A memorial service is the gathering. It can happen with cremation or without. It can happen in our chapel, in your home, outdoors, or at a cemetery. It can happen the week of the death or the year after. We coordinate it.
About forty percent of the families we serve hold a memorial in our chapel. About thirty percent hold it in their home. The rest are split among outdoor venues and cemeteries. Below is what each looks like and what each costs.
Four ways to hold a memorial
- $750 · In your home
- We coordinate the program, music, officiant, and printed program. We bring everything; you provide the space. Up to about 30 guests is typical for a residential gathering.
- $2,400 · In our chapel
- Up to 40 guests in our Belltown chapel. Live-stream included. Music, program, officiant, all coordinated. Reception space adjacent.
- $1,250 · Outdoors
- We coordinate the venue (Discovery Park, Volunteer Park, Gas Works, your favorite trail, the family cabin), permits if required, all program logistics. Cost includes a portable PA if needed.
- $1,400 · At a cemetery
- Service coordination at any Seattle-area cemetery. The cemetery's fees pass through at cost (we don't mark them up).
What's included
Every memorial includes program design and printing (50 copies), music coordination (live or recorded), an officiant referral if you don't already have one, and full day-of logistics. Live-stream is included for chapel services and is $250 as an add-on for any other location.
How long it takes to plan
Most memorials happen 3 to 14 days after the death. Some families plan further out — a month, six months, a year. We hold the cremated remains for as long as you need at no additional cost. Whatever timing serves your family is the timing we work to.
The structure of a memorial is what holds the grief while the family holds the memory. The structure is what we provide.
What we don't include by default
- Catering. If you want food at the chapel reception or at an outdoor service, we can refer you to two excellent local caterers. We don't mark up their bill.
- Floral arrangements. Cost pass-through from a local florist. We coordinate. No markup.
- Religious traditions specific to a denomination. If your service has tradition-specific requirements (rosary, kaddish, full liturgical mass, etc.), we will coordinate but a clergy member from your tradition handles the ritual itself.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to choose cremation to have a memorial at Marker?
No. Memorials with or without cremation are both available.
How big can a memorial in your chapel be?
Up to 40 guests. Larger gatherings work better outdoors or at a venue we coordinate.
Can the memorial be held weeks or months later?
Yes. We hold the cremated remains until you're ready. No additional cost.
Do you handle religious services?
Yes — any tradition. We coordinate; the clergy handles the ritual.