The tone
A celebration of life remembers how someone lived. The wording can mention what they loved, invite people to share stories, and suggest what to wear. It should still be respectful: people are grieving, and some guests will be coming from far away. Keep the facts in plain, separate lines so nobody has to search for the time or the address.
Openings
"Join us to celebrate the life of Dolores 'Dee' Ramirez." "Please come and share your favorite stories about Jim." "We are gathering to remember Margaret the way she lived: with good food, music and friends." "Come raise a glass to Henry."
Practical lines
"Saturday, May 16, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Riverside Park Pavilion, 50 River Road, Lakewood." "Come and go as you are able." "Light refreshments will be served." "Children are welcome." Put the date and time on one line and the place on the next, so they are easy to read on a phone.
Dress and small requests
"Casual dress, please. Dee loved bright colors." "Wear your favorite team jersey in Jim's honor." "Bring a photo or a memory to add to the table." Keep requests optional and simple, so nobody feels they cannot come because they lack the right item.
Replies
This tool does not collect RSVPs. If the family wants a count, add: "Please let Laura know by May 10 at laura@example.com if you can come." Only share contact details the person has agreed to share.
Short versions for a video
On a phone screen, fewer words read better. "Celebrating Dee. Saturday, May 16, 2 to 5 PM. Riverside Park Pavilion, Lakewood. Wear something bright." To see how this looks with a photo and background, read a celebration of life invitation video or look through the funeral invitation video examples.
When there is also a funeral
Sometimes the family holds a private funeral first and a celebration later. You can mention both: "Jim was laid to rest privately. We invite you to celebrate his life with us." For more traditional services, see funeral invitation wording.
Examples for different kinds of places
For a park: "Riverside Park Pavilion 2, near the playground. Parking at the north lot." For a restaurant: "The back room at Marco's Kitchen, 21 Main Street." For a home: give the address only to people the family wants there, and do not post it publicly. For a church hall: "The fellowship hall at Grace Community Church, entrance on Elm Street." One clear line about where exactly to go saves guests from wandering around and calling the family on the day.
Lines for the end
"We can't wait to share stories with you." "Come as you are." "Dee would have loved a full house." "Thank you for being part of his life." Choose one, not three. A single warm closing line leaves room for the facts above it to stand out, and it gives the invitation the voice of the family rather than the voice of a form.
Wording when children are invited
"Children are welcome; there will be a quiet corner with crayons and books." Many families want children at a celebration of life, and saying so helps parents decide.
Keeping one voice
If several family members write lines, the invitation can start to sound like a committee. Ask one person to make the final version, using the best line from each. Read it once aloud: if it sounds like something the person who died would have smiled at, it is probably right. If the person who died had a sense of humor, a light line can honor that: "Bring your best story about Jim. The taller the tale, the better." Ask the family first, and keep the facts below it plain.
Check your wording
- Date, weekday and time match
- Place has a full address
- Requests are optional
- Contact details are shared with permission
About these guides
Written by Funeral Invitations, in plain language, for funeral directors and families. If anything changes about the videos or the price, we update the guides.