Personalising the Funeral.

When considering the style of funeral you wish to arrange for your loved one, it’s important to know that there’s no single ‘right’ way.

You may wish for the comforting familiarity of a traditional, formal service, steeped in cherished rituals and religious customs.

Or a vibrant and deeply personal celebration of life, reflecting the unique spirit of your loved one might be a better choice.

The coffin or casket is the focal point of the funeral service and is likely to be one of the most significant choices you’ll make when arranging the funeral for your loved one.

There are many options available to personalise the funeral, including traditional wood or wood veneer coffins. Colourful coffins are also popular these days, as well as those made with eco-friendly materials such as wicker or willow.

All our coffin options are finished to the highest quality and can be made bespoke to your needs.

At Gillotts we have our own fleet of luxury Jaguar hearses that we use to transport your loved one on the day of the funeral. We can also provide Jaguar limousines to transport family and friends in comfort.

Or to personalise the funeral further, we can also offer a range of alternative vehicles all adapted for use as a hearse, including horse-drawn, motorcycle side-car, a Morris Minor, a Land Rover or a Volkswagen campervan.

And we can accommodate additional needs such as modified vehicles for wheelchair access.

We work closely with our local crematoriums and churches, however, if you’re looking for a more personalised and unique setting, perhaps a local venue that holds special meaning for your loved one, we’re happy to explore those possibilities with you.

We handle all the communication and arrangements with the venue, ensuring everything is considered to create a truly memorable tribute.

We understand the importance of finding someone to lead the service who will truly honor your loved one and support your family. That’s why we’ll carefully recommend ministers or celebrants who we believe will be the best fit.

We have strong relationships with local ministers and celebrants, and we’ll guide you through the options, helping you understand the different approaches.

Flowers at a funeral are a wonderful way to personalise the funeral. Different flowers have different symbolic meaning and can be chosen to convey various messages of love, respect, and remembrance. Or flowers can simply be chosen because of their colour or because they are a favourite of the person who has died.

We can advise on bespoke flower arrangements, single floral tributes and custom memorial flowers from family members, provided by your own florist or our floral partner.

If you’d prefer to ask attendees at the funeral for donations to charity as an alternative to flowers, we can arrange this for you. The chosen charity can represent a cause or interest that was important to the deceased, or one that helped them specifically during their life.

We have safe and secure charity donation boxes and we will arrange for the donations to be paid to your chosen charity after the funeral on your behalf.

A funeral order of service is a printed document that is given to attendees and outlines the schedule of events on the day of the funeral, including readings, music, and any other elements included in the service.

We can help you to create an order of service that is really personal and something that family and friends will treasure as a heartfelt keepsake.

Whether it’s a favourite song or hymn that has emotional impact, a custom playlist, or live singer or pianist, music is often one of the most important choices a family will make when it comes to personalising the funeral.

Readings can include religious verses, poems or stories about your loved one in the form of a eulogy. You may want the Minister or Celebrant to perform the readings on your behalf, or you may wish to ask family members or friends to do this – the choice is yours.

In today’s digital age, we understand that you are likely have a wealth of photos and videos capturing family gatherings, milestones, and unforgettable moments.

We invite you to share these cherished memories during the funeral service in the form of an audio-visual presentation. We can guide you on the process and best methods and formats to bring your vision to life. And on the day we will ensure that your personal presentation is played and runs smoothly.

After the funeral, hosting a reception or gathering is a chance for friends and family to share memories, enjoy each other’s company, and reflect on the person’s legacy in a more relaxed environment.

We can discuss a venue that feels right for the occasion, whether that be at home, a favourite local venue or special location. If the venue you choose does not have catering facilities, we can also connect you with trusted caterers to provide everything from refreshments to hot drinks and food.