Order of Service
Order of service printing in Tooting for funerals, weddings and memorials. Booklets laid out free of charge, with a proof and short-notice help.
- No design yet? We set up the artwork free of charge when we print the job.
- Tight deadline? Same-day printing is possible on many jobs if your file is ready early. Call to check first.
- Can't get here? Collect from Gatton Road, or have it delivered in the UK for a quoted charge.
Order of service printing in Tooting
An order of service guides guests through a funeral, memorial, wedding or christening. For a funeral, it is often also a keepsake that people hold on to for years. We print and fold them on Gatton Road, usually in small runs, and we understand that time is often short. If you do not have a design, we will lay out your wording and photographs free of charge when we print and send you a proof to check.
Funeral order of service
Most families choose a booklet with a photograph on the front, and the name and dates of the person who has died. Inside are the details of the service, with space for hymn or song lyrics, readings and a short tribute. The back often has a thank-you message, details about donations and an invitation to the wake.
A typical funeral order of service includes:
- Front cover: photo, full name, dates of birth and death, and the place and date of the service.
- Entrance music and a welcome from the minister or celebrant.
- Readings, poems and hymns, with words for anything that guests will sing or say.
- Eulogy or tribute, with the name of the speaker.
- Committal or a moment of reflection.
- Closing music, and an invitation to the gathering afterwards.
- Back cover: a thank-you note, donation details and a final photograph.
Your funeral director, minister or celebrant will help you to confirm the running order. For more ideas, see our guide on what to include in an order of service. Check hymn and song words carefully, and keep to the version your church or crematorium will use. If you reproduce song lyrics or modern hymns, ask your venue about copyright licences, which they often hold.
Wedding order of service
A wedding order of service tells guests who is in the wedding party, what happens and when, and what to sing. It usually includes the couple's names, the date and venue, the names of the wedding party, the processional music, readings, vows, hymns, the signing of the register and the recessional. Some couples add a note on photography and a message of thanks. We can match the design to your wedding invitations. A church wedding has different requirements from a civil one, so please check the running order with your officiant.
Size, paper and pages
A5 is the usual size. It is a single A4 sheet folded in half for four pages, or more sheets stapled for longer services. Longer services with many hymns usually need 8 or 12 pages. Page counts for stapled booklets must be a multiple of four. Choose a silk paper of around 150 to 170gsm for photos, or an uncoated paper for a softer, more traditional feel. A heavier cover makes a booklet stand out, and helps it survive being handled and kept.
How many should you print?
Think about how many people may come, then add around 10 to 20%. Funerals can be bigger than expected, and people may want to take a copy home for those who could not attend. As a rule, households sometimes share one, but it is usually better to have some left over than to run out on the day. A few extras are also useful as keepsakes for the family.
Using photographs
Use the best photo you have, and send the original if you can. Old printed photos can be scanned, so bring them in and we will take care of them. Our scanning service gives you a digital copy, although very small or blurry pictures have limits. Black and white can work well if photos are from different decades or are of mixed quality.
How quickly can you print an order of service?
Funeral dates often come at short notice. Once you have approved the proof, simple orders of service can often be printed quickly, and same-day printing may be possible if you get in touch early. Please phone 020 8133 4499 with the date and number of copies, and we will tell you honestly what can be done. Please leave a little time for checking. It helps to ask someone who is less close to the situation to read through the proof for names, dates and spelling.
If you need other items for the day, we can also print memorial bookmarks, memorial cards and photo boards using the same photo and design. Later on, we can also supply thank you cards.
Questions we hear about order of service
How quickly can you print an order of service?
Often very quickly once the proof is approved, and same-day may be possible if you get in touch early. Call 020 8133 4499 with your date and how many you need.
What should a funeral order of service include?
Usually a photo and name on the cover, then the music, readings, hymns, tribute and closing details, with a thank-you and donation details on the back.
How many orders of service should I print?
Think about how many people may attend and add 10 to 20%. Attendance can be higher than expected, and people often keep a copy.
Can you design it for me?
Yes. Send us the details and a photo, and we will lay it out free of charge when we print. You will see a proof before anything is printed.
Can you print from an old photograph?
Yes. Bring it in and we can scan it. Larger, sharper originals give better results.
What size is an order of service?
Usually A5, which is A4 folded in half. Longer services may need 8 or 12 pages.