What is a memorial card? wording, photos and design ideas
A memorial card is a small keepsake created in memory of someone who has died. It usually includes a photograph, their name and dates, and a short poem, prayer or personal message. Memorial cards may be given to guests at a funeral or memorial service, or posted afterwards to friends and relatives who could not attend. They are also sometimes called remembrance cards, prayer cards, mass cards or wallet cards.
What Should You Include on a Memorial Card?
A folded memorial card normally has four small pages, so the content should be clear and not overcrowded. You could include:
- The person’s full name
- Their date of birth and date of death
- One or more favourite photographs
- A short poem, prayer or meaningful verse
- A favourite quotation
- A brief personal message
- Funeral or memorial service details, if required
The front cover usually contains a photograph, name and dates. The inside pages can hold a poem, prayer or message, while the back may include a smaller photograph, quotation or simple closing words.
Choosing Photos, Wording and a Design
Choose a clear photograph that shows the person naturally and is large enough to reproduce well. Avoid screenshots, heavily compressed social media images or photographs where the face is very small. The design does not need to be religious. It can reflect the person’s character, interests or favourite places, using flowers, countryside, gardens, hobbies or simple colours. Remember that the finished card is compact, so avoid long passages in very small text. A shorter poem or verse is often easier to read. If you use a longer poem, it can be spread across the two inside pages. Check all names, dates, spelling and punctuation carefully before approving the artwork.
Size, Printing and Artwork
Our folded memorial cards measure A6 when flat and are creased in half to create an A7 card with four printable pages. They are gloss laminated for protection and durability, with optional white envelopes.
A press-quality PDF with 3mm bleed is the preferred artwork format. Supply the pages in normal reading order:
- Front cover
- Inside left
- Inside right
- Back cover
There is no need to add a folding line. Keep important text and faces away from the trimmed edges and fold. You can create your own design, edit a template or send us your photographs, wording and ideas if you need help with the layout. We will email a PDF proof for you to check before anything is printed.