What is a celebration of life?

A celebration of life is a ceremony or event that pays tribute to a person who has passed away.  It can serve as an alternative to a traditional funeral or complement one and is meant to be a more positive and uplifting experience that celebrates the person’s life, achievements, and impact on the world. 

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Celebration of life events are not bound by strict time frames or rules.  They often include special touches, activities, or locations that reflect the honoree’s personality, passions, or accomplishments.

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What is the difference between a celebration of life and a traditional funeral?

Funerals tend to be deeply rooted in tradition and are often considered to be more formal and somber occasions.  Without a doubt, there will always be tears and tissues, but celebration of life events tend to be less formal, more personalized, and focus less on loss and more on gratitude.  They provide a space for family and friends to appreciate having had the opportunity to be a part of the person’s life, enjoy the gifts they shared with the world, and to celebrate their accomplishments.

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Do you help with traditional post funeral gatherings or only offer celebration of life events?

We are available and glad to help families with all types of events.  Our goal is to make your vision a reality by helping you create a memorial that feels meaningful and comfortable for everyone.  Whether you choose a traditional funeral or a celebration of life, Celebrating the Memories will be here to support you every step of the way.

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How much time do we need to plan?

The amount of time you need will depend on many factors including the type of event you will have, your guest count, whether most people will be local or require travel, and your budget.  As an example, a simple and more traditional post funeral reception for friends and family at home or a small venue can be planned within a week.  For a larger event with more elements, we recommend 2-6 weeks to coordinate the event, speakers, multimedia, rentals, and vendors.

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What are some of the benefits of hiring a professional planner?

We simplify the decision making process during an extremely stressful, emotional, and overwhelming time for you and your family.

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We cover the elements that you may not have considered to make the process a little less stressful, less confusing, more efficient, and better organized - allowing you to grieve with peace of mind.  We help you organize the details such as timelines, set up and break down, seating, decor, memorabilia tables, parking, menu selection, and signage. 

We help proofread your programs, invitations, and signage for accuracy and clarity.  

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We manage vendor communications and coordination so that you can be truly present with family and friends rather than focusing on returning emails and running errands.  Examples of vendors you may need for your event include florists, caterers, AV professionals and slide show creators, rental companies, and photographers.

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Planners provide guidance for your event such as advice on  the number of speakers, who should speak, and the length of speeches to help maintain a nice flow for the service.  

 

We coordinate set up and perform onsite creative styling to make sure your event is perfect and ready for you and your guests.

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We cue musicians, speakers, AV professionals, photographers, and videographers and help keep the event on schedule for a smooth day.

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A planner also serves as a point person throughout the day to answer guest and vendor questions so you aren’t disturbed and are available to be fully present.

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Do you provide funeral or cremation services?

Although we are happy to work with funeral homes and crematoriums, Celebrating the Memories is a celebration of life coordinator and does not provide funeral or mortuary services.