Losing someone changes everything. In those first raw days, you’re making decisions about services, flowers, and readings. And somewhere in that fog, you realize guests will need something to hold during the ceremony. Something that guides them through the service and honors who this person was.
That’s where funeral pamphlets come in.
A well-designed pamphlet does more than list the order of service. It becomes a keepsake. People tuck them into Bibles, pin them to bulletin boards, keep them in drawers for years.
This guide walks you through creating custom funeral pamphlets that feel personal and meaningful, whether you’re working with templates, hiring a designer, or looking for affordable options.
What Is a Funeral Pamphlet and Why It Matters
A funeral pamphlet (sometimes called a memorial service pamphlet) is a printed booklet handed to guests as they arrive. It outlines what happens during the service and shares memories of the person who died.
Simple concept. Big impact.
The pamphlet helps attendees follow along. When to stand, when to sit, when the eulogy happens, which hymns you’ll sing. For people unfamiliar with your family’s traditions, it removes confusion.
But here’s what matters more: a funeral program tells a story. Through photos and words, you’re saying “this is who they were.” Not just dates on a timeline, but a person with a laugh that filled rooms and hands that built things.
Some families create printed versions. Others go digital now, sending PDFs or sharing links to virtual memorials. Both work.
What to Include in a Funeral Pamphlet
Most funeral pamphlets follow a familiar structure. You don’t have to reinvent anything here.
Cover Page: Photo of your loved one. Full name. Birth and death dates. Maybe a short phrase that captures something essential about them. Keep it simple.
Order of Service: This is the roadmap. List each part of the ceremony in sequence:
- Welcome and opening prayer
- Hymn: “Amazing Grace”
- Scripture reading: Psalm 23
- Eulogy delivered by daughter Sarah
- Musical tribute
- Closing remarks and benediction
- Recessional
People glance at this throughout the service. Make it clear and easy to scan.
Obituary or Life Story: A few paragraphs about their life. Where they grew up, what they did for work, who they loved, what brought them joy.
Photos: One large portrait on the cover works. Inside, you might include three or four more. Childhood, wedding day, surrounded by grandkids, doing something they loved.
Quotes or Poems: A favorite Bible verse. Lines from a poet they admired. Something they used to say that everyone remembers.
Acknowledgments: Thank the people who helped. The church, the pallbearers, the friend who organized meals. A few sincere sentences.
Back Page: Information about memorial donations if the family requested those instead of flowers. Sometimes a final photo or message.
Types of Funeral Pamphlet Layouts
You’ve got two main options: bi-fold and tri-fold.
Bi-Fold pamphlets: Standard choice. One sheet folded in half, creating four pages. Clean and straightforward. Gives you enough room for the essentials without overwhelming anyone.
Works well when you’re keeping things simple. Short service, condensed obituary, a few photos. Printing costs stay low.
Bi-Fold Program
Multiple Photo Program
Premium Size Program
Tri-Fold Program
Step Program
Thank You Cards
Tri-Fold pamphlets One sheet folded into three panels, giving you six sections to fill. More space means more flexibility. You can include additional photos, longer readings, extended family acknowledgments.
Choose this when you’ve got a lot to say or show. Memorial services that blend multiple traditions. Celebrations of life with decades of photos.
The tri-fold funeral brochure design feels more like a keepsake. The bi-fold feels more like a service bulletin. Neither one is better. Depends on your content and your budget.
Personalized and Custom Funeral Pamphlets
Cookie-cutter memorial service pamphlets feel cold. You can do better without spending a fortune.
Personalization starts with color. Maybe she loved purple. Maybe he spent every weekend on the water and blues feel right. Background images work too. A subtle texture, a field of wildflowers, mountains at sunrise.
Fonts matter more than you’d think. Traditional serif fonts feel formal and respectful. Modern sans-serif fonts feel cleaner, more contemporary. Script fonts add elegance but can be hard to read in small sizes.
Photos go beyond the cover portrait. Did she garden? Show her hands in the soil. Did he coach Little League? Include him with the team. These glimpses into daily life often mean more than formal portraits.
Religious or cultural elements deserve space too. A cross, Star of David, or other symbol. Prayers in the family’s native language. Colors that hold meaning in your tradition.
Think about what they’d want people to take away. The pamphlet should feel like an introduction to someone the guests might not have known completely.
Funeral Pamphlet Templates and Design Ideas
You don’t need to start from scratch. Templates exist for a reason.
Word and Canva both offer funeral pamphlet templates you can customize. Adobe Express has options too. Download one, swap in your photos and text, adjust colors, done.
DIY funeral pamphlet templates save money. You’re looking at maybe fifteen or twenty dollars for a template, then printing costs. Total investment might be fifty to seventy-five dollars for a hundred pamphlets.
Professional design services run higher. Anywhere from a hundred and fifty to five hundred dollars depending on complexity. But you’re getting custom work from someone who knows how to balance text and images.
Funeral brochure design themes to consider:
Modern and Minimalist: Clean lines, lots of white space, simple fonts. One or two photos maximum.
Floral and Garden: Soft watercolor flowers, natural colors, gentle borders. Popular for gardeners and nature lovers.
Traditional and Formal: Classic borders, traditional fonts, muted colors. Religious symbols if appropriate. Feels dignified and timeless.
Faith-Based: Incorporates crosses, verses, religious imagery more prominently. Different versions for different denominations.
Celebration of Life: Brighter colors, multiple photos, less formal language. Fits memorial services that focus on joy and memories.
One practical note about images: use high-resolution photos. Blurry pictures print badly. If you’re scanning old photos, scan at 300 DPI minimum.
A Step-by-Step Guide: On How to Create a Funeral Pamphlet
Here’s how to create custom funeral pamphlets that feel personal.
Pick Your Layout: Bi-fold or tri-fold. Based on how much content you have and your budget. Make this decision first.
Gather Your Materials: Collect photos (high-quality digital files). Write down dates, names, details you need. Draft the obituary if you haven’t already. Get the order of service from whoever’s leading the ceremony.
Write the Content: Start with the order of service. Then the obituary. Then acknowledgments. Save cover text for last. Read everything out loud. Does it sound like your family?
Choose or Create the Design: Download a template, or work with a designer. Insert your photos. Apply your color scheme. Make sure photos aren’t stretched or distorted.
Proofread Everything Twice. Three times. Have someone else read it. Misspelled names in pamphlets haunt families for years. Check dates. Verify middle initials.
Print: Paper quality matters. Standard 80lb cardstock works well. Thick enough to feel substantial, not so thick it won’t fold cleanly. Matte finish looks classic.
Get a proof copy first if you’re printing more than twenty-five. Make sure colors look right, that nothing’s cut off.
Affordable Funeral Pamphlet Options
Funerals cost a lot. The pamphlet doesn’t have to; they can be affordable too.
Use templates for custom funeral pamphlets. Twenty dollars for a template beats two hundred for a professional design.
Print at home if you’ve got a decent printer and time. You can print fifty pamphlets for maybe thirty dollars in paper and ink.
Bulk printing services like online printers or local shops often give discounts for orders over fifty. You might pay sixty cents per pamphlet for twenty-five, but thirty cents each for a hundred.
Simple design cuts costs without cutting meaning. One photo instead of five. Standard fonts instead of fancy ones. White or cream background instead of full-color graphics.
Quick comparison:
DIY Template + Home Print: $40-60 for 100 pamphlets, 1-2 days
Template + Online Printer: $80-120 for 100 pamphlets, 3-5 days
Custom Design + Print Shop: $200-400 for 100 pamphlets, 5-7 days
Affordable doesn’t mean cheap-looking. A well-designed simple pamphlet beats a cluttered expensive one every time.
Funeral Pamphlet Examples and Inspiration
Seeing examples of memorial service pamphlets and funeral brochures might be helpful.
Traditional Church Service: Bi-fold pamphlet. Cover shows formal portrait with full name and dates. Cross watermark in the corner. Inside left: order of service with traditional hymns and Bible readings. Inside right: obituary and family list.
Tone is reverent and formal. Colors are deep burgundy and cream. Classic serif font.
Celebration of Life: Tri-fold pamphlet. Cover has candid photo of him laughing at a family barbecue. Inside panels include six photos from different life stages, favorite quotes, short stories from friends.
Tone is warm and uplifting. Colors are soft blues and greens. Mix of fonts. Feels personal and joyful despite the circumstances.
Military Veteran Service: Bi-fold pamphlet. Cover shows dress uniform photo with American flag design element. Order of service includes military honors ceremony, playing of Taps, flag presentation. Inside lists military service history and medals.
Tone is proud and honorable. Colors are red, white, and blue with restraint. Includes military insignia.
Where to Print or Order Custom Funeral Pamphlets
You’ve got three main printing routes.
Local Print Shops: Walk in with your design file. They’ll print it while you wait or have it ready same day or next day. You can see and feel the paper before committing. Costs usually run higher than online printing but the convenience might be worth it.
Online Printers: Submit your file digitally. They print and ship. Usually takes three to five business days. Prices typically beat local shops, especially for larger quantities. Read reviews carefully though.
Home Printing: Buy cardstock at an office supply store. Print from your computer. Most economical if you’ve got the time and a capable printer. Works fine for smaller services under fifty people.
Quality depends on paper weight and printer capability. Ask for samples before committing to large orders.
Digital and Eco-Friendly Funeral Pamphlets
Not everyone wants paper anymore.
Digital funeral pamphlets and memorial service pamphlets work as PDFs sent via email or text. You can share a link on the funeral home’s website. Create a QR code that guests scan with their phones. The pamphlet appears on their screen instantly.
Benefits are real. No printing costs. No minimum order. Easy to update if details change last minute. People who couldn’t attend in person still get the pamphlet.
Environmental angle matters to some families. Reducing paper waste honors loved ones who cared about conservation.
Drawbacks exist though. Older guests might struggle with technology. Having something physical to hold during the service feels different than looking at a phone screen.
Many families split the difference. Print pamphlets for the service itself. Then share a digital version afterward for those who want to keep or share it.
Final Thoughts
A funeral pamphlet is a small thing in the grand scope of loss. But small things matter during grief.
The pamphlet gives people something to hold. Something to read when words feel impossible. Something to take home that says “this person lived, and their life meant something.”
Whether you choose custom design or a simple template, whether you print a hundred copies or share a PDF, what counts is the care you put into it.
Make it personal. Make it true to who they were. And give yourself grace if it’s not perfect. You’re doing this during one of the hardest times in your life.
Start designing your custom funeral pamphlet today to create a lasting tribute that honors their memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should a funeral pamphlet be?
Standard is 8.5″ x 11″ folded in half (bi-fold) or in thirds (tri-fold). This matches regular printer paper and keeps costs down. Some families use smaller sizes like 5.5″ x 8.5″ for a more booklet feel.
Can I create my own funeral pamphlet at home?
Absolutely. Download a template, add your content and photos, print on cardstock. Most people with basic computer skills can handle it. Takes a few hours but saves money.
What is the difference between a funeral and memorial pamphlet?
Functionally, they’re the same. “Funeral pamphlet” typically refers to services with the body present. “Memorial pamphlet” usually means services held later without the body. The content and design are nearly identical.
How long does it take to print funeral pamphlets?
Local print shops: same day to 48 hours. Online services: 3-5 business days plus shipping. Home printing: a few hours depending on quantity.
Can I include multiple photos and quotes?
Yes. Tri-fold pamphlets give you more space for this. Just don’t overcrowd the pages. Three to five photos usually works better than ten or twelve. Same with quotes. Pick the most meaningful ones.