What to write in a funeral order of service

An order of service is the printed booklet that guides mourners through a funeral or memorial service. This guide explains every section — what to include, what wording to use, and what can be left out. There are no strict rules. What matters is that it reflects the person you're remembering.

What is an order of service?

An order of service (also called a funeral programme or funeral booklet) is a printed document handed to guests as they arrive at the service. It tells them what will happen, in what order, and gives them the words to any hymns or responses they'll need to join in with.

It also serves as a keepsake — many people keep it for years. Spending a little time on the wording and content means it becomes something the family and guests will treasure.

What to include on the cover page

The cover is the first thing guests see. Keep it simple and dignified.

• Full name of the person who has died (use the name they were known by)
• Date of birth and date of passing — usually written as "15th March 1942 — 3rd May 2026"
• A photo (optional but common — a favourite photo works better than a formal one)
• A short line — a word that described them, or a simple phrase such as "Beloved husband, father and grandfather"
• Date and place of service

The order of service — inside pages

The inside lists the service in the order it will happen. Guests use it to follow along and to know when to stand, sit, or join in.

For a traditional religious service

1. Entrance music (list the piece and composer, or simply "Entrance Music")
2. Welcome by the officiant
3. Opening prayer or call to worship
4. Hymn — include the full words so guests can join in
5. First reading (name the reader and the Bible passage or other source)
6. Personal tribute or eulogy (name who is speaking)
7. Second hymn — again, include the words
8. Second reading (optional)
9. Prayers
10. The committal
11. Final hymn or song
12. Recessional music (list the piece)

For a non-religious or humanist service

1. Entrance music
2. Welcome by the celebrant
3. Opening words (the celebrant introduces the service)
4. A poem or reading (name the reader and the piece)
5. Tribute — a personal account of the person's life
6. Music (a favourite song — guests listen rather than sing)
7. A second reading or poem (optional)
8. Reflection and committal
9. Closing words
10. Recessional music

Wording for the tribute

The tribute (or eulogy) is usually the heart of the service. It can be read by a family member, close friend, or the officiant on behalf of the family.

In the order of service, you usually just list: "Tribute — [Name of speaker]". You don't need to print the words of the tribute in the booklet.

If the person reading the tribute would like some help writing it, our eulogy writing guide walks through the structure step by step.

Hymns — do I include the words?

Yes. Always include the full words of any hymns or songs you want guests to join in with. Not everyone will know the words from memory, and having them on the page means guests can participate rather than stand in silence.

If you're using music guests will only listen to (not sing along to), you only need to list the song title and artist.

What to include at the back

The back page often includes:

• A thank you message — a short note from the family thanking guests for attending
• Refreshments — "The family would welcome you at [venue] following the service"
• Donations — "In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to [charity]" with a way to donate
• A closing quote — a line of poetry, scripture, or a phrase the person loved (optional)

How long should an order of service be?

A standard A5 booklet has 4 pages (one sheet of A4 folded in half): cover, inside left, inside right, and back page. This is enough for most services.

If you have more content — multiple hymns with full words, longer readings, more photos — you can extend to 8 pages (two sheets folded together). Your local printer can advise on the best format.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Wrong dates or spellings — always have a second person check the cover details before printing
• Including the full text of readings when guests won't read along — if someone is reading a poem aloud, you don't need the full text in the booklet; just the title and reader's name is enough
• Printing too few — print more than you expect to need. A good rule is to estimate attendees and add 20%
• Leaving it too late — most local printers need 24–48 hours for same-week printing

Download a ready-made template

Our order of service templates are professionally designed, fully editable in Word or Google Docs, and formatted for A5 booklet printing. Both a traditional religious format and a non-religious format are available.

After purchase you receive immediate access to download the files. Most families complete their order of service in under an hour.

More free guides

• How to write a eulogy
• Poems and readings for funerals
• Popular hymns for funerals
• What to do when someone dies