There are many details to tend to when planning a funeral. Although different, it is much like planning wedding details but within a shorter window of time. The amount of time needed in funeral planning alsol depends on what type of funeral or memorial service you may have. Below are some items for consideration for each stage of funeral planning:

1. Set aside some time for the planning and preparations. There are decisions to make, information to gather from various people and items to purchase. This could take some time and it can be a big undertaking. If you find that it is an overwhelming process right now, enlist the help of a close friend or family member.

2.  Plan to create a Funeral Program. Creating a funeral program enables you to have a memorial keepsake that is distributed to all attendees. Utilziing funeral program templates are  a great time and money saver.

3.  Determine whether there are an instructions from the deceased. Any instructions from the deceased should be carefully considered and followed. Even if you are not able to follow the instructions to the letter, you may want to take note of them before the service rather than finding them afterward.

4. Get Help. You may want to ask a small group of close family or friends to assist you in the tasks that need to be taken care of. Delegate tasks such as picking up flowers, finding photos of your loved one, coordinating the reception and cooking food menu, or gathering information about the deceased from other family members and friends.

5. Locate a resume for your loved one or note the places in which the deceased lived, worked and activities involved. This will be helpful for the eulogy, obituary and biography.

6. Decide whether you will have a religious or secular service and where it will be located at. Do you want this service to be held with a particular denomination's tradition or if do you want only some limited religious aspects to be included? Perhaps you may prefer a completely secular service with no religious affiliations. Sometimes, depending on where you are planning on having the service will help determine the type of service you will have.

7. Think about how much control you want over the creation and planning of the funeral or service. Some items to consider is do you want to create a service on your own without the confines of a religious tradition or do you like the comfort and security of traditions in your church or religious affiliation?

8. Decide how formal you would like the service to be. You may want to reflect on how formal the deceased was and the community around you. Again, this may depend on the type of service you choose. Also consider how many services you may hold. Are there are other groups who may want to hold a memorial service, are many people not unable to attend because of geographical location, or will you hold one service for religious groups and a secular one for another type of group.

9. Think about the personality of your loved one. Was she a religious person who lived her life in faith? Note what she was known for, hobbies, accomplishments, musical tastes, friendships, or other service in the community.

10. Decide whether you will hold a Memorial Service or Funeral Service, or both. The difference between the two is in the Memorial Service the body of the deceased is not present whereas in the Funeral Service, the body in a casket is present and viewed. Decide when and where the service will be held. You may also want to formulate an death announcement and write a short obituary for the local paper. Sometimes, people who read the paper will come to a service for someone whom they were acquainted with.