FAQ
Understanding what Lighten does
What is Lighten?
Lighten is a modern funeral concierge service that helps families plan personalized celebrations of life. Services can be held virtually, in-person, or as a hybrid of both, at a location of the family's choosing rather than a funeral home chapel. The company operates across the United States and is headquartered in the Chicago area.
How is Lighten different from a traditional funeral home?
Lighten plans memorial services at locations families choose themselves — a favorite restaurant, park, bar, movie theater, or any setting that feels right. Where traditional funeral homes follow a standard script, Lighten builds each service around the individual being honored, with dedicated planning support from start to finish.
Does Lighten handle religious and non-religious ceremonies?
Yes. Lighten works with families of many different cultural and faith backgrounds. A service can be a fully religious ceremony, a secular celebration of life, or anything in between — the program is built around the beliefs and traditions of the person being honored.
Can Lighten help if a death was unexpected, or is it only for pre-planning?
Lighten serves both situations. Families can use the service after an unexpected loss or plan well in advance through the Your Memorial, Your Way pre-planning package, which stores a memorial plan for future use.
Choosing the right service
What service packages does Lighten offer?
Lighten offers four main options: an In-Person Memorial Ceremony Package, a Virtual Memorial Ceremony Package, the Your Memorial, Your Way pre-planning package, and a DIY Celebration of Life Planning Kit for families who want structured self-guided support. Standalone services are also available for families who only need help with one piece of the planning.
What standalone services can I add without buying a full package?
Lighten offers five standalone services: Custom Venue Sourcing ($1,500), External Officiant (rates vary by officiant), Professional Livestream ($2,000, includes videographer and equipment), Day-Of Coordination ($1,800, from setup through cleanup), and a Personalized Photo Montage ($350 for up to 120 photos).
What is the Your Memorial, Your Way package?
Your Memorial, Your Way is Lighten's pre-planning package. Families work with a planning guide to create and store a complete memorial plan in the Lighten Planning Center, so the details are documented and ready when the time comes. It is designed for anyone who wants to make those decisions in advance rather than leaving them to grieving family members.
Can I use Lighten just for one part of my planning, like finding a venue?
Yes. If you already have most of the details covered, you can book individual standalone services such as Custom Venue Sourcing or Day-Of Coordination without purchasing a full package. Lighten is designed to meet families wherever they are in the process.
Understanding the planning process
How does the Lighten planning process work?
You start by choosing a gathering format — virtual, in-person, or hybrid. From there, you meet with a dedicated planning guide via video conference. The Lighten Planning Center, an online portal, is where you select a location, send virtual invitations, and customize the service with photos, keepsakes, florals, and other personal details. Lighten manages all logistics so your family can be fully present on the day.
What is the Lighten Planning Center?
The Lighten Planning Center is an online portal where families manage the details of a memorial service. Through it, you can choose a venue, create and send virtual invitations, collect RSVPs, and add personal touches like photo montages and florals. For pre-planning clients, it also stores the completed plan for future reference.
Will I have a dedicated person to work with throughout the process?
Yes. Each family is matched with a dedicated planning guide who meets with them via video conference and stays involved through the full planning process. The goal is to make sure the family never has to coordinate multiple vendors or manage logistics on their own.
Can guests from out of town attend a Lighten memorial?
Yes. Lighten's virtual and hybrid options allow guests from anywhere in the world to attend. The professional livestream service ($2,000) includes a videographer and equipment to make the virtual experience feel polished and meaningful for remote guests.
Getting started and contacting Lighten
How do I get in touch with Lighten?
You can reach Lighten by phone or text at (312) 373-0847, or by email at hello@lightenarrangements.com. The website at lightenarrangements.com also has a contact form.
Does Lighten serve families outside of Chicago?
Yes. Lighten serves families across the United States, not just the Chicago area. Virtual planning consultations and the online Planning Center mean geography is not a barrier to getting support.
Does Lighten have a referral program?
Yes. If you refer another family to Lighten and they book a celebration of life, you receive a $100 referral reward.
What should I expect on my first call with Lighten?
Your first conversation with a Lighten planning guide is a video conference where you discuss your loved one, your vision for the gathering, and which format — virtual, in-person, or hybrid — fits your situation. From there, your guide walks you through next steps in the Lighten Planning Center.
Trusting Lighten with this decision
Who founded and leads Lighten?
Lighten was founded by Alexandra Koys, who serves as CEO. The leadership team also includes Susan Opeka (CFO), Neil Shah (Head of Technology), and Ellie Simas (Senior Manager of Client Service).
Has Lighten been covered in the press?
Yes. Lighten has been featured by WGN TV, Fox 32 Chicago, and the Chicago Business Journal, among others.
What do families say about working with Lighten?
Families consistently describe the experience as one that reduced their burden during an overwhelming time. One client wrote: 'Working with Lighten to help plan my dad's Celebration of Life was the best decision we made — they were phenomenal from start to finish.' Another said: 'In the darkest time of my life, Lighten was able to literally shine light upon his memory through their amazing, wonderful, compassionate service.'
Can Lighten plan a service that truly reflects who my loved one was?
That is the core of what Lighten does. Every service is built around the individual — their personality, interests, beliefs, and the people who loved them. Families choose the location, the tone, and the personal details, and Lighten handles the execution so the result feels like a true reflection of the person being honored.