Celebrate the life of a loved one in a different way

When a death occurs, everyday life becomes darker. We need a bright moment to remember the person we will miss so much. Their story is unique and deserves a personalized celebration that will leave sweetness and beautiful memories in the hearts of the guests.

We offer you a list of ideas and inspirations to celebrate the life of a loved one in a different way, but first we wanted to differentiate the celebration of life from the traditional funeral.

Funeral or celebration of life?

Funerals are held after the death to help the family grieve, surrounded by their loved ones. It usually begins with a visit to the funeral home, where the deceased is laid to rest. This is followed by the traditional funeral service at the funeral home or church. There will be singing, hymns, invocations, Bible recitations, etc. The funeral concludes with a committal service at the cemetery.

The celebration of life is personalized. It can even take place before the death or on the anniversary of the death. Family and friends gather to pay tribute to the person's unique personality by organizing a celebration that resembles the person. It is of course possible to combine the traditional elements of the funeral service with the more original elements of the celebration of life.

The organization of a celebration of life

There will be more choices and organization involved in planning a celebration of life than a traditional funeral. You will need to choose a venue, type of meal, set the mood and all the little touches that can help guests remember and honor the life of the deceased.

Celebrate in a place filled with memories

The celebration can take place in a private or public place. The important thing is that the place reminds us of the deceased.

For example, some will choose the house, in the backyard, at the cottage or in a place they have rented. It can even be in an art gallery or a studio. It all depends on the number of guests and the budget you will allocate to this celebration.

The meal

The event can be held at any time you wish. This means that you don't have to serve a meal. In the afternoon, for example, you could simply opt for a cocktail and appetizers.

If you wish to host a dinner, again, the choices are endless. You could decide to go with a gourmet menu or simply serve the deceased's favorite food. What did he like to eat? Was he fond of a particular restaurant or food?

An atmosphere adapted to his life

At a celebration of life, we try to create a personalized atmosphere. This can be done by hiring a band to play the memorial's favorite songs or musical style.

When it comes to decorating, choose her favorite flowers, her favorite color, textures that she liked. You could ask the guests to bring a photo of themselves with the deceased.

The idea is to create a setting, an atmosphere, which will allow everyone to remember positively the life of this person.

The dress code

You can find little traces of the deceased's personality even in the guests' clothes! Did he have a favorite color or a particular style?

Some will ask guests to wear a cowboy hat or dress in a touch of the color the deceased loved most! It can also be something that represents his or her hobby!

Memories

Many like to give guests small gifts or mementos. In the case of a celebration of life, we opt for an object that, once again, will remind us of the deceased and will nod to his or her interests. Here are some ideas:

• Seeds (for the gardening enthusiast)
• Elements of a collection
• Her favorite recipe
• A commemorative object
• …

All ideas are good

In short, all ideas are good! It is simply a matter of paying tribute to the person you loved so much. To do this, you will choose the items that were important in their life. Before shopping for suppliers, stop for a moment, talk to your family members and write down the traits of the person that made them unique. You can then build on these points to plan the celebration.

Trusting a company specialized in celebration of life

Sometimes we have lots of ideas, but with grief weighing on our shoulders, it's hard to see clearly.

There are companies that specialize in organizing celebrations of life. For example, Muna Celebration of Life, one of our partner suppliers, offers customized packages or themed packages. By entrusting them with your vision, they will organize a celebration that will be remembered while you are able to enjoy the moment.

You can also find all the vendors you need on our platform!