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Yes, it's possible to have a cremation without a funeral. Unlike traditional funerals, cremations without funeral services have no funeral procession, flowers or cars and no attendance of mourners at the crematorium itself.

You can arrange a cremation without a funeral service with us for just £1,199, including cremation fees, collection of the deceased, and return of their ashes.

What is a cremation without a funeral service?

Cremations without a funeral service, also referred to as direct cremation or cremations only, are becoming more and more popular. Unlike funeral ceremonies in the traditional sense, there is no service or attendance of friends and family at the crematorium itself.

Instead, for cremation only funerals, we deal with all the arrangements so the family can take time to mourn in their own way. We collect the deceased, care for them at our purpose-built mortuary facility, carry out the cremation and then personally deliver the ashes to the family. From here, the family can arrange a memorial service dedicated to their loved one at a separate time.

A cremation without a funeral emphasises simplicity whilst keeping the highest standards of care. It is an affordable no-fuss funeral option.

With Distinct Cremations, our cremations are available for £1,199 if you need to arrange a funeral or £1,699 for a funeral plan.

Choosing a cremation without a funeral service instead of a traditional funeral lets you celebrate a loved one’s life however you wish, with less stress and no fuss.

You can see the key differences between a cremation only funeral service and a traditional funeral in more detail below.

Cremation with Distinct

A cremation without a funeral service

A farewell free of tradition or fuss with Distinct Cremations

  • An unattended cremation with no mourners and no service
  • A compassionate, attentive team there 24/7 for your questions and support with paperwork
  • You can organise a separate memorial service that's personal and unique to your loved one
  • On average 71% cheaper* than a traditional funeral, with prices starting from just £1,199


* 71% saving is based on the cost of a basic funeral at £4,141 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/ funeral-costs) vs the cost of a Distinct Cremations direct cremation at £1,199

Traditional Funeral

A traditional funeral

A fixed format funeral, with a set service

  • A set format 20-50 minute service held in a traditional setting like a church or chapel with mourners present
  • Traditionally less personal and flexible
  • Option to have a procession with a hearse and limousines
  • Funeral and service coordination from a funeral director
  • Costs on average £4,141# for a basic funeral



    # The average cost of a basic funeral in 2023 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

What is included in a cremation without a funeral service?

An unattended cremation only funeral with Distinct Cremations includes:

  • Collection of the deceased
  • Care at our professional mortuary
  • 24/7 customer service support
  • Help with all legal and cremation paperwork
  • Preparation of the deceased for cremation
  • A simple coffin and ashes container
  • Removal of artificial mechanisms & pacemakers
  • Respectful cremation at one of our crematoria
  • Ashes scattered in the garden of remembrance or personally returned within 14 days

What isn't included in a cremation without a funeral service?

A cremation without a funeral excludes:

  • Attendance of mourners
  • A funeral service or procession
  • Choice of crematorium
  • Choice of time
  • Embalming
  • Viewing of the deceased
  • Special requests such as memorials, flowers, catering or obituaries
Distinct Cremations

Whether your loved one has died or you’re planning a prepaid cremation without ceremony arrangements for the future, we’re on hand to deliver a first-class service fulfilled with care and compassion.

Find our low cost funeral services below or alternatively you can view our price list or our CMA standardised price list.

Arrange an unattended cremation

From £1,199

Whether your loved one has died or is close to passing, our team is available 24/7 to support and talk you through the next steps; from collection and care of your loved one, completion of all paperwork, to the day of the funeral itself.

 

Unattended funeral plans

From £1,699 or £19.44** per month

Relax knowing that the arrangements are agreed and paid for. There are no medical questions and acceptance is guaranteed. You can also pay in monthly instalments.

** Price advertised is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £2,332.80 and includes administration fees.

Get in touch with us today

Whether you're wanting to arrange a funeral today, interested in funeral plans, or looking for something else, our customer service specialists are here for you 24/7 to answer any questions you may have.

Call on 01543 212 000

Why choose a cremation without a ceremony?

Choosing a cremation without a funeral instead of a traditional service has several advantages.

When you choose a funeral without a ceremony you benefit from:

  • Low funeral costs - unattended direct cremation is the cheapest type of funeral
  • Avoiding unnecessary extras that don't suit your loved one
  • Less stress - making complex arrangements may be difficult logistically and emotionally
  • Having more time to bring family and friends together to celebrate your loved one's life in a more personal way

What is involved in a cremation without a funeral with Distinct Cremations?

  1. We collect the deceased.

    At Distinct Cremations, when someone dies our expert team, experienced in facilitating both attended funerals and cremations only, collects the deceased using our specialised funeral ambulances. Once collected, they are respectfully transported to our purpose-built mortuary facility, where they’re washed, dressed and placed in a coffin.

  2. Our customer service specialists are here for you.

    In the meantime, our customer service specialist guides the family through the arrangements and supports them with all the paperwork. The customer service specialist will let the family know when and where the cremation will be taking place and they will give them a call after the cremation.

  3. The cremation takes place.

    The cremation without a funeral service will then take place at one of our national network of crematoria. Even though the cremation will not have any attendees or a funeral service, the coffin is brought through the front chapel entrance by our trained professional staff, and then placed on the catafalque. The chapel attendant and staff bow before the coffin, while a selected piece of music chosen by the family is played.

  4. The ashes are scattered or hand delivered.

    Once the cremation has taken place, ashes are either gently scattered in our landscaped garden of remembrance or personally delivered to the family so they can remember the deceased in the way they wish.

  5. A memorial service is organised.

    Although there’s no ceremony or funeral service on the day of the cremation, this doesn’t mean a memorial service can’t take place at a different time. In fact, many families who choose a cremation without a funeral service decide to hold a memorial service at a later date, often with ashes present.

Can you get a prepaid cremation without a ceremony?

Every cremation only funeral with Distinct Cremations can be purchased as a prepaid funeral plan.

All of our fuss-free funeral plans include:

  • Essential funeral director services including help with all legal and cremation paperwork
  • Collection by private ambulance and preparation for cremation at our state-of-the-art mortuary facilities
  • A coffin and respectful cremation at one of our own crematoriums
  • Ashes personally delivered back to the family within 14 days or respectfully scattered at the crematorium.

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How much does a cremation only funeral cost?

A cremation without a ceremony is the cheapest funeral option. However, the cheaper cost doesn't mean compromising on dignity or care for your loved one.

At Distinct Cremations, our professional teams personally deliver all of our own services so we can ensure quality of care throughout. A cremation only funeral plan starts from just £1,699 and can be paid in a single payment or in monthly instalments over 12 months, 5 years or 10 years.

If you need to arrange a cremation without a funeral today, the price starts from just £1,199.

Our comparison tables let you compare direct cremation costs and compare funeral plan costs and what we include against other providers.

Distinct Cremations

Arranging a cremation without a funeral service with Distinct Cremations is straightforward. If you need any help, our customer service specialists are available 24/7 for any of your questions.

1. Call us

You can call us any time of the day, 365 days a year, and we will collect the deceased from the place of death and bring them into our care.

Call on 01543 212 000

2. Paperwork guidance

Whilst we care for the deceased, our customer service specialists will contact the family to book the cremation and complete all the paperwork.

Our care for the deceased

3. Cremation and ashes

We will tell you the unattended cremation date. The deceased's ashes then can then be returned to you at no extra cost.

Hand delivery of the ashes

One of the UK’s best value direct cremation services, delivered with a caring and compassionate heart

Not only are our low cost funerals carried out with love and care, but we also offer one of the UK’s best value services.

From your very first phone call, right through to the hand delivery of the ashes, you can rest assured that you will be in the most caring and attentive hands with Distinct Cremations.

Our caring team are here 24/7 to support you through the most difficult of times

Rhiannon Pearson

Team Leader

steven customer service
Rhiannon P v3
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We offer the highest level of support, but don't take our word for it

Below are a selection of reviews from those who followed their instinct with Distinct and chose to buy a funeral with us.

4.9/5
Based on 971 reviews Feefo Logo Feefo Gold 2024
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Garrie Parker, on Feefo 7 Oct 2024
Very helpful, professional service, would recommend
Anonymous, on Feefo 7 Oct 2024
We used Distinct Cremations when a local provider asked us to call back the following day as they were too busy! Distinct could not be faulted from initial contact throughout the whole procedure leading up to the cremation and beyond. We have no hesitation in recommending this company, in fact we have already spread the word to friends and family.
Anonymous, on Feefo 7 Oct 2024
exactly what we wanted, plan bought and paid for easy to use form and very helpful telephone staff
Peter William Simmonds, on Feefo 5 Oct 2024
On being left to set the plan into motion after the death of my sister district cremations talked me through every step thay were considerate and professional until the end
Maureen Harrison, on Google 2 Oct 2024
Everything was so simple and efficient. The forms were easy to do no problems
Anonymous, on Feefo 1 Oct 2024
Two plans purchased, complicated situation yet staff accommodated our special needs. Brilliant service. Our minds at rest regarding end of life details. Couldn't have wished for more genuine interactions, understanding and reassurance.
Glen Montague, on TrustPilot 1 Oct 2024
Nobody likes to deal with things like funerals etc but all i can say is how wonderful everybody was at Distinct Cremations.Nothing was too much trouble,everything was explained clearly and in a very professional manner,most of all just great people to deal with.
Toni Stevens, on Google 29 Sep 2024
During this difficult time the staff at Distinct Cremations have been exemplary. They provided an immediate considerate service, kept me well updated at every point. I had a problem with the doctor’s certificate and they even contacted the surgery on my behalf multiple times to resolve the issue. The ashes were returned promptly with lots of notice by a member of their own team. Honestly I can’t recommend them enough, they served my dad with dignity.
4.9/5
Based on 971 reviews
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