Losing someone you love is never easy — but more and more families in the UK are choosing to honour that person with a celebration of life rather than a traditional funeral service. Uplifting, personal, and completely tailored to who they were, a celebration of life puts joy and gratitude at the centre.
Even the most informal gathering benefits from an order of service. This guide covers everything you need to create one — from what to include and how to word it, to choosing a design that truly reflects your loved one.
What Is a Celebration of Life?
A celebration of life is a memorial event that focuses on honouring who someone was rather than mourning their passing. There are no strict rules — it can take place at a venue they loved, a garden, a village hall, or even a pub. It might happen days after the death or weeks later, once family has had time to gather and plan.
Compared to a traditional funeral, a celebration of life typically:
- Has an uplifting, personal tone rather than a solemn one
- Features favourite music, stories, and tributes over religious ritual
- Welcomes colour, laughter, and even humour
- Involves more people speaking — open mic moments, shared memories
- May follow a burial or cremation, or stand alone as the main memorial event
It is growing rapidly in the UK, particularly for those who were non-religious or who simply wanted their send-off to feel like them.
Does a Celebration of Life Need an Order of Service?
Yes — and perhaps more so than a traditional funeral.
Because a celebration of life is less structured than a church service, guests often don’t know what to expect. An order of service gives everyone a clear thread to follow. It signals when tributes are happening, prompts people to join in with a favourite song, and prevents that awkward silence when nobody is sure what comes next.
It also becomes a keepsake. Long after the day is over, a beautifully printed programme is something family members keep in a drawer, tuck into a photo album, or return to when they want to feel close to the person they lost.
For a full overview of what goes into any order of service, see our complete guide to funeral orders of service.
What to Include in a Celebration of Life Order of Service
The structure is more flexible than a traditional order of service, but these elements work well:
Front Cover
- Full name — phrased as “Celebrating the Life of [Name]” or “In Celebration of [Name]”
- Birth and death dates
- A joyful photo — candid, laughing, doing something they loved
- Date, time, and venue of the celebration
Running Order (Inside Pages)
- Welcome — a brief opening from the host or celebrant
- Tributes — named speakers with their relationship to the person
- Favourite music — song titles listed so guests can listen along or sing
- Open mic / shared memories — a note that guests are welcome to share a story
- Slideshow or video — flag when this happens so guests look up
- Closing — an uplifting final note, favourite quote, or blessing
Back Cover
- Wake or reception details — venue, time, what to expect
- Charity donation information if applicable
- A final photo or quote that captures who they were
Optional Additions
- A short biography or life timeline
- Their favourite poem or song lyrics
- A note on dress code (“Wear something colourful” is common)
- QR code linking to an online memorial or photo gallery
Not sure how much to include? Our guide on what to include in a funeral order of service walks through every section in detail.
Wording That Fits a Celebration of Life
The language is the biggest difference between a traditional order of service and a celebration of life programme. Here are examples you can adapt:
Cover Wording
- “A Celebration of the Life of Margaret Rose Fielding”
- “Celebrating [Name] — 1942–2026”
- “Join us to celebrate the extraordinary life of…”
- “Forever in our hearts. Forever making us laugh.”
Welcome Wording
- “Thank you for being here. Today we gather not to mourn, but to celebrate a life lived fully and with great joy.”
- “[Name] would have hated a fuss — so we’ve made a big one. Welcome.”
- “We’re here to share stories, raise a glass, and remember someone truly one of a kind.”
Closing Wording
- “Thank you for celebrating with us. Please join us for drinks and food — [Name] would have insisted.”
- “We hope today felt like [Name]: warm, a little chaotic, and full of love.”
- “Don’t say goodbye — say ‘see you later.’ That’s what [he/she/they] always said.”
See more inspiration in our funeral order of service examples gallery.
Design: How a Celebration of Life Programme Looks Different
A traditional order of service often uses muted tones — navy, ivory, sage green. A celebration of life can go anywhere.
Colour
Choose colours that meant something to them. A passionate gardener might have a bright floral design. A football fan might have their team’s colours on the cover. Someone who loved the sea might have blues and sandy tones. There are no wrong choices.
Photos
Go beyond the formal portrait. Use a photo that shows them living — laughing at a barbecue, on a favourite holiday, with the dog. Multiple photos across the inside pages tell a richer story than a single headshot.
Templates
Browse designs in categories that match who they were:
- Colourful designs — bold, celebratory, full of life
- Floral and nature-themed — elegant but warm
- Hobby and interest themes — gardening, golf, music, sport
- Modern and minimalist — clean, uncluttered, quietly personal
All templates are fully customisable — change colours, fonts, wording, and photos to make it completely theirs. No design experience needed. Browse our free celebration of life templates.
For more design ideas, take a look at our non-religious funeral order of service and humanist funeral service guides — they share a similar tone and many of the same design principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a celebration of life order of service different from a funeral order of service?
The structure is similar — cover, running order, back page — but the tone, wording, and design are more uplifting and personal. A celebration of life programme uses phrases like “celebrating the life of” rather than “in loving memory of,” and often features brighter colours and candid photos.
Can I have a celebration of life order of service if there was already a funeral?
Yes. Many families hold a private burial or cremation and then plan a larger celebration of life separately — sometimes weeks later. The order of service for the celebration is its own document, separate from any funeral programme.
How many copies of a celebration of life order of service do I need?
Order roughly 25% more than your expected attendance. If you’re expecting 80 guests, order 100. It’s better to have extras as keepsakes than to run short on the day.
How quickly can I get a celebration of life order of service printed?
We offer next-day delivery on orders placed before 1pm. Most orders are turned around within 24–48 hours.
Do I have to design it myself?
Not at all. Our free “Design It For Me” service means you send us the text, photos, and any preferences — we create the design for you at no extra cost, with unlimited revisions until you’re happy.
Create Your Celebration of Life Order of Service
A celebration of life deserves a programme as personal and joyful as the person at the centre of it. Whether you browse our 1,000+ templates and customise online, or let our team design it for you free of charge, we’ll make sure it’s exactly right.
Printed on premium 350gsm silk card with free UK delivery — and next-day options when you need it quickly. Ready to order? Visit our funeral order of service printing page to get started.
