How to write a funeral invitation
When someone dies, it’s an opportunity to gather family and friends in the same room to pay their respects and say goodbye. Dealing with the loss of someone we love can be a profoundly emotional and personal journey. Practical tasks like telling people about the funeral can feel overwhelming and may intensify feelings of sadness.
Below is a checklist of the things you’ll need to include when inviting people to a funeral service.
Name, short bio and photo of the person that died
Start with the basics. What was their name? What did they enjoy doing most? What were some of their proudest achievements? Who did they enjoy spending the most time with? Answers to these questions will help to tell their story, and including a photo will help those attending remember them at their happiest.
Date, time and location
If you want the most important people in their lives to be there, then you need to tell them where the service will take place and when. Include details like:
- the venue, including the address and postcode for sat navs
- date and time
- if you have any information about parking
- where the wake will be held afterwards
Set the tone
Whether you want the day to follow a more formal or relaxed tone, the funeral invitation should reflect this. Like the personalised elements of the funeral, such as music or dress code, the tone should reflect the personality of the person that has died.
Dress code
One of the biggest decisions people will have to make when attending a funeral is what to wear. Traditionally, people wear black or dark formal clothes to funerals, but this doesn’t have to be the case. You can ask guests to wear bright colours or something that meant a lot to the person that died, like a football shirt. Whatever you choose, let your guests know in advance.
Preferences about flowers and donations
Sending flowers to a funeral has long been a way for people to express their sadness and support. However, in recent years, some people have started asking for donations instead of sending flowers. If this is your preference, you should consider mentioning this to guests.
Don’t forget RSVP details
There are so many things to think about when arranging a funeral – from choosing an appropriate venue to providing food at a wake afterwards. To make things a little bit easier it’s handy to know in advance how many people you’re expecting to come on the day, so you can plan ahead.
Details of the wake (if there is one)
Typically, a wake is held after a funeral service has taken place. It’s a chance for guests to gather in a less formal setting and celebrate the life of the person that died. People are encouraged to pay their respects to the family of the person that died, share stories about them and grab something to drink and eat.
A digital alternative
Not everyone will opt for a funeral invitation you can send in the post – and that’s OK, too. The important thing is that you’re able to contact the people that matter and make sure they’re clear on when and where the funeral is happening. A text, email or phone call are fine, just make sure to include the key details we’ve spoken about above.
How to start your funeral invitation
When someone we love has died, finding the right words is difficult. Putting pen to paper and writing anything at all can feel like oversharing. If you’re struggling where to start, take inspiration from some of these examples:
- ‘The family of [name] would like to invite you to join us in celebrating their life…’
- ‘We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of [name]…’
- ‘In loving memory of [name], who passed away on [date], following a battle with [illness]…’
- ‘The family of [name] would be honoured if you would join us to pay your respects and say farewell on [date] at [location]…’
- ‘It is with deep sadness that the family of [name] regret to inform you of their passing…’
Example funeral invitation
We’re deeply saddened to announce the passing of [name], who passed away on [date], following a battle with [insert illness].
[Name] was a valued friend to all and a cherished husband, father, uncle and brother. He was never happier than when he was spending time with his three kids or watching his beloved Manchester United.
To celebrate [name’s] life, we would like to invite you to a funeral service, held at [date, time and place]. In keeping with [name’s] love of all things green, we would request that guests wear at least one item of green clothing. We also ask that instead of sending flowers, you donate to a cause close to [name’s] heart: [charity name].
Once the service has finished, we will be holding a wake at [time and place], where family and friends will be able to raise a toast to [name]. If you have any favourite memories or kind words you’d like to share, we would love to hear them.
Please let us know if you will be attending so we have an idea of how many people to expect on the day – thank you.
For more guidance on how to arrange a funeral, read our helpful guides.
