Our Monthly Tip: Create a Graveside Photo Display

A graveside photo display can add a personal touch to your loved one’s burial. Credit: Larkspur Conservation

Our Tip of the Month

It is easy to make a burial service a celebratory one. Enlarge some pictures of the person being honored to create a simple graveside photo display. Tie string or ribbon between two trees. Then secure the photos with clips. You can even choose ribbon or clips that showcase your loved one’s favorite color or style.

These photos can serve as a wonderful reminder of that person’s life. A graveside photo display can inspire everyone to share memories or stories of special times they once had with the departed. Additionally, spending time outdoors among trees has been shown to reduce stress, an additional reward while encouraging guests to enjoy the photos.

Black and white photos of the deceased stand out amid the vibrant floral arrangement at a burial.
Credit: Larkspur Conservation

How-To Suggestions

Printing photos: If you do not own a scanner, ask a friend to scan and print larger copies of some old photos for you. You could choose to print in either color or black and white. If you are printing yourself, choose the draft setting under printer options to save on ink unless you plan to keep the photos for use later. If you do not have photo paper, a quality card stock paper would suffice. Standard copy paper will be too thin and may curl or blow in the wind more easily. Or simply bring your photos to a local print shop, FedEx, or Staples for assistance.

Customize your graveside photo display with colorful string or ribbon

Hanging photos: A long strand of ribbon, cord, twine, tulle or string can be tied tightly to nearby trees. If only one tree is available, tie various lengths of string to the lower branches. Clip each of the top corners of a photo to a string to secure them. This will make for a nice cascading display. Or you could tie your string or ribbon tightly around a large tree trunk.

You can choose small clothespins, paperclips or office clips to anchor the photos. These items are all available in various sizes, styles, colors and designs so you can further personalize your graveside photo display.

Although not all gravesides are nestled among trees, this display can be an easy addition to green burials that often takes place in a more natural setting. It can also serve well if you plan to scatter cremation ashes in any wooded area. Basically, any ceremony, celebration or service for your loved one that includes an outdoor area with trees is the perfect backdrop for this unique exhibit.