How to Plan a Celebration of Life: Unique Funeral Planning Tips
Honoring a loved one today means more than following tradition—it’s about crafting a truly personal farewell that celebrates the unique life they lived. Families want something authentic, meaningful, and unforgettable. That’s why 72% of families now prefer non-traditional funeral options, seeking ways to honor their loved ones that feel genuine and heartfelt.
Follow our tips and guides below to create a sendoff that’s truly one of a kind for your loved one and that will help bring you healing and closure in the process.
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📞 Speak to a Memorial Specialist: (515) 206-4845
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And when it comes to the kind of send-off they want, 100% of Baby Boomers say they want a customized celebration that reflects their personality—not just a service, but a tribute as unique as the person themselves. (FUNERAL ONE)
Many want to connect with nature and leave a lasting impression in beautiful, meaningful places: 45% of families hope to scatter ashes somewhere spectacular, while 68% seek green, environmentally conscious memorial options that honor life and the planet. (NFDA)
If you’re planning a celebration of life, embracing these heartfelt trends can help you create a meaningful experience that truly reflects your loved one’s spirit and legacy.
🎨 Forget the Rules—Make It Personal
The most memorable funerals don’t follow a script.
They don’t feel forced. They feel true.
Whether it’s a mountaintop scattering or a backyard potluck with jazz music, families across the country are rewriting what it means to say goodbye.
In fact:
100% of Baby Boomers surveyed said they want a custom celebration of life.
72% of Americans say they want a non-traditional funeral experience.
This isn’t a passing trend. It’s a cultural shift—toward freedom, creativity, and authenticity.🌿 See Available National Park Destinations →
📞 Speak to a Memorial Specialist: (515) 206-4845
📧 bonaventurememorial@gmail.com
So if you’re wondering how to plan a memorial that actually feels like them, here’s your guide:
✨ Start with Who They Were
Before thinking about venues, music, or menus, take a breath and ask yourself:
Who was your person—really?
What lit them up? What felt like “them” even in silence?
Planning a meaningful celebration of life begins not with logistics, but with love. Forget what a memorial is “supposed to be” and start with who they were at their core.Here are a few ways to let their spirit shape the day:
Did they love the ocean?
Create a seaside ceremony that flows with the tides.
Scatter their ashes at the shoreline or by boat, set to the sound of gentle waves and a favorite beachy playlist. Invite guests to take off their shoes, walk barefoot in the sand, and collect seashells as keepsakes. You might even serve coconut water or saltwater taffy in their honor.
🥂 Were they the one always hosting Sunday brunch?
Reimagine a morning gathering in their style.
Host a sunrise breakfast celebration with warm croissants, mimosas, and a table set with wildflowers and framed photos. Toast with their favorite coffee order and play the soundtrack of their kitchen—whether that was French jazz, '90s pop, or the sizzle of bacon.
🌲 Did they spend weekends in nature?
Take the celebration to the trail.
Organize a hike-and-scatter ceremony in their favorite forest, canyon, or overlook. Pause for readings or shared memories at a scenic spot, then enjoy trail mix and quiet stories around a portable stove or picnic blanket. Let their love of the outdoors live on in the rustle of trees and the open sky.
🎶 Were they a musician or dancer?
Make the celebration sing.
Set the tone with live music in a garden, a heartfelt cover of their favorite song, or a dance piece inspired by their spirit. You could even organize a joyful flash mob—especially if they’d laugh at the idea. Let movement and melody tell the story words can’t.
🌳 Were they introverted and contemplative?
Keep it quiet, close, and deeply meaningful.
Choose a peaceful natural setting—a favorite tree, a riverside, a backyard nook—and invite a small circle to gather. Light a candle, read a passage they loved, and scatter their ashes in stillness. Sometimes the most powerful tributes are the most personal ones.
No matter who your loved one was, there’s a way to honor them that feels just right. You don’t need permission to celebrate them your way. Start with love, and let their life lead the way.
🌿 See Available National Park Destinations →
📞 Speak to a Memorial Specialist: (515) 206-4845
📧 bonaventurememorial@gmail.com
🧭 Rethink the Setting: Unique Celebration of Life Venues Beyond Traditional Funeral Homes
When planning a celebration of life, the location can be just as meaningful as the ceremony itself. You don’t have to settle for a traditional funeral venue or chapel. Instead, choose a setting that truly reflects your loved one’s personality and passions.
🪵 Celebrate Life at a Family Cabin: Meaningful Venues for Memorial Services
A family cabin can be a heartfelt place for memorial gatherings. Maybe it’s where they shared stories, laughed around the fire, or found peace in nature. Holding a celebration here invites everyone to reconnect with those memories in a cozy, intimate environment.
🥾 Memorial Hikes: Honoring Loved Ones at Favorite Trailheads and National Parks
If your loved one was an avid hiker or nature enthusiast, consider hosting a memorial hike or ash scattering at their favorite trailhead or national park. This setting allows friends and family to honor their spirit surrounded by the landscapes they cherished.
🌇 Rooftop Celebrations: Unique Urban Venues for Celebrations of Life
For city lovers, a rooftop memorial at sunset can be an unforgettable way to celebrate life. The urban skyline, combined with their favorite music and a sunset toast, creates a vibrant yet personal farewell.
🌼 Nature-Inspired Memorials: Flower Fields and Outdoor Spaces for Ash Scattering
A blooming wildflower field or tranquil outdoor space is perfect for those who found solace in nature. This natural setting enhances the experience of scattering ashes or sharing memories in a peaceful, buzzing environment full of life.
🎶 Casual Memorials in Public Parks: Relaxed Settings with Music and Picnic Blankets
Public parks offer flexible, low-cost options for celebrations of life that feel informal and comfortable. With a portable speaker, picnic blankets, and close friends and family, it’s easy to create a warm, loving atmosphere.
🌳 Backyard Memorials: Intimate and Personal Venues for Honoring Loved Ones
Don’t overlook the comfort of home. A backyard memorial can be a deeply personal and stress-free option. Familiar surroundings, meaningful decorations, and the freedom to create your own ceremony make it an ideal setting for many families.
Why Choosing the Right Venue Matters for Your Celebration of Life
The venue sets the tone for remembering your loved one. Selecting a location that resonates with their personality and your family’s needs can turn a goodbye into a true celebration of life that feels like coming home.
💡 Ceremony Ideas That Break the Mold: Creative Ways to Personalize Your Celebration of Life
When planning a celebration of life ceremony, you don’t have to follow traditional formats like pews, printed programs, or podium speeches. Instead, embrace unique and heartfelt ideas that reflect your loved one’s spirit and create lasting memories for everyone.
🔥 Candlelit Dusk Ash Scattering: Intimate Evening Ceremonies with Music and Marshmallows
Host a candlelit dusk scattering ceremony where loved ones gather by the water or in a quiet outdoor spot to scatter ashes. Follow the ritual with warm marshmallows around a fire and a soundtrack of meaningful music to create a cozy, reflective atmosphere.
📷 Memory Gallery Walk: A Visual Tribute Along a Trail or Shoreline Path
Create a memory gallery walk by displaying photos and mementos along a nature trail or beach path. Guests can stroll at their own pace, reflecting on joyful moments and sharing stories as they move through the gallery.
📜 Open Mic Storytelling: Share Favorite Memories and Laughter
Encourage guests to participate in an open mic storytelling session where anyone can share a favorite memory, joke, or heartfelt message. This spontaneous sharing helps capture the true essence of your loved one through personal stories.
🎈 Message Balloons Release: Biodegradable Farewells with Final Notes
Send off biodegradable message balloons tied with final notes or wishes. This symbolic act allows everyone to release their thoughts and love into the sky, creating a moving visual moment of goodbye.
🌱 Seed Packet Send-Off: Planting Life and Memories with Native Wildflower Seeds
Offer guests seed packets of native wildflowers to plant in honor of your loved one. This eco-friendly ceremony idea creates a living memorial that grows year after year, symbolizing new life and enduring remembrance.
🎧 Silent Disco Farewell: Dancing in Your Own Rhythm with Headphones
Host a silent disco farewell where guests wear headphones and dance to a playlist curated especially for your loved one. It’s a joyful, unconventional way to celebrate life while allowing everyone to experience the music personally.
📽️ Outdoor Video Montage: Remembering Under the Stars
Set up a portable projector and share a video montage of photos and memories under the night sky. This intimate outdoor screening offers a beautiful way to honor a life well lived surrounded by nature.
🌿 See Available National Park Destinations →
📞 Speak to a Memorial Specialist: (515) 206-4845
📧 bonaventurememorial@gmail.com
Why Choose Unconventional Ceremony Ideas?
Personalizing your celebration of life ceremony makes the experience more meaningful and memorable for everyone. Breaking free from tradition allows you to honor your loved one in a way that truly reflects their personality, passions, and values.
Step 1: Start with What They Loved
Ask yourself:
What brought them joy?
Where did they feel most like themselves?
What music, food, or hobbies defined them?
Build the memorial around their passions, not expectations.
Ideas:
A nature lover? Plan a forest or coastal ceremony.
A music enthusiast? Create a playlist and hold a vinyl-listening gathering.
A traveler? BONAVENTURE can help you scatter ashes in a destination they dreamed of.
Step 2: Choose a Meaningful Location
You’re not limited to funeral homes or chapels.
Unique funeral locations:
National or state parks
Botanical gardens
Family homes or backyards
Rooftop bars, art galleries, or theaters
BONAVENTURE’s curated scattering destinations
💡 Tip: Outdoor locations often allow for more flexibility, fresh air, and personal touches.
Step 3: Add Personal Touches
Turn the farewell into a true reflection of their life.
Personalized Funeral Ideas:
Memory tables with handwritten notes and photos
Favorite meals or drinks served at a post-service gathering
Open mic storytelling with friends and family
Custom rituals, like planting trees or releasing lanterns
A scattering ceremony with a BONAVENTURE guide to handle the logistics
Step 4: Rethink the Ashes
Keeping ashes in an urn is no longer the only option. Many families now prefer to turn ashes into a meaningful experience.
BONAVENTURE offers:
Scattering in breathtaking national parks
Unaccompanied ceremonies (for those who prefer not to attend)
Memorial keepsakes and custom photography
Legal compliance + eco-conscious urns
We help you say goodbye in a way that feels beautiful, not bureaucratic.
Step 5: Let Go of the Pressure
There’s no “right” way to grieve. Your memorial doesn’t have to be public, expensive, or traditional. It just has to be honest.
Sometimes, that means:
No flowers or suits
No formal speeches
No large crowds
Sometimes, all it needs is the right place, the right people, and a moment to remember.
Final Thought
Funerals are no longer about following tradition. They’re about telling a story—one that honors the life that was lived, the legacy that remains, and the people left behind to carry it forward.
If you want to create a memorial that reflects a life well lived, BONAVENTURE can help make it happen—with scattering ceremonies that are simple, powerful, and deeply personal
