Celebration of Life Planning FAQs

A celebration of life planner takes the weight of organizing a memorial, and all of the details that come with it so that our client families and planning groups can focus on being present.

New Narrative's celebration of life planning packages in Vancouver start at $2,550, with three levels of support: Event Advisor ($2,550), Trusted Guide ($3,950), and Full Service ($5,500), so you can choose how much help you need. Your total event cost depends on guest count, venue, catering, flowers, and AV; a 100-guest gathering will cost more than an intimate 25-person one. Our ethos and guiding principle around budget is that we'll never tell you what you should place value on, and we'll never pressure you toward a specific choice. Our role is to give you guidance, clarity, and options that best fit your budget and what you deem valuable.

We recommend giving yourself at least four to six weeks to plan a celebration of life after a person passes. This window gives you time to prepare invitations, secure your preferred vendors, and get everything ready without rushing. That said, there is no wrong timeline. Some families plan a memorial or celebration of life within one to two weeks of a death, while others feel more comfortable planning further ahead. Rather than feeling constrained by a set timeline, one option is to think about a date that holds special significance for your person: a birthday, a favourite holiday, or a meaningful time of year. In some cases, your timeline may also depend on when your venue of choice is available. Whenever you're ready, we'll be here to help you create a road map based on your timing.

Yes, we can. We regularly plan meaningful celebrations of life on short timelines, and we have planned in-person, virtual, and hybrid events in as little as seven days. When timelines are tighter, our team relies on the trusted relationships we've built with many quality suppliers to ensure that quality and personality are never compromised, no matter how much time you have. One key note for families considering a shorter timeline (under two weeks): you may need to make decisions very quickly. Our team will be here to help, but keep in mind that many components, such as RSVPs, photos, music selections, and catering decisions, will need to be made soon after our first meeting. If you have any questions or concerns, reach out and we'll tell you what's possible with the time you have. We're here to help.

A funeral is typically a formal, faith-based service held soon after a death, often with a casket present, while a celebration of life is a more personal gathering that honours who your person was, usually held a little later and in a place that feels meaningful to you. That said, our stance is that whatever your preferred terminology, New Narrative is here to support your family and planning group so the logistics of the gathering come together seamlessly. There are many traditional views of what a funeral, memorial, or celebration of life typically is. Many funeral directors refer to a funeral as a more formal, faith-based service, often with a casket present; a memorial service as one with an urn present; and a celebration of life as a more personal gathering that honours who your person was and is, in your own venue, with your own guidelines, in the way you feel most comfortable. To us, the name is not the main differentiator. What matters are the decisions you make to hold an event that lets you gather your community, honour your person, and be present with one another.

Yes. Finding the right venue in your preferred city or location is one of the first things we can do for you, often before our first Planning Call. Our team has planned celebration of life events at more than 40 venues across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, including golf clubs, private homes, intimate bars and clubs, church halls, wineries, community centres, and outdoor spaces. When you hire us to help with your venue, we match the space to your person and the group attending. We'll ask clarifying questions about location, guest count, preferred date and time, and budget, then get to work reviewing our roster for the right space. From there, we handle the logistics with your chosen venue to keep the process as seamless as possible for you.

Absolutely. New Narrative plans virtual and hybrid celebrations of life so your family, friends, and broader community can take part, no matter where they are in the world. Whether you host an online-only gathering or an in-person event with an interactive livestream, we manage all of the AV components for you on event day. A livestream is invaluable for family and friends who can't travel or can only attend virtually, and it lets you open the invitation to a broader group without compromising your in-person guest count. It's rare to hear an event planning company enthusiastically say they're tech-forward and comfortable with audio-visual solutions, but we are, and we're fully comfortable planning and facilitating a variety of technological offerings. If you're not sure whether to include a virtual component, reach out and we can share past examples and suggest options that will work for your group.

The short answer is no. No matter the size of your guest count or budget, we're here to make sure your event feels tailored, effortless, and intimate. We've planned everything from intimate lunches to 500-person celebrations. The most important minimum to us is that your guests arrive feeling comfortable, and that you feel like you're working with a team that has your best interests at heart. Many planners base their rates on the number of guests; for us, it's not the guest count that increases our scope, but the amount of involvement you'd like from us before event day.

Yes! Although New Narrative is based in Vancouver, BC, we plan celebrations of life in provinces across Canada and have produced events in several locations in the United States. For events outside Vancouver, the majority of our planning process takes place virtually and, if desired, we'll estimate travel costs and give you the option of having Christina on site personally. Our virtual and hybrid events are all planned and run seamlessly from our headquarters in Vancouver. Years (and years!) of expertise give us the advantage of guiding your on-site team from wherever we are in the world. When you need our expertise, distance is never a barrier.

Getting started is simple: reach out through our contact page and share a bit about your person, your vision, and any initial thoughts you have. Our team will respond within 24 hours to schedule an initial discovery call, where we get to know each other and suggest next steps based on your situation. Following that call, we'll prepare an Event Agreement for your consideration, and once it's accepted, we'll set the day and time for your very first Event Planning Call.