Spending Wisely
There is a lot of debate taking place currently about the issue of funeral poverty.
People shouldn’t have to get into debt in order to arrange a good funeral, nor should it feel like a confusing process. And yet many people are finding that this is their experience.
Funeral debt happens for a number of reasons; sometimes it’s because of a belief or expectation that a funeral has to look a particular way in order for it to be respectful.
Other times it’s because the person arranging the funeral did not have clear information about the prices they were going to be charged.
No Expectations
We believe that funerals should reflect the individual, so as far as we’re concerned there are no expectations about what should or shouldn’t be included. And times have changed. Views of what a funeral is, or should be, can vary hugely from the traditional sombre ceremonies that grew out of the Victorian era.
We encourage families and friends to be clear on what it is they need and to look to creatively deliver other aspects of a funeral where possible.
Some of the most beautiful funerals we’ve arranged have included family decorated cardboard coffins instead of an expensive conventional casket, or have been led by the families themselves rather than a vicar or celebrant.
Clear Pricing
We also believe it’s important that people are clear and comfortable with the costs that will be incurred: before incurring them.
No one should ever have to proceed with a funeral relying on the words “Don’t worry about the costs”
Whilst it’s not always possible to have the exact cost at the time of the initial meeting you should expect to have a good estimate of the cost before signing any commitment to appoint your undertaker.
Any costs that are further identified throughout the arrangement of the funeral should be approved by you, and a final amount provided as soon as is practicably possible.
This is why you will find lots of information about different funerals and pricing and other fees on our website. We hope it comes across clearly.
Creative Solutions
Below are some elements of a funeral you might wish to take into account, but perhaps consider doing differently.
- Coffins – you can get some basic and totally acceptable coffins very cheaply. The amount you spend on a coffin does not reflect the amount you love someone. If you’re looking for something more personal, go for a cardboard coffin: decorate it yourself or invite friends and family to join you. Have a bamboo shroud instead of a coffin, or just buy your own. Find out more in our Frequently Asked Questions.
- Embalming – not necessary in most situations. Make sure it’s not included in a package as “hygienic preparation”. At A Natural Undertaking we will only embalm if expressly asked.
- Flowers – hand picked from the garden.
- Celebrant – take control and lead the ceremony yourself. Get everyone involved in saying something. Be brave- it’s not a show. Genuine emotion and passion are just as important as a well constructed eulogy.
- Orders of Service – most people have access to a computer and a printer. Get a friend with creative flair to help with the design and print.
- Venue – if you don’t want to be restricted to the time frames within a crematorium you might want to have a service before the cremation. There are often venues you can use that cost very little. A little research is all that’s needed. Here’s some information we’ve produced on different venues.
- Cars – you can hire a hearse, use your own transport or use ours. Think about whether you really need a limousine.
- Pallbearers – use family and friends. Use a trolley or coffin bier.
- Catering – do it yourself. Get everyone to help. Funeral food is a tradition observed differently in different cultures, but we all have it, and for good reason.
- Newspaper tributes – will the people you need to reach notice these in newspapers? Can you harness the power of social media?
For more advice on keeping funeral costs down take a look at websites such as the Quaker Social Action website.

Reviews on Google
Her warmth, honesty and compassion shone through. She helped us to navigate the early days of our grief and to create a celebration of mum’s life that honored her in a personal way.
What Suzy has given us goes well beyond what any of us expected from an undertaker.
Fiona Adams, Moseley
When I first looked at A Natural Undertaking’s website, I felt instinctively that they would be the right people to support me with this most difficult of tasks. Since then, Fran and her team have proven over and over again that it was the right decision.
I cannot thank Fran enough for her compassion, support, advice, suggestions, recommendations and amazing organisational skills right from my very first contact with her. This continued right up to the day itself, which I would not have been able to get through without Fran’s support. She has been a reliable and reassuring presence during what has been the hardest time in my life.
So many people who attended have commented that they didn’t know that a funeral could be done in such a beautifully non-traditional way, and with such individual and unusual details - from the white car and the beautiful coffin and flowers, even down to Fran’s shoes! Several have even said that it was the best funeral they had ever been to.
The importance of the work that Fran and her team are leading to offer an alternative to the usual grim traditions, and to change the culture and ethos around death and funerals in general, should not be understated.
If you are reading this review because you find yourselves in the unimaginable situation of having to make the final arrangements for someone you love, and you are wondering whether to use A Natural Undertaking: please don’t hesitate. You will not regret it. Fran enabled me to turn my vision for Andy’s perfect send-off into reality and I will be forever grateful.
Her emotional support throughout the whole process was unwavering. My daughter travelled next to her husband on his last journey in the non traditional white Nissan with Fran driving and supporting. It was a beautiful funeral remarked on by all who attended.
A Natural Undertaking is a breath of fresh air in an industry stifled by tradition and convention. Their ethical and environmental credentials are impeccable and I cannot praise them highly enough
Thank you, Carrie.
Callum had a send off he would have himself chosen. What an absolutely wonderful team.
Thank you so much!
From beginning to end, I felt supported and empowered in making the arrangements for my partner. Carrie in particular came up with some beautiful and brilliant suggestions for planning the funeral which made it the very special occasion it finally turned out to be. The whole thing worked wonderfully well and I felt it turned into a pitch perfect tribute to my partner, which I think she would have greatly appreciated.
The feed back I have been getting from many who attended and some who watched remotely has been universally complementary, many saying it's the best funeral they have ever attended! Very highly recommended.
We were so pleased with Dad’s services. Ruth was the celebrant at the crematorium and she told Dad’s story with passion, as if she had known the family her whole life.
I would strongly recommend a Natural Undertaking to any friends and family. Thank you.
The Celebration of Life for my husband, Simon, was as perfect as it could have been. That was down to A Natural Undertaking. They took care of my husband, and they took care of me too.
My thanks to Fran, Kerri, Carrie and the team.
Chris Maciel (wife)
I lost my partner & we have a 3 month old baby together.
Fran knew I wanted his funeral to be very special and different. I had so many questions and requests and she held my hand every step of the way, nothing was too much. She made me feel like part of her family & I will be forever grateful that she helped me through the hardest experience of my life and made such a special send off for my man.
She brought so many ideas to the table, it didn’t feel feel like a funeral, it felt like a magical send off & she lead over 200 motorbikes to the crematorium.
Thank you so much Fran & the team, if I could give more than 5 stars, I’d give you 1000
Suzy was easy to contact and responded very quickly to any queries. We chose a white electric hearse which was obviously quiet and reverential.
We felt fully supported throughout the whole process and could not have asked for anything more. Thank you so much for offering such a vital service with such compassion at a time when people so need your support.
You went above and beyond to make sure it was perfect for mum. I can’t thank you enough for the care you showed for our autistic sister.
I can’t recommend a natural undertaking enough, arranging a service is so emotional but was made easier by all of you.
Mum would have been proud of everything we were able to do for her.
Thank you so much.
The communication between Suzie, Westall Park, the celebrant Jess and the flowers from Carole at the Tuckshop was wonderful and I felt very relaxed about the day.
I cannot thank the team enough 🙏🏻
Sarah Knight
For both occasions they provided a friendly, compassionate service to help create a celebration of a person's life. They help you understand the options and provide the information you need to create the service you wish to make for your loved one. They are always on hand if you need to make changes or ask questions. I thank Carrie, Roxy, Fran and the rest of their team for all they did for my parents. I would not hesitate to recommend them.
In such a difficult time it was lovely to find such professional and caring people.
Carrie & Fran listened to our wishes and did exactly what we wanted. They found us David the lovely vicar, who, also was caring and compassionate.
After, everyone commented on how smooth things went, and how the day was memorable.
This was an indication of how good a natural undertaking are, and, it gave us comfort to know that we made the right decision in choosing them.
Highly recommended. Five Stars
When our mum died, we didn't want a typical funeral. We didn't know what we wanted, but the cliche "celebration of life" was closer to what we wanted than anything else.
Carrie was absolutely amazing. We knew straight away we wanted them after the initial sympathetic conversation.
Carrie is so loving, passionate, caring and helpful. Nothing is too much, she does so much and makes it all look effortless.
She told us we could have whatever we wanted and she helped us give our mum a loving and simple ceremony, with personal touches our mum would have loved, that involved and included all the people she cared about and who cared about her.
Carrie feels more like a friend or a member of the family. She is a beautiful person with a heart of gold, knowledgable and so good at what she does.
Thank you so much Carrie and your fabulous team!
Tania & Helen


Would recommend them to anyone that should ever have the misfortune of needing them. They genuinely turn a horrible situation into the event the deceased would want it to be.




I hope that I never need to, but if I need to arrange a funeral again, I won't hesitate to give them a call.



Our family had an idea of what we wanted for Holly's funeral and everyone at A Natural Undertaking helped guide us with her wishes.
Holly wanted a natural burial and it was in her quirky nature to have a creative and diverse farewell which is exactly what she got.
Death and grief is extremely hard especially when a loved one is so young. We felt like we had an opportunity to help others through this process as a result of everything they had to offer us. Our family, our children & friends were all involved (as per our wishes) thanks to the huge effort and organisation of these wonderful people at A Natural Burial.
Thank you so much for everything you did for Holly and family. We will hold you in our hearts forever x


From the start to finish the care, kindness and attention to detail was second to non.
We were given help and support with all the arrangements and we felt that the stress, of loosing a loved one so suddenly, had been taken off our shoulders.
They helped to turn the day into a wonderful tribute to Joan.
We would highly recommend this wonderful service!

Fran and Carrie advised and guided us through both the process and the decisions that we needed to make for my father’s funeral with thought and understanding. They advised us what was possible and made constructive suggestions without pressure. They then calmly undertook the organisation of the service itself with calm efficiency despite late inputs from ourselves. The resulting service was both personal and appropriate to say goodbye to my father from myself, our family and his friends.
I was specifically appreciated that Carrie found time to discuss in general the workings of the undertaking business which one at other times have little time or inclination to investigate. It certainly helped me during this time.
I whole heartedly recommend this company.


Their attention to detail and having everything covered was such a massive weight off the family’s shoulders. We felt completely held. It seems strange to write this but they were a breath of fresh air to what is in essence is a very difficult time. Thank you so much Carrie and Frances - just like Swans gliding through water, you made a very difficult time seem like a heart centred natural undertaking. K Mann



