Celebration of Life Program Template: What to Include and How to Format It

What Goes in a Celebration of Life Program

The program is a simple printed document — usually a single sheet folded in half or a tri-fold — that guests hold during the service. It tells them what is happening, who is speaking, and what readings or music to expect. It also becomes a keepsake, so it needs to look and feel intentional.

A standard celebration of life program has four sections:

Front Cover

Keep it clean. The essentials:

• Full name of the deceased
• Date of birth and date of death
• Date and location of the celebration
• A photograph (optional but almost always included)

Some families add a short phrase or quote that the person was known for. One line is enough. If you cannot settle on a quote, leave it blank — a clean cover with just the name and dates is perfectly dignified.

Inside Left: The Life

This panel typically contains a brief biography or personal tribute — 150 to 250 words. It is not the eulogy (that happens live). Think of it as the written version of introducing someone at a dinner party: where they were from, what they did, who they loved, what made them laugh.

Some programs replace the biography with a favourite poem or a passage the person loved. Either works. The point is to give guests something meaningful to read before the service begins or to take home afterwards.

Inside Right: Order of Service

This is the functional section. List each element of the ceremony in chronological order with the name of the person performing it. A typical order of service for a celebration of life:

1. Opening music — Song title, artist
2. Welcome — Officiant or family member name
3. Tribute / Eulogy — Speaker name(s)
4. Reading — Reader name, title of poem or passage
5. Musical interlude — Song title, artist
6. Moment of reflection
7. Closing words — Officiant or family member name
8. Exit music — Song title, artist

If there are multiple speakers, list each one. If there is a slideshow, note when it plays. If there is a specific ritual — lighting candles, planting a tree, releasing petals — include it in the sequence.

Be precise about names and titles. The program is the last document many guests will keep with the deceased's name on it, and a misspelling in it lands badly.

Back Cover

Options for the back panel:

Thank you message. A short note from the family thanking guests for attending and for their support.

Charitable donations. If the family is requesting donations to a specific cause instead of flowers, list the organisation name and how to donate (website URL or address).

Reception details. Where guests should go after the service, whether food will be provided, and any parking or transport information.

A second photograph or quote. Something lighter or more personal than the front cover — the person laughing, or with their family, or doing something they loved.

Layout and Formatting Tips

Paper. Use a heavier stock than standard printer paper — 160gsm to 200gsm. It feels more substantial in the hand and does not crumple during the service.

Font. Choose one readable serif or sans-serif font and use it throughout. Avoid decorative or script fonts for body text — they are hard to read in low light (crematorium chapels are often dim) and on emotional eyes.

Margins. Leave generous margins. A program that looks packed with text feels rushed. White space communicates calm.

Proofreading. Have at least two people check every name, date, and song title before printing. A misspelled name on a funeral program is a mistake people notice and remember.

Print quantity. Print 10% to 15% more than your expected guest count. Some guests take extras for family members who could not attend.

Common Mistakes

Cramming too much text. The program is a guide, not a transcript. The eulogy does not go in the program — it is delivered live. Readings can be listed by title without reproducing the full text.

Forgetting the date of the event. The program should include both the deceased's dates (birth and death) and the date of the celebration. These are sometimes different events weeks apart.

Including only first names for speakers. Use full names. Guests may not know who "Sarah" is, but "Sarah Mitchell, friend since university" gives them context.

Using photos that do not print well. Test your chosen photograph at print resolution before ordering the full run. Phone screenshots, social media downloads, and low-resolution images look blurry on paper.

The Full Planning System

If you are designing a celebration of life program and also coordinating the ceremony, venue, music, and speakers, our Secular Humanist Funeral Guide includes a ceremony-planning worksheet and a printable order-of-service template alongside the rest of the planning system.