You’ve decided to host a
celebration of life—now what?
The first step to planning a Celebration of Life is to decide what type of event is right for you, your loved one, and their community.
Celebration of Life events come in all shapes and sizes. There is no “one way” to host one. We’ve gathered together some popular event ideas to inspire you and to help you decide what event would be perfect for celebrating your person.
As you look through the list, think about what type of “feel” you’re hoping the event will have, your budget, group size, and who is coming—the more the merrier or a specific subset of your person’s community, like work colleagues or close family.
Finally, consider using a free digital tool like LifeWeb 360 to capture the memories shared at your in-person celebration, keep the memory sharing going after your live event, and to keep the community that loves your person connected long-term.
Traditional Celebrations
Religious, Spiritual, or Cultural Service
A lot of people assume the term “Celebration of Life" is used when one wants to avoid religious affiliations and follow their own rites; however, religion, spirituality, and one’s cultural beliefs/traditions are all important factors that make up your person and those attending. These memorials are about celebrating the life of a loved one, while also supporting those who mourn their loss. If incorporating the groups shared beliefs in the event achieves those two goals, then you’ll have a successful celebration.
Who this is great for: Groups that share a religious, spiritual, and/or cultural connection
Candlelight Vigil
Held after sunset, candlelight vigils involve a group of people gathering together and lighting candles to show their support for someone who has died. Candlelight vigils often include a moment of silent reflection and a slate of speakers who may lead prayers or share stories of the deceased. This event is a great way to remember the life of a loved one, while also reflecting on their passing on a large scale.
Who this is great for: Large groups
Casual Gatherings
Potluck Dinner
Potluck dinners are gatherings where each guest brings a prepared dish to share with the entire group. They can be big or small, focused on breakfast, lunch, or dinner, scheduled well in advance or spontaneous events—the possibilities are endless!
Who this is great for: Groups that love to gather around a meal
Game Night
Was your person a board game buff, a video game enthusiast, or a lawn game lover? Consider organizing a game night in their honor! Feeling extra creative? Develop a brand-new game based on the life of your person. Give your guests a chance to learn more about your person while enjoying one of their favorite activities!
Who this is great for: Communities that love friendly competition
Pub Gathering
Raise a glass and toast the life of your person at their favorite pub, bar, brewery, cidery, or winery. Add in a dart tournament, some wine tastings, or even a karaoke machine to make it a party your person would love!
Who this is great for: Brewing aficionados, wine connoisseurs, or anyone who likes to raise a glass and have a laugh
Outdoor Events
Park Picnic
Fresh air and good friends is all you need to make a picnic a great celebration! Bring along some of your person’s favorite foods, drinks, and a comfy blanket and you’ll be sure to have a great time reminiscing and honoring their memory. Don’t forget your sunscreen and bug spray!
Who this is great for: Outdoor lovers and those looking to maintain social distancing
Backyard BBQ
Turn your backyard into the perfect BBQ celebration! Prep your food before the guests arrive so you’re ready to grill and free to socialize. Don’t forget to check ahead of time to make sure your grill has plenty of propane or you have enough charcoal handy for the whole day! Inviting a big group of folks? Make it a potluck BBQ and ask guests to bring their favorite side dish. And no backyard BBQ is complete without a few games! You can play cornhole or bags, horseshoe toss, or simply play catch with a ball.
Who this is great for: Groups that love to grill or spend some time outside
Beach Day
Why not make your person’s celebration of life feel like a relaxing vacation? Celebrate your person by heading out to your nearest beach and having some fun under the sun! You don’t even have to live near the ocean to enjoy a serene view of the water. Head to your local lake or pond and dip your toes in! Don’t have either of those? No worries! Grab a couple kiddie pools, fill up your water guns, and enjoy a tasty beverage remembering the person who brought you all together.
Who this is great for: Groups that love the water and spending outside
Tailgating
Whether it’s football, baseball, or Canada’s Pillow Fight League—tailgating is a great way to celebrate a sports fan! Grab some snacks, some face paint and celebrate your person by cheering on their favorite sports team. Peewees, professional, or even just a pick-up game—cheer on the team loudly and proudly in honor of your person!
Who this is great for: Sports lovers and athletes
Celebrations with a Charitable Goal
Memorial Athletic Event
There’s nothing like getting a group of people together for a cause bigger than themselves. Organizing a fun run, bike ride, golf outing, pick-up football game, or other athletic activities is a great way to get active people working towards a goal that betters our world. Pick a cause your loved one supported and RUN with it!
Who this is great for: Active and charitable people
Book Drive
Release your inner bookworm by organizing a book drive! Celebrate your person’s favorite genres or authors by collecting their books and donating them to a local library, nearby charity, or directly to people in your community, all in honor of your favorite bibliophile! You can even organize a monthly book club or annual reading event—think short stories, poetry, or any genre your person loved—to spread your person’s love of reading.
Who this is great for: Groups who enjoy reading
Community Service Outing
Organizing a community service outing can be a great way to bring people closer together, while also improving the community your person loved. Celebrate your special person by cleaning up their old neighborhood, painting houses, or volunteering at the local soup kitchen.
Who this is great for: Groups who are altruistic and enjoy philanthropy work
Adventurous Outings
Memorial Trip / Pilgrimage
Adventure is out there, so don’t think that celebrations need to be confined to one space. Travel the world, explore new places, and celebrate your person’s legacy by hitting all the spots they’ve visited or wanted to see. You could even make a pilgrimage to a meaningful religious or cultural site that held a special place in your person’s heart. Perhaps, join the Hajj to Mecca or attend a mass led by the Pope in Rome. Wherever and whenever you choose to go, taking a trip is a great way to honor a travel-lover.
Who this is great for: Groups who love to travel
Group Hike
The smell of the forest and nature can be therapeutic to many, especially outdoorsy groups. Grab your hiking boots, water bottles, and a couple snacks and embark on a group hike! Interacting with nature is a great way to feel connected to the world and connected to your special person. Explore your loved one’s favorite wooded areas, skip rocks across the glistening creeks, and tell stories as you bond with the people you love.
Who this is great for: People who love the great outdoors
Tattoo Party
Hiring a talented tattoo artist for an event can be loads of fun. Whether you go the permanent or the temporary route, tattoos come in so many different styles that you’ll be sure to find something your person would have loved. Your friends and family can even get matching tattoos to honor your loved one! Not feeling permanent ink? Consider custom long-term temporary tattoos!
Who this is great for: Groups who enjoy body art
Virtual Events
Virtual Celebration of Life
Sometimes it can be difficult to organize an event and get people together all in one place, especially with friends and families scattered geographically.
Consider using a tool like Zoom or Google Meet to bring friends & family together for a virtual celebration of life service. Our team at LifeWeb 360 created a comprehensive, step-by-step, free guide to planning a virtual service which you can download here.
Who this is great for: People who live far away or are unable to make it to a celebration in-person
Want more ideas & tips?
Our LifeWeb 360 team has gathered together some of the best tips, most helpful advice, and loads of inspiring snapshots from our community to help make planning a Celebration of Life as easy as possible.
Visit our Planning Hub to check them out, and don’t forget to download your free Guide to Planning a Celebration of Life.
Together with our community, we’ll help inspire and support you as you plan a Celebration of Life as special and unique as your loved one.
This article was researched and written with love by Sam & Maggie from the LifeWeb 360 team.
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