PLANNING A MEMORIAL SERVICE:
A memorial service is an event that takes place after the passing of a loved one. Surely, it is one of those many heartbreaking events that everybody faces. Unlike the traditional funeral service, a memorial service or celebratory life event is more informal in nature. Usually, at these events, family members and friends gather together to reminisce about the deceased person and express their grief and loss.
Memorial services are not organised regularly nowadays. Only because people are ignoring the sheer importance of it. We must understand and reiterate the whole idea behind it. Memorials were held less for the deceased but more for those who were left behind with the memories of their loved ones. Therefore, there is an emotional need for people to let it out and accept the fact that a certain person is just a living memory now.
We comprehend your situation very well. Accordingly, we came up with this guide to provide you with all that you would need to arrange a proper memorial service for your loved one. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Read the deceased person’s will.
Whether a memorial will be held or not, this is first-hand information that is crucial to proceeding. If you, on your own, don’t have permission, then you must consult with the deceased person’s family. Look for some specific requests, if there are any, and cater to those strictly.
- Decide what kind of service to organise.
For organising any kind of event, you must know one’s familial inclinations. Similarly, here too, we must know whether the deceased or the deceased family wants a memorial service with some religious tones or not. After settling on the type of service, you should proceed with a certain number in mind for the budget because everything comes after that.
- Do some event research.
Managing events looks like a very simple task, but it surely isn’t. You have to do the research regarding the type of aesthetic. Collect some ideas about the theme, decorative items, and how to project the shared memories creatively. You can arrange a common whiteboard or a wall for people to share their personal experiences.
- Setting the time and date
The convenient thing about organising a memorial service is that you are not in a hurry. One can cope with grief first and then go ahead with planning the ceremony. You can delegate the tasks to ease out the process and not burden just one person. This also gives equal opportunity to far-away family and friends to come and attend the ceremony according to their convenience. Hence, you must set the date and time after considering the preferences of your guests.
- Choosing the right location
Choosing the right location is another important component of this list. The place should be large enough to accommodate every guest. You can look for some scenic beauty, such as a lake or beachside, or maybe a favourite restaurant. Well-thought-out locations can very well reflect the deceased person’s likes and dislikes. Moreover, knowing how much room and essentials would be necessary to serve the RSVPs is pretty important. One should also decide on rooms if some of the guests will be staying the night. And don’t forget to arrange a podium for the guest speeches.
- Personalising the theme of the memorial:
As mentioned above, small things reflect a person’s personality and overall vibe. So, to make the memorial more personal, you can adjust the music and theme of the service according to the deceased’s family or how the individual would have liked it. Compile a playlist with a range of music to play throughout the ceremony and add some favourable decorations.
- Arranging for the guest speeches:
Grieving for your loved ones is supposed to be a solitary journey, but it is not always a good idea for healing a wound. Listening to the perspectives of those who were closest to the deceased person gives us hope and satisfaction. It helps to connect with the person more deeply, hence building a legacy ahead.
So, you can contact the people with whom you would like to share their experiences on that particular day in advance to save some time.
- Keeping a memorial urn or keepsakes
Preserving the loving memories of the deceased person serves as good closure for the bereaved family. Now, this can be done either by keeping a memorial urn with custom engravings at the common family house or maybe at a crematorium so the family members can have something to go back to. Or one can also distribute the ashes among the family in the form of keepsake urns.
Hence, we hope this guide has helped you sort out your affairs and that you will be able to make an informed decision.
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