Games For A Wake Or Celebration Of Life: 14 Gentle, Memory-Based Ideas

Nobody wants games at a funeral, and that isn't what this is. What helps at a wake is something for people to do with their hands while they talk, and a reason to tell stories to someone who wasn't there.

Everything here is optional by design - people join in if they want to, and nobody has to stand up.

Something to do with your hands

These tactile activities suit guests who find quiet moments difficult and prefer a gentle distraction while they chat. They are ideal to set up in a quiet corner of the reception venue, giving people a comfortable space to gather. As a practical tip, ensure there are plenty of smooth-writing pens and clear signs so guests know they can participate at their own pace.

• A memory jar or box: slips of paper, one memory each, sealed and given to the closest family later.
• A guest book with a prompt - 'how I knew them', 'what I'll remember' - rather than just a signature.
• A photo board people can pin their own photos to, brought from home.
• Write a letter to them, folded and put in a box. Some people will want this very much.
• A recipe card box if they cooked - everyone writes a dish they associate with them.

Sharing stories without a speech

This approach suits friends and family members who want to share precious memories but feel overwhelmed by the thought of public speaking. Use these ideas during the main reception to encourage natural, low-pressure conversations. A helpful tip is to keep the prompts simple and highly visible, allowing guests to share their favourite moments naturally while they mingle.

• Table by table rather than the whole room - a story each, in small groups.
• The photo table: lay out fifty photos and let people pick one up and talk.
• Their music playing, and people saying why a song was theirs.
• A question in the order of service: 'what's your best memory of them?' so people arrive having thought about it.
• A recorded corner - a phone on a stand, one person at a time, for the family to keep.

Including children

These gentle ideas suit younger guests who might find the formal atmosphere of a wake difficult to navigate. They are best introduced during the reception when adults are occupied with long conversations. For a practical tip, set up a dedicated low table with all the necessary supplies, giving children their own safe space to process their feelings.

• Drawing a picture for the memory box - children often handle this better than adults do.
• A question they can answer easily: what did Grandad always say, what did he always wear.
• A job - handing out orders of service, carrying the photo board round. It gives them a place.
• Something to go outside for, if the venue allows. Children need a break the adults won't give themselves.

Doing this with care

This guidance suits anyone organising the gathering, helping to ensure that every activity remains comforting rather than demanding. Use these principles from the very start of your planning to keep the atmosphere supportive. A practical tip is to ask a close friend to manage these details on the day, leaving the grieving family free from hosting duties.

• Clear it with the closest family first. Always. What comforts one family intrudes on another.
• Put things out on a table rather than announcing an activity. No one should feel summoned.
• Nothing competitive, nothing scored, no prizes.
• Have someone quietly keeping an eye out for anyone who needs to step outside.
• Give the memory jar or box to the family a week or two later, not on the day. They won't be able to read it then.

Key things to remember

• Ask the immediate family first.
• Put it on a table; never announce it from the front.
• Hand the memory box over a week or two later.

Frequently asked questions

What activities are appropriate at a wake?

Memory-based ones that people can join or ignore: a memory jar, a photo board people pin their own photos to, a guest book with a prompt, and their music playing. Nothing competitive and nothing announced from the front.

What is a memory jar at a funeral?

A jar or box with slips of paper and pens beside it. Guests write one memory of the person, fold it and drop it in. The family reads them later - it's usually best given to them a week or two afterwards rather than on the day.

How do you include children at a celebration of life?

Give them a drawing to do for the memory box, an easy question to answer about the person, and a job like handing out orders of service. Somewhere to go outside for ten minutes matters too.

Is it OK to have games at a celebration of life?

Not games in the usual sense. Memory-sharing activities are welcomed by many families and unwelcome to others, so ask the closest family first and put things out quietly rather than announcing them.

Do you sell games or party supplies?

No - we make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK. Every game here runs with what's already in the house, and the only products on this page are our own cards.

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