How to proof and check your funeral order of service before printing

1) Start with the essentials: people, places and timings

Work from the front cover inward. Read every line out loud, then scan again silently—one slow pass for spelling and punctuation, another for factual details.

Front cover checks

• Name of the deceased
• Confirm spelling of first name(s), middle name(s) and surname.
• Check preferred name versus legal name if both appear.
• Ensure accents, hyphens and apostrophes are correct (e.g., O’Connor, AnneMarie).
• Life dates
• Use a consistent style, e.g., “12 March 1942 – 9 October 2025.”
• Prefer an en-dash (–) rather than a hyphen (-) between dates.
• If including age, double-check the calculation.
• Service details
• Date and day of week (they must match): e.g., “Tuesday, 2 December 2025.”
• Time (include am/pm consistently).
• Venue name, full address, and postcode.
• Officiant’s name and title (e.g., The Revd Sarah Jones; Civil Celebrant Daniel Cole).
• Cover photo (if used)
• Is the image high-resolution and in focus?
• Is any part of the face near the trim edge?
• If colour, does it print naturally (no heavy filters)?

Inside pages: running order

• Order matches the officiant’s script
• Gather the current script from your minister or celebrant and place it beside your proof.
• Step through item by item: entry music, welcome, opening words, hymns/poems/readings, eulogy/tributes, prayers or quiet reflection, commendation/committal, blessing/closing, exit music.
• Mark any variations and update the booklet to match the actual service flow.
• Names and roles
• Spelling for people giving readings or tributes.
• Correct titles or relationships (e.g., “granddaughter”, “best friend”).
• Choirs, organists, pallbearers—check each name carefully.
• Music, hymns and readings
• Verify exact titles and correct verse order.
• Keep line breaks where congregation will breathe; don’t split verses across pages.
• For Bible readings, check book, chapter, and verse (e.g., John 14:1–6).
• Thanks, donations and reception
• Donation information: charity name, web URL or QR code, and any Gift Aid note.
• Reception/wake details: time, venue, directions or a short sentence like “All are warmly invited.”
• Short thank-you message to attendees, carers or the venue (optional).

Language and consistency

• Consistency sweep
• Programme vs. program: use programme (British English).
• Capitalisation (e.g., Hymn titles in Title Case, readings in Sentence case).
• Quotation marks, apostrophes (curly vs. straight), bullet styles and spacing.
• Sensitive phrasing
• Prefer calm, clear language; avoid euphemisms that might confuse.
• Keep tone consistent across contributors.

2) Page order, layout and images: a technical checklist

Whether you’ve chosen a folded 4-page card or a stapled booklet with 8, 12 or 16 pages (A5 portrait), the layout must be tidy and readable. Use this sequence to spot issues before print:

Pagination and imposition

• Multiples of four
• Booklets print in 4-page increments; confirm your total is 4, 8, 12 or 16.
• If you add or remove content, recheck page count and the front/back pairing.
• Logical flow and page transitions
• No orphan headings at the bottom of a page.
• Ensure a hymn or reading does not start on one page and finish two pages later—keep sections together where possible.
• Front cover inside front inner pages inside back back cover.

Typography and readability

• Fonts and sizes
• Body text should be easily readable for older eyes (often 11–12 pt).
• Check alignment: centred headings, left-aligned verses and readings usually read best.
• Avoid long lines; generous line spacing prevents crowding.
• Widows, orphans and hyphenation
• Adjust line breaks to avoid single words left on a line by themselves.
• If hyphenation appears odd, insert a manual line break before a clean phrase.

Images and placement

• Image quality
• Use original, high-resolution photos (phone images usually suffice if not heavily cropped).
• Avoid placing faces close to edges, the booklet spine, or over busy backgrounds.
• Cropping and frames
• Ensure hands, shoulders or hats aren’t cropped awkwardly.
• Keep any frames or borders consistent across images and pages.
• Colour and black-and-white
• If mixing colour and black-and-white, do so intentionally and keep balance across pages.
• Watch for overly dark images; lift brightness if details are lost.

Graphics, QR codes and icons

• QR codes

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• Test them from the on-screen proof: point a phone camera at the screen to ensure they resolve correctly.
• Keep at least 10–12 mm clear space around a code.
• Icons, lines and decorative motifs
• Use consistently (size, line weight).
• Check nothing overlaps text at smaller sizes.

Proofing the final PDF

• Zoom levels
• Check at 100% (actual size) for overall flow, then zoom to 200% for micro-typos.
• Print a home copy if possible; errors are easier to spot on paper.
• Cover and back cover
• Confirm any back-cover poem, photo, or dedication is complete and centred.
• If including a collage, keep spacing equal and edges aligned.

If you’re still choosing a look, explore our traditional order of service templates, our picture-led photo-collage designs, gentle floral styles, and clean, modern simple templates—then come back to this checklist to proof your chosen design.

3) Best practice before you press “Print”

1. Read the downloadable proof slowly—twice

Your online editor will generate a downloadable proof PDF. Read it all the way through, then take a short break and read it again. The second pass almost always finds something small.

2. Share for a fresh set of eyes

Ask one or two close relatives or the officiant to review. Give them specific jobs: one person checks names and dates; another checks hymns, readings and page breaks; the officiant checks the running order.

3. Cross-check with the order of service on the day

If plans change (a verse added, a reading swapped), update the booklet immediately so it mirrors the service. The congregation will follow your booklet; accuracy matters more than embellishment.

4. Consider a printed sample

For extra peace of mind, order a printed sample (available from £3.49). It’s the most reliable way to check colour, photo clarity and paper feel before committing to the full print run.

5. Paper and format choices (sanity check)

• Formats: folded 4-page card, or stapled/saddle-stitched booklets of 8, 12 or 16 pages.
• Paper options: choose between smooth brilliant-white stocks and lightly textured off-white options.
  Confirm you’ve selected the intended combination before checkout.

6. Timing and production

If time is tight, an express 1–2 working-day turnaround is available (subject to a weekday cutoff). Build in time for proofing and reviewer feedback before that cutoff.

7. Digital copies for remote guests

Alongside printed booklets, a high-resolution PDF is available to share by email or messaging—helpful for overseas relatives or anyone joining remotely.

8. Sustainability and recycling

All papers are FSC-certified and recyclable. If sustainability is important to you or the person you’re honouring, you can also opt for micro carbon-offsetting at checkout.

9. Final verification list

• Names, dates and titles match official records or family preference.
• Day/date/time/venue are all correct.
• Hymns and readings have correct titles, verses and line breaks.
• Page count is correct (4/8/12/16) and sections flow logically.
• Photos print clearly and are positioned away from trims and the fold.
• Thanks, donations and reception details are present and accurate.
• QR codes scan.
• You’ve saved/approved the latest proof file.

If you haven’t started designing yet, you can begin with our broad collection of funeral order of service designs, including classic styles, floral programmes, photo-collage layouts and minimalist options—all editable online in minutes.