Six Things to Remember While Creating a Funeral Program
If you recently suffered the loss of a loved one and are making the final arrangements for burial, you may be wondering how to write a funeral program. Creating a funeral program does not have to be as overwhelming as it sounds. By following these six simple steps, you can create a beautiful program that funeral guests will want to cherish for years to come.
1. Gather Personal Information
Enlist the help of other family members or friends to help you, but not necessarily those who are directly involved in the funeral planning process, as they will be already overwhelmed. Break up the list of information needed and have your helpers obtain it. Give them a deadline of 2-3 days prior to the funeral to report back to you.
2. Use Compatible Software or Templates
A simple word processing program is all you really need to help you create a bi-fold or tri-fold program layout. However, if you don't have the eye or hand for designing this, ask for help. Nowadays, there is usually one or two people close-by who could help you design the program, such as friend, the funeral director or a graphic designer. You can either use a program such as Adobe's Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Microsoft Publisher or other desktop publishing software. You can also download a funeral program template from one of several available sites. Many of the sites will charge you a fee for the template although you can find a site or two where you can get it for free.
3. Put Your Program Together
As you are designing your program layout, make sure it will read in the same order as the funeral service. If you aren't sure, contact the officiant and he or she will be able to guide you. Try not to put in excess information or too much on one page as it will look cluttered. Remember, simpler is better.
4. Select Appropriate Images and Fonts
Use tasteful images of the deceased and make sure they are cropped appropriately. Try not to cut off anyone's head, hands, or limbs at the joint. Also, stick with one or two scripted fonts; if you use any more than that, it will look sloppy and busy. This isn't the time to be colorful either; Stick with black type on white or cream colored paper.
5. Choose Your Cover Wisely
The cover of your funeral program is what everyone will see first and will remember the most, so choose it carefully. You could simply select an image of flowers, sunsets, rainbows, etc. You can also put a picture of the deceased on the cover with his or her full name and date of death. Another idea would be to create a collage of images taken throughout the deceased person's life. The possibilities are endless.
6. Select a Printer
Funeral programs generally contain four pages. Think of a page of 8 ½ x 11 paper folded in half. You can make your program longer if you like, but for most people, four pages are enough. You can print your program in one of two ways: At home or at a professional printer. While it may seem cheaper to print it at home, take the cost of paper and ink into consideration. You can also visit one of the many local printers (Staples and Office Max for instance) for a printing quote.
If you want to do something different—go for it! The real point in having a Funeral Program at all, is to honor a loved one and help those who are grieving remember them. Exactly how you do that will depend on your culture, traditions, and personal preferences.