Unique ways to honour a loved one at a funeral

We all want to give our loved ones the perfect send-off by doing something that perfectly encapsulates their life. Whether it’s something symbolic like lighting a lantern or something more personal like making videos to share and watch at the memorial so you can relive the best moments of their life, everyone deserves to have a unique and memorable goodbye.

However, for many mourners, the task of creating these special moments can feel like a lot of pressure. That’s why, to make the task of giving them a personalised send-off a bit easier, in this blog we are going to take you through some unique ways to honour a loved one at a funeral so that you can do something special.

How do you make a funeral feel personal?

The first step to coming up with ways to make a funeral feel more personal and unique is to think about how the deceased lived. What were their hobbies and interests? From their music taste to their food preferences, there are countless core elements of someone’s personality that can be incorporated into their funeral to make it feel more personal to them.

Try thinking about stories from their life, and ask people to share their favourite memories of them. If they were known for having a good sense of humour, then maybe focus on telling stories of their funniest moments, if they loved nature and exploring, recall stories from their greatest adventures and achievements. This will not only be a great way to remember them but aligning their goodbye to their personality, interests, likes and achievements will help the day feel like the perfect tribute to who they truly were.

How can I make a funeral feel extra special?

It can be hard to think up special ways to honour someone at their funeral. We all want to pay respects to them in a way that will not only be memorable but will stay true to how they lived. To help, we’ve included a list of some unique ways that you can honour a loved one and give them a special send-off.

A memorial tree

Planting a tree in their honour is a great idea for nature lovers as it can help sustain local wildlife such as birds and is a great, environmentally friendly, way to pay respects to your loved ones. Planting a tree and hanging up decorations that encapsulate your loved one, can be a great way to bring everyone together during the funeral.

You can even create activities around it like building wind chimes or making remembrances to hang on the tree or maybe enjoy a special picnic by it to honour their memory during the wake, children might enjoy the activity too, helping them to feel a part of the day. As well as the day itself, a memorial tree is also something you can visit and enjoy for many years to come.

A memory capsule

Memory capsules are a great way to remember the lives of your loved ones and to say goodbye in a special way. They can perfectly capture the life of the deceased by incorporating their favourite things as well as getting everyone involved during the funeral or the wake. You can invite mourners to write handwritten letters dedicated to the deceased to put in the capsule, this can be both therapeutic as well as a nice way to say your goodbyes, especially for those who don’t want to stand up and talk during the funeral.

Some other ideas of items to include in the capsule are things that are linked to their interests and hobbies. For example, if they were an artist, you might want to include some paintbrushes or pencils or if they were a big music lover then try putting some records or CDs in there for them to make it feel more personal.

Balloon Release (biodegradable)

Biodegradable Balloon releases are very symbolic, the act of releasing something into the sky can help signify someone’s departure from Earth. Biodegradable Balloons are a great eco-friendly alternative to things such as lanterns and can be done anywhere, from public parks to your own back garden.

Fireworks

If your loved ones were the kind to love big, bright displays and wanted to go out with a bang then fireworks are a great way to encapsulate that. They’re a grand way to honour your loved one that will serve as a great memory when looking back at their funeral and is a great way of bringing everyone together.

Photographs and video displays

Honouring a loved one doesn’t always have to be a big grand gesture, sometimes it can be as simple as getting a nice photo frame and having a dedicated display with pictures that take you on a journey through their life. Personal videos especially can serve as a great way to remember someone’s life. You can include personal messages, photos and videos from their life or even clips from movies and TV shows they enjoyed. It’s therapeutic and can be watched both during the wake and year after year.

Personal touches to the funeral

From playing their favourite music, perhaps using a Piper or maybe a Choir, to laying out their favourite foods, making a funeral unique for your loved ones can be as easy as just celebrating all the little things they enjoyed in life. Display photos from their life on walls, wear their favourite colour or find a venue for the wake that was at the heart of their time on Earth, whether that be their home or their favourite pub.

Nothing says unique like perfectly tailoring a funeral to represent who they were as a person. Don’t be afraid to do something less traditional if they aren’t a traditional person. Remember, it’s all about honouring them, and nothing will honour them more than having a service that stays true to how they lived.

Take a meaningful route to the funeral

You can start honouring your loved one as early as the cortege you create to take you and your loved one to the service itself, perhaps by choosing a special car in which to drive to the funeral. From horse-drawn carriages to bespoke-themed hearses and limousines, there are many options available to make the journey more meaningful to you and your loved ones.

You can even plan for them to take a special route which passes by locations which are sentimental to you, your family or your loved one, making their final journey to the funeral just as special and meaningful as the funeral itself.

Slideshows

It is becoming more popular to have slideshows played at services, and having a video tribute can incorporate all of your favourite memories of them. You can also ask friends and guests to submit their favourite photos for the slideshow – therefore getting everyone involved as you look back on those special occasions and meaningful moments. Accompany the slideshow with their favourite songs and you’ve got a heartfelt addition to their funeral that is as individual and as unique as they are.

Plan a unique, personal funeral with Heart of England

No matter how you decide to honour your loved one, whether it’s by planting a tree or planning a special route, the funeral should feel personal and tailored to celebrating their unique life. At Heart of England Co-op Funerals, we have a range of finishing touches that can be added to funeral arrangements to make the day something truly unique, simply ask your funeral director about making these additions and they will talk you through the options available.

However, if you find yourself needing more inspiration and want more ideas on how you can make their funeral feel more personal, then you can read through our blogs on how to choose funeral flowers and picking out the best songs for a funeral.