How to Choose Funeral Stationery That Actually Feels Like Them
Planning a funeral is one of those things nobody teaches you how to do. You’re grieving, you’re exhausted, and somewhere in the middle of all of it, you’re expected to make dozens of small decisions — including what the order of service looks like, what the memory cards say, and whether any of it will feel like them.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to feel right. Below is a simple way to think through it, so the decision feels lighter instead of heavier.
1. Start with a feeling, not a colour
Before you open a template or scroll a catalogue, ask yourself: what was this person like? Were they warm and soft-spoken, or bold and full of life? Did they love the beach, their garden, old hymns, jazz records?
That one feeling — not a Pinterest board — should guide everything else. A gentle, muted palette suits someone quiet and reflective. Deep golds and rich tones suit someone who filled a room. There’s no wrong answer, only the one that feels true to them.
2. Keep the wording simple and personal
You don’t need poetic perfection. A line they used to say, a nickname only the family knew, or simply “Loved beyond words” can mean more than anything written for a stranger. If you’re stuck, it’s okay to keep it short — grief doesn’t need extra words to be sincere.
3. Think about what people will actually keep
An order of service often gets glanced at and set aside. A small keepsake — a memory card, a bookmark, a pressed-flower design — is more likely to be kept in a wallet, a Bible, or a bedside drawer for years. If your budget or time is limited, this is where it’s worth spending a little extra care.
4. Give yourself a realistic timeline
Most families are arranging everything within a matter of days. Templates exist for exactly this reason — not to make things generic, but to give you a starting point you can personalise quickly, without having to design something from a blank page while you’re in shock or exhausted.
5. Let it be imperfect
There is no “correct” way to do this. Some families want everything matching and formal. Others want something handwritten and a little rough around the edges. Both are right, because both are honest.
At Memplates, this is exactly why we built our template bundles — so you (or a funeral home helping a family) can put something beautiful together in an afternoon, not a week. Every bundle is designed to be edited quickly, but never to feel mass-produced.
If you’re planning something right now and don’t know where to start, https://memplates.co/ is a good first stop — it covers the notice / invitation, funeral / memorial program and a few small keepsakes in one cohesive set.
You don’t have to get every decision right. You just have to get it done with love. That’s enough.