What Is a Celebration of Life? How to Plan One & Invitation Wording
What a celebration of life is, how it differs from a funeral, how to plan one step by step, and gentle celebration of life invitation wording you can use.
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What a celebration of life is, how it differs from a funeral, how to plan one step by step, and gentle celebration of life invitation wording you can use.
Losing someone you love is hard, and planning a gathering in their memory can feel overwhelming. A celebration of life is a gentle, personal way to honor them. This guide explains what it is, how to plan one, and how to word the invitation.
What is a celebration of life?
A celebration of life is a gathering that focuses on remembering and celebrating a person's life and personality, rather than mourning in a formal ceremony. It can be held anywhere, at any time after the passing, and can be as casual or as formal as the family wishes. Some families hold one instead of a funeral, others in addition to it.
How it differs from a funeral
- Timing: often weeks or months later, so more people can attend.
- Place: a home, park, restaurant, beach or favorite spot, not only a church or funeral home.
- Tone: usually warmer and more personal, with stories, music and photos.
- Dress: often not black. Families sometimes ask guests to wear a favorite color.
How to plan one, step by step
- Choose a date and a place that fits your loved one.
- Decide on the tone: quiet and reflective, or joyful with music and food.
- Ask a few people to share stories or readings.
- Gather photos for a slideshow or a memory table.
- Plan simple food and drinks, maybe their favorite meal.
- Send invitations with the details and any requests (a color to wear, a memory to share, donations instead of flowers).
Celebration of life invitation wording
Please join us for a celebration of life honoring Margaret Ann Lee.
Join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of John Davis. Come share your stories and memories.
In loving memory of Maria. Join us to remember, reflect and celebrate a beautiful life.
A celebration of the life of Robert Smith. Casual attire, bright colors welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to [charity].
What to include on the invitation
- Full name, and dates of birth and passing if you wish.
- Date, time and address.
- A photo, if the family would like one.
- Dress code or color requests.
- Contact for questions and any donation information.
Make it in minutes
Our celebration of life invitations open in Canva with a free account. Choose Self-Edit to add the name, photo and details yourself, or choose We-Edit: send us the details and we email you the finished files within 24 hours, so you have one less thing to worry about.
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FAQ
What is a celebration of life?
A gathering that remembers and celebrates a person's life with stories, music, photos and food, usually in a warmer and more personal tone than a traditional funeral.
What do you wear to a celebration of life?
Follow the invitation. Many families ask for casual or colorful clothing, or a favorite color of the person being honored. If nothing is mentioned, smart casual is safe.
How soon after a death is a celebration of life held?
There is no rule. Some are held within weeks, others months later, so family and friends can travel and plan.
Make your invitation in 2 minutes
Type your details, see a free preview, and download a print-ready PNG and PDF right away. No design skills, no Canva needed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a paid Canva account?
No. Every VoltBy template works with a free Canva account. You will never be asked to upgrade to Canva Pro to edit or download your design.
Can I print these at home or at a print shop?
Yes. You can print at home, at a local print shop, or through an online printer. You can also share your invitation digitally by text, email, or social media.
Can I personalize the text, colors, and details?
Absolutely. You can edit names, dates, wording, colors, and fonts directly in Canva. Prefer not to do it yourself? Choose the we-edit option and we will personalize it for you.
Is anything shipped to me?
Nothing is shipped. VoltBy templates are digital. After purchase you receive your design by email, ready to edit, print, or share.
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