Did you know cremation surpassed burial rates for the first time in the U.S.? Are you looking to scatter your family member’s ashes and want to make it as special and memorable as possible? Are you not sure what ceremony to hold for spreading ashes?
In this article, you’ll learn some heartfelt ideas for spreading ashes. Read on to discover these 6 heartfelt ideas.
Planning a Ceremony
Scattering ashes is one of the most popular options for families out there. Not only is it affordable but it’s flexible too where you can make the ceremony unique and your own. You have decided you want to scatter the ashes, but you want some ceremony ideas.
Before you begin, you’ll want to look into cremation urns, prices, and of course the rules in your area for spreading ashes. When that’s done and you’re deciding what type of ceremony to have, think of your family member and what type of life they lived, and what was most important to them in life.
Some things to keep in mind:
- Where is appropriate for the scattering of their ashes
- Select a date and time, possibly an anniversary
- If you choose somewhere that gets busy, say a beach, factor in their busy times
- Think about who should be there
1. At Sea
If you choose to scatter at sea this is a very popular method. With this option, you can choose to do it yourself or hire a company. They’re companies out there who do sea scattering. If you want something more personal, you can scatter the ashes after finding the open sea.
2. Public Property
If your family member enjoyed going to parks or loved nature, you might choose a national park to scatter their ashes. If you decide to go this route, you’ll need to find out the legalities of scattering ashes in these locations.
3. Scattering in Gardens
If you’re looking for a charming and beautiful location, a garden might be the right spot. Whether your loved one enjoyed flowers or gardening, this could be the ideal location for them. You can often find these at cemeteries or crematoriums where a garden is set aside for scattering ashes.
These facilities often have markers to remember your loved one whether an urn, statue, or plaque.
4. Aerial Scattering
Was your loved one a risk-taker or loved being in the air? If you decide to go this route, you’ll need to hire a company. Many pilots specialize in this since you have to be careful the ashes don’t push back toward the plane.
Many pilots have special equipment that will make sure the ashes are spread in the specific location you’d like.
5. Private Property
If you decide to scatter the ashes on your property or another loved one’s property, that is a great way to bring joy and feel like your family member is always there.
If you decide to go to another location that’s on private property, make sure you get permission from the landowner first. Most cases it’ll be no problem scattering ashes.
6. Drone Scattering
Drone scattering is a great way to make sure spreading the ashes wind up in the perfect location. You can choose the location ahead of time and watch the drone from the ground. Drones can also take videos and photos of the event as well.
Scattering Methods
They’re many different ways to scatter the ashes along with choosing which location is best.
Trenching ashes-This is digging a trench in the ground, and the ashes poured in, and then the ground is swept over the ashes.
Casting ashes-This is how people normally think of scattering ashes. You can either do this by hand or with a scattering urn.
Ringing ashes-This is placing the ashes around an object. This could be any object, a tree, a boat, or another object that honors your loved one’s life.
Green burial-Was your loved one concerned about the environment? A green burial is about preserving the earth. You could also include a tree that would grow with the ashes.
Spreading Ashes
When you decide to spread ashes, the great part is you have time to decide when and where is the right location. Take your time deciding, and don’t feel like you need to rush yourself.
Remember this isn’t just for your loved one but also healing for those who loved them as well. What you include in the ceremony is up to you. You can have prayers and song or remembrance stories, but what’s most important is remembering your loved one’s life.
Ceremony Ideas
When remembering your loved one, you might want to have different objects that symbolize their life. Maybe they loved to cook, you could have their favorite pan. If they loved to garden, bring their favorite flowers. The options are endless depending on their passion.
Also, include a photo of your deceased loved one no matter how old the picture is. This will allow yourself and others to look at their photo and remember different fond memories of them.
They’re many different places for a scattering ashes ceremony, and choices to make it unique. Keep your family member in mind as you choose the best location for their ceremony.
Next Steps
When deciding what ceremony is best, keep your loved one in mind and plan accordingly. What’s most important is you don’t rush and take your time in choosing the perfect ceremony.
Spreading ashes should be a memorable and special moment for you and your family. If you’re ready to get started on your spreading ashes ceremony, contact us today.
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