When someone you love dies, an order of service is one of the most tangible things you can create in their memory. It guides everyone through the ceremony, gives people something to hold and follow, and often becomes a keepsake that families keep for years. If you’ve never put one together before, it can feel like an overwhelming task at an already overwhelming time.
This guide covers everything you need: what an order of service is, what to include, how to structure it, how many copies to order, what it costs, and when a digital version makes sense. You don’t need design skills or a big budget – a simple, well-thought-through booklet is exactly right.
If you’re still working through the earlier decisions – registering the death, choosing a funeral director, setting a date – our funeral planning checklist walks through the full process step by step.
What is an order of service?
An order of service is a printed booklet – usually A5 – handed to guests as they arrive at a funeral or memorial service. It sets out the running order of the ceremony: the music, readings, hymns, tributes, and prayers in the order they’ll happen.
It serves two purposes. Practically, it helps guests follow along – knowing when to stand, when to sing, and how the service is structured. Personally, it often becomes a lasting memento of the person who died: something to keep, revisit, and share with family members who couldn’t be there.
Orders of service are used at all types of funeral – church services, crematorium services, humanist ceremonies, celebration-of-life events. There’s no official format. The content and tone should reflect the person who died and the wishes of the family.
Do you need an order of service?
No – an order of service is not compulsory, and some families choose not to have one. A short informal service, a graveside committal, or a very small gathering may not need one at all.
But for most funerals, particularly those with more than 20 or 30 guests, or where hymns, readings, and tributes are involved, an order of service is a practical help. It keeps the ceremony running smoothly, helps guests participate, and means the celebrant or minister doesn’t have to explain every transition out loud.
If you’re unsure, ask your funeral director. They arrange dozens of services a year and can advise on whether it suits the service you’re planning.
What goes on the front of an order of service?
The front cover is the first thing guests see, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. Most front covers include:
- A photograph of the person who died – ideally one that captures them well, scanned at high resolution (300 dpi minimum for print quality)
- Their full name – including any nickname they were commonly known by
- Their dates – born and died, in the format 12 April 1942 – 3 February 2026
- The date and location of the funeral service
- A short line – a favourite quote, a line from a poem or hymn, or simply “In loving memory”
The back cover typically includes a thank-you message to guests for attending, details of any charity the family would like donations directed to, and – if applicable – the time and location of the wake. If you’re not sure what to expect at the reception afterwards, our guide to funeral wakes covers timing, format, and etiquette.
What to include inside
The inside of an order of service follows the ceremony itself. Exactly what you include depends on the type of service, but most follow a similar structure.
| Section | What it contains | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry music | Song title and artist (or hymn name) | Played as the coffin enters and guests are seated |
| Welcome | Opening words from the officiant | Usually brief – 1-2 minutes |
| Opening hymn or song | Title; full lyrics if guests are expected to sing | Include verse numbers if using a hymn book |
| Reading(s) | Title, source, and name of the reader | You can include the full text or just the reference |
| Eulogy / tribute | Name of the speaker(s) | Usually not printed in full – just the speaker's name |
| Second hymn or reflection music | Title and lyrics (if congregational) | Some services include a period of silence or reflection here |
| Committal | Words of committal if printed; otherwise just "Committal" | Church services may include specific liturgy here |
| Closing music | Song title and artist | Played as the coffin leaves or as guests file out |
| Wake details | Venue, address, time | Often placed on the back cover instead |
If someone is giving a eulogy, you typically list only the speaker’s name in the order of service – the speech itself is not printed. If you’ve been asked to write one, our guide to writing a eulogy covers structure, length, and how to handle emotion on the day.
For readings, you can list just the title and reader, or include the full text if it is short and in the public domain. Our guide to funeral poems and readings covers the most popular public domain poems and includes copyright guidance for those still protected.
For church services, you may also want to include any liturgical responses (phrases the congregation says together), prayers, and the Committal text if it isn’t in a shared hymn book.
For humanist or non-religious services, there’s no fixed structure – the order of service can be shaped entirely around the person who died. Poems, personal memories, a period of music, multiple tributes: all are appropriate.
Including hymn and song lyrics
If you’re expecting guests to sing along, include the full lyrics. Guests shouldn’t have to juggle a hymn book and an order of service – put everything in one place.
Song and hymn words are protected by copyright as literary works, and the UK Intellectual Property Office says that unless the copyright has expired or you already hold a relevant licence, you need permission to reproduce lyrics in orders of service (IPO Copyright Notice 6/2016: printed music). Copyright in a literary or musical work generally lasts until 70 years after the author’s death (GOV.UK: how long copyright lasts). Older hymns are usually out of copyright, so the words can be printed freely. For anything more recent, ask your funeral director or the printer whether they hold a licence that covers the words you want. Some funeral directors and churches pay for a Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) licence, but its coverage is limited to the songs in its catalogue, so check each one.
Common hymns at UK funerals whose words are long out of copyright:
- Abide with me (words 1847)
- The Lord’s my shepherd to Crimond (words from the Scottish Psalter of 1650)
- Amazing grace (1779)
- Jerusalem (words by William Blake, 1804)
Some widely used hymns are still in copyright. How great thou art uses Stuart K. Hine’s English version, and Hine died in 1989, so on the 70-year rule it stays protected until the end of 2059. Morning has broken uses words by Eleanor Farjeon, who died in 1965, so they stay protected until the end of 2035. You can sing them at the service; printing the words needs a licence or the rights holder’s permission. See our guide to funeral hymns for the full picture.
If a licence is a problem, list the title and first line in the order of service and let the congregation sing from the hymn books the church or crematorium provides, or leave the words out and ask the officiant to introduce the song.
How long should an order of service be?
A four-page booklet is the simplest format – an A4 sheet folded in half to make an A5 booklet. That gives you:
- Page 1: Front cover
- Pages 2–3: Running order and any hymn lyrics
- Page 4: Back cover (thank-you, donation info, wake details)
For longer services – those with multiple readings, several hymns, or a more complex ceremony – an eight-page booklet is common. Some families produce twelve or even sixteen pages when they want to include more photographs, a biography, or particularly meaningful poems.
If in doubt, aim for four pages and trim your content to fit. A focused, well-designed four-pager is more impactful than a sprawling twelve-page booklet that guests struggle to read.
How to write and design one
You don’t need design software. Most orders of service are created in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Canva. Your funeral director may also offer a design service, or you can use a specialist printing company that provides templates (see below).
Step by step:
- Confirm the running order with your officiant or celebrant – this is the backbone of the document. Don’t finalise the order of service until you know exactly what’s happening and in what order.
- Gather the content – photos, hymn lyrics, reading texts, speaker names, wake details, charity information.
- Set up an A5 document in your software of choice, or use an A4 sheet in landscape orientation divided into two A5 columns (for print).
- Write the front cover – name, dates, photo, and optional quote.
- List the running order – keep each section brief. Use clear headings and consistent formatting.
- Include full lyrics for any congregational hymns or songs.
- Proof it carefully – check spellings of names, check dates, and have at least one other person read it before it goes to print.
- Allow time – printers differ, from next-day delivery on some specialist services to two working days or more on general online print services. Check your printer’s cut-off and delivery time before you approve the artwork, especially for a midweek funeral.
How many copies to order?
Order approximately 10–15% more than the number of people you expect to attend. If you’re expecting 80 guests, order around 90. There are always a few extra attendees you didn’t anticipate, and spare copies are useful for family members who weren’t present.
The unit cost drops as volume increases: in the price lists below, 100 booklets cost less than double the price of 50. Ordering a few extra costs little, so err on the generous side.
Who hands them out? Usually a funeral director’s staff member, or a friend or family member stationed at the entrance. The funeral director will typically coordinate this – let them know when you’re expecting copies to arrive.
How much does an order of service cost?
Costs vary depending on the number of pages, quantity, paper quality, and whether you use a local printer or a specialist online service. SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2026 puts the average spend on order sheets at £128, an average across all orders rather than a price for a set number of copies (SunLife, PDF).
Two published price lists show the range:
| Supplier and product | Quantity | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral Printing by Esmee G (London prices), A5 booklet | 30 copies | £59 | Includes design help and next-day London delivery |
| 50 copies | £73 | As above | |
| 100 copies | £108 | As above | |
| Instantprint, A5 booklet from 8 pages, standard speed | 50 copies | £70.96 | Delivery extra (£4.99 standard, free on orders over £75) |
| 100 copies | £86.57 | Free standard delivery (order over £75); a faster service costs more |
Source: the suppliers’ own websites, last verified 20 October 2026. Prices change and vary by supplier and specification, so treat these as examples and get a current quote.
Funeral director supply: Many funeral directors include an order of service in their package, or offer one as an add-on. The cost is typically absorbed into the overall funeral account, so check what’s included in your quote.
DIY printing: It’s entirely possible to print your own using a home printer and good quality paper, or a local print shop. Quality will depend on your equipment, so print a test copy first.
Specialist online printers – such as Funeral Printing by Esmee G, which offers design help and next-day delivery on some services, and general print companies such as Instantprint – differ on turnaround and on whether design and delivery are included in the price. Compare what each quote covers.
Digital alternatives
More families now share a digital version alongside printed copies – or instead of them for guests who couldn’t attend in person.
Options include:
- PDF shared via email or WhatsApp – simple and free. Create the document as you normally would and export to PDF.
- Digital flipbook – some specialist printers offer this alongside printed copies. It looks like a real booklet on screen and can be shared via link. Ask whether it is included in the price.
- QR code on the printed version – linking to a memorial page, charity donation page, or video of the service. Print the QR code on the back cover.
- Memorial website – services such as Much Loved allow families to share the order of service, photos, and tributes in one place.
A purely digital order of service – no printed copies at all – is occasionally used for very small services or eco-conscious families. It works well if all guests are comfortable on their phones, but bear in mind that older guests, or anyone in emotional distress, may struggle to follow along on a small screen.
What to avoid
- Finalising before confirming the running order. Always confirm with the officiant or celebrant first. Last-minute changes to a printed order of service are stressful and expensive.
- Low-resolution photos. A blurry or pixelated image on the front cover is a common and avoidable mistake. Ask for the original digital file, not a screenshot from social media.
- Spelling errors in names. Double-check every name – speakers, readers, and the person who died. Have someone else proof it too.
- Ordering too few. Running out of printed copies at the door is distressing for families. The cost of printing extra is small; the awkwardness of not having enough is not.
- Leaving it too late. Turnaround runs from next day to a few working days, depending on the printer and service. Order as soon as the running order is confirmed – typically three to five days before the funeral.
- Overcomplicating it. A simple, clear four-page booklet done well is better than an elaborate production full of errors. Put your effort into accuracy and warmth.
Key takeaways
- An order of service is an A5 booklet – often four pages – that guides guests through a funeral ceremony.
- It typically includes entry music, welcome, hymns or songs (with lyrics), readings, tributes, committal, and closing music.
- Order 10–15% more copies than your expected attendance; 50–100 is typical for most services.
- Published prices for 50–100 booklets run from about £71 to £108 before any delivery charge (October 2026), and SunLife’s average spend on order sheets is £128. Many funeral directors include it in their package.
- Check your printer’s turnaround before you approve the artwork: some deliver next day, others take a few working days.
- Digital versions via PDF or flipbook are a thoughtful way to include guests who can’t attend.
An order of service is one of the few things from a funeral that people keep. Taking a little time over the photo, the wording and the running order means guests leave with something that reflects the person they came to honour.
Prices and copyright guidance last verified October 2026 against the sources linked above. Part of our funeral planning guide. If you’re helping to plan other parts of the service, see our guides on how to write a eulogy, choosing funeral poems and readings, funeral flowers and arrangements, and what to wear to a funeral. If you’re planning a non-religious service, our guide to humanist funerals explains how the ceremony differs from a civil or religious one.