Bidding the last farewell to a loved one is always difficult and painful. Maybe that is the reason the celebration of life ceremonies is becoming popular. Instead of a sorrowful, teary-eyed farewell, friends and family are choosing to celebrate the life of the departed soul, a final celebration to honour the deceased.
If you want to learn more about the celebration of death, you might be interested in
What is the celebration of life ceremony? (link here)
The goal of a celebration of life ceremony is to honour the deceased. Spending the day doing stuff that they might have enjoyed. Every celebration of life ceremony is different, as it caters to the interest of the deceased. There is no right or wrong way to host this event. As long as it is meaningful.
We here have some celebration of life party ideas that might help you plan a memorable send-off with your loved one.
There are various routes that you can go while planning a celebration of life event. If the deceased was someone who cherished intimate gatherings and celebrations, you can keep the event simple and invite loved ones.
Keep the event intimate.
To keep an air of intimacy in this last farewell, here are some ideas:
Celebrate with a tea party
A perfect send-off for your grandmother, aunt or even mother would probably be something as cosy tea party. It is an opportunity for loved ones to gather for tea or high tea to remember the deceased. You can include their favourite flowers, tea and more while planning this event.
Celebrate with a book reading
Books, friends and family could have been the favourite things of the deceased. If the deceased was someone who used to be an avid reader or hosted a book club, it would be a great idea to host a book club gathering. Even if you were not a member of a book club, you can host a gathering while reading out some of the favourite poems or stories of the deceased.
Celebrate in a garden
If the deceased had a green thumb or had a love for the garden, it would be a great idea to host an intimate gathering in the garden. You can share your favourite memories with others, sing songs and more. You can also have a tree-planting ceremony to commemorate the death of your loved one.
Host a picnic
Picnics could be a fun way to host a celebration of life ceremony. You can host this event at your local garden or picnic spot. Incorporate some games and activities that the deceased enjoyed. Plan some of their favourite picnic foods and drinks. You can recollect memories and share little stories from your experiences.
Celebrate with the community
If the deceased was a significant member of the community, it would a pleasant idea to celebrate their life with the community they serviced.
Celebrate outdoor with BBQ
This might be the perfect way to celebrate the life of your grandfather, uncle, or even father. If they were always outdoors or manning the grill, a bbq is a great way to commemorate their memory. You can ask your friends and family to bring a side dish along while following the deceased’s favourite recipe and process for the meat. You can also play a game of catch or any outdoor game while sharing stories about the deceased.
Plan a sports tournament
If the life of the deceased revolved around sports, you can host a small tournament with the community to honour them. Host a tennis, golf, swimming, basketball, tournament or a cricket, rugby or football match in their honour. You can host this event at the community sports centre. You could name the trophy that the winning person receives after the deceased.
Plan a remembrance ceremony
A remembrance ceremony is more on the formal side of events. You can host this event in your local community hall or a banquet hall. You can plan an agenda for the day. It can include where people give speeches regarding the deceased, sing songs, light a candle, observe a moment of silence and more.
Host a potluck or lunch.
Throughout centuries, food is the one way that communities have come together after the death of a person. You can organize a luncheon at your local church and community centres. Multiple community centres help organize and clean during these events.
If you want to avoid the hassle of cooking and cleaning and want to share your time with friends and family, a potluck is a perfect way to do so. Invited friends and family can bring over a dish and build a sense of community and togetherness
Celebrate with a fancy party.
If the deceased was someone who enjoyed planning parties or was the life of the party themselves, throwing a grand party could be like the last hurrah before bidding them goodbye. It doesn’t matter if the party is big or small as long as people are present. You can host this at a banquet hall, community hall and more and celebrate with music and dance.
Plan a trip
If the deceased had a favourite spot that they always visited or always wanted to visit, you can plan a trip to that destination. It can be a small group or an open invite. Plan a destination to meet and plan a small gathering depending on the location.
Saying goodbye is never easy, but celebrating and remembering their lives helps us feel closer to them one last time. There is no right or wrong way to plan a celebration of life ceremony.
