Personalising the service

There are a range of ways to personalise as service - for example:

• displaying personal items that reflect your friend of family member i.e. artwork, tools, personal items, craft, photos, lego models, sports gear and equipment, or flowers or produce from their garden. 

• holding the farewell in a special place including one that has meaning for you or your friend or family member.

• encouraging those attending to wear a particular colour, themed outfits, team colours or clothing that reflects your friend or family member. 

• providing a take-away for those attending in the form of a favourite drink, food, flower, or if they had a collection of some kind and item from this i.e. artworks, books, earrings, scarves, caps/hats, tools, ornaments..... 

• using scents that remind you of your friend or family member by spraying perfume or after shave on the order of service or lighting scented candles or incense during the service. 

• using the words, work or music of the authors, poets, artists and actors that your friend or family member enjoyed or are those that resonates with you. 

• promoting a charity your friend or family supported or was a part of, where people can donate something in their honour.

• incorporating a personal ritual by forming a guard of honour, seeking input from those attending to make a cookbook of favourite recipes, sharing photos and anecdotes to create a keepsake book, making memory boards with photos and messages from all who knew them. 

• asking those in attendance to write love notes for your friend or family member and or for those remaining with reference to favourite or most lasting memories. 

One of the best ways to make service memorable is to include tributes from those who knew your friend or family member in different capacities and chapters of their life.

Each tribute can include reference to  the things they achieved, the events they shared and the best memories of time spent together. 

To begin writing a tribute, think of all the things that made your friend or family member special- who were they to you and how would you describe them, their personality, your relationship and what they enjoyed. Then, consider what memories reflect these qualities best. 

Delivering a tribute is not easy but it is well received when it is told like a story. Beginning with how you met and what you first noticed about them, followed by recounting your best memories including anecdotes, and wrapped up with what will you remember most about them.

celebrant.berenicedevlin@gmail.com

0401 220 549