What are Some Ways to Personalize the Funeral Procession to the Cemetery?

When a funeral moves from the site of the memorial service to the site of the burial, it’s often necessary for mourners to pile into their vehicles and do a bit of traveling. This is what’s known as the funeral procession, and it’s an important part of traditional funeral services. In fact, there are even some customs and traditions concerning what order the vehicles go in.

You don’t have to adhere to such traditions if you don’t want to, of course, and even if you value the customs regarding the funeral procession, there are still some ways in which you can personalize it.

One simple option is to provide funeral attendees with some floral arrangements they can add to their vehicles—fastening them to the mirrors or the hood of the car. These can be a subtle way of distinguishing the cars in your funeral procession.

You can also consider the option of enlisting a special vehicle to lead the procession. For example, in more agrarian communities, the funeral procession is sometimes led by a horse or even a tractor. In a more metropolitan or suburban setting, a horse-drawn carriage can sometimes be employed. Fire trucks are sometimes chosen to lead the procession, and even something like a beloved fishing boat, when placed on a trailer, can be part of the lineup. And if your loved one was a bike enthusiast, motorcycle hearses are a popular option.

If geography permits, you might even direct the funeral procession on a brief, scenic detour—perhaps near a park, green area, or historic building that held some importance for the deceased.

There are a number of ways in which you can make the procession feel more personal. For some additional ideas, don’t hesitate to ask your funeral director, who will be happy to help however possible.