Napa Celebration Of Life For A Mother Who Lived A Life Filled With Adventures
It was wonderful to work on this stylish, thoughtful, and tasteful Napa celebration of life. Mary (the honoree) was a mother and filled with an adventuresome spirit. Her friends and family gathered at the family ranch for what can only be described as the perfect balance of ranch life and timeless style to celebrate, share stories, and cheer their glasses of champagne.
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.
At the end of September, I received an inquiry from a woman named Rebecca about planning her mom’s celebration of life in Napa at their family’s ranch. I was very flattered to find out that this was a referral from one of my wedding planner friends. Rebecca and I spoke on the phone and I remember thinking “This woman sounds so fun, like the kind of person I would totally be friends with.” I was simultaneously thinking “My Fall season is so jam-packed with booked events, I really don’t know if I can fit one more event in.” So we ended the call with me telling Rebecca I’d have to think about if I had the bandwidth to take on this celebration of life for 200 people for her mom with about four weeks lead time.
A day or two later my phone rang and it was Rebecca telling me that she would be the best and most easy client I have ever worked with and that she is very fast at making decisions. Normally something like this is a big red flag, but something inside of me was telling me “You should work on this celebration of life, it’s going to be a really special and unique event.” So despite my calendar telling me I truly didn’t have time to plan a 200-person event in a few weeks at a family ranch (where we would need to build a tent, bring in bathrooms, and more), I said yes. And just like that I was planning what would become one of my favorite celebrations of life and I would gain a new friend in Rebecca.
Considerations for a celebration of life at a private residence
Having the celebration of life at the family ranch meant building infrastructure:
Hand-draped tent for shade during the day and to hang chandeliers
Heaters for the tent so people would be warm once the sun sent down
Renting bathrooms for guests
Hiring traffic control to help guests safely turn onto the main road
Signs directing people for parking and a new larger street sign so people didn’t miss their driveway (thanks to Rebecca’s husband for making all this happen)
Renting tables, chairs, linens, and lounge furniture for guests to be able to sit and be comfortable
Renting catering items such as flatware, plates, napkins, bars, and tray stands.
If you are considering hosting a celebration of life at your home, a private estate, a ranch, or any property that is not a professional event venue the list above is just a short example of the infrastructure needs so that the celebration of life goes smoothly.
The family ranch was the perfect spot for this celebration of life because it is rich with family history. It also provided event essentials such as:
Ample parking
A short distance from Napa
Space for the caterer to set up a kitchen
A flat space with a lawn for the tent and all the tables, chairs, and lounges
Elegant and effortless space that did not feel like a funeral
Plenty of power (so we did not need to rent a generator)
The celebration of life was from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm which was the perfect time for people to pop by or stay for the entire event. As guests arrived they were greeted with glasses of wine while they mingled. Inside the tent, there were lounges, an oyster bar, and charcuterie stations to enjoy. The family opted not to have a guestbook or memory/welcome table, but rather to go for a feel for the event that felt more like a party rather than a memorial.
For the program, a family friend sang Ave Maria, Rebecca spoke, sharing memories of her mom, and the program ended with a photo slideshow set to music. Mary was a woman who loved adventure and learning. Her travels took her to the Amazon and Africa. Her effortless elegance filled the room that day.
After the slideshow steak, salmon, and salad were served at the buffets. People enjoyed the seasonal food, and the delicious wine, and kids ran around in groups all over the ranch.
Celebration Of Life Flowers
Two of Rebecca’s friends are very talented florists and took on the important task of creating all the centerpieces for the celebration of life. For two days they worked diligently at the ranch creating one stunning centerpiece after another including forging from the ranch for greenery. The flowers were in a variety of vases, jars, pottery, and unique vessels collected from the family ranch. No two flower arrangements were the same, yet they all went together perfectly.
Celebration of Life Planning
A few things that made this 200-person event happen in such a short time was that there was one main decision maker and point of contact. In this case, it was Rebecca, the daughter. I would show her two or three options and she would pick one (for example three choices for wine glasses). She was very decisive and had excellent taste, both of which were essential to the success of the overall design of the event.
This celebration of life was much more of a collaboration with the client than usual. This was because of two reasons. One, it was at their ranch/home where they had hosted large events before, so they already had a pretty good idea of what worked for guest flow, where to put the food stations and parking, and could easily run power to wherever it was needed. Second, since Rebecca has excellent taste, she was able to bring ideas and give feedback on the design. At the design studio, she immediately gravitated toward certain items and knew what she liked and didn’t like.
Reflections About this Napa Celebration of Life
One thing that stood out to me about this celebration of life was how close Rebecca and her mom were. It was clear what a strong bond they shared and were best friends. It was an honor to get to know Mary through Rebecca’s stories.
One unique thing about being a celebration of life planner for a family is that immediately I am hearing personal stories and being told intimate details of a family, and family dynamics. I’m a person on the outside, yet I’m trusted to pull together something deeply meaningful. Planning a celebration of life is fast-paced and happens during a raw time of grief. I feel like my role is equal parts event planner and holding space.
One delightful and unexpected result of working on this celebration of life was that Rebecca and I became friends. Not just Facebook friends but real-life friends.
“I am writing to highly recommend Lindsey Nickel for the position of celebration of life event planner. I have had the pleasure of working with Lindsey for my mother’s memorial, and I can confidently say that she is one of the most talented and dedicated event planners I have ever met.
The sudden loss of my mother and the challenges I faced in organizing her memorial service, was quite overwhelming.It was a difficult time for me, as I had to contend with the void left by her passing and plan a service for over 100 guests in a short timeframe. Additionally, the fall harvest season in Napa Valley meant that it was a busy time, requiring significant coordination, creativity, and effort.
Fortunately, a friend referred me to Lindsey Nickel, who proved to be a tremendous help in organizing the event. Lindsey not only took care of the logistics but also provided me with much-needed comfort and support during that trying time. Lindsey has a natural talent for event planning, and she has a keen eye for detail. She is able to take a vision and turn it into a reality, creating events that are both beautiful and meaningful. She is also incredibly organized and efficient, ensuring that every aspect of an event is carefully planned and executed. She understood the significance of the service and made sure it was held in my mother’s garden, a place where she expressed her gratitude to her higher power.
I cannot overstate the importance of Lindsey’s attention to detail and care in making the memorial service a meaningful and memorable experience. In addition to her skills as an event planner, Lindsey is also a compassionate and empathetic person. She understands the importance of creating a meaningful and respectful memorial event, and she is able to work closely with clients to ensure that their needs and wishes are met. She allowed me to focus on mourning my mother’s passing, knowing that everything else was being taken care of. I am truly grateful for her assistance and support during that difficult time.
In conclusion, I highly recommend Lindsey Nickel for the position of celebration of life event planner. She is an outstanding professional with a natural talent for event planning, and she is also a compassionate and empathetic person who truly cares about her clients. I am confident that she would be an asset to any organization, and I wholeheartedly endorse her for this position. ”
To inquire about planning a celebration of life, please fill out the form below.
Napa Celebration Of Life Vendors
Celebration of Life Planner: Lovely Day Legacies
Photos: Lovely Day Legacies
Tent and rentals: Bright Event Rentals
Florist: Friends of the host
