Secular and Humanist Funerals: What They Are and How to Plan One

A secular funeral is a ceremony with no religious content: no prayers, scripture or talk of an afterlife. A humanist funeral is a particular kind of secular funeral, usually led by a trained celebrant, that centers on the life the person lived and the people they loved. Both can be held almost anywhere, with the body present, after a cremation or burial, or as a later gathering.

Secular, humanist, atheist and celebration of life: what do the words mean?

People use these terms loosely, and funeral homes may not use them the same way. This is how they are most often used.

You do not have to pick a label. What matters is telling the funeral home and whoever leads the service exactly what to leave out and what to include.

Who chooses a non-religious funeral?

Pew Research Center's 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study found that 30% of US adults are religiously unaffiliated: 5% atheist, 6% agnostic and 19% "nothing in particular." Many of those people still want a meaningful farewell, and plenty of religious families want a service that does not follow one faith's liturgy, for example when mourners come from several traditions.

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) also reports that 58.3% of consumers have attended a funeral at a non-traditional location, and 61.4% are interested in green funeral options. Both point the same way: families are asking for ceremonies that fit the person rather than a set format.

What happens at a secular or humanist funeral?

There is no required format, but most follow a simple shape. A typical order of service looks like this:

1. Gathering music. A song the person loved, played as guests arrive.
2. Welcome. The celebrant or host explains what the ceremony will be like and acknowledges the loss.
3. Life story or tribute. A eulogy that covers the person's life, work, passions and relationships, often written with the family. See our eulogy delivery tips.
4. Shared memories. A few chosen speakers, or short stories from guests.
5. Readings or poems. Literature, poetry or a favorite passage from a book or letter.
6. A moment of reflection. Silence or quiet music. This is where religious guests can pray privately.
7. Closing words and a symbolic act. Lighting a candle, planting a seed, raising a glass or a committal if the body is present.
8. Exit music.

Many services run roughly 30 to 60 minutes, which is a planning suggestion rather than a rule. Shorter services with fewer speakers usually hold guests' attention best. Our funeral service order template and opening words for a funeral give you wording to start from.

Who leads the service?

You have several options:

• A humanist celebrant. The Humanist Society, part of the American Humanist Association, credentials celebrants and keeps a directory of them across the US. Other independent celebrants and officiants also lead non-religious funerals. See what a funeral celebrant does and our guide to humanist funeral celebrants.
• A friend or family member. This works well for small, informal gatherings, especially when someone can speak comfortably in front of a group.
• Funeral home staff. Many funeral homes will host a non-religious service. If you want a fully secular feel, ask to see any printed materials first, and ask who will speak.

Celebrants set their own fees, so ask for a quote and what it covers, such as meetings with the family and writing the script. It also helps to meet two or three before you choose.

Where and when can you hold it?

The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) says that services held after burial or cremation do not need to take place at a funeral home. It lists options such as a home, park, club, hotel and community center. If you use a public space, check for permit rules or group-size limits.

Timing depends on what happens to the body:

• If the body is present, the funeral is usually within days to a couple of weeks, depending on the funeral home, cemetery and family travel.
• If you choose direct cremation first, there is no set deadline for a gathering afterward. Many families wait until relatives can travel or pick a meaningful date such as a birthday. The FTC describes direct cremation as cremation shortly after death without embalming or a viewing. A gathering can follow whenever you are ready. See what is direct cremation.

You still need a funeral home, or in some cases the family, to handle care of the body, the death certificate and permits. The FCA says that in most states a family can handle a death without hiring a funeral director, but nine states require one. Check your state's rules.

What does a secular funeral cost?

The ceremony does not set the price. The bill is made up of the funeral home's charges, the cremation or burial, and any extras such as a venue, celebrant, printing or food. Total prices vary widely by funeral home and state, and a funeral with a viewing and burial generally costs more than direct cremation, which has no viewing or visitation.

You can keep costs down by:

• Asking the funeral home for its General Price List. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, it must give you a copy, and it must quote prices by phone. The list has to itemize items such as embalming, viewing facilities and memorial service facilities, so you can decline what you do not want. See general price lists.
• Holding the ceremony at a home, park or community space rather than paying for funeral home facilities.
• Choosing a simpler disposition. Our guides on direct cremation costs and funeral costs in the US show how prices break down.

Burial, cremation and greener options

A secular ceremony works with any form of disposition. Many non-religious families choose cremation, and some look at green options:

• Green or natural burial, without embalming, in a biodegradable container. See our green burial guide.
• Human composting (natural organic reduction). Legal only in some states. Check where human composting is legal before you plan on it.
• Water cremation (aquamation). Also not available everywhere. See aquamation vs cremation.

Put your wishes in writing

Under stress, families sometimes fall back on tradition, and the people who control the funeral arrangements are set by state law, not by what the person preferred. If you want a non-religious service, write it down and tell the people most likely to make the decisions. Include who you would like to lead the ceremony, any music or readings, and whether you want a headstone or marker.

Veterans can choose an emblem of belief for a government headstone or marker. The VA's list includes an Atheist emblem and a Humanist Emblem of Spirit. For other ways to record your wishes, see pre-planning FAQs and our guide to an advance healthcare directive.

A simple plan for arranging one

1. Call a funeral home to arrange care of the body and ask whether they will host a non-religious service. Ask for the General Price List.
2. Decide on burial or cremation. This sets much of the timeline.
3. Choose who will lead. Interview a celebrant or ask a friend.
4. Meet with the leader. Share stories, photos and the person's values so the tribute sounds like them.
5. Pick music, readings and speakers. Keep the number of speakers small.
6. Confirm the venue, including permits, seating, sound and accessibility.
7. Tell guests what to expect, including the dress code and whether the service will be livestreamed.

Our funeral planning timeline lays out each step by day.