How to Plan a Celebration of Life

The biggest and often most cited reason people hold a celebration of life service is personalization. Many people are no longer interested in holding a traditional funeral that follows religious customs especially if the deceased was not an overly religious person. A celebration of life service allows you create a meaningful and personalized celebration that reflects the personality of the deceased.

 

A second benefit of holding a celebration of life is convenience. Unlike a funeral service that must occur before the body is cremated or buried, a celebration of life occurs after the remains have been cared for. This allows the family more time to plan the event but also schedule it around a time that is convenient for everyone. It is not uncommon for families to hold the event days, weeks, or even months after the body is cared for.

 

The third benefit is cost. A celebration of life is often a cheaper method as most families choose to have a loved one cremated. This means you are not making expensive purchases for a casket or tombstone. If you are having your loved one buried, you do not need to pay for a visitation and additional services of the funeral home staff which saves you money.

To help you get started planning, we have compiled a list of helpful celebration of life ceremony ideas. There are many different ways you can honor your loved one during this ceremony. As you explore different ideas, try to think about what made the deceased unique and what they enjoyed most about life. Consider what the deceased would have enjoyed, but also make sure the attendees will enjoy the event and it will meet their emotional and spiritual needs.

Even if you are planning a simple ceremony, it’s best to select someone who will lead it. This can be anyone who will be comfortable speaking in front of the group of people at the ceremony. If it is a religious ceremony, you may ask to have a member from your religious community like a priest or minister lead the ceremony.

 

The leader will be responsible for saying some words about the deceased, following the schedule, and introducing anyone who is actively participating (reading a poem, leading a song, saying a prayer, etc.).

Once you know who is going to lead the ceremony, you can begin planning the events. This is when you select people to participate and arrange the order of everything that will take place during the celebration.

Think about the kinds of music the deceased loved and play it during the celebration of life. If the deceased loved local music, consider hiring their favorite local band to play during the event.

Food and drinks are an important part of any service or event. Food is something that brings people together and helps with the healing process. During the event, make sure to serve some of the deceased’s favorite dishes and refreshments.

A celebration of life is all about personalization. Make sure the décor at the event reflects what the deceased loved most about life. You should also make sure to include plenty of pictures of the deceased and leave a space for guests to write down and share their favorite memories of the deceased.

 

If you really want to make the event personalized, set a theme for it. This could be focused around a hobby, favorite sports team, or something they loved like hunting for instance.

 

Many families like to have some sort of release during the event to represent the deceased’s ascent to the afterlife. Whether it be balloons, floating lanterns, or even fireworks; a release allows guests the opportunity to get involved with the celebration.

If you’re interested in planning a celebration of life or would like to learn more, please contact us today. Our staff would be pleased to discuss our services available and provide you with some more celebration of life service ideas.