How to invite people to a celebration of life at a private home - that isn't tacky

[Anonymous]

This isn't a wedding. I cannot spring for embossed invitations? And, anyway, I have no idea who my mom used to know who may like to stop by and pay respects.

How can I spread the word? At the time of her passing, we didn't have plans in place -- she asked for a celebration "at a later date" which has now arrived. Help?

[Anonymous]

Why would it be tacky? Call it a memorial celebration if you want it to be upbeat. Call it a memorial if you don’t. Ask people to come and bring anecdotes about your mom. Ask people to wear [whatever her favorite colors were]. Play the music she liked, serve some of her favorite foods. Is there anyone you could use as a jumping-off point to identify people, like a friend of your mom’s or an aunt or something? Is there enough family for you to have a get-together (ie more than just you)?

[Anonymous]

I usually see them posted on social media and it gets shared.

[Anonymous]

A slideshow of photos/videos is lovely and fun. Pretty easy to put together too. I would ask close friends of your mom to help spread the word. Sorry for your loss.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry for your loss. You don't need invitations and you don't need to send thank yous, my darling.

I love the ideas the first poster responding to you had.

As for spreading the word, yes, just post and ask people to share details for a "stop by". Also, did she have a rolodex/address book? Mine did, so I used that to call people, plus our christmas card list, and lots of communicating via the younger members on text.

[Anonymous]

Your insecurities are speaking for you. Tacky? Whoever thinks of that in relation to a loss is not someone you want to be friends with, OP.

[Anonymous]

i purchased stationary card stock at Staples and printed out simple announcements using the template provided with the card stock. I printed them using my home printer. i also emailed the announcement to people I knew. I sent an elderly friend of my mom some announcements and stamps and asked her to send them to her church friends.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry about your mom. I think a quick printed card would work, as well as an electronic version that can be shared via email and social media. On it, you should explicitly say something like “Please help us spread the word to Susan’s many friends; all are welcome!”

[Anonymous]

Thanks all except we have a capacity limit. I can't have hundreds of people showing up.

[Anonymous]

See if you can identify one person from each of your mom’s life areas (eg family, sorority, work, kayaking) and deputize them to make a list for invitations.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes churches will print an invitation in their bulletin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all except we have a capacity limit. I can't have hundreds of people showing up.

Invite fewer people?

I’m getting the sense you just don’t want to have this event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all except we have a capacity limit. I can't have hundreds of people showing up.

Invite fewer people?

I’m getting the sense you just don’t want to have this event.

Not at all. I'm unsure how to maintain a manageable size without being rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all except we have a capacity limit. I can't have hundreds of people showing up.

Invite fewer people?

I’m getting the sense you just don’t want to have this event.

Not at all. I'm unsure how to maintain a manageable size without being rude.

“Due to COVID and space restrictions, we ask you to RSVP to xxx if you plan on attending.”

Then if numbers get too big explicitly ask for staggered arrival times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all except we have a capacity limit. I can't have hundreds of people showing up.

You won’t. Assuming your mom was not a celebrity.