by Alec
Updated August 2026
Creating an order of service is one of the most personal parts of planning a funeral. It helps everyone follow the ceremony, but it can also become a lasting keepsake filled with photographs, words and details that reflect the person being remembered.
You do not need to know exactly how the finished booklet should look before you begin. The simplest approach is to gather the essential information first, agree the running order with the person conducting the service, and then organise everything into pages.
This step-by-step guide explains what to include in a funeral order of service, how to arrange the content and what to check before it is printed.
Ready to start creating? You can choose an order of service template to personalise online. If you have already designed the booklet elsewhere, you can also use our PDF printing service.
Begin with the details that will normally appear on the cover or opening page:
You may also want to collect photographs from different stages of their life, the names of people taking part, charity donation details and information about any gathering after the service.
Ask the celebrant, minister, funeral director or other person conducting the ceremony to confirm the order of events before you finalise the booklet. A funeral order of service might include:
There is no single correct structure. A religious service may include prayers, hymns and scripture readings, while a non-religious ceremony might centre on music, memories and personal tributes. Your officiant can advise on the expected order and approximate timings.
Choose pieces that feel appropriate to the person and the atmosphere you want to create. They do not all need to be solemn. A favourite song, a familiar poem or words that capture their humour and character can feel far more personal than a conventional choice.
Before adding the content to the booklet:
For more help, see our guide to choosing hymns, songs, music and readings for a funeral.
A5 is the most common finished size for a funeral order of service. A simple service can fit onto a two-sided sheet, while a folded booklet starts at four pages and then increases in multiples of four: 4, 8, 12, 16 or 20 pages.
This is because every folded sheet creates four printed pages. If your content does not fit comfortably into four pages, it is usually better to move up to eight rather than reduce the type until it becomes difficult to read.
An eight-page booklet gives you more room for full hymn words, several readings, a longer tribute or additional photographs. Our funeral order of service examples show how different amounts of content can be arranged.
You can design the order of service yourself in software such as Canva, Microsoft Word or Publisher, or use a purpose-made funeral order of service template. Whichever route you choose, aim for a calm, legible layout rather than trying to fill every space.
Our online funeral order of service templates can be personalised with your own photographs and wording. You can preview the design before ordering. If you prefer to create the artwork yourself, check your printer’s page-size, bleed and file requirements before you begin.
Ask at least one other person to check the finished order of service. It is easy to miss errors when you have been working closely on the same document, particularly under time pressure.
If possible, read every line slowly rather than skimming. It can also help to view or print the proof at its actual A5 size so you can judge whether the text is comfortably readable.
Use the expected number of attendees as a starting point, then add a small number of spare copies. Extras are useful for unexpected attendees, anyone unable to be at the service and family members who would like to keep a copy.
Before ordering, check the printer’s production time and delivery terms carefully. At Funeral Stationery 4U, you can personalise one of our templates online or upload your own finished PDF for professional printing. Prices depend on the page count, paper and number of copies required.
Choose the route that suits you:
A5 is the most common finished size. It is large enough for readable text and photographs but compact enough for attendees to hold comfortably during the service.
A short ceremony may only need a two-sided sheet or a four-page booklet. Services containing full hymns, readings, a eulogy or several photographs may need 8, 12, 16 or 20 pages. Booklet page counts increase in multiples of four.
The back page often includes a photograph, short quotation, message of thanks, charity donation information and details of a reception or gathering after the funeral. It can also be kept very simple.
Yes. You can use general design software or personalise an online template. If you make your own print-ready file, ask the printer for its artwork specifications and export the final document as a high-quality PDF.
Order enough for the expected attendees and add some spare copies. The right number will vary, but it is usually preferable to have a few left for family keepsakes than to run short at the service.
Turnaround varies between printers, so always confirm the deadline before ordering. Funeral Stationery 4U offers fast UK printing and next-working-day delivery on eligible orders; see our shipping and delivery information for the current details and cut-off times.
If you are unsure about page count, paper, artwork or printing, our family team can talk you through the options. Call 01824 708 804, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, or email assist@fs4u.co.uk.
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