How Long Does A Memorial Service Last

If you've never planned a funeral before, making the funeral and burying arrangements – from picking out the casket, the music, and even deciding who will speak at the service – can seem overwhelming, especially at such an already distressing time.

However, planning a funeral tin exist a cathartic way to say goodbye to your loved one, and offers yous and your family unit a way to truly celebrate their lifetime. So it's understandable that even the little details have may take on new importance.

I of the about common questions our celebrants are asked when helping to plan a funeral is how long is it appropriate for the service to last.

Ultimately, a funeral service is every bit unique to a person in death as they were in life, and there is no correct or wrong answer. There are, still, certain things yous ought to have into consideration throughout the planning that may requite you lot an indication.

How long should a funeral last

How to Determine How Long a Funeral Should Last

It's important when planning a funeral that you aim to set out a clear structure and allow a specific amount of time for the service. A celebrant will be able to aid you set up out the details of the service, and help you lot to arrange the service in the appropriate order. This should enable you to gauge a relatively accurate time frame.

But why is it of import to know how long a service will last?

At that place are a number of reasons why it is important to know the correct length of time for the funeral service, including purely logistical reasons, such every bit booking the venue and allowing attendees to adapt travel to and from.

Whilst in that location is no hard and fast rule to how long a funeral service should concluding, in that location are a number of factors you should consider throughout the planning that may affect the elapsing of the service.

Factors That May Affect Funeral Service

Cultural and Religious Traditions

When planning a funeral service, it's important to consider the cultural and religious needs of the deceased.

Religion and culture accept a huge impact on people'south lives and fifty-fifty in death, it may be of import to include the religious and cultural practices and rites of their denomination or belief. Particularly since a lot of these practices may be believed to be necessary for the person to rest in peace.

Funeral rites will be specific to each faith, as such, the length of time necessary for the service will differ accordingly.

Budget

Funerals, unfortunately, can be expensive. Information technology'due south important that throughout the planning y'all keep your expenses in mind and within a prepare budget. Retrieve that some locations may charge actress fees if the service runs over, so it is important to talk through the proposed schedule with your celebrant prior to the service, in order to get an accurate timeframe.

The Number of Attendees

If you have a large number of people coming to the funeral, it may exist wise to leave a fourth dimension allowance of xv minutes either side of the service to permit your guests to be seated, and so to go out afterwards, without overrunning the time you've booked the venue for.

Similarly, factor fourth dimension into the length of the service for your guests to offer their condolences to you and your family members.

Specific Wishes

Oftentimes, before they die, your loved 1 may make specific wishes known, whether verbally or through their last volition and testament, regarding their funeral arrangements. Outside of traditional funeral rites, your loved ane may wish to have sure songs played, take attendees dress upward in costumes, or even have a bespoke ceremony performed.

A celebrant will exist able to help you accommodate anything you may want or need for the funeral service, no matter how outlandish it may seem. As much as a funeral service is a chance to lay your loved ane to rest and mourn their passing; it is also a fourth dimension to call back who they were, and celebrate their idiosyncrasies. And, if that happens to be inviting the attendees to wear the colours of their favourite football team, so so exist it.

Specific funeral wishes

The Type of Funeral Service

The length of a cremation may vary, although near final for effectually 40 minutes, including the entry and exit. Yous tin use the time to perform eulogies, readings, or but sit in remembrance. Unremarkably, the coffin is non cremated immediately and is instead subsequently mourners accept left.

Regardless of whatsoever individualisation, burial services and cremation services both differ in length.

Burial services tend to last longer. If you are following the format of a more traditional burial, there may be a short service held first, followed by a committal of the body into the ground. Dependent on the wishes of the deceased, the former may accept to include time for an open casket, performances or other ceremonies. You may also need to factor in travel time hither between where the initial service is held to the place where the body will be buried.

Ultimately, the biggest factor at play in the length of the service is the wishes of the deceased, and of yourself and your family.

Hiring a celebrant for the funeral service

Planning a funeral can be stressful, peculiarly if your loved i has some very particular wishes that need to be fulfilled.

Our celebrants offer a holistic service and tin help y'all in the planning of the funeral and offer support through this difficult time. Celebrants are used to all-around different funeral services and are well practised in pulling in various traditions, concepts and conceit to tell a story that is uniquely theirs.