Family led funeral

As more and more people begin to favour a less formalised and traditional funeral, family led funerals are becoming a lot more common. Below we explain exactly what a family led funeral is and how to organise one.

What is a family led funeral?

A family led funeral is a funeral with a service arranged without a funeral director and without a religious leader or celebrant leading the service.

The care, transportation and preparation of the deceased for the funeral is still taken care of by the funeral provider, but the service itself can be organised however the family like. The funeral therefore can be more of a personal affair, and can contain readings, poems, music, hymns or even a video if the venue has audio and visual capabilities.

In recent years, family-led funerals have gained a lot of popularity due to the personal touches that can be added and the cost saving potential.

A family-led funeral allows families to create a deeply meaningful and intimate farewell which reflects the deceased's unique personality and wishes. While handling arrangements themselves, families can avoid the high costs associated with traditional funeral services, making it a more affordable option.

Family led funerals mostly apply to funeral cremations rather than burials, as a burial will almost always need the help of an undertaker.

If you'd like to know how to organise a family led funeral, you can speak to our team on 01543 211997 or read on below.

The difference between a family led funeral with and a traditional funeral

There are a number of stark differences between a family led funeral and a traditional funeral. A family-led funeral is a more personal affair and takes place without a celebrant or religious leader. Whereas a traditional funeral is led by someone apart from the family and usually follows a fixed structure with less room for flexibility.

With both services, the deceased will receive exemplary care, but the day of the funeral will look very different. Below are the differences in more detail:

Cremation with Distinct

A family led funeral with Distinct Cremations

A contemporary, simple, fuss-free farewell, free of tradition

  • An attended cremation
  • A choice to hold the funeral at one of our 41 crematoriums across the UK - all equipped with audio/visual capabilities
  • A service arranged in a way that's personal for you and your family
  • Service led by the family which can include readings, poems and hymns
  • On average 55% cheaper⊛ than a traditional funeral, with prices starting from just £1,899


⊛ 55% saving is based on the cost of a basic funeral at £4,285 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs) vs the cost of a Distinct Cremations Funeral Service at £1,899

Traditional Funeral

Traditional funeral

A fixed format funeral, with a set service

  • A set format 20-50 minute service held in a traditional setting like a church or chapel with mourners present
  • Led by a religious leader or celebrant with a fixed service
  • Option to have a procession with a hearse and limousines
  • Service coordination from a funeral director on the day
  • Costs on average £4,285# for a basic funeral






    # The average cost of a basic, funeral in 2024 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

How can I arrange a family led funeral

Below is a step by step process of how to arrange a family led funeral, right from the moment a loved one has died right through to the day of the cremation.

  1. Contact a funeral provider
    Whether a loved one has died or they're receiving end of life care, it's best to contact a funeral provider as early as possible so you can start to get arrangements in place.

    Though you can arrange a funeral yourself, it's much easier to let a funeral provider carry out the logistics of the funeral for you.

    This includes collection of the deceased, care at the mortuary facility, and transportation of the deceased to the crematorium.

  2. Complete the funeral paperwork
    Before a cremation can be booked you will first need to register the death and complete the obligatory legal paperwork.

    At Distinct Cremations, we can help you with the paperwork should you need any assistance.

  3. Choose a crematorium, date and service
    Once the paperwork is completed, the funeral provider you're speaking to will be able to give you some dates, crematorium and service options.

    From here, the funeral provider can book the cremation for you and organise the transportation of the deceased.

  4. Arrange the service
    You will now be able to arrange a service that's personal to you.

    First start by inviting your guests, then think about how you'd like the service to look. Maybe you'd like some music to be played to begin and end the service, and you may like some readings and poems dotted throughout. All of our crematoriums have audio/visual capabilities too, so you may like to play a video or a slide show of images.

    If you'd like any help or you'd like to know what's possible, you can speak to our team on 01543 211997 at any time of the day.

  5. The cremation
    On the day of the cremation, the deceased is respectfully prepared, placed in the coffin and rested on the raised platform. Family members will gather inside the chapel to say their final goodbyes, share memories, and conduct personal rituals or readings in whatever way the family chooses. Following the family-led activities, the coffin is respectfully transferred to the cremation chamber for the actual cremation process. The ashes will then be hand-delivered to the family or scattered according to their wishes.

    At our crematoriums, there will be a chapel attendant present to make sure the day runs smoothly.

Get in touch

Want more information? We're happy to answer any questions you may have about our cremations over the phone, or you can request a free guide for details about what we offer.

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Want to talk through our options? If you have questions or would like some in-person support we’re just a call away.

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Need some time to digest the details? You can download a PDF of our guide online or get a printed copy posted out.

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What's included in a family led funeral?

A family-led funeral with Distinct Cremations offers a personalised and intimate way to say goodbye to a loved one. This service allows families to take charge of the farewell, allowing them to create a unique and meaningful tribute.

From arranging a private gathering at the crematorium's chapel to personalising the ceremony with readings, music, and rituals, a family-led funeral ensures that every aspect reflects the deceased's life and the family's wishes.

Below, you'll find a detailed list of what's included in our family-led funeral service, designed to support and guide you through this heartfelt process.

What's included from £1,899

  • A 30-minute attended cremation
  • Collection of the deceased from a hospital or coroner's mortuary (weekdays 8am - 6pm, mainland Great Britain only)
  • Daily care at our professional mortuary
  • Preparation for cremation and removal of medical devices
  • Dedicated support with arrangements and help with all legal paperwork
  • A classic wood coffin or larger coffin at no extra cost
  • Dignified cremation at one of our 41 nationwide crematoriums 
  • Transportation to the crematorium chapel via private ambulance
  • Chapel attendant's presence and support
  • Temporary ashes container
  • Ashes scattered in the garden of remembrance at the crematorium
  • Free telephone bereavement support for loved ones
  • A donation to World Land Trust with every funeral to protect an area of endangered natural habitat the size of the average UK back garden
  • Can be included for an additional cost

  • Ashes personally returned by one of our funeral operatives within 14 days (+£100)
  • Collection outside office hours or from a location other than a hospital or coroner's mortuary (+£250)

What to consider when planning a family led funeral

Planning a family-led funeral allows you to create a deeply personal and meaningful farewell for your loved one. Here are some key considerations to help you plan a smooth and respectful service:

Timings

Decide on the duration of the service and allocate time for each element, such as speeches, readings, and moments of silence.

Music

Choose music that was meaningful to the deceased or that sets the desired tone for the service. Consider when and how it will be played.

Readings

Select poems, readings, or religious texts that reflect the personality and beliefs of the deceased. Decide who will read them.

Opening & Closing

Plan how to start and end the service. You might want to open with a welcome message and close with a final farewell or prayer.

Attendees

Decide who will be involved in the service and what roles they will play, such as delivering eulogies or leading prayers.

Personal touches

Incorporate personal touches like displaying photos, sharing stories, or including symbolic gestures that honour the deceased’s life.

Ready to arrange a funeral?

If you need to organise a funeral now, we are open 24/7 and will make all the arrangements from taking the deceased into our care and completing all the paperwork. Your customer service specialists will liaise with you to make arrangements for the cremation and keep you updated.

Call us now on 01543212000

What to do when someone dies

Before someone dies, getting an understanding of what to do when someone dies, can help to ease the stress and confusion that you may face. Here's a handy checklist that will be of help with the legal requirements and the overall logistics for when the time comes.

Download a free checklist

Here at Distinct Cremations, we have created a free checklist for you to download which lets you know what you need to do when someone dies.

Download our checklist below or speak to our expert team on 01543 211997 today

Download free checklist

Further alternatives to a traditional funeral

These days, there are many alternatives to a traditional funeral. This can be something like an unattended, direct cremation which is a cremation without a funeral. A private cremation, which has a small funeral service. Or a natural burial which is an environmentally friendly alternative.

Here are a few alternatives you may like to consider if you or your loved one aren't interested in having a traditional funeral.

Unattended cremation

Cremation without a funeral

An unattended cremation or direct cremation, now favoured by 20% of the UK population*, has quickly become the most popular alternative. They take place without mourners or a funeral service. After the cremation the family has the option to host a memorial service.

Many like the idea of an unattended cremation because it allows the family to have a memorial service which is separate from the cremation itself.

* SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs

More about unattended cremations

Natural burial

Tree pod burial

Natural burials are a type of green funeral which are fast becoming a popular choice to an alternative funeral as people become more environmentally aware. A natural burial, occasionally referred to as a woodland burial or green burial, is where the deceased is buried at a green burial site in a natural coffin or shroud.

A green burial site is often in a forest, meadow or wooded area. Currently in the UK, these aren’t especially common. However, they are increasing in availability as demand increases.

Water cremation

Water Cremation

Otherwise known as a resomation or aquamation, a water cremation is not currently available in the UK, but is popular in other parts of the world. With a water cremation, the body is placed in a pressurised tank and pressed into powder. It is an environmentally friendlier alternative to a traditional cremation.

In the same way as the ashes are returned to the family following a traditional cremation, the powder can also be returned to the deceased following a resomation.

More about funeral alternatives

Other helpful articles

Below are a few further articles that you may be interested in with regards to organising a funeral.

Arrange a funeral

Sue2

At Distinct Cremations, we provide no fuss funerals which are simple to arrange, affordable and delivered with care, dignity and respect. Prices start from just £1,199 if you need to arrange a funeral today.

Arrange a funeral

Cremation or burial?

Wooden coffin with a bouquet of funeral flowers laid on top

Whether you’re planning ahead or supporting a loved one in their time of need, the choice between a cremation or burial can be a complex one with many factors to consider. We explain more in our article.

Cremation or burial

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.
4.9/5
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