Lighten In-Person Memorial Services
Planning a memorial service or celebration of life involves more than just picking a location and inviting your family and friends. We know you want to create an experience that truly celebrates who your loved one was and the way they lived their life. Lighten specializes in designing experiential memorial services infused with your loved one’s identity.
Don’t know where to begin?
Get started with our Planning Services and add items to your package as your ceremony takes shape.
(Standard planning time frame: 3 weeks from first Planning Session)
In-Person Ceremony Package
$1,500
Ceremony Planning
| One-On-One Support Receive direct support from a dedicated Lighten team member |
| Personalized Ceremony Design Including elements of your choice, such as speakers, readings, prayers, music |
| Two Planning Sessions To guide you through the planning process |
Photo Montage
| Personalized Photo Montage Up to 120 photos to play during your gathering |
Guest Management
| Memorial Webpage To honor your loved one & invite guests to RSVP |
| Regular Guest List Updates So you know who to expect |
| Reminder Emails Remind your guests before the ceremony |
| Guest Support Line We field questions, so you don’t have to |
| Thank You Emails A thank you email sent to your guests after the ceremony |
Add Ons
Customize your package
Personalized Touches
(Pricing varies with order size)
Need help with florals, decor, printed programs, keepsakes, music, or other event details? Leave it to us.
Custom Venue Sourcing
+ $1,200
We’ll help you think through the type of setting that feels right for your loved one’s gathering and find your venue.
Day-Of Coordination
+ $1,600
We’ll handle the logistics on the day of, from set up to clean up.
Lighten Officiant
+$400
Secular/non-denominational officiant to lead your loved one’s memorial ceremony.
External Officiant
(Rates vary by provider)
We work with families of many different cultural & faith backgrounds. If you need help finding an officiant who can lead your family’s specific traditions, we can help.
Professional Livestream
+ $1,800
Videographer + Camera Equipment
Personalized Eulogy Writing
+ $350
We’ll guide you through the process of sharing what’s meaningful to you, and create a personalized eulogy for the ceremony.
Concierge Planning
If you are looking for an ultra-bespoke ceremony or a custom planning process, please reach out to us about a full-service funeral concierge planning option.
Examples of Unique Funeral Services and Celebrations
The Immersive Museum Exhibit
For this beautiful event, Lighten partnered with The Chicago History Museum to create an immersive museum exhibit that commemorated a wonderful life. The exhibit featured clothes the honoree wore, furniture she restored, journals she kept, photos from her life, and much more. The presentation also included a plaque for each item, explaining its significance.
The Backyard Memorial
A simple send-off with extraordinary meaning, held in the comfort of home. A tent, chairs, and flowers placed in a sunny backyard created a quaint and picturesque setting. One of Lighten’s unique memorial service ideas, the outdoor memorial, brought together family and friends for memories, prayers, and stories, delivered in both English and Spanish.
The Big Screen
A celebration for a larger-than-life personality fit for the big screen. Lighten partnered with The Davis Theater to welcome guests on the red carpet and celebrate an impactful legacy. Lighten arranged the lights, camera, and action, while guests sat back, relaxed, and celebrated in tribute to their loved one’s wonderful life.
For more examples of modern funeral services and unique funeral arrangements,
visit our Stories page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lighten helps you design a memorial service that reflects the beliefs, traditions, and customs of your loved one. This can be a non religious memorial service or a religious ceremony. Lighten has experience planning different types of funerals, so your loved one’s service can be deeply personalized to them.
Lighten memorial services differ from traditional funerals in a few ways. First, memorial services are held in a location of your choosing that feels right for your loved one, rather than in a funeral home. Secondly, Lighten offers personalized support and guidance to design a program that uniquely reflects your loved one. And lastly, Lighten uses technology to streamline the planning process – including our online planning portal, video conference planning sessions, and virtual invitations and RSVPs for your guests.
Each Lighten memorial service is designed to reflect the unique identity of the loved one being honored. Lighten offers a variety of venues, memorial experiences, decor options, memorial keepsakes and more – so that each detail can be tailored to reflect your loved one’s unique life. We also offer funeral concierge sourcing for those who are looking for an ultra-bespoke ceremony. We can help you bring to life the experience that feels just right for your loved one, from very elaborate to very simple memorial service ideas.
If you are interested in planning a memorial for a loved one or yourself prior to a passing, Lighten can help. Visit our Pre-Planning Page for more information on celebration and memorial service planning in advance.
Ready to explore alternative funeral services and celebrations of life?
Considering alternative funeral options and hosting a celebration of life are becoming increasingly popular. For more information on how to have a celebration of life and how to plan a memorial the reflects your loved one’s unique life, check out our articles below: