There's no easy way around it: funerals are tough to deal with. And if you're planning one, it's even harder. In this time of great sadness, it can be easy to hurry through funeral planning and make a mistake you'll later regret. Here's a look at three of the most common funeral planning mistakes people make when doing things on their own.
Mistake #1: Keeping quiet about your/your loved one's wishes
Funerals are a time when many people take a plan of "keeping the peace" with family. This oftentimes means not really discussing wishes that either you or your loved one wanted and simply doing what someone else wants. Plans should be expressed clearly and openly, with the whole family involved. Don't be afraid to speak up if you don't like something or if your loved one wanted something a certain way.
Mistake #2: Not remembering what was important to the deceased
A funeral service is the very last celebration of a person, so it's important to make it special. Many people want a simple ceremony, and that's fine. But be sure to remember the deceased's life. What were their hobbies? Were they dedicated to a sports team? Was there a certain song or style of music they loved? Include things like their religion or their military service. After all, a funeral is about telling someone's story.
A funeral is the last chance for remembrance a person has. There's nothing wrong with keeping things simple for the ceremony, but consider the details of the deceased's life and find ways to highlight those within the ceremony itself.
Mistake #3: Focusing solely on price when planning a ceremony
For most people, it's simply a fact that a budget will come in to play when planning a funeral ceremony. But don't let money be the determining factor. Burying a loved one is a stressful event, and it can be made even more stressful if you're too focused on how much things cost. There's nothing wrong with having an amount you want to spend in mind, but you want to have a little flexibility. You don't want to look back down the road and wish you would have done something more.
When you're planning a funeral, it's important to have someone on your side. This is the most stressful and grief-filled time in most people's lives, and it's not a time to be making decisions by yourself. Trust a funeral home to take care of things for you. They've planned plenty of services, and they know exactly how to make each one special. For more information, contact a funeral home near you.