Co-op Funeralcare said there is a growing trend towards celebration with 66 per cent of adults believing funerals are more about celebrating life. A third say they would rather have an upbeat party than a wake.
Based on its experience on arranging 100,000 funerals annually, the Co-op's research has one of its top unique themes with everyone in attendance asked to wear leopard print to match the coffin. Other popular themes include mourners wearing superhero costumes and funerals based on Only Fools and Horses with the hearse riding along to Morecambe and Wise's "Bring Me Sunshine''.
Another increasing trend is funerals being referred to as 'destination funerals' which do not take place in churches, with requests for sports venues, parks and even local beauty spots.
David Collingwood, Head of the Co-Op's Funeral Operations, commented: "We are increasingly seeing this trend of personalisation within funerals, to reflect the passions and interests that our loved ones had while they were alive, rather than being a strictly sombre occasion."