Two beautiful alternatives to a traditional funeral

In times of loss, the journey through grief can be a delicate and deeply personal experience. 

Humans have always followed rituals around death, and for decades, a traditional funeral has been the customary way to navigate through this grief here in the UK.  But just as those rituals changed over time,  as our human understanding and culture continue to evolve, so too is our approach to commemorating those who have died.

Today there are several alternative funeral options that focus on providing a more intimate and personal feel than what a traditional funeral can offer while still maintaining that compassionate, loving space for families to be together during the most trying of times.

Here are the two most popular funeral alternatives that could be just right for you and your family…

Direct Cremation

A direct cremation, now favoured by 18% of the UK population*, has quickly become the most popular alternative to a traditional funeral.

Direct cremations take place without mourners or a funeral service. Instead, families have the flexibility to opt for a memorial service or a celebration of life at a time and date of their choice, surrounded by loved ones at a venue close to their family’s heart.

A loved one’s life could be celebrated by: 

• Renting out a room at the deceased’s favourite pub and resting the ashes upon the bar
• Hiring the local sports club and running through a slideshow of the deceased’s most touching moments on the big screen
• Having an intimate gathering at a family home surrounded by the nearest and dearest

The beauty of a direct cremation lies in the freedom to personalise the process without the constraints of tradition or any type of predetermined service, allowing the family to be themselves at the most difficult of times, in a familiar, homely environment.

* SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2023, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs

Family-led Funeral

Much like the increasing popularity of direct cremations, there has also been a sharp rise in the preference for family-led funerals – also sometimes referred to as small attended funerals or simple funerals.

This shift reflects a growing inclination among the people of the UK to move away from a traditional affair and embrace something a little more personalised.

A family-led funeral takes place at a crematorium or chapel, where the service is designed and guided by the family of the deceased without a celebrant or religious minister.

This means that a family-led funeral can be intimate and personal in a way that a traditional funeral can’t, as the family are able to personalise every aspect of the service in any way of their choosing.

Whether it involves playing specific songs, sharing humorous stories, or opting for a vibrant celebration dressed up in bright colours and wacky clothes, the choices rest solely with the family

And with that personalisation and absence of formality and uniformity, the venue instantly transforms into a safe space for emotions, fostering an environment where grief can be expressed freely, enabling the family to connect on a truly profound level.

How to get a non traditional funeral in place

Distinct Cremations, one of the UK’s leading cremation service providers, are experts in non traditional funerals, offering both direct cremations and family-led funerals. At Distinct Cremations, the focus is on making the arrangements as easy and stress-free for each and every family they come into contact with.

Whether need to arrange a funeral yourself, or you want to protect your family with a funeral plan for yourself, Distinct Cremations have you covered.

A funeral plan is perfect for those looking to ease the financial burden and emotional strain of arranging a funeral for their family. Prices start from £1,699 with acceptance guaranteed and no medical questions.

Distinct Cremations are rated 5 stars on Feefo by their customers and their direct cremation funeral plan (paid with a single payment or over 12 months) is rated 5 stars by The Times Money Mentor.  They have also been recognised as one of the top cremation plan providers by Money Saving Expert.

As another added layer of security, Distinct Cremations are also owned by the UK’s largest independent cremation services provider, the Westerleigh Group, who conduct over 70,000 cremation services every year and perform the cremation services for Distinct Cremations’ plan holders.

Visit distinctcremations.co.uk today for more information or call their team anytime on FREEPHONE 0808 304 8759.

Distinct Cremations’ is a trading style of Distinct Funeral Plans Limited (DPFL) and Distinct Cremations Limited (DCL). DFPL is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 965289. DCL provides ‘at need’ funeral and cremation services and is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

ADVERTORIAL