The Growing Popularity of Joint Ash Scattering for Couples
Some love stories do not end when the heartbeat stills. They ripple forward—through memory, through story, through the landscapes where two lives were intertwined. Increasingly, couples are choosing ash scattering as a final chapter that mirrors the way they lived: together.
Joint ash scattering — where the cremated remains of both partners are released in the same ceremony or location — has become a powerful, symbolic act for those who wish to remain side by side in the earth’s embrace.
🌿 See Available National Park Destinations →
📞 Speak to a Memorial Specialist: (515) 206-4845
bonaventurememorial@gmail.com
Ash scattering is not simply about a place. It is about a promise kept—one that says, “Where you go, I will go. Where you rest, I will rest.” The mountain trail where they once hiked hand in hand. The wildflower meadow where they shared quiet picnics. The ocean shore where they returned year after year to watch the tide rise and fall like the rhythm of their own hearts.
Why Couples Are Choosing Joint Ash Scattering
While traditional burials often separate loved ones by years, miles, or circumstance, joint ash scattering creates a singular, shared moment—a return to nature, side by side. More than a final act, it is a deeply symbolic gesture of devotion, belonging, and closure.
1. A Shared Vision for the End of Life
Many couples talk openly about their wishes long before it’s time. For some, the idea of resting together offers comfort, reassurance, and a sense of continuity. Joint scattering is not simply about where ashes are released—it’s about shaping a shared ending to a shared story.
Whether it’s on a mountain trail where they once hiked hand in hand, the ocean they sailed across with the wind in their faces, or a forest they walked through every autumn, this choice reflects a deliberate commitment: we will finish our story the same way we lived it—together.
2. A Symbolic Union That Outlasts Death
Traditional vows declare, “’til death do us part.” But joint scattering gently rewrites that promise: Even then, we remain one.
When ashes are released together, the mingling becomes more than symbolic—it is a visible, physical expression of a spiritual truth. Just as two lives were intertwined in laughter, struggle, and love, their essence joins once more in nature, inseparable and eternal. For families witnessing it, the act feels less like parting, and more like union fulfilled.
3. Freedom From Permanence
A traditional grave can feel heavy, immovable, and tied to one place. For some, that permanence offers stability—but for others, it feels limiting.
Joint scattering offers a more fluid legacy. Ashes released into air, water, or forest become part of an ongoing rhythm—moving, mingling, and becoming part of the living world again. Instead of confinement, there is freedom. Instead of a single marker in stone, there is a legacy that drifts on waves, rides the wind, or rests quietly in the soil, carried forward by the natural cycles of life.
4. A Source of Closure for the Living
For families, witnessing joint scattering can be profoundly healing. There is deep reassurance in knowing that neither partner waits alone, that both have found their rest together.
The ceremony itself creates a shared moment of release—not just of ashes, but of grief and longing. Loved ones often describe the act as both heartbreaking and deeply comforting, a way of honoring a bond fulfilled while marking a clear, sacred goodbye. It becomes a story the living can carry forward: they stayed together until the very end.
5. A Connection to Place and Story
Joint scattering is also about choosing a landscape that tells the couple’s story. A sunlit meadow where anniversaries were celebrated. A rugged coast where vacations always began. A quiet forest path where words of comfort were exchanged on long walks.
When ashes are scattered in these meaningful places, the act transforms into more than remembrance—it becomes a living memorial. The land itself becomes part of their story, holding the memory of their love for generations to return to. Each visit, each photo, each remembered detail becomes a way of saying: their love lives here.
A Family’s Guide to Joint Ash Scattering
Begin with Conversation
Couples who choose this path often do so years before it’s needed. The first step isn’t paperwork—it’s honesty. Talking openly about wishes brings peace, clarity, and shared intention. For many, this conversation becomes an act of love itself: a way of saying, wherever the journey ends, we’ll go together.
Choose the Style: Simultaneous or Sequential
There are two ways families often approach joint scattering:
Simultaneous scattering – Both partners’ ashes are released at the same moment, symbolizing unity and eternal togetherness.
Sequential scattering – One partner’s ashes are lovingly held until the other has passed, then both are scattered together.
Each choice holds its own meaning—neither is more right, only more fitting to the love story being honored.
Select a Place with Meaning
A mountain ridge, a quiet forest, the lake where summers were spent—choose somewhere that says: this was us.
Bonaventure’s curated ash scattering destinations offer natural sanctuaries that elevate these moments into timeless acts of remembrance. Families often select places that reflect who they were together, such as:
Hawaii, for couples who shared an affinity for the ocean’s vast horizon.
Mount Rainier, for those who loved the quiet majesty of alpine wilderness.
Zion National Park, where cliffs and canyons echo the grandeur of enduring love.
Dolphins at Sunset in Pensacola, for couples whose lives were shaped by the sea.
Bioluminescent waters of Puget Sound, where light itself becomes a symbol of memory.
Check the Laws First
Many families are surprised by the regulations surrounding scattering. Securing any necessary permits ahead of time preserves dignity on the day. BONAVENTURE’s team assists with the National Park Service permitting process, ensuring your ceremony is both legal and respectful of the land.
Decide Who Will Carry Out the Scattering
Some families choose a close relative to release the ashes. Others prefer a professional, allowing them to simply be present in the moment. What matters most is trust—the knowledge that the act will be carried out with reverence.
Prepare for the Elements
Ashes are light and catch the wind easily. A sheltered spot or a biodegradable scattering urn can help keep the ceremony graceful. BONAVENTURE provides guidance on tools and techniques so that families can focus on memory, not logistics.
Create the Ceremony You Want
There is no right way. Your scattering may be as formal as a service with readings and shared music, or as quiet as a few words spoken into the breeze. Whether standing on a mountain trail, a wild shoreline, or beneath a starlit sky, the ritual becomes sacred because it is yours.
Include Space for Closure
Joint scattering offers a moment to mark not just a loss, but a bond fulfilled. It reminds family and friends that love’s promise was kept—side by side until the very end.
Document the Place
Take a photograph, record coordinates, or mark a map. These small acts give future generations a touchstone, a way to say: this is where they returned to the earth together.
Unique Funeral Tribute: Remember the Why
At its heart, joint scattering is not about the ashes—it’s about the bond. It is a promise honored and a love story given back to the land. A final act of togetherness, whispered into mountains, oceans, and skies that will hold the memory long after.
Choosing the Right Destination for Ash Scattering for Two
At BONAVENTURE, we understand that this final farewell deserves a setting as unique and enduring as the love it celebrates. Our curated landscapes offer more than breathtaking scenery—they hold seasons, laws, and moments that shape how your scattering will be remembered.
Hawaii – Explore Hawaii Scattering Packages
Best Season: Winter and spring bring calmer seas and gentle trade winds—ideal for a peaceful ocean scattering.
Laws & Permissions: Hawaii welcomes scatterings at sea three nautical miles from shore; no special permit is required when done in accordance with EPA guidelines.
Make It Special: Couples often choose sunrise or sunset, when the Pacific glows gold. Flower lei or fresh petals (eco-friendly and natural only) can be released with the ashes, drifting together in the tide.
Mount Rainier National Park – Discover Mount Rainier Packages
Best Season: Summer through early fall, when meadows are in bloom and trails are accessible, creates a backdrop of alpine wildflowers and snow-dusted peaks.
Laws & Permissions: Scatterings are allowed with a free special use permit from the National Park Service; BONAVENTURE handles compliance for you.
Make It Special: Choose a location where mountain vistas stretch endlessly. Many couples scatter ashes at tree line, so the wind carries them into both forest and sky—symbolizing union across realms.
Bioluminescence at Puget Sound – See Bioluminescence Scattering Options
Best Season: Late summer through early fall, when plankton blooms cause the water to shimmer under starlight.
Laws & Permissions: Scatterings at sea here follow EPA regulations, with releases taking place three nautical miles offshore.
Make It Special: Under a dark sky, ashes touch water that glows with blue light. Two lives released as one into a night ocean feels like entering eternity wrapped in light.
Yellowstone National Park – Explore Yellowstone Packages
Best Season: Late spring brings rivers rushing with snowmelt; autumn cloaks the park in golden aspen. Each season tells a different story.
Laws & Permissions: A free permit is required; scattering is allowed in designated backcountry areas, away from hydrothermal features. BONAVENTURE secures permissions on your behalf.
Make It Special: Imagine scattering along the Lamar Valley as elk bugle in the distance or near a quiet alpine lake reflecting the sky—two lives joining the cycles of wilderness that endure forever.
✨ Whether by glowing waters, alpine heights, or volcanic shores, your farewell can be as boundless as your love. BONAVENTURE ensures every legal, seasonal, and emotional detail is honored—so all you carry is the moment itself.
Planning a Joint Ash Scattering: A Guide to Honoring Togetherness
Planning a joint ash scattering is more than a task—it is a sacred unfolding of love’s last testament. BONAVENTURE is here to help you plan with compassion and care, ensuring the details are handled with grace so the moment can be lived fully.
In a world where love is often measured in years, joint ash scattering reframes it as something timeless. Two lives, two journeys—released together into the embrace of nature.
It’s not just an ending.
It’s the ultimate act of togetherness.
🌿 See Available National Park Destinations →
📞 Speak to a Memorial Specialist: (515) 206-4845
bonaventurememorial@gmail.com
FAQ: Scattering Ashes Together
Can two people’s ashes be scattered at the same time?
Yes. Many couples or close loved ones choose to have their ashes scattered together, symbolizing an eternal bond. BONAVENTURE honors these wishes by ensuring that the remains are commingled or released simultaneously, depending on your preference.
Do the ashes need to be combined before scattering?
It’s up to you. Some families prefer to commingle the ashes into one vessel before scattering, creating a true union. Others prefer to scatter them side by side, allowing them to mingle naturally in the wind, water, or forest. BONAVENTURE can help guide you through both options.
Is it legal to scatter two people’s ashes together?
Yes. Scattering laws generally regulate the location of the scattering, not the number of people whose remains are included. As long as the scattering occurs in compliance with federal, state, or park regulations, two sets of remains may be scattered together.
Do both urns need to be shipped separately?
Ashes can be shipped separately or together. If families have the ashes in two urns, BONAVENTURE can receive both packages and arrange the scattering to honor them as one. If you wish for ashes to be combined before shipping, that can also be done at home with care. (For shipping, always use the official USPS Cremated Remains Kit).
How can we make a joint scattering meaningful?
There are many ways to personalize:
Seasonality: Choose a time that mirrors their story—spring for renewal, autumn for reflection, summer for vibrance, or winter for serenity.
Symbolic gestures: Families sometimes read vows, release wildflower seeds, or recite poetry that honors the couple’s bond.
Setting: Select a destination that resonates with both lives—whether it’s the fiery glow of Hawaii’s shores, the luminous mystery of Puget Sound’s bioluminescence, or the quiet majesty of Yellowstone’s valleys.
What if one person has passed, but the other is still living?
Many couples choose to scatter one partner’s ashes while keeping the other’s until the time comes. BONAVENTURE offers the Partners Package, allowing families to pre-arrange a second scattering so the two can ultimately rest together.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah-Marie Sherbon is a writer, mother, and a co-founder of BONAVENTURE, a destination ash scattering service devoted to helping families say goodbye in places that still feel sacred.
Her reverence for the wild was shaped over years in the national parks—kayaking through the rugged archipelago of Isle Royale, hiking beneath the emerald ballet of light in Mount Rainier’s rainforest, and breathing in the wildflower-sweetened stillness of Yellowstone’s hidden places. Today, she draws on those experiences to guide families toward tributes rooted in beauty, memory, and return—because some goodbyes deserve a view that takes your breath away.
FAMILY LEGACY IN THE NATIONAL PARKS
Bonaventure was born from generations spent walking the wild edges of this country—serving as park rangers, guides, and stewards of America’s most sacred landscapes. Together, we’ve planned ceremonies for royalty, navigated avalanches with radios slung over our shoulders, and stood beneath the northern lights waiting for the hush before dawn.
Our family has nearly a century of combined experience in the National Parks. We've climbed peaks, captained sailboats, and led thousands of guests through these extraordinary places. BONAVENTURE is our way of passing that reverence on—crafting custom tributes that honor each life with beauty, excellence, and care.
But through it all, what’s endured is story. The stories of those who came to these places to remember. To return. To let go.
We created BONAVENTURE to offer something worthy of that final chapter: a farewell not rushed or transactional, but reverent. Custom tributes crafted with intention. Ash scatterings carried out with park permission, environmental care, and deep personal respect.
We are foremost a family of storytellers. And in the story, the ending is what matters most.
For National Park Scattering: Permits & Resources
If you're considering a National Park as your scattering site, be sure to follow proper procedures. BONAVENTURE handles permits for our services, but families should be aware of:
