When the time comes to say goodbye to a loved one, it’s never easy, but it doesn’t have to be about sadness. While we naturally mourn the loss of the person. A funeral can be a chance to celebrate their life and achievements, while reminiscing about the journey that person had.
A funeral can be a chance for family, friends and colleagues to come together for a celebration that’s filled with love, laughter and colour. Increasingly more people are now opting for this type of final farewell over a traditional funeral to honour the life that’s being remembered and celebrated.
In this article, we take a look at some of the ways you can personalise a funeral to make it a true celebration of life.
Shifting from sadness to celebration
Traditional funerals tend to be more formal occasions where people often dress in black suits and dresses. And while there is nothing wrong with this send-off, there are other ways people can say a final farewell to their loved one.
A funeral can be whatever you want it to be. It can be full of colour and laughter and bring in everything your loved one enjoyed. Focusing on the person and personalising their funeral gives a fitting tribute to a life well lived, rather than just mourning the loss.
Tips for personalising a funeral
The first thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong way to say goodbye. It’s really down to your loved one’s wishes and how you want to honour their life. Here are some tips on how you can make a funeral personal:
- Incorporate their favourite colour: Whether it’s hot pink, orange or yellow, ask guests to wear clothes in that colour, while weaving it in throughout the day, through the likes of flowers and decorations.
- Personalise the eulogy: One of the most effective ways to personalise a funeral is by including a bespoke eulogy. This can be written by you, or in some cases, a person likes to prepare by writing their own eulogy. Find out more about writing your a eulogy.
- Choose the right venue: Remember, there are no legal restrictions as to where a funeral can take place. With that in mind, pick somewhere that is fitting for your loved one, and reflects the life they lived. Maybe their garden, a beach, the local pub, or a wild meadow.
- Create a memory wall: Ask guests to bring something that reminds them of the person and create a display of these items along with photographs at every stage of their life.
- Include a memory book: This can be either online or at the ceremony. Guests can write down their favourite memories so they can be cherished. Also, people should be encouraged to say a few words at the ceremony to share their stories.
- Play their music: Select their favourite songs or albums and have them play in the background during the ceremony and the wake. You could even create a playlist that can be shared with guests so they can listen to it to remember them.
- Serve the foods they loved: A traditional buffet is great, but if your loved one’s favourite food was pizza and beer, then serve that to help guests feel closer to them.
Are you planning a celebration of life?If you would like to create a celebration of life that’s unique to your loved one, then get in touch with Julie Hughes. Our sister company, Fiesta Farewell is available for people wanting to celebrate the unique life story of a person. It provides people with the essential resources and services, so that people can arrange a bespoke celebration of life.
