\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. There are certain things that are not recommended to wear to a visitation, funeral or celebration of life gathering such as: Children do not need to be as concerned about their attire, but if possible, they should be dressed like the adults. That means no items that are extremely showy, heavily distressed or torn clothing, items that are dirty or unwashed, and any items that are dark colors (unless it's specifically requested). If its not your intention to have a public event to celebrate the life of your loved one, you can simply state, The family will be celebrating the life of __________ at a private event. Dont share the details of the event if you do not want the general public to attend. While a t-shirt might be a good fit depending on the occasion, keep these shirts simple. Some families would like to choose a theme for the celebration that could include wearing something like: Eternally Loved is a full-service coordinator that offers services related to memorial services, and celebration of life events. [13] Other Things to Consider Dress for the location and venue. Skip the traditional black and go for something bold and colorful instead. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. It's best practice to see if the person setting up the event has included any special instructions, event information, or guidance on any activities or themes occurring during the celebration of life. Are you attending a celebration of life or hosting one for a loved one? Grey, beige, brown, black, and ivory would all work nicely if paired properly, though I would hesitate to wear only ivory or white in an outfit. Twitter. Unlike the somber formality of funerals, a celebration of life is typically more casual, where laughter and colorful attire are encouraged. If you are hosting the event, you set the stage on what to wear for the celebration of life. This article was co-authored by Elle Monus and by wikiHow staff writer, Devin McSween. At Eternally Loved we offer a celebration of life services that include helping choose the place you will have it, the food menu, and providing additional information to assist with the entire process. generalized educational content about wills. After all, a person whose life was worth celebrating will be missed by family members and friends. A celebration of life is a personal and meaningful event to pay tribute to a life lived. If its in a funeral home or other upscale venue, youll likely need to pay closer attention to the dress code. The first thing that we should discuss is what a celebration of life is and what makes it different from a funeral! Now you can focus on leaving a legacy instead of a mess. Follow the familys dress code and tone of the event. Some celebration of life ideas include a memory table, music playlist and songs, tribute video, balloon dove release, cremation, automobile procession, flowers, finding a venue, and hiring a funeral director to name a few. When attending a celebration of life, it is important to dress respectfully. This link will open in a new window. Wear conservative, closed-toe shoes to remain respectful of the event and appear put together. or excessively garish jewelry. A celebration of life could be the only service for the deceased or it could be an informal event that follows a formal funeral. When considering gifts, you should likewise keep them meaningful and personal without being overly sorrowful. Having any distracting images may take away from the event and could stand out in a bad way. If you need some help navigating the entire complicated process of loss, including planning or attending a service, check out our post-loss checklist. Its a personalized, joyous occasion for laughter, storytelling, and happiness. Better to wear a jacket, neat shirt or blouse and trousers or skirt. This is typically with a funeral, memorial service, visitation, or celebration of life event occasion. This is because some families have celebrations of life that are happier than traditional funerals, but they are still somewhat formal services. Instead of advising you on what to say, lets talk briefly about what not to do when offering condolences. Be aware of others who want to speak with the family, Dont make comments about your experiences with loss, Do not discount the healing power of a good hug. People come together to remember with music, memories, words from those who knew the person best all in an effort to thank them for their contributions and pass on any special messages. In general, funeral outfit is more formal, like dress shoes, dress pants or trousers, and a dark color. Choose subdued colors such as black, navy, gray, or brown. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. While most people are familiar withwhat to wear to a funeral service (color black), we might have questions about what to wear to a celebration of life. Rule of thumb for me is dress how I would think my parents would dress for my funeral. Start end-of-life planning to determine whether a celebration of life, traditional funeral, or other memorial event is right for you. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Most of the time, the family will spend this time reflecting on a loved one and it may not be the best time for you to start a conversation. Simply saying Im sorry or offering a hug may be enough. As you consider the kind of celebration that best fits . What your outfit choice is for a celebration of life can depend on a few factors, such as: If you're a woman looking for celebration of life outfit ideas, here are some outfit choices you'd typically find: You should avoid wearing colors that are dark and somber and instead wear items that are colorful. The idea of planning these types of celebrations on our own can be very overwhelming, and we want to look out for each other. A funeral is more based around tradition and usually has a specific schedule that it follows. Choose business casual wear such as a dress, skirt, or slacks. Wear thin, cotton layers and take sunglasses. What to say at a celebration of life service. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. What type of celebration of life will this event be? Jeans, dresses and flowy blouses are all acceptable attire. There may not be a good spot for the recipient to place the gift and opening presents after you lost someone feels wrong. Accessories are a great way to complement your outfit, but dont overdo it. What to Wear to a Celebration of Life? Just be sure to avoid anything too casual, like T-shirts or flip-flops, unless the service details specify this kind of funeral attire. They are meant to be joyful and happy--to celebrate the positive impact the person had. The celebration of life may follow the loved ones religious or cultural customs that are more celebratory or formal. Even though a celebration of life ceremony is one of the most casual settings to celebrate the death of a loved one, you still want to pay your respects to the family and friends. For a casual summer celebration of life, consider wearing a sundress or a pair of shorts. In most cases, wearing jeans is perfectly acceptable. Wear with a dress or tailored trousers for the funeral, before teaming with the best petite jeans at a later date. Similar to neon clothing, too many sparkly accessories are a distraction. When it comes to colors, choose something lively like blue, pink, red, green, or yellow. If the family gives a dress code (e.g. A celebration of life is more informal and there is an opportunity to customize the party for the deceased or your loved ones. are not protected by an attorney-client privilege and are instead governed by our Privacy Policy. While a celebration of life is a . (Image credit: Getty) You want to feel comfortable at a funeral, so separates that have the potential to ride up or down are not always a great idea. A celebration of life is a love-filled event meant to remember and honor a loved one who's recently departed. If these celebrations prove anything, its that those we love carry our memories and joy with them long after were gone. It goes without saying that the location matters. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Eternally Loved assists in planning and executing the celebration event. You may also wear a respectful day dress with heels or flats. Many users would be better served consulting an attorney than using a do-it-yourself online On the other hand, a funeral service is often a sad and somber occasion focusing on the fact that a person is no longer with us. They want to make sure that they are conservative enough but avoid being disrespectful with the tone or type of clothing they wear. If you are hosting the event, you set the stage on. The activities planned for the ceremony. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This means that a lot of the etiquette will need to be learned on the fly. Depending on the type of event, this might not be too different from what to wear to a funeral. This link will open in a new window. You won't find any black here.. just color, love, joy & celebration. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. It is important to read the invitation because if the family planning the celebration of life wants a specific attire they will state it there.