Planning your own funeral might seem like a daunting or uncomfortable task, but it can be one of the most considerate decisions you make for your loved ones. By taking charge of your final arrangements, you can ensure your wishes are respected and provide peace of mind for family and friends.
In this guide, we’ll explore considerations when planning your own funeral, including the benefits of planning ahead, steps to create your plan, choosing a funeral provider, and considering funeral plans.
Funeral planning ahead of time has numerous benefits that can ease the burden on your loved ones. Here are some of the main reasons to plan for your own funeral.
Planning your own funeral provides peace of mind for both you and your family. Knowing that your wishes will be carried out exactly as you want allows you to focus on enjoying life without worrying about the inevitable. For your loved ones, it alleviates the burden of making difficult decisions, or any uncertainty during a time of grief.
Paying for your funeral in advance can significantly ease the financial pressure on your family. By taking care of the expenses now, you lock in today's prices and avoid potential future inflation.
For example, since 2004, funeral costs have more than doubled from £1,835 to £4,285[1], meaning pre-paying can secure current prices and save money. This ensures that your family won’t have to worry about financing your funeral during an emotionally challenging time.
[1] SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs
Documenting your funeral preferences guarantees that your final wishes are respected. Whether you prefer a traditional service or a simple celebration of life, detailing your choices ensures that everything will be handled according to your desires, giving you control over your final farewell.
When thinking about what kind of funeral you'd like, it’s important to consider your personal preferences, beliefs, and values. One of the first steps in this process is to decide between cremation or burial. Each option has its benefits and considerations:
When planning your funeral, consider the specifics of how you want the service to be conducted. These details can greatly impact the overall tone and cost of the funeral. For example, you might want to think about whether you want a simple or elaborate ceremony.
If you did have a more elaborate ceremony in mind, it’s important to remember that this kind of service tends to be more expensive due to additional elements and arrangements.
Alternatively, a simple funeral without the details associated with traditional services offers a more affordable option.
Here are some key points to consider:
Choosing the right funeral provider is an important step in planning your own funeral. The provider you select will play a significant role in ensuring your wishes are fulfilled and that the process is as smooth and stress-free as possible for your loved ones.
The right provider should offer services that align with your preferences and budget while providing support and guidance during a difficult time.
Think about the following when choosing a provider:
Here’s a checklist of questions to ask potential providers:
At Distinct Cremations, customer service is our top priority. Read our reviews to find out why we're one of the most trusted direct cremation companies in the UK.
When planning your own funeral, deciding how to pay for it is one of the biggest considerations. A pre-paid funeral plan can help you cover costs in advance and ensures all details are handled according to your wishes.
The biggest benefit of a funeral plan is that it locks in costs at today's prices, protecting against future price increases. With funeral costs having more than doubled from £1,835 to £4,285 [2], this can save you a significant amount of money.
This makes funeral plans one of the most popular ways to pay for a funeral, with 40% of people choosing this option. [3]
A funeral plan also provides financial flexibility. For example, at Distinct Cremations, our plans can be paid as a one-off payment, monthly over 12 months, or over 5 or 10 years.
Our funeral plans cover essential elements such as:
Considering a funeral plan can provide peace of mind, knowing that both the financial and logistical aspects of your funeral are taken care of in advance. Learn more about how funeral plans work in our guide.
[2] & [3] SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs
Our low cost funeral plans let you arrange and pay for a simple and affordable funeral for yourself or a loved one ahead of time.
Pre-planning now ensures your final farewell is carried out according to your wishes and your loved ones are protected from the emotional and financial burden of arranging a funeral during such a challenging time.
All of our fuss-free funeral plans include:
Our Direct Cremation Plan is a great choice for those looking for a simple, low-cost unattended cremation without a funeral ceremony.
With our Direct Cremation Plan, the cremation takes place with no service or mourners present at our high-quality crematoria where dignified care is guaranteed.
Our Funeral Service Plan offers an affordable funeral for those looking for simplicity and to be surrounded by their nearest and dearest.
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.
Sometimes, circumstances require planning your funeral quickly. This can be a challenging time, filled with many decisions that need to be made swiftly. Choosing a provider who can handle the details and offer quality support can make the process much more straightforward.
One option to consider is direct cremation, which is simple, affordable, and allows for flexibility in planning a celebration of life later on. Distinct Cremations offers both unattended direct cremation and attended cremations, providing options to suit different needs and preferences.
If you'd like to chat with someone to talk through your funeral options or you have any specific questions you'd like to ask about our services, please do get in touch. We're here for you 24/7.
Call us on 01543 211997Learn more about funeral plans and funeral types. Or if you already know you want a simple cremation funeral, you can go ahead and set up a plan with us.
Now you know what a funeral plan is in more detail, find out some steps you can take to find the right funeral plan product for you.
How to choose a funeral plan
Still undecided about which type of funeral you would like? See the ways cremation and burial funerals differ to help you make up your mind.
Find out about cremation and burial
Like the look of our simple and low-cost plans? You can set up any of our unattended or attended funeral plans over the phone or online.
View our funeral plansWe 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.
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Over 74,000 cremations a year
Westerleigh Group including Distinct Cremations carried out over 74,000 cremations in 2024.
