Funerals are not what they used to be. People are increasingly interested in new trends, and some of the more popular trends include green burials, eco-friendly funerals, natural burial grounds, and body art for the deceased. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has accelerated some of these new trends and promoted innovation in some. For example, the use of live streaming to allow friends and family to participate in a funeral from afar. This article will discuss these trends as well as other trends that people may not know about.
Green burials are on the rise. More and more people want to be buried in a way that is eco-friendly, meaning without embalming fluid or cremation which pollutes the environment. With green burial grounds popping up throughout many countries including Australia, Canada, Sweden, France and Japan this trend seems like it will continue to grow.
Funerals used to be a solemn affair, but recent trends have shown to be moving towards a celebration of life or life celebration. While the funeral services may still take on an air of solemnity, more and more people are choosing to include modern elements such as quirky music or dancing rather than just sitting in silence. Celebration of life is highly personalized with videos, speeches, readings and songs.
Experts are forecasting that by the year 2030, 70% of funerals in America will be cremations. In just ten years, this funeral trend has grown exponentially with more than 50% of families choosing to hold cremation instead and not somber services for their loved ones who have passed away.
There are many reasons why families choose to cremate their loved ones. The main reason is the cost savings of cremation service, which can range from $500-$2000 less than a traditional funeral service that includes burial or entombment.
A new trend that was pushed by the pandemic is live stream service. This is a service where you can have a funeral or memorial service without leaving your home. This trend has allowed families to connect with loved ones around the world who are not able to attend the physical service.
This type of service is becoming more and more popular as it allows for people from all over to watch and celebrate the life of their loved ones.
Successful funeral homes understand that support does not end after the funeral or cremation service. This is the main reason why funeral homes provide grief counseling and compassionate aftercare service. They offer a variety of services to help the bereaved process their grief. Some common aftercare and grief services include therapy, support groups, and educational programs.
As the trend tends to move away from traditionalism, the personalization of funeral services has become the latest norm. Families are now requesting unique services that reflect the life of their loved ones. This could range from choosing a creative urn to holding the funeral service in a special location.
Although this trend is not new for someone in the funeral industry but if you're a funeral professional, knowing what your client wants is the key to forging loyal customers.
Another trend, and perhaps more popular than the previous trends is pre-planning funeral services. With more people deciding to plan funerals before they die, this has become a big business for those who provide these types of services.
This practice of planning ahead by making sure that your loved ones will not have any financial burden after your death will give them peace of mind. Since everything is already planned, they can focus on grieving and celebrating your life.
You don't have to be wealthy to make pre-planning arrangements; many services offer payment plans that will fit any budget. And if you should change your mind about the details of your plan, it can always be amended.
Crowdfunding will continue to remain a trend going forward. This is when friends, family, and even strangers come together to raise money for a particular cause. In the case of funerals, this could be for funeral costs or for any other expenses related to the deceased's final arrangements.
There are now many websites that offer crowdfunding as a service such as Kickstarter and GoFundMe, making it easy for people to get started.
With the advent of social media, people can now go online to find out what other people think about a particular business. And with this has come the growing importance of local reviews from customers. In fact, it is estimated that 90 percent of consumers consult online reviews before making any purchase decision.
Consequently, businesses like the funeral industry have been forced to adapt and create strategies for getting more local online reviews.
The arrangements you make for your loved one's memorial should be influenced by the lifestyle of that person. The time of year, budget, and number attending will also have an effect on what kind of funeral or celebration is desired; however, don't worry because we're here to help! That’s our passion — assisting families in celebrating their life with a meaningful event so all can share some closure after losing someone close at hand. Just reach out if there are any questions about how best suit them. We'll provide insights from experienced professionals who care deeply not just themselves but those they serve each day. Call us today at (904) 765-1234 or email us at ts@tswarden.com.