Memorial Service Planning Checklist: Everything You Need

A deceased person would have left instructions about their preferred memorial service in an ideal world, but that’s rarely the case. So, it’s left to the descendants to plan and carry out a celebration that honors the person who passed away – often, but not always, with little time to organize all the details.

To ease this stressful and somber time, we’ve provided a step-by-step checklist for planning a memorial. Before anything else, try to honor the deceased person’s character by setting the memorial’s tone in concord with theirs. For example, if they were a jovial person in life, they probably wouldn’t prefer to be celebrated with a gloomy event. If they were religious, they might want their spiritual system represented, as it likely was during the funeral itself.

Further, it’s a good idea to set and stick to a budget. It can come as a shock how expensive funerary- and memorial-related occasions are. If money is no object, that’s wonderful. But for the rest of us, it’s wise not to overspend.

By keeping in mind the overall vibe of the memorial service and the budget, it will be easier to follow the memorial planning checklist below.

1. Get a headcount

This is where social media is your friend. As memorial service planning often must happen on the fly, paper invites aren’t as effective. Keep the e-invitations tactful, though – this isn’t something to Tweet or plaster all over your wall. Privately message your announcement or email the ceremony details to the invitees and emphasize the importance of a prompt RSVP. The tone of your invitation also helps guests know how formal the event will be, which will help them decide what to wear.

2. Book a venue

Now that you have a good idea of how many people will be in attendance, use Peerspace to find a venue to hold the memorial service. There are hundreds of suitable and affordable sites to book via local hosts who rent out their spaces. Select a venue that can accommodate all the guests, fits the budget, and matches the sort of theme you envision for the memorial. Oftentimes, these venues are available with little notice – you can communicate directly with the host via Peerspace.

This gorgeous outdoor event space in St. Louis (pictured above) would be a pleasant place to hold the memorial, and it includes a bar area, a pergola, and pretty greenery. It can accommodate about 125 people. As a bonus, it’s right next to an abbey which can also be rented. Or take a look at this stately Oakland mansion, where up to 50 guests can mingle and remember the deceased person. Its 12-foot ceilings and displayed collection of original art would honor them in a truly elegant style.

Peerspace’s concierge service can match you with trusted vendors and party rental items that the venue itself might not offer. If you need banquet tables and chairs, a caterer, or audio-visual gear to project lovely images of the deceased person, you can get them delivered straight to your booking.