Funeral order of service: what to include and example wording
Short answer
A funeral order of service usually has a front cover (photo, full name, dates, “A celebration of the life of”), inside pages with the running order (entrance music, welcome, hymns or songs, readings, eulogy, reflection, committal, exit music), and a back page with a thank-you, another photo and details of the wake.
The order of service is the booklet or folded sheet handed to guests as they arrive. It tells people what will happen, gives them the words to hymns, and often becomes a keepsake. Dignity's guidance describes it as a schedule of the ceremony that can also be sent to people who cannot attend.
Front cover
- A photo that only shows the person (keep group photos for inside or the back).
- An opening line: “In loving memory of”, “A celebration of the life of”, “Remembering”.
- Full name, and the name people knew them by: Robert James “Bob” Walker.
- Dates of birth and death, or just the years.
- Date, time and place of the service (optional).
Inside: a typical running order
Your celebrant or minister will shape the order with you. A crematorium service is usually 30–60 minutes in total, so most families include two or three pieces of music, one or two readings and the eulogy (Simplicity, 2026).
| Part | Example wording in the booklet |
|---|---|
| Entrance | Entrance music: Time to Say Goodbye — Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman |
| Welcome | Welcome and introduction — Rev. Jane Holmes |
| Hymn or song | Hymn: The Lord's My Shepherd (words printed opposite) |
| Reading | Reading: Remember by Christina Rossetti — read by Sophie Walker, granddaughter |
| Eulogy | Tribute to Bob — given by his son, Mark |
| Reflection | A time for reflection — tribute film with What a Wonderful World |
| Prayers or words of farewell | Prayers / Words of farewell |
| Committal | Committal |
| Exit | Exit music: You'll Never Walk Alone — Gerry and the Pacemakers |
Need ideas for each moment? Our funeral song lists are grouped by entrance, reflection, committal and exit.
Extra inside pages
- A short life story or timeline: born in, married in, worked as, loved.
- A page of photos from different decades.
- The words of hymns, a poem or a favourite saying.
- A QR code to a tribute film or online memorial.
Back cover: thanks and the wake
Example wording you can adapt:
- “The family thank you for joining us today and for all your kindness.”
- “Please join us afterwards at The Old Bell, Market Street, to share memories of Bob.”
- “Donations in Bob's memory to the RNLI may be left in the box at the door.”
- “Bob's tribute film can be watched again by scanning this code.”
Practical details
- How many: one per expected guest plus 10–20% spare, and a few to post.
- When to order: ask the printer or funeral director for their turnaround; check proofs with a second family member, especially names, dates and spelling.
- Size: A5 folded is common in the UK; a single card works for a short service.
Questions people ask
What is a standard order of service for a funeral?
Entrance music, welcome, a hymn or song, a reading, the eulogy, a time for reflection, prayers or words of farewell, the committal, and exit music.
What do you put on the front of an order of service?
A photo of the person, an opening line such as “In loving memory of”, their full name and dates, and optionally the date and place of the service.
How many orders of service do I need?
Roughly one per guest plus 10–20% extra. Ask the funeral director how many usually attend similar services.
Sources
- Funeral order of service, Dignity Funerals, 2021-02-11 (read October 5, 2026)
- What to include in a funeral order of service, The Farewell Guide (read October 5, 2026)
- How long is a cremation service?, Simplicity Cremations, 2026-06-25 (read October 5, 2026)
- Weddings and funerals: copyright, CCLI (read October 5, 2026)
How we wrote this
Written by the In Memoriam Film team with AI assistance for research and drafting, then checked against the sources above. Figures come only from those sources; where a number is our own rule of thumb we say so. We make memorial films, so where a guide mentions our product, that is why.