Funerals and memorial services can be very emotional. As an funeral event planner, you have the skills and experience to help your clients through a difficult time.

You’ll need to understand what types of ceremonies people prefer, and their preferences for music, readings, and speeches. You’ll also need to consider the capacity of the venue and the accessibility of the location.

Planning the Service

When planning a service, funeral event planners often start by meeting with the family and discussing their wishes and desires. Then, they go about putting the plans into action. This may include arranging for a casket or cremation, ensuring that all legal aspects are taken care of and liaising with various people.

Funeral event planners have a great deal of empathy for their clients and understand that this is an incredibly emotional time for them. They take the time to listen and guide the process, providing a much-needed support system during this difficult time.

As funerals move away from a traditional setting, they’re becoming more and more personalized. From candle-lighting ceremonies to multimedia presentations, funeral event planners know how to create an experience that’s both meaningful and memorable. ShareLife celebrations offer a unique approach to funeral services that honors the deceased in a truly personal way. To learn more, click here.

Organizing the Reception

A well-planned funeral reception is an opportunity for family and friends to connect with each other, share stories and support one another. Organizing the reception is often the most stressful part of planning a funeral, but with the right support, it can be manageable.

A few key decisions to make early include deciding who will attend, what time it should be and whether or not you want to serve food. Some families choose to host a simple potluck, while others opt for a full-service dinner or cocktail/appetizer reception.

Many families also like to add a few personal touches to the event, such as music that was important to the deceased, memory tables with photos or other special mementos and a guest book for attendees to write their condolences. This is a great way to help guests feel more connected to the deceased and helps them heal during this difficult time.

Coordinating Transportation

Unlike other events, funerals require a special level of tact and professionalism to ensure that families receive all the help they need during this challenging time. This includes helping them understand costs and explaining their options (green burial vs. conventional internment, grave marker designs, etc.).

Funeral homes also offer help with transportation logistics, which can include arranging shuttle or car services for out-of-town guests and managing local traffic to avoid any unnecessary delays during the service. This can be particularly challenging for large groups of people traveling together, and it’s often a matter of coordinating route selection, ensuring punctuality, and adapting to any last-minute changes or requests.

Similarly, funeral homes offer assistance with preserving and distributing keepsakes and flowers to family members and friends, as well as informing the broader community of the service through social media channels. This helps ease the burden on loved ones who would otherwise be required to spread the news, especially at a time when they’re already coping with grief.

Planning the Decorations

A funeral event planner does a lot of research for their clients. They have to understand and respect different religions’ practices regarding the dead, and they also need to be able to assist clients in selecting caskets, urns and other memorial options.

In addition, they have to find the perfect location for the service. This can be anywhere from a theater to an art gallery to someone’s home. It should be a place that means something to the deceased or is associated with happy memories.

They should also think about how they can make the service feel more celebratory. This can be accomplished through uplifting music, colorful decor and a focus on the positive impact and joyful moments of life. They can even incorporate a theme inspired by their loved one’s interests or hobbies, such as a sports-themed service for an avid fan or a nature-inspired gathering for a gardening enthusiast. This can help create an experience that will leave a lasting impression on everyone who attends.