Celebration of Life Event
.How Does a Celebration of Life Differ from a Memorial Service?
A celebration of life ceremony is a beautiful and comforting alternative to funeral and memorial services. It is an unconditional expression of love and happiness for the life your loved one led. A celebration of life ceremony does not equate to being happy about a person’s passing away. Instead, it seeks to replace grief with joy, and sorrow with comfort by having everyone celebrate the life they lived. It is a more joyous celebration to honor who they were when alive, and the legacy they leave behind. Dress code is typically more casual and the feeling overall is more upbeat and joyous.
Celebrating the life and life story of your loved one who has passed should be a true celebration! It’s so difficult navigating the sadness or intense loss you’re feeling, with joy at the same time for the impact your loved one had on you. When you are dealing with all of the emotions that hit you during these incredibly tough times, it can be so helpful to have other’s help you with beautiful ideas for how to put the celebration of life together. From creating visuals or a slideshow, to sharing music they loved, and sharing their favorite foods with everyone.
.How The Bella Sera Event Center hosts “Celebrations of Life” events
Whenever we host “celebrations of life” events, we think about the joy this person has brought to everyone in our venue at that moment, the gifts they shared with all of them, and the impact and legacy they have left on everyone in the room. We are always so touched by the stories and love in our venue during these special celebrations.
Whether you’re planning a Celebration of Life or a Memorial Service of any kind, The Bella Sera Event Center is here to help. We can take care of everything you need, and reduce the stress you may be feeling.
.Let Bella Sera Event Center help you with the following for your Celebration of Life event:
- Affordable Pricing – 4 hours of Venue rental with audio/visual available, set up, clean up, linens, an event coordinator begins at $1,750. You can add our beverages, catering or bar service if you like (see below).
- Our experts will help provide creative event ideas from which you can choose, and know your loved one would have really enjoyed. We can sit you with and offer ideas for how to bring joy to the family and keep their loved one’s memory alive.
- Catering – we offer the option to bring in your own catering or have us cater it for you with our affordable lunch or dinner menus including:
- Mexican
- Italian
- American
You may choose to have it catered by your loved ones’ favorite restaurant, or ask us to cook their favorite meal.
Celebrations of life typically have food and drinks available to those attending, though the family may have a reception that’s separate from the celebration of life event itself. Serving their favorite food, or dish, dessert or drink, is a beautiful way to share something special about them. Be sure to make signs that state it was their favorite. - Desserts (bring in your own or have us cater this too)
- Beverages or bar options available
- Agenda creation – Setting an agenda for the Celebration of Life so everything flows well and you don’t leave anything important out or have any regrets
- Memorial Website Creation Ideas – we’ll provide links to several sites so that a family member or friend can create a memorial website. Memorial websites let you keep everyone up to date with important event details, collect and share condolences and memories, raise funds, and much more. For example, check out this online memorial page template here on Everloved. https://everloved.com/online-memorials/
- Create a Spotify list such as: https://open.spotify.com/album/76kmAkxS3wWuMQq8MnunNl
- Décor is available for rent also (centerpieces, backdrops, coloraed lighting, etc)
.Ways to remember those you loved at their “Celebration of Life”
- Encourage people to speak into a microphone and share cherished memories, a funny story, or something they adored about your loved one.
- Send balloons, doves, or lanterns up into the sky in memory of them.
- Consider decorating in their favorite color or with their favorite flowers.
- Designate an emcee so things flow smoothly.
- Have someone say a prayer or read a poem.
- Share live music as a beautiful touch, even if for one song.
- Raise your glass in a toast to the dearly departed.
- Live stream the service for those who are out of state and couldn’t attend.
- Share cherished memories.
- Create a Celebration of Life poster board.
- Display a photo montage.
- Plant a memorial tree.
- Play video tributes from those who could not attend.
- Do a biker tribute.
- Show up in classic cars if they were a car collector.
- Have a choir sing if they were in the choir.
- Show an illustration of your family tree, and where your loved one fit into the family.
- Encourage someone from their work, church, family, a friend, sibling, etc., to share something about who they were in those roles. This is all part of talking about the legacy they left that is so wonderful to hear.
We are a family owned venue and care deeply about helping you through this incredibly difficult time. We know Celebration of Life events can also be cathartic and very healing in many ways too.
There’s no single perfect way to honor the departed—all you can do is create the celebration you think they would appreciate.
Real “Celebration of Life” stories at Bella Sera Event Center that have touched our hearts
The Holland Family
One of our local families had lost their son in a motorcycle accident. Our venue was packed with hundreds of people who loved him and wanted to celebrate his life. At the end of the celebration, dozens and dozens of bikers pulled in front of the venue and reved up their bikes to send him a message in heaven that they were all with him. It was one of the loudest, and most moving moments we have ever experienced!
Our own Mom and Grandma
When our grandma Ramona Venzor passed, we all celebrated her in such a beautiful way with the mariachi music she loved, releasing doves, and everyone talking about her and showing movies. Her favorite color was lime green, so we created little squares of “lime green” paper that had this statement printed on it: “Share your favorite memory of Ramona with us.” This was our favorite memory of that day as we all read so many beautiful stories, and many of them we didn’t know. Everyone also wore little lime green ribbon pins.
We would be honored to help you create a “Celebration of Life” event for your loved one.