our Direct Cremation Plan is a great choice for those looking for a simple farewell which takes place with no service or mourners at our high-quality crematoria where compassionate care is guaranteed throughout.

View our Direct Cremation Plan * Price advertised is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £2,374.80 and includes administration fees.

Funeral Service Plan

From £2,499 or £28.68** per month

Our attended cremation plan is perfect for those looking for a fuss-free farewell and a final chance to say goodbye. With our affordable attended plan you have a choice of a 30 or a 60 minute funeral service depending on what you'd prefer.

View our Funeral Service Plan ** Price is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £3,441.60 and includes admin fees.

Other helpful resources about funeral planning

Continue your funeral planning with our resources below.

Funeral alternatives

Know you don’t want to go down the traditional route, but not sure what you do want? Get to know the other options out there for your funeral arrangements.

Funeral alternatives

Cremation or burial?

Cremation and burial funerals have similar core elements. Finding out about the two options in more detail can help you decide which one is right for you.

Cremation or burial

Arrange a funeral

What to do if someone dies in Scotland_ wild flowers

If you are planning a funeral for someone who is receiving end-of-life care, waiting and arranging the funeral when needed may be the better option.

Arrange a funeral

What our customers say about us

We offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought a funeral with us.

4.9/5

Read all our reviews

Anonymous, on Feefo 31 Jan 2026

A simple and relatively inexpensive option that gave us what we needed along with the option of more additions should we change our minds.

Kim Carter, on Feefo 28 Jan 2026

Totally lovely and personal service right from start to finish A special mention of Sarah who really puts you at ease and explains the whole process . Highly recommend .

Jill H, on Feefo 22 Jan 2026

I was nervous about an unattanded cremation but there was no need. From the time my husband passed away to after the delivery of his ashes to me in time for Christmas everything was handled with so much kindness and compassion and quiet efficiency. I was reticent about not seeing him laid out but I had valuable and more meaningful time with him at home before he was collected. The Funeral Directors who collected him were amazing, affording my husband the care and dignity he deserved, and making sure they knew what I wanted for him. They even asked if I would like to walk in front of the vehicle with one of them which was a lovely touch. I have my own unattended cemation plan and now I have experienced this I feel reassured that when the time comes my family will be looked after. Thank you Distinct Cremations.

Tracy Linda May Bance, on Feefo 19 Jan 2026

They’re absolutely amazing so helpful and supportive all the way along, I recently lost my dad and he chose this sort of cremation. Nothing is too much trouble for them. My dad was cremated in Essex and they brought his ashes all the way to Wales. Maxine, the lady who was supporting me was just one in 1 million always there to listen always there to help. A big thank you to all of you, Tracy.**

Nicci Saville , on Google 17 Jan 2026

The service provided was a truly personal and caring one. Very professional and knowledgeable. Care was taken throughout the journey I was impressed with the service. Thank you.

Debbie Banks, on Trustpilot 15 Jan 2026

Amazing service from start to finish , they made me feel like my dad was being cared for from the moment I rang them so respectful and helpful I spoke to a lady called Maxine who was amazing and a young lady called Libby delivered my dads ashes she was amazing so respectful and kind ,everyone was amazing I would highly recommend this service to anyone

Roger Bramford, on Google 12 Jan 2026

I found Distinct Cremations very helpful to me during my recent bereavement. Nothing was too much to ask, and the ashes were delivered to me as per my request. My grateful thanks to their staff, especially Maxine for your personal care shown to my partner Lorraine.

William Pedel, on Google 8 Jan 2026

The whole experience with Distinct Cremations was excellent did everything we needed, and Maxine helped us in a very professional way and looked after our every need, she was a pleasure to deal with 10/10

4.9/5

Read all our reviews

Cremations for low cost farewells

Call us

01543211997

Find us

Oak Tree Court, Brookfield Drive, Cannock, WS11 0JN

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Important information

Part of

Over 74,000 cremations a year

Westerleigh Group including Distinct Cremations carried out over 74,000 cremations in 2024.

Distinct Cremations office: Oak Tree Court, Brookfield Drive, Cannock, WS11 0JN

‘Distinct Cremations’ is a trading style of Distinct Funeral Plans Limited (DPFL) and Distinct Cremations Limited (DCL). DFPL is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 965289. DCL provides ‘at need’ funeral and cremation services and is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Both companies are registered in England. DFPL No. 13366327 and DCL No. 13366310. Registered office: Head Office Westerleigh Crematorium, Westerleigh Road, Westerleigh, Bristol, BS37 8QP. Part of the Westerleigh Group.

Funeral planning ahead of time

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