When I sat down to make a program for someone I loved, the first thing I thought was, what am I even supposed to put in this? If you're asking the same question, you're not alone, and there's no wrong answer.
Most programs share the same core pieces. This guide covers what to include, what's optional, and exactly how it all fits on the page, with sample layouts for 4, 8, and 12-page programs. If you're starting from scratch, our step-by-step guide on how to make a funeral program walks through the whole process.
The Must-Haves
Nearly every funeral program includes these:
- Full name, including a nickname if they were known by one
- Birth and death dates, sometimes written as "Sunrise" and "Sunset"
- A photo of your loved one, usually on the cover
- Service details: date, time, and location
- Order of service: the sequence of the ceremony
- Obituary or life story
If you only have room for these six things, you have a complete program.
What to Add If You Have Room
- A poem, prayer, or scripture. Many families choose a favorite verse or a poem that sounds like their loved one. See our list of funeral scriptures for women and men for ideas.
- Family acknowledgment: a short thank-you from the family to guests
- Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers
- Officiant, speakers, and musicians
- Photo collage from different stages of their life
- Tributes from grandchildren, friends, or coworkers
- Favorite quote or saying they were known for
- Interment details: burial location, if guests are invited
- Repast or reception information: where to gather after the service
- Memorial donation note: "In lieu of flowers, the family asks..."
- Funeral home name, often in small print on the back
Not sure how to word any of these? See our funeral program wording examples.
What a Typical Order of Service Looks Like
Every service is different, so confirm the final order with your officiant or funeral home. Here's a common example:
- Prelude (music as guests arrive)
- Processional
- Opening Prayer or Welcome
- Scripture Reading or Poem
- Song or Hymn
- Obituary Reading
- Tributes and Reflections
- Eulogy
- Closing Prayer
- Recessional
A celebration of life is often more relaxed, with open sharing, a slideshow, or a favorite song in place of hymns. List whatever matches the day you're planning.
From experience: The order of service and the pallbearer list are the two things most likely to change at the last minute. Get them from the officiant or funeral home in writing, and confirm them again the day before you print.
Page-by-Page Sample Layouts
The more pages you have, the more room for photos and tributes. Here's how the content usually falls on each page.
4-Page Program (One Sheet, Folded)
| Page | What Goes There |
|---|---|
| Page 1 (Front Cover) | Photo, full name, birth and death dates, "Celebrating the Life of" or "In Loving Memory" |
| Page 2 (Inside Left) | Obituary |
| Page 3 (Inside Right) | Order of service, officiant, service date and location |
| Page 4 (Back Cover) | Poem or scripture, family acknowledgment, interment and repast details |
This is the most common format and fits the essentials comfortably.
8-Page Program (Booklet)
| Page | What Goes There |
|---|---|
| Page 1 (Front Cover) | Photo, full name, dates |
| Page 2 | Service details and order of service |
| Page 3 | Obituary |
| Page 4 | Obituary continued, or a favorite photo with a quote |
| Page 5 | Tributes from family |
| Page 6 | Photo collage |
| Page 7 | Pallbearers, family acknowledgment |
| Page 8 (Back Cover) | Poem or scripture, interment and repast details |
An 8-page program gives the obituary room to breathe and adds space for photos.
12-Page Program (Booklet)
| Page | What Goes There |
|---|---|
| Page 1 (Front Cover) | Photo, full name, dates |
| Page 2 | Welcome or opening scripture |
| Page 3 | Order of service |
| Pages 4–5 | Obituary and life story |
| Page 6 | Timeline of their life |
| Pages 7–8 | Photo collage spread |
| Page 9 | Tributes from grandchildren or friends |
| Page 10 | Pallbearers, honorary pallbearers, speakers |
| Page 11 | Family acknowledgment |
| Page 12 (Back Cover) | Poem, interment and repast details, funeral home |
A 12-page program works well when there are many grandchildren, a long life to cover, or lots of photos to share.
Tips for Fitting It All In
- Page counts go in fours. Programs are printed on folded sheets, so the page count is always 4, 8, 12, or 16.
- Don't shrink the font to cram it in. Many guests are older and need readable text. Move to a larger page count instead.
- Leave some white space. A program that breathes feels calmer and more dignified.
From experience: The obituary is almost always what overflows. Families write from the heart, and there's a lot to say. Write the full version first, then save it for the funeral home's website or an online obituary, and use a shorter version in the program. And for the photo collage, gather originals from family by email at full size. Photos saved from Facebook or screenshots often print blurry.
Start With a Template
A template already has the layout worked out, so you can focus on the words and photos. Browse our Canva-editable funeral program templates, with designs for faith-based, military, coastal, and hobby-themed services.
Want to Choose Your Pages and Let Us Build It?
The sample layouts above are a starting point, but with our Done-For-You Service you decide exactly what goes where. You do everything online in our Program Portal, no design skills needed:
- Pick your design and your finished size
- Choose exactly which pages go in your program, and in what order
- Fill in everything online: names, dates, obituary, order of service, and photos
- Save and finish later if you need to step away
We build your program and send you a proof to approve. Once approved, you receive a print-ready digital file to take to any print shop or print at home. The template is included.
Please note: This is a digital design service only. We do not print or ship physical programs.
There's No Wrong Way to Honor Them
These are guidelines, not rules. If your loved one would have wanted a page of their favorite jokes or a recipe they were famous for, include it. The best programs feel like the person they're honoring.