If a close loved one has passed away, you may find yourself responsible for making decisions about their cremation service, you may wonder how you should go about selecting an urn for their ashes. If so, ask yourself the following three questions during the decision making process.

How Much Money Do You Have To Spend On The Urn?

Before you start thinking about anything else, you should ask yourself how much money you have to spend on the urn. Knowing how much you have in the budget will guide the rest of your decisions.

For example, if you do not have much money to spend on the urn, you may need to go with a basic urn. These are sometimes included in the cremation fee. Or, you may be able to spend a little more to buy a more personalized one.

On the other hand, if you have a larger budget, you can pretty much have your pick of materials, colors, and designs.

What Type Of Urn Will Match The Deceased's Personality?

No matter what your budget, you want to try to find a type of urn that matches the deceased's personality. If your loved one was a simple, quiet person, muted colors and gentle lines may suit them.

However, if the deceased was more flamboyant, you could opt to go with a bold, ornate design accented with splashes of bright colors. Or, if they were a huge sports fan, you could even go with an urn that displays their favorite team's colors. 

What Will You Do With The Urn After The Funeral Service?

Another thing you should consider when choosing your deceased loved one's urn is what you will be doing with it after the funeral service. This could also impact the design of the urn.

If you plan on placing the urn on a mantle or table, you may want to choose an urn that is personalized for the deceased as well as aesthetically pleasing. However, if you plan to bury the ashes or place them in a mausoleum, you may decide that you do not need to be as concerned about the long-term appearance.

After asking yourself the above questions, you should have enough basic information to start making an informed decision. Once you have an idea as to what type of urn you want for your loved one, make an appointment with the cremation service (think American Cremation Society) so they can direct you towards several options that may suit the dearly departed.