Celebration of life have transformed to joyous events to honor a person’s life.
My father always told me that when he died, he wanted everyone to gather in an Irish bar and have a shot of whiskey in his honor. And as an event planner, I have seen this idea of a fun memorial in replacement of a traditional funeral service. They are a fresh, unique event to share favorite memories or stories and share in laughter and tears with those closest to the deceased. These celebrations can be held at any location ranging from a restaurant to a reception hall. Even locations such as an open space in the mountains or at a beach depending on how the family wants to honor the deceased. Any way you choose, here are some pointers on how to plan a celebration of life.
Step 1: Budget
Discuss the budget with those closest to the deceased in order to plan all the other details to follow. If there is a small budget, the event might be everyone gathering at a restaurant and paying for their own drinks and meals. If there is a larger budget, you can decide how you want to use that money to celebrate. Either way, this is the first step in planning any event.
Set 2: Guestlist
The friends and family that were contacted after the passing were likely to have asked about arrangements. You can gauge how many people based on those you have contacted and estimate for more depending on social groups. Try to come up with a list of those who you would tell about the celebration and estimate for additional members to come from the spreading by word of mouth. This step is important to see how big of a venue you will need to rent for the celebration in the next step.
Step 3: Location
Once a budget is set and you have an idea of how many people will be attending, you can decide where you want to host the event. This can be at the church or parish of the deceased or it can be a place they enjoyed during their life. A common concern is functionality which is why many families decide on a venue or reception hall that can allow for any number of people and will often help plan details such as catering, decorations, sound system, setup and teardown. One such venue that has done many Celebrations of Life and can guide you through the entire planning process is Church Ranch Event Center in Westminster, Colorado. They have experience with many different types of events and will make the process of planning and execution of the event seamless.
Set 4: Date
Once your location is set, you can plan with the venue and with family when it is most convenient to schedule. Things to keep in mind would include out of town family and friends, weather (depending on the venue), and convenience for all to attend. It is typically scheduled within the month of the passing.
Set 5: Delegate
This job is important as there is likely a lot of work to be done as well as decisions to be made. Things that can be delegated would include food and drinks, decorations, arrangement of speeches, song selection for the service, bereavement or memorial cards, invitations or someone who can contact all to announce the service, and help setting up or cleaning after the event. Be sure to get help during this difficult time. An all inclusive venue will be most helpful in arranging many things on the checklist.
The death of a loved one can be a difficult time, but there are many ways to celebrate a lovely life in a joyous way. Make sure to take advantage of a time to honor and love that soul as well as the community that was closest to this person.
