Pews And People At Funeral Service

A direct cremation can be defined in several ways. While some may argue that a direct cremation is an unattended cremation, others don't necessarily agree. Let us explain more below.

Attending a direct cremation

Direct cremation usually means an unattended cremation, but direct cremation providers often offer pared back and family-led services too. These may be referred to as attended direct cremation. Like a direct cremation, an attended direct cremation or small cremation service is simple and lower cost, but has the added benefit of being able to say goodbye to your loved one in person.

The difference between the two is that at an attended cremation, mourners can be present and a service will take place, whereas unattended takes place without mourners or a service.

But everything else is the same. The collection and the care for the deceased are all taken care of, so you can be with your nearest and dearest at the most difficult of times.

And there isn't too much difference between the price. Our unattended cremation starts from just £1,199 while our attended cremation starts from just £1,899.

How the process of a direct cremation works

A direct cremation is the simplest and least stressful way to have a funeral. For both an unattended cremation and an attended cremation, the process is just the same. There are no organisational tasks for the family, instead, the cremation provider takes care of everything.

At Distinct Cremations, we take care of every step of the direct cremation process, from collection to the cremation itself, right through to the return or scattering of the ashes.

This allows you to concentrate on being with your family at the most difficult time.

Before a passing or at the time of passing, you just need to give us a call and we'll begin getting things ready. All we need is some basic information to start getting your cremation arrangements in place.

Our caring team will collect the deceased from anywhere in the mainland UK, whether your loved one is at home, in a care home or at a hospital. The deceased will be then taken to our professional mortuary facilities before cremation.

We will prepare your loved one for cremation, bathe them and remove any artificial items We will then lay them to rest in the coffin, transport them to the crematorium and we will inform you of the date of cremation.

The cremation will take place at one of our 41 crematoriums in the UK. Whether you're having an unattended or attended cremation, the coffin is taken through the front door, rested on the catafalque while a song of your choice is played or a moment of silence is respected, then the cremation or service takes place.

The ashes will be personally delivered back to you within 14 days or scattered in the garden of remembrance upon request. You may then like to arrange a memorial service to commemorate the life of your loved one.

What's included in an unattended and attended direct cremation?

A direct cremation, whether it's an unattended or attended direct cremation, is the simplest way to have a funeral. There is no flashy procession or flashy cars. Instead, it's just a no fuss funeral.

You can view the key differences between an unattended or attended direct cremation below.

Direct Cremation Attended Cremation
Paperwork support & professional advice ✔️ ✔️
Washing & preparation of the deceased ✔️ ✔️
Option to view deceased
Choice of crematorium ✔️ !
Funeral procession
Funeral service with attendance of mourners ✔️
Return of ashes in ashes container or urn ✔️ ✔️

! Choice of 41 Westerleigh crematoriums

Direct Cremation

From £1,199

Our unattended cremation is a great choice for those looking for a simple, low-cost unattended cremation without a funeral ceremony. Unattended cremations take place with no service or mourners present at our high-quality crematoria where dignified care is guaranteed throughout.

Attended Cremation

From £1,899

Our attended cremation is perfect for those looking for a fuss-free farewell and a final chance to say goodbye. With our dignified and affordable attended cremations you have a choice of a 30 or a 60 minute funeral service depending on what you and your family would prefer.

Commemoration events for an unattended cremation

If a family member is having an unattended cremation, that doesn't mean you can't have a commemoration event of some kind.

Indeed, there are plenty of ways to commemorate a loved one either prior to the cremation or after it. Here are a few ideas.

Pre-Cremation

Family hugging 600x400

Some families like to hold a small gathering or informal ceremony before the cremation occurs. This gathering can provide an opportunity for loved ones to come together, share memories, offer support, and say their goodbyes. This can take place wherever the family feel comfortable.

Memorial Service

Group toasting a friend's memory

Many families opt to hold a memorial service after the cremation has taken place. This allows for a more flexible timeline, enabling family and friends to come together at a later date to honour the memory of the deceased. Memorial services can take various forms, from formal ceremonies in a place of worship to casual gatherings at a favourite location or even virtual events.

Virtual Attendance

Holding hands

In an age of digital connectivity, it's increasingly common for memorial services and gatherings to be streamed online, allowing friends and family members who are unable to attend in person to participate remotely. Virtual attendance can provide a sense of inclusion for those who are geographically distant or unable to travel.

Further ways to commemorate a loved one

You don't just have to have an event to commemorate the life of a loved one. There are numerous, thoughtful ways to commemorate their life.

Here are a couple of examples you may like to take inspiration from.

A memorial tribute

Condolences Book With Photo Of Deceased

You could design a memorial tribute that celebrates the life of your loved one. This could include compiling a photo album, creating a scrapbook, or assembling a digital slideshow featuring significant moments and milestones. Displaying this tribute in a prominent place can serve as a lasting reminder of their impact on your life.

Plant a memorial garden

Lady and child gardening

You may like to consider planting a tree, shrub, or garden in honour of your loved one. Choose a location that holds special significance, such as their favourite outdoor spot or a communal garden where others can appreciate the living memorial. Spending time in the garden can provide a sense of connection and comfort.

Donate to a cause

Coins In Gold Charity Funeral Collection Bowl

Making a charitable donation in honour of your loved one can be an appropriate and selfless way to commemorate a loved one. Choose a cause or organisation that held significance to them, whether it's a charity they supported, a cause they were passionate about, or a research foundation related to their illness. Making a positive impact in their memory can be a meaningful way to honour their legacy.

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What our customers say about us

We offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought a funeral with us.

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Anonymous, on Feefo 28 Mar 2025
The team have been amazing during dealing with the death of two family members in a very short period of time . We dealt mainly with Yasmin who has been do helpful and understanding during our time of loss. As result of the service provided during this time further family members have decided to proceed with booking such services for themselves for the future.
Lisa Matthews, on Feefo 22 Mar 2025
Very helpful with difficult decisions. No pressure sales as with other funeral services I approached. Also very good price in comparison with others.
Anonymous, on Feefo 19 Mar 2025
From my first interaction requesting a guide to my conversation with Sophie, I cannot fault the service I've received. All my questions have been answered in a way that I can understand what I am being offered and what I have asked for. All processes and procedures have been explained and I have been given ample time to research other possible companies and I haven't felt pressurised or been given the 'hard sale'. On the service i have received so far I would highly recommend them to family and friends
Anonymous, on Feefo 10 Mar 2025
Bought a policy online which was quick and simple to do and then received a courtesy call from Distinct Cremations to make sure that I was happy with my purchase. Very professional.
Debbie Burchell, on Feefo 8 Mar 2025
I had no idea where to go when my mum passed away. We had discussed that she wanted to be cremated, but that was it. My partner saw Distinct Cremations on our local Crematorium website, as they work with them. I didn't want loads of fuss, or to go into an office. Just a lovely personal service. Distinct Cremations went above and beyond in every area. I picked my options on the website, nice and simple, to get an idea of my quote. Then had a lovely discussion on the phone with Dan. We talked about all the options I wanted and he was so thougthful, sincere and genuinely supportive, I was really nicely surprised. It was really simple to put the order through and to pay for. Since then I have had a singluar, regular contact called Grace who looked after me every step of the way. The professionalism and compassion of the staff at Distinct Cremations is second to none. I was informed at every step with what was going to happen. They regularly checked in with me, to make sure I was doing ok. The service and celebrant Carol Porter was incredible. Everything happened exactly as planned. I couldn't have wanted anything better. The ashes were delivered to me at home, I had the standard box for them to be delivered in. The gentleman who delivered them was really kind and compassionate also. They came in a really nice blue box. Thank you for making one of the worst times of my life as easy as it could have been. I would highly recommend Distinct Cremations to everyone. I would definitely use them again myself.
Anonymous, on Feefo 7 Mar 2025
I purchased a cremation plan for my wife and myself. It was very easy to do and so far everything is fine. Just hope I don"t need to use it for a while. Bob
Yvette Glover, on Feefo 7 Mar 2025
I am so grateful to the two people who looked after me during the process of organising the cremation. They were really caring and nothing seemed too much trouble. A huge thank you to Daniel and especially Maxine.
David Peter Lee, on Feefo 6 Mar 2025
Excellent company and great customer service and follow up.
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