Celebration of Life Services

Guide to Planning a Celebration of Life: What you Need to Know

What is a Celebration of Life?

Many families today want a service which celebrates the life of their loved one. We introduce them to the concept of a celebration of life, and provide support in designing a celebration of life that is as unique as the life of their loved one.

We always enjoy working together with families in planning a celebration of life for their loved one. While it can be a challenge to put together an event that both pays tribute to and celebrates the life and spirit of a complex individual, it's also one of the most rewarding things any one of us can do for someone we've loved and lost.

Celebration of life ceremonies are similar to memorial services, which can be described as a hybrid event: combining the flexibility of a celebration of life with many of the activities of a traditional funeral order-of-service.

There's more room for creativity in a celebration of life service than a funeral. Since celebrations of life are commonly held after the individual's physical remains have been cared for through burial or cremation, there is much more time available to plan the event. And without doubt, this allows you to make better decisions about how you'd like to celebrate the life of someone you dearly loved.

While celebrations of life ceremonies are not burdened by social expectations—they can be pretty much anything you want them to be—it's important to realize that the event you're planning should meet the emotional needs of the guests. So, think about exactly who will be there, and what they're likely to want or need. Then, bring in those unique lifestyle and personality characteristics of the deceased; perhaps add live music or refreshments, and you've got the beginnings of a remarkable celebration of life.
Learn About Memorial Services

Celebrate the Life Lived

Sarah York opens her beautifully-crafted book, Remembering Well, with the very personal story about how her family chose to pay tribute to her mother. "My mother died in April 1983... She didn't want a funeral. 'Get together and have a party,' she had said when the topic was allowed to come up." However, she was quick to tell readers that the survivors did not honor the request. "We needed the ritual. We needed to say good-bye, but we also needed a ritual that would honor her spirit and would be faithful to her values and beliefs."


When Ms. York acknowledges the position of her family—that they needed not a party but a ritual—she teaches us all something important: the celebration of life events we plan with families should be shaped as much by their own emotional and spiritual needs as their desire to celebrate the life lived.

Differences Between Celebration of Life vs. Funeral

Both a funeral and a celebration of life serve as a way for families to acknowledge and recognize the passing of a loved one and say goodbye. However, there are many contrasts between the two services which commonly leads a family to choose one over the other.

A traditional funeral follows common rituals and customs, and tends to be a more structured ceremony. Usually, it has four main parts: the visitation, the funeral service, the committal service, and the funeral reception. For those looking for a sense of spirituality, religion, or tradition, we suggest holding a traditional funeral service rather than a celebration of life.

Through choosing a celebration of life ceremony, there is more freedom in the planning process. Essentially, this type of ceremony can include whatever your family thinks is appropriate to represent and honor your loved one. The purpose of this service is to tell the story of your loved one’s life and celebrate what made them special. 

In many cases, a celebration of life service is held after the body has been cared for. This allows your family more time to come together and plan a service that has includes input from everyone. It is common for families to hold a celebration of life weeks or even months after their loved one has been buried or cremated. This flexibility with time ensures you can schedule for a date for when family and friends are able to attend. In contrast, traditional funerals generally take place a couple days after death for the specific purpose of burial and a graveside ceremony. 

Benefits of Having a Celebration of Life Service

Here are some benefits of choosing a celebration of life over a traditional funeral

Storytelling

Celebrate your loved one's life journey and accomplishments with their favorite people in attendance.

Flexible Scheduling

Life celebrations can be scheduled at any time and do not have to adhere to the guidelines of a traditional funeral.

Creative Freedom

As long as the person planning the celebration of life has made sure that all facets of the event are legal and approved, the celebration of life can be hosted anywhere, at any time, and can include completely unique activities.

Financial Control

One of the greatest benefits of celebrations of life is that they can cost as much or as little as you would like.

Celebration of Life Ideas

One of the advantages to choosing a celebration of life for a loved one is that they are so customizable. This allows you to host a memorial service that celebrates the uniqueness of the individual. Here are a few celebration of life ideas that have grown in popularity over the years.

Below we have provided some ideas and possibilities that you could incorporate into your life celebration service. We hope these examples demonstrate the level of creativity you can include and how personalized you can make the ceremony. 

The Painter

Maybe your loved one had a passion for painting. If so, you could consider planning a celebration of life in the form of a paint night where all of your loved one's friends and family can gather together to each paint a picture. You could even use your loved one's painting equipment to feel a closer connection. This is a chance for everyone to come together to share memories about your loved one, while also getting a tangible keepsake. 
Celebration of life ideas paint
celebration of life ideas holding money

The Charitable Person

In the event that your loved one was passionate about charity and giving back to the community, you could organize an event that also raises money for a cause that they cared about as a part of their celebration of life. The fundraiser can be an extravagant event or simply a casual party where people are encouraged to donate. After the event, the contributions can then be donated in the deceased’s name to live on as a memory of them.

The Food Lover

If your loved one enjoyed tasting or trying new recipes, you may want to consider organizing a dinner party that serves their favourite foods. The celebration of life could consist of a luncheon or dinner party where your loved one's favorite dishes are served. Family and friends can then feel connected to the deceased through the food that they loved.
celebration of life ideas dinner

How to Plan a Celebration of Life

Planning a celebration of life is really a process of asking–and answering–questions. Sit down with other family members, at least once—but maybe even more than once—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.


Are You Undecided About Celebrations of Life? Turn to Us.

We've got years of experience listening, brainstorming, and advising families how they can best pay tribute to a beloved family member. That means we're the perfect people to help you decide between a funeral and a celebration of life service. We'll explore your service options with you in detail, taking all the time you need.


In the book Chocolat, by Joanne Harris, you'll find this fundamental truth: “Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end.” As funeral professionals we help families express reverence for life. Let us do that for your family. Call our funeral home to speak with a member of our staff.

Share by: