More and more Canadians are looking for creative ways to honour the life of a loved one. A celebration of life offers a way to gather with friends and family in a casual and uplifting setting.
Whether you’re looking for a non-traditional alternative to a funeral service or you’re looking to have a larger event to celebrate your loved one’s story after a service, a celebration of life is a beautiful way to do that with the people who were closest to them.
We’ve created this guide to show you what a celebration of life is, how it differs from a funeral, and give you ideas on how to plan one.
The meaning of a celebration of life
A celebration of life is an event where friends and family gather to celebrate their loved one’s story. It’s difficult to distill a celebration of life’s meaning because it can be limitless. From a backyard gathering to seeing their favourite musician play at Massey Hall, countless creative possibilities exist to honour the person in a heartfelt and meaningful way.
Why have a celebration of life?
To celebrate your loved one’s unique story where you have the freedom to create your own structure. Celebration of life planning empowers you to curate an event where the person is at the centre, where the focus is solely on their individuality rather than following a specific formula.
How soon after the death does a celebration of life happen?
There’s no correct answer to this. It’s a personal decision and has no strict timeline. Some families may prefer to have one shortly after the funeral or cremation, while others may want to take their time and plan it three to six months or even a year later.
What are the key differences between a celebration of life vs. a funeral?
A funeral and a celebration of life have the shared goals of honouring the person who has passed in a memorable way and gathering together to support each other during this difficult time. Typically, though, these two events approach the goals in different ways. Below, we’ll briefly touch on the main differences between a celebration of life vs. a funeral.
1. Location
The main difference is the location. A traditional funeral will typically take place at a funeral home, place of worship, or at the family’s home.
A celebration of life, on the other hand, can happen anywhere. From an event at an art gallery to a trip to the person’s bucket list destination, there’s a greater opportunity to think outside the box.
2. Timing
Generally, traditional funerals happen between 1 and 2 weeks after the person’s passing or even within a few days. This can be quite fast-paced, with many details to cover in a short period.
With a celebration of life, there’s more space to curate the event in a timeframe that works best for you and your family.
3. Structure
While non-secular funerals have more flexibility in customizing the order of events, a traditional funeral generally has specific elements and rituals. Elements might include reading spiritual texts, singing hymns, or a funeral procession.
How you and your family plan a celebration of life is entirely up to you. It can be formal, with an order of events, or it can be more casual and simple.
A funeral and celebration of life can be personalized to reflect the person’s unique character. They’re two beautiful and meaningful events. Whether you choose to have one or the other, or both, is entirely your choice.
How to plan a celebration of life
As previously mentioned, there aren’t strict parameters to follow. However, that isn’t to say there aren’t things to consider. We’ve compiled a short, non-exhaustive list of logistical elements for planning your celebration.
1. Setting a budget
Setting a clear budget for the event before planning anything will allow you to prepare easily and know your options.
2. Guest list
Your guest list can be as extensive or as intimate as you’d like. You may wish to invite friends, family, colleagues, or other people with whom the person was close. If there are people who need to travel for the event, check in with them before booking the venue to see if they can make travel plans.
3. The venue
Your celebration of life venue is the first thing to book. Some places need to be booked months in advance, so keeping that in mind is essential. If you have a specific date you’d like to celebrate, securing it with the place will be important to do ASAP.
Your venue choice will inform you of all the other decisions that come after it, from the guest list size to how to decorate the space.
4. Theme
Selecting a theme for a celebration of life can open the doors to creativity while connecting to your loved one’s life. Think about the person’s interests and hobbies. Are there any overarching themes?
When you choose a theme, planning the details gets easier as everything else naturally falls into place. For example, if your brother was a football fan, you may choose a Super Bowl theme. The food options could include buffalo wings, chili, and popcorn, all set on a green tablecloth to resemble a football field. There could be a few footballs available for people to play catch with, as the music that plays in the background is from artists who recently performed at the Super Bowl halftime shows.
At first, a theme may seem restrictive, but it’s a catalyst for creativity. Once you start brainstorming, you’ll realize that the opportunities are endless. A theme can inspire unique ideas and add a personal touch to the celebration.
5. Catering
Food is a simple yet powerful way to connect with others, and there are countless ways to infuse connection into your menu. For example, if your dad loved to barbecue, you might use that as your food theme and have dishes like corn on the cob, hamburgers, potato salad, and grilled pineapple to serve. Or if your grandma had a sweet tooth for M&Ms, you could have a few bowls out for people to snack on.
Some other things to keep in mind include whether you’d like to have hors d’oeuvres or a multi-course meal if you’d prefer to order catering, make everything at home, or host a potluck, and if any of your guests have dietary restrictions to accommodate.
6. Mementos
While it can be overlooked during your event planning, having a small memento that guests can bring home is a unique way for everyone to have a tangible memory of your loved one.
For example, if your mom was an avid reader, you could design custom bookmarks with a quote from her favourite author. Or if your husband loved sports cars, why not give everyone a custom keychain with a photo of him in his favourite car?
Your guests will cherish these small parting gifts for years to come.
How to personalize a celebration of life
The personalization options are truly endless when celebration of life planning. Think about your loved one’s life story. What did they enjoy doing as a child? Were they involved in any clubs or sports? What was their favourite colour? As you ask these questions, you may find that the ideas start to flow organically.
For example, if your dad’s favourite colour was green, you could put up green balloons or ask everyone to wear something green. Even in the smallest of details, there are meaningful ways to evoke their story.
What is a celebration of life event planner?
Celebration of life planning can be complicated with all the moving parts of curating an event. To ensure that everything goes to plan and that all logistics, like venue booking and catering, have been taken care of, collaborating with a celebration of life event planner can take those worries off your plate. They’re there to ensure the celebration is seamless and offer unique ideas on crafting a remarkable event.
Making space for grief during the celebration of life
It’s completely normal if heavier feelings arise throughout the planning process and during the event. Being together with friends and family as a community can feel quite healing.
During your event, you may set aside time for people to share these sensitive emotions by sharing a few words about the person, playing music, or reading poetry. If the venue allows it, consider having an additional space where people can have some quiet time.
A celebration of life is an event where your loved one is at the centre
A celebration of life allows you to tell the fascinating story of your loved one through music, theme, food, venue, and mementos. You can share their memorable character in a myriad of thoughtful ways, and you might even discover a new story about them as friends and family share their fond memories.
If you’d like to get inspiration on planning a celebration, follow us on Pinterest and explore our mood boards.
