On the day of the Funeral

We will be there to guide, help and support you through the day. We will ensure that the funeral proceeds on time and carry out all your instructions that have been previously arranged.

Having made all the necessary arrangements, there should not be too much for you to think or worry about on the day of the funeral itself, although close relatives can feel a little anxious as the time approaches.

Before the ceremony commences

If we are travelling direct to the church or crematorium you will be greeted by the funeral director there. You may wish to allow plenty of time to see us arrive with the hearse.

If we are meeting before the Church, Chapel or Crematorium, the cortege will arrive at the agreed address at the time given to you on your confirmation letter (please allow us a couple of minutes either side of this time for variations in the volume of traffic).

We will then escort you and your family to the limousine(s) if any have been ordered. Once everyone is seated, the funeral director will lead the cortege away from the house and travel to the place of service.

If the service prior to cremation takes place in a church, on arrival, the funeral director will first go and speak with the minister, then come and collect you when everything is ready.

The funeral director will now ask whether you would like to follow the coffin or if you would prefer to be seated first. If you wish to be seated first the funeral director will guide you to your seats.

If you wish to follow, the coffin will be taken in to the church and you will be asked to follow behind. Once inside the funeral director will guide you to your seats.  At the end of the service, the coffin will be taken out of church and placed on to the hearse to go to the Crematorium or Cemetery. You will be asked to lead the mourners out of church, behind the coffin.

At the crematorium, the coffin is taken in to the chapel, and placed on the catafalque.  Again, you will be invited to follow behind the coffin, and the funeral director will show you to your seats. After the service, the funeral director will lead you to the courtyard to look at the flowers and to thank mourners for attending.

The main family flowers are usually placed on top of the coffin and will stay there until the chapel is empty at which point the funeral director will collect them and bring them out. If you wish your flowers to stay with the coffin for the cremation please inform us.

After the ceremony

Following the committal service at the crematorium, the limousine(s) if ordered will take you back to an address of your choice, or to a reception venue. Please advise us of the return destination prior to the day of the funeral to ensure our chauffeurs can be instructed accordingly.

If the service proceeds to a cemetery or Churchyard for burial, the funeral director will lead the way to the grave and you will be asked to follow behind the coffin. You may gather around the grave, whilst the committal takes place, you will be invited to scatter earth/holy water into the grave if appropriate. Some people also choose to bring single stemmed flowers for the same purpose.

The funeral director will then lead you to look at the flowers, which will be laid out along the ground.  Once you have left the cemetery, the flowers will be placed on to the grave once backfilled and tidied which usually takes 1-2 hours . If you wish your floral tribute to remain on the coffin whilst it is lowered, then please tell us in advance.

Following the committal service at the cemetery, the limousine(s) if ordered will take you back to an address of your choice, or to a reception venue. Please advise us of the return destination prior to the day of the funeral to ensure our chauffeurs can be instructed accordingly.

Every funeral is different but we hope this gives you some idea as to what to expect on the day. Your funeral director is there to assist and to make sure everything runs smoothly, if you have any questions or concerns then please just ask.