Unique Celebration of Life Ideas for a Memorable Tribute
Life doesn’t go the way we imagined it. Sometimes we have to face our fears, like losing our dear ones. Losing someone dear to us leaves a scar on our heart, stitches on our mouths, and we are unable to express ourselves or deliver our emotions.
In this critical moment, arranging a perfect day to honor your loved one is very challenging. We have provided a list of celebration of life ideas that will help you face this difficulty smoothly. After reading our blog, you will be able to arrange the most memorable event where everything will reflect your loved one and express emotions that you were unable to.
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What Is a Celebration of Life?
Celebration of life is an occasion that is designed to honor and respect the deceased. It is the day of the deceased. It is arranged after the funeral, and it goes for days, months, and even years. It is rather a joyful event than a grief event. Many people confuse funerals with the celebration of life. That’s why we have arranged a whole blog on this query. That is the funerals vs celebration of life.
Families and close ones of the deceased share their memories and celebrate his day. It’s a very casual event. It usually occurs in the open areas, like parks and gardens, or somewhere special to the deceased for a deeper connection. People choose to wear comfy and casual attire instead of formal attire.
Planning the Event
Many families find arranging celebrations of life events very overwhelming. It is only because of the fear of arranging everything perfectly and memorizing. They want everything to serve its purpose. The following things will help you out with your concern.
Choose a Meaningful Location
Choosing the right location can be very intimidating. You have to consider those locations that deliver some meaning. Like you can choose those areas your loved one was fond of. Or if you are on a tight budget, just arrange it in your house garden. It will be memorable and budget-friendly as well, and many people will find it comfy. It will also allow you to work on other meaningful details without having to worry about the venue.
Set the Tone and Theme
It’s important to decide on the tone and theme for your event. Some people prefer their event to be calm and peaceful, while others prefer laughter and storytelling. As for the theme, keep in mind that the theme must coordinate with the deceased’s hobbies and interests. If your loved one likes gardening, then from the theme to colors, everything has to be related to it.
For example, for a gardening theme, you can arrange your ceremony in the garden, or if you wanna do it indoors, then decorate it with those flowers that coincide with the message you want to convey. For further details, you can check our blog on celebration of life flower ideas. You can add a centre piece of a water fountain. It will give calm and peaceful vibes.
Or you can plant trees in a circle to show continuity of life, and it will also be eco-friendly.
Also, you can select a specific tree as a memorial tree where guests can hang their notes and messages. Moreover, add memorial tables to increase its further beauty. You can check our blog on celebration of life table ideas for this purpose as well. The overall garden theme not only brings beauty to the event, but it also becomes a living metaphor of growth, the joy of being alive, and the continuity of life through memories.
Create an Invitation List
Be considerate of who you invite to your event. The right people will change the whole atmosphere of the event. For the shortcut, try to find a holiday card mailing list. If you cannot find it, then start by selecting relatives and family members. Then make a list of deceased close friends and their neighbours. You can also invite his club or community if he was in it. Then last but not least, his teachers and coaches, or someone who inspired and guided him.
But the situation changes if you want an open or private gathering. If you are thinking of opting for private, then just invite your family and relatives. Most important note, you have to make sure that the date, time, and location are clearly written on the invitation card. You don’t want any dramas in your event, right?
Honoring Memories
Memories aren’t only about looking back into the past; they’re about preserving expressions and finding meaning in the stories your loved one carried. Thus, right below, we will discuss how you can honor your loved ones’ memories.
Encourage Storytelling and Sharing
Storytelling reveals the meaning without the error of defining it. Thus, encourage guests to share their story about your loved one. It can be sad, funny, or any type of story they like to share. It’s the best way to keep the deceased alive through memories and stories. As Margaret has said, in the end, we will all become stories.
You can arrange a special section for it. Allow guests to have a mic and share their deepest moments with the deceased, or you can have a memorial table of writing memories, for the guests who are too shy to speak up. It will heal the broken hearts, awaken the souls, and develop deep connections.
Gather and Display Photos & Keepsakes
Ask your family and friends to bring photos of the deceased with them. You can make a book and ask the guests to paste the pic and write small quotes that remind you of the deceased. Then make copies of the book to give the guests as keepsakes. It will be a very touching gesture.
Or you can make an online group and ask guests to share photos in that group, and make a slide show to play at the event. Another thing you can do is to make small jewelry with the deceased’s picture in it for the guests, so they can keep the memories of your loved one alive at any place they go.
Incorporate Music and Readings
For many people, music is like therapy. Music is what feelings sound like. It can heal the wounds caused by the grief of losing someone. Make a playlist of your loved one’s favourite music with the help of their friends. Play it at your event to keep his memories alive. If you have a budget, you can also arrange his favourite singer for the live music session. Here are our recommendations:
Invite Written Tributes
If you want to make your event full of deep meanings, then this writing tribute is your friend. Encourage your guest to write a letter to their loved ones. Sometimes, thinking that we have time to express our feelings can be our greatest mistake. And the guilt of not saying I love you before losing our loved one stays in our hearts forever. Thus, it can save many people from this guilt. Feelings may be difficult to explain face-to-face. But they can be easily delivered through letters.
Collective Tributes
Collective tributes are a way to share feelings, respect, and honor our loved ones. It reminds us that we are not alone in this loss.
Start a Group Prayer or Poem
Death ends life but not relationships. To keep this relationship alive, consider setting up a time for group prayers. Arrange a spirit leader to lead a short prayer. Or you can ask guests to pray together to bring unity and honor the deceased. It develops a sense of peace and remembrance. One prayer changes everything, so choose something that will speak up for your deceased beliefs and morals. You can check out our blog of funeral poems for your help. And as it said, pray as much as you think about it. Here is one sample of a poem that you can deliver on this Memorial Day:
Memories
Life can never stay the same
No matter how we try
Our hands can never stop
The clock is ticking by
But love remains, unchanging
In the care of sorrowing hearts
For as the love of life is stilted
The love of memory starts
Symbolic Acts (Candles, Balloons, Tree Planting)
You can arrange different sections to show different gestures. It will allow people to express their emotions physically. Like you can arrange a candlelight memorial table, it will symbolize the light your loved one brought into your life. For the lanterns and balloon releasing ceremony, it will convey your message that you have to let go of some things, but the memories stay in your heart. It will be a lasting gesture buried in the hearts of the guests.-face. But they can be easily delivered through letters.
Creating a Legacy
Creating a legacy is not only about what we leave behind but also about how we choose to be remembered. At its heart, it is a way to highlight values, achievements, and moments that give life its meaning,
Organize a Memorial Fundraiser
As you know, every act of kindness is a charity. A fundraiser changes grief into support. Memorial days can be quite challenging for those arranging them. The cost can range from 8 to 10k USD, which is not easy for the average family to afford. Fundraising is the ultimate solution to this problem. Fundraising is a source that involves other relatives or friends and the community to lend a helping hand to the one arranging it.
You can make donations to something that was dear to your loved one; it can be a community project or a scholarship. You can ask guests to make donations instead of bringing flowers, which will be the most powerful way to honor the deceased. It will bring the light of goodness of the deceased back to life.
Capturing the Moment
Some people may be unable to attend the ceremony for some reasons. Thus, you can make them attend the event by capturing the whole event. Or you can do live streaming for the people living far away. And we also capture the moment as a ticket back to feel the moment; otherwise, the moment is gone. So capture the event to keep the moment alive through videos and pictures.
Celebrate Life with Fresh Ideas
Closing the Celebration
Many people tend to ignore the ending of the event. The closing of the event is very important and crucial. Thanks to the guests for being a part of your loved one’s day and for honoring him. Give them keepsakes; it doesn’t matter if it’s a short or minor blessing. What matters is the genuineness. You can give them a small plant, a book of life, a piece of jewelry, or a quote. It brings the environment to comfort and develops a sense of connection with the guests. It also conveys that love and memories continue to grow no matter what.
Conclusion
Celebration of life is more than an event. It is a way of reflecting emotions, conveying your love to the deceased. We have provided a detailed guide on how to plan the celebration of life, honoring the moments, collective tributes, creating a legacy, etc., that will help you arrange a memorial event that will honor your loved one and express your deep emotions.