What To Wear For A Celebration Of Life?

If you haven't been to a Celebration of Life Ceremony before, you might be confused about what is appropriate to wear? Although these memorials are typically less formal than traditional funerals, there is still some etiquette you need to follow.

In this guide, we'll go through what should and shouldn't wear to a Celebration of Life. We'll also provide some outfit ideas for women, men, and also children.

Before deciding on what you're going to wear, there's a few general things you want to keep in mind. First and foremost, pay attention to any dress codes (Whether verbally or maybe in the invitation) from the family or host of the ceremony. Apart from that here are some other things to consider:

Time of day

The time of the ceremony often dictates the dress code. Morning or afternoon events tend to be more casual compared to evening ones, which may call for slightly more formal attire.

Location

Consider the venue when choosing your outfit. If the event is outdoors, for example a forest, you should consider comfortable and warm clothing. While an indoor ceremony at a sophisticated venue might call for more formal attire.

Activities Scheduled

Some Celebrations of Life have activities like a balloon release, tree planting, or even water activities. Dress for what's planned—you may need comfortable shoes or even a change of clothes.

As we mentioned before, these ceremonies tend by more casual so the idea is to have the right balance between  respectful and casual. Below you will find some suggestions and examples for both women, men, and children.

• Clothes with color

• Casual dress

• Skirt and blouse

• Button down top

• Nice jeans or pants

• Slacks and nice top

• Heels, flats, boots, or nice sneakers

• Overly casual clothes: Wearing overly casual attire may be seen as disrespectful or may look like you are not taking the occasion seriously. Flip flops, baseball caps, casual t-shirts, exercise clothes, and shorts should be avoided.

• Nothing too distracting: This includes anything that can draw attention away from the ceremony. This includes shirts with large logos and bright colors, or shirts with inappropriate political or humorous messages. Flashy or excessive jewelry along with overly revealing clothing is also not recommended.

• Disrespectful Symbols or Accessories: Items or symbols that don't recognize the religion or culture of the deceased's family.