How to Create and Send Celebration of Life Invitations for Free
Writing and sending out celebration of life invitations is easier than you may think, especially when it's done online. If you’ve never sent out celebration of life invitations, this article provides guidance on how to do just that. Continue reading for guidance on whether to mail out invitations, ideas on celebration of life invite wording, and examples of what an invitation to a celebration of life looks like.
Should you mail out invitations to a celebration of life?
Mailing celebration of life invitations can add a personal, tangible touch that many guests appreciate, but it certainly isn’t required. A printed card serves as a keepsake, honoring the memory of your loved one and offering a lasting reminder of the event. It also ensures that those who may not use email or social media, such as older relatives or friends, receive the details. However, it’s a good idea to have an online space where folks can access this information, such as a memorial website, in addition to mailing out your celebration of life invitations.
How to send out celebration of life invitations
If you’ve never been in charge of sending out invitations for a celebration of life, this guide is for you. Part of planning a celebration of life involves making sure guests are notified and informed on what’s to come. The following guide will walk you through, step-by-step, how to send out celebration of life invitations. Once you’ve gone through it, there are also celebration of life invitation templates to help you with wording choices and what to include or exclude in the one you send out.
1. Choose a platform for invitations
There are multiple ways to send out celebration of life invitations:
- Memorial websites: Create a free memorial website on Ever Loved to organize your event. In addition to giving you a space to publish an obituary and share event information, you can send email invitations directly, provide a direct link for guests to RSVP, and post memories, photos, and updates in one place. It’s also entirely free!
- Traditional mail: Opt for printed invitations for a personal touch. Use designs that reflect the personality of your loved one. You can order custom cards or create your own at home.
- Social media: Share details via private Facebook groups or other social platforms. This is a good option for reaching a large group at once and gives you a spot to make a general announcement of the event information.
2. Gather guest contact information
Make a list of people you want to invite, including their email addresses or mailing addresses. Double-check to ensure no one is missed. With a memorial website, this isn’t necessarily needed since the link can easily be shared on social media and you can ask people to share it with others.
3. Write an invitation
The wording for a celebration of life invitation will vary depending on your needs. Invitations typically include important details about the event as well as how guests can RSVP. These event details are automatically included for you when you send invitations through Ever Loved memorial websites, but if you’re writing an invitation, it’s helpful to include the following details in your invitation:
- The purpose: "Celebration of Life for [Name]."
- Date and time.
- Location (or virtual link if applicable).
- Dress code, if any.
- Any special requests (e.g., sharing a memory or photo, donations in lieu of flowers, where folks can RSVP).
4. Send invitations via your chosen method
- If you’re using Ever Loved:
- Set up a free memorial website.
- Set up an event on the site itself.
- Share invitations by sending an email through the website or providing a direct link to the event page.
- For traditional mail:
- Send invitations at least 2-3 weeks in advance.
- Include RSVP instructions (e.g., phone number or email).
- For social media:
- Create an event or group to keep the details in one place.
- Invite attendees directly and monitor RSVPs.
5. Follow up with guests
For important attendees, consider following up with a phone call or email to ensure they’ve received the invitation. After the event has passed, consider sending thank you notes to those you’d like to thank. Remember, creating a memorial website on Ever Loved simplifies the process, making it easier to focus on honoring your loved one’s memory.
Celebration of life invitations templates
These free examples of celebration of life invitations give you some ideas on how celebration of life invites typically look and the type of information they include. If you’ve never sent or received invitations for a celebration of life, reading through these can help you hone in on what you’d like to include on the invitations you’ll be sending out. The invitation wording for a celebration of life should be altered to fit your needs and to fit the person who passed away.
Template 1
Join us as we gather to celebrate the remarkable life of [Name].
[Name] brought love, laughter, and kindness to all who knew them. Let’s come together to share memories, stories, and honor their legacy.
Date: [Insert Date]
Time: [Insert Time]
Location: [Insert Location]
Refreshments will be served. Your presence would mean so much to our family.
Template 2
We invite you to celebrate the life of [Name] in a relaxed and informal gathering.
Let’s honor [Name] with good food, laughter, and shared memories, just as they would have wanted.
Date: [Insert Date]
Time: [Insert Time]
Location: [Insert Location]
Please bring a story, photo, or memory to share as we remember the wonderful times we had together.
Template 3
With heavy hearts but grateful spirits, we invite you to a celebration of life for [Name].
Through their faith and love, [Name] touched many lives and inspired us all. Let us gather to celebrate their journey and the impact they’ve left on us.
Date: [Insert Date]
Time: [Insert Time]
Location: [Insert Location]
Join us for prayers, songs, and shared memories as we honor [Name].
Template 4
Celebrate the beautiful life of [Name] surrounded by nature.
As [Name] loved the outdoors, we will gather in [Insert Park/Outdoor Venue] to honor their spirit and the love they shared with the world.
Date: [Insert Date]
Time: [Insert Time]
Location: [Insert Location]
Please dress comfortably for an outdoor setting. Feel free to bring a flower to lay in remembrance.
Template 5
We invite you to a celebration of life honoring [Name].
[Name] lived a life full of passion, kindness, and love. Let’s come together to celebrate their legacy and the many lives they touched.
Date: [Insert Date]
Time: [Insert Time]
Location: [Insert Location]
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to [Insert Charity/Organization] in [Name]’s memory.
These celebration of life invites use varying wording to help you hone in on what you’d like to include in the one you’re writing. If you try to customize the invitation to be relevant to your loved one, it’ll generally come across more personalized and unique to them. If you’d like to easily send out personalized invitations, consider setting up a memorial website on Ever Loved. Ever Loved memorial websites are free to set up, easy to use, and make it simple to share invitations and track RSVPs to important memorial events.
