It’s important to keep in mind that the comfort level of your guests will vary and not everyone may wish to share personal memories publicly. However, those who do will be deeply touched and will treasure the chance to pay their respects in a private way.
One of the most memorable life celebration ideas is to have a photo memory board or memorial table for your guests to enjoy during the event. Displaying some of the most memorable photos of your loved one can help spark conversation and bring out a lot of fond memories that your guests may not have thought about before.
You can also choose to have your celebration of life take place at a place that was meaningful to your loved one, such as their favourite vacation spot or the ski resort where they spent most of their time in winter. This is a great opportunity for you and your family to bond together in their memory, and it’s an especially meaningful experience for those who have travelled far distances to attend.
Music is another important aspect of a celebration of life, and it’s easy to incorporate this into your event. You can hire a live band, or simply play some of their favourite songs throughout the evening. This is a good way to get people up and dancing, or even just sit down for a moment of silence and
remember
.
If your loved one was a great cook, you could create a cookbook that includes their recipes and hand it out to your guests at the celebration. You can collect these recipes from friends or even ask your loved one’s family members to provide them to you, then compile them in a book with a dedication page for them.
Alternatively, you can give your guests a recipe card with their favourite dish written on it and a little note of condolence to accompany it. These cards will be something that your guests will cherish for a long time.
For those who want to do something more tangible to honour their loved one, you can give them a plant or flower seed and invite them to plant it in their garden as a way of keeping their memory alive. You can also dedicate a small area in your garden to them, and create a walkway of stepping stones, which you can inscribe with their name or a special date on. You can also make a personalised bookmark for your guests using a favourite photograph or quotation, and this is a lovely way of showing them how much you cared for them.You can also donate to a charity that space burial is close to your loved one’s heart, or to the cause of their favourite sport. You can even have your guests knit gloves and hats to be given to homeless people, with a tag reading “[your loved one’s name] wishes you love and joy”. This is a really thoughtful way of giving back to those who need it the most