Whether you’re planning a memorial service at a unique location or hosting a graveside service at a cemetery in Charlotte, NC, it’s important that the service is personalized to the deceased. Studies show that the more personalized and memorable a service is the more it helps not only honor the deceased but also offer some relief for the bereaved during their time of loss.

How will you customize the graveside or memorial service? If you don’t know, don’t worry. There are a lot of different ways to go about it. The following list of ideas, for example, is a great place to start:

• Set Up a Memory Table – A memory table is an easy way to help make a memorial service custom and personalized. It’s a simple and free way to show items that either meant a lot to the deceased, show their personality, or represent the deceased to other people. You can put almost anything on a memory table such as photos, sunglasses, ticket stubs from special events, letters, favorite vases or flowers, beloved clothing, or anything else that was special to or about the deceased. You can also make several memory stations as opposed to just one table. There can be themed tables with each one showing a part of the deceased’s life, such as wedding memories, school items, and children and grandchildren.
• Put Out Special Food – Food is a serious comfort for a lot of people. Take inspiration from the deceased’s favorite foods and put out a special spread for guests at the service.
• Share Photos and Videos – Many bereaved families make photo collages or montage videos for a memorial or graveside service. These items are treasured by the family, but other bereaved like friends and coworkers would appreciate access to them as well. Consider uploading any montages or videos online to share with other people. You can use Google Drive, Drop Box, or YouTube. Make the files accessible with only a certain link and print the link on the service program so guests can access it if they choose.
• Add Decorations – It might seem like bad form to decorate a memorial or graveside service after a cremation, but decorations can actually make the service more special and unique. You can add decorations in any form you want, from lamps and rugs to artwork, flowers and everything in between. Bring decorations that somehow represent or honor the deceased. For example, if she loved to stitch, you could hang some of her work. Or if he loved a certain artist you could display copies of famous artwork.

If you need more ideas, look to the deceased for inspiration from his or her life, or turn to Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Garden. We have years of experience in the Charlotte, NC cemetery industry and are happy to help you in any way that we can. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss.