Our perceptions of funerals are evolving. Nowadays, more and more people are choosing for more distinctive funeral ceremonies instead of the customary religious ceremony with a pre-planned dress code and order of service. According to data released by Co-operative Funeralcare, nearly half of UK citizens are aware that they have options for a different kind of funeral, and three-fifths are aware that almost every element of their funeral can now be customized.
Along with the trend toward alternative funerals, many major religions are working with families and funeral directors to create a special and appropriate send-off for their loved one. People now have more options for every part of funeral planning, allowing them to customize every element to perfectly capture the essence of their loved one. You can customize everything to the exact specification, including coffins and caskets, locations, and transportation choices.
Alternate casket options you can avail
There are several options available instead of the traditional hardwood coffin. The fact that there are no legal restrictions on where someone must be buried (aside from at sea or in a natural burial ground) may surprise you. Woodland burials are environmentally conscious projects that aim to minimize any long-term environmental effects. This refers to coffins and caskets composed of sustainable materials that will naturally decompose in a fair amount of time. It is also nearly always forbidden at woodland burial grounds to embalm a person before burial. The options one can avail in coffins and caskets category include bamboo, wicker, wool, cardboard, etc.
One option that is becoming more and more popular in the UK is cardboard coffins. You can customize them to have practically any design you want on them. For example, fans of Doctor Who can have one that looks like a Tardis coffin, movie buffs can have one that looks like a popcorn bag, and golfers can have one that looks like a golf bag. There are options for low-key, eco-friendly bespoke coffins including felt cocoons, hand-woven wicker coffins, and burial shrouds. Before choosing, you can talk to your funeral director about other funeral options.
What are personalized funeral themes?
By modeling your loved one’s final farewell after their favorite pastime, movie, sports team, band, or other interest, you can create a personalized funeral theme that honors their passions. Previously, it was considered impolite to wear any color other than black. On the other hand, it is now common for mourners to wear colorful attire at the bereaved family’s request. In the UK, nearly 75% of funeral directors now claim to have assisted in planning a funeral similar to this one.
The popularity of other, more complex themes is also rising. Recently, a funeral with a fancy dress theme attracted media attention. In character as Darth Vader, the funeral director led the procession as well. This is not an unusual instance. Alternative funeral directors are becoming more and more common, and nearly half of them admit to having planned funerals where the bereaved were asked to wear something special or personal.
