What’s the One Thing Most People Don’t Want at a Funeral?
(Hint: It’s the Casket)
The Demand for Personal Funerals Is Here — But the Industry Hasn’t Caught Up
More than ever, families are saying no to the cookie-cutter funeral—and it starts with saying no to the casket.
Across the U.S., a growing majority is turning away from stiff formality and toward celebration, personalization, and purpose. The problem? 95% of funeral homes aren’t offering anything beyond a traditional playbook. (Funeral One)
The result: families are left to grieve in formats that don’t reflect their loved ones’ lives or values.
Unique funerals are the future of farewells
📊 The Numbers Speak for Themselves
🧭 72% of Americans say they want a non-traditional memorial service. (NFDA)
🎉 100% of Baby Boomers surveyed said they want a custom celebration of life — one that reflects their story, not just a script.
That’s not a trend—it’s a seismic shift in how we say goodbye.
Families aren’t just planning funerals anymore. They’re planning meaningful experiences. Whether it’s a mountaintop scattering, a beachside gathering at sunset, or a quiet moment of remembrance in a forest their loved one once hiked — today’s memorials are personal, intentional, and often held outside of a funeral home entirely.
At BONAVENTURE, we’re built for this new era. We help families turn memories into places and final goodbyes into moments that actually feel like them — no velvet curtains, no generic eulogies, no pressure to pretend.
This is what the future of funerals looks like:
✅ Customized
✅ Eco-conscious
✅ Centered on meaning—not tradition
If you're holding ashes and waiting for the right time or place, you're not alone. You're part of a growing majority who believes that honoring a life should feel just as personal as living one.
🌿 See Available National Park Destinations →
📞 Speak to a Memorial Specialist: (515) 206-4845
📧 bonaventurememorial@gmail.com
How to Have a Unique Funeral
Ideas, Inspiration, and a Modern Guide
If you want a send-off that reflects a real life—not a rented chapel—here are three ways to create something unforgettable.
1. Make It Personal
Honor Their Personality, Hobbies, and Habits
The most powerful funerals reflect the person, not the format. Was your loved one a frequent flyer? A national park explorer? A backyard gardener who loved hummingbirds?
Here are a few ways to personalize the service:
Location-Based Tribute: Host it somewhere that mattered to them—a mountain overlook, lakeside dock, or even their favorite hiking trail.
Memory Stations: Instead of pews and sermons, set up spaces where guests can engage—write a note, share a photo, or contribute to a communal garden pot.
Dress Code Flip: Ask guests to wear their favorite colors, a vintage band tee, or hiking boots. Skip the black suits entirely.
BONAVENTURE Tip: Our ash scattering ceremonies often take place in wild, meaningful places. We’ve helped families honor surfers, artists, botanists, and quiet stargazers—all without a casket in sight.
2. Break the Mold
Ditch the Chapel, Build the Mood
You don’t need to hold your service in a funeral home to make it meaningful. In fact, breaking out of that setting is often what makes it feel real.
Here are a few unexpected ways families are saying goodbye:
Sunset Fireworks or Lantern Release
Cannon Salute at Dusk
Poetry Reading on a Beach
Wine Toast Under the Stars
Silent Hike with a Scattering at the Peak
These non-traditional moments don’t have to be large or expensive—they just have to be yours.
BONAVENTURE Tip: Many of our families aren’t present at the scattering itself. Instead, they celebrate from home, at a later date, or in a setting of their choosing—knowing their loved one rests in a remarkable place.
3. Go Green, Go Forward
Create a Goodbye That Reflects Today’s Values
Sustainability isn’t just a lifestyle—it’s becoming part of how we say goodbye.
Skip the Burial Vault: Caskets, cement liners, and chemical preservation leave a heavy environmental toll.
Choose Cremation Thoughtfully: Cremation creates more flexibility for a lighter ecological footprint.
Opt for Ash Scattering Over Plot Ownership: Ashes can be scattered in ways that nourish the planet and return us to the earth meaningfully.
BONAVENTURE Tip: Our ash scattering services are 100% green-forward—no chemicals, no land use, and no waste. Each location is selected with care to protect both the environment and your loved one’s legacy.
A New Kind of Funeral Is Here — And It’s All Yours
You don’t need a casket. You don’t need a podium. You don’t even need to be there in person.
You just need the right place, the right moment, and the freedom to remember in a way that feels true.
BONAVENTURE Helps You:
✅ Skip the stress of planning a service
✅ Choose a stunning, personal scattering location
✅ Receive a handmade plaque engraved with GPS coordinates
✅ Know your loved one’s ashes are returned to the earth with care
🌿 See Available National Park Destinations →
📞 Speak to a Memorial Specialist: (515) 206-4845
📧 bonaventurememorial@gmail.com
Blog Overview: non-traditional funerals, cremation trends, modern memorials, celebration of life, unique funeral ideas
