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 £1,795 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 £2,295 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 14 Jul 2026

I cannot recommend this company more highly - if I could give 10 stars I would . Professional, kind, caring , friendly and exceptionally well organised from the beginning to the end . Kerry & Maxine were just amazing ,felt more like friends than organisers. They helped me through a very difficult time when I felt totally alone . If anyone reading this review is thinking of taking a plan out with them, you won’t regret it they are, in my eyes, The best . Thank you SO very very much. Siân X

Diane Pincher, on Feefo 7 Jul 2026

Sarah Miller was the lady who helped me through my brothers passing and she was outstanding from start to finish, with daily calls to see how i was doing and answering all my questions. Distinct Cremations did an amazing job, my brother had a proper funeral service and they even brought my brothers ashes back to my door in a lovely tube with a dove on which i had chosen and even some of his ashes in a cuddle stone for me to keep always. thank you Sarah and everyone who as taken part in my brother funeral, Amazing, thank you.

Geoffrey Michael Crompton, on Feefo 2 Jul 2026

Recently took out 2 funeral plans for myself and my wife. After doing research with a number of different companies we decided on Distinct Cremation. We feel we made the right choice after speaking to Tracey. She was very professional kind and patient. She explained everything to us and answered all our questions. Follow up phone call from Tracey today to check we had received all the paperwork and that we were happy with everything that had been arranged. We would highly recommend Distinct Cremation for a first class service.

Keith Benson, on Feefo 18 Jun 2026

Excellent service from distinct cremation from the initial contact continuing until after the service. I mainly dealt with Kerry who was very professional,kind and considerate. Any questions or queries were fully explained or dealt with. The actual service was just what we wanted and in a lovely setting. A truly five star service, thank you.

Anonymous, on Feefo 15 Jun 2026

Friendly service…..full information given in clear easy to understand…….didn’t feel pushed to buy which was nice.

Tracy Rosanna Norris, on Feefo 9 Jun 2026

The service I received from day one was excellent. Maxine showed both empathy & patience, concerning our loss. She explained clearly the necessary steps & paperwork I needed to complete in order for the cremation to take place. It was so effortless & each stage was communicated & explained well. I cannot rate them highly enough, for their professionalism & care during a difficult time for us.

Marion Rose, on Feefo 5 Jun 2026

Helpful and easy to contact and organise Informative and clear about process and cost Straightforward process when loved one passes Dignified collection of loved one from home Good communication of where loved one is held and what day they will be cremated Offering delivery of ashes within 14 days of cremation (but we opted to collect earlier) Comforting having loved one back Freedom to scatter ashes ourselves and celebrate their life at our chosen date and venue Good follow up care

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 76,000 cremations a year

Westerleigh Group including Distinct Cremations carried out over 76,000 cremations in 2025.

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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