Choosing a funeral plan can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when you are not sure which option is right for you and your family. One of the most important questions to consider at the very start is:
Do you want a funeral service at the crematorium, or not?
This is the key difference that shapes the type of funeral plan you choose. Broadly, funeral plans fall into two categories:
Understanding this distinction can make the decision much clearer, as it determines both the style of the funeral and the overall cost.
Many people agree that funeral plans are a good idea, but it is very easy to put off actually making a decision. However with funeral costs steadily increasing, planning ahead can make a real difference. This guide explains the three prepaid funeral plans offered by Memoria Funerals – the Direct Cremation Plan, the Personal Plan, and the Celebration of Life Plan – so you can compare them clearly and decide which one suits your needs and budget
Here is a quick overview of the three Memoria Funeral plans:
| Direct Cremation Plan | Personal Plan | Celebration of Life Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,595 | £2,495 | £3,095 |
| In a nutshell | Simple cremation, no service, no attendance. The most affordable option. | Off-peak service for up to 25 people. A meaningful farewell at a lower cost. | A cremation with a funeral service at any time, no limit on guests. The most flexible option. |
| Best if… | You do not want a funeral service and would prefer a simple cremation, with less for your family to organise at the time of need | Your family would value a small, intimate moment together, without the need for a larger or more elaborate ceremony | You want a full funeral service with flexibility on timing, allowing everyone the opportunity to attend and say goodbye |
Want to talk it through? Call Memoria Funerals free on 0800 007 3620. Our experienced team is available 24/7 with no pressure to buy.
A prepaid funeral plan lets you pay for your funeral in advance at today’s prices. You choose the type of funeral you want, pay for it now, and the plan covers the cost of the included services when the time comes – no matter how much prices may have risen. Plans that include a cremation without a service are known as direct cremation plans, meaning the cremation takes place without any loved ones present and no service.
Prepaid plans are not the same as funeral insurance. With a funeral plan, you are pre-paying for specific funeral services. Your money is typically placed into an insurance policy or a trust by the plan provider. It is securely held in your name, and it is only paid out when it is needed. This means the services listed in your plan are covered in line with the plan terms and conditions, even if funeral costs rise in future.
Funeral insurance or Over 50s life insurance pays out a lump sum when you die. Your family must then choose a provider and pay the funeral costs at the time, so there is no guarantee that the costs of the funeral at the time will be covered.
A funeral plan lets you choose your provider now, fix the price of included services, and protect against inflation — while making things easier for your loved ones, who often only need to contact the provider when the time comes.
More people than ever are planning their funeral in advance. Planning ahead gives you control over your funeral wishes and helps protect your family from unexpected costs and reduce difficult decisions at a stressful time. Here are the main reasons people choose a prepaid funeral plan:
Financial clarity: 70% of people make provisions to pay for their funeral, but only 42% of those put away enough to cover the full cost*. A prepaid plan removes that uncertainty.
Did you know? Less than 1% of people know all of their loved one’s funeral wishes. 1 in 5 don’t know any of their loved one’s wishes at all.*
A prepaid funeral plan is not always the right choice for everyone. It is important to consider your personal circumstances before making a decision.
If you are receiving end-of-life care, it may be more cost-effective to arrange and pay for a funeral at the time of need rather than purchasing a plan in advance. Funeral plans are designed for future use and include an allowance for rising costs over time, which is why they can be more expensive than arranging a funeral immediately.
That said, some people still choose a plan in these circumstances for peace of mind – knowing everything is arranged in advance and that their family will not need to make decisions at a difficult time.
You should also consider whether paying for a funeral plan would place you under any financial strain. A funeral plan should provide reassurance, not create financial pressure. If paying for a plan would cause difficulty, it may be better to explore alternative options.
Taking the time to weigh up your situation carefully can help ensure you make the decision that is right for you.
Memoria Funerals offers three plans to suit different preferences and budgets.
A direct cremation is a simple, no fuss cremation, without any family or friends in attendance. There is no service. This reduces funeral directors’ fees, and removes the costs of hearses, flowers or celebrants. It’s the most affordable option available.
Memoria’s Direct Cremation Plan costs £1,595. It has been rated 5 stars by Fairer Finance and is one of the lowest priced top-rated direct cremation plan in the UK.
This plan may suit you if… you prefer a simple, fuss-free approach with no service. Perhaps you do not want your family to feel burdened with organising a funeral service, or you would rather they celebrated your life in their own way, in their own time.
A Memoria Funerals Direct Cremation Plan allows you to lock in today’s prices, protecting you from future increases in funeral costs.
The Personal Plan is an attended funeral with a cremation service held at an early-morning time slot. It provides a meaningful chance for up to 25 family members and friends to come together and say goodbye, at a lower price than a full attended service. The service lasts around 30 minutes, creating a smaller and more intimate setting.
Prices for the Personal Plan start from £2,495.
Optional services with extra fees that can be added to your plan:
Not included and payable at the time of need (depending on individual circumstances)
Ashes delivery is not included to keep plan costs low, as the cremation usually takes place locally many families choose to collect the ashes directly from the crematorium.
This plan may suit you if… your family would value a small, intimate moment together, but you do not need a large or elaborate ceremony. The early-morning service time helps keep costs lower, while still giving loved ones the chance to gather, share memories, and say goodbye. Additional services, such as ashes delivery or a larger coffin, are not included as standard – helping to keep the plan affordable for those who do not need them.
The Celebration of Life Plan is the most comprehensive option. It includes a one-hour funeral service at any time of day, at any mainland UK crematorium of your choice, with no limit on the number of people who can attend.
Prices for the Celebration of Life Plan start from £3,095.
Optional services with extra fees that can be added to your plan:
To help keep costs lower, traditional elements such as a hearse and limousine are not included as standard, but they can be added if you would prefer a more traditional funeral. If these are not selected, the deceased will be brought to the crematorium in a private ambulance and will already be resting on the catafalque – the stand that supports the coffin – at the start of the service.
This plan may suit you if… you want everyone to have the chance to say goodbye – family, friends, colleagues, neighbours. You may want the service held at a time that suits everyone, rather than an early-morning slot. This plan gives the most flexibility for a meaningful farewell.
Not sure which plan is right for you? Our experienced team can talk you through the options – no obligation. Call us free on 0800 007 3620.
This table shows what is included in each plan. Yes means the feature is included in the plan price. No means it is not included. Features are grouped by category to make it easier to scan.
| Feature | Direct Cremation £1,595 | Personal Plan From £2,495 | Celebration of Life Plan From £3,095 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Services | |||
| Funeral directors’ fees, services and cremation fees | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quality Wood Coffin | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oversize / larger coffin | Yes | No* | Yes |
| Transport of the deceased to crematorium | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Completion of all cremation paperwork | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery-operated implant removal (e.g. pacemakers) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Support & Collection | |||
| 24/7 support at the time of need | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 collection from anywhere in mainland UK | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online funeral notice | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hand delivery of ashes | Yes | No* | Yes |
| Attendance and Service | |||
| Funeral service (off-peak / early morning) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Funeral service at any other time | No | No | Yes |
| Up to 25 guests | No | Yes | Yes |
| No limit on guests | No | No | Yes |
| Flexibility & Extras | |||
| Your choice of crematorium | No | Yes | Yes |
| Embalming or viewing of the deceased | No | No | Yes |
* Additional costs on Personal Plan (payable at the time of need) :
Hand delivery of ashes £100
Larger coffin £250
Personal Plan and Celebration of Life can also be personalised with add-on’s such as a hearse, limousine, or officiant.
The biggest difference between the Direct Cremation Plan and the attended plans is whether mourners are present at the cremation. If being able to say goodbye at the crematorium matters to you or your family, the Personal or Celebration of Life Plan is the right choice.
The key difference between the Personal Plan and the Celebration of Life Plan is flexibility: the Celebration of Life Plan allows a service at any time of day with no cap on guest numbers and is an hour-long service, while the Personal Plan is limited to early-morning services, lasting 30 minutes and up to 25 guests.
Any questions? Our trained consultants are just a free phone call away to chat about our plans, and how they work. Call us free on 0800 007 3620.
The average cost of a simple attended funeral in the UK was £3,828 in 2025 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026). That figure reflects paying at the time of need, without a prepaid plan. Prepaid funeral plan prices across the UK typically range from around £1,400 to £1,800 for a direct cremation, and from £2,400 to £4,500 or more for an attended plan.
Memoria’s Direct Cremation Plan at £1,595 is one of the most competitive prices available, offering exceptional value for a top-rated all-inclusive plan. Our attended plans, starting from £2,495, are also priced competitively, particularly for plans that include your choice of any crematorium in mainland UK.
When comparing funeral plans, it is important to look beyond the headline price. Not all plans include the same services, and lower-cost options may exclude key elements that are included as standard with Memoria Funerals. This means like-for-like comparisons are not always straightforward, and it is worth checking exactly what is covered.
It is also important to consider cancellation terms. Memoria’s cancellation fee is £95, which is lower than many providers, and is less risky than others where fees can run into hundreds of pounds if you change your mind or your circumstances change.
When you buy a Memoria Funerals plan, your money is placed into an insurance policy held in your name. The policy is only paid out when it is needed. It is provided by an authorised insurer and is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates how funeral plans are sold, ensuring firms meet strict standards. Because your money is held in an insurance policy (not by Memoria Funerals directly), it is protected even if Memoria Funerals were to cease trading.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) provides an additional safety net, covering eligible policyholders in the event that an insurer cannot meet its obligations.
The right plan depends on your personal wishes, your family’s needs, and your budget.
If you want a no fuss goodbye… The Direct Cremation Plan keeps things as simple as possible. There is no service to organise, no guests to coordinate, and your family can choose to remember you in their own way, in their own time.
If your family would value a moment together… The Personal Plan gives up to 25 people the chance to gather for an early-morning service. It is a more affordable way to have an attended funeral while still providing that important moment of togetherness. This plan could also work for people who want a low-key, lower-cost send off with loved ones present.
If you want everyone to have the chance to say goodbye… The Celebration of Life Plan removes limits – on guest numbers, on timing, and on how the service is shaped. It is the plan for people who want a full, flexible farewell. Traditional elements such as a hearse, limousine and officiant can be added.
Still not sure? Our experienced consultants understand this is a big decision. Call 0800 007 3620 for a free, no-pressure conversation.
Buying a funeral plan is simple and can be done in a few steps. You can take your time, ask as many questions as you need, and our friendly and knowledgeable team will guide you step by step. It can also be helpful to talk to your loved ones and get their input, so they feel comfortable with your decision.
Step 1: Choose the plan that feels right for you. If you are not sure, call Memoria Funerals consultants free on 0800 007 3620 with no obligation to buy.
Step 2: You can purchase your plan with us online, over the phone, or by requesting an application form to complete at home.
Step 3: You will receive email confirmation at the time of purchase, and then your welcome pack in the post with all plan documentation within 14 days.
When the time comes, one call from your nominated representative (someone you choose in advance to act on your behalf – usually a next of kin or someone you trust), at any time, day or night, will set your plan in motion. From there, Memoria Funerals will take care of everything.
Choosing a funeral plan is a personal decision, and the right option depends on what matters most to you and your family. Whether you prefer a simple, no-fuss direct cremation or a fully attended service, Memoria Funerals offers plans that show exactly what’s included, what’s not, and what you’ll pay for peace of mind. By planning ahead, you can fix costs at today’s prices and ensure your wishes are known, helping to reduce both financial and emotional pressure on your loved ones when the time comes.
Speak to a Memoria Funerals consultant today on 0800 007 3620 – no pressure, just clear guidance.
