Preparing for Your Funeral Pre-planning Appointment

A pre-plan should not be a transactional purchase of a one-size-fits-all policy. A meaningful, personalized pre-plan requires a collaborative session to uncover the details that make you, you, and develop a plan uniquely suited to your personality and preferences. 

At Prelude, we make this process as easy as possible with guided questions, tailored plan recommendations and professional pre-planners who listen to you and advocate for your family's future. However, there are a few things you’ll need to do at your appointment that are crucial to creating a meaningful, supportive pre-plan. 

5 Things to Consider When Preparing for Your Pre-planning Appointment

You only pre-plan your funeral once, so it can be intimidating walking into an appointment with no previous experience or know-how for pre-planning your funeral. Below are a few things to mull over  before your appointment so you arrive ready to discuss your preferences with a pre-planning counselor and make decisions on the details with confidence.

1. Support and Protection 

One of the biggest benefits of pre-planning is the weight it lifts off the shoulders of your loved ones, who no longer have to put their grief on hold to make hundreds of funeral decisions. Instead, they can focus on healing and fully experiencing the closure a well-planned funeral provides. Before your pre-planning appointment, consider how you want your plan to safeguard and support your loved ones in your absence.

For example, are you hoping to save your loved ones from expenses? Are you more concerned that there are clear directives around the religious rituals included? Or maybe you just want your spouse to be free of any planning details in that moment of loss. Whatever is most important to you, you pre-planning counselor will help you tailor your pre-plan to prioritize your top protection concerns.

2. Identifying Impact 

Before you begin pre-planning, take inventory of the people who will be affected by your passing. Think beyond your immediate circle of family, considering the friends who have been pillars in your life as you have been in theirs. Then, reflect on who will be most affected by your passing and what their needs may be.

Do you have children who have leaned on your support more than others throughout the years? Perhaps you have a dear friend who will need extra kindness and care extended to them in that moment. Keep that person in mind as you pre-plan; your pre-planning counselor can help you include details that uplift those individuals closest to you.

3. Life Reflections 

A funeral that captures your life and the beautiful memories within it will help your loved ones come to terms with their loss and celebrate the life and memories they were able to share with you.  Ahead of your appointment, recall significant moments, achievements, and people who have shaped your life, as these insights will guide your pre-planning discussions.

The people, hobbies, and things you have loved throughout your life are what make your story unique. We design our pre-planning sessions to excavate those moments that add color and heart to your memorial, but it’s helpful to have a few things in mind.

4. Budgetary Boundaries

An important part of affirming the intentions behind your funeral pre-plan is pre-paying. The psychology of grief is such that when an important person in our life is no longer with us, we begin to question other elements of our realities — even written funeral wishes, e.g., “Is that really what mom wanted? She told me once that she’d briefly considered something different.”

Pre-paying ensures that your thoughtful, detailed plan is executed on your behalf and assures your loved ones that you were committed to the plan you carefully crafted. To make pre-paying for your pre-plan easy, most providers offer simple payment plans.  Before your appointment, determine your financial parameters, so that you can finalize your plan with confidence.

5. Involving Others 

By getting loved ones involved in pre-planning in a way that’s intentional and predetermined — not stressful and unexpected — you can create a special moment and memory for loved ones you leave behind. Consider if there are additional family members or trusted individuals who should be part of the planning process before final decisions are made. 

Perhaps your spouse or partner will have a big impact on the way you design your pre-plan, or maybe you would like to involve a loved one or executor while planning, so they feel even more prepared when the time comes. An experienced pre-planning counselor can facilitate appointments with multiple guests or planners if you feel more comfortable having a support system with you.

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What to Expect During Your Pre-planning Appointment

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about the considerations involved in a pre-planning appointment, rest assured that a worthwhile pre-planning  process is simple and personal to you. Experienced planners can walk you step-by-step through the process and offer guidance if you have questions or uncertainties. 

At Prelude, our pre-planning appointments include the following steps to create a meaningful and personalized pre-plan:

Excavating Your Personality and Priorities

We kick off by delving into what matters most to you. By understanding your family dynamics, personal values, hopes, and fears, we lay the foundation for a plan that resonates with your unique situation. 

We then explore what brings you joy, who you cherish, and what fuels your passions. This journey of self-reflection helps us imagine and design a plan that authentically reflects who you are.

Designing the Details of Your Tribute

From visitation preferences to final resting places and ceremonies, we discuss the finer details that will shape your plan, ensuring it aligns perfectly with your wishes. With your input, we create a customized roadmap for the future. Through iterative discussions and refinements, we fine-tune the plan until it embodies your vision completely.

Capturing and Sharing Your Unique Wishes

When you’ve completed your plan, we present you with a draft of a heartfelt message to your family, crafted from the insights gathered during our conversation. It serves as a testament to your love and care for them and provides detailed direction for what’s covered when the time comes.

There’s no need to find the perfect words. We write this letter on your behalf and personalize it with all the details we uncover throughout your appointment, so your love and support shines through when your loved ones read it.

Securing Your Investment in a Pre-plan

We provide transparency on the costs involved in your pre-plan and offer flexible payment options to ensure your priorities are met without straining your finances. Whether you pay up front or through a monthly payment plan, we back your pre-plan with an insurance policy that locks in the tribute elements you’ve carefully crafted and shows your loved ones the intent behind each detail.

Conclusion 

At Prelude, our pre-planning meetings are not about preparing for the end, but rather about securing a future filled with love, dignity, and healing for your loved ones. It's a journey we embark on together, with your family's best interests at heart every step of the way.