What is a Celebration of Life?

A celebration of life is a social gathering that honours the life and legacy of someone who’s passed away. It often takes the place of a funeral or memorial service, but it can also serve as an additional way to honour your loved one. Sometimes, they are big, joyous parties, and other times, they are more lowkey, casual affairs.

When planning a celebration of life, there’s no right or wrong way to commemorate your loved one — it’s more about what will bring you and your friends and family the most sense of comfort and joy. You can celebrate however you’d like, but if you’re looking for some inspiration, check out our life celebration ideas below. 

Create a special holiday

One idea for a celebration of life involves creating a special holiday every year in your loved one’s memory. Maybe your Dad loved to grill, making an annual cook-off the perfect way to remember him or perhaps your Sister loved to go camping on the Murray River, Invite all your loved ones to join you in the celebrations, and be sure to mark your calendar for this holiday every year.  

Buy a star 

Adopting and naming a star after your loved one is another touching life celebration idea. For a small cost, you can name one of the billions of stars in the sky and receive a certificate with the star’s coordinates and name. And the best part? No matter where you are on Earth, you can always look up and see that star. To make it especially memorable, bring a telescope to the celebration of life event so everyone has the opportunity to admire the special star. 

Make a donation in their name

Celebrating one’s life could mean donating to a cause near and dear to them. But if you’d like it to be more of an event, you could always host a fundraiser, like a walk-a-thon or 5K run, so all your loved ones can participate. 

Organize a destination celebration of life

Did your Mum have a favourite holiday spot at the beach? Did your husband love hiking? If so, plan a destination celebration of life in that memorable place. Round up your friends and family and spend your time engaging in your loved one’s favourite activities. Simply being in a place they enjoyed can bring a sense of peace. 

Scatter their ashes

When it comes to the best celebration of life activities, many people find comfort in spreading their loved one’s ashes. Whether you decide to scatter them on your own or with a group of friends or relatives, there are many ways you can go about it. For instance, you could scatter them at sea, along their favourite hike, or even in a private spot in your backyard.

Day on the green

This is a wonderful way to celebrate a bowler.

Commission a memorial bench

If your cousin loved surfing at the beach or your grandpa enjoyed walking around the local lake, dedicate a memorial bench to them in that special area and unveil the bench for everyone to admire at the celebration of life. The beauty of this idea is that whenever you’re missing your loved one, you can visit their bench, reflect on their life, and soak in their favourite surroundings.  

Design a tattoo

If you, and those close to you, are mourning the loss of someone special, you might consider designing a tattoo in their honour. For example, we helped a wife with her and her husbands fingerprints which were then combined to create a heart tattoo. This was a special bonding experience for her that provided a way to celebrate her husbands life.

Cinema day

This would have to be one of the most unusual but perfect for a lady of the Cinema. The family wanted to incorporate their Mum’s favourite movie into her Celebration, so we hired a Cinema and arranged for them to screen her favourite flix. Six years on family and friends are still talking about it today.

We are always here for you if you want to discuss ideas and contacts