It's likely you will find yourself planning at least one funeral at some point in your life. Unfortunately, when faced with this task, chances are you will be experiencing sadness, grief, or shock. This can make the process feel overwhelming and stressful. You may also feel pressure to honor your loved one in a meaningful way but getting the basic plans in place can sometimes leave you little time to deliver the personal touch you'd like. We've compiled some ideas and tips to help create a more personal commemoration for your loved one.

A good place to start is to think about your loved one's interests and hobbies for inspiration. You can personalize the funeral through decor and keepsakes. If your loved one enjoyed the beach, consider displaying photographs in beach-themed frames, tie in some beach decor throughout the room, and send home little bottles of sand as a keepsake. An avid gardener? Send home small pots of your loved one's favorite flower so guests can plant it as a remembrance. The sky is the limit and if you don't think of yourself as a creative person, try searching online for specific ideas.

You can use a funeral program template to create a custom, personalized memorial program which typically includes a photograph, the order of service, a brief life story about the recently departed, and a message of thanks for those in attendance. The template makes it quick for you to complete and this small feat can really add a personal touch to the service.

Color is the new black. Gone are the days that wearing black to a funeral is a requirement. A creative way to honor your loved one is to ask attendees to wear your loved one's favorite color to the service. If your loved one was a sports fanatic, consider asking guests to wear an item displaying his or her favorite team, like a hat, pin or a scarf. This request is a unique way to visually show just how many people your loved one was important to and it can help unify guests.

Another way to honor your loved in a personalized way is to create funeral prayer cards. These cards often display a favorite photograph on the front, along with a meaningful or favorite prayer on the back. Prayer cards can be a beautiful keepsake for family and friends to take home. They can be displayed in a special spot at home, or kept in a wallet to pull out during moments or grief or need.

Music has a special power to move us. Depending on the type of funeral you're planning, you may want to consider incorporating a favorite song played at some point during the service. While the song is playing, attendees are granted a few precious minutes to close their eyes and remember their loved one. You can take it a step further by creating a playlist to be played at certain points throughout the funeral or even hire live musicians.

As we age, it's important for us to talk to our loved ones about our wishes regarding a funeral.  While you may be planning a funeral for someone else, planning at least some aspects of your own funeral is becoming more common. While no one likes to think or talk about the subject, having specific wishes for yourself written down can help ease the burden for your loved ones. Surviving family members often find a sense of peace in carrying out specific wishes of their departed loved ones.

For more help with the basic steps of planning a funeral, you can visit the National Funeral Directors Association website.