Planning a Celebration of Life

How to Organize a Celebration of Life Service

Although they are becoming more and more common, many people remain unsure of how to plan a celebration of life. It's really a process of asking–and answering–questions. Sit down with other family members to explore the celebration of life ideas which arise from answering these questions:

Who will be invited? The number of guests define the where, when, and how of your celebration of life. Write down the names of everyone you think would want to be there and then set it aside. You can add new names to the list as you go along.
Where, and when, should the event take place? Here's where your imagination is tempered by any scheduling or travel-related issues facing those who will be invited. Be sure to check in with out-of-town relatives and friends about their situation before settling on these critical details.
Who will orchestrate or conduct the event? If your loved one was religious, you may opt to have their pastor or church minister perform these tasks. However, many families today hire a non-denominational celebrant to oversee the celebration of life.
Who wishes to speak at the event? Many times family members or friends will be very direct about their desire to make a short presentation at the celebration of life; other times you need to come out and ask folks if they would be willing to publicly share their thoughts and feelings. Either way, you'll want to select those people who have shared a close relationship with the deceased and have something meaningful to contribute.
What group activities would be appropriate? We've heard some exciting celebration-of-life ideas over the years. This question involves thinking about what your loved one liked most about their life and gives everyone a remarkable space to share memories, laugh, and even cry together.
What food or beverages should be served? What you serve may depend on the theme of your celebration of life, or may be based on your loved one's favorite dishes. It's entirely up to you; we've even seen "pot luck" celebrations of life where guests actually sign up to bring select foods and beverages.
What readings and music should you include? Music is an integral part of life for many people, and a celebration of life is the perfect event in which to showcase the meaningful music of your loved one's life. But, if your loved one didn't appreciate music (and lots of folks don’t), it may be more appropriate to read chosen spiritual selections, or excerpts from literature.
What details of your loved one's life do you want to share with guests? Not every biographical detail needs to be highlighted; rather you're trying to capture their essence by telling revealing anecdotes or stories. Sometimes you can reveal their character by detailing one short moment in their life experience.
What decorations will you have? Many families create a tribute video and use it as the centerpiece of the event. Others choose to use a memory table of photographs and other memorabilia instead.

Celebration of Life Ceremony Ideas

We understand that people often have difficulty choosing a meaningful theme for their loved one's celebration of life. It is important that the theme you decide on truly showcases the wonderful life of the deceased and what made them unique. To help get you started with planning a celebration of life for your loved one we have provided some ideas. We hope that these celebration of life ideas will give you an idea of how creative you can get.

The Sports Lover

If your loved one was a devoted sports fan of a particular team or avidly played a sport themselves, consider focusing the celebration of life around that. An idea for this could be organizing a golf or baseball tournament in honour of your loved one.

The Foodie

If your loved one enjoyed tasting or trying new recipes, and loved trying new things, you may want to consider organizing a dinner party that serves their favourite foods. The dinner party can be at someone’s home or at the deceased’s favourite restaurant. You can then feel a strong connection to the deceased through the food that they loved.

The Charitable Person

If your loved one was passionate about charity and giving back to the community, you could organize an event that raises money for a cause they were deeply passionate about. The fundraiser can be extravagant or simply a casual party where people are encouraged to donate. Afterwards, the contributions can then be donated in the deceased’s name.

Let Us Help You Plan a Celebration of Life

We have the experience which could make planning a celebration of life easier for you and your family. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to get started. We would be honored to discuss your loved one's life and hear some stories about their wonderful life. We're confident that together, we can assist you with planning a celebration of life event to suit your needs and expectations.