Our Monthly Tip: Decorate a Place Setting and Chair For Your Loved One’s Memorial Service

Our Tip of the Month

A unique idea for a memorial service or celebration of life is to decorate a place setting and empty chair in honor of your loved one’s spirit. While the empty chair is a strong reminder that your loved one is now gone, it can also generate fond memories of what your loved one would be doing or saying if they were there. As such, decorating a place setting and chair provides a visual way for your loved one’s spirit to be with everyone in the room.

How-To Suggestions

When you decorate the place setting and chair, you may want to pick a decor that represents your loved one’s tastes and style. For example, if they loved wildflowers or floral arrangements, a chair covered in flowers could be a great way to honor their memory.

Credit: pinterest.com

Or, if they loved certain color schemes, you could decorate a place setting and chair with ribbons or accents in their favorite color. The sky is limit — if they enjoyed fishing, running, animals, movies, or certain foods and drinks, you can decorate a place setting with items that represent all their favorite things.

An additional idea is to make the act of decorating the place setting a special event in and of itself. Perhaps you’ll want to do it alone to have an intimate moment with the memory of your loved one. If so, be sure to give yourself sufficient time before the memorial service or celebration of life, as you may be overcome by strong emotions. 

Alternatively, you can include others in the act of adornment and use it as an opportunity to share memories of your loved one and connect with one another.