What is a funeral program?
A funeral program, also called a funeral booklet, order of service or memorial program, is the printed keepsake guests receive at a funeral, memorial service or celebration of life. It guides everyone through the service and honors the person who has passed. Many families keep it for years, and relatives who could not attend often ask for a copy.
What to include in a funeral program
Most funeral programs follow a simple structure. You do not need every section; choose what feels right for your family.
- Front cover: a favorite photo, full name, dates of birth and passing, and often the service date and location.
- Obituary or life story: where they were born, the work and people they loved, and the family they leave behind.
- Order of service: prelude, prayers, hymns or songs, readings, eulogy, reflections and recessional.
- Poems and scriptures: a favorite verse, prayer or reading that reflects their faith or personality.
- Photo collage: a page of photos from childhood to the most recent years.
- Pallbearers: pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.
- Interment and reception: where the burial takes place and where guests can gather afterward.
- Acknowledgment: a short thank-you from the family for the love and support they received.
Funeral program sizes
The most common funeral program in the United States is a letter-size bifold: an 8.5 × 11 inch sheet folded into a 5.5 × 8.5 inch program with four pages. A legal bifold (8.5 × 14 inches) gives a little more room for a longer obituary. A tabloid bifold (11 × 17 inches, folded to 8.5 × 11) is ideal for large photos. When there is a lot to share, an 8-page booklet holds a longer life story and more photos, and a trifold works well for a simple, compact program.
How many funeral programs do I need?
Plan for the number of guests you expect, then add 10 to 20 percent so latecomers and family members who want extra copies are covered. Your funeral director can usually help you estimate attendance. With a print-ready PDF you can always print more later.
Funeral program, memorial program or celebration of life program?
A funeral program is used when the body is present, usually at a church or funeral home. A memorial program is for a memorial service held without the body, sometimes weeks after the passing. A celebration of life program is often brighter and more personal, focused on stories, photos and joy. The content is similar; the tone and design are what change, and every style can be adapted to any of the three.
Why families choose a custom-designed program
The days after a loss are full of decisions. Instead of wrestling with a template, you send us their photos and words and a designer lays out every page, balances the photos, checks the dates and names, and prepares the file for printing. You review a proof, ask for any changes and receive a finished program in hours, not days.