Planning a Celebration of Life celebration for a loved one or for someone you know can be extremely overwhelming, especially during a sensitive, difficult time. No one wants to go through something like this, and it is best to have the least number of things to be concerned with. Eternally Loved is a helps plan memorials or some go through a funeral home that can provide professional assistance and facilities for a memorial service, we hope you if you need help to plan respectful and meaningful farewells, Eternally Loved will be your choice.
Something that you do not want to worry about is the dress code or what to wear to a celebration of life service or occasion. When someone we love dies, people want to find the best way possible to honor their legacy. Creating personalized programs, invitations, or decorations can be a beautiful way to reflect the individual’s personality and make the event meaningful. This is typically with a memorial service, visitation, or celebration of life event occasion.
While most people are familiar with what to wear to a funeral service (color black), we might have questions about what to wear to a celebration of life. Continue reading to learn what our celebration of life specialists recommends.
Planning a Celebration of Life for Your Loved One
A service is an event that can be held for a friend or loved one that either takes the place of a memorial or traditional funeral service or is held after. There are many things that people must consider when planning a visitation or celebration of life ceremony. There are lots of small details involved such as the location of where it will take place such as someone’s home, what decorations to have, food, colors, cremation, dress code, and other services to honor the deceased person. Incorporating the deceased’s personality into the decorations and overall atmosphere—through color choices, memorabilia, or personalized elements—can make the event truly meaningful. Reflecting the loved one’s life through personalized details and event themes helps to honor their unique character and memories. Thoughtful planning can also encourage guests to participate and share memories during the celebration.
What is the Difference Between a Funeral and a Celebration of Life?
A traditional funeral and a celebration of life have lots of things in common. Although, there are distinctive ways that a funeral and celebration of life differentiate from one another. A funeral is more based around tradition and usually has a specific schedule that it follows.
Typically, a celebration of life ceremony is fully customizable by the families or loved one of the deceased. Some celebrations of life may have a specific theme that reflects the individual’s interests or passions, with color schemes and attire chosen to match the theme. A celebration of life ceremony may include mementos and personal touches of the deceased person such as their favorite hobby, sports team, food, music, or other things that made them special. Not to mention they are also set in a more casual environment.
What Should You Wear to a Celebration of Life?
If you are worried about proper etiquette for what type or categories of attire to wear to a celebration of life service occasion, you usually cannot go wrong. Since it is a celebration rather than a traditional funeral there are no rules. There are many appropriate options for attire at a celebration of life, depending on the location and formality of the event. Generally, nine times out of ten the person hosting the event states on the invitation what they prefer, if they prefer anything specific at all. Most people want their friends and family to be comfortable and casual.
It can be a challenge to choose what to wear to a celebration of life or a traditional funeral event. Attending a ceremony that is more casual might make it more difficult to choose the right outfit. In some cases, jeans and a t shirt may be fine, but in other cases it is not. While you may be able to wear jeans if the event is very casual, it’s generally better to choose more suitable alternatives unless the invitation says otherwise. When selecting your outfit, make a respectful choice, especially if no dress code is specified. Before deciding what funeral attire or outfit to wear, keep these options and information in mind:
- The location of the ceremony or services, or if it will be at a home.
- The dress code suggested by the family members.
- The time of day that the ceremony will be, as morning and night attire will differ.
- The activities scheduled for the ceremony or party.
- The tone or type of celebration of life ceremony event
- Consider different styles that reflect the tone of the event and the loved one’s personality.
For a celebration of life or funeral service everyone should more than likely want to avoid a t shirt and jeans unless it is specified on the invitation of the service. Funeral attire is typically more formal and consists of dress shoes, slacks or dress pants, and a black dress or dress of another color. Navy is also a versatile and respectful color choice for both men and women. Celebration of life attire typically emphasizes comfort and respect, and may include bright colors or themed outfits. Celebration of life are more celebratory, and you can definitely still wear black, but more colors, no suit and tie, and comfort are more recommended.
A celebration of life is more informal and there is an opportunity to customize the party for the deceased or your loved ones. This means that there is more lenience to the type of clothing, shoes, and other attire that family members and friends wear to the celebration of life gathering. Life attire for these events often focuses on respectful, comfortable, and sometimes themed outfits suitable for various settings.
When considering what not to wear, avoid overly casual or revealing items such as low cut tops, unless the invitation specifically allows for it.
For footwear, boots and sneakers can be suitable for more casual or outdoor celebrations, while low heels are a comfortable and elegant option for women.
For men’s attire, ties are optional, and it’s acceptable to skip them for less formal events.
What is Proper Funeral Attire?
A funeral and celebration of life are similar in their purpose, which is to dedicate a time and place to grieve and honor the deceased. A funeral tends to be more rooted in the tradition while a celebration of life is more casual and celebratory. Traditional funeral etiquette often is more formal and requires the guests to wear a certain type of clothing to be respectful to the family or host of the funeral. Usually this is either all black clothing or darker colors.
Considering the Location
When choosing appropriate attire for a celebration of life, the location of the event plays a significant role in determining what to wear. A celebration held in a banquet hall or church often calls for more formal clothes, such as dress pants, a collared shirt, and dress shoes, to convey respect for the occasion. On the other hand, an outdoor celebration—perhaps in a garden, park, or at the beach—may allow for more casual attire, like breathable fabrics, sandals, or even flip flops if the setting is especially relaxed. Understanding the venue helps guests select an outfit that fits the dress code and the spirit of the event, whether it’s a formal gathering or a laid-back celebration. By considering the location, you can ensure your attire is both comfortable and appropriate, allowing you to focus on celebrating your loved one’s life alongside family and friends.
Respecting the Family’s Wishes
One of the most important things to keep in mind when attending a celebration of life is to respect the family’s wishes regarding attire. Sometimes, the family may request that guests wear specific colors, such as light blue or earth tones, to honor the loved one’s personality or favorite shades. They might also ask guests to avoid certain types of clothing, like t shirts, tank tops, or revealing outfits, to maintain a respectful atmosphere. Always check the invitation for any dress code details or special requests, and make your outfit choices accordingly. By following these guidelines, you show your support for the family and help create a celebration that truly reflects and honors the life of the person being celebrated.
What Should Women Wear?
It is a challenge for a woman to know what exactly is appropriate to wear to celebrations of life ceremonies. There are many appropriate options available for women, depending on the formality and location of the event, such as dresses, skirts, or dress pants paired with understated accessories. They want to make sure that they are conservative enough but avoid being disrespectful with the tone or type of clothing they wear. This term could mean different things for different people. The main thing to remember is that celebrations of life are a time for family and friends to honor and pay tribute to the deceased or death of a person.
When choosing an outfit, consider different styles that balance comfort and respect, such as smart casual or dressy casual looks that reflect your personality while maintaining the appropriate tone for the occasion.
Depending on the type of ceremony, you will want to ensure that you are wearing the right type of shoes. For instance, if you are planning a anything like a picnic or a walk, ensure you have athletic shoes instead of flip flops. Keep your sandals at home, and instead be sure to wear closed-toe shoes. Low heels are a comfortable and stylish option for women attending a celebration of life, providing both elegance and ease of movement. Boots can also be a practical and appropriate choice, especially for outdoor or less formal celebrations. Because this is typically a more informal event, high heels are not necessary.
What Should Women Not Wear?
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. A woman should focus on avoiding wearing:
- Neon colors and loud colors or prints (unless you are to wear workout or fitness clothes)
- Mini-skirts, low cut tops or other revealing clothing, and do not wear jeans unless the invitation specifically allows it; also avoid a t shirt or outfits with low cleavage
What Should Men Wear?
Contrary to a woman, men will have an easier time finding the right attire for funerals, memorial services or a celebration of life gathering. It is not necessary for a man to always wear a suit with collared shirt that is usually a button down shirt and tie to a celebration of life event, unless it is a more formal event or that it specifies that it is a black-tie gathering. Ties are optional, and men can choose to forgo them for a more relaxed look.
There are different styles men can choose from, depending on the formality of the event. Opt for a semi-formal attire instead; jeans (sometimes), or even slacks are allowed. Colors can be brighter, and colors such as oranges, yellows, reds, greens, white and blues and every other color will work for this type of occasion. Navy is also a classic and respectful color for men’s attire, conveying understated elegance. It is important to remember that black is not always required.
For footwear, boots and sneakers are acceptable options for more casual or outdoor celebrations, in addition to traditional dress shoes.
What Should Men Not Wear?
Despite men having more flexibility and freedom to choose what to wear, there are still certain things to consider when choosing their attire. There are certain things that are not recommended to wear to a visitation, funeral or celebration of life gathering such as:
- Graphic t-shirts that have inappropriate things
- Noisy accessories
- Swimsuits
- Open toed shoes like flip flops or sandals
What About Children?
Children and kids should wear comfortable, age-appropriate, and slightly dressy clothing suitable for the event. They do not need to be as concerned about their attire, but if possible, they should be dressed like the adults. Celebrations of life should not add any stress to everyone who is going through grief and the hardship of saying goodbye to a family member or friend.
Creating a Comfortable Atmosphere
A celebration of life is meant to be a time for sharing memories and celebrating a life well lived, and the right attire can help set a comfortable, welcoming tone. Choosing clothes that feel comfortable and appropriate for the occasion allows guests to relax and focus on the joy of remembering their loved one. For women, a skirt and blouse or a dress in muted tones or bright colors that reflect the loved one’s personality can be a great option. Men might consider khaki pants paired with a button down shirt, or another casual yet respectful outfit. The key is to wear something that feels comfortable and suits the atmosphere, so everyone can participate fully in the celebration and honor the memory of the loved one.
Exceptions
There will always be exceptions to what type of funeral attire and outfit that can be worn to a celebration of life, funeral or other memorial gathering. There may be instances where the family chooses a theme based on something their loved one liked or specific memories or an idea they have. When a specific theme is chosen, it can guide the choice of life attire, encouraging guests to wear clothing that reflects the theme and honors the individual’s personality.
Celebration of life celebrations tends to be different from funerals, a memorial service, or a wake. 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. Some families would like to choose a theme for the celebration that could include wearing something like:
- A type of uniform
- Clothes from an era
- A group activity
- t shirts from a sports team
- One or two of their favorite colors
- a favorite color
- Movie costumes or other categories
Eternally Loved is a full-service coordinator that offers services related to memorial services, and celebration of life events. We focus on providing unique and personal memorial events to a family and their loved ones.
We understand the extent to what it takes to plan a memorial service, or celebration of life, and we want to help with this process. The idea of planning these types of celebrations on our own can be very overwhelming, and we want to look out for each other.
Final Tips for Dressing at a Celebration of Life
As you prepare for a celebration of life, keep a few final tips in mind to ensure your attire is both respectful and fitting for the occasion. Always check for a dress code on the invitation, and choose shoes that are suitable for the venue—dress shoes for a formal event, or sandals for an outdoor celebration. Unless specifically requested, avoid overly casual items like flip flops. For both men and women, adding a personal touch by wearing the loved one’s favorite color or a style that reflects their personality can make your outfit even more meaningful. Remember, the most important thing is to dress in a way that honors the loved one and allows you to celebrate their life with family and friends. With a little thought and consideration, your attire can help create a beautiful and memorable celebration of life.
Our Services
Eternally Loved assists in planning and executing the celebration event. Instead of worrying about all the plans and day-of logistics, you will experience a terrific celebration honoring the tremendous life of your loved one. Spend this time by being surrounded by your friends and family, not worrying about what time the caterer is getting there.
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.
Contact Us
If you would like more information or have questions on our services, please contact our team. We would be happy to help with anything you need for your event or ceremony.