Funeral programs play a significant role in any funeral or memorial service since it can help the organizer in anticipating the number of people that will be attending. At the same time, it can provide critical information to the people who will be attending the event. Creating a funeral program can be very valuable when you are organizing a funeral event. It can provide more information to those attending as well as a perspective on what to expect.
What does a funeral program consist of?
A funeral program is an itinerary or a brochure that contains details about the order of service as well as other relevant information. Traditionally, funeral programs are given to the persons attending the funeral, this way, they will know what will take place and when.
Why are they essential?
These funeral programs can be very valuable, especially if your funeral service has different parts and sections. It can provide the attendees with a way of navigating the service. This can be very helpful if you are holding a religious service that has certain requirements and rituals that some people may not understand or be aware of.
What type of information is found on funeral programs?
Generally, funeral programs consist of relevant pieces of information associated with the deceased and the service. However, there are many ways that you can customize it. The following are some of the common information that you can see on a funeral program:
- Full name of the deceased.
- Picture of the deceased.
- Birthdate and date of death of the deceased.
- Information regarding the service such as the location, date, time, and name of the officiant.
- Arrangement of service which includes a list of the events that will happen during the service.
- Distinguished members who will take part in the service such as the name of the officiant, musicians, readers of the eulogy, those doing the readings, etc.
- Favorite passages, poems, or scriptures.
- Preferred hymns or music selections that include lyrics, if necessary.
- Details of the internment.
- A short biography or an obituary of the deceased.
- Information about the reception such as the location and time.
You must consider that this is not a comprehensive list, and most programs may not include all this information. Although there are others that consist of more than this. Depending on how complicated or how lengthy the service is, sometimes a funeral program may not be needed. Most often a funeral announcement is already enough since it already covers all the important information.
How do funeral programs differ from memorial cards or funeral pamphlets?
There is no difference between all of them, except for the length. Typically, memorial cards are shorter compared to funeral programs since they are double-sided while funeral programs contain multiple pages. However, the information that they contain is practically the same.
Making a funeral program online.
Choosing to make your funeral program online is an excellent way of saving money and sharing important information instantly without the need to design a physical pamphlet. There are free websites that provide you with space to add multiple events, types of services, times, locations, and any other additional information that you want to share with other people. Aside from this, you may collect RSVPs and send a message to all attendees when important announcements or updates might come up. If there are changes to the service, then you can simply edit this any time and an update will be sent to the attendees.
Creating your funeral service online provides you with more flexibility when arranging a memorial service, especially if there are some changes that you want to make down the line. It can also help you in connecting and staying in touch with people who will be attending the event. This is very important, most especially during COVID-19 when a lot of funeral homes are having restrictions with regards to memorial services.
Furthermore, an online funeral program can give attendees instant access as well as the capability to receive any announcements or updates with regards to the funeral. Also, it is important to note that, during these COVID-19 times, restrictions are placed on businesses and gatherings, hence, the need for more physically distant planning.
Making a physical funeral program
If you want to have a physical funeral brochure or funeral program, the first thing you must do is to look for a reliable printing company that can produce your programs. When planning for funeral programs, make sure that they stay within your budget since they can be expensive, depending on the quality and type of the program that you choose. There are a lot of online funeral program websites out there that allow you to upload pictures and information and help you in designing the funeral program that works for you. After you have filled out the template on the website, you can simply order the specific number of funeral programs that you want to be printed and delivered to your house.
Always ensure that all the relevant information is found in the funeral program before making an order since updating or editing the funeral program can cost you money after it has been shipped. Keep in mind that during this pandemic, there are some people who are hesitant in accepting physical funeral programs. Hence, the online version might be a good option.
Making a funeral program does not have to be expensive and stressful. Whether you are planning to have a physical funeral program or not, it would be a good idea to have a memorial website where you can share some important information about the funeral service. Memorial websites are very easy and simple to create and use. At the same time, it is a great way of keeping everyone in touch after the passing of a loved one.
Step By Step Guide in Creating a Funeral Program
If the passing away of a loved one happened suddenly, then you only have a few days for gathering all the necessary information and putting them together in a memorable funeral program. But don’t get intimidated since this is more than possible. If you want to put a funeral program right away, then there are some things that you need to do.
Collect Personal Information
Ask for help from your friends and family members, but not the ones who are directly involved in the funeral arrangement, since they may get overwhelmed. Break down the list of information and have the helpers gather it. Set a deadline of one day before the funeral and let them report back to you with what they’ve discovered.
Utilize Appropriate Software or Templates
You can even use a simple word processing program in making a bi-fold or tri-fold design layout. However, if you are not familiar with designing this, then you can ask for some help. These days, you can easily find someone who can help you in designing the program.
Some of the programs that you can use are SmartDraw, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe Illustrator, Apple iWorks, or any other desktop publishing software. Aside from this, you can find a lot of funeral program templates that can be downloaded from several websites. Most of these websites will charge you for the template. However, there are some websites where you can get them for free.
Place Your Program Together
When designing the layout of your program, be sure that it has the same arrangement as the funeral service. If you have doubts, then you can get in touch with the officiant, and they will be able to guide you. Avoid placing too much information on one page since it will look more cluttered. Keep in mind that the simpler, the better.
Select Images and Fonts
Use nice photos of the deceased and be sure to crop them appropriately. Also, when choosing fonts, choose only one or two scripted fonts. Choosing more than this can make the design look busy and sloppy. Avoid being too colorful, you may use a black font on white paper.
Choose Your Cover
Remember that the first thing that everyone will see is the cover of your funeral program. And it will likely be the one that they will remember the most, hence, it is important that you choose them carefully. You can choose simple images such as sunsets, flowers, rainbows, and others. Or you could simply place the photo of the deceased on the cover along with their full name and date of death. You could also create a collage of photos that are taken throughout the life of the deceased. There are endless possibilities.
Choose a Printer
There are two ways of printing your funeral program. You could either print it on a professional printer or at your home. While it might seem cheaper if you print it at home, you should also consider the cost of the paper and ink. You could get a printing quote from your local professional printers.
An Eternal Memento
If ever you are having trouble in writing a funeral program, then keep in mind that it can be accomplished in just a few steps. Whatever type of funeral program you want to create, keep in mind that it will be the lasting memento of the deceased.
If you need help in creating your funeral program, then Personal Touch Printing can help you. We make memorial programs, posters, and DVDs. For more information, you can call us at 661-809-4807 or send us an email at personaltp.williams@gmail.com.
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