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· TeamRally · 5 min read

Memorial Service and Celebration of Life Invitation Wording (Examples)

Wording for a memorial service, celebration of life or remembrance gathering invitation: plain, respectful examples, how to mention donations instead of flowers, and online memorials.

If you are organising a memorial or a celebration of life, the invitation is one of many things on your list, and it shouldn’t be a hard one. It needs to say who you’re remembering, when, where and what happens afterwards. The tone is plain and warm. Below are examples you can use as they are.

What to include

  1. The person’s full name, and if helpful, their dates.
  2. What it is: a memorial service, a celebration of life, a gathering.
  3. When and where, with the address.
  4. Afterwards: refreshments, a reception, a wake.
  5. Flowers or donations.
  6. A reply, if you need numbers for refreshments.

Memorial service

  1. Please join us to remember and celebrate the life of Joan Hughes. Saturday 21 November at 2pm, St Mary’s Church hall. Refreshments afterwards.
  2. A memorial service for Raj Patel will be held on Friday 27 November at 11am at Hollins Hall. All who knew him are welcome.
  3. We invite you to join us in remembering Linda Carter. Saturday at 3pm, The Grange, followed by tea.
  4. Please join the family for a service of remembrance for John Smith, Thursday at 2pm.

Celebration of life

  1. A celebration of Raj’s life, with music, stories and the food he loved. Sunday at 3pm, at the family home.
  2. Join us to celebrate the life of Pat Lee: a gathering of friends, memories and his favourite songs. Saturday from 2pm.
  3. Linda asked that we gather and share stories, not grieve in silence. Please join us on Saturday at 4pm.
  4. Come as you are, and bring a memory. A celebration of Mike’s life, Sunday from 1pm.

Small and private

  1. A small gathering of family and close friends to remember Joan. Saturday at 2pm, at home.
  2. We’ll be gathering quietly to remember Ana on Sunday afternoon. Please let us know if you can come.

Online

  1. Join us online to remember Pat on Sunday at 5pm. The link is below, and you are welcome to share a memory.
  2. For those who can’t travel, the service will be streamed. The link is below.

Scattering of ashes and graveside

  1. We’ll be scattering Raj’s ashes at Brimham Rocks, a place he loved, on Saturday at 11am. Please wear sturdy shoes.
  2. A short graveside gathering will be held on Friday at 10am, followed by lunch at the house.

Flowers and donations

  1. In place of flowers, donations to the hospice are welcome.
  2. Flowers are welcome, or a donation to Cancer Research in Linda’s name.
  3. No flowers, please. Your presence means more than anything.

Asking for memories

  1. If you’d like to share a memory or a photo, please bring it or send it to us.
  2. We’re putting together a book of memories. Please write a line when you reply.

The reply line

  1. Please let us know if you are able to attend, so we can plan refreshments.
  2. A reply by Wednesday would help us with numbers.

What to avoid

  • Celebratory language or design. Even for a “celebration of life”, keep the invitation quiet: no exclamation marks, no party graphics.
  • Too much detail. Practical information only; the stories belong at the gathering.
  • Assuming faith. Unless the family’s tradition is known, keep the wording neutral.

Sending it

You can send a memorial or celebration of life invitation by email or a share link that family can pass on to people you don’t have addresses for, and see who is able to come. The designs are plain and quiet (white lilies, forget-me-nots, a single tree, a candle), and nothing about the invitation is festive. Free for up to 100 guests.

Frequently asked questions

How do you word a memorial service invitation? Who you are remembering, when and where, and what happens afterwards, plainly.

What is the difference between a memorial and a celebration of life? A memorial is usually more formal; a celebration of life focuses on stories and character.

Is it appropriate to send a memorial invitation online? Yes, and it’s increasingly common.

How do you say “donations instead of flowers”? “In place of flowers, donations to [charity] are welcome.”

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