How to Do Funerals Differently: A Practical Guide to a Real Goodbye
How to Do Funerals Differently: A Practical Guide to a Real Goodbye
Tradition has always offered a familiar rhythm for saying goodbye and for many families that familiarity brings comfort. But as times change, more and more families in South East Queensland are exploring ways to make their farewell reflect the full, authentic, and distinctive life their person lived. At Sunset we don't believe there's a single "right" way to do things. Here are a few way we can help create something meaningful and uniquely theirs.
Pick a Place That Actually Means Something
Think about the places that defined their life. A ceremony is a story, and the setting is key in telling it properly. It could be the local park, community garden, men's shed, a backyard or local bowls club. The options are pretty much endless. We specialise in taking the ceremony wherever it needs to be. We handle the logistics so you can focus on the gathering. Choosing a low or no-cost venue also helps reduce the overall funeral cost. At Sunset Funeral Care, we'll adjust your final invoice to reflect the true cost of the service, so if your chosen venue is free or inexpensive you only pay the actual price.
Ditch the Script (and Bring Your Story)
The most powerful part of a funeral isn't the order of service; it's the story. And the best stories aren't always told by one person standing at a microphone. A few years back at the memorial for one of my best mates, myself and ten close friends stood on stage together and shared a quick, personal anecdote each. One minute it was a story about his terrible driving, the next a memory of his antics in high school. Piece by piece, those stories built a beautiful and authentic picture of who he was to us.
At Sunset, the celebrant who guides your ceremony is the same person who takes your first call. That means we take the time to get to know you and your person from the very beginning. We can help you develop a ceremony that tells their story authentically — whether that's structured around the chapters of a life, a shared mic passed between friends, or something else altogether.
Make It Personal (Really Personal)
Think about what made them tick. Obsessed with the footy? Ask guests to wear team jerseys. Spent weekends gardening? Fill the room with plants. Were they a bit of a larrikin? Let the humour shine through. We encourage you to bring whatever objects, stories or quirks defined them. We'll help you display them in a way that feels respectful and meaningful. Put up a photo wall. Set out a table with their stuff — the old fishing rod, the favourite hat, the vinyl collection. Ask people to wear their favourite colour instead of black. The little touches can make all the difference.
Rethink the structure
Celebrations of life come in countless forms. While we can accommodate a traditional structure—a formal ceremony followed by a committal—we believe the best farewell reflects the unique rhythm of the person you're honoring. Your gathering might be as informal as a backyard BBQ where friends share beers and stories without a set order of service, or perhaps a seated lunch with speeches woven naturally into the meal. Whether you prefer a structured program or a fluid, spontaneous flow, we'll help you design a format that feels authentic and comfortable for everyone involved.
Getting everyone involved
In our experience, the most moving farewells are the ones where guests have the opportunity to be participants rather than observers. When people are invited into the ceremony — not just to sit and watch, but to contribute — something shifts. Shared singing can be a powerful act of unity — voices joining together in a way that words alone can't achieve. At the memorial service for my friend, I was part of a group of his mates that led the room in a medley of his favourite Beatles songs. None of us could sing particularly well but belting out Hey Jude together with 300 people is something I won't forget in a hurry. Things like decorating the coffin together, lighting candles or placing flowers can transform mourners into co-creators of the tribute. All of these practices work because they give people something to do with their grief and their love. And in that doing, connection can happen. Guests leave feeling they weren't just present at a farewell - they were part of it.
The Bottom Line
The best funeral is the one that feels right for you and the person you've lost. Sometimes that's a traditional service, sometimes it's a gathering in the park with a guitar and an esky of drinks. Sometimes it's a mix. At Sunset Funeral Care, we're here to help you plan a farewell that breaks the mould. We have the know-how to handle the unorthodox as well as a network of musicians, caterers, venues and other suppliers to bring authenticity to your person's farewell.
A Canvas for Memories: How to Personalise a Cardboard Coffin
A big reason why we started Sunset Funeral Care was to offer unique options for families to celebrate a life in an authentic way. While more traditional elements of a funeral (like a eulogy or a photo tribute) are good ways to reflect on a life, there are plenty of other less-common ways that can really deepen the whole experience. Coffin decoration is one such way. Cardboard coffins are becoming increasingly popular due to their eco-friendly and budget-friendly status, but also because they provide a perfect blank canvas for storytelling and reflection. The tactile act of decorating a coffin can also be an incredibly therapeutic and healing process for those grieving.
Why Choose a Cardboard Coffin?
Cardboard caskets like Daisybox or Outside-the-box are a fraction of the cost of a traditional coffin and, because they are built from biodegradable cardboard, no harsh formaldehydes or plastics are used meaning they are usually more eco-friendly as well. Unlike traditional high-gloss wood, cardboard naturally invites personalisation as the surface will happily take markers, paint, crayons, pencils and many other materials and forms of decoration.
How to do it
There is no set way to approach coffin decoration - it’s only limited by your imagination. Here are a few ways you might consider:
The Farewell Message Canvas: The surface is left bare so family and friends can write personal messages, memories, or signatures at the service (like a giant guestbook).
The Photo Collage: Photos of favorite memories, family albums or landscape photos of places they loved.
The Artistic Tribute: Painting a favorite scene or letting children add their handprints and drawings.
The Wrap: Using meaningful textiles, quilts, or natural burlap to wrap or drape the coffin.
Given that coffin decoration is very personal to the individual participating in it, we encourage a combination of the above depending on what feels right for each person.
Involving the Community (The Healing Process)
One of the beautiful things about relationships is that every person we know sees a slightly different perspective of us. Coffin decoration allows everyone who takes part the opportunity to reflect their unique perspective of the deceased person, creating a beautiful mosaic that together makes a whole.
Decoration can take place either prior to or during a ceremony. Decoration prior to the ceremony gives a very intimate and unhurried chance to bring close family and friends together, while having decoration as part of a ceremony is a great way for guests to be actively involved in proceedings and can provide a sense of shared experience and support. Coffin decoration is also a good way to involve children in the process, allowing them to participate in a gentle, hands-on way while coming to terms with the reality of the situation.
Final thoughts
While we’ve provided a few options on how to do it, ultimately there is no set way to approach coffin decoration - it’s completely up to you which is what makes it so powerful. Few other funeral elements offer the creativity, personalisation and ability to involve and bring people together during what can be a very difficult process.
Whichever way you choose to do it, Sunset Funeral Care is here to support these unique, tailored choices every step of the way. Please get in touch with us if you’d like to explore what's possible.