A celebration of life can be the perfect way to honor the life and legacy of your loved one, and help to pay a well-deserved tribute that is as special as the life that the event represents. Every family will go about planning their loved one’s services and memorial events differently, and a celebration of life is no different. A celebration of life can be fully inspired by the life and passions of your loved one; the possibilities are endless. If you’re having a hard time with the process, here are some unique ideas that can help you get started.

1. Music: Something as simple as the music at the event can represent an aspect of the life of the deceased. You can create a playlist of their favorite songs and styles that plays in the background of the celebration, or you may want to consider having live musicians perform for the event. There are no rules regarding music, it’s a matter of what your family wants and what you think would best represent your loved one and their wishes.
2. Releases: Like at many other events or celebrations, you may want to incorporate a release as a symbolic gesture. Some options include releasing doves, butterflies, balloons, or lanterns into the sky or onto water.Releasing a balloon or lantern is a ritual that many families have used to symbolize releasing a lost loved one’s spirit or sending love to their spirit or memory. Those in attendance to help celebrate your loved one can also write personal notes of remembrance into the balloons and lanterns– though, you may want to keep those too!
3. Theme and Decorations: Many families may choose to keep the event simple, while others may choose to have a specific theme for the celebration. A factor that is important to decide on with or without a theme is the decorations. While it doesn’t have to be extravagant, decorations are as important a detail as they would be at any other gathering. Simple decoration ideas include balloons, flowers, memory cards, place settings, photographs, and others. If your loved one had one or many specific passions or hobbies that would represent their life and spirit well, you may want to consider tying it into the celebration in some way– decorations with that passion in mind are a great way to make the event personal to the deceased.
4. Tribute video: Many families like to make tribute videos or slideshows for their loved one. This is where you can really reflect on the memories made over the years and maybe even learn more about the life they led as you search for photographs and/or videos to include. While you may have a large enough archive of photographs of and with your loved one, you might try asking others that were close to them to share some of their favorite memories and pictures with you to include. You can make the video extra personalized and special by adding music that was a favorite of your loved one.
5. Memory table/board: A popular celebration of life idea is to create a memory display to display the person’s life. Like a tribute video/slideshow, this is another opportunity to share photographs that share the memory of your loved one’s life. The table can also include beloved items or anything else that showcases who they were in life. For example, if they loved to garden, placing some flowers or gardening tools can show off that side of them. Personal memorabilia can bring a unique and sentimental touch to the celebration.

If you’re looking for a venue for an upcoming celebration of life, let Occasions4.us be your guide. We’ve partnered with five venues in the Las Vegas area — including The Legacy Golf Club and Wildhorse Golf Club in Henderson, the Spanish Trail Country Club in Las Vegas, Aliante Golf Club in North Las Vegas, as well as Primm Valley at the California-Nevada border — and our relationships with caterers, event coordinators and photographers means that you won’t have to spend the day organizing and ensuring that everything goes off without a hitch. Our facilities include private meeting rooms and banquet space, equipment rentals (projectors, tv’s, screens, microphones), unobtrusive staff, catering and banquet menus, and packaging and pricing options available based on setup requirements.

Your wishes will be honored and respected as we seek to lighten your load at this delicate time. Remember, Occasions4.us event consultants are here to help make this celebration special in every way.