What to Include in a Funeral Program: A Gentle Checklist

A funeral program should include the front cover, the order of service, a short life story, any readings or hymns, acknowledgements, and the family's thanks — with the reception details and a closing line at the end. It is the one thing nearly every guest will hold in their hands and, often, keep.

The program guides people through the service so no one feels lost, and afterwards it becomes a quiet keepsake. When you are arranging it in a short window of time, a plain checklist takes a surprising amount of weight off your shoulders. Here is everything that usually belongs in a funeral program, grouped the way most families work through it.

What goes on the front cover of a funeral program?

The cover sets the tone before a word is read. Keep it simple and let it hold:

• The full name of the person who has died, including a maiden name or the name they were truly known by, if that matters to the family.
• The dates of birth and death, or simply the years.
• A line such as In Loving Memory or A Celebration of the Life of.
• The date, time and place of the service.
• A single photograph, if you would like one — chosen for warmth rather than formality.

What is the order of service in a funeral program?

The order of service is the spine of the program: the sequence the gathering will follow. It reassures people who are unsure what to do and when. A typical order includes the welcome, an opening prayer or words, hymns or songs, readings, the eulogy, a time of reflection, the committal or closing words, and details of any reception afterwards. Name the people leading each part where you can — the officiant, the readers, the musicians — so guests can follow along and the speakers feel acknowledged.

You do not have to build this from a blank page. Our Botanical Funeral Program Template gives you an editable bifold with the order already laid out, and a longer Funeral Order of Service Insert if your service has more parts than a single cover will hold.

Should the funeral program include a life story?

Many families include a short biographical passage — a paragraph or two that tells the shape of a life. It need not be exhaustive. A few sentences about where they were from, the people and work they loved, and the things they were known for is enough, and it sits beautifully alongside the spoken eulogy. If you would rather keep the program brief, this can move to the back cover or be left out entirely; there is no wrong choice.

How do you include readings, verses and lyrics?

If a reading, poem, prayer or hymn will feature in the service, consider printing it in full so everyone can take part rather than listen alone. A shared verse read aloud by a whole room is one of the most quietly moving moments of a service. Check any wording you reprint — older translations of well-known passages often sit in the public domain, while contemporary songs and poems may not, so a respectful attribution is always worth including. If you would like ready-made phrasing for each section, our funeral program wording examples give you lines you can copy and adjust.

What small details get forgotten in a funeral program?

These are the lines people most often leave until the last moment:

• A word of thanks from the family to those who gathered, travelled or helped.
• Reception or wake details — where, when, and whether all are welcome.
• A charity for donations in lieu of flowers, with a way to give.
• Pallbearers or special acknowledgements, if appropriate.
• A closing line, often a short verse or a simple Until we meet again.

What paper should a funeral program be printed on?

Print on a heavier paper than usual — around 110gsm or more — so the program feels considered and folds cleanly. Order or print a few more than you think you need; people ask to take a second copy home far more often than you would expect, and you will be glad to have them.

When the program is settled, the same calm design can carry through the rest of the day. Many families pair it with a Memorial Bookmark Set for guests to keep and a guestbook for the door — you will find them, alongside everything above, in our shop.