When it comes to funeral planning, whether you’re planning a funeral for a loved one or planning your own funeral, there are a lot of important steps to take. One of the most essential steps involved with planning a memorial service is choosing a casket. Working with funeral homes to choose between caskets can be an overwhelming task. So to help make this situation as easy as possible, here are a few steps to follow when looking at funeral caskets.
Set a budget: First things first, it’s crucial to set a budget. There are a lot of features that make up funeral costs and the casket is one of them. So before you start meeting with funeral homes to learn about options for funeral caskets, you should determine how much you can spend on the casket. It’s important to consider all aspects of the funeral to ensure there is enough funding for everything you want. With 69% of survey respondents saying they would prefer to arrange their own funeral service ahead of time, pre-planning your funeral can allow you to plan payments as needed.
Know your material options: Funeral caskets come in a variety of styles and materials. Wood tends to be the most popular material choice, with high-cost options, like mahogany and cherry, and more affordable options, like pine and willow. But there are also metal casket options as well as even some eco-friendly material choices. All in all, it’s up to you to decide which type of material you’d like to choose.
Consider the details: Aside from the main material, there are also additional details you’ll need to decide on when looking at funeral caskets. There are gasketed caskets, which are sealed to keep the elements from entering the casket while it’s in the ground. You can also decide on the interior fabric, which can range from simple silk to luxurious velvet. And you’ll also need to decide if you want a grave liner or burial vault, which help maintain the structure of the ground around the casket. Your funeral director can help go over these details with you.
There are a lot of important decisions to make when it comes to choosing a casket. So keep these steps in mind to ensure you choose the casket right for your wants and needs.
