A non-religious funeral service is a ceremony that honours someone’s life without prayers, hymns, or references to an afterlife. Instead, it focuses on the person – their stories, values, relationships, and the legacy they leave behind. It can be led by a professional celebrant or by family and friends, and it can take place in a crematorium chapel, a woodland burial ground, a hall, or even at home. You might hear it called a humanist funeral or a celebration of life; whatever the name, the heart of the service is personal, sincere remembrance.
This guide explains what a non-religious funeral means today, the different types available (including humanist, atheist, and celebration-of-life ceremonies), and the option of a direct cremation without a service. You’ll find practical advice on venues, who can lead the ceremony, a sample order of service, secular readings and music, a step-by-step planning checklist, costs and budget tips, eco-friendly choices, what happens after the cremation, UK legal basics, and common etiquette questions. Let’s begin with a clear definition.
What a non-religious funeral service means today
Today, a non-religious funeral service is about choice and authenticity. It centres on memories, music, and readings without prayers, hymns, or references to an afterlife, and can be led by a celebrant or by family and friends. In the UK it’s increasingly common and highly flexible: you can hold it at a crematorium or cemetery chapel, a natural burial site, a hall, hotel, or at home. It can be quiet or uplifting, at the committal or later as a memorial—whatever best reflects the person.
Types of non-religious funerals (humanist, atheist, celebration of life)
Non-religious funerals come in a few familiar styles. The labels often overlap, so choose the tone and format that best reflect the person’s values and wishes. Each option can include music, readings, tributes, and quiet reflection—without prayers, hymns, or references to an afterlife.
- Humanist funeral: A fully non-religious ceremony led by a trained celebrant, focusing on the life lived, relationships, and legacy, with secular readings and music.
- Atheist funeral: Explicitly secular and free of religious content; friends and family share stories, poems, and memories in a simple, sincere way.
- Celebration of life: A flexible, often uplifting memorial that can be held anywhere and arranged later; keep it wholly secular with favourite songs, readings, and personal touches.
Direct cremation: a non-religious alternative without a ceremony
Direct cremation is the simplest form of non-religious funeral service: the cremation takes place without a ceremony or mourners present. There’s no procession or hymns—just respectful, professional care, completion of the formalities, and the cremation itself. Families then create their own memorial or celebration of life later, in a venue and style that feels right.
- No service at the crematorium: Unattended and straightforward.
- Plan a memorial later: Choose your own time, place, and tone.
- Ashes options: Scatter in a garden of remembrance or have them returned.
- Fewer logistics, lower cost: Keep things simple and focused on what matters.
Where you can hold the service in the UK
In the UK, a non-religious funeral service can be held almost anywhere that agrees to host you and meets legal and safety requirements. Many choose formal chapels or natural sites, while others prefer familiar, relaxed spaces. Wherever you decide, confirm permissions, timings, capacity, accessibility, and any rules on music, candles, or décor.
- Crematorium or cemetery chapel: Formal, time-structured settings.
- Natural/woodland burial ground: Quiet, outdoorsy feel.
- Community centre or village hall: Local, flexible, good value.
- Hotel or function suite: Comfortable, hosted environment.
- Private home or garden: Intimate and personal.
- Meaningful outdoor spot (by permission): Park, beach, or beauty spot.
Who can lead the ceremony and what they do
A non‑religious funeral service can be led by a trained celebrant (including humanist celebrants) or by a confident family member or friend. Their job is to shape a secular ceremony that reflects the person, support contributors, and keep everything running smoothly within the venue’s time. Choose someone calm, organised, and clear‑spoken.
- Listen and learn: Meet the family; gather stories and wishes.
- Write the tribute: Draft and refine a personal, accurate life story.
- Plan and lead: Set the running order, coordinate music/readings, guide speakers, and close.
Sample order of service you can adapt
Use this as a flexible template for a non-religious funeral service in a chapel, hall, or at home. Adjust the tone, timings, and speakers to suit the person, and keep language secular throughout. Agree who will lead each part, check music timings, and brief contributors in advance.
- Welcome and purpose: Set the tone and explain the ceremony.
- Opening music: A favourite track to begin.
- Moment of reflection: A pause to settle and remember.
- Life story tribute: The heart of the ceremony (often up to 15 minutes).
- Contributions: Short memories from family and friends.
- Reading or poem: Secular words that fit the person.
- Music or photo montage: Optional visual or musical tribute.
- Quiet reflection or candle-lighting: A simple, inclusive act.
- Committal words (if applicable): Secular farewell at cremation or burial.
- Thanks and closing words: Practical notes and appreciation.
- Closing music and exit: Invitation to gather afterward.
Secular readings, music and personal touches
Choosing secular readings and music is where a non-religious funeral service feels most like the person. Poems, book extracts, favourite lyrics, or even a line from a letter can say what’s hard to express. Keep language consistent with a secular ceremony—no prayers or afterlife references—then balance tone: a quiet reflection alongside an uplifting song, or a gentle poem after shared stories. Check contributors are comfortable reading aloud, and keep everything simple, sincere, and true to the life lived.
- Readings: Poems, prose extracts, quotes, letters, or children’s memories—pick pieces the person cherished or that feel authentically them.
- Music: Choose tracks they loved; use instrumentals for reflection. Confirm the venue’s playback setup and timing rules.
- Personal touches: Photo montage, memory table, favourite object on the lectern, candles, or a shared moment of silence.
- Their voice: Weave in their own words—from messages, cards, speeches, or anecdotes—to anchor the tribute in who they were.
Gather texts and tracks early so your celebrant (or lead speaker) can shape a smooth, cohesive running order.
Step-by-step checklist to plan the service
Use this simple checklist to shape a non-religious funeral service that feels authentic, calm, and well organised. Keep language secular, involve the right people early, and confirm practical details with your venue or provider so the day runs smoothly and the focus stays on the person remembered.
- Define wishes and tone with close family.
- Choose format: service now, or direct cremation + later memorial.
- Book venue, date, time; confirm permissions and access.
- Appoint a celebrant or lead speaker; brief them.
- Gather stories, facts, and photos for the tribute.
- Select secular readings and music; secure files and printouts.
- Invite contributors; set timings and give clear roles.
- Draft a running order; share/print a simple programme.
- Finalise logistics: paperwork, transport, music playback, seating, and welcome.
Costs and budget tips
Costs for a non‑religious funeral service hinge on venue, celebrant, and choices like flowers and printing. Direct cremation is usually the lowest‑cost route in the UK (some providers start from about £995) and avoids extras like a hearse. Always request an itemised quote.
- Choose an affordable venue: A home or community hall can reduce hire fees.
- Family‑led ceremony: Consider leading it yourselves to save celebrant fees.
- Minimal printing and simple music: Keep orders of service short and use a playlist rather than live music.
- Simple coffin and urn: A plain coffin and basic ashes container keep costs down; premium urns add cost.
- Confirm extras and ashes fees: Ask upfront about urgent collection, larger coffin, device removal, and ashes delivery. For direct cremation, check if scattering is included and any fee to return ashes.
Eco-friendly and simple choices
Eco-friendly, simple choices sit naturally with a non-religious funeral service. Choosing less, choosing local, and planning for reuse lowers cost and impact. Direct cremation, with no cortege or chapel service, uses fewer resources and lets you hold a low‑impact memorial later.
- Simple coffin: Choose sustainably sourced or eco options.
- Paper‑light: Digital orders; donations instead of flowers.
- Lower travel and aftercare: Car‑share/public transport; choose a biodegradable urn and a modest, permitted ash scattering.
After the cremation: memorials, ashes and scattering
After the cremation, you choose how and when to remember. Many hold a simple memorial or celebration of life later, with the ashes present or not. Ashes can be scattered in a crematorium garden of remembrance or returned to you. Some families keep them at home briefly, share them among relatives, or place them in an urn for interment.
- Pick a meaningful date/place; get permission and follow local guidance.
- Scattering options include woodland, beach or water (where allowed); biodegradable urns help.
- Mark the moment with words and music; record the location for family.
Practicalities and legal basics in the UK
For a non-religious funeral service in the UK, the legal baseline is simple: the person must be laid to rest lawfully, but there is no legal obligation to hold a funeral ceremony at all. You can choose a cremation (including direct cremation) or burial, hold a ceremony anywhere that agrees to host you, and ask a celebrant—or a family member—to lead it. Your provider can guide you through the paperwork and timings.
- Lawful disposition: UK law requires proper burial or cremation; a ceremony is optional.
- Venue permission: Secure a willing venue and follow its rules on time, candles, and music.
- Who can lead: Anyone can conduct a secular ceremony; no licence is required.
- Paperwork first: Complete cremation forms and medical/ID checks; coroner cases may affect timing.
- Ashes arrangements: Scatter in a garden of remembrance or, with permission, at another chosen place.
Etiquette and frequently asked questions
Etiquette is simple: dress respectfully unless the family asks for colours; arrive a little early, keep phones silent, and follow the venue’s guidance. Because this is a non‑religious funeral service, keep language secular and offer condolences that match the tone—quiet and reflective or more uplifting, as the family prefers.
- Religious content: Keep it secular; a celebration of life can mix content if the family wishes.
- Who leads/where: A celebrant or family can lead; any willing venue, including home, is suitable.
In summary
A non-religious funeral service centres on the life lived, not liturgy—simple, sincere, and shaped around stories, music, and moments that feel true. With the right venue, a steady lead voice, and a clear running order, you can create a fitting goodbye now or later after a direct cremation. If you’d like a dignified unattended cremation with caring support and flexible ashes options, we’re here to help: Go Direct Cremations.