Funeral Entertainment

Put the fun into funerals!

Over the last 15 years there has been a definite trend away from the traditional funeral. We want our funerals to reflect us as an individual and be in keeping with our personality and how we live. If you have lived your life being the life and soul of the party it hardly seems appropriate to have a quiet, sombre send off! As always we, at funeral magazine, want to encourage discussion about our funeral choices. If you want your funeral to be an event it’s probably a good idea to talk about it with your family and friends. It can be especially difficult for older relatives to accept this new approach and, of course, you want them to be included.

A funeral is an opportunity to remember and mourn the person we have lost and is an important part of the grieving process. It is also an opportunity to gather with our closest friends and family, some of whom we rarely see, and exchange happy memories and funny stories. The point is that paying tribute to someone does not have to be serious to be respectful. If they want us to enjoy an event in remembrance of them then shouldn’t we honour that?
entertain me
It is acceptable to have entertainment at all other celebration events so why not a funeral?
Christenings and children’s birthdays have face painters and balloon artists, weddings have musicians and mobile casino’s. The role of the entertainer is to enhance the event and give pleasure to guests which is surely applicable to funerals too. A party style wake is a fairly new concept and there is sometimes confusion about how to behave as a guest – an entertainer can break the ice and encourage a lighter mood.
Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease of pain – Charlie Chaplin
What kind of entertainment has been important in your life? What would your friends and family enjoy? We’re not saying book a burlesque dancer for the church, (although that is entirely up to you!) but rather entertainment for the post funeral reception which, after the emotion of a ceremony, is a time for remembering and truly celebrating the life lost.

I have to admit I’ve been to celebration funerals that were more enjoyable than some weddings I’ve attended!

Music has long been a popular choice, from a jazz band procession with the coffin to a solo singer during the ceremony. How about a magician? The great thing about a magic trick is that it can be appreciated by everyone from 5 years old to 105, from any cultural background. Let your guests make their own entertainment by hiring a photobooth. Have fun dressing up in silly wigs and hats and a set of passport sized photos as a permanent keepsake at the end of it!
Musicians, comedians, karaoke, close up magician, face painters, fire eaters, jugglers, clowns or a fortune teller. Funeral entertainment? The list of choices is as long as your imagination.