Do you need an order of service at a humanist funeral?

No — there's no legal or religious requirement for one. Most families choose to have one because it gives guests something to hold and keep, but a humanist funeral works perfectly well without a printed sheet at all.

Who writes and prints the order of service?

Usually your funeral director designs and prints it as part of their service, using wording the family provides or approves. Some families prefer to design it themselves, or ask a friend who's handy with design. As celebrant I can help with the wording for the tribute summary and running order, but the printing itself is normally the funeral director's job.

What goes on the front of a humanist funeral order of service?

Typically the person's full name, a photo if the family wants one, their dates (born and died), and sometimes a short line or quote that suited them. There's no fixed wording — humanist funerals don't follow a religious template.

Can you include a hymn on the order of service even though it's non-religious?

Yes. Humanist ceremonies are non-religious, not anti-religious, so a favourite hymn or a prayer can absolutely go on the sheet if it matters to the family — usually framed so everyone present can take part in whatever way feels right to them.

4 August 2026 · Funerals

The order of service: what actually goes in it

By John Paul Fitzpatrick — Humanist Society Scotland celebrant

If you're arranging a funeral and someone's just asked "what do you want on the order of service" — and you have absolutely no idea — you're not behind. Nobody arrives at this with a clear head, and there's no fixed template to fail at. Here's the honest, practical version: what an order of service is for, what usually goes in one, and a few lines of real wording to borrow if a blank page is the last thing you need right now.

Do you actually need one?

No. There's no legal requirement and, because a humanist funeral has no religious liturgy to follow, no religious requirement either. Plenty of families I've worked with have a simple ceremony with nothing printed at all, and it works perfectly well. Most families do choose to have one — it gives people something to hold during the ceremony and, quietly, something to keep afterwards. But if it's one more thing on a list that already feels too long, it is genuinely fine to skip it.

What usually goes on the front

The front of the sheet is almost always the same shape: the person's full name, a photo if the family wants one, and their dates — born and died. Some families add a short line underneath: a nickname, "beloved gran," a phrase that was unmistakably them, or a line from a favourite song or poem. There's no wrong choice here. I've seen a front cover that was just a photo and a date, and I've seen one with a joke on it that had the whole crematorium smiling before the ceremony even started. Both were exactly right for the person inside.

What goes inside — the running order

Inside, most orders of service simply list the shape of the ceremony as it will actually happen, so guests can follow along:

Music as people gather — often listed with the title and artist
Words of welcome from the celebrant
The tribute — the story of their life
A reading — a poem, a letter, or a family member's own words, with their name credited
A moment of reflection — often where a hymn or prayer sits, for families who want one
The committal or farewell
Closing words and music as people leave

You don't have to list it in this much detail — some families prefer just the music titles and the reader's names, with the tribute and welcome simply implied. I'll tell you the running order as soon as it's settled, so whoever's designing the sheet has it in good time and nothing needs guessed at.

The practical bits people forget

Beyond the ceremony itself, most orders of service quietly carry a few practical jobs:

Where to go afterwards — "Family and friends are warmly invited to join us at..."
Donations in lieu of flowers, and who to send them to or which charity
A thank you to those who helped care for the person, if that feels right
A contact name for anyone with questions on the day

Some honest wording to borrow

If you're staring at a blank page, here are a few lines families have used before — take them, change them, or ignore them entirely:

"Family and friends are warmly invited to join us afterwards at [venue] to raise a glass to [name]."

"In lieu of flowers, donations to [charity] would be gratefully received, in memory of a life well lived."

"With thanks to everyone who has sent messages, flowers and support — it has meant more than we can say."

Who actually writes and prints it

Nearly always, your funeral director designs and prints the order of service as part of their service — you give them the wording (or borrow some of the above), a photo if you're using one, and they'll typically show you a proof before it goes to print. Some families prefer to design it themselves, or hand it to a friend who's good with a laptop; either is fine. As your celebrant, I'll give you the confirmed running order and help with the wording for the tribute summary, but the printing itself sits with your funeral director. If nothing's been decided yet, that's completely normal too — I can talk you through it when we meet.

Arranging a funeral just now? You don't need any of this decided before we speak. Ask your funeral director to book John Paul Fitzpatrick, Humanist Society Scotland — or get in touch directly.

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