5 Ideas To Personalize A Funeral

Like every other aspect of life, funerals have changed over the years, and the resulting changes have made them less of a sad affair and more of a remembrance event. Today, you can buy customized caskets, choose your funeral music, and even get personalized memorial keepsakes to celebrate your loved one’s life while honoring their memory at the same time. If you want to plan or attend a well-arranged funeral, here are some tips on personalizing funerals.

Create A Memorial

Talk to your loved ones about what kind of memorial would be most meaningful for them. Maybe they’d like to be an integral part of their own celebration of life; maybe they’d like their family and friends to create something together that embodies their personality and passions. No matter how you decide to do it, honoring, your loved one’s wishes will make it a ceremony that truly reflects who they were.

Include The Things They Love

Your loved one is unique and you want to make sure that their funeral reflects that. The best way to do that is by finding ways to include their favorite things in their service. For example, if they loved sports or animals, you could set up a ceremony or a time of remembrance where everyone wears their favorite sports team jersey or even have animals like horses, dogs, and cats be a part of it. Your loved ones’ personalities should be a big part of their funeral. They would want it that way. You can also decorate your funeral with photos and items they collected over time to give people an idea of who they were while they were alive so people can celebrate them at death as well.

Work Together On A Memorial Piece Of Art

After you have chosen a casket, ask your funeral director to help you create a memorial work of art. You can choose from an array of artistic designs, such as statues or urns that pay tribute to your loved one’s interests and hobbies. Many cemeteries are now featuring these interactive works that let visitors learn more about their departed loved ones in a new way. If you want something more traditional, marble monuments or bronze plaques with personalized inscriptions are great options as well.

Make A Photo Collage

If your loved one loved to travel, create a collage of photos that have him or her in various far-flung places. If he or she had a favorite sports team, consider making a collage from tickets or game programs from various big games. If she or he was a history buff, consider using old postcards as backgrounds for pictures of them at various historical sites. Even family recipes can make for fun pictures and touches if your loved one is an avid cook. The best thing about creating these personalized touches is that you’ll be doing it together with family and friends—which will be much easier than doing it alone if there is no family left behind.

Invite Guests to Take Something Home as a Thank-You Gift

For example, if your grandmother’s favorite book was a John Grisham novel, ask guests to take home their copy of the book. Or, if she liked pink carnations, ask friends and family to each pick out a pink carnation from her casket when they arrive. Doing so will give them something tangible that can be placed in their homes as a reminder of her life. Not only does it personalize your funeral ceremony, but also, it’s an opportunity for guests to participate in a way that feels comfortable for them.