07 February 2022

Alternatives to Celebration of Life Services

There are no rules when it comes to planning the funeral of a loved one, so the options are endless to ensure you give the best possible send-off when planning a celebration of life service. 

Tradition tells us that when someone dies, the family needs to organise a traditional celebration of life service straight away to honour their life. The process of planning for a funeral usually takes about a week giving you a short period of time to think of any alternative celebration of life ideas that do not follow usual traditions. 

However, you do not always need to follow a traditional funeral if you don’t want to, just as each of our alternatives to the celebration of life service ideas is unique and assures to provide your loved one with a well-deserved farewell.  

5 Alternative Ideas to a Celebration of Life Service

When it comes to alternative funeral arrangements we understand how the little details matter. Celebration of life services are personal events and each service is to be as unique as the individual themselves. If you do not find that a traditional celebration of life service is fitting for your loved one, then there are a number of alternative funeral ideas from which you can choose. 

Whether you know that your loved one would prefer a bright and colourful funeral to create an uplifting atmosphere with happy funeral songs to give them an unforgettable send off or something more relaxed such as as doing their favourite walk to scatter their ashes, there are so many ideas. We have come up with a few ideas to help make the planning process little bit easier. 

1. A Meal Out 

A memorial can be as simple as inviting a few friends or family members to share a meal at one of your loved ones favourite restaurants in a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere. 

Book a table, or a private dining room such as our venue at Sedgebrook Hall or our Tempus Bar and Restaurant and take the opportunity to share a meal, have a toast, share memories, even introduce an open mic where everyone can take the opportunity to share one another’s memories. This way you can really keep your loved one’s celebration of life informal and personal. 

2. A Local Walk to Scatter Ashes 

Was your loved one a fan of nature parks and admiring the woodlands? Setting up a long walk and touring the beautiful surroundings whilst bird watching or walking along the beach provides guests with an enchanting experience that also fulfils the deceased’s memory. 

If you know that your loved one would prefer to be cremated then this is the perfect opportunity to scatter their ashes into nature or the beach to create a happy place for all of the guests to provide everlasting memories. 

If you are using our accommodation and facilities at Sedgebrook Hall in Northampton then we are lucky enough to provide you with several beautiful locations that can provide you with exactly this. Whether you choose to visit Upton Country Park, Hazelborough Wood, or Brampton Valley Way, you can be sure that all locations will provide your loved one with an informal and non traditional celebration of life. 

3. Garden Party 

Select a small group to memorialise your loved one in the form of a garden party for a cheerful outdoor funeral alternative. Whether you choose to host the celebration of life service in your own garden, or would prefer to use a venue such as Sedgebrook Hall as a funeral reception venue this alternative to a celebration of life service is perfect if the person you’re mourning had a green thumb and loved nature. 

Selecting a venue that has to offer funeral packages so you can incorporate flower arrangements and caterers can help you to arrange a funeral reception without any added stress to depart your loved one.

4. Celebration of Life at the Beach

For some, there is no better place to be than the beach. There is sun, the sand, the ocean, and all together they create their very own personal paradise as the perfect memorial location to remember loved ones. 

Perhaps they loved to comb the beach for treasures, or enjoyed collecting seashells. If your loved one loved being on the beach more than any other place then it is worth considering as an alternative to the usual celebration of life services. A beach-themed celebration of life would be an excellent place to honour them, remember them, and the things that they enjoyed the most in life. 

5. Open House Memorial Service

Take a day or an evening where you can hold an open house at your home. Guests can come and go as they are comfortable without any formal structured arrangements. You then have the freedom to speak to people as they come and go and it also gives everyone the chance they pay their respects in an informal setting. You could perhaps have photos on display as a memory board for people to watch and relive memories with one another, and put on a spread of food and drinks.

Being in your own home is a comfortable, safe place to farewell your loved one without any added pressure, stress, or upset towards the lead up to the celebration of life service. 

Sedgebrook Hall offers a relaxing atmosphere for guests to use as their accommodation, whether they are travelling afar for the celebration of life service, or would just prefer to spend a night away, our venue offers a peaceful setting, making it an ideal funeral wake venue for you to celebrate your loved one’s life.

Our venue in Northampton is within a short distance from the city centre and many public transport routes making it easily accessible for visitors to get to without the added stress of arranging transport home.  

Final Thoughts on Alternatives to Celebration of Life Services

There is no hard and fast rule as to what a funeral should look like. It really is about what your loved one would want and how you choose to celebrate their life in a way that suits you, a funeral really is a final chance to say goodbye in the most appropriate way to you possible. 

In the face of death, you may be overwhelmed into taking the traditional options, but if the deceased hasn’t left a final funeral wish plan, or you are unsure on how to arrange the service, then take a moment to think about what they would truly want. Don’t feel pressured into rushing into an expensive funeral service, instead take the time to plan a service that reflects the uniqueness of the person you loved.

Alternatives to Celebration of Life Services

1. A Meal Out
2. A Local Walk to Scatter Ashes
3. Garden Party
4. Celebration of Life at the Beach
5. Open House Memorial Service

Sedgebrook Hall Funeral Reception Venue in Northampton

At Sedgebrook Hall we offer a warm and welcoming venue to hold all types of celebration of life services, whether you choose to hold a garden funeral, a meal out, a weekend away in remembrance of the person who has died, our venue offers a range of facilities that allow you to arrange a funeral reception that celebrates the life of your departed loved how you wish. 

Our professional team have experience in hosting respectful wakes so we have the capability to ensure the celebration of life service is a smooth planning process throughout such a difficult time.

If you would like to find out more information on how our team can help you raise a glass with your guests to honour your loved one, and how we can help you to plan a celebration of life service, then do get in touch and we will be more than happy to help.