You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a beautiful, heartfelt memorial service for a loved one. There are plenty of options for budget-conscious memorial services that will hold plenty of meaning for all gathered, and will honor your loved one in a way that would make them proud.
Here are a few examples of low-cost memorial ideas for you to consider:
- Alternative venues: You do not have to hold your service or reception in a funeral home. Churches and community centers frequently rent their halls for these purposes at affordable rates. You might also look into public parks or beaches, banquet halls, favorite outdoor locations, private properties owned by family members or any location your loved one felt connected to.
- Skip catering: While you might be able to find a good deal on catering, you can save even more money by skipping the catering altogether. Many people put on potluck funeral receptions. This can help to create a more relaxed environment that feels more like a family gathering. It also allows guests to feel like they’re contributing something. Many people attending funerals come in search of a way to help the loved ones of the deceased, and contributing to the potluck is a tangible way in which they can do so.
- Avoid fancy invitations: Skip the cost and time necessary to create fancy paper invitations. While you can send out some notices via mail, you can save a lot of time and money by sending out notices of the funeral via email or social media to friends and loved ones of the deceased.
- DIY programs: Instead of hiring a professional to design programs for the service, you can do it yourself if you’re a little computer savvy, or ask a friend to do so. All it takes is the right program and a little design skill. You can print the programs at home if you like, or have them printed at a print shop and save the money on the design services.
- Donations: In lieu of flowers, you could ask the family to make donations to help cover the costs of the funeral. Many people are more than happy to contribute to these types of funds.
- Personalize: Find ways to personalize the memorial service whenever possible. Not only will this make the service more meaningful to attendees, but it will also provide you with opportunities to find discounts and ways to keep your costs under control.
- Opt for cremation: Cremation is a significantly less expensive option than burial. You only pay for the cremation process itself and the urn. With burial, you have to pay for a casket, a burial plot and possible embalming. This is one of the main reasons why cremation has seen such a major increase in popularity in recent years.
Looking for more ways you can save money with a budget-conscious memorial service for a loved one? Contact Steedley Monument Works for more low-cost memorial ideas and to get answers to your questions.