How To Organise A Celebration of Life Ceremony

A Celebration of Life is a gathering that is held to honour and commemorate the life of a loved one who has died. Unlike a traditional funeral service, a Celebration of Life is often more upbeat and focuses on celebrating the person's life and accomplishments, rather than mourning their death (although saying goodbye is also an important part of the ceremony).

Celebrations of Life are all very different - just as we are all different. It should reflect the way the person lived and certainly not feel like a conveyor belt approach to death which can often happen at the crematorium.

The ceremony can take place with the coffin present or after the cremation or burial has taken place (often after a direct cremation or an unattended burial ie without family and friends in attendance).
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A Celebration of Life  is a much more modern approach to funerals and can be visual, happy, loud and even instagrammable if that is what they would have liked;  it can be elegant, luxurious and beautifully orchestrated or alternatively it can be back to nature in a woodland or garden with nothing but the backdrop of birdsong, vegetation and the smell of summer flowers.​

Here are some steps to help you arrange a celebration of life:

1. Choose a Date and Venue: Select a date and location for the celebration of life. It can be held at a variety of places, such as a hotel, a wedding venue, at a village hall, on a beach or even at home.
2. Employ a Celebrant: By inviting a Celebrant to bring the ceremony together - they will advise on what works and write the life story. They will welcome all the guests at the start of the ceremony,  guide the celebration of life with linking introductions and they can be relied on to recite people’s words and readings if they need the support on the day (because it can be overwhelming!).
3. Invite Guests: Create a guest list and invite family members, friends, and colleagues who know the person well. You can also invite others who were impacted by the person's life, such as former students or clients.
4. Plan The Event: Consider planning an event that will reflect that person's interests and hobbies. This can include displaying photos or memorabilia, playing music, sharing stories, and celebrating their life with a glass of fizz or a favourite tipple or hot drink.
5. Create a Running Order: Develop an order of service or itinerary for the event with the help of your Celebrant, including any speeches, performances, or activities. You may also want to include a guest book or memory table where people can leave notes and mementos.
6. Decorate: Consider decorating the venue with the person's favourite colours, flowers, or other items that represent their personality and their life.
7. Gather their life story: It is best to do this ahead of their death if possible - there is a great resource available from My Written Story to capture answers and therefore build their life story. However if asking the person before their death is no longer an option, this document could also be the basis to ask questions of their family and friends to compile memories for the ceremony.
8. Do It Your Way: The event can take place with the coffin in situ, with the Funeral Director then taking them on their last journey to the crematorium or it can take place after a Direct Cremation or a burial which takes away a lot of the stress and some of the expense. It could also be combined with the burying or scattering of ashes.
9. Provide Support: Remember that a celebration of life can be an emotional event for many people. A Celebrant can advise on support and resources for guests who may need it, such as grief counselling or support groups.

Remember, a celebration of life should be a personal and meaningful reflection of the person's life and impact on others. It's an opportunity to honour and celebrate the person in a way that is unique and fitting to them. We are all individuals and our Life Celebrations should reflect that!

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