Personalized Farewells Made Easy: Bespoke funeral order of service

A Personal Funeral Order of Service Designed Around the Person You’re Remembering

When families contact us about a funeral order of service, they’re usually dealing with far more than choosing photographs and arranging hymns. They’re speaking with relatives, confirming funeral details, handling paperwork, and trying to organise a meaningful farewell for someone they love. For many people, creating a professional-looking order of service feels like just another responsibility at an already difficult time.

That’s where we help.

Rather than asking you to design the booklet yourself, we can create a completely bespoke funeral order of service on your behalf. You simply send us the information, photographs, and any special requests, and we’ll take care of the design, layout, printing, and delivery. The result is a booklet that not only guides guests through the service but also becomes a lasting keepsake for family and friends.

What Is a Bespoke Funeral Order of Service?

A funeral order of service is the booklet handed to guests as they arrive at the funeral. It helps everyone follow the ceremony by outlining the running order, hymns, readings, music, tributes, and other important elements of the service. A bespoke funeral order of service goes much further than simply listing the schedule. It’s created specifically for the individual being remembered. That might mean incorporating favourite colours, meaningful locations, treasured photographs, religious imagery, hobbies, military service, sporting interests, or themes that reflect their personality and life story.

No two people are the same, and we believe their order of service shouldn’t be either. Some families choose a traditional and elegant design. Others prefer something brighter and more reflective of a celebration of life. We’ve created booklets featuring everything from countryside landscapes and gardens to fishing scenes, classic cars, golf courses, music themes, and beloved pets. The aim is always the same: to create something that feels personal and recognisable to the people who knew them best.

Why Families Choose a Bespoke Design Service

Many online companies provide funeral order of service templates that you edit yourself. For some people, that’s the right option. For others, the last thing they want to do during an emotional week is spend hours learning design software, adjusting photographs, and worrying about formatting.

Our bespoke design service removes that pressure. Instead of starting with a blank page, you’ll work directly with an experienced funeral stationery specialist who creates the booklet for you. We regularly help families who:

• Have never arranged a funeral before
• Are short on time
• Need guidance on what content to include
• Want a more professional result
• Have older photographs that need adjusting
• Need urgent next-day printing
• Simply don’t feel able to design a booklet themselves

We understand that every funeral is different, and we adapt our approach accordingly. Sometimes families know exactly what they want. Sometimes they just send us a photograph and ask for help. Both are absolutely fine.

What Information Should Be Included?

One of the most common questions we’re asked is, “What should go into the order of service?”
There are no strict rules, but most funeral booklets include a combination of practical information and
personal tributes.

Front Cover

The front cover usually includes

• Full name of the person being remembered
• Date of birth and date of passing
• A favourite photograph
• Date, time, and location of the funeral service

Many families choose a photograph that captures their loved one as they were in everyday life rather than a formal portrait. Often these are the images that mean the most.

Inside Pages

The inside pages typically contain

• Entrance music
• Welcome and opening words
• Hymns and song lyrics
• Readings or poems
• Eulogy
• Prayers
• Committal details
• Closing music

Additional pages can also be used for life stories, written tributes, family messages, and photographs that celebrate important moments and memories.

Back Cover

The back cover often includes

• Details of the wake or reception
• Charity donation information
• A thank-you message from the family
• An additional photograph or meaningful quote

Some families prefer a simple design, while others choose to include a short message that reflects the character of the person they’ve lost.

Both approaches work beautifully when thoughtfully presented.

Examples of Bespoke Funeral Order of Service Designs We Create

Every funeral order of service tells a different story.

Over the years, we’ve designed booklets for people from all walks of life, and no two have ever been exactly the same.

Some families choose a traditional design featuring a favourite portrait and a simple floral background. Others want something that reflects a lifetime passion, hobby, or profession.

We’ve created bespoke designs featuring:

• Countryside landscapes for keen walkers and gardeners
• Golf courses and sporting themes
• Military and Armed Forces tributes
• Classic cars, motorcycles, and vintage vehicles
• Seaside and coastal scenes
• Musical themes for singers and musicians
• Religious imagery and church settings
• Wildlife, fishing, and countryside pursuits
• Travel-themed designs featuring favourite destinations
• Family photo collages celebrating a lifetime of memories

Often, the smallest details become the most meaningful.

A favourite flower, a beloved dog, a cherished holiday destination, or even a familiar view from a garden can transform a booklet from something informative into something deeply personal.

That’s why we take the time to understand the person behind the photographs.

Choosing the Right Number of Pages

One of the first decisions families make is how many pages their booklet should contain.

The right choice depends largely on how much content you’d like to include.

4 Pages

Suitable when you only need:

• Front cover
• Order of service
• Brief funeral details
• Back cover information

8 Pages

Our most popular option.

Provides space for:

• Complete service running order
• Hymns and readings
• A selection of photographs
• Wake information
• Family messages

12 to 20 Pages

Ideal when you’d like to include:

• Multiple hymns
• Full-length poems and readings
• Several photographs
• A detailed life story
• Family tributes and memories

Many families initially worry about adding too much content. In reality, guests often appreciate learning more about the person being remembered.

A thoughtfully designed booklet becomes something people revisit long after the funeral itself.

Choosing the Best Photographs

Photographs are often the most important part of a bespoke funeral order of service.

The images you choose help tell a story that words alone cannot.

When selecting photographs, consider including:

• A favourite portrait for the front cover
• Family celebrations
• Wedding photographs
• Holiday memories
• Photographs with grandchildren
• Hobby or interest-related pictures
• Images from different stages of life

Don’t worry if some photographs are older or imperfect.

Many treasured family photographs were taken years ago and may not have professional quality. In most cases, we can improve brightness, contrast, and presentation to help them reproduce well in print.

The most important thing is not perfection.

It’s choosing photographs that feel like them.

Common Mistakes Families Make

After helping thousands of families create funeral stationery, we’ve noticed a few common mistakes that are easy to avoid.

Leaving Everything Until the Last Minute

Funeral arrangements often move quickly. Starting the order of service as soon as possible gives you more time to gather photographs and confirm content.

Ordering Too Few Copies

Guests frequently ask to take a booklet home. We usually recommend ordering at least 20–30 more copies than your expected attendance.

Using Low-Resolution Screenshots

Whenever possible, send original photographs rather than screenshots from messaging apps or social media. This helps achieve the best possible print quality.

Trying to Include Every Photograph

While it’s tempting to include dozens of pictures, a carefully selected collection often creates a stronger and more elegant design. Quality is usually more effective than quantity.

Why Funeral Directors Recommend Professionally Designed Orders of Service

Funeral directors understand how important printed orders of service are on the day. A professionally designed booklet helps guests follow the ceremony, participate in hymns and readings, and feel more connected to the service.

It also removes stress from families who already have countless decisions to make. Many funeral directors regularly recommend professionally printed booklets because they know how much families value having a keepsake afterwards.

Years later, the order of service often becomes one of the few physical reminders people still keep. For that reason alone, it’s worth taking the time to create something meaningful.

Why Families Trust Funeral Printing by Esmee G

Choosing someone to create a funeral order of service is a personal decision.

Families trust us because we combine professional printing with genuine personal support.

When you contact us, you’re not speaking to a large call centre or an automated system.

You’ll be dealing with people who understand both the practical and emotional importance of getting everything right.

Since 2001, we’ve helped thousands of families create funeral orders of service that honour, celebrate, and remember the people who mattered most.

Every booklet is treated with the care and attention it deserves.

Because every life deserves to be remembered properly.