The arrangement conference is your family’s opportunity to meet with a licensed funeral director (or funeral arranger) and discuss your service options. Your family’s funeral director will take the time to answer your questions, learn more about your life and share the choices available for memorialization.

Whether your family decides to plan a traditional funeral service or a more informal gathering, the funeral director will guide your family through the planning process. Items discussed will include the venue, merchandise, music, published tribute, final resting place and any financial concerns. 

Whether you are preplanning for yourself or a loved one, it is recommended you include other family members in the discussion. You will undoubtedly have opinions about the type of service you would like to have; however, keep in mind loved ones will have thoughts and ideas as well. The funeral is the opportunity for surviving loved ones to mourn, reflect and begin the grieving process and they may have special requests that will assist them in doing that. Have an open mind and trust your funeral director to help guide you through the discussion.

The arrangement conference may occur at the funeral home or the funeral director may come to your home. While it is nice to have an in-person discussion and tour the funeral home, especially if that is where the service will be held, you can also make arrangements by phone or email. Some funeral homes offer online arrangement conferencing.

An arrangement conference can be as brief as a half hour or as long as several hours. The length depends on a variety of factors, including the number of details involved in the service and the decisions you are prepared to make at the time.