A celebration of life is different from a traditional funeral. It's lighter, more personal, and often full of stories and laughter alongside the tears. The program should feel that way too.
When I've helped families with these, the question I hear most is, how do I make this feel like them and not like a funeral? This guide answers that, with a sample layout, wording ideas, and personal touches that turn a program into something people keep.
If you're still planning the gathering itself, start with our celebration of life planning guide. This post focuses on the program.
How a Celebration of Life Program Is Different
| Traditional Funeral Program | Celebration of Life Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Formal, reverent | Warm, personal, sometimes joyful |
| Cover title | "In Loving Memory" | "Celebrating the Life of" or something uniquely theirs |
| Order of events | Structured order of service | Looser flow: welcome, stories, music, open sharing |
| Design | Classic, often faith-based | Reflects their personality: beach, garden, motorcycles, music, golf |
| Extras | Scripture, hymns | Favorite things, recipes, playlists, fun facts |
A celebration of life can still include faith, prayer, and scripture. The difference is that the program is built around who they were, not around a set format.
What to Include
The essentials
- A photo that captures their spirit, not necessarily their most formal one
- Full name and dates
- Date, time, and place of the gathering
- A short life story or obituary
- The flow of the celebration
The personal touches
- A page of their favorite things: foods, songs, sayings, places
- A photo collage across their life
- A favorite recipe they were known for
- Their "words to live by" or a saying everyone remembers
- A playlist of songs played at the celebration
- A QR code linking to an online memorial or photo slideshow
- A page for guests to write a memory and leave behind
From experience: The pages people talk about afterward are almost never the formal ones. It's the recipe card, the list of things Grandpa always said, or the photo of Mom in her garden hat. If you only add one personal page, make it the one that would make everyone smile and say, "That's so them."
Sample Celebration of Life Program Layout
4-Page Program
| Page | What Goes There |
|---|---|
| Page 1 (Cover) | Favorite photo, "Celebrating the Life of," name and dates |
| Page 2 | Their life story |
| Page 3 | Celebration flow and a favorite-things list |
| Page 4 (Back) | Poem or quote, family thank-you, reception details |
8-Page Program
| Page | What Goes There |
|---|---|
| Page 1 (Cover) | Favorite photo, name and dates |
| Page 2 | Welcome note from the family and celebration flow |
| Page 3 | Life story |
| Page 4 | Favorite things, sayings, or fun facts |
| Pages 5–6 | Photo collage spread |
| Page 7 | A favorite recipe, playlist, or tributes |
| Page 8 (Back) | Poem or quote, thank-you, QR code to online memorial |
Sample Celebration Flow
A celebration of life rarely follows a strict order of service. Here's a relaxed example you can adjust:
- Welcome and Gathering
- Opening Words
- Their Story
- Favorite Song
- Stories and Memories (open sharing)
- Photo Slideshow
- A Toast in Their Honor
- Closing Words
- Food, Fellowship, and More Stories
Celebration of Life Wording Ideas
Cover titles
- Celebrating the Life of
- A Celebration of Life
- A Life Well Lived
- Join Us in Celebrating
- Forever in Our Hearts
- Something uniquely theirs, like "Gone Fishin'" or "The Last Ride"
Welcome lines
- Today isn't about how [Name] left us. It's about how [he/she] lived.
- Thank you for coming to laugh, cry, and remember [Name] with us.
- [Name] would want a party, so that's what we're having.
Closing lines
- Raise a glass. Tell a story. Keep [him/her] close.
- What a life. What a gift.
- Go do something [Name] would have loved.
For many more options, see our funeral program wording examples.
Choosing a Celebration of Life Template
The best template is the one that looks like them. Think about where they were happiest and what made them light up:
- Loved the water? Try our coastal and beach programs.
- Had a passion or hobby? Browse hobbies and interests programs, from golf to gardening to music.
- Rode free? See our biker and motorcycle programs.
- Soft, gentle, and bright? Try pastel and soft color programs.
- A little retro? Look at our retro and mid-century templates.
Every template is Canva-editable, so you can change "In Loving Memory" to "Celebrating the Life of" or any wording you like in a click.
From experience: Celebrations of life are often held weeks after a death, which gives you a little breathing room. Use it. Collect original photos from family by email at full size (screenshots and Facebook photos often print blurry), and let a second person check every name before you print.
Printing Your Program
If your celebration is a few weeks away, you'll have time to use an online printer for nicer paper. If it's sooner, an office supply store can usually print same day. Our guide on how to print a funeral program covers sizes, paper, and exactly what to tell the print counter.
Want Those Personal Pages Without the Design Work?
With our Done-For-You Service, you can add the pages that make it feel like them, like favorite things, recipes, and photo collages, and we'll build it. You do everything online in our Program Portal, no design skills needed:
- Pick your design and your finished size
- Choose exactly which pages go in your program, and in what order
- Fill in everything online: names, dates, life story, and photos
- Save and finish later if you need to step away
We build your program and send you a proof to approve. Once approved, you receive a print-ready digital file to take to any print shop or print at home. The template is included.
Please note: This is a digital design service only. We do not print or ship physical programs.
Make It Feel Like Them
There's no wrong way to celebrate a life. If they'd have laughed at a formal program, don't make one. Put in the jokes, the recipe, the bright colors. The people who loved them will see them on every page.