Funerals break with tradition, but can you afford it?

A new study has revealed that we're increasingly breaking with tradition when it comes to funerals. Co-Operative Funeralcare found that two thirds of people say funerals are now intended to be a celebration of life rather than focusing on death - and 47% of people want their own funeral to be conducted like this.

Black clothes have fallen out of fashion, with 25% of people requesting mourners to wear brightly coloured clothes. Around half of all funeral directors have arranged services with even more unusual dress codes - including football shirts and fancy dress.

The idea of celebration has taken off when it comes to the gathering after the service too. A third of people prefer a party to a wake, and a tenth of people want a disco to mark the occasion.

Crematoria are also being ditched in favour of somewhere more personal. Half of all funeral directors have held a service somewhere less traditional in the past 12 months, and two fifths of people say they would consider it for their own send-off.

The most popular alternative is to have a service in the home or garden of the person who has passed away, followed by a location overseas, a sports venue, and a local beauty spot. Bizarrely the fifth most common alternative location is the place of work of the person who has passed away.

When asked about the alternative locations they would pick for their own funeral, a quarter of people picked a lake or river, a fifth said the countryside and one in six said at home or in the garden.

Sam Kershaw, Operations Director for The Co-operative Funeralcare said: "What we're seeing is a culture shift in the way that we deal with loss. It's becoming ever more common to hear people refer to funerals as a celebration of life and that's certainly a trend we are seeing even more frequently from the families that we support. As arranging a funeral is the last thing we'll do for a person, it's incredibly important to feel able to create truly unique and personal tribute to their life."
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Make plans

Actor Richard Wilson, star of One Foot in the Grave and narrator of end of life documentary Two Feet in the Grave added: "Life is short and so I understand why people don't want to dwell on the inevitable, but as the possibilities are endless, it makes sense to at least share some thoughts about what you may want. Whilst I haven't planned my own funeral, I know that I would want people to have a good time, a party perhaps."

If you have strong views of how you would like your funeral conducted, it's essential to tell people what they are - and ideally put it in writing. It's difficult for your loved ones to make decisions when they are dealing with grief, so it can be a huge comfort to know they are doing exactly what you wanted.

Plans should not stop there however. Funerals are increasingly expensive. According to ILC-UK, the cost of a "simple funeral" rose 80% in the 10 years to 2014 from £1,920 to £3,590. When you factor in the things many people consider essential, such as catering and flowers, the average spent hits £5,423. If you are planning something more unique - like a big party or an overseas location - you can expect to spend even more.

Not leaving plans is bad enough, but leaving details of the lavish party you'd like - with no way to pay for it - is even worse.

There are plenty of pre-paid funeral products available, but if you have the necessary savings, you can also put money aside, and let your loved ones know that this sum is reserved for your funeral.

That way you can ensure you're arranging a memorable and enjoyable event for your loved ones - without having to worry about leaving them with the bill.

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