Should A Funeral Always Be "Conventional"? Pros And Cons

Traditionally, burial ceremonies have always been carried out in a particular manner. There are certain things that are just expected during such ceremonies such as:

• Those attending dress in black or some other dull color

• The ceremony starts in a church or some other religious building

• The family and others attending are driven around in black vehicles

These types of traditions are supposed to capture the prevailing mood of the bereaved. However, many people have decided to break from tradition. The result has been many burial ceremonies that would surprise many others. But what are the pros and cons of doing this?

Conventional Burial Ceremonies

Conventional funeral ceremonies have been around for a while, and some of the reasons why they've survived for so long include:

• It can be much easier to plan such a ceremony and set a budget since what is expected is already known

• Such ceremonies tend to be low-key, allowing families to grieve in private

• It's unlikely to create any controversies.

On the other hand, these types of ceremonies have a number of issues that many people have pointed out in the past, such as:

• Since there are certain expectations for such ceremonies, the family may be tied to a budget that is higher than they're comfortable with.

• There is little room in such ceremonies for loved ones to mourn the departed as they'd really want to.

Unconventional Burial Ceremonies

These types of ceremonies are becoming more popular, and this is because:

• The loved ones can send off the departed as they see fit and not as society wants

• The family members can set a budget that they're comfortable with by focusing only on important elements

• There is a better opportunity to attain true closure due to the honesty of such ceremonies

On the other hand, some people will want to avoid going in this direction because:

• They can be a lot harder to plan depending on what is involved

• They can be more expensive than conventional burial ceremonies if they're too elaborate

Choosing the Right Send-Off

There is no right or wrong way to conduct a burial ceremony. The main purpose of these ceremonies is to honor the deceased and give their families an opportunity to bid them farewell. However, if the departed also left specific instruction on how they'd like their last rites to be conducted, this should also be considered when making the decision.

For more information on how to plan a funeral, contact your local funeral home.