Planning a Celebration of Life

 How to Plan a Celebration of Life

Questions to Ask When Planning a Celebration of Life

It is truly a process of asking and answering questions. Sit down with family members and friends, to explore the celebration of life ideas which arise from answering these questions: 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
If you're still unsure about whether a celebration of life is right for you, check out this page on our website that compares both traditional funerals and celebrations of life here. 

Celebration of Life Ideas

Although celebration of life ideas are endless, we have provided some that you would incorporate into your loved one's service. It is encouraged to integrate a high level of creativity and personalization into a celebration of life service, therefore we hope these ideas help you get started. 

The Musician

Was your loved one a musician or a dedicated fan of a singer/ band? If so, you may want to consider showcasing that particular genre of music for their celebration of life. You could consider hosting a small tribute concert in memory of the deceased, where the genre of music they loved, or maybe even songs they have written can be played.

The Charitable Person

In the event that your loved one was passionate about a particular charity and giving back to the community, you can organize an event that also raises money for a cause they were deeply passionate about. The fundraiser can be an extravagant event or a casual party where people are encouraged to donate. After whichever event you decide on, the contributions can then be donated on behalf of your loved one.

The Foodie

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