*Sponsored by Hansen and Cole, a Guardian Funeral Provider
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YOU’VE lived your life to the full, enjoyed all you could and learnt from the ups and downs.
When it comes to your funeral, you want it to represent you, the life you have lived and the people who have been a part of it and who knows these things better than you?
Given death is arguably the only certainty in life you would think more people would make plans for their own funeral celebration.
Recent studies have even shown that funerals are a necessary part of the grieving process for loved ones, helping those left behind move on.
So not only do you owe it to yourself, but also to your friends and family to find your own novel twist to say goodbye.
Funerals provide us with an opportunity to reflect on our loss, but with some thought and a little pre-planning a funeral can also be an occasion for celebration for a unique individual.
Music to express who you are
Who can forget the scene in the movie Love Actually when one of the characters sends herself off to the immortal strains of the Bay City Rollers and their catchy Bye Bye Baby?
Pick your own soundtrack. Go traditional with Time to say Goodbye or choose something with attitude like AC/DC’s Highway to Hell.
Maybe your soundtrack can be your favourite singer from your youth, your most cherished band or music from the best concert you ever went to.
Leave them laughing, crying or both and as Frank Sinatra said, ‘I did it my way’ - you can too.
Planning the main service
Funerals can be whatever, wherever and however you want them to be these days.
Planning your farewell can be one of the most empowering things you do and if done with lightness, can even be fun.
Think about location. As a family do you have a favourite place where you love to get together or do you have somewhere special where you’d like others to connect your memory with. Enjoy some symbolism and have your guests release balloons, butterflies or even doves.
Add your own touches
Many people love their animals, they are surrogate family, so why not find a way to include them in the ceremony?
Or if you were known for your collection of funky glasses get everyone to wear a great pair of frames in your honour. Maybe you were known for the kind of work you did. For example if you worked in construction and spent most of your time in high-vis get your guests to don a little iridescent yellow.
Flowers can add an individual touch. If you love sunflowers pre-request these and fill the reception venue with them.
You can even request guests wear a certain colour or a touch of a hue you were known for. Consider unique details to make it a special event like having your grandchildren place an eternal token on the coffin. Think outside the square and get friends to bring a photo of you with them to place on a photo board or go more traditional and arrange your own digital photo video set to music.
Photocopy and laminate a favourite poem, saying or perhaps the recipe everyone used to rave about to be handed out to guests.
A sure way to get everybody talking is to include a quiz on the back of the service book entitled How well did you know me? asking such things as what was my favourite colour? what was my lucky number? maiden name? middle name? or was I a dog or cat person?
Recently there has been a surge in people pre-recording videos thanking everyone for attending and imparting a few wise words or messages of love for family and friends.
Finally give some consideration to some of the more difficult decisions such as what coffin you would like. You can choose from ornate, classy or simple. Another trend gaining popularity is to have a LifeArt coffin – a coffin personalised to create something truly unique. If you love golf cover it in golf clubs or if you love surfing you can create a surfboard motif for the top.
Pre-pay at today’s prices
Whether you view it as a great excuse for a party or a refined affair to be remembered, a funeral is a something we should all give some thought to including cost.
One of the most effective and obvious ways to tie-up end of life strings is to pre-plan the whole thing and most importantly, pay the bill at today’s prices.
Financially a pre-planned farewell will be an inflation beater as costs are locked in at today’s prices.
Pre-planning is a great way to make it easy on family and friends who may not know you can’t stand My heart will go on by Celine Dion or that you’re allergic to daisies.
As well as ensuring you get the last word, a prepaid plan will make certain your funeral is in accordance with your wishes and is as special as you are.
*Sponsored by Hansen and Cole, a Guardian Funeral Provider.