Loving Memorial Service Ideas

When people think about funerals and memorial services they often believe that things need to be done a certain way. They think that there are rules and traditions that must be followed. While there is a typical order that you can follow, and certainly funerals tend to be more structured, memorial services leave a little room for creativity.

Your memorial service can be designed to honor your loved one in any way that you choose. The following memorial service ideas may help you design a service that suits the way your loved one would want to be remembered.

A Memorial Slide Show

Technology has made it easy for just about anyone to create a slide show. It’s simple, really. You gather photos, images, and even videos from loved ones. Using an online slide show creation application or software, you can share images of your loved one during the service. Include their favorite music with the show to add another personal touch. You might also consider making copies of the slide show and giving people a DVD of it.

A Symbolic Release

As a symbol of letting your loved one go and as a way to honor them you might release something during the ceremony.  Some ideas include doves, balloons, or even butterflies. If there is something that is special to the loved one who has passed, a release can help honor them in a special way.

Memorial Keepsakes

One of the hardest parts of death is letting go. You can ease this transition for others by creating keepsakes to give away at the memorial. Candles can be engraved. Stones can be painted with a favorite saying or quote. You might give away a piece of jewelry with the loved one’s ashes if they’ve been cremated. If gardening or taking care of the earth was important to your loved one, you could give attendees a tree to plant in honor of the person who has passed.

When planning a memorial service, it’s okay to get creative. Think outside the box a little. What memorial service ideas will help you honor the person who has passed while also supporting those who will miss them?