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Two Together: Save £100!
Save £100 when you purchase two funeral plans together. Call us for more details.
Two Together: Save £100!
Save £100 when you purchase two funeral plans together. Call us for more details.
Funeral tastes are changing in the UK, and have been for a while. Fewer and fewer of us are taking the traditional format for granted, instead looking for something with less fuss, and more flexibility. Cost is also a big factor in our decision making these days. In this article we are going to take a look at the concept of “cremation only funerals”, asking what it is, why we might choose one, and how much they cost, among other things.
We’d also just like to say, whatever has brought you here, we are here to help. If you’re looking for more information because you suddenly find yourself needing to arrange the funeral of a loved one who has very recently passed away, allow us to acknowledge straight away that we recognise the possible hardship of your situation. Likewise, if you are simply looking for more information as you look to the future and plan your own funeral, Aura is also here to help.
Key Takeaways
A cremation without a funeral, also known as a ‘direct cremation’, is a type of end-of-life ceremony that occurs without any mourners present. With Aura, the body of the person who has died is brought to a crematorium in a private ambulance from where they are resting. Then, after a staff member at the crematorium speaks a few words out of respect to the person who has died, they are cremated.
A no-funeral cremation is a form of ceremony which is growing in popularity across the UK. Its growth is down to three important reasons:
Our changed funeral tastes mean that more and more people are looking for alternatives to the standard, traditional funeral options. So why would anyone choose this option?
There are great advantages available to you if you opt for a cremation only funeral. To name just two, you could make great financial savings, and organise something that is more true to you.
Funeral costs are at the forefront of people’s minds when they are organising a ceremony, either for themselves or for their loved ones. And with the SunLife suggesting that the average cost of a funeral in the UK last year was £4,285, it’s easy to see why.
By contrast, Aura’s funeral plans start at £1,695, and our more immediate services start at £1,195. In either case, this is less than half the SunLife average.
Traditional funerals often have lots of additional extras that push up the final price. These include floral tributes (between £40-£400); catered wakes (~£467); and limo hire (~£402). The fact that we are able to avoid spending extra money on things like this means that we can spend it on things that might matter more to us, such as an end-of-life celebration.
Another big reason people opt for a direct cremation is that it gives them the freedom to take care of their own send off their way.
We all have different beliefs on death and funeral, whether religious or cultural. Some of us don’t feel comfortable with the typical formalities of traditional funerals, like hearses and pallbearers. Instead, lots of us want to take care of the mandatory stuff as concisely as possible. This would leave open the possibility of a proper celebration of life later down the line that truly does the memory of the person who has died justice.
So a direct cremation could not only suit those who don’t like to be the centre of attention, as we don’t have to put anyone to any hassle or inconvenience on our behalf. But we could also put our own stamp on things and be remembered in our own way.
With Aura, you could secure a direct cremation at the point of need from £1,195, and a prepaid funeral plan from £1,695, with options to include attendees and expand in either case. When you buy one of our funeral plans, you are locking in today’s prices, as we place your money into our secure, independently managed trust until the day it is needed. That goes even if it’s decades down the line.
No matter how expensive funerals get in the future, yours will only ever cost the price that you paid when you bought your plan. This gives your family peace of mind knowing that everything is taken care of ahead of time. They don’t need to worry about forking out thousands of pounds at short notice to arrange your funeral from scratch whilst they are grieving your loss.
Given that the cost of funerals (according to SunLife) has increased by 126% in the last 20 years, this is a valuable benefit.
With Aura, you absolutely can. Our simplest prepaid direct cremation plan is exactly that: a cremation without a funeral or any mourners present.
With that said, we are proud of the flexibility of our plans. If you purchase one of our prepaid cremation plans without a funeral, but then later decide that you would like to have friends and family present after all, you can easily make this amendment. You can even cancel at no cost for any reason, and we will provide you with a full refund.
We will never penalise you with admin fees for needing to make changes, as we know that life can often come along and throw a spanner in the works. You will only ever need to pay the difference between plans if you are upgrading from a smaller to a larger one, but we won’t charge any administration fees.
The main difference between the two is that a direct cremation typically doesn’t have any mourners present, where a traditional funeral would. Tastes have changed in the UK, meaning that a larger number of people are looking for alternative funerals than ever before. Direct cremation is a versatile kind of funeral, as it suits a range of different personalities.
It works for those who would prefer not to be in the limelight, letting them depart this life through the back door, so to speak.
It suits those who want to make things more about their own lives and experiences, as the format can be tailored more extensively than a religious funeral.
It also frees those who are uncomfortable with the solemn formality associated with tradition, as direct cremation funerals don’t normally include things like hearses, pallbearers, funeral processions or formal tributes.
Aura has a range of different cremation choices that you could make, which are available for both prepaid cremation plans, and funerals needed in the here and now:
We hope this article about cremation only funerals has helped you and answered a few important questions for you. Aura is the top-rated national ‘Cremation Services’ provider on Trustpilot, with a score of 4.9/5 stars. We have the expertise to help you whether your needs are pressing, or something for the future.
Our wonderful Aura Angels offer an industry-leading level of compassion in their work, providing the families in Aura’s care with emotional, administrative and logistical support. They will be there to guide you or your family through the many different, challenging aspects of funeral arranging at a difficult time.
If you’d like to learn more cremation only funerals, and about how Aura could help you with your funeral needs, why not download our funeral plan brochure today?
Our brochure includes all the details you need surrounding our prepaid direct cremation funeral plans.
Get your free brochure sent by email or First Class post by clicking on the link below.
