Our Monthly Tip: Plan a Celebration of Life in an Unusual Location

Our Tip of the Month 

Holding a celebration of life in an unusual location other than somewhere such as a cemetery, backyard, church, restaurant or community hall can offer a new avenue for personalized memorial services. The key is that the location truly reflects the life, interests and passions of the person who has died. Gathering together in a place that person loved can help those who are grieving feel more connected.

Hiking a loved one’s favorite spot is a great way to feel connected and celebrate their life.
Credit: lifeissweeterbydesign.com

How-To Suggestions

If the person who has died was a fan of the outdoors, the beach, an overlook or a trailhead, plan your celebration of life in that location. Make a whole day of it to fully immerse those involved in the memory of the loved one who has died.

The celebration could be a single event on a special day, such as the day they died or their birthday. Likewise, it could become an annual pilgrimage to help everyone connect to others, tell stories and bring that person into full focus for a day.

If the location allows for it (such as a trail overlook) take turns shouting some attributes you love about the person who died, a joke you shared or what you will miss the most. Bring an amazing picnic lunch packed with the loved one’s favorite sandwiches, snacks, or drinks. Use the meal to refuel and also as a gathering point to tell stories about the person who has died.

To honor the location as well as the loved one, please refrain from defacing trees or other property by carving names, dates or initials into them. Instead, search for an interesting rock or a cool shell to bring back as a memory of that special day. And most importantly, recognize that you are not limited to memorial services that people have done before. You can plan a celebration of life almost anywhere you want, even in an unusual location.