Funeral Order of Service Examples: Ideas for a Thoughtful Service Booklet

Creating an order of service booklet can feel daunting, especially if you are organising a funeral for the first time. Many families are unsure what it should look like, what to include and how much detail is needed.

While every funeral is different, most order of service booklets follow a similar structure. They are designed to help guests follow the ceremony and often become a keepsake that family and friends take home afterwards.

If you are looking for inspiration, the examples below may help you understand what is typically included and how a booklet can be arranged.

What Is a Funeral Order of Service?

A funeral order of service is a printed booklet that outlines the structure of the funeral ceremony. It usually includes the running order of the service, along with hymns, readings, poems, music and any other details guests may need to follow during the day.

Many families also include photographs, favourite quotes or a short tribute within the booklet to make it feel more personal.

A Simple Funeral Order of Service Example

A simple order of service booklet may include:

• front cover with name, dates and photograph
• welcome or opening words
• hymn or opening music
• reading or poem
• eulogy or tribute
• reflection music
• committal
• closing words
• final music

This type of layout works well for many traditional funeral services and provides guests with a clear guide to the ceremony.

Example of a Front Cover

The front cover often includes the person’s full name, their dates and the details of the service.

For example:

A Celebration of the Life of
John Edward Harris

14 April 1946 – 12 January 2026

St Mary’s Church
Thursday 25 January 2026
11:00am

Many families also choose to include a favourite photograph or a simple floral design on the front cover.

Example of Inside Pages

Inside the booklet, families often include the running order of the service, along with full wording for hymns, poems or readings where needed.

A typical inside layout may look like this:

Welcome
Opening words by the celebrant

Hymn
Morning Has Broken

Reading
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8

Tribute
Given by Sarah Harris

Reflection Music
Time to Say Goodbye

Committal

Closing Words

Final Music
You’ll Never Walk Alone

This gives guests a clear idea of what happens during the service and when.

Example of a More Personal Order of Service

Some families prefer a more personalised booklet that reflects the character and life of their loved one.

This might include:

• a short biography or life story
• a favourite quote
• family photographs
• a personal thank you message
• details of a wake or gathering afterwards

For example, one page might include a short message such as:

John was a much-loved husband, dad and grandad who will be remembered for his kindness, humour and love of family life.

Small personal touches like this can make the booklet feel especially meaningful.

Example for a Celebration of Life

A celebration of life order of service may feel slightly less formal, but it usually still includes the same practical details to help guests follow the ceremony.

A booklet for a celebration of life might include:

• welcome message
• opening music
• reading or poem
• personal tributes
• photo montage or reflection
• closing words
• details of refreshments afterwards

This kind of layout often works well when the service has a more personal or informal tone.

How Many Pages Does an Order of Service Need?

The number of pages depends on how much content you would like to include. Order of Service Cards and Order of Service booklets tend to be A5 sized.

A shorter booklet or service card may be suitable if you are including only the running order and a few key details. A longer booklet may be better if you would like to include hymns, full readings, several photographs or personal tributes.

Many families choose a booklet that balances practical information with a few personal touches, so that it feels meaningful without becoming overwhelming.

What Should Be Included?

Although every funeral is different, many order of service booklets include some or all of the following:

• the name of the person being remembered
• date, time and location of the service
• hymns, songs or music
• poems or readings
• tribute or eulogy
• photographs
• committal details
• thank you message
• details of a gathering afterwards

The most important thing is that the booklet feels clear, respectful and personal to your loved one.

Keeping the Design Simple and Thoughtful

A funeral order of service does not need to be elaborate to be meaningful. Many families prefer a simple, elegant design with a favourite photograph and carefully chosen wording.

A clean layout, readable text and a few personal details are often all that is needed to create something thoughtful and special.

Creating a Keepsake

For many people, the order of service booklet becomes more than just a guide to the ceremony. It is something they keep afterwards as a reminder of the day and of the person being remembered.

Including a favourite photograph, a meaningful poem or a few personal words can help turn the booklet into a lasting keepsake for family and friends.

Personalised Funeral Order of Service Booklets

At Dotty About Paper we offer personalised funeral order of service booklets that can be customised online to reflect the life and personality of your loved one.

Many families choose to include poems, readings, photographs and personal touches within the booklet, creating something both practical for the service and meaningful to keep afterwards.

If you need help with wording or layout, our team is always happy to help. We've collated other funeral planning guides which may be of assistance.