Celebration of Life & Memorial Service Ideas For 2025
Planning a memorial service or a celebration of life event is a deeply personal process for each and every client that we work with. Over the last few years we have helped various groups, families, and organizations find meaningful and personalized memorial service ideas to help honour their loved ones. These ideas are not radically different from tradition; rather, thoughtful innovations that bring new life to the old way of commemorating a life for a memorial service.
After all, we’re not your grandma’s funeral (unless it’s your grandma’s funeral).
We are New Narrative are excited to share some of these newer ideas and modern ways to personalize a memorial service in 2025. Although we call them ‘trends’ it is not so much a list of what is popular now so much as it is a look into the different methods of personalizing a memorial service. I hope these inspire you as you plan a celebration of life for someone you care about, or even your own celebration of life!
Trend #1: Personalized Ceremonies with an Emphasis on Storytelling
One of the most meaningful shifts in memorial services is the move toward following a trend where we are seeing storytelling taking the place of a traditionally religious service. Storytelling can be a primary focus of the gathering for a more informal or secular group, or can be an important element that is included in a more religious service. We are seeing more speakers lean toward sharing their own perspective of the who the honouree was to them, giving attendees a deeply personal insight into a unique relationship.
We are seeing several “mini-eulogies” or tribute speeches happening at events instead of a sole eulogy that often spans the complete history of someone’s life - as well as an open microphone. This is not to say that you cannot share someone’s life story in other ways; perhaps you incorporate an interactive timeline into the event or you share a copy of the obituary with everyone in attendance. In our opinion, several short stories are a more compelling, dynamic, and engaging way to share memories and learn about the honouree’s life.
I once worked with a client who said, “By the end of this event, I want everyone to leave having learned something new about my wife.” To me, that captures the essence of what it means to celebrate, commemorate, and honour a life.
But, you don’t have to do this alone! There are several secular celebrants who excel at weaving together a person’s life story in chronological order while providing the more traditional Master of Ceremonies (MC) role, while also keeping your speakers sharing cohesive narratives. One of my favourite resources is Megan Sheldon of Seeking Ceremony and co-founder of the BeCeremonial App. Megan’s training in mythology and passion for ceremony and ritual are the perfect components to sharing a life story. Her approach is to meet with each of the story sharers, ask questions about the honouree, ask questions about what each speaker would like to share, and coaches the speakers while weaving everything together in a brilliant and cohesive narrative while she is introducing speakers.
Again, you certainly do not need to go at this alone! Contact us for questions or reach out to a celebrant in your area.
Trend #2: Thinking outside of the church basement
We understand that in 2025, not everyone feels tied to a religious or spiritual group and/or venue of this nature. In the past, when more people attended church regularly, it was common practice to host a traditional funeral service upstairs in the chapel, followed by coffee and refreshments in the church basement.
Whether you abhor the idea of a church basement to honour your loved one, don’t feel connected to a religious organization, or are just yearning for a different experience, we encourage you to lean in to choosing a venue of your choice to celebrate the life of your person.
Rather than emphasizing a unique venue space, we encourage you to seek out a place that feels comfortable to you (and if that’s a church basement, perfect!). We have planned a number of celebrations of life at golf courses, large banquet halls, outdoor farms spaces, private clubs, family homes, and even at themed bars in specific cities! With the right infrastructure (and planner at the helm), gathering your closest friends and family at a special venue can feel very special and might leave more of an impression versus staying at a funeral chapel or being at a church.
A special note: By absolutely no means do we want to actively discourage you from using a church basement, funeral chapel, or a spiritual centre. These are often places that give us great comfort and are sometimes very suitable for the service that we aim to have. We encourage you to find the best venue that feels right for you.
Finally, one last venue I want to highlight is the VIRTUAL venue! (Bet you didn’t see that one coming!) Online and hybrid memorials and celebrations of life have gained popularity after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and are now more of a
And let’s not forget about virtual venues. Online memorials have become a surprisingly meaningful option, offering flexibility and accessibility for loved ones who are not able to attend the event in person.
When you think about it, virtual and hybrid services now offer ways to give even more people the opportunity to attend, participate, and be a part of the experience. For families using a venue with a limited guest count, the virtual option can be a great compromise.
Trend #3 - Virtual & Hybrid Services: Being There without ‘being there’
Continuing on the accessibility of the virtual or hybrid service, the idea of including your virtual guests is now becoming something that families are opting out of, rather than opting in. The presence of a camera, a cloud link, and a way to share messages and notes in the chat has become a staple in today’s memorial services. Virtual services now offer a way for friends, family, and acquaintances near and far to participate in a memorial service.
Livestreaming also allows guests to participate at the time of the service as well as afterward, as many streams are automatically recorded and available for viewing right after. A stream can provide a way for a guest to attend, or can be a way to accommodate any family members feeling ill or with a sudden change in travel plans. We recommend that you give guests the live streamed link a few days before the service as well as the morning of the service, so that they have the link easily accessible when it comes time to participate.
Streamed services can be either one-way (ie. guests can see but not talk) or two-way (ie. guests can see and hear, and speak to the in-person attendees if they want to). Platforms such as Zoom can allow for a unique two-way experience, giving your guests the opportunity to participate in a group toast, contribute in the open sharing, or a participatory experience such as holding up a descriptive word to the screen.
With virtual inclusions gaining more traction, it’s no surprise that this remains a trend for 2025.
Trend #4 - Interactive Stations and Guest Participation
Families are now finding and creating new ways to have their guests contributing to an interactive element during a celebration of life. Gone are the days where it is standard practice to enter the room, sit in your seat, and leave following the ceremony. Now, we are seeing more families embracing new and innovative ways to include their guests in the story sharing:
Collaborative art pieces: encouraging guests to draw a symbol, a word, or an image that represents who the honouree was to them
“Letters to the Deceased” note station. Guests can take a piece of cardstock, a pen, and an envelope and leave a personal message to the honouree. The family can choose to keep these letters with the urn or discard them in a ceremony, such as the family who chose to take the letters to the family property and burn them to send the messages to the honouree in the sky.
Memorial cards: custom postcards that we create in lieu of a guest book for attendees to share their favourite stories, memories, and anecdotes about the honouree
Words of Remembrance Board: Guests write words on small cards and pin them to the board in memory of the deceased. With the right number of guests and the group participation, the family can keep these small cards as mementos for years to come.
Trend #5 - It’s Your Party: The rise of the Living Funeral
Living funerals are gaining traction as a way for individuals to take control of their narrative and be present for their celebration. Imagine being able to hear your loved ones share their memories, stories, and love while you’re still here to appreciate it.
This trend is about gratitude, connection, and ensuring the celebration is exactly how the guest of honor envisioned it.
Trend #6 - Food Stations
Photo by Dan Cristian Pădureț
Food and drinks are becoming highly personalized at memorial services. From English-style tea receptions to signature cocktails, the menu is a reflection of the honoree’s tastes and personality.
Food stations featuring a loved one’s favorite dishes are especially popular. Imagine a taco bar, an ice cream station, or a dessert table filled with their go-to sweets. Drinks are getting personal too, with bars offering signature cocktails like a Negroni or a Moscow Mule in their honor.
Memorial Service Ideas | Trend #7: Custom Takeaway Items
Memorial takeaways are evolving, offering guests something meaningful and memorable to take home. Some ideas we’ve loved include:
Custom recipe cards featuring a loved one’s signature dish.
Favorite photos as keepsakes.
Memorial cards that include personal stories or quotes.
Small plants that guests can nurture in their honor.
Items that reflect the honoree’s legacy or passions.
These thoughtful details ensure that the memory of the person lives on in tangible ways.
Final Thoughts
As we embrace 2025, these trends show how families are finding new ways to create meaningful, personal celebrations of life. Whether you’re planning for someone you love or considering your own memorial service, I hope these ideas spark inspiration and help you create a truly special event.
If you’d like support planning a celebration of life, feel free to reach out. It’s my honor to help families navigate this journey and create events as unique as the people they’re honoring.