If you need to plan a funeral memorial service for a deceased family member or loved one, there are numerous factors that you'll need to consider. The task of planning such an important event can feel overwhelming, so it helps to break memorial service plans down into the key considerations you'll need to plan for.

The following are seven important considerations when planning a funeral memorial. 

Location

The location of memorial services is a key consideration.  You want to locate the memorial service to maximize attendance. Research a location that will be conveniently located to the largest number of friends and family members of the deceased individual. 

When it comes to a memorial service, location is generally more flexible than it is in the event of a traditional funeral. Memorial services don't include the presence of the body of the deceased. Therefore, they don't have to be held in a funeral home, church, or location to which transportation of the coffin can be arranged. 

Schedule

You need to set up a schedule for the memorial service. This should include a schedule of speakers, music, prayer, or religious text readings as necessary. You might also want to prepare paper programs of the service proceedings to hand out to attendees. 

Time and date

As with location, time and date should be chosen to maximize attendance. This means that it's important to schedule the memorial service on a Saturday or Sunday. Also, it's good to plan a couple weeks out ahead if possible so that those who attend can avoid schedule conflicts. 

Speakers

You need to plan out who will be speaking at the service. Speakers could include a priest, pastor, or other religious leader in the community. Key speakers at the event could also include a child or sibling of the deceased. Try to think of individuals you can ask to speak who were especially inspired by the life and accomplishments of the deceased. 

Costs

Keep an eye on the total costs of the memorial service. Make sure that any funds allocated from a life insurance payment or estate for the deceased individual are adequate to cover the costs.

Public announcement

You'll want to put an announcement in a local newspaper to let the public know when and where the memorial service will be held. 

Spreading the word

Putting an announcement or obituary in a local publication might not be enough to get the word out. There may be family members or friends of the deceased individual who are no longer living in the area.

In this case, you'll want to put some effort into reaching out into the network of the deceased individual to spread the word among family members or friends who are no longer living nearby. This can help to increase attendance at the memorial service.