If a member of your family has recently passed away and you wish to have them cremated, most funeral services will be able to help you to arrange a funeral ceremony where family and friends can pay their last respects, read passages or share their memories. However, once the cremation is completed, many people struggle to work out what they should do with the deceased's ashes. If you do not wish to keep the ashes in an urn, you may wish to scatter them. Below are two creative ways in which you can scatter the ashes of a loved one in style and give them the send-off they deserve.

Fireworks

If your loved one was someone who, in the words of Dylan Thomas, didn't want to 'go gentle into that good night', then emptying their ashes into a firework and preparing it for launch could be a fitting way to send them on their final journey. Perhaps the most famous example of this type of send-off occurred in 2005 when the ashes of writer Hunter S. Thompson were blasted into the air from a 15-story model of a clenched fist. Of course, you don't have to spend lots of money to put on such an elaborate show—you can simply buy a few standard fireworks. However, if you do decide you wish to do this, you should never try to modify the firework yourself. This can be highly dangerous. You should instead contact a firework manufacturer and ask them if they can build a bespoke rocket which has a compartment where the ashes can be placed.

Hot air balloon

If your loved one was someone who loved the sky because they were a pilot or a bird watcher, you may feel that it is fitting that they should go on one last flight. Chartering a hot air balloon and scattering their ashes when you are a few thousand feet up in the sky can be a serene way of saying your last goodbye. It is important that you inform the crew of the hot air balloon of your intentions before you book the flight. Some companies may not feel comfortable granting such a request, especially if other members of the public are in the basket. You should ideally arrange so that only friends and family are there.

If you need any further advice on steps you can take post-cremation, you should contact a funeral service today.