It seems like the funeral business often holds the best kept secrets. When it comes to choosing your loved ones funeral or memorial announcement, you don’t have to go through the funeral home and pay over $300 for their standard announcements! This article gives ideas for everything from the print at home announcements for the budget conscious to the spare no expense announcement. Print your own announcement that accurately portrays your loved one, instead of an overly expensive standard announcement offered through your funeral home.
MICROSOFT PRINT AT HOME FOR FREE: Microsoft Office has a free downloadable template available. Use their memorial program template to simply insert all information you need for your memorial program. This is a standard simple announcement with no graphics. Available online at the Microsoft Office Website. Print on your own paper. Cost: FREE
DESIGN CUSTOM ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR LESS: VistaPrint.com has four different funeral and memorial templates available to choose from. They even allow you to change the colors, and view your complete order with envelopes before purchasing. Pick the announcement you want to use, insert your information, and they print it and send it to you. The cost is relatively inexpensive. Plan on paying $3.99 for a set of 10 announcements. Matching envelopes are available for an additional cost of $3.99 for a set of 10. Cost: $
IPRINT PUTS YOU IN CONTROL: iPrint lets you be in control of the type of announcement you want, then they print and send them for you. Choose from traditional announcements with your choice of 13 different ink colors and flat or raised ink. Prices start at $49 for a set of 100 and come with matching envelopes. Or choose their full color announcements. Upload your own photo or graphics, and choose from hundreds of different designs. Prices start at $11 for a set of 10 and come with matching envelopes. Cost: $-$$
DESIGN AND PRINT YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME: The announcements from Family Heritage make it easy to download and print your announcements from home. Using Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher you can download and print their templates for funeral service booklets, memorial bookmarks, memorial and funeral service program brochures, memorial cards and folders, and thank you notes. Available for immediate download or by CD these templates will cost approximately $65 for the complete set if you choose to use Microsoft Word, and $125 if you choose Microsoft Publisher. Cost: $$
PRINT AT HOME OR HAVE IT PRINTED FOR YOU: Artistry in Print offers a wonderful package for those wanting freedom and flexibility in designing their own funeral or memorial announcements and programs. The first package, or U-Print package allows you to upload eight different pictures and access to their comprehensive design and text library allowing you to create your own signature announcement. You print your announcements from home. The cost of this program is $69. Or, choose from their We-Print package. You have access to various different designs and texts, and can insert up to eight photos. Then click and send, and they will print and fold each announcement for you. The cost is $99 for a set of 50 color announcements and programs with an additional set of 50 announcements costing $50. Cost: $$
PERSONALIZED CARDS YOU WORD AND DESIGN: Cards Personalized offers a variety of various bereavement cards from children’s bereavement to funeral. They also offer thank-you cards. The cost varies as you are the one to design the wording, the style, and the format you want. They also have many sample wording choices you can choose from and use as you design your card, or you can use your own. This is a great website for those wanting to create a truly unique announcement. The company will also send you 10 free cards with a $75 order purchase. Cost: $$-$$$
SIMPLE AND ELEGANT ANNOUNCEMENTS: The Stationary Studio offers elegant yet traditional announcements in raised ink lettering. These announcements are simple by design, yet allow you to design the words, colors, and paper style you want. The announcements run $125 for a set of 50. The announcements are sold in sets of 25. Cost: $$$
CUSTOM, UNIQUE ANNOUNCEMENTS: This website offers various unique announcements. Find tribute cards in 4 1/2 x 11 size, photo collage posters, thank you notes, memorial posters, programs, and more. No direct pricing was offered on the Enduring Keepsakes website. Enduring Keepsakes mainly caters to directly to funeral homes and mortuaries, but will provide custom announcements to private parties as well. Cost: $$$ (Estimate)
UP AND COMING COMPANY OFFERS EVERYTHING YOU’LL NEED! FuneralProgramsOnline.com offers everything you will need for your funeral at mortuary pricing. However, it will cater to you and your loved ones desires and wishes and offers one of the largest varieties of announcements, programs and more. FuneralProgramsOnline.com aims to be your one stop for everything you need. Upload photos, word your announcement the way you want, and pick the card type you want. Some of the nicest announcements you will find anywhere. Plan on paying about $250 for 200 announcements. Other pricing available for smaller orders and for various styles of announcements. Cost: $$$
Cost Calculator:
1. FREE
2. $—-$1-50 for a set of 50
3. $$—-$50-100 for a set of 50
4. $$$—$100+ for a set of 50
Reference:
- FAMILY HERITAGE: family-heritage-templates.com/memorial_templates.htm; IPRINT: www.iprint.com; THE STATIONARY STORE: www.thestationerystudio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.listProducts&catId;=1143&gcli;
