Lighten believes that memorials can be as unique as the life being celebrated. But when it comes to planning something so rooted in tradition and customs as funerals are, the first steps in gathering unique memorial ideas can sometimes be a little difficult. Lighten is here to help. In this article, we hope to give you a few jumping-off points for creating an uplifting celebration of life, personalized to your loved one.
Unique Memorial Ideas: Where to Start?
Within Lighten’s resources you can find articles that take one aspect of the memorial planning process and expand on ways to add personalized details. Here, we have chosen three broad categories to help you begin gathering unique memorial ideas: location of the service, timing of the service, and elements of the program.
Memorial Service Location
- Personality – What was one location your loved one couldn’t get enough of? Was there a place they were most closely associated with by friends and family? Is there a location that speaks to their favorite things in life? In your search for unique memorial ideas, answering questions like these might help you narrow in on a venue that is most representative of your loved one’s personality. Lighten, for example, offers in-person memorial services at places such as an art gallery, Irish pub, movie theater, and more. This kind of curation helps friends and family honor their loved one in a place that speaks to who they were in an uplifting and celebratory way.
- Experiential – What is the experience you are hoping to create for attendees? Do you picture the memorial service as a ceremony where people will be seated throughout the program? Or would you like to host the memorial in a space that is more conducive to moving about? Lighten once worked with a family who wanted to create an immersive exhibit to honor their loved one’s life. And what better location to host this exhibit than in a museum? (Read more about the museum exhibit here). There are also many people who opt for an at-home memorial service for an experience that is deeply personal to the people who have gathered to celebrate their loved one’s life. Incorporate an outdoor balloon release as an uplifting and colorful way to conclude a beautiful celebration of life.
- Inclusivity – The word “location” doesn’t necessarily need to be tied to a physical place. Virtual memorials offer the ability to include attendees who may not have otherwise been able to travel to an in-person service. Unique memorial ideas can certainly include ideas for how to add personalized touches to a virtual service.
Timing of the Service
Since the pandemic, the tradition of hosting a funeral or memorial within weeks of a loved one’s passing has shifted. But this shift no longer applies only to cases in which friends and family couldn’t gather because of the pandemic. In fact, the deliberate timing of a memorial service could make for a great addition to the list of unique memorial ideas. For example, hosting the service on your loved one’s birthday, wedding anniversary, or other major life milestone can make the memorial that much more personalized. And if it has been a little while since your loved one’s passing, Lighten wants you to feel comfortable in knowing that it is never too late to host a memorial.
Elements of the Service
You could call them “the little things.” The list below provides examples of details you can consider as you finalize your list of unique memorial ideas. This might be a good place to involve your friends and family in not only gathering the items but also contributing their stories and memories of your loved one in order to create the most personalized experience possible.
- Memorial Tribute or Eulogy – Lighten has helped families include tributes in the form of everything from a puppet show to a eulogy delivered by the family dog. You can gather more unique memorial tribute ideas here.
- The Food & Drink – If the service is in person, are there favorite recipes you can recruit a family member to make? If hosting a virtual memorial, try sharing the recipe for a favorite dish or drink beforehand. That way, even at a distance, all attendees can eat and drink in honor of the loved one.
- Get Everyone Outside – Is there an activity that can bring friends and family together in honor of your loved one? This might include a volunteering day, planting a memorial garden, or even a virtual dance party.
If you’re beginning the memorial planning process and are overwhelmed with where to start, Lighten can help. Let one of our dedicated planners help you create a memorial that is unique to the life being honored.
