If you have ever been to a funeral, you know how downright depressing many of them can be. After all, mourners tend to dress in black, shed buckets of tears and listen to outdated dirges and hymns. While there is certainly nothing wrong with wrapping up a life with a traditional funeral, you may want something else.
According to reporting from CBS News, many Americans are deciding to opt for festive celebrations of life instead of conventional funerals. Nevertheless, because you will be dead when your ceremony takes place, you may wonder whether you can keep it from being so depressing. Fortunately, you can.
Write a comprehensive estate plan
When you think about estate planning, your mind probably goes to dividing your assets after your death. Estate planning is about much more than giving your property to family members and friends, however. Indeed, with a comprehensive estate plan, you also can retain control over medical care, appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf and even plan your end-of-life celebration.
Tell your loved ones about your wishes
If your will spells out your celebration of life, you can generally expect your loved ones to respect your wishes. Still, it is always wise to tell those who mean the most to you what you want. Accordingly, after you plan your celebration of life and formalize it in your estate plan, you should be sure to discuss your plan with your relatives and friends.
It is perfectly acceptable to want your celebration of life to unfold exactly as you intend. Ultimately, with some estate planning and a few discussions, you can keep your funeral from becoming a sad or morbid affair.