4 Reasons Why You Need A Celebration Of Life Planner
Planning a celebration of life can be stressful on its own, but when you add grieving on top of event planning, it can feel very overwhelming and daunting. This is why hiring the right vendors and an event planner is so important. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help and hiring an event planner could also turn your event into something even better and more special than you imagined (and with less stress!).
Jump ahead to:
If we haven’t met yet, I’m Lindsey Nickel. Born and raised in the East Bay, I’m a wedding planner turned celebration of life planner based in Napa, California. I’ve planned 100+ events since 2010 and I specialize in celebrations of life (and Napa weddings). I help grieving families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area plan meaningful celebrations of life, without feeling even more stressed out. Suddenly, things you didn’t think you cared about become important. That’s where an event planner comes in to provide you with options, help you make decisions efficiently, and manage the event planning.
Milou and Olin Photography
4 Reasons Why You Need To Hire A Celebration Of Life Planner
1. Vendor Recommendations And Relationships
A celebration of life planner who knows the best (and worst) event vendors in the San Francisco Bay Area can help you pick the best people to ensure your event is a success. Whether you’re planning a celebration of life with a wine tasting at a winery in Napa or a winter event in a hotel in Oakland, your event planner can refer you to the best vendors for your style and budget. Trusted vendor referrals can save you hours of time scrolling the internet and hoping you book a reliable vendor.
2. Managing your Vendor Communications
Hiring an event vendor is more than just signing a contract. There are also a lot of back-and-forth emails and phone calls. From reviewing contracts to brainstorming the right wording for the margarita sign to keeping track of which vendor arrives when and more there is a flood of emails that goes into communication with your team of vendors. Handling all the logistics and vendors can start to feel like a full-time job. Thankfully, a huge part of a celebration of life planner’s duties is to handle all of that for you, so that you can focus your energy in other places.
Jen Phillips Photography
3. Creative Ideas to Personalize the Celebration of Life
Most people planning a celebration of life do not have the time or energy to spend hours scrolling through Pinterest and the internet in search of creative ideas to highlight their loved one’s personality. However, an event planner will have countless brilliant, cute, and original ideas for your event many of which can't be found online. Whether you want a tropical floral centerpiece, a polka dot theme, or a beach theme that doesn’t feel like a nautical vacation, your celebration of life planner is your partner in brainstorming ideas.
4. “Day Of” Set Up and Event Management
When the celebration of life day emotions often run high for the family and friends. You'll feel better knowing that your event planner is taking the lead with the venue and vendors, coordinating logistics, and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. If any issues or questions arise during the program or reception, they will be the first ones on the scene and you won't need to worry about anything except being with loved ones.
Of course, your event planner is there on the day of the celebration of life. They can set up items like photos, a guest book, pens for the guest book, and personal memorabilia items so that you can simply show up to the event. This is extremely important because it allows you to be present, greet guests, and talk to people. Your only job on the day of the event is to celebrate and remember your loved one.
Jen Phillips Photography
What is a Celebration of Life?
Celebrations of life are an event that gathers people together to remember a person's accomplishments, relationships, and share stories. It has a more lighthearted feel than a funeral. It is often very personalized with decor, activities, and the honoree’s favorite cocktail that might be served. The focus is on happy memories and being grateful for the joy the honoree brought to their friends and family.
How Long is a Celebration of Life?
A celebration of life usually happens in one day. Typically celebrations of life last three to five hours. The timeline might look like this:
1 hour for the guests to arrive and mingle
1 - 1.5 hours for the program with five to seven speakers and a slideshow
1-2 hours for heavy apps or a meal, mingling, sharing memories and entertainment
Though guests do not expect a full meal it is expected that there will be refreshments and beverages. Of course, a buffet or sit-down meal is always a nice addition, especially for a longer event.
Photo by Melissa Habegger Photography
Final Thoughts
Planning a special event like a celebration of life can be stressful, especially during grief. There’s so much that goes into organizing the event and it can be hard to make decisions after someone dies. Event planners are there to take most of the responsibilities off of your plate, so you can focus on other tasks and be present on the day of the celebration of life.
Feeling overwhelmed?
Let us provide some reassurance, answer some of your burning questions, and see if we’re a good fit to help honor your loved one.
Use the form below to contact us.
About Lovely Day Legacies: Lovely Day Legacies is the go-to event planner for families planning celebrations of life, memorials, and funerals.
We help families to plan meaningful events to honor their loved ones, without feeling even more stressed out.
Lovely Day Legacies is based in Napa, Calif., and is pleased to provide event planning for the San Francisco Bay Area.
