A funeral should reflect the life, loves and personality of the deceased, so it’s little wonder that personalised funerals are becoming ever more popular. More customised coffins are leaving our workshops than ever before.
Alongside personal touches such as home grown flowers or scented candles, it isn’t that uncommon these days for a funeral to be based around a theme. At least one UK Funeral Director has dressed up as Darth Vader to lead a funeral cortege!
Personalised willow coffins
Our weavers have been making beautiful bespoke coffins for over a decade. Willow coffins are certainly gaining in popularity – they are eco-friendly, sustainable and beautiful to look at, (yes, we’re biased but what’s not to like?). An increasing number of our customers are choosing to design a willow coffin and incorporate additional personal touches to great effect.
These personal touches can vary enormously. Coffins in all different shapes, sizes and colours have been made here.
Many more families and loved ones are also arranging to visit us to help weave the chosen coffin. While here, family often take the time to make willow keepsakes or additional pieces which can be tied to the coffin. Our skilled weavers have made all sorts of sporting paraphernalia out of willow; tennis rackets, golf clubs and even bikes! Fishing rods, climbing ropes and snooker cues have all been incorporated into coffin designs.
All these touches helped to turn the coffin into something very personal.
All things bright and beautiful
One of the beauties of willow is that it can be dyed. Only non-toxic dyes are used here, but that doesn’t restrict our colour palette. Coffin designs have ranged from the inclusion of a thin coloured band to a full on rainbow.
And the colour needn’t stop with the coffin. Our linings can also be dyed to striking effect. As all our linings are made on site, specialist requests can usually be accommodated. One family asked if some favourite T-shirts could be used to make the coffin lining. The end result was a fabulous, customised coffin with an incredible, one-off lining. These touches all helped to make for a really personalised funeral.
Personalised funerals – Ashes caskets
Specific colours can also be incorporated into the design of an oval, square or rectangular willow ashes casket. The colour(s) can match those chosen for the coffin.
And why shouldn’t the shape or design of a coffin plaque be personalised as well? Our laser engraver enables us to produce a wide range of wooden name plaques and keepsakes. All these touches make such a difference to family and friends.
A Viking send-off
While our weavers have made several boat shaped coffins for customers, a recent request for advice was certainly something out of the ordinary. A family was keen to build a Viking ship out of willow to help commemorate the life of their son. The ship would form part of a unique festival, ‘Fest-a-Bill’ (which subsequently raised around £20,000 for charity). It had to look spectacular (it certainly did) and combust well. Hundreds gathered to watch the finished piece burn. It was a truly incredible sight.
“We wanted to say a massive thank you for all your help and knowledge with our Viking ship and for being part of Fest A Bill.”
Best wishes and love from Jan, Sarah & Meg
Personalised Funerals – Design your coffin
We all make personal choices through the vast majority of our lives, so why, at the end of it, should this be any different? If you don’t fancy a bog-standard, brown wood coffin, act now. Make sure you discuss your funeral wishes with loved one’s and keep specific information about your choice of coffin with other important personal papers. And if you fancy a beautiful, bespoke, eco-friendly option, we know just the place to come…
