7 Affordable Alternatives to a Traditional Funeral

Traditional funerals and burials can be expensive, formal, and rigid. But they are no longer the only options on the block. Numerous affordable, non-traditional alternatives to traditional funerals are offered by providers of cremation services in Portland, ME. Here are some of them: 

Direct Cremation 

Direct cremation, also known as simple cremation, is the least expensive alternative. The body is cremated without services or ceremonies, and the ashes are returned to the family. 

This also means no embalming, expensive casket, or burial plot purchase. That’s why direct cremation costs less than half the price of an average traditional funeral. 

Cremation with a Memorial Service 

This option is similar to direct cremation, except a memorial service is held after the body is cremated. The memorial service can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. 

Cremation with a memorial service is also flexible. You can hold the service at home or somewhere meaningful to you or the deceased person. 

Natural Burial 

Don’t want to cremate the body? A natural burial is an affordable alternative. This option involves burying the body in a green cemetery. 

Embalming is unnecessary; the body is placed in a biodegradable casket or shroud. A natural burial also doesn’t require a burial vault, allowing for natural, unrestricted decomposition. 

Tree Planting Ceremony 

After cremation or natural burial, it’s normal to want a service or ceremony to honor your loved one. Tree planting ceremonies are becoming more popular with people who want to commemorate the life of their loved ones in a more meaningful way. The deceased’s ashes are spread under a tree or mixed with the soil of a freshly planted tree. 

Ash Scattering Ceremony 

Another affordable way to honor a loved one’s memory is scattering their ashes somewhere meaningful to them. It can be any of their favorite places, such as a beach, forest, or park. 

You can have the ash scattering ceremony alone or include family and friends with activities celebrating the deceased. 

Celebration of Life 

These are usually themed memorial services with a lively atmosphere. It can be small and intimate or elaborate with members of the community. 

The theme is usually based on the deceased person’s passions, and the service is very flexible. It can be fancy or basic, depending on your budget and tastes. 

Birthday or Anniversary Memorials 

Instead of celebrating the deceased’s birthday, you can have a memorial service on the same date. Birthday and anniversary memorials are usually simple and intimate, with family and close friends. 

This is especially meaningful if the deceased has passed away on their birthday or anniversary. But it also works if they didn’t. You can skip the funeral and push the memorial service date to their actual birthday or anniversary, adding an extra layer of meaning to the day. 

These traditional funeral alternatives will help you celebrate your loved one in a way that keeps you financially healthy without betraying their memory. 

Ready to get started? We offer affordable cremation services in Portland, ME. Our funeral home staff can also help you arrange a memorial in whatever form you desire. Call us now to set up an appointment with our funeral director.